Combat SAR

[Rongor]

My most urgent wish would be the implementation of ©SAR capability for use in Multiplayer.

One pilot of a plane gets shot down. The player ejects and parachutes safely to the ground. He can walk around if he wants (already functional). The player still has a hand radio (VHF AM or VHF FM). He can still communicate with other flights by this radio. Those other players maybe can get a bearing of his position due to his transmissions. The planes can come to his perimeter and assist against inbound pesky enemy CA-players on the ground that try to capture/kill him.

A SAR Huey is also coming. The Huey player locates the downed player by bearing of the transmissions, radio contact and also the downed player could pop some smoke. Huey player lands, downed player enters the Huey, takes a seat and enjoys the flight back to base as a passenger or as gunner. Returned to base he exits the Huey and spawns himself a new plane to get back into the action.

We need this!

I understand these features require attention and work of both ED and Belsimtek, but I am sure it would pay off very well.

[NECK]

I agree!

[ptako]

Very good idea!

We've talked about that in my squadron many times since release of Huey.

And it would be definitely great if implemented in the future.

[Rongor]

The good thing about this, most of the stuff is already there. They wouldn't have to add that much work to bring this feature. Let us hope they read this.

 

Only thing I wonder, who would be responsible more, ED or Belsimtek?

ED would have to implement the Multiplayer functionality of letting an already present and around walking client board one other clients ship and add a downed pilot some radio and smoke grenades. Belsimtek would then have to consider if you have to own the Huey module to ride in the back as a client.

Of course I am just guessing...

[Kaktus29]

haha..lol.. yeah i can imagine this conundrum.. the shot down pilot waits for rescue .. the huey comes to rescue him, but before the pilot gets into huey he is asked by the huey pilot :"sir, have you purchased the huey module?".. and if the answer is no the Huey takes off without him ))

[lxvanwyk]

My most urgent wish would be the implementation of ©SAR capability for use in Multiplayer.

One pilot of a plane gets shot down. The player ejects and parachutes safely to the ground. He can walk around if he wants (already functional). The player still has a hand radio (VHF AM or VHF FM). He can still communicate with other flights by this radio. Those other players maybe can get a bearing of his position due to his transmissions. The planes can come to his perimeter and assist against inbound pesky enemy CA-players on the ground that try to capture/kill him.

A SAR Huey is also coming. The Huey player locates the downed player by bearing of the transmissions, radio contact and also the downed player could pop some smoke. Huey player lands, downed player enters the Huey, takes a seat and enjoys the flight back to base as a passenger or as gunner. Returned to base he exits the Huey and spawns himself a new plane to get back into the action.

We need this!

I understand these features require attention and work of both ED and Belsimtek, but I am sure it would pay off very well.

 

 

+1:thumbup:

[Fourpoints37]

+1

[luza]

this is going to be possible on the 74th server soon, plop by sometime in the next few weeks :)

[Cowboy10uk]

+1 I totally agree with this. Now we have Hueys and the MI8 on the way, getting correctly implemented SAR would add so much more to the sim. I hope ED are watching.

 

Cowboy10uk

[KosPilot]

Agree!

 

In addition to the client having the option to call for and await rescue I would also like to see the option in ME to place AI pilots on the map for CSAR purposes.

The pilot model is already in DCS, and for AI - just re-skin a grunt and give him a M9. Everything is already set up in DCS for AI to "shoot flares" (signal flare on unit), "pop smoke" (smoke marker on unit) and transmit at any frequency.

 

In the case of a downed client, the radio menu could be used to shoot flare, pop smoke or activate ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter).

 

This function would add significantly to DCS

[TimeKilla]

I like the idea but cant see someone waiting 15/20 minutes for the nearest Huey to come to there location and pick them up then wait another 15 minutes to get back to base to re-spawn into another heli/plane.

 

Another way would be when someone ejects they automatically send out a signal on the emergency channel so the player who ejected can re-spawn. His ejected pilot stays there for others to pick up if they want to return to base.

[Bushmanni]

I really can't see this as a feasible thing on a MP as most likely the ejected pilot will end up very far away from the home plate as a jet will cover lots of miles very quickly. Getting to the crash site with a helicopter will take a long time, thats why the CSAR helos have aerial refuel equipment. Even if the missions are built with much shorter distances compared to real life as the jet pilots don't want to fly the realistic distance either, the flying time for the chopper will be about four times that of the jet, ie. there's still plenty of time for the CSAR pilot to get bored on the way not to mention the shot down pilot. Who would have time for all of this?

 

Then who's going to be the CSAR pilot? Is he waiting there killing time while being ready as in real life or is someone originally flying the mission going to be diverted to fly CSAR bird? Most likely only free pilot would be the one who just got shot down.

[Frostie]

I really can't see this as a feasible thing on a MP as most likely the ejected pilot will end up very far away from the home plate as a jet will cover lots of miles very quickly. Getting to the crash site with a helicopter will take a long time, thats why the CSAR helos have aerial refuel equipment. Even if the missions are built with much shorter distances compared to real life as the jet pilots don't want to fly the realistic distance either, the flying time for the chopper will be about four times that of the jet, ie. there's still plenty of time for the CSAR pilot to get bored on the way not to mention the shot down pilot. Who would have time for all of this?

 

Then who's going to be the CSAR pilot? Is he waiting there killing time while being ready as in real life or is someone originally flying the mission going to be diverted to fly CSAR bird? Most likely only free pilot would be the one who just got shot down.

You're right to remove the boredom players shouldn't be made to wait what could be up to an hour to get back in the pit and the CSAR pilot waiting for a call on the ground to rescue pilot A at x,y,z.

I don't think it would be so restrictive as this, instead the CSAR pilot doesn't have to be grounded he could actually be airborne finishing other missions such as troop extraction or insertion when the call comes in to divert. Then it wouldn't be that the downed player has to wait for extraction but instead he has an option to go to respawn where a trigger could activate an AI pilot to be waiting to be picked up while the player pilot carries on to respawn and then carrying on enjoying the mission.

Then when the CSAR comes within range of the downed AI pilot a flare signal/radio message etc. could be triggered so keeping the ball rolling.

[Vampyre]

I really can't see this as a feasible thing on a MP as most likely the ejected pilot will end up very far away from the home plate as a jet will cover lots of miles very quickly. Getting to the crash site with a helicopter will take a long time, thats why the CSAR helos have aerial refuel equipment. Even if the missions are built with much shorter distances compared to real life as the jet pilots don't want to fly the realistic distance either, the flying time for the chopper will be about four times that of the jet, ie. there's still plenty of time for the CSAR pilot to get bored on the way not to mention the shot down pilot. Who would have time for all of this?

 

Then who's going to be the CSAR pilot? Is he waiting there killing time while being ready as in real life or is someone originally flying the mission going to be diverted to fly CSAR bird? Most likely only free pilot would be the one who just got shot down.

 

On the more popular multiplayer servers the jet pilots are getting shot down all the time which will create a lot of missions for the dedicated CSAR pilot. Most of the AI aircraft have multiple crew as well and if a pilot is forced eject or to ditch their aircraft and they survive the ditching a mission can be generated for the CSAR pilot to fly without the ditching/ejecting pilot having to wait for pickup if he doesn't want to. I think the option to refly immediatly should be implimented for the adrenaline junky fighter jocks to immediatly get back in the fight. That is the only way it can work and still maintain a healthy server population. As far as distances to travel for the CSAR pilot, well that's what FARP's are for. I personally don't mind flying long distances and refueling from HC-130's or KC-130's. Of course, seeing as there is already a points system in the sim, points can be awarded for returning a pilot to a FARP... say 10 points, or returning him to his original base for a higher amount...50 points.

I would love to do CSAR but I would like to have the dedicated aircraft for it like the CV-22, MH-60G, HH-60H, CH-53E, aor MH-53M. Being thet we already have the A-10 to cover the Sandy missions, flyable attack helos will add a lot to CSAR missions especially when behind enemy lines or near to enemy ground units. Some CSAR missions could be scripted to have enemy vehicles and troops converging on the downed pilot when behind enemy lines. Pilots downed at sea could be rescued by deploying a rescue swimmer and using a winch to retrieve the downed aviator. The use of winches and jungle penetrators are a must because a helicoptor can't land everywhere (forest, mountainside, ocean etc). The use of armed AI PJ's, SAR Swimmers, and Marines to deploy from the aircraft and bring the pilot would be nice as well but not a requirement as far as I am concerned. I'd like to see some growthin these sort of support missions and maybe get into Special Forces Infil/Exfil and maybe Marine CH-53E TRAP teams to recover personnel and airframes. DCS still has some growing to do and hopefully we will see growth in these areas.

[XtraChrisP]

Potential problem... my buddy and I were flying a mission and he got shot down by AAA. He spent the next 45 minutes watching me work over targets. I searched all over for him with my TGP but was unable to find him. I ended up landing (the attack was near an airfield) and he walked up to my jet, but I was still unable to see him.

 

Long story short, his pilot character could not be seen by the other client (me) in his hosted multiplayer session. Anyone else encounter this?

[Robin_Hood]

IIRC, as of now other players can see the ejected pilot at his original landing position, but will not see him move.

[OB1]

I don't see a problem with this, it should be encouraged. In my community when we schedule organised coop nights for Arma2/3 we have a SAR on standby. I myself have volunteered for this role in the past and sometimes the SAR does nothing for hours. However it is still enjoyable listening to the com chatter and just simply being apart of the entire operation.

Other rolls such as transportation consist of players just driving trucks and supplies around, you might think how can that be fun but some people actually enjoy it so don't be so quick to dismiss a mundane task if you don't like it.

 

Granted Arma2 and 3 is a far more intimate game than DCS but if SAR is added at least its a start and can only lead to greater development achievements for DCS in the future, and ultimately a greater game. More features = better.

[_Tigre_]

+1 :thumbup:

[The_Pharoah]

Imagine that with the CSAR...you have an A1 Skyraider flying combat support to suppress AAA, etc....mmmm....

 

Armament

• Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M2 cannon
  
• Other: Up to 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of ordnance on 15 external hardpoints including bombs, torpedoes, mine dispensers, unguided rockets, or gun pods
  

[csper]

+1

[The_Pharoah]

Actually, to make this work we'll need a few more things:

 

1. comms (ie. TS3 channel atleast) - easily managed by players logging onto the server nominated TS3 channel OR using text/chat

2. flare to signal your position

3. The option for you to respawn but your downed pilot swapped with AI. That way you remove the whole boredom issue.

 

I still think this would be an excellent 'side' mission ie. 1 x A10 for CAS, 1 x SU25T for SEAD, 1 x KA50 for escort and 1 x UH-1 for CSAR. :)

 

Unfortunately this is where comms becomes REALLY important - most servers, guys don't tend to logon to the TS3 server and just do their own thing. Ah well, can't be helped I guess.

[mig29movt]

My suggestion:

 

when you're going down, it should be possible to switch on 243.000 UHF and call for a SAR or CSAR mission. And when it is set up by the mission designer, some SAR Blackhawks should start from the nearest airbase (depending on your transmitted position) picking you up.

 

Something like: Crash then, you can climb out of the cockpit (open the cockpit and not eject, just go down the ladder not just open the cockpit like it is now) and then you should be able to call in some help and when they're arriving safely (of course depends on the set up equipment the CSAR team consists), they're landing close to you and then the debrief or "fly again" screen pops up.

 

I hope you got my idea...

 

I think there are "just" (I don't know) the animation of you getting out of the cockpit and the necessary canges or new role in the mission editor to add...

 

:protest: 06-24-2011, 08:50 PM :music_whistling:

 

Or even better be the SAR pilot, as suggested in this thread :thumbup:

[Bushmanni]

I'm pretty much near completing a pilot rescue feature to my DCS Battlefield mission. It's a Battlefield game series inspired PvP flag capture mission. You lose score for every friendly destroyed unit, but aircraft will cost you much more than ground units. If pilot manages to eject, the mission will spawn a lone soldier to ejection location. If he manages to get back to base his side will gain most of the lost score of the aircraft back. The mission also includes transportation script for Huey so they can pick the pilots onboard and take them back to base besides transporting MANPADS. The distances in the mission are quite short and there's going to be lot's of pilots shot down so the SAR pilot shouldn't get bored. And there's also other stuff for him to do in the mean time.

[St3v3f]

The 74th vfs 'The Flying Tigers' has implemented a CSAR role, futher information here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=109054