Don't forget the SQUADRON, or you can't fly off Carriers

[alexis99 124]

I've been following the KNOWLEDGE BASE tutorials on how to place carriers in campaigns, and occasionally came unstuck because one important factor is not mentioned:

IF YOU DON'T ATTACH YOUR AIRCRAFT TO A SQUADRON, YOU CAN'T FLY.

The reason is that when you go to the in-game Campaign screen to create a campaign, the only way to choose the USN aircraft you have placed in the campaign is by its squadron. And if you haven't attached your aircraft to a squadron, it won't be in the list to choose.

So you could have perfectly attached your carrier station to the terrain, perfectly attached your carrier to a station, and perfectly attached your aircraft to a carrier. But without the squadron it all comes to naught.

I found this out recently because I wanted to try the F-35C in carrier ops, and after a few struggles, now I can.

I made myself an aide memoire which shows how everything links, and thought I'd share it. Pay particular attention to #4, you probably know the rest.

 

STR/WOV/WOE ADDING CARRIERS TO CAMPAIGNS: (Based on a WOV campaign)

1. LOCATE CARRIER STATION: TERRAIN FOLDER - TARGETS INI
2. ATTACH CARRIER TO STATION: CAMPAIGN - DATA INI
3. ATTACH AIRCRAFT TO CARRIER: CAMPAIGN - DATA INI
4. ATTACH AIRCRAFT TO SQUADRON: CAMPAIGN INI

#1. LOCATE CARRIER STATION: TERRAIN FOLDER - TARGETS INI
[TargetArea085]
Name=Dixie Station (Matches Base Area in #2, and Base Area in #3)
Position=774000.00,352000.00 (Can be altered. Use Mission Editor to determine coordinates)

#2. ATTACH CARRIER TO STATION: CAMPAIGN - DATA INI
[CarrierUnit008]
CarrierType=CVN-65 (Folder name in OBJECTS - GROUND OBJECTS)
CarrierNumber=65 (Matches Carrier Number in #3)
BaseArea=Dixie Station (Matches Target Area Name in #1, and Base Area in #3)

#3. ATTACH AIRCRAFT TO CARRIER: CAMPAIGN - DATA INI
[AirUnit011]
AircraftType=A-6A (Any USN aircraft)
Squadron=VA-192 (Can be called anything, but should match first part of Unit name in #4)
BaseArea=Dixie Station (Matches Target Area Name in #1, and Base Area in #2)
CarrierBased=TRUE (Make sure it says this)
CarrierNumber=65 (Matches Carrier Number in #2)

#4. ATTACH AIRCRAFT TO SQUADRON: CAMPAIGN INI
[USNUnit005]
UnitName=VA-192 Golden Dragons (Can be called anything, but should match squadron in #3)
UnitID=11 (Matches [AirUnit011] in #3)
StartDate=03/30/1972 (Make sure all elements have same date overlaps)
AircraftType=A-6A (This will then show in Create Campaign page)