Pick 'n mix air patrols - Parts 1 & 2....

[Unzen]

I don't think its worth two seperate threads, so I'll combine the two!

First off, the Hawkeye question. When launched from the carrier, is it worth sending it to patrol entirely on its own, or provide some additional AEW/fighter cover with it? Obviously, this aircraft must light up like a Christmas tree to any patrolling Flankers, etc with the air-search radar on. I also realise that along with the likes of P3 Orions and even more so - E3 AWACS; these are extremely valuable aircraft to simply leave on the periphery, undefended.

Secondly, should most bomber strikes or air patrol sorties be accompanied by an AEW aircraft wherever and whenever possible? Am I correct in saying that their abilities are merely passive - providing 'protection' as such for the rest of the attack wing and alerting them to scans from opposing aircraft? Again, I'm led to believe that aircraft like the Prowler are prized assets and shouldn't be used in a carefree manner?

I'd be interested to hear back of other player's tactics with regards to carrier-bourne aircraft. [:)]

[Stalintc]

First off, the Hawkeye question. When launched from the carrier, is it worth sending it to patrol entirely on its own, or provide some additional AEW/fighter cover with it? Obviously, this aircraft must light up like a Christmas tree to any patrolling Flankers, etc with the air-search radar on. I also realise that along with the likes of P3 Orions and even more so - E3 AWACS; these are extremely valuable aircraft to simply leave on the periphery, undefended.

With regards to HVAs and carrier groups, my usual setup is to have the hawkeyes patrolling some distance from the battlegroup orientated to likely threat axes. beyond those aircraft I usually have a screen of two ship tomcat patrols covering said threat axes usually in two seperate segments.

In very uncertain intel situations and multiple threat axes I will have a second hawkeye positioned to the rear of the battlegroup a similar distance away and I will allocate similar tomcat resources to provide a barrier.

The said tomcats I will usuallly leave nose cold letting the hawkeye pick up the contacts then routing the tomcats to intercept quietly, turning their radars on when I reach optimum launch range for the best available missile. In high threat situations I may have one pair of tomcats with their radars on all the time in the most dangerous threat axes with the intent of stopping anything small slipping the net and getting too close to the Hawkeyes.

With the likes of P3 orions I tend to only provide them with fighter cover if the area they are searching can be reached by enemy aircraft or they are above potentially hostile waters, in such cases I will also make sure if possible that their search area is covered somewhat by AEW so that there is enough time to manuver him away from the threat or send fighters to intercept.

I treat E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft in a similar manner to hawkeyes.

Secondly, should most bomber strikes or air patrol sorties be accompanied by an AEW aircraft wherever and whenever possible? Am I correct in saying that their abilities are merely passive - providing 'protection' as such for the rest of the attack wing and alerting them to scans from opposing aircraft? Again, I'm led to believe that aircraft like the Prowler are prized assets and shouldn't be used in a carefree manner?

If the situation allows I will provide as much AEW cover as possible with AWACS and electronic surveillance aircraft. However I am only inclined to do so if I have tactical air superiority and have fighter assets available to cover these valuable assets.

If there are prowlers with ECM pods available to me or similar aircraft they will ALWAYS accompany a medium to large strike package that I send out, unless enemy ADA is confirmed as being minimal. These are packages I would normally have the proper fighter assets onhand to escort. It is always prudent at the very minimum to have at least a two ship formation of fighters with a strike group no matter how small, unless the said strike group contains fighter\bombers such as the F/A18 which are capable of fighting back with the same firepower as a fighter escort (AMRAAM etc)

I hope this is helpful

Cheers

[Unzen]

^^^^ - thanks Stalintc. Some really good pointers there!

[CV32]

Those are great tips from comrade Josef. [:)]

I also put my E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C patrols outside the carrier formation. With E-3 Sentry AWACS, it depends on how close they are to the FEBA (forward edge of the battle area): I'm more apt to put them outside the formation if I'm close to the enemy, and inside the formation if they are operating in rear areas. Adequate fighter escort is a must in most every case.

I generally don't send valuable AEW&C aircraft ahead with a strike package, relying more on heavy fighter and jamming support to help the strikers get through to their target(s).

[hermanhum]

ORIGINAL: Unzen

First off, the Hawkeye question. When launched from the carrier, is it worth sending it to patrol entirely on its own, or provide some additional AEW/fighter cover with it? Obviously, this aircraft must light up like a Christmas tree to any patrolling Flankers, etc with the air-search radar on. I also realise that along with the likes of P3 Orions and even more so - E3 AWACS; these are extremely valuable aircraft to simply leave on the periphery, undefended.

Like the others, I tend to send AEW planes off on their own with fighter patrols from the AEW plane, itself. The fact that the the patrols are separate makes it easy for the fighters to stay radar silent. Quite often, with AMRAAM-equipped planes, I can fire from low altitude on targets generated by the AEW and the targets never see either the CAP (since radar is off) or the AAMs and they die without returning fire.

There has only been one instance where I've found this tactic ineffective. In one scenario (I won't specify which one so as not to spoil it), the AWACs were killed by very stealthy planes that didn't appear until they were withing firing range of my AWACs. After losing a few AWACS, I compensated by attaching a fighter patrol to the AEW and then shooting down the enemy interceptors at point-blank range.