Matrix Games Forums

Hi all,
I am currently playing the Battle of First Salvo mission.
USN forces attacked me in waves which were relatively beaten back .
When attacked by HARMs (identified by their speed and launching platforms[:'(]) I was able to
defend myself by shutting down all emissions.
My question is , what is the best tactic if I was to be attacked by ASMs and Antiradiation
missiles simultaneously?[&:] Is there any real life approach to it?[&:]
It's more of a real life tactics question rather than a gaming one.

Hoping to constructive feedback
[&o]

Jake

Combined attacks are much more dangerous then single attacks as its much more difficult to defend against (for the obvious reasons you already mentioned). Even during the second world war, simultaneous dive bomber and torpedo attacks had the greatest chance of scoring hits. In real life, one would also try to attack from multiple directions in a coordinated strike in order to make it even more difficult to defend against. One thing that I have noticed by attacking modern warships is that its almost impossible to overwhelm a modern integrated and layered air defense system. This is still possible during early 80's and 90's scenario's, but get progressively harder during later scenario's. From 2010 onward, you have to be very lucky to land an early strike, but more often then not, you have to force the defending vessel to expend all its defensive ordinance in order to hit it.

Thanks Willie.
As I did played that mission before from the USN side, I always tried to throw in the mix from different corners (Walleyes,Harpoons,Maverics & HARMs) followed by bombs. I did work miracles as the hardest thing was to get multiple groups in multiple points and synchronise the attack. Once launched, it was mission successful [:D][:D].
I am only wondering though how would the commander of this fleet react in real life conditions?
Engaging only the phalanx equivalents or the E/O would instantly decrease his chances..

What would he do ? (other than prey [&o][&o][&o][&o] )

If you need to defend, you can only pray that nothing gets through...
In real life, I don't think that any officer would order all radars off to stop older ARM. Modern versions have their own seeker and will hit regardless.

Weapons get more deadlier every year, so nowadays the best defense would be not to be found or to kill the enemy before they find and shoot at you.....

W.

Sounds legit [:)][:)][:)]

Thanks W, much appreciated

J

Haven't played this through with the latest upgrades so may not be valid any longer but I think the critical thing as the defender is:

-Layers, killing the shooter before he can shoot as Willie said.
-if your in the unhappy situation where ASMs are inbound and ARMS are screaming in as well, I think in most cases the ASM can hurt your more - at lest in the first wave - so radars should be on (1990's) to control your SAMs
-if you can identify which ship in your TF is being targeted by the ARMs, try to time it so you shut down just that ship in the last 30-40 seconds of the ARMs inbound trajectory
-Several things are likely in this case:
-hopefully other ships in the TF can guide your outbound SAMs and keep up situational awareness
-the ARMs may lose lock on the target radar and either miss or simply hit the ship and not the radar
-the ARMs might lock onto another ship if the formation is tight, in that case you can repeat the process
-ASMs are still getting shot down

Getting a coordinated attack going on a player from a scenario designers perspective is a tricky thing. If you see it coming at you chances are the designer has worked hard at making you work hard to defeat it - enjoy[;)]

I tend to agree that the best option is to keep one with radar on and try to shoot down the ASMs. Better to be hit by ARM's than ASM's.
Key to that is to have the TF spread out but still be in position to cover each other.
Definitely a hellish scenario.

P.S.
I am relatively new to Command but the specific scenario author is my favourite. I have passed him already my
congrats!

( and will happily buy him a pint if I get a chance [:D]

[:D]

I REALLY want to take you up on that pint...