>>9772662
Aww fuck yeah!

LURKING PAYS OFF!
http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mercenaries_and_planes#Archive
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http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/9238394
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/9444052

Goddamn! Planes and Mercs is back!

There is a God and he is called Steve!

>>9772791
>>9772750
Total Agreement from me.

>>9772662
What is this all about? Who cares?

>>9772791

I don't know shit about this quest, but I sure do like your WiC screenshot there.

So glad other RTS developers are finally starting to steal from Massive more.

Since it has been so long, here's the mission from the last thread.

BlackFlag External Document #100368

Mission Briefing “Verdant Mace”
Source: FSB (Russian Federal Security Service)
Deployment: Mozdok (Russia)
Pancake: Mozdok (Russia)
Alternate: Khankala (Russia)
AAR: Il-78 Midas on station at Gamma if required.
AWACS: A-50 Mainstay orbiting over Epsilon.
CSAR: Spetznaz Team Omni, detached from Vympel (Vega Group)

Contract Employer: Russian Federation

Objective: Support the 42nd Motor Rifle Division's advance.
Secondary Objective: Eliminate any remaining mercenary aircraft attempting to flee to Turkey.
Secondary Objective: Destroy Georgian militia staging area (+41° 43' 22.17", +44° 47' 22.66")

>>9772845
Background: Our operation is going smoothly, last night our first peacekeeping units crossed the Georgian border under new orders from an emergency parliamentary session. There have been a few complaints in the UN but the US is keeping quiet about it for the most part, since our Maskirovka has worked quite well at swaying world opinion. That was some good work on the last outing by the way, our air assets mopped up most of the hired air defense units in the initial sweep. Intel has identified the group as Guardian Air Services, a small mercenary air arm that is covertly funded by the American CIA. We'd like to send them a message about interfering in Russian internal affairs, so if you find any stragglers, you are authorized to terminate them.
That being said, your prime objective is to support the advance into Georgia by flying close air support missions for the 42nd Motor Rifle Division. There was a mixup with operations, and the squadron that should have been deployed here was not notified until yesterday. They are in transit but for the time being we still have you under contract so you will take their place. Targets will be called in by forward observers, and will be marked by lasers if possible, smoke if not. We expect some strong ground resistance but with their lack of air support we should make quick work of them.
One final note, central has noticed that militia units in Tbilisi are staging here, at op point Able. A strike their would greatly hurt their ability to police the city and reduce their fortification against our advance. If you can spare the manpower, hitting the staging area would be of great financial benefit to your organization.

>>9772852
HUMINT: None available
ELINT: The Georgian government has been broadcasting 24/7, calling pacification operations an 'invasion' and inciting the populace to violence.
SATINT: Confirms mechanized air defense, but cannot pinpoint locations.
Air Assets: Several SU-25s are currently operating from dispersed locations, keep an eye out as they present a serious threat to the Russian advance.
Surface Assets: Unknown.

Threat Assessment: Medium. The Georgians are fully aware of the pacification efforts by Russian forces, and are currently engaging in ground hostilities. The Russian Air Force has run several SEAD missions but we are still getting the occasional air defence unit popping up.

ROE: Engagement of military targets authorized. Minimize civilian casualties.

Fuck You Op, I was planning on doing work today.

>>9772767
'Sup Sukhoi?

>>9772890
>>9772823

Time to dance with the angels!

Well, at the Russian base, we loaded up for our ground support mission. I took six Mavericks, two AMRAAMs, two sidewinders, and a centerline LAU pod. Judge took four AA-11s, , and a centerline fuel tank. Hugs took two AA-10ERs, four AA-11s, a centerline Novator K-100, two 80mm Rocket pods, and four RBK-500 cluster munitions. Scotch took two 80mm pods, two AA-8s, and four FAB-500s. We figured that between us we had enough close support firepower to deal with any threats that might pop up. All of our planes were AtoA refuelable, and while I couldn't use the AWACS other then radar vectors, everyone else had C3 links to them. We were not planning to do anything special, just the main mission, since we didn't want to lose a lot of money and material. We also decided to not take the optional “Baker Betrayal” that another merc corp was offering us. We just didn't think it was a smart move, and after taking off and entering the combat zone, we realized we'd made the right choice.

>>9772978

No, fuck you. What we're doing is keeping this thread alive, right buddy?

Also, FUCK YEAR, op IS BACK!!!

Damn it I was planning to sleep tonight OP!

The sky was full of Russian aircraft, there were several formations of Russian Bears, Fencer strike teams, Backfires, all performing heavy raids. Cubs, Candids and Condors were flying along protected corridors, dropping paratroops and landing heavy equipment at Georgian Airfields. From the sky we could see several plumes of black and grey smoke, as fighting along the front lines erupted sporadically. Major cities and towns were also burning in places, victims to the Russian strike campaigns. We were vectored in by a Mainstay operating over the area, and told that we would soon be handed off to the 42nd Motor Rifle Command vehicle, for close air support. They had so far not met with much resistance, although most of the spearheads of the assault had not either. The odd militia unit, maybe a field gun, but nothing that could put up a serious fight. The skies were fairly clear, there was a scattered cloud layer near the ground, but nothing like the blanket we had on the Africa mission. It was going pretty smoothly until the Mainstay reported that it had intermittent hits on two fast movers near one of the Fencer groups.

>>9773111

.... Guys, what low-RCS combat aircraft could Georgia or Turkey get?

>>9773133
Low altitude? Depending on where the A-50 is, it could be a blocky F-15.

Russian Radar is good, (it picked them up) but not terribly sophisticated, especially the old A-50 domes.

My guess is this is a last hurrah for the other merc group.

>>9773026
What is Baker Betrayal?

>>9773161
BlackFlag Internal Document #100369

Mission Briefing “Verdant Mace Option Baker”
Source: Premier Executive Transport Services
Deployment: Mozdok (Russia)
Pancake: TBD (Turkey)
Alternate: None
AAR: KC-130 if required
AWACS: E-3 Sentry on Turkish Border patrol
CSAR: Available

>>9773133
Eurofigher? Rafale?

Btw I've been painting a bit tonight....

>>9773175
Contract Employer: Premier Executive Transport Services

Objective: Delay or halt the 42nd Motor Rifle Division's advance.
Secondary Objective: Destroy the A-50 Mainstay
Secondary Objective: Hamper Russian Air to Ground missions

Background: We received this contract request, the payoff is exceptionally large, but what they are asking for is pretty steep. You'll have the element of surprise initially, but after that it'll be a high speed run to Turkey. You're being promised territorial support, you cross the line into Turkish airspace and their reinforced patrols will make sure no one follows you. This is your call, Blackflag will support your Squadrons decision as final.

>>9773180
HUMINT: None available
ELINT: None
SATINT: None
Air Assets: Unknown
Surface Assets: Unknown

Threat Assessment: Very High. The moment you light the fuse, you best be on your way out of the blast radius.

ROE: Engage targets of opportunity

I'm thinking this is a bad idea, despite how much cash we would get for it.

>>9773111
Not very subtle people are they the Russians?

>>9773161

A mission offered by a PMC which is a front for the CIA. The mission would be for them to stop the advance of the 42nd instead of support it and then break toward Turkey. It'd be a massive betrayal and make any future contracts with Blackflag seem untrustworthy.

I'd take that sort of offer as a insult myself. It implies that they view me as some sort of dog who follows whoever waves the most meat at me.

>>9773224

They have a casus belli (hostiles entered Russian territory), thats good enough for them. Also, those terrorist attacks on the power stations and farmland proved Georgia was falling apart.

The Russian Federation is your friend, comrades.

>>9773293
The Russians are the good guys, they are providing a much needed stability to the country.

>>9773293

>>9773026
What is a K-100?

>>9773312

Never mind the fact they engineered that instability even to the point of chemical weapons.

But thats the Russians for ya. At least now with open conflict it's a straight fight.

Hugs and Judge turned to go investigate, while Scotch and myself approached the 42nd. Suddenly, the radio leapt from silence as a Fencer pilot started shouting in panicked Russian. None of us spoke the language, but when one of the Fencers disappeared off the board, we kind of figured it out. Hugs and Judge lit off their Radars, but were still too far out to get a significant lock, but they did pick up the enemy aircraft. The fencers were duelling with them, but getting swatted out of the sky. Within a couple of turns the entire Fencer force (six aircraft) were gone. The 42nd then called us, saying they were beginning to meet some resistance, they'd taken out a few T-55AMs but were starting to come in on some entrenched infantry. Scotch told me he'd do a first pass, and call out targets as I came in for a second sweep. Hugs and Judge were just entering outer engagement range when they got hit by western radar in track mode. The two aircraft that had engaged the Fencers were turning to engage them as they closed.

>>9773386

>The Novator K-100 is a Russian air-to-air missile designed as an "AWACS killer" at ranges up to 300–400 km (160-210 mi)

... That's pretty hardcore, op's squadron must have expected mercenary Sentries fucking around outside the combat zone.

>>9773541
I was reading past mission reports and there was an AWACS they never got a shot at. I'm guessing Hugs wants a big fucking notch on his belt.

>>9773574
Does anyone have Hugs air to air kill list? It must be pretty big by now.

>>9773525

Enemy aces inbound!

>>9773525

Scotch made his first low pass at high speed. I was coming in behind him, with my IR system looking for targets. Scotch reported that off to the side of the road there was some entrenched infantry positions, and as I came down for my run, I saw a flash and puff of smoke, as a missile raced towards the approaching Russian BMPs and BTRs. A half second later one of them erupted in flames and smoke as the ATGM blasted it. I aimed for where I had seen the flash and put ten or so rockets into the forest before pulling up. Heavy suppression fire from the Russians helped since both Scotch and I didn't get any manpad shots as we passed by. Hugs and Judge were descending on their bogeys and finally had an ID on the radars, APG-68s, but nothing else. Hugs dropped two Alamos at 60 miles, in SARH mode. One failed on launch, the other flew true, but only got a proximity hit. Both targets remained, but turned and began accelerating away, with Judge and Hugs in pursuit, still closing.

FUCK YEAH PLANES AND MERCS IS BACK IN ACTION BABY!

>>9773828

AN/APG-68? Looks like a Block 52+ F-16.

>>9773828
Since when does an F-16 survive a AA-10 hit?

>>9773605

Yo buddy, you still alive?

>>9773866

Will it be PMC birds or Nato Turks?

>>9773913

Could be either, but my money is on Turks. If it's PMC backed by CIA, I'd expect to see E-scan radars.

My bet is PMCs on their last attempt to stem the Russian tide.

Either that or lure OPs flight into a revenge trap.

>>9773828

>>9773828

Fools! They are being lead on and strung out! Does nobody pay any attention to the mission briefs? They should call that shit up to command and stick to the 42nd.

IT'S ALIVE!

>>9773386
Fucking gigantic long-range missile that makes a Phoenix look small. Can't exactly hit fighters for shit, but AWACS, J-STARS, transports and bombers are fucking terrified by it. Also, if that thing fires and fails to disengage, it'd prolly give that Sukhoi carrying it enough thrust to achieve orbit.

Reading through all this, and the previous threads, it almost reads like a CIA think-tank exercise; a sort of a "Given global instability predicted in the next few years, what kind of shinnannigans could the Russians pull, and what kind of background would it take to get agents of ours infiltrated close enough to at least monitor or stop this out right" sort of deal.

>>9774018
It's secondary use is to take out GPS/Keyhole/Radar satellites in a time of war.

Let's Give Em an Airshow!

Suddenly, the A-50 called out that there were multiple targets approaching our column, as well as a flight of TU-95s operating North West of us. Scotch stayed low while I climbed a bit, flipping on my radar. As I made the turn my RIO called out that he had six fast movers and four slow moving air targets approaching our area, at very low level, many of them kept being lost in clutter. Because of their chase, Hugs and Judge were way out of position. And then, to add insult to injury, mobile air defense radar systems lit up, my RIO shouting out their names as the Russian Fencer SEAD teams started shouting on the command channel. SPYDERs BUKs and OSAs systems popped online, and within a half minute, tons of missiles were in the air, heading toward Russian transports, bombers, tactical aircraft and roving fighter patrols. Judge turned back towards us first, and Hugs followed, keeping an eye on the probable F-16s before disengaging.

>>9774338
>Steve pulls out the stops

Welcome to War Op.

>SPYDERs BUKs and OSA

Wat?

Hell in a handbasket. I can see your bank account dwindling as we speak.

They're putting up resistance eh?

Send in the Blackjacks.

"We did it! We stopped the V-2 launch! We're gonna be rich!"

>>9774338

"DANGIT!"

Crap, figures its on the day I sleep in.

Welcome back! Time to read...

>>9774470

That is the sort of attitude the makes things go bad. This is a target rich environment and op gets paid by the kill! It's time to get stuck in!

>>9774433

SPYDER: a surface to air missile platform built into a Czech light freight truck, capable of rapid fire medium range high-reflex AA missile engagement, with a 5 second track-to-fire turnaround.

BUK: Russian made surface to air self-propelled missile launcher, fires bigass SAMS.

9k33 OSA: Highly moble, first generation short range tactical missile system, built into an amphibious tank. Has self-contained radar guidence, capable of syncing with other OSA's to create a sort of "saturation kill zone" where multiple missiles track successively on the same target. Think of it as a sort of macross-missile-swarm, but with much more effective missiles, while using less overall munitions.

Basically, it means the whole countryside just turned into a massive hornets nest of fairly advanced SAMs.

>>9774666
This.

Pic related.

Missiles?


MISSILES!

>>9774666

Thats the cue for this soundtrack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkGaA14k0xA&feature=related

>>9774703

Command confirmed that I had no friendlies in the area, so the moment I had a lock I let loose an AMRAAM at the lead aircraft, and the other one at the aircraft in trail. My RIO was now engaged in active jamming as much as possible, and swivelling looking for any missile trails, since the countryside was basically lit up with these very mobile SAM systems. My missiles both hit, since I saw an explosion on the horizon, and another smoke trail followed by an explosion on a hillside. My RIO called out that there was a formation of T-72s charging toward the 42nds position, and relayed it to Scotch as well. I finally got a positive id on the aircraft ahead, there were four SU-25s moving in, hugging the floor of the small valley, and just overtaking a flight of Mi-24s heading in the same direction. The SU-25s were punching out the occasional flare, and bundles of chaff as I approached, but I still got another hit with a sidewinder, but saw a chute before I roared over the Su-25s and began turning for a second pass. Scotch made a run on the T-72 formation, dropping heavy rockets into the column, hitting a few and causing them to slow. He pulled up, turning to help me with the air assets, when an airborne search radar flicked on, western origin, and suddenly my RIO was screaming about incoming missiles, I looked off to the three oclock and spotted a trail, heading up from the landscape it appeared, with no aspect change. (Steve told me this meant it was tracking me.)

>>9774773
That is, in fact, also a shoop.

>>9774703
>>9774773
>>9774814
Here is the original, next to the shoop. It was an Iranian missile test. One of the ramps didn't actually fire. They thought it looked bad, so they retouched it.

>>9774755
More like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RirEqehfsg

>ten billion SAMs in the air

>>9774810

Sounds like a rough day on the job.

>>9774810
ANTI-TANK PLANES and HELOS!

TAKE THEM OUT! PROTECT THE OBJECTIVE!

>>9774861
Oh my that is pretty good.
>>9774810
Something is wrong here. Everything leading up to this was pointing to a easy fight. Now it seems the Georgians are counter-attacking straight into the teeth of the Russian invasion.

>>9774975


Not to mention with equipment that I'm guessing is above their "Should have" level...

>>9774975
>>9774992

Did anybody really think that NATO and the UN was going to sit around with their thumbs up their asses and let Russia stage a blatant, open invasion of a sovereign state?

... okay, okay, yes, they just might, but this is a fantasy game, where things tend to go the way they ought to, and not the way they would.

So the Georgians are going for an all-or-nothing counterattack. Well, shit just got real.

Scotch turned on his radar and found but couldn't track to more targets burning hard towards us. No emissions were coming from them, but they were launching BVR. Scotch dropped his radar since it was useless. I turned hard and jinked, and the first missile flew by, followed by a second that detonated near me but did negligible damage. I continued my turn and got a sidewinder lock, pumping off my last two, when I saw four flashes of smoke from the enemy aircraft. I pushed down and my RIO nearly emptied our flare dispenser, but we still took a hit from one of the enemy missiles, reducing my manoeuvrability and causing a hydraulic fault (the backups kicked in). My RIO called out that Scotch had just sprung up from the countryside, and was firing his Aphids from a rear aspect at the remaining aircraft, the other apparently having been crippled and making a long slow turn over the valley, smoking and gliding down. Scotch's victim was not so lucky, the AA-8 detonated near the engine (F-16s we now knew) and the turbine chewed it's way out of the fuselage before the fuel stores went. The surprise attacks were pissing us off, but then Hugs launched the Novator, a nearly 8 metre long rocket that accelerated away, blasting into the stratosphere to cruise at Mach 4 towards the offending AWACS.

>>9774975
>>9774992
The Georgian air defense (mobile) is composed of all the elements so far listed by OP.

Steve is a fucking evil man.

>but then Hugs launched the Novator, a nearly 8 metre long rocket that accelerated away, blasting into the stratosphere to cruise at Mach 4 towards the offending AWACS.

That's one AWACS crew pissing their pants just about now.

>>9772862

It's the Muppet Plane!
Just look at the front, it's the old man muppet face.

>>9774975
It was godamn epic. I haven't closed my eyes and just listend in so long.

>>9775098
Oh god, now I can hear them making jokes about planes and stuff...

>>9775078

That missile is amazing.

And shit, after watching Area 88, and this, I hate Mercs flying F-16s.

>>9775078
moar

>>9775098

I pooped a little.

>>9775111
Just bought the album, after listening to that.

>>9775078
FUCK YES

>nearly 8 metre long rocket

Bullshit, that thing is in your picture on a fighter's wing, it would have to be nearly as big as an F-86 Sabre.

>>9775098

Army intelligence (not an oxymoron, thank you) has obtained video evidence of Statler and Waldorf aboard the Waldorf Aircraft!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqKBcNteSc0&feature=related

>>9775219
The Flanker is not a little plane, it's 22 metres long.

A piddly 8m missile looks to scale on it.

>>9772767

Nice pic to help kick off the thread, Sukhoi, but this is what I usually see in MY mirror.

>>9775173
Where is that from?

>>9775219
Length 6.01 m (19.7 ft) + 1.4 m (4.6 ft) (KS–172)[1]

Its a massive missile bolted onto a massive fighter.


F-86:
Length: 37 ft 1 in (11.4 m)

Tiny tiny jet fighter, especially by modern standards.

>HURR PHOENIX IS SHIT, ONLY GOOD FOR KILLING BOMBARZ 'N SHIT

>Russians make gigantic missile meant for killing Bombers and AWACS

Yeah, it was mated to an aging airframe, which is what killed it in the end, but I'm going to hurt the next person who hates on the AIM-54, just because.

>>9775271

Is that... DeCaprio in the cockpit? Man, I can't remember the movie where he played a flyboy... o_O

>>9775240
He did exaggerate a bit. Have the stats:

Weight 748 kg (1,650 lb) (KS–172)
Length 6.01 m (19.7 ft) + 1.4 m (4.6 ft) (KS–172)
Diameter 40 cm (16 in) (KS–172)
Warhead HE fragmentation (KS–172)
Warhead weight 50 kg (110 lb)
Engine Solid-propellant tandem rocket booster (KS–172)
Wingspan 61 cm (24 in) (KS–172)
Operational range At least 200km, possibly 300–400 km (160-210 nmi)
Flight altitude 3 m (9.8 ft)–30,000 m (98,000 ft) (KS–172)
Speed "up to" 4,000 km/h (2,500 mph) (KS–172)
Guidance system inertial navigation with midcourse guidance and active radar for terminal homing (KS–172)[1]

>>9775347

>Warhead weight 50 kg (110 lb)

The AWACS was apparently too busy dealing with other stuff since they kept their big radar on. The TU-95s reported they were under attack by fighters, unknown type, and two of them were losing altitude, engines on fire as they dumped their payload and began to head back towards Russia. We couldn't help though, cause our sector was going to shit. The Fencers were starting to hit a lot of the SAM sites, so at least we didn't have to worry too much about that for the moment. However, the frogfoots were cresting the hill towards our column and the Hinds were following. Scotch turned to form up with me, we were both out of missiles but we could make a gun pass. We crossed low, with Scotch's Flogger's cannon blasting a wing to shreds and my own vulcan peppering a frogfoot before we started our high climb to turn back. My Rio called out that the three frogfoots were beginning their run, and the one I had hit had apparently ridden through the cannon fire. Rockets and cannon fire lanced out from the SU-25s to smash into the 42nd, followed by a smattering of larger explosions as they dropped their iron bombs. Our attack had at least ruined most of their run, scattering their munitions, and apparently my cannon run finally had an effect as the SU-25 I had shot augered into the field, unable to pull up.

>>9775304
Be fair. Most of the hate comes in direct resposne to faggots wnaking about how it'd shoot down russian fighters, which is just as stupid.

>>9775347

>Weight 748 kg (1,650 lb)

>Engine Solid-propellant tandem rocket booster

>tandem

That... is a big fucking missile.

>>9775407

You'd be surprised how little BOOM there is in those things. Its not like aircraft are armored.

Sidewinders carry a TENTH of that thing's warhead in explosive.


Unless, of course, you're shocked at how much it is, I could have things backwards.

>>9775407
AAMs have rather tiny warheads for their given weight. Msotly because aircraft tend to get killed very easily once they get peppered by shrapnel. You try seting off a 50kg nailbomb next to an airborne AWACS and that thing WILL suffer.

>>9775445

Wait, got it wrong, a Fifth of the warhead, my mistake. Damn Wiki articles and not consistently listing Kilos or pounds first.

>>9775416

Eh, with a proper avionics and manuvering servo upgrade, it probably could- but never as well as AMRAAMS at shorter ranges.

Then again, range was the entire point of the thing. I think somebody, somewhere, decided it'd be more cost-effective to soup up the AIM-120 to push its envelope to 70 miles or so, if needed, rather then stick with a million-dollar-a-shot-missile.

>SU-25 I had shot augered into the field, unable to pull up.

I know it's wrong of me but:
GODDAMN OP! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR FUCKING WITH THE GODDAMN BARON!

>>9775415

It's too early to say if the Georgians will turn the tide but I'm willing to say that the Russian offensive has been bloodied maybe even blunted.

>>9775445
>>9775461

Actually, I was expressing my... reaction to how BIG that warhead is. I mean, goddamn. That's gonna do the trick, all right, for all the reasons you gave.

>>9775512
I'll be amazed if they ever get the AMRAAM beyond 50 miles.

As it stands, the AMRAAM has a hell of a time hitting at 25miles, even with the Block C. Block D promises 70, but early tests (failures mostly) are showing it to be 45 tops for effective engagement.

>>9775539
Surprise attack, hide your anti-air assets, then coordinate a massive activation, catching the enemy with their pants down.

>>9775559

>As it stands, the AMRAAM has a hell of a time hitting at 25miles, even with the Block C. Block D promises 70, but early tests (failures mostly) are showing it to be 45 tops for effective engagement.

Pretty much, yeah. The D would have to promise a max of 120 to have an *effective* range of 70 versus fighters, at least, and that just ain't happening. I imagine a modified AMRAAM- an extended missile, perhaps even with a first-stage that drops off to increase kill-stage manuvering potential- as being the thing they'd use if they really feel the need to fill that A2A role.

Have pics of the SAMs.

First the SPYDER, produced by Israel.

>>9774060
The CIA angle has been pondered more than once. There is some unbelievable stuff in the campaign, but for the most part this shit is pretty fucking real in terms of capabilities and real world situations. A lot of us think Steve (who the OP has said no one really knows what he does for a living but has an encyclopedic knowledge of air warfare and tactics) is actually a CIA/NSA/intel guy.

There was one mission which basically happened 5 days later (or at least the outcome) in the real world.

Old comrade Buk.

And the OSA.

>>9775634

>There was one mission which basically happened 5 days later (or at least the outcome) in the real world.

... what?

And Steve might just be a former fighter pilot, eh? A lot of them leave the service after 10 or so years and go on to greater things. Maintaining flight status is HARD, a lot of minor medical things can get you booted, and people who are bright enough to be fighter pilots tend to take their GI bill education and go places, if they don't go into commercial aviation.

>>9775659
We are fairly certain Steve is Canadian.

Also, the same week that Planes and Mercs went on Hiatus, the Polish President's plane crashed.
We had a field day with that one.

Also, I think there was a ship hit by an 'explosion' off the coast of Africa. It was on the eastern side, not the western, but it had a lot of parallels with the ship mission op flew.

>>9775726

>Also, I think there was a ship hit by an 'explosion' off the coast of Africa. It was on the eastern side, not the western, but it had a lot of parallels with the ship mission op flew.

PLAUSIBLE DENIABILTY FALSE FLAG

>However, the frogfoots were cresting the hill towards our column and the Hinds were following. Scotch turned to form up with me, we were both out of missiles but we could make a gun pass.

Drawfags! ASSEMBLE!

As we began to make another turn a low-level radar popped on, then another, followed by a third. Tracer rounds blasted out of the forest as three ZSUs opened up on us. They missed me, but Scotch took a few rounds, and got a fault on his wing sweep indicator, locking his wings in the tactical mid range position. My backseater had already tagged up the anti-air tanks and I squeezed the trigger, the AGM-65s sliding off the rails heading towards the anti-air tanks. Five seconds later my F-18 roared over the burning anti-air tanks, with Scotch following up, releasing his FAB-500s into the forest edge, blasting huge fountains of earth into the sky with their impacts. As we climbed, our RWR went silent, as the AWACS went off the air. The remaining two frogfoots were coming around for another pass but then disappeared as the AA-12s from Judge wiped them out of the sky. As Hugs and Judge appeared on the horizon, ripping across the sky towards us, Hugs relayed to me that the A-50 had last seen the enemy AWACS trying to dive towards the ground, apparently the K-100 had finally appeared to them. Hugs descended on the enemy tank line, releasing his entire bomb payload, the heavy mixed cluster munitions playing havoc with the T-72s and supporting BTRs, not to mention infantry. Judge did a gun pass with his pods, spraying the treeline to suppress any infantry as the 42nd advanced across the field.

>>9776019

I turned, heading back towards the T-72s, and released the remainder of my Mavericks, before peppering the survivors with my Rocket pod, then dumping it. Hugs and Judge blasted through the Hinds, which managed to get an AA-8 shot off at them, before being blown out of the sky by a flurry of AA-11s. Judge's entire elctronics system failed as the missile peppered part of his wing and fuselage, and cracking his canopy. He slowed and began a turn, heading back towards our lines with me beside him, since we were both effectively combat ineffective. Hugs made another 80mm Rocket run on the Georgian positions, mopping up as Scotch provided cannon fire as suppression until his 23 clicked empty. The 42nd called and told us to cease fire, as they had now breached the defenders position and our airborne support was landing dangerously close. A Russian strike element of SU-27s arrived 5 minutes later, supported by two Flankers and we were cleared out of the area. The surprise strike had shaken the advance, but we'd kept it from being a total loss, although quite a few bombers and strike platforms were downed before the SEAD missions quieted the air defense. Surprisingly, since we were not heavy ops (bombers/transports) we actually weren't targeted by that surprise attack. We cruised back towards our base, nursing our damaged planes along. As we headed back we could see (with our eyes) more flights of transports and bombers, escorted by MiGs and Sukhois heading towards the lines.

>>9776193
Congratulations OP, you just helped Russia invade a sovereign nation.

>>9776270

>>9776193

>which managed to get an AA-8 shot off at them

not bad for a whirlybird pilot.

>>9776394
I was rooting for the Hinds, had they downed Hugs I would have laughed.

Hinds are awesome.

>>9776019
How is Scotch going to land?

>>9776441
With difficulty?

>A-50 had last seen the enemy AWACS trying to dive towards the ground

Did hugs nail a Sentry?

>>9776557
Wether he did or not, he really ruined its whole day.

>>9776597
This, you force it to turn off the Radar, you have won, no two ways about it.

>>9776441
>>9776550

At higher speed. That's all. Not a problem if the Russians gave them a long enough runway.

>>9776441
At the end of a long skid mark?

Stall speed in tactical is 200~230 knots I think, since you can't push the flaps down if the wings aren't in the full forward position.

We continued to the airfield, but had to hold as operations was pushing a strike into the air, which almost caused Judge to run out of fuel. He went in first, and landed safely. Hugs followed, landing without incident. I was going to land, but got a fault on my gear system, the nose wheel would not deploy due to a failure. I did a flyby and the tower said all my gear was down. In the meantime, Scotch turned and began his approach, his gear warning system shouting as he came in on a hot approach. He made his piloting roll, right on the numbers, and slammed the flogger down in a cloud of blue smoke, deployed his brakes and parachute, and then hammered on the brakes. It all seemed good until one of his brakes caught on fire, and his wheel detonated from the heat. His plane apparently dragged itself off the runway into the grass, brakes on fire, with pieces of shredding tire following. I wasn't looking forward to this. I lined up and landed, touching down gingerly, and I thought that my roll had been good enough. Apparently it didn't matter, my nose gear collapsed and the front of my plane smashed into the concrete, ripping off the nosecone and destroying the radar. My head also bounced off my console, so now my pilot has a concussion (-1 to all rolls on next mission if it is within a certain timeframe.) Scotch was sitting beside his plane at this point, as crash crews turned from his still smoldering brakes to the new wreck blocking the runway.

I'll get the kill tally next.

>>9776698

Yeah, he can put it down no problem if he's got a proper, long runway. He'll just have to land short and lean on the brakes a bit.

Consider how fast that Israeli Eagle driver had to be going at wheels-down when he landed minus an entire wing...

>>9776834

>Apparently it didn't matter, my nose gear collapsed and the front of my plane smashed into the concrete, ripping off the nosecone and destroying the radar.

Lot better then losing the who-

>destroying the radar

FUCK

All I can picture is Scotch laughing as he kicks back beside his smoking plane as Baron sits unconscious in his broken F-18, bits of APG bolts and pieces rolling past him.

>>9776698

you have a ref book at hand, or did you just know off the top of your head the stall speed of a MiG-23 with half-swept wings?

>>9776952
Don't try to figure it out, she's a witch when it comes to airplanes.

>>9776834
>Apparently it didn't matter, my nose gear collapsed and the front of my plane smashed into the concrete, ripping off the nosecone and destroying the radar.


Ouch, still at least everyone made it back alive today. Are either aircraft salvageable/repairable, or are they finished?

well atleast he can go back the the oh so sexy F4 phantom.

>>9776985

It just makes me sad, because I want to know these things, and when I look for reference books that actually have stats that matter- like roll rate, for instance- they are not to be found.

BUT HEY THEY'LL TELL ME WHAT THE LENGTH AND WINGSPAN ARE, AND IF YOU'RE SUPER LUCKY, WING-LOADING! WHO GIVES A FUCK ABOUT THE REST AMIRITE

What happened to that enemy merc group, anyways?

To the best of my notes:
Air Kills
Hugs: F-16 (Combat Kill), Saab 2000 AEW&C, 2x SU-25, 2xMi-24
Scotch: F-16, SU-25
Judge: SU-25, 2x Mi-24
Baron: F-16 (Combat Kill), 2x SU-25
Air Incidentals: None
Ground Kills
Hugs: 2xT-72, 5xBMP-2, 3xOtokar Cobra, 27xInfantry
Scotch: 3xT72, 6xBMP-2, 42xInfantry
Judge: 3xOtokar Cobra, 17xInfantry
Baron: 4xT-72, 3xZSU-23, 2xBMP2, 31xInfantry
Ground Incidentals: None
Friendly Ground Losses: 3x BMP-3, 1x T-80, 37xInfantry
Friendly Air Losses: 9xSU-24, 4xMiG-27, 3xTU-95, 1xTU-26, 3xIl-76, 5xAN-12, 1xSU-27, 3xMiG-29, 5xSU-25
Damage Taken
Scotch: Airframe (Moderate)
Hugs: None
Baron: Airframe Minor, Radar catastrophic
Judge: Airframe Minor, Electronics Catastrophic

>>9777154

>>9777150
Part of it is my job, the second part is my reference books.
Search: Yefim Gordon.

>>9777194

Damn, the Georgians didn't go down easy.

>>9777194
>Friendly Air Losses: 9xSU-24, 4xMiG-27, 3xTU-95, 1xTU-26, 3xIl-76, 5xAN-12, 1xSU-27, 3xMiG-29, 5xSU-25

That's...a lot.

>>9777194
Wow.

Heads are going to roll over those loss numbers, mind you, that coordinated anti-air assault got what it aimed to do, give the Russian force a bloody nose. Probably shot off the rounds, then abandoned the vehicles and uniforms.

>>9777211

>my job

How you tantalize.

>Yefim Gordon

... dear god. I assume these texts have DATA, or educated guesses thereof, and not just that Barnes'n'Noble picture book bullshit? Oh god. Oh god, yes. I love you. I love you so. Thank you.

Nice to see the planes are fixable (albeit at cost), but man, you really must've been feeling like this with your Hornet for a while.

>>9777273
Yefim is one of the best analysts in the west on Modern eastern bloc weapons systems that publishes on the civilian market. If you want histories of test pilots, development, manufacturing and capabilities, he's probably your best bet.

>>9777194
Also,

>Saab 2000 AEW&C

Yeah,, those F-16s were definitely from the enemy merc squadron.

Only the Pakistanis use the Saab 2000 as an AWACS.

>>9777194
>Air Losses

That is a real air war.

>>9777273
Hey that's my exact screencap I took, down the to resolution

Bitches must be rollin in Cash from this mission!

>>9777373
More cash than the Russian Air Force is going to have left after this.

Well flown OP, well flown.

>>9777373

not after losing the radar on a fucking Hornet.

>>9777373
I bet you they'll have to do some pro bono work. Not voluntarily, of course.

>>9777313

>If you want histories of test pilots, development, manufacturing and capabilities, he's probably your best bet.

Oh yeah. That is exactly what I want.

It's a crying shame that no scholarship like this seems to be extant vis a vis the 1940s era stuff- and the wartime reports are both sparse and often of problematic quality/methodology.

>>9777396
They weren't being paid by the Air Force...

>>9777408
I know that.
I'm talking about what the Air Force is going to have to spend to replace the 30 odd planes they lost.

>>9777446
The only valuable thing the Russians lost were pilots. Most of those planes are ancient.

>>9777519

You know they had a prototype interceptor variant of that? True story.

>And then, to add insult to injury, mobile air defense radar systems lit up, my RIO shouting out their names as the Russian Fencer SEAD teams started shouting on the command channel. SPYDERs BUKs and OSAs systems popped online, and within a half minute, tons of missiles were in the air.

Awesome read, as always, OP. I read that bit and my only thought was 'you guys are FUCKED. GOOD AND HARD.' I'm glad to know you got out mostly in one piece, even if your planes needed a hosedown by the base fire department.

>>9777406

>and the wartime reports are both sparse and often of problematic quality/methodology

"So they took the three birds up and did a spot-o-dogfightin and really, they're all swell birds, spot-on."

Quite annoying.

>>9777583
I detest History Channel specials on aircraft. You learn nothing. You're better off muting the TV and watching the pretty cinematography.

>>9777660
Same here.

>>9777313

So basically, if they published a magazine, they'd be a modern Air Action Weekly from Crimson Skies?

Awesome.

>>9777702
That, was on the history channel?

>>9777722
If only.

I'll admit I'm a bit turned on.

I'm off for now, I'll keep you all posted! Put this up on the forum too.

What ruleset is this for?

>>9777797
http://www.mediafire.com/?zezmgtmwjam

>>9777797

Airwar C21 with home-brew RPG modifications.

OP scores again!

Although it sucks you lost the F-18.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/9772662

Archived

Nicely done OP. The Russians are no doubt happy with their investment.

But things have without a doubt gone FUBAR. That ambush inflicted massive casualties and the Russians are going to have to reconsider the whole operation. Whatever happens next they will undoubtedly be relying on your flight to take point.

>>9778012
Wasn't this their final contract flight with the Russians?

>>9778036

To be honest, I kinda hope so.

>>9778127
Yeah, there is only so much curb-stomping they can do.

>>9778036

I don't remember seeing any indication that this would be the last one of the Russians. If anything this would be a "SHIT JUST GOT REAL" moment. But who knows? Steve could just say that after that last mission the Russians have decided to go back to subversion tactics in lieu of a frontal assault and subsequently thank Blackflag for their services and send them on their merry way.

>>9778545
Also, may I say GOD I hope they bagged the AWACS. Those things are hideously expensive and blowing one out of the sky would make this whole business just that much easier.

>>9778576
They did.
>Saab 2000 AEW&C

>>9778688

That was just OP's listing, I don't think its confirmed?

>>9778576
It'd be funny if that AWACS became a recurring enemy.

"Goddamn it, they're back?!"

GODDAMMIT RAMIREZ!

CHAFF, NOT FLARES!

>>9778902
Ramirez strikes again.

I think the Air Defence units won this round.

Not nearly enough Cat in this thread.

Come to /tg/ after a bad day, this is the top thread. Smile.

I missed you Planes and Mercs.

There's no way the Russians can blame them for not picking up on that ambush or doing more once it was sprung. They're not gonna be happy with the losses i'm sure but I doubt it'll stop them from getting paid what they're owed. Of course those losses may force an early termination of their contract due to the sudden increase in costs to keep their own airforce flying after that.

>>9779301
I think the losses are barely a drop in the bucket for them.

>>9779426
Well, maybe more than a drop, but not supremely significant.

I just looked it up, apparently they stil use the T-95? Why? Isn't that plane like really old? Why not use something better, I mean, they still have propellors!

>>9780095
Whats wrong with propellers?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

>>9780193

propellers are old, we invented jets in the forties!

>>9780095
It's a prop-driven B-52. Why retire it?

>>9780303
Because propellors are slow compared to jets?

>>9779426
Oh, those air losses are pretty harsh. As old as they are, Bears aren't cheap and transport planes is something the Russians really don't want to lose.

That said, there's now a merc unit out there that's either going out of business or has just put OPs group on their shitlist. Loosing a freakin AWACS is going to really put a deficit on the bill.

>>9780380
It's only about 100km/h slower than the B-52 and has a good 5000km of range on the BUFF.

Propellors are good tech, more fuel efficient.

>>9780634
Then why don't airliners use them?

>>9780843
slower, speed is everything in airline industry.

The TU-95 actually uses a turboprop system, which is basically a mix between propellers and a jet engine. It delivers almost as much thrust as jet engines, but uses up way less fuel.

And airliners will never use it, because those things are crazy loud. As in, any Bear crews WILL develop hearing problems in just a few years of service, even though they wear protection. Hell, NATO pilots closely shadowing Bears during the Cold War for a few years sometimes developed hearing problems from it!

>>9780843
Don't speak too soon, GE and PW are developing the UDF

woah, what happened to my trip...

>>9780963
We trust you anyway. And what the hell is that?

>>9781027
Unducted Fan.

>>9780963
The fuck would be the advantage of that shit? With ducts you have the advantage of compression and added mechanical safeties. Why would anyone want to put the blades on the outside and create tip vortices and shit?

>>9783149
Ducts actually inhibit fuel economy. Unducted fans deliver more thrust per fuel spent, so they are more efficient They also offer the highest bypass ratio of any jet engine design, which is key to high thrust levels.

This thread delivers.

As always.

>>9783660
Good lord, what is that?

>>9784333
A Bomber.

Hey guys, can I join this thread?

>>9785348
Smalltimer.

>>9785299
Thanks for bumping the thread, at least that bit was helpful.

>>9785348
That depends on whether or not you can dogfight in such a huge plane.

>>9785503
Considering it can't even fly (well, not very far anyway) and is made entirely of wood...

>>9785639
My point exactly. I was trying to put it politely to the poor thing.

>>9785348
>H-4_HERCULES

Haha, the filename actually uses its real name, who uses its real name?


The answer? Anyone who worked for Howard Hughes, he fired *anyone on the spot* if he heard them call it the "Spruce Goose". He HATED that name with the fire of a thousand suns.

>>9783460
Alright, but presume that we're using an internal combustion engine here, and not a jet engine. Any sort of external, 'unmanaged' combustion is undesirable from an economical point of view. What would be the preferable design?