Marking targets fast - Your SPI techniques

[dr_After]

Hi!

 

Could You share some Your SPI designation strategies? My problem is that slewing SPI in TGP or MAV modes (ar any mode for that matter) is very slow. It gets a little better in MAV, when I change slew rate, but still I lose a lot of time to get the SPI over a target. Sometimes, in a heat of a battle those seconds are crucial.

 

How do you designate SPI for Your sensors? Do You have some techniques that speed-up things a bit or make the whole targeting faster? Maybe there are some videos that explain that? Markers, waypoints?

[Yellonet]

If you're dealing with stationary targets and if you can see them from far away, the best way is to assign mark points for each target, when you get into range you can then just slave sensors to SPI and cycle through the mark points, lock target, shoot, cycle to next mark point, rinse, repeat...

In fact if given the opportunity this can be used quite effectively against moving targets too, you could either mark a general area where the targets are, so that the mark point will be fairly close to target even if they move a bit, or you could assign a mark point to where you believe that the target will be when you get into range.

 

If you don't have the opportunity to create mark points before the engagement the fastest way to aqquire and assign target might be to have the TGP or MAV cue straight ahead so you can see it in the HUD, then just point the aircraft at the target and ground stabilize, manoeuvre away, fine tune the lock and go around for the shot.

Edited April 24, 2013 by Yellonet

[159th_Viper]

Put smoke down on targets. You can then extend, visually acquire from stand-off range, sort, mark and prosecute at your leisure as the smoke is easily seen from miles away.

[Yellonet]

Put smoke down on targets. You can then extend, visually acquire from stand-off range, sort, mark and prosecute at your leisure as the smoke is easily seen from miles away.

That's of course a good way against stationary targets, but will enemy vehicles stick around when marked with smoke?

If so I feel sad for those AI's parents :cry:

[MagnumHB]

Assuming you are facing the general direction of your target and within range, you can use the HUD TDC to mark the area quickly, then use the TGP to refine the SPI to the target accurately.

[159th_Viper]

That's of course a good way against stationary targets, but will enemy vehicles stick around when marked with smoke?

If so I feel sad for those AI's parents :cry:

 

A.I. do not react to smoke markers. Even with human mechs you cannot really outrun it as smoke is merely a general indication of the position of OPFOR units. As they say, you can run but you're just gonna die tired.

Edited April 24, 2013 by 159th_Viper

[Oznerol256]

A.I. do not react to smoke markers.

 

How should one put smoke on the targets with an A-10C ? Using the smoke rockets or what?

[159th_Viper]

How should one put smoke on the targets with an A-10C ? Using the smoke rockets or what?

 

Yeah. I'm not very clued up on the A-10 but with the T-Toad you get smoke on targets from 10km, which in ordinary circumstances is far-enough away to keep you out of trouble when on a smoke-run:

 

5ej0ZErNobY

[Oznerol256]

Wow! With that precision you could just have shot S-8T or S-8KOM to destroy the tanks.

[ApoNOOB]

Normally I just search with TGP and make the target SPI, after that a mark point. (I am doing that because if I do something stupid / have to abort before I fired a weapon i may loose the target to a mountain or something)

[dr_After]

Thank You for all replies in this topic! :D You are a great community! Will test some of these methods soon.

[WildBillKelsoe]

Visual clues.. Mountains, seas, pastures, revetments, roads, towns, lakes, rivers, sand dunes, hills. If they are moving, you can always spot them from far away (like 7 miles). But, you can do what Viper said, willy pete.

[ENO]

I hadn't thought of the WP but at the same time if I can mark it with WP I can kill it- because I know where it is.

 

If I'm searching for a target in a particular area I'll put down a couple markpoints in the general location and flip through the markpoints with the TGP from wide zoom and thermal if necessary to pick out the hot spots... then I can dial in and make a SPI depending on the target... once I have the SPI I broadcast it to my flight so they can check it out and either deal with that threat or avoid it (to avoid redundant kills) depending on the situation.

 

Don't get me wrong, I hadn't thought of that use for smoke and I think it's definitely reason enough to pack a 7 shot of WP for those times where it is what the doc orders- but having never thought of that the above is the means by which I establish a SPI quickly from standoff range.

[pii]

That's of course a good way against stationary targets, but will enemy vehicles stick around when marked with smoke?

If so I feel sad for those AI's parents :cry:

Even when they move the AI only move a few hundred feet and then stop again. Kind of dumb if you ask me.

[Donglr]

I'm not convinced of the WP method. That is just an "analog" way of using a mark point. More so I can slave my TGP to a mark point, whereas I have to slew it manually to the smoke location.

 

The method mentioned with making a mark point for every target and the cycling through those is in my opinion the best method for "rapid fire".

Although I get the impression that most people, on- and offline, feel a pressure to get this done quickly. I don't know it that's the realistic way. I don't think an A10 is sent into combat with 6 Mavs to kill 6 targets in 30 seconds. My technique is to observe the area, pick out the dangerous targets first, think about the most efficient way of deploying my weapons, safe ways in and out of the attack run. In my opinion taking your time during engagement pays off when it comes to getting home safely.

This gung-ho mentality in my opinion comes from players thinking they must kill enemies fast because there will be nothing left from the other pilots

[159th_Viper]

I'm not convinced of the WP method. That is just an "analog" way of using a mark point. More so I can slave my TGP to a mark point, whereas I have to slew it manually to the smoke location.

 

In a contact the use of smoke is imperative, be it to mark the FLOT or otherwise. There's a reason one usually get an earful that sounds something like:

 

KEEP YOUR FC**ING ROUNDS WEST OF THE SMOKE! I REPEAT, WEST OF THE SMOKE!!

 

Relying solely on one's TGP for SA and target identification, sorting and prosecution is a very dangerous game one plays. Hell, even relying on your eyes does not always work. Be 150% sure, utlizing all your goodies you have at your disposal, to confirm prior to sending ordnance downrange. This is usually easily enough done by CA troops on the ground or your Wingman designating and talking you onto target, made even easier by smoke-on-target.

[Aries]

And then Joey (if I remember) saw a single T-72 wandering uphill... "That must be enemy..." he thought...

 

...clutched the weapon release of his trusty ol' Grach, Vikhr FTW!!!

 

And that ended Aries's combined arms struggle to climb up that hill and gain higher ground so he could engage and pinpoint the enemy...

 

:megalol:

[Donglr]

In a contact the use of smoke is imperative, be it to mark the FLOT or otherwise. There's a reason one usually get an earful that sounds something like:

 

KEEP YOUR FC**ING ROUNDS WEST OF THE SMOKE! I REPEAT, WEST OF THE SMOKE!!

 

Relying solely on one's TGP for SA and target identification, sorting and prosecution is a very dangerous game one plays. Hell, even relying on your eyes does not always work. Be 150% sure, utlizing all your goodies you have at your disposal, to confirm prior to sending ordnance downrange. This is usually easily enough done by CA troops on the ground or your Wingman designating and talking you onto target, made even easier by smoke-on-target.

 

The original idea of WP in this thread was deploying WP yourself. Here you solely relay on your own judgment of the situation. This is where I don't see an advantage in using smoke.

Having ground troops assign targets is a whole different story. There I agree that you need ways of correctly identifying enemy and friendly forces and aligning attack patterns.

[Harzach]

The original idea of WP in this thread was deploying WP yourself. Here you solely relay on your own judgment of the situation. This is where I don't see an advantage in using smoke.

 

Pretty handy if you are playing lo-fi and don't have a TGP.

[159th_Viper]

And then Joey (if I remember) saw a single T-72 wandering uphill... "That must be enemy..." he thought...

 

...clutched the weapon release of his trusty ol' Grach, Vikhr FTW!!!

 

And that ended Aries's combined arms struggle to climb up that hill and gain higher ground so he could engage and pinpoint the enemy...

 

:megalol:

 

:megalol:

 

Reminds me of someone-who-shall-not-be-named who chased a 25ML up the rear of his Wing Commander the other day whilst he was occupying a T-80, contemplating strategy over a cup of tea :D

 

That said, Combined Arms brings a whole new dimension to squad gameplay and will only get better. These umm, 'cough', minor teething problems will get sorted out. Admittedly it is somewhat priceless hearing the tantrum over TS when you inadvertently cook your squad-mate after he has spent a good while setting up the perfect engagement only to be impaled from behind :P

 

Good Times!

Edited April 25, 2013 by 159th_Viper

[s3n0]

Hey guys. I have a question about SPI and marking targets and dont want to make a new topic. Is it possible to create few SPI and then cycle through them?

 

Regards

Dave

[Stuka]

Hey guys. I have a question about SPI and marking targets and dont want to make a new topic. Is it possible to create few SPI and then cycle through them?

 

Regards

Dave

 

You can only have 1 SPI.

You can however create multiple waypoints or markpoints and cycle through them.

[Vlerkies]

Yeah, you can create markpoints and then switch the CDU to markpoint to cycle through them as you would cycle waypoints, with your TGP slaved to it so it will look at whichever markpoint you are cylcing at the time.

 

 

Look at this thread.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=101662

[s3n0]

Ok , i get it. Thanks for fast reply.

 

Regards

Dave

[dr_After]

OK, I just made a flight and used markpoints for the first time. Useful, but I have some questions:

 

1. If I set a markpoint - is there any visual clue which markpoint am I setting? Is it A, B, C? where can I check it fast?

 

2. If I press TMS RIGHT short 3 times - will it set 3 markpoints at the same place?

 

3. Is there any method to reset markpoints and start over from the beginning?