Decoy loadout documentation?

[theCase]

What is a Decoy loadout and how does one use it? It's not in the (ahem ) "Manual", Also what's the significance of the little lightning bolt by my planes? The only reference I could find is on page 15 where it says "Active ECM indicators (Lightning Bolts)". Is there another manual I'm not aware of? The online manual appears to be the same stuff as my ole Harpoon 97, what am I missing?

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: theCase
What is a Decoy loadout and how does one use it? It's not in the (ahem ) "Manual", Also what's the significance of the little lightning bolt by my planes? The only reference I could find is on page 15 where it says "Active ECM indicators (Lightning Bolts)". Is there another manual I'm not aware of? The online manual appears to be the same stuff as my ole Harpoon 97, what am I missing?

The Decoy loadouts contain air launched decoys, such as the TALD and ITALD systems, designed to mimic aircraft or missiles and thereby complicate enemy air defenses. More here:

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-141.html

The lighting bolt symbol is exactly what you pointed out, an "Active ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) indicator, i.e. an indication that the sensor that has the lightning bolt over it is being jammed by ECM.

[mack2]

Use a decoy loadout to get the enemy to expend ordnance, and to provide "cover" to any missiles.

In general, I think most decoy loadouts usually contain twice the amount of decoys than the plane can carry strike missiles (like harpoon), eg you have a plane which carries 4 harpoons, it will usually carry 8 decoys.

It's probably best, if you have time, when attacking a formation, to hit them with a decoy strike first, then either a full harpoon strike or an arm strike. Or you can just hit them with multiple harpoon strikes, as long as you only aim at the closest couple of ships (depending on your striker numbers) you can get the decoy aim of expending ordnance, with the possibility of taking out ships.

Against air defences, you probably want decoy then an Arm strike, since most of the time you will need to hit (this assumes a US cvbg) your targets with walleyes from hornets or intruders.