Release altitude Nimrod

[El Savior]

Does anybody else have problem with ASW patrol aircrafts and release altitude?

I created scenario, made missions for CWDB Nimrod MR.1 #524 RAF's Maritime Patrol Aircrafts (ASW Patrol). Aircrafts drops sonobuoys just fine, but never launch torpedoes. I checked Weapons and Mk44 Mod 1's release altitude is -1000 - 304,8. Nimrods launch torpedoes if I manually drop their altitude to 305m. But fuel consumption is really high on low altitude.

So is it possible to make AI descent to lower altitude automatically and then rise back to normal patrol altitude?

[kaburke61]

ORIGINAL: El Savior

Does anybody else have problem with ASW patrol aircrafts and release altitude?

I created scenario, made missions for CWDB Nimrod MR.1 #524 RAF's Maritime Patrol Aircrafts (ASW Patrol). Aircrafts drops sonobuoys just fine, but never launch torpedoes. I checked Weapons and Mk44 Mod 1's release altitude is -1000 - 304,8. Nimrods launch torpedoes if I manually drop their altitude to 305m. But fuel consumption is really high on low altitude.

So is it possible to make AI descent to lower altitude automatically and then rise back to normal patrol altitude?

My problem with Nimrod (and possibly other ASW aircraft) is: Should it be flying so high during an ASW patrol? I don't believe the MAD sensor works at 40,000 feet, and when it finds a hostile target, it takes forever for it to come back down to release altitude.

[ExMachina]

ORIGINAL: kaburke61

My problem with Nimrod (and possibly other ASW aircraft) is: Should it be flying so high during an ASW patrol? I don't believe the MAD sensor works at 40,000 feet, and when it finds a hostile target, it takes forever for it to come back down to release altitude.

Indeed. And *I* have also wondered whether it's correct doctrine to release sonobuoys from this altitude?

[navwarcol]

Usually irl sonobuoys dropped in low altitude passes, the sensitive equipt. would not survive being dropped from 40k altitude. I have not yet played with ASW fixed wing assets here so had not noticed this, but yes, I am sure it was an oversight.

[ExMachina]

Thanks for the confirmation navwarcol. When I posted this query here a while ago, I included a link that showed that while it was technically possible to release sonobuys from >30,000 feet (I guess the parachute reaches terminal velocity pretty quickly) it was not advised because of the massive effects of wind drift on the parachute as it descends.

[bsq]

We had 2 types of launcher. Fixed (single shot, pressurised) x2 and Rotary (six shot, single release - launcher then had to cycle to next sonobuoy, unpressurised). We would be at 5000' max to use the larger launchers. Knowing where the buoy really was, was very important, so even after 5000' drops we often 'on topped' the buoy using a DF system to determine where it really was. At higher altitude drops from the fixed launchers, the 'on topping' would be required pretty much ASAP in order to know the actual laydown of the pattern.

BTW I have only ever flown at 40000' during high altitude air tests and routinely spent most of the time at 5000' over the ocean for very good reasons. Fuel consumption was abated by shutting down one engine and having one at 'flight idle', thereby compensating for the higher (per engine) burn at lower levels. This enabled us to desend rapidly to lower levels for MAD runs and weapon drops.

Personally I find the fact that all MPA's patrol automatically at higher altitudes so far off the mark as to question whether this is a blanket approach to all aircraft (flying at height)?

Aeroengines and aeroplanes have something called height for weight, where the engines are most efficient, so should only be flying at these incredible heights when a lot of the fuel has been burnt off.

[ComDev]

Thanks guys, yes we will fix this. We're doing design work on it right now actually [8D]