Vergeev Campaign - Mission 04/20

[BeachAV8R]

 

For our fourth mission in the Vergeev Campaign we are faced with another dual mission. The Mi-28 accident that we witnessed in the previous mission turned out to be fatal and though the helo was only on fire when we saw it last, it apparently continued burning to a total hull loss. It is a few hours after the crash and our task is to escort an investigative team to the location. They will be flying in an Mi-8 and we are to provide an escort to the crash location. In addition, a rescue convoy is being dispatched from the airfield, although it may be more appropriate to call it a "recovery" team at this point. In addition to escorting the Mi-8, we are also tasked with ensuring the safe arrival of the recovery convoy. As previous briefings have mentioned, the resources are stretched thin, forcing us to do several jobs at once.

 

 

I get the engines started up, initialize the systems, then take a look at the ABRIS map. I already know the location of the crash scene from the previous mission. This is the nice thing about this campaign - there is a lot of local area familiarity and you start to get involved in the campaign feeling a bit of "ownership" over the assigned area.

 

 

I air taxi from our ramp to the north ramp where the Mi-8 parking area is. The recovery convoy (Logovo) is already there getting ready to move out.

 

 

 

 

Once the convoy gets on its way, the Mi-8 (Stebel) starts up and I prepare to escort it to the crash scene.

 

 

 

Meanwhile the convoy reaches the hardball road and starts driving the short route to the crash location.

 

 

I form up behind the Mi-8 and try to watch it like a hawk while also glancing around the immediate area for any other threats. The build-up to conflict in this campaign is very well done with constant guesswork as to when the "balloon will go up".

 

 

 

 

The crash scene is located at waypoint #4, just under the road bridge. Green smoke indicates the landing zone for the Mi-8 to disembark the investigative team.

 

 

My mind is never far from the convoy behind us. They check in regularly as they proceed along their route.

 

 

As we approach the border area, I'm on high alert for some sort of surprise. As we circle around, the Mi-8 enters a steep flare and descends for the insertion.

 

 

 

As the investigative teams starts running from the LZ to the crash scene, I watch over them with my nose pointed toward the most obvious threat axis - the border crossing. For the first time, enemy units are called out, keeping me on my toes.

 

 

The recovery convoy continues to wind through towns toward the border. They will branch off just shy of the border and head toward the coast where the wreck site sits.

 

 

We wait for several minutes while the inspection team makes their way on foot to the downed helicopter.

 

 

 

Cont..

[BeachAV8R]

Once the inspectors reach the site, we are released and the Mi-8 head directly back to base. I fly a short distance back along the route and pick up the recovery convoy to escort them the rest of the way to the site.

 

 

Once positioned in front of the convoy, I do my best to recon the route, looking for anything suspicious.

 

 

As the crest the final hill before the descent toward the river valley, I know they are in the most danger since now they are within line-of-sight of any enemy troops near the border.

 

 

I keep positioned toward the border checkpoints looking for movement across the river.

 

 

I utilize the auto-hover and auto turn-to-target functions to help me stay in position while looking through the Shkval optics.

 

 

The convoy makes the turn and soon they are approaching the accident site.

 

 

I breathe a sigh of relief when they arrive. The entire time I was expecting a missile or IED to blow up one of the vehicles. Even as I turn for home I wonder if the enemy has ranged the site for an artillery strike or some other plan.

 

 

 

I take a glance at my fuel load (as I often do) to keep tabs on how much loiter time I could have if recalled.

 

 

The short flight back to base is uneventful and I land in the parking area. The Mi-8 is just taxiing in and the mission(s) are a success.

 

 

Approximately 41 minutes in mission duration.

 

 

 

Once again the mission performed flawlessly in DCS World. There was one small object placement error at the beginning of the mission. The recovery convoy were stacked on top of each other but dispersed when they were triggered to start rolling for the mission.

 

 

Again, it bears mentioning that the rather fragmented text messages you see in the screen are only summaries of much more thorough and descriptive radio messages being sent to and from the base, my helo, and other participating units in the mission. They are very well done.

 

BeachAV8R

[Grimes]

 

Looks like Bullseye is in Ukraine and it needs to be moved to someplace more logical.

[vodkapom]

Thanks. Very interesting. I will buy this campaign, Definitely. :thumbup:

[BeachAV8R]

Looks like Bullseye is in Ukraine and it needs to be moved to someplace more logical.

 

Yes - that must be something that was lost in the switchover to DCS World. Was the bullseye setting around a couple years ago when this campaign was initially made? I would think that the home base (Sochi Adler) or perhaps the border checkpoint area would make a more logical bullseye. I'll see if I can move it in the mission planner prior to takeoff (or does it have to be done in the mission EDITOR?). I don't mind making changes in the mission planner screen since it doesn't reveal any of the mission..but if you go into the editor then I'm worried I'll spoil the mission by seeing what is coming..

 

;)

 

BeachAV8R