Apaches are killing me

[Ven]

GoW 10th mission. ATO B.P3.3 is the mission title. There are 3 Apache in the mission area that are killing me every time. I dealt with one that's flying around by himself using my wingman but the two that are flying in formation... I'm not sure what to do. I tried charging in, Hellfire. I tried Vikhr, Hellfire. I tried taking cover behind ally ground troops hoping they can take it down but no luck. They get wiped out first. Any advice would be appreciated.

[STP Dragon]

I don't know this mission but I was fighting against Apaches too.

Once they laser you it is too late. The Hellfire will kill you 95%.

Your only chance is to see and kill the Apaches before they laser you.

This is very hard.

Switch to MAN weapon mode to get a constant shooting clearance "C".

So you are able to shoot your Vikhr on enemys in up to 10Km distance.

Switch on the Air-to-Air mode and do a precise Laser-Range-Measuring so the Vikhr will explode right in front of the Apache. (Shrapnel)

You have the best chance to hit the Apaches if they come directly to you.

 

Good luck... it's not easy

[Ven]

Closing in on them doesn't sound like a good option on this particular mission as they're behind enemy ground troops and multiple SAM. They eventually come forward but if I wait till then, ally ground troops gets destroyed which actually is the mission goal. I'll try Vikhr at a distance. Thanks.

[Bucic]

Just remember that jittering works better than beaming* on Hellfires.

 

* putting a threat on your 3 or 9 o'clock

[robertshendre]

I managed to knock one out using air/air mode

[Bucic]

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=48071&highlight=air Search function :music_whistling:

[Bushmanni]

Have anyone else noticed that Apaches can engage multiple targets simultaneously. I have seen Apache tracking and killing three targets simultaneously with laser Hellfires. And it was not the case of Apache firing multiple Hellfires with little interval and rapidly shifting to new target after destroying one so the remaining Hellfires change target also. The Apache fired three Hellfires in a very rapid succession and each of the Hellfires were following different targets.

 

I discovered this while trying to find team tactics against Apaches. I was facing 2 Apaches with 4 Ka-50. The lead Apache would engage me and the wingman Apache my three wingmen. Usually we all got shot down pretty quickly while I usually got one of the Apaches before biting Hellfire myself. The best method was to expose yourself to the Apache when you were at the maximum range of Vikhr so you can get a shot off immediately. The faster Vikhr will get the Apache before his Hellfire gets you. If you miss though you will be toast.

 

A group of Apaches will fire only one missile per target so as long as you always target the Apache that is targeting you, fire fast enough for Vikhr to reach its target before Hellfire gets you and never miss you can shoot down as many Apaches as you have Vikrhs, theoretically of course. In practice it's hard for me to do all of that even some of the the time. With practice I think it's plausible to be able to routinely kill flights of Apaches. If you are facing two separate groups they won't coordinate targeting info but both groups will fire one missile at you and then you are screwed.

 

In the previous scenario my best result was 2 dead Apaches and one dead wingman. In all cases I did all the Apache killing as all three of my wingmen were too busy evading Hellfires.

 

Here's some lessons learned from my tests:

- Situation awarenes is the key to surviving Apaches, don't let them surprise you, and if they do, it might be wise to run away first and then come back prepared.

- Only statistically viable method to engage Apache is to kill him from distance with a Vikhr.

- Always try to target the apache which is targeting you (in SP the leader) and killing him before he kills you.

- Apache can engage you with Hellfire from farther away than you can engage him so you need to evade the first Hellfire (not preferred) or expose yourself to the Apache only when he is already in range of your Vikhrs (preferred).

- You can hide yourself from the first Hellfire through terrain masking which is preferable to evading through maneuvering. It is enough to block line of sight to the Apache that is engaging you.

- AI Ka-50 is mostly useless against Apache, all he will do is evade Hellfires until one of them gets him.

- At gun range Apache will own you. You have a slight range advantage but it's unlikely you manage to have time to use it.

- If Hellfire is fired from maximum range it can be outrun and the Apache too. This way you can have a sure way to try again instead of taking your chances trying to evade.

[speed-of-heat]

What is the surprise here? Apaches can, do, and should engage multiple targets thats part of their SOP, they share targeting data so they know they wont be going to overkill any one target .. the AH64A and D are very good platforms...

[Geskes]

If it were laser hellfires, like he says, it is a surprise because the apache can only guide one hellfire at a time unless in lock on after launch mode, but then the missiles wouldnt be tracking a different target each from the start.

 

Only the L version for longbow apache can be used like bushmanni describes.

[McVittees]

Ahhh, the old helo-to-helo tactics. My advice when facing Apaches? Wipe them out in the editor. Seriously. They are (were?) an endless source of frustration for me in missions - especially where you have to defend advancing friendly forces...it can quickly degenerate into mission reply hell. The Hinds I can just about cope with but Cobras and Apaches...why bother? They'll usually always spot you first and then hunt you down until your a smokin' hole in the ground.:megalol:

Edited December 30, 2010 by McVittees