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Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
DCS World: Sixth Arab-Israeli War of 1990, Goons fly and play an imaginary war

Goon Coop Campaign in DCS World, a simulation of modern military air combat and some ground and sea combat.
.
Thread here if you wanna check out the game itself: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3633891
Air Goons Wiki for our nerdery writing and lots of the concepts and explanations of air combat: https://www.airgoons.com/w/Main_Page
Where we talk and chat about this in Discord: https://discord.gg/6fQMsff

Our last campaign: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3989829

The game map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1FqSMMT7sxxOPvIzfgQsvfsEDVd7jikQt&usp=sharing


The spreadsheet for the current pilot roster is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15Grz7yEp70GOFfjch3zD1mp2TpDStdapDdqNVTAOu6c/edit#gid=0

Bottom line up front: Some 40 goons will fly a plot-heavy campaign in the Levant in 1990 as an mainly Israeli Air Force unit, with some American help from a carrier. Weekly main mission scheduled at 2000hrs Universal Time on Saturdays. The time means that there’s no AMRAAMs, no Targeting Pods, no helmet mounted sights, and many other weapons are limited. Israel also lacks the ability to employ HARMs, relying on the older Shrike which will require significantly more piloting ability to deliver to the recipient.





Current larger decision making roles:


Commander of the Israeli Northern Command: Yooper
The Commander chooses where and when to attack, and plans the overall package. In addition, the Commander will be able to direct ground warfare, and is responsible for the big picture.
He will use this a bunch: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1FqSMMT7sxxOPvIzfgQsvfsEDVd7jikQt&usp=sharing

Commander of the Israeli Southern Command: VACANT
The southern command isn’t actually on our Syria map in-game, as Israel is cut in half. However, since Egypt and the Sinai are very much in lore play, the mission designers will still write both roleplaying and game related information and stories of the Southern Command’s AO. The happenings here will play into the larger conflict in significant ways. If a more role playing role interests you, we’d be happy to have you aboard.

The US Navy Carrier Air Wing Commander: mashed_penguin

The americans aren’t supposed to just be Israel’s lapdogs. They also most certainly won’t agree to all taskings and missions, or targets. That’s up to the american to decide what he or she agree to, or do not agree to, as the American navy planes partake in the war.
Mashed_penguin will also be grading carrier landings, heh.

Israeli Air Force Legal Officer: Jmoravia
The Legal Officer will be able to deny or grant legally questionable mission requests, conflicts with foreign countries, and acts as a dungeon master for warfare legality concerns.


Israeli Air Force Logistics and Armaments Officer: BurntCornMuffin
The loggie officer maintains the GoonFap script that measures dollar expenditure, and dictates what weapons are used and available, and when resupplies and reinforcements are concerned, where they come from and what they entail.


Israeli Air Force Intelligence Officer: Jzilla
The Intel Officer relays detailed information about threats and situations.

Goon News Network Journalist: Prime/Angrybrit
GNN will always report from the front lines, and will be able to deliver hard hitting journalism 24/7. Nothing is more exciting than war!

The Syrian Commander: VACANT

Once again something with a bit more role play aspect to it, but nevertheless fun. You can gently caress with the main force, write your propaganda, and harass them in discord and the forums.

Air Battle Managers, Air Traffic Controllers, and Flight Leads are boring and nobody cares.







So wots all this then?
DCS World is a flight sim with modules, individually purchased planes that simulate various helicopters and fixed wing aircraft of mostly the modern era. The game includes non-flyable AI assets, and tons of ground units of all kinds. Game requires a lot of patience, as these airplanes are started manually with each system modeled, and the nerds that fly them click the buttons in the cockpit to achieve what they need to do. The sim is good enough to be used by real air forces for training for planes, such as US Air National Guard for the A-10, and the French Air Force for the Mirage 2000. Our players will talk on the radio channels with air traffic control and air battle management, and they will use different channels to communicate with their wingmen. Each flight will have its own objectives as part of the package, and the flight leads will write up their plan before game day, and after the game, their after action report. Each days’ game will probably last about 1.5 hours to 2 hours. We’ll stream it both from the perspective of a pilot, and from the air battle manager station’s radar screen.

Does it sound complex? Oh gently caress yeah, it is! But it’s a lot of fun. We hope to attract the interest of non-plane goons and are more than happy to explain terms and describe what we do. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, and we look forward to sharing nerdery in this thread or the Discord.




Alright, so let’s dive into the set up:
:frogsiren: FIRST IRL GAMEDAY:

05 MAR, at 2000 UTC :frogsiren:
The Levant, in DCS Syria map

Game schedule for the next six games:
5th, 12th, 19th March
intermission
2nd, 9th, 16th April


The date in game: 10th June 1990, 0500hrs when the game kicks off.

Background:

After the War of Yom Kippur 1973, also known as the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, Israel’s hold on the Golan Heights was met unfavorably by the world. In the conclusion of the war that took Israel by surprise, it still managed to achieve significant victories both statistically and geographically. The Syrian Army was largely demolished and its air force was obliterated. Israel claimed a large part of the Golan Heights, and in spring of 1974, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force was formed to enforce a buffer zone, from Line Alpha to Line Bravo, of varying thickness, between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights.


In 1982, in the Fifth Arab-Israeli War, also known as “Operation Peace for Galilee”, or rather the leadup to it, Israel was relentlessly attacked by PLO elements from Lebanon, and Israel claimed that the only way to stop the attacks would be to invade Southern Lebanon. Which Israel did on 6th of June 1982. The PLO, under the chairmanship of Yasser Arafat, had relocated its headquarters to Tripoli in June 1982. By expelling the PLO, removing Syrian influence over Lebanon, and installing a pro-Israeli Christian government led by President Bachir Gemayel, Israel hoped to sign a treaty which Menachem Begin promised would give Israel "forty years of peace". This didn’t happen. Surprisingly, when the United Nations confirmed the right of Israel to exist, PLO leader Yassir Arafat also signed documents confirming for the first time that the PLO believed the modern State of Israel, established in 1948, had the right to exist.

Just two days after the war, Israel attempted to destroy Syrian air defence sites in the Beqaa Valley, which Syria had lined up with countless SAM sites. What became known as the “Beqaa Valley Turkey Shoot”, Israel got 82 aerial victories without the loss of a single airplane, and demolished the SAM sites. The lingering effects of the Yom Kippur War a decade earlier, and now this utter destruction, meant that Syrian Air Force effectively stopped existing for five years, and started to recover in early 1990s. This did not prevent the armed opposition from PLO and other groups, and soon the Israeli position became untenable, both militarily and politically, and especially after Israel could have stopped, but did not, the Sabra and Shatila massacres done by Christian militias where palestinians were murdered en-masse, the world opinion turned drastically. Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon, but the power vacuum they left caused even further instability and plunged the region into severe civil strife. The Lebanese Civil War would continue until 1990, at which point Syria had established complete dominance over Lebanon.

This is where the real history will stop, and after a hard turn of a timeline, we proceed into our alternate history path.

The looming Syrian dominance over Lebanon, and the prospect of a new Arab Coalition leaves Israel threatened. The Knesset forms another unity government in January of 1990, and requests international help from what it views to be a certain chance of a war. Meanwhile, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon (A Syrian puppet state effectively) declare a mutual stance against Israel. During spring of 1990, all these countries slowly moved more and more units to the Israeli border, and positioned several armored divisions nearby. They forward deploy several SAM sites even closer to Israel, and routinely test Israeli defences by skirting their airspace. There is war in the air, but it is likely not to start any time soon. As is custom in the Levant, and during tightening of tensions, Egypt unilaterally tells Israel that the Straits of Tiran are closed for Israeli shipping. This vital seaway provides most of Israeli oil imports.

It’s effectively the last straw. Israel decides to not wait for the war, but to start it themselves rather, both against Egypt and Syria with a pre-emptive strike. During all the previous wars, early Israeli decapitation strikes against its neighbor’s SAMs and airfields gave it quick superiority. That is what they will attempt once again, and the date is decided. 10th June of 1990 is the date that is top secret, and the hand held notes and orders are spreading to the Navy, Air Force, and Army.

In the Northern Command’s area, the main Israeli air power is located at Ramat David Air Base, which provides the region’s air power. The HQ itself, the Israeli Northern Command, is located in the town of Safed, near the Golan Heights. The 7th Armored Brigade and the 188th Armored Brigade are the two major fists of the Northern Command. But nevertheless, the players will be mainly in Ramat David Air Base. It is the closest Air Base to Golan Heights, and Israel will lean heavily on it. The Syrian forces that are beyond the UN Buffer zone, and the ones in Southern Lebanon, outnumber the Israeli forces by an almost four-fold number. If Israel is to defeat the Syrian ground forces, it has to achieve total air superiority.

The United States is an reluctant Ally of the state of Israel, but as USS Theodore Roosevelt and its escort sails into the Mediterranean, the United States grants limited air strike assistance to Israel in case its territorial integrity is threatened.

Game situation: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1FqSMMT7sxxOPvIzfgQsvfsEDVd7jikQt&usp=sharing


The player squadrons that are in play:



Israeli Air Force units, located at Ramat David Air Base.



Ramat David Air Traffic Control
Controller: Kilonum

Not only will noted forums poster Kilonum run the Air Traffic Control at Ramat David Air Force Base, but she is also the base commander in terms of aircraft parking, departure and arrival patterns, hot pit refuel and rearm organizer, and all things airport. Israeli Air Force has been a famous organizer for hot pit rearms, and has been able to maintain as high as a four sortie day pace during intensive times of war. Per airplane!



-----------------------------



“Sling Shot”, Israeli Air Force
192nd IAF Milvus Squadron AEW
E-2C Hawkeye “Daya” x1
Air Battle Manager: Elendil004





Israel flew four E-2 Hawkeyes until the late 1990s. In Peace for Galilee, they gave Israel an insurmountable upper hand, and their C2 enabled decisive aerial victories such as the Turkey Shoot at Beqaa Valley. Forums Poster Elendil will not be flying this airplane in this game, but rather will handle radios and radar and datalink screens, and the AI pilot is taking him on a spin. He is, by far, the single most important player in this game, just like in the last one.


--------------------

"Trash 1"
103rd IAF "Elephant Squadron"
C-130 x2
Role: Mobility
Flight Lead:




These two player flown C-130s will drop paratroopers, carry supplies, and move equipment related to the war effort.


--------------------------------

“Panther 1”, Israeli Air Force
101st IAF “First Fighter Squadron”.
F-16C “Barak” x4
Role: Air to Ground/Air-to-Air,
Flight Lead:

“Panther 2”, Israeli Air Force
101st IAF “First Fighter Squadron”.
F-16C “Barak” x4
Role: Air to Ground/Air-to-Air,
Flight Lead: Sneep






This unit’s Vipers are some of the best ground attackers in the Middle East. The unit has flown F-4s, A-4s, and F-16s in its history. It is the very first fighter squadron Israel ever had, and started with Avia S.199 Bf-109 copies. Giora Epstein, one of the highest scoring aces of the modern era, flew in this squadron. Israel has scored 47 total air victories with its fleet of F-16s.
The Baraks do not have BVR capability, relying only on heat seeking Python and Sidewinder missiles. They will also lack targeting pods and the helmet mounted sight, things often associated with the more modern F-16s.

Giora Epstein:







---------------------------------




“Colt 1”, Israeli Air Force
110th IAF Knights of The North Squadron
A-4C "Ayit x4
Role: SEAD, Strike
Flight Lead: Cbjamo


“Colt 2”, Israeli Air Force
110th IAF Knights of The North Squadron
A-4C "Ayit x4
Role: SEAD, Strike
Flight Lead: MadmanTheory




Knights of The North Squadron flew many planes in its history. In this alternate history of ours, it held onto its A-4s just a year longer to fit into our timeline. The Israeli Skyhawks saw an insane amount of flight hours, and took part in countless wars and border skirmishes. They retired eventually in late 2000s, after many many retrofits and bolt-on modifications.


----------------------------------



“Dodge 1”, Israeli Air Force
109th IAF Valley Squadron
Kfir C7 (Mirage 2000C in our game) x2
Role: Air Superiority
Flight Lead:




The Valley Squadron out of Ramat David started with Mosquito fighter bombers in 1951, and ever since has flown an immense variety of combat aircraft. There is currently no Kfir in DCS, and while one is being developed, we are opting to choose to use the Mirage 2000C full fidelity model with Israeli skins, as it is close enough, and we can pretend it is an advanced design of the Kfir. It will use israeli skins to be almost indistinguishable from the Kfir. It carries two heat seeking missiles, and two semi-active beyond the visual range missiles, and will thus pack a punch farther out than the Baraks.



---------------------------

“Dodge 2”, Israeli Air Force
133th Knights of The Twin Tail
F-15C x4
Role: Air Superiority
Flight Lead:




The legendary Eagle was the superior air combat platform in 1990. This plane will mop the floor with any fighter in the world, and it will not run out of fuel nor missiles. Its downside is its inability to do any air to ground. It is a pure fighter. It is a famous participant of the Bekaa Valley turkey shoot during the Peace for Galilee where 82 Syrian airplanes were destroyed, and two F-15C from Israel were simply damaged.






Player airplanes from the United States Navy.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its escorts are in the Mediterranean, willing to provide some help to Israel as per Washington.




“Devil 1”, US Marine Corps
VMFA-232 Red Devils
F-18C x4
Role: Air-2-Air, Strike
Flight Lead: Jarmak




To add some flavor, we forgo the US Navy and throw in the US Marines. Even if this plane due to the era lacks AMRAAMs, in 1990 the Hornet is a formidable opponent, and very capable in all roles. In this era, the Hornet will not be able to use a helmet mounted sight, nor targeting pods. It will however get access to HARMs.

---------------

“Ford 1”, USN
VF-154 Black Knights
F-14A x2
Role: Air Superiority, Strike
Flight Lead: KingCrab





The venerable Tomcat, once again. This time it’s the A-model, with its weaker TF-30 engines that killed many pilots in training. The Tomcat can do very basic air to ground ops, but is primarily used for air-to-air duties. It’s datalink that is far ahead of its time is an excellent situational awareness tool in combat.


------------------




So, how will you partake in this? Dunno yet, this isn't all super well defined of what will happen and what this will entail in all its glory.
HOWEVER, if there is a role you want to play, or even one you came up with, please hit us up! We will add various role playing aspects, even perhaps a Syrian Commander, or maybe you want to be a Syrian propaganda minister?

Our flight leads will post in this thread of the plans for each game day, and some of the decision making that goes into it. Preferably in plain english so non-spergs can enjoy it, too. In addition, we will stream the game and the flights, and provide some edited recaps of highlights. We will also add a tacview track of the fights to analyze later on. I want to emphasize that we want you to participate, by posting, by writing, or whatever. If you have interest of any kind, please feel free to do suggestions and nudges. The goal here is to spark more interest in this niche flight sim and get more active players into our discord, and to spread the absolutely joyous fun of combat simulation.


If you'd like to see what goes into being a flight lead, and what kind of basic mil aviation stuff these goons fly with, check out our SOP. It isn't a ruleset to be obeyed, but sort of a guide line of the type of things you should know!
https://www.airgoons.com/w/Standard_Operating_Procedures

Prime made a nice video of a goon mission that's unconnected to this mission. You can see it here, it'll give you a decent idea what the goons in cockpit see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC9t7b0bUf8


We will also use Tacview to get realistic track files after the battle to analyze what happened and how we used weapons.

https://i.imgur.com/oQddaKb.mp4
https://i.imgur.com/m1Ykcbz.mp4
https://i.imgur.com/ujbD0BI.mp4

Vahakyla fucked around with this message at 12:39 on Mar 16, 2022

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TerranRaida
Feb 3, 2010

Tomcats are Black Knight squadron? oh HELL yes my time is now!

Corky Romanovsky
Oct 1, 2006

Soiled Meat

TerranRaida posted:

Tomcats are Black Knight squadron? oh HELL yes my time is now!

Who will be your Arthur?

Lord Stimperor
Jun 13, 2018

I'm a lovable meme.

Looking forward to some hot sweaty carrier top gun man action

TerranRaida
Feb 3, 2010

Corky Romanovsky posted:

Who will be your Arthur?

if it's anything like our last campaign, it's some rando AI with an IGLA. More dangerous than any aircraft.

Tulip
Jun 3, 2008

yeah thats pretty good


The georgian campaign ruled and I'm happy to see another one of these so soon even though I know nothing about planes, I'm just here to back our Boys in Ba'ath.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Here's some hype pictures.

Ayits leaving Ramat David Air Base:





Our Kfic C7 stand-in, Mirage 2000, departing Ramat David.

Lord Stimperor
Jun 13, 2018

I'm a lovable meme.

You guys made a phenomal first campaign! The lore and info dumps in between missions made my day and the scripted missions were thrilling.

I would like to help out with the campaign-building if I can. My experience with the mission editor is "can place units and give them waypoints". If there's a training / tutorial that can give me the necessary skills, I'd be happy to help you guys out!

I would also gladly contribute lore items such as researching and preparing newspapers.

This would also help to distribute and institutionalize skills.

Prawned
Oct 25, 2010

I'm ready to fly more planes badly.

mashed
Jul 27, 2004



This is Captain Mashed of Carrier Air Wing 8 reporting in. I will be overseeing the tasking and employement of the USA's carrier based assets present in theatre. Israel may have the politicians at home at its beck and call but to get US Naval Aviators onboard they have to go through me :colbert:

As the flight surgeon has temporarily witheld my flight status I will be staying abord ship for the initial flights of this campaign. However this will only give me more time to devote to the true purpose of naval aviation, grading landings.



I will be deploying a new air wing greenie board for this operation. A handy grading key has been provided for future reference.



Remember CASE I more like CASE FUN.

mashed fucked around with this message at 02:36 on Feb 14, 2022

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Just introducing some of the players in the hood:












Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
Lore adjustment, the F-18C Squadron from the Theodore Roosevelt is the VMFA-232 Red Devils, instead of VFA-87.

mashed
Jul 27, 2004

Marines...

What did I do in a previous life to deserve this.

Elendil004
Mar 22, 2003

The prognosis
is not good.


We'll need to c-130 at least one load of crayons onto the ship ASAP.

biosterous
Feb 23, 2013




watching the previous campaign was fun, this should also be cool, thanks airgoons

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
The Goon Server is running a heavily modified TTI practice server in 10th of May 1990 with period correct weapons, four major Israeli landmarks labeled clearly on the map: Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, Beqaa Valley. You can see them in F10 map at all times, and this is imagined as a realistic training exercise as Israel realizes it is headed to war.

a mysterious cloak
Apr 5, 2003

Leave me alone, dad, I'm with my friends!


I read the most recent let's play and reinstalled DCS.

I also have the A10 and Black Shark, neither of which I remember how to even start, it's been so long.

I may jump in and get an appropriate plane.

a mysterious cloak fucked around with this message at 02:40 on Feb 15, 2022

Bentai
Jul 8, 2004


NERF THIS!


So it looks like to get in on this you'd have to drop $60 for the Syrian map, $40 for the carrier (if you want to be a crayon chewer), and then another $20-80 for a plane?

mashed
Jul 27, 2004

Modules routinely go on sale for up to 50% off. But yes for this campaign you would need the Syria map as a minimum. Some of the aircraft like the A4 are free mods others are paid. If you want to fly boat planes then for this campaign you would also need the supercarrier module.

I personally would not spend money on DCS modules when they aren't on sale or a pre-order discount :shepspends:

Dark Off
Aug 14, 2015




Bentai posted:

So it looks like to get in on this you'd have to drop $60 for the Syrian map, $40 for the carrier (if you want to be a crayon chewer), and then another $20-80 for a plane?
yeah wait for sale.

super carrier aint worth it and should have been free instead, at least in its current state its not worth it, very immersive however if your into that kind of stuff.
i would also recommend against getting m2000c because that module is ancient now and lacks flexibility, +FBW might be too easy.
If apache releases during campaign i think it will get shoehorned in, because IAF did receive apaches in 90's

best option out of paid modules is the f16, it wont require super carrier is flexible and gets used a lot in goon missions.

Dark Off fucked around with this message at 13:57 on Feb 15, 2022

Yooper
Apr 30, 2012




CMDR Yooper Here, I'll be the Northern Command Aluf for this campaign. I'll work with the flight leads for mission tasking, direct ground units, and hopefully keep us out of the weeds.

A few tasks for everyone in this lead up period.

1. Flight Leads : Can you please inform us (:justpost:) of the capabilities of your aircraft circa 1990. Effective engagement ranges, ordnance, and an overall feel for how you will work. SlingShot (Elendil) and MatzoMaker (me) don't want to assume you can do something you can't.
2. Pilots : Practice with your aircraft. I know this sounds silly, but without precision munitions this will be an entirely different world. If you're A2A, get good with SARH or IR missiles. Winging missiles half a continent away is no longer a thing. A2G, pickle iron bombs and cluster munitions till you're comfortable with literally dropping the bomb into a pickle barrel. Then do it while evading AAA.
3. SEAD : Learn that Shrike! If we can't knock out Syrian air defenses then everything above will be for naught.

Going into this I'm assuming we'll be, at least, half as effective on our missions. Doing the core tasks well will define our success on these missions. Our AO is tight, you'll be wheels up and on target in under 5 minutes for the initial sorties. Let that sink in. In 3 minutes you may be inside of SAM range.

I'm hoping to add some new flight planning tools to keep this all buttery smooth.

Yooper fucked around with this message at 17:05 on Feb 15, 2022

ninjahedgehog
Feb 17, 2011

It's time to kick the tires and light the fires, Big Bird.


e:nvm

JerikTelorian
Jan 19, 2007



I'd like to get involved with this but it looks like I missed my Steam Sale opportunity. I'll toss the F-16 on there though, and since I own the OG A-10 maybe I'll get the update for that too. Is there ever a role in these for ground attack?

I have zero experience with modern combat sims (like anything that isn't piston driven) but this seems too cool to sit out. (I've dabbled with ARMA3 but I can't imagine that's anything close to the fidelity on display here)

Snapshot
Oct 22, 2004

damnit Matt get in the boat

JerikTelorian posted:

I'd like to get involved with this but it looks like I missed my Steam Sale opportunity. I'll toss the F-16 on there though, and since I own the OG A-10 maybe I'll get the update for that too. Is there ever a role in these for ground attack?

I have zero experience with modern combat sims (like anything that isn't piston driven) but this seems too cool to sit out. (I've dabbled with ARMA3 but I can't imagine that's anything close to the fidelity on display here)

A4 and the C-130 are free; the biggest thing will be buying the Syria map.

Elendil004
Mar 22, 2003

The prognosis
is not good.


Naval Aviators should grow deployment staches and I'll award something to the best stache at the end of the last day.

wedgekree
Feb 20, 2013
All wings, accelerate to attack speed!

Elendil004
Mar 22, 2003

The prognosis
is not good.



quote:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
UNCLASSIFIED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
R 151420Z JUN 90 ZYB MIN
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
TO TF69/CVN71, CVW8, VFA87, VF154, DDG68, FFG58, FFG43
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ/TF69 MUSTACHE MORALE CONTEST//

1. AS WE MOVE TO SUPPORT OUR ALLIES IN ISRAEL, THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO BE MINDFUL OF ARE A DANGEROUS DECREASE IN MORALE, AND LACKADAISICAL SWEEPERS.

a. LACKADAISICAL SWEEPERS WILL BE HANDLED VIA SEPARATE MESSAGE TRAFFIC.

2. IN ORDER TO KEEP MORALE HIGH THE COMMANDER, TF69 IS SPONSORING A MUSTACHE GROWING CONTEST FOR THE DURATION OF THE CAMPAIGN. A TWO-DAY LATE SLEEPERS CHIT IS THE COVETED PRIZE FOR WINNING THIS CONTEST.

3. MUSTACHES MUST CONFORM TO EXISTING US NAVY REGULATIONS:
a. MUSTACHES ARE AUTHORIZED BUT SHALL BE KEPT NEATLY AND CLOSELY TRIMMED. NO PORTION OF THE MUSTACHE SHALL EXTEND BELOW THE LIP LINE OF THE UPPER LIP. IT SHALL NOT GO BEYOND A HORIZONTAL LINE EXTENDING ACROSS THE CORNERS OF THE MOUTH AND NOI MORE THAN 1/4 INCH BEYOND A VERTICAL LINE DRAWN FROM THE CORNER OF THE MOUTH.
b. THE LENGTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL MUSTACHE HAIR FULLY EXTENDED SHALL NOT EXCEED 1/2 INCH.
c. HANDLEBAR MUSTACHES, GOATEES, BEARDS OR ECCENTRICITIES ARE NOT PERMITTED.

4. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE, A DATE-VERIFIED CLEAN-SHAVEN PICTURE OF YOURSELF TO INCLUDE YOUR USERNAME MUST BE PROVIDED WITHIN A 24-HOUR WINDOW PRIOR TO THE FIRST MISSION START TIME.

5. A SECOND PHOTO MUST BE PROVIDED WITHIN A 24-HOUR WINDOW PRIOR TO THE FINAL MISSION START TIME.

6. WE INVITE OUR ALLIES IN ISRAEL TO TAKE PART AS WELL, PENDING PERMISSION FROM THEIR COMMANDER.


Mustaches shall not: Go below a horizontal line extending across the corner of the mouth as indicated by line "B". Extend more than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corners of the mouth as indicated by line "C". Protrude below the lip line of the upper lip as indicated by line "D".

Late sleeper chit provided by the CVN 71 Goat Locker. (I'll buy the winner a custom title).

Elendil004 fucked around with this message at 01:16 on Feb 16, 2022

Bentai
Jul 8, 2004


NERF THIS!


Snapshot posted:

A4 and the C-130 are free; the biggest thing will be buying the Syria map.
How uh.. how easy is the C-130 to fly with a controller? Asking for a dumbass.

Forums Terrorist
Dec 8, 2011

Yooper posted:



CMDR Yooper Here, I'll be the Northern Command Aluf for this campaign. I'll work with the flight leads for mission tasking, direct ground units, and hopefully keep us out of the weeds.

A few tasks for everyone in this lead up period.

1. Flight Leads : Can you please inform us (:justpost:) of the capabilities of your aircraft circa 1990. Effective engagement ranges, ordnance, and an overall feel for how you will work. SlingShot (Elendil) and MatzoMaker (me) don't want to assume you can do something you can't.
2. Pilots : Practice with your aircraft. I know this sounds silly, but without precision munitions this will be an entirely different world. If you're A2A, get good with SARH or IR missiles. Winging missiles half a continent away is no longer a thing. A2G, pickle iron bombs and cluster munitions till you're comfortable with literally dropping the bomb into a pickle barrel. Then do it while evading AAA.
3. SEAD : Learn that Shrike! If we can't knock out Syrian air defenses then everything above will be for naught.

Going into this I'm assuming we'll be, at least, half as effective on our missions. Doing the core tasks well will define our success on these missions. Our AO is tight, you'll be wheels up and on target in under 5 minutes for the initial sorties. Let that sink in. In 3 minutes you may be inside of SAM range.

I'm hoping to add some new flight planning tools to keep this all buttery smooth.



Seren Madman Theory of Colt 2 here. Already, my flight and I have begun training with our Skyhawks and the pilots under my command are some of the finest veterans in the IAF. We're currently drilling for low level and dive attacks with unguided rockets, cluster bombs, and both high and low drag iron bombs as well as employment of the Shrike ARM against the expected air defense systems of the enemy. Our aircraft are fitted for drogue refueling and drop tanks, and we have terrain avoidance radar to allow for low altitude flight in poor visibility. Additionally, we are equipped with parachute flare dispensers and rockets for night illumination, allowing for all weather attack.

However, our electronic countermeasures are dated, we have no guided weaponry beyond the Shrike, our cockpits are not NVG compatible, and our navigation systems only provide for 2 waypoints so complex flight plans will be very difficult to follow precisely without reference to landmarks (or in IFR). Additionally, our self-defense capability against enemy air consists of at most 2-4 AIM-9P5 Sidewinder missiles, our twin 20mm cannons, and our wits. Taking more than 2 missiles seriously cuts into our capacity for A/G ordinance and ideally, our escorts and air cover are effective enough to allow for those 2 pylons to be used for additional ordinance.

As it stands, we're capable of air defense suppression against emplaced sites and we are currently drilling for close air support; over the coming days we'll also aim to practice striking defended targets and area targets such as airbases.

Corky Romanovsky
Oct 1, 2006

Soiled Meat

Bentai posted:

How uh.. how easy is the C-130 to fly with a controller? Asking for a dumbass.

Should be pretty easy. It has various autopilot modes too, so you can lock in a cruise. Just need to get it all set up to avoid nose wheel steering issues on landing, and the couple of key bindings for your various cargo doors.

Corky Romanovsky
Oct 1, 2006

Soiled Meat
You can do a 2-week trial of aircraft, too. So between sales you can get an idea of which plane you might like, and even fly in the campaign while on trial (if you get comfortable enough). Next sale should be the "Spring Sale" (possibly late April).

Taps
Aug 14, 2009
"ATTENTION ON DECK!"



quote:

"VFA-154 aviators I want to officially welcome you to the med. You may ask yourself why you are lucky enough to visit this slice of paradise. The answer: To do your job. End of questions. The Skipper wants us to steam up and down the coast here for some time until the Carl Vinson relieves us. During that time I expect ALL of you to be at your top notch readiness. There has not been a point in the past 50 years that life in this region has been easy, and you are here to ensure it doesn't get any worse. Starting this week the Skipper wants 2 Black Knights on alert 15 at all times, with his discretion to put 2 more on alert 5 if need be. I expect Commanders Menendez and Crab to work that schedule out to accommodate the skipper or you can accommodate a toilet brush for the rest of this trip. Do I make myself clear?"

The CO was fond of making himself clear. And as a career officer he looked clear too. Pale from spending all his time below decks in meetings and interior cabins, only emerging to mete out justice, punishment, demands, but never praise - we, the members of VFA-154 Black Knights knew that his script wasn't done without some stereotypical addendum.

"One more thing: If I hear of any poo poo between you and the marines of devil squadron? Well lets just say, dont get caught." The CO grinned slyly, a clear indication that he felt he had got his point across, and punctuated his finality with a crisp, "Dismissed!"

The CO departed the ready room and the squadron members shuffled out of their seats and begun the murmuring and gripes traditional of receipt of 'Orders From On High.'

"Well poo poo, indefinite vacation in the Mediterranean, what more could you ask for Crab?" -- Javier Menendez. Twenty-Five years old. A proverbial hot shot from Denver, Colorado. Joined the Navy to see the world, didn't realize the world was 90% water. One of the Black Knights junior pilots who showed just enough initiative to be a flight lead.

I gave him the truth: "Jesus man, I don't know, regular maintenance? Working jets? They want us to keep alert 15 AND 5 on request and all we have to deal with are the A models. I heard the tomcatters already got the new fancy D's."

Menendez replied with all the necessary swagger of a naval aviator. "Tomcatters are sitting pretty on their asses in Mirimar right now. So a lot of good their cool new systems are doing the special interests of the United States in port, while we're out here doing... well..." He looked wistfully about and up at the bulkhead of the ready room.

I let him down easy: "You heard the CO, dont think too hard about that one."

"Yes Sir!" Menendez mock saluted and crossed his eyes

"Ok so how you want to do this thing?" I said referring to my delegated, and frankly shared out of disdain, responsibilities for keeping the squadrons flight crew schedule balanced.

"Coin toss." Menendez reached into his pocket eagerly

"No put that cheating poo poo one sided coin away you son of a bitch."

Menendez slumped, paused, and whipped his hand out towards me in the shape of a fist - "How about a game of skill- rock paper scissors?"

"You know what. Ok sure fine yah lets do it. Loser has to cover the 4 to 10 am flight line shift starting this Sunday morning"

I bumped my fist against his. As we started counting down, the rest of the squadron began to form up around us eager to see who was losing what and how much...

"Paper."

"Scissors!"

drat.

"YES! Cordial guess what! We are sleeping in tomorrow!"
Menendez turned to fist bump his RIO, Ben "Cordial" Maroon (the most polite New Englander you'll meet this side of a horse and buggy).

My gaze caught that of Vahakyla's, my proverbial wingman, and his RIO Angel from across the room. No words needed in this solemn glance, just the understanding of an early bed time if we wanted even have a chance at a good day tomorrow. Somehow, as if he already knew, my own RIO, LTJG Lumme was snoozing in his bunk, at least 1 step ahead of the rest of us.

Menendez and Cordial made their way towards the door of the ready room, but not without slapping me on the shoulder as the crossed my path.

"Well we have to make our way up to the deck. Still have a few more traps to put in before the end of the day. You'll be in my prayers tomorrow morning while we slumber all tucked in tight."

They both chuckled and sauntered out. I rolled my eyes. I still had paperwork to do to before I could even think about getting some rest.

...

Yelling, shaking awake - it was a midship man, yelling something at me ... I checked my watch, it was 10pm, I had only gotten to bed 40 minutes ago... bleary eyed I focused on what he was telling me...

"Sir there's been an accident they deployed the rescue chopper, you have to come topside, it's Menendez he splashed down on recovery!"

I bolted up. Oh god no. My mind raced and so did my feet down the corridors, somehow managing to glide past every low and protruding bulkhead that might catch and down an unvigilant sailor. My mind went through every scenario. The plane could have been damaged on launch. Flaps stuck in the extended position- gear not fully retracted, throwing off his descent pattern. It could be he lost his nerve trapping at night, but I doubted it. The likely culprit, finicky "A" model engines. Prone to stalling, slow to respond to throttle movement. When making a carrier landing, you can be in more trouble than you can correct for in the F14-A.

And now instead of Menendez praying for me, I'm praying for him, Cordial and their families -- both at home and here in VFA-154. The Black Knights are now down a whole plane, and possibly down two friends and brothers. I can only hope the rest of us can make it through this week unscathed.

Taps fucked around with this message at 07:20 on Feb 16, 2022

CBJamo
Jul 15, 2012

Forums Terrorist posted:



Seren Madman Theory of Colt 2 here. Already, my flight and I have begun training with our Skyhawks and the pilots under my command are some of the finest veterans in the IAF. We're currently drilling for low level and dive attacks with unguided rockets, cluster bombs, and both high and low drag iron bombs as well as employment of the Shrike ARM against the expected air defense systems of the enemy. Our aircraft are fitted for drogue refueling and drop tanks, and we have terrain avoidance radar to allow for low altitude flight in poor visibility. Additionally, we are equipped with parachute flare dispensers and rockets for night illumination, allowing for all weather attack.

However, our electronic countermeasures are dated, we have no guided weaponry beyond the Shrike, our cockpits are not NVG compatible, and our navigation systems only provide for 2 waypoints so complex flight plans will be very difficult to follow precisely without reference to landmarks (or in IFR). Additionally, our self-defense capability against enemy air consists of at most 2-4 AIM-9P5 Sidewinder missiles, our twin 20mm cannons, and our wits. Taking more than 2 missiles seriously cuts into our capacity for A/G ordinance and ideally, our escorts and air cover are effective enough to allow for those 2 pylons to be used for additional ordinance.

As it stands, we're capable of air defense suppression against emplaced sites and we are currently drilling for close air support; over the coming days we'll also aim to practice striking defended targets and area targets such as airbases.

Hello all, I'll be flight lead of Colt 1, the other better flight of A-4s.

I would like to stress our lack of situational awareness tools, especially the lack of bearing information from our RWR. While the shrike is a quite effective missile, without modern RWR, we'll be stumbling around blind with the shrike's seeker to find SAMs. With that in mind I think it'll be best to use the shrike as a defensive weapon. Meanwhile the American hornets have modern RWR, and the more capable HARM, so unless they strictly cannot be tasked to SEAD I recommend they take the lead on that mission. If the A-4s must be used for SEAD, I want to stress the importance of good intel on the SAM sites location(s). If we already know where to look, the weakness of our RWR can be dealt with.

In my opinion, our most effective weapon is the 70mm FFAR. They're reasonably accurate and have enough punch to kill tanks. While carrying defensive sidewinders or shrikes for defense, we can carry 133 FFAR, which translates to about 10-15 volleys. With that in mind, I think your most effective tasking will be BAI. CAS will be tricky with our basic SA, but is within our capabilities.

Our next most effective weapon is the Mk80 series of bombs. The bombing computer can be quite accurate, though it's not the pinpoint accuracy of CCIP. Snakeyes also give us a fairly accurate bombing option. This gives us the flexibility to fly strike missions when the package needs to bring in a shitload of bombs.

The final A/G weapon of note is the Mk20 rockeye cluster bomb. If we're tasked with BAI, but can't loiter for either fuel or threat reasons, the rockeye allows us to put an awful lot of hurt out in a small time.

ninjahedgehog
Feb 17, 2011

It's time to kick the tires and light the fires, Big Bird.



placeholder banner until my photoshop skills are marginally less dogshit

Sup y'all, I'm ninjahedgehog d/b/a wrathcough, and I'll be leading the F-15C Eagle flight Dodge 2.

Our mission is gonna be pretty much the same as it was in Georgia: sanitize the airspace in advance of the strike flights and maintain air supremacy over the target area. However, the AIM-120 AMRAAM hasn't entered service yet so we'll largely be relying on the AIM-7 Sparrow for BVR combat. Its core drawback compared to the AMRAAM is that the launching fighter must maintain single target track (STT) radar lock for the missiles' entire flight; if the lock breaks even for a moment the missile will go stupid and the shot will be wasted. This means that each plane will only be able to effectively engage one target at a time in BVR, making target sorting a priority. Our maximum effective BVR range is about ~20 nautical miles for a Sparrow killshot under good circumstances, but realistically we're going to want to start our engagements at 30 miles to give us time to acquire and sort targets before launching.

The good news is that the bandits are also limited to Fox 1s, so any opponent we can force defensive is one that's guaranteed not to be shooting back at us. In some circumstances, it might be worth one Eagle launching a Sparrow beyond its effective range to force at least one bandit to go defensive and limit the amount of missiles headed our way.

We're also going to need to practice basic fighter maneuvers (BFM), as our likelihood of entering a merge is way more likely than it was in 2008. The Eagle is an average-to-good dogfighter -- its impressive thrust-to-weight ratio makes it better than the Hornet or Tomcat but worse than the Viper, and more importantly, the MiG-21. I'll type up some words about the Eagle's optimum flight profiles in a later post, but in short, we'll want familiarize ourselves with how fast we should be going and how many G's we can pull before we start bleeding speed too fast. In most engagements it'll probably be a good idea for one F-15 to hang back from the initial joust and avoid entering the merge, so they can keep an eye on the general situation and try to snipe bandits with Sparrows.

In short, switching from the AMRAAM to the Sparrow changes up our tactics significantly, but it doesn't in any way tarnish the Eagle's status as the baddest, most effective, biggest-dicked fighter jet ever made. IRL less than half a dozen of the F-15's 104 aerial victories were made by AMRAAM anyway, and not a single plane was lost along the way. We've got a rep to live up to. :911:

ninjahedgehog fucked around with this message at 18:05 on Feb 16, 2022

Yooper
Apr 30, 2012




This is a classified brief from the office of Aluf Yooper. Back in May my office received tasking from the Defense Minister, Yitzhak Rabin.



Operation Convergence is our task. It will begin, 0600hrs to 2100hrs, 10th June 1990. Our task is simple.

1. Establish air superiority over the Levant.
2. Push back the SAM network enroaching on israeli air space.

Israeli Army ground units will advance to secure objectives. More details will come on our tasking but initially we are aiming for a second Operation Focus. Which is no less than the complete destruction of the Syrian Air Force on the ground. Our aim is to remove the SAM threat, strike nearby Syrian Air bases, destroy Syrian Radar sites, and then cover the advance of the Merkava's and M60's.



This letter will be delivered to the UN by our Ambassador, Yohanan Bein at 1200, 10 June 1990.



Flight leads, as the intel picture develops my office will provide tasking. An example strike will look something like this.

1. SEAD by A-4E's.
2. Facility Strikes by F-16's.
3. Runway strikes by M2000's.
4. CAP by F-15C's.
5. USN F-18's as FireWall and back cover.

In regards to the USN assets, I intend to minimize the risk of escalation to the US. Their is a limit to good will, and I don't want to break that limit. So even though they could strike Damascus, it may not be in there best interest to agree to that. But they may excel at striking a radar near Tyre for example.



This is a brief draft of our initial planning. More details to come later.



1. Practice your core tasks against MIG-21's, MIG-23's, SA-6/SA-8, and Shilka's.
2. Prepare your flight for sustained operations.
3. Our Armored Units will excel in this environment. I intend to let them hunt tanks and advance while we choke the defending units of fuel and supplies. Tank busting is fun, but will be secondary to primary mission tasking.
4. UNDOF and UNIFIL will be present in the deconfliction zone. Don't shoot the UN forces. Don't even drop empty fuel tanks on them. Just don't do it. They'll be the people you wave to on your way to the AO. They'll be in bright white vehicles with UN stenciled in blue.

ooc : I'll let Vaha speak to the wider picture of Israeli Military Assets, but we are part of 400 or so aircraft on day 1. Success of our tasking, or failure, will directly impact how things go throughout the AO.

Yooper fucked around with this message at 19:33 on Feb 16, 2022

mashed
Jul 27, 2004



Attention squadron leadership of CAW-8. We are enroute to a port call in Hafia for some much deserved liberty after several months underway. I know that some of you have been watching the news that tensions are rising in the region. CNN is showing that Israel has been exercising heavily near its borders and there are reports of civilians being required to report for military duty. At this point liberty is not cancelled and we will continue our aviation operations. However I do want to make clear the current disposition of US naval assets if the situation is to deteriorate further. The United States supports Israel's territorial integrity and may defend it from attack however the USN will not participate in a war of aggression with Israel's neighbours.

:siren: The following rules of operation are currently in effect. :siren:



No USN aircraft may operate within 12NM of the coast of Lebanon.

If we are requested to by the Israeli government we may operate within the US recognized borders of Israel.

If you are attacked you may return fire but may not pursue aircraft across these boundaries. If you are engaged by a surface to air missile anti radiation weapons may be employed but only in self defence.

You will be advised if and when this situation changes.

CAG out.

Yooper
Apr 30, 2012


mashed_penguin posted:

No USN aircraft may operate within 12NM of the coast of Lebanon.

If we are requested to by the Israeli government we may operate within the US recognized borders of Israel.

If you are attacked you may return fire but may not pursue aircraft across these boundaries. If you are engaged by a surface to air missile anti radiation weapons may be employed but only in self defence.

You will be advised if and when this situation changes.

CAG out.



Glad to see the USN coming in for a great liberty at Haifa. There are a wide variety of beautiful beaches for your flight line to take advantage of. We hope all goes well and this tasking is brief so you can return to your home port. Until then I look forward to coordinating ops that meet your flight requirements.

Vahakyla
May 3, 2013
To give some idea of the level of accuracy and the attention to detail we are doing here I show what is taking us many sleepless nights, and hours and hours of every day.

Research into the units that exist, their MTO, locations, and inventories are taken into the account.
The SAM network of Syria in 1990 is replicated very faithfully here, down to each location. There's some disconnects between 1990 when compared to 2012 and 1998, two years where solid information is available of the network. Anyway, here's a Syrian Early Warning Radar, roughly at 33.323, 36.295 south of Damascus.

Pictured in DCS, and the Google Maps, and our 1990 layer of map icons.




And it shown in the game with labels on:




Next example:

SA-2 site south of Damascus

In google maps and our game map overlay:


Ingame map:


Game world:


Another example:

Here is the Israeli Northern Command, their Golan Heights and adjacent major command and its table of organization.




And on the game map:







So how hard are we going?
Answer: yes

Vahakyla fucked around with this message at 22:13 on Feb 16, 2022

Lord Stimperor
Jun 13, 2018

I'm a lovable meme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTX1lI8COuQ

quote:

To The Press Attachee at the IDF

I am Adam Katz with the Haifa Herald. The Geneva Star claims to have inside information about possible military interventions at the Tiran Straits. I have attached their front page. The Haifa Herald has covered IDF affairs extensively in the past. We would like your comment on these rumours and, if possible, discuss the current national seucurity situation with you.

Regards,
A. Katz
Senior editor


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piL
Sep 20, 2007
(__|\\\\)
Taco Defender
When DCS lets me drive a fully functional Arleigh Burke, I'll sign up to fly a boat. Until the Godspeed dearest goons o7.

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