Last update: 03/13/2022
Basic Surface Attack - Mariana Islands
This is a training/practice mission. It provides a versatile range control script that provides feedback for multiple parameters of the weapon release: Distance to target, angular distance to target, targets hit by the weapon, altitude, attitude and speed of the aircraft at the time of release.
Also provides different methods of target designation (laser, wp, coordinates, offset from a reference point).
Easily add your own aircraft
Two version provided: One with the A4 mod include and another without.
vFG 476 Range Targets Package REQUIRED
https://www.476vfightergroup.com/showthread.php?5304-476th-Range-Targets-Package
03/13/2022 Upd ate. Several improvements of the script. and support for In-Fly started player slots.
2/21/22 Update: -- Improved accuracy of the calculation of the impact distance and a few bugs fixed in the scripts.
Script feature in Sidekick65 video:
youtube.com/watch?v=wQUBRqpFIEc
And how to create your own range by Sidekick65 as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFHpjkvTnKg
Mariana’s Basic Surface Attack range
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(images in the mission briefing)
The objective of this mission is to provide an environment where to practice basic surface attacks. It uses a (reusable and portable) script that provides useful feedback on several parameters (distance and position of the impact, targets “hit” by the weapon”, altitude, roll, pitch and yaw angles at the time of release …) . Most of these parameters are optional and can be configured using the settings menu option.
Mission flow
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Think of the script as a “range control”. Communications with “range control” will be done via the comms menu (“\”, “F10-Other”).
“Range control” has to be informed that ordnance is about to be deployed (using the “rolling in” menu option) in order to start tracking. Once the attack is completed, “range control” has to be asked to provide the results using the “Off - attack completed” menu option. There is an optional parameter in the script configuration that will generate an abort message if ordnance is dropped without the “rolling in” notification.
Additionally, “range control” can be asked to provide the coordinates for the targets and to designated them using white phosphorus, laser or an offset designation (range and bearing from a reference point).
The Menu
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- Range
- Reports
- Attack results
- List coordinates
- Designation
- Mark target (WP)
- Offset designation
- Laser/IR designation
- Cancel Laser designation
- Repeat last designation message
- Settings
- Display current settings
- Toggle non strafing hits (BDA) report
- Toggle display of Release data.
- Distance units
- Distance: se t to meters
- Distance: se t to feet
- Distance: set to yards
Altitude units
Altitude: set to meters
Altitude: set to feet
- Speed units
- Speed: set to kph
- Speed: set to knots
- Speed: set to mph
- Coordinates format
- Coord. format set to MGRS
- Coord. format set to DMS
- Coord. format set to DM.mm
- Rolling in
- Off - attack completed
The Ranges.
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This mission contains two range areas:
1) Basic Range
Easy to spot targets to practice basic techniques. Range control can provide the coordinates for this range and the targets it contain and provide offset designation from an offset marker (image 1)
Available targets:
- Circle A (image 2) – Offset designation available
- Circle B (image 3) – Offset designation available
- Strafing Pit (image 4)
- Strafing/Bombing Area (image 5): contains 5 targets in a row (tanks and trucks).
The white buildings on the sides are NO SHOOT targets. It is suggested to have the non strafing hits (BDA) report option enabled, in order to see the effect of the weapons in these targets. Offset designation available.
2) Tactical Range
Multiple targets, some moving, a little more difficult to spot. Used to practice attacks in a more realistic scenario using WP and laser designation. It is suggested to have the non strafing hits (BDA) report option enabled, in order to see the effect of the weapons in this targets. Range control will not provide coordinates for these targets and offset designation is not available.
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– Adding your own aircraft:
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Well, just add them to the mission! The name or type of the aircraft is not important. The “SKILL” however, is important. For user flyable aircraft, DCS accepts 2 different skills: “Player” and “Client”. The mission and script support both. “Client” has no limitations but “Player” does. If the mission contains a single aircraft and its skill is set to “Player”, the aircraft cannot be started in the air because the range control will not work (DCS bug or limitation). A single “Player” aircraft is supported only if it starts on the ground. In this case, the script will start working when the engines are started (if cold & dark) or after take off (if started as a hot aircraft).
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--Author notes:
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The mission and script were designed for my personal use and are provided as I use them. All my ground attack aircraft are include, starting hot from parking (my usual setup for “quick” practice missions). The default unit of measurements can be easily changed on the ME, using the “Override defaults trigger”.
The mission is setup with unlimited ammunition and all the aircraft need to be rearmed.
When designing the script, I decided not to spend time (neither CPU or mine) doing validations, so, be warned: if you use an unsupported value, something will blow up.
Please use the forum thread provided in the download page to contact me.
https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/292977-basic-surface-attack-mariana-islands/
vFG 476 Range Targets Package REQUIRED
https://www.476vfightergroup.com/showthread.php?5304-476th-Range-Targets-Package
