Formation editor:How to establish AEW patrol?

[MaB1708]

Just started with HCE and GIUK second scenario (2.0 Gauntlet). When playing with "Auto Formation Air patrols" ON in options I get one helo doing AWE task within the formation. Not the case when option is OFF. But in that case, how can I get a helo to conduct AWE task rather then ASW within the formation? Any ideas?
Thank you,

Martin

[hermanhum]

For those of us not cognizant of the acronym, what is AWE task?

[CV32]

I think MartinB means AEW, or Airborne Early Warning.

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: MartinB
Just started with HCE and GIUK second scenario (2.0 Gauntlet). When playing with "Auto Formation Air patrols" ON in options I get one helo doing AWE task within the formation. Not the case when option is OFF. But in that case, how can I get a helo to conduct AWE task rather then ASW within the formation? Any ideas?
Thank you, Martin

There appears to be a bug at work there, Martin. The 'Auto Formation' feature shouldn't create any AEW patrols for ASW helicopters like the Lynx and Seahawk in this scenario. Manually assigned formation patrols will put them to work performing ASW as intended.

You should know, however, in the meantime, that these helos wouldn't provide much in the way of AEW coverage anyway.

[MaB1708]

Thank you Brad, for your explanation. That explains why I cannot assign AEW tasks - be they usefull when conducted by helos or not. I only realized I cannot do what the autoformation can do, and I needed to understand that. I understand it now.
Cheers,

Martin

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: MartinB
Thank you Brad, for your explanation. That explains why I cannot assign AEW tasks - be they usefull when conducted by helos or not.

No problem. I should add that you can still assign AEW formation patrols for AEW aircraft.

[Paulus Pak]

There is possibility of creating AEW patrols with ASW chopper. You just have to choose a loadout without weapons - eg.: Ferry or Patrol. Chopper and every other flight platform with such a loadout, in formation will perform an AEW duty.
Brad is also right, there is a bug with "Auto Formation" in Gauntlet scenario. There are 4 helis in NATO surface group, 2 Lynx's and 2 Seahawk's, but all with standard ASW loadouts, so they can not be set manually to AEW duty.

[MaB1708]

Thank you very much, Paulus, for additional insight!
Rgds,
Martin

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: Paulus
There is possibility of creating AEW patrols with ASW chopper. You just have to choose a loadout without weapons - eg.: Ferry or Patrol. Chopper and every other flight platform with such a loadout, in formation will perform an AEW duty.

This is true, but I don't think that you're going to get much airborne early warning (AEW) value out of just any helicopter. They are typically equipped with surface search radars, and not a system like the Searchwater aboard the Sea King ASaC.7, for example.

[Paulus Pak]

ORIGINAL: CV32

This is true, but I don't think that you're going to get much airborne early warning (AEW) value out of just any helicopter. They are typically equipped with surface search radars, and not a system like the Searchwater aboard the Sea King ASaC.7, for example.

I'am aware of it, but in small forces scenarios (like Gauntlet), ASW dedicated helicopters can be the only available asset capable of OTH detection. So if a player doesn't want to command helicopter patrol manually, he can use it as inner formation AEW patrol (controlling radar emission via mixed sensors settings without "lighting up" entire group). Also choppers operating within formation can be additional source of ESM information. And using loadouts without weaponry give helis longer range.
By the way this discussion reminded me of Larry Bond classic - "Couldron". Do you remember that lone Seahawk dodging Rafale's, Mirage's while guarding Tico and OHP against Kormorans?

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: Paulus
I'am aware of it, but in small forces scenarios (like Gauntlet), ASW dedicated helicopters can be the only available asset capable of OTH detection. So if a player doesn't want to command helicopter patrol manually, he can use it as inner formation AEW patrol (controlling radar emission via mixed sensors settings without "lighting up" entire group). Also choppers operating within formation can be additional source of ESM information. And using loadouts without weaponry give helis longer range. By the way this discussion reminded me of Larry Bond classic - "Couldron". Do you remember that lone Seahawk dodging Rafale's, Mirage's while guarding Tico and OHP against Kormorans?

Oh, I'm not saying helos in formation aren't useful, particularly in the ways you describe, but I don't want MartinB to be unpleasantly surprised if an SH-60B Seahawk performing 'AEW' in this fashion doesn't detect a wave of incoming antiship missiles. [;)]