Dead is Dead The Thread......

[+Dave]

Let it begin here. Take screen shots of your new pilot screen after a series of missions is done. You can fly one a day or as many as you want a day.

 

Rules/Guidelines

 

1. Start a new campaign
2. Use that pilot until the campaign ends or he is killed.
3. You CANNOT refly a mission.
4. To keep people honest post a screen shot of that plots progress when you are done flying for the day.
5. No Nukes but A2A nukes are ok AIM-26, Genie etc. 
6. Alt + N "jump to next encounter" is forbidden, you have to fly the whole time (alt + T "time compression" is ok)
7. Have fun.

 

[Saavedra]

 

 

 

 

So, Operation Darius (well, actually Operation Marathon, which is like Darius but with a ground war going on) flying the F-15E Strike Eagle from Iraq to strike at targets in Iran.

 

I am not a huge simmer, so I have the HUD elements active (speed, direction and so on on the left corner, target distance/speed and so on on the right low, and radar screen on the upper-right). All gameplay options are set to "Normal" except for Blackouts, which I put on "Easy" because, while I have no idea how fast a pilot should black out in real life, I think one blacks out a bit too fast in SF2.

 

So now it´s been established I am a FILTHY CASUAL, how did it go?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am three missions in so far.

 

The first two were milk runs. Attacks across the border, almost like prodding water with your toe. One was a barracks building in the middle of the desert that made me discover how inaccurate Mk.84s can be if you do not adjust for the weight despite what the pipper may say, and the second one was clearing AA assets off an airfield. The second one saw more action as missiles flew at me, but nothing I couldn´t handle.

 

Then came the third mission.

 

Fly west-to-east, reach the eastern side of the Gulf, and blow up a bridge. Nothing too hard, right?

 

I mean, unless you count the F-4s and Saeqehs on the way (about a dozen of them), plus the several batteries of Hawks and, best of all, the three separate S-300 SAM sites on the way.

 

So I started above the clouds, and dived past Phantoms, SAMs and the burning wreckage of my wingman to end up burning ahead at treetop level, pumping out ECM and chaff all the way. I started out with two AGM-88 HARMs, two AIM-120Ds, four Cs, and two AIM-9Ms (all those AAMs only accounted for two planes), and a 2000lbs LGB, plus two droptanks. By the time I was afterburning back across the Gulf, not even daring to follow the same ingress route, I was out of everything but cannon and flares.

 

And no wonder. Looking in the log afterwards, I saw the computer had launched 12 Grumbles at me on top of some Sparrows and a bit of AAA.

 

 

 

The only thing that I´m wondering is the whole asking for reinforcements thing. As soon as you do that, you get up to eight friendlies in the immediate vicinity launching AMRAAMs at enemies. While I think it is handy, it is also fairly unfair against the computer. But while I would gladly do away with this for the sake of realism and difficulty, I really don´t think I would survive eight bandits.

Edited March 21, 2015 by Saavedra

[Emp_Palpatine]

The ask for help thingy is way less efficient when you are in the 50's or 60's: most of the time , the friendlies will fail to detect the ennemies or come in fighting range too late. 

Late 80's and 90's game isn't as well modeled. We have issue, for instance, with active radar missiles. 

And AFAIk, it's a one bullet gun. I've never seen it working twice in a campaign. 

Edited March 22, 2015 by Emp_Palpatine

[Peugeot205]

Here I'am

 

 

 

 

[+JonathanRL]

And AFAIk, it's a one bullet gun. I've never seen it working twice in a campaign.

 

If my experiences are anything to go on, the vital thing is if there is a non-committed Squadron or not.

[beachav8r]

I'm in - flying the F-15E in Operation Darius... Look for an AAR shortly...

 

 

 

 

 

Not gonna last very long if I keep acting a fool... <g>

 

BeachAV8R

Edited March 28, 2015 by beachav8r

[2skicomrade]

This thread sounds awesome!  For the first time, it'll make me fly a complete campaign.  Might as well make it unusual.... I'll fly the Yak-38 from the cruiser "Kiev" in Eburger's 1979 "Nordic Sword" campaign.  The aim is to "secure" (conquer))) the northern tip of Norway, so that our Fleet can break out into the Atlantic and wreak havoc

 

On the evening of September 18th, with war raging across central Europe, the cruiser "Kiev" sailed from Severomorsk and out into the Barents Sea.  The cruiser "Slava" accompanied her, together with an escort of two "Kresta" class cruisers, 4 "Kashin" class destroyers, and 6 "Krivaks".  By the next morning, the fleet was patrolling off Norway's North Cape, ready to support the ground forces in their upcoming offensive.  

 

My first mission is to fly CAP south of the battle group.  Intel said that two NATO carriers were being scrambled from Scotland to reinforce the Norwegians.  I hope I don't meet any Tomcats in my little Yak, otherwise I'm done for.  The so-called "plan" is to stay under our ships SAM umbrella, and do our best to pick off any intruders.  

 

 

The mission turned out to be somewhat of a let-down, as my wingman and I failed to meet any bogeys during the flight.  We did hear plenty of chatter over the radio, though, as the offensive began.  Friendly MiGs struck an airfield, while others fought off A-7's attacking our tanks as they pushed forward.  Ominously, one flight leader called out "Tomcats!" before going off air...  

 

 

After landing back aboard the "Kiev," we are told that the offensive is going well, and that our forces have captured "Nikel" from the Norwegians.  In order to support the Air Force in its attempt to permanently ground its NATO counterpart, we are instructed to strike a hardened shelter at "HFT Hammerfest."  Another flight will take over our fleet defense duties.  

 

 

        

[Viggen]

Well, the F-19 campaign isn't happening yet. Need to do more modern jet flying first. Baby steps, so back to ODS.

 

Doing something different than normal. I've joined the ranks of VMFA-232 'Red Devils' and their F/A-18Cs. Normally I fly F-14s or F-15Es. Our first mission started in the early morning. CAP around our home base. Three Floggers had managed to make it through the layers of death; Eagles and Tomcats. We bagged all three. I got one. Two and three bagged the other two.

 

Second mission was armed recon. A company of Iraqi Republican Guard troops was heading south in Zils. Two had a malfunction (aka stupid non engaging wingman) so I had him fly cover for me. A well placed AGM-65E was followed by an MK.83 and two MK.20s. Three or four shacks per drop, and then a gun run resulted in some good damage. For my actions during this mission in the night skies above Southwest Iraq, I was awarded the Silver Star.

 

 

Edited April 2, 2015 by Viggen

[beachav8r]

Sigh - I'm embarrassed to post this..but...

 

http://www.mudspike.com/strike-fighters-2-dead-is-dead/

 

 

BeachAV8R

[sgtscarfy]

Wow guys I guess im a little more timid when it comes to campaign missions. About 4 sorties in and not a scratch with the good ol' F-4... Had me some good ground attack missions and a MIGCAP that resulted in a few A/A kills. One crazy instance was when I had a Mig17 all lined up and had the growl of the sidewinder angrily barking into my headset, a freaking A-7 came out of nowhere missing my nose by about 10 feet. I guess he was pursuing the same bandit but he forced me to break it off and he got the kill. It happened so fast I couldnt even get a screenshot of the near mid-air. 

[+Dave]

Sigh - I'm embarrassed to post this..but...

 

http://www.mudspike.com/strike-fighters-2-dead-is-dead/

 

 

BeachAV8R

 

 

I read it. TSK TSK TSK....

[beachav8r]

So..I'm I allowed to start with a new pilot? (Pretty please?)

 

 

BeachAV8R

[Viggen]

Another day, another couple missions..

 

We started off the day with a strike in Kuwait City. A large oil tank near the harbor was being utilized by the Iraqis and we were to end its usefulness. Two GBU-10s and two HARMs, Flight there was uneventful. Tomcats cleared the airspace before we were even out of Saudi Arabia. Had my wingman go after the fuel tank while I engaged two SA-8s and a Shilka. Wingman then engaged a Fan Song and a Fire Can with his HARMs.

 

The next mission was a SEAD. We were late on station and as a result a couple F-111s took damage. While we launched HARMs and dropped our Rockeyes, a MiG-25 that was harrassing the -111s began to harass us. I engaged him, lobbing two Sidewinders at him. Second one hit. I went to reengage the air defenses and ended up taking heavy fire from two M1939s and took a hit. It ripped off my #2 side flap and put a couple holes in the fuselage. Wounded and hospitalized and awarded the Purple Heart.

 

 

[Happy308]

I Chose to fly the Red Hammer campaign as a DDR LSK Pilot flying the Mig 21 SPS-K.

 

 

 

OMG WTF BBQ ! I cant Fly that far whith a second generation Mig 21,.......

 

I had to fly really slow to preserve fuel, and my Primary target was nowhere to be seen.

 

Halve of my fuel was used, I hope I'll make it back to Drewitz airbase,..

 

Enjoying  the view.

 

I made it back, with some fuel left.

 

 

I live to fly another day, but I failed the mission.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Happy308

[+Crusader]

If you are based so far from the frontline, fly a hi-lo-hi profile.

Use AB only when really needed for TO (you can do without on large bases with long rwys)

then climb as fast as possible in mil power to 25000 - 30000 ft

Up there you can cruise at Mach 0.8-0.9 with low throttle setting

without burning much fuel

Throttle back to 0 for the let-down to the target area, depending on the cruise alt that can be done from 50+ km out

Same procedure for the return leg

Just be careful, if you know that Blue has HAWK and NIKE, its a good idea to go low level a bit sooner on ingress...

 

~

[+Stratos]

A Rolling Thunder campaign for the VA-153 Blue Tail Flies in the A-4C. Two mission so far.

 

[Saavedra]

4th mission in my campaign: Strike the SAM site at Binakh

 

 

 

 

I had to take a flight path not unlike my last mission´s to accomplish this one, and I didn´t fancy my chances against the Grumbles that seem to be stationed around the Gulf´s "armpit" (the upper-right corner of the sea). Knowing this, I opted for a somewhat unconventional solution. I loaded HARMs, AMRAAMS and Mavericks, and something a little special...

 

 

 

The AGM-158 JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile - Extended Range). Basically, a cruise missile weighing almost a ton, with a range around 1000km, or 620 miles according to Wikipedia. A mighty weapon of war.

 

 

 

After the drop, the JASSM extends its own wings, pops up to gain some altitude, and flies toward the target.

 

A cruise missile in Strike Fighters? Sounds awesome, doesn´t it?

 

 

 

 

Unless it falls short of its intended victim by fifty meters, failing to take out the tents marking the target.

 

While I was pondering if I wanted to run that gauntlet with just two HARMs and two Mavericks on me, I noticed bandits approaching from behind. Turns out that while I was circling around, waiting for the JASSM to not do its thing, there had been a furball to the north-west between what seemed to be a French Rafale squadron and some Irani Fulcrums. The Iranis were, for some reason, heading straight for me. I engaged two Fulcrums with my AMRAAMs, dodged some missiles, missed my own, and my wingman downed both enemies. Another pair of Fulcrums came after these two, but they had no missiles remaining. Because they were not flying in formation, I got on the first one´s tail easily and shot it down with guns.

 

Then, I made the mistake of trying to engage the second one.

 

I did not fancy my chances in a head-on, so I let him pass on my right and then I turned hard after him. But what do you know, the arch-rival of the F-16 turned out to be as agile as the Falcon, which is far, far more agile than the F-15E Strike Eagle if this dogfight was anything to go by. Not ejecting the HARMs and Mavericks still attached to my wings probably didn´t help me much. Once my opponent was on my six, I was unable to shake him off with hard turns or trying to get him to overshoot or slow him down so my wingman, on his six, could get him.

 

Then, I found out what happens when 30mm rounds connect with one´s fuel tank. It was not pretty to watch, and it marked the end of my Op Darius campaign.

 

 

 

 

[+Stratos]

5 missions at the moment, and the fifth was so close to be the last one... I really need to remember in the Iron Hand missions, never attack a AAA with guns!

 

 

[Happy308]

Mission 2

 

We encountered 4 BAF F-104G's that dit not offer much of a fight.

One got away but was severely damaged, and on fire.

I was convinced, he would crash or explode, but he managed to put out the fire and fly away.

 

 

 

[Happy308]

2Lt Franz Jozef is dead.

 

 

 

I don't want to be a sore loser, but those USAF / NAVY missiles are way to good.

I own several Osprey "Combat aircraft books", and one thing they speak about in every book, is how crapy 60's era missiles are.(this is true for my Atoll's)

I could not outmaneuver the Aim-7E.

 

4 Mig-21 with 2 Atoll's each VS 8 F-4's With 8 Missiles each, and no help available. = suicide

Edited April 13, 2015 by Happy308

[Do335]

I don't want to be a sore loser, but those USAF / NAVY missiles are way to good.

I own several Osprey "Combat aircraft books", and one thing they speak about in every book, is how crapy 60's era missiles are.(this is true for my Atoll's)

I could not outmaneuver the Aim-7E.

 

4 Mig-21 with 2 Atoll's each VS 8 F-4's With 8 Missiles each, and no help available. = suicide

Excuses excuses...

 

But jokes aside flying the red side is always hard from own experience as well.. The blue side always has way more planes in the air and that alone can cause a big problem to begin with.. Best I managed was 3-4 hops in a Mig19 Farmer before a tailgunner ruined the day.

Edited April 13, 2015 by Do335

[beachav8r]

My new DiD attempt is going...

 

http://www.mudspike.com/sf2-war-for-israel-did/

 

I've made an offering of chicken wings to the Gods for good luck.

 

BeachAV8R

[Saavedra]

Great write-up! And all those photos really add to the atmosphere.

[Z09SS]

I started this campaign long before the rules for daily progress were added...

 

But flying one mission a day or less sure helps my survival rate!  Almost as if I was getting tired, bored or complacent if I sit at the stick too long.

 

 

That's The Six Day Way by the way.  Took two tries through to get a clean campaign, and since dead is dead, I had to make a whole new pilot!

[Z09SS]

New campaign, better record keeping!

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2:

 

 

 

The warehouse mission went near textbook except for accidentally punching off my tanks when they still had some usable vapor left in them.

 

I've noticed that when my survival matters for the purposes of posting here, I am a lot less greedy about going after non-targets and simply getting MY mission done and getting home.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Z09SS