Targeting Airstrikes

[Uberpooch]

I searched and couldn't find an answer for this, so I apologize if it has been asked before. I was wondering if there is any way to "force" strike aircraft to attack certain hexes, rather than having them hit whatever targets of opportunity present themselves.

Last night, I was playing Operation Starlite with SPMBT v3.0. In preparation for a marine assault on a VC-held hill, I had several howitzers and mortars targeted on the hill. I also had bombing runs scheduled across the crest of the hill with two Skyraiders and two Phantoms. As the first Skyraider dropped its bombs, the pilot spotted a VC squad in a foxhole. My remaining three aircraft then proceeded to bomb/strafe that lone squad, leaving the remainder of the hilltop untouched (and swarming with angry VC as I soon found out).

Is there any way to prevent this and make my aircraft attack their pre-planned targets, or should I just not bother planning airstrikes if there are "visible" enemy units nearby? I feel like I just wasted half of my available airstrikes to take out a single enemy squad.

[pdoktar]

Usually aircraft will tend to attack visible "high value" targets, like tanks etc. Try to mess with the air entry and exit screen on the bombardment menu. This way you can avoid expected AAA and those "opportunity" targets. Also calling air support via a true FO unit may help in aircrafts target selection. However,if the target is not been spotted by anyone, there is a huge chance that the aircraft will target a visible unit.

[Mobhack]

Strike air is supposed to find enemy and prosecute these.

Therefore, if you order a strike on plain dirt at X,Y and something is actually spotted there then they will tend to target the real target over the plain dirt. So will their friends as well ("Hey Hank, the Intel pukes were right about something for once!") . The only unoccupied hex they will "go for" is a bridge hex.

If you simply need area fire on a hex, then the correct type is the "bomber". Bombers simply go to an X,Y somewhere in the region you specify and offload the ordnance and go home. They make no effort whatsoever to find any enemy forces, unlike strike air.

Cheers
Andy

[Listy]

Uberpooch said:
I was wondering if there is any way to "force" strike aircraft to attack certain hexes, rather than having them hit whatever targets of opportunity present themselves.

Don't feel bad, at least they didn't hit a friendly... Like the Time an A-1E Targeted that really Evil VC CH-47 transport

[Uberpooch]

Thanks. I was afraid that strike aircraft would go after targets of opportunity like that. I just wish I hadn't just wasted four aircraft to bomb a 4-man VC scout patrol into oblivion. I tried re-aligning the strike axis to get a better chance of my second strike actually hitting the hilltop, but to no avail. When the first F-4 came streaking in, he somehow spotted a VC sniper sneaking up on my platoon (at least 500 meters away - give that pilot the Eagle Eyes award). The F-4 and his wingman both proceeded to drop napalm on top of the sniper...and on top of my Marine platoon **ARRGH!** Now I'm choppering in my reserve platoon while the survivors limp away. At least now I've got a nice smokescreen to cover my withdrawal. I guess I'll stick to using artillery for area suppression, unless I'm assigned bombers in my force.

[Double_Deuce]

Something that I do that may help is when I first start a battle I will go in and disable all AC weapons. Then, when I get ready to call in an airstrike, I enable only the weapon(s) I want them to expend on the target I have designated. Cluster munitions, napalm and some of the really nasty stuff I keep disabled unless specifically targeting armor or clumps of enemy dismounts who are not anywhere close to my lines.

I also set the incoming and outgoing path as far away as possible from any of my men.

This seems to lessen the friendly fire incidents at least from the battles I have played.

[Uberpooch]

I never thought of selectively enabling AC weapons like that Double_Deuce. I'll give that a try next time around. Thanks for the advice!

[JohnHale]

"Cluster munitions, napalm and some of the really nasty stuff I keep disabled"

Is that altogether wise, DD?

If your a/c takes just 1 point of damage, surely your pilots will RTB for tea and medals, leaving that awfully expensive to purchase ordnance unexpended??

[narwan]

The answer to that is to also be selective in what order you buy which planes. The first few are very likely to get shot down or damaged so these should not have big (mixed) loads (4 clusters in one slot would do nicely though). The next few should be PGM armed and should only fire their PGM(s) at first, disable the rest. There should be SAM and AAA assets visible now which they're likely to target. After those you can strafe with other planes with big loads which are partly disabled. That way you can minimise your aircraft losses (points wise) and maximise the damage they do).
Oh yeah, use choppers or UAV's to locate the general area of his AA assets so you know what genral area to target your planes in. And always buy planes after you've bought all arty since these can then be used to supres AA assets just before the planes go in.

Narwan

[Double_Deuce]

JohnHale said:
"Cluster munitions, napalm and some of the really nasty stuff I keep disabled"

Is that altogether wise, DD?

If your a/c takes just 1 point of damage, surely your pilots will RTB for tea and medals, leaving that awfully expensive to purchase ordnance unexpended??

It's a risk you sometimes have to take in trade off. There are times when its better to have them RTB loaded up with some munitions rather than "accidentally" cluster bombing a platoon of your tanks bunched together as they flank the enemy though the woods.