Having trouble getting firestreaks to fire!

[Falraen]

Hello

Im while playing scenario operation vantage, i cant get my firestreak missiles to fire at all.
Im quite new to these kind of games so maybe im missing something simple.
My planes just keep following enemy bombers at same altitude as they are and no matter where they are in relation to enemy they only use their cannons against the enemy.
I tried giving them manual target allocation and automatic etc, but no joy after they are out of cannon rounds they just follow the enemies around while doing absolutely nothing. Surely these missiles cant be that bad ?

[Falraen]

70 views and no replies at all. [:(]

[Jakob Wedman]

Hi, if you try the manual weapons allocation you should be informed why each weapon cannot be fired (text in red).

[Falraen]

Yes i have used that to check, but it just says weapons needs to detect target or something along those lines, even though im right behind the target at same altitude and even within cannon distance cannons firing so it doesnt make any sense.

[Jakob Wedman]

Strange, can you post a zipped .save?

[CapnDarwin]

What type of bomber are you trailing? A prop bomber may not emitted enough of a signature to be "seen" by the seeker. The Firestreak range is very short 4-5nm, it is a rear aspect only IR seeker. If the enemy is fast enough and you are at the max range of the missile it has no chance to hit. If they model the sun location and early IR missile issues locking on to the sun the approach vector may be bad.

Or it's a bug. [:D]

[LuckyJim1010]

Hi Falraen,

Firestreak was very much 1st Gen IR Heatseaker. The technology was in it's infancy.

As Capn Darwin says, if they model sun location and it's effects you are in for a world of hurt.

Just out of interest what scenario are you playing and what was the launching a/c type ?

If there is a scenario out there using the 'Supersonic Spitfire' (aka Lightning) I wanna be playing it [:)]

I remember gaming Red Top equipped Lightnings in SPI's AirWar back in the ealy 80's and even then with those missiles, which were a generation up from Firestreak, the rules meant you very rarely got a lock on.

[Falraen]

Scenario is operation vantage.
Cant remember exactly what planes it had, but it was on several of them. I cant check right now, but that scenario comes with the game so you can check out if it has what you want to play LuckyJim.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, maybe the bombers didnt have sufficient signature then. I dont think its the sun though cause i kept flying all over the place with many planes and directions were always different

[NefariousKoel]

I would suggest turning on radar, but you may not have any. Besides, an IR missile shouldn't require a radar detection anwyay.

Does the missile in question have altitude launch limits listed in it's database entry? If you're flying over or under it's launch parameters, then they won't fire.

[mikmykWS]

Very early missile guys that has fairly strict firing parameters.

[MR_BURNS2]

And what firing parameters would that be?
I played the same mission and also did a test in Edit mode.
Lightning coming up right from dead astern a IL-28 going at full power.
Missile must detect target prior to firing! I tried it over the whole range envelope, altitude was the same.
I think the Firestreak is buggy.

[hellfish6]

I've had this problem too. I figured it was 1st Gen IR AAM, so I just went with cannons instead. I haven't used AIM-9Bs or AA-2s to compare yet.

I wouldn't mind someone explaining how to engage with a Firestreak, should they be successful. Actually... has anyone been successful with the Operation Vantage 1961 scenario? Those Vampires always seem to arrive over Kuwait in enough numbers to ruin my airbase.

[SSN754planker]

I remember gaming Red Top equipped Lightnings in SPI's AirWar back in the ealy 80's and even then with those missiles, which were a generation up from Firestreak, the rules meant you very rarely got a lock on.

Wow someone else played AirWar? CLASSIC game!

[ComDev]

Paul has fixed this one, will be included in the next db update.