The Black Aces completed their inter-deployment training cycle last night in preparation for their upcoming deployment to the Caucasus.
Eight squadron jets took off from Andersen AFB just before dark. Low clouds, rain and fog made for an unpleasant preflight, but all jets departed to the north in two flights of four aircraft and proceeded to the training range.
Each flight searched for and targeted a small convoy of three ships with AGM-84D Harpoon missiles. All pilots practiced Harpoon launces in both Bearing Only and Range-Bearing Launch modes. Multiple explosions were witnessed on the horizon through the gloomy weather and several of the convoy ships and escorts were sunk.
Dealer flights then proceeded to the Southeast towards USS GEORGE WASHINGTON to practice a Case III recovery in poor weather and pitching deck conditions. All squadron aircraft trapped aboard the Washington and refueled for the flight back to Guam. All of Dealer 1's aircraft successfully launched and headed back to Andersen, but the deck crew refused to launch two jets from Dealer 2 despite multiple pleas to the tower. Rumor has it that neither pilot had paid their final mess bill to the Wardroom Treasurer at the end of the last deployment, and the Captain refused to let them leave until their debt was settled.
Once all jets were safely airborne, the two flights returned to Guam and had to recover at Andersen AFB via TACAN approach due to low ceilings and visibility. Despite unexpectedly strong crosswinds, all jets landed without incident.
Dealer 1
1- Mr Bean: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
2- Rhino: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
3- Maniac: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
4- Chaos: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
Dealer 2
1- Trim: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
2- Hedgehog: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
3- Dirty Dan: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
4- Lion: Ship hits, trapped, field landing
02 October, 2022 - Anti-Ship/Bad Wx Procedures Training
Re: 02 October, 2022 - Anti-Ship/Bad Wx Procedures Training
Some notes I observed from the harpoon practice after viewing the Tacview.
1.) Once a harpoon as locked onto a target after going active it does not switch if that target is destroyed before it gets there. So, if you have multiple targets spacing the shots out some might be a good idea. Increasing the active range would allow you top space them out less but would increase the workload of the pilot since it would likely need to be set shortly before launch. That said if your target might shoot them down it might be worth it to fire all together to make sure at least some get there.
2.) At least for my group. The harpoons that were set for High or Med flight targeted the farthest tanker that was behind the the closer one. The ones that were set to Low flight targeted the closer one. Good information for multiple targets in the future. There was one exception, Dirty Dan had one that was on a low flight but targeted the farther tanker. Even more odd is that it looks like it might have gone active after the farther ship was destroyed. So, maybe it is targeting only what the radar had locked up? Hard to say because I don't know which shot were fired with something locked on radar other than my own. I know my first two shots were BOL and they targeted the farther ship from High and Mid flight. I don't think I had anything locked on radar when I fired the first two, but I could be wrong.
Edit: After reviewing Dealer 1's shots maybe it is strictly locking on the the ship the radar was locked onto and has nothing to do with the flight mode.
3.) Minor note. Harpoons set to High flight don't climb to an altitude, they just fly at the launching aircraft's altitude. Not sure if that means they don't climb if they are launched from a lower alt or High just means current altitude.
1.) Once a harpoon as locked onto a target after going active it does not switch if that target is destroyed before it gets there. So, if you have multiple targets spacing the shots out some might be a good idea. Increasing the active range would allow you top space them out less but would increase the workload of the pilot since it would likely need to be set shortly before launch. That said if your target might shoot them down it might be worth it to fire all together to make sure at least some get there.
2.) At least for my group. The harpoons that were set for High or Med flight targeted the farthest tanker that was behind the the closer one. The ones that were set to Low flight targeted the closer one. Good information for multiple targets in the future. There was one exception, Dirty Dan had one that was on a low flight but targeted the farther tanker. Even more odd is that it looks like it might have gone active after the farther ship was destroyed. So, maybe it is targeting only what the radar had locked up? Hard to say because I don't know which shot were fired with something locked on radar other than my own. I know my first two shots were BOL and they targeted the farther ship from High and Mid flight. I don't think I had anything locked on radar when I fired the first two, but I could be wrong.
Edit: After reviewing Dealer 1's shots maybe it is strictly locking on the the ship the radar was locked onto and has nothing to do with the flight mode.
3.) Minor note. Harpoons set to High flight don't climb to an altitude, they just fly at the launching aircraft's altitude. Not sure if that means they don't climb if they are launched from a lower alt or High just means current altitude.
Re: 02 October, 2022 - Anti-Ship/Bad Wx Procedures Training
The Harpoons only decend, they won’t climb. If you want them to fly at the “high” flight profile, they must be released at or above 35K feet.
Re: 02 October, 2022 - Anti-Ship/Bad Wx Procedures Training
I think the big picture is, regardless of weapon settings, the AGM-84D Harpoon is ultimately going to seek its own target, regardless of what you would like it to hit. All you can do is point it more-or-less where the target that you want to hit is, in either BOL or R/BL, but it will decide what target it finds to be the juiciest.
If you NEED to hit a specific ship, you will need to use a precision guided munition, such as Mav-F or any laser-guided weapon.
If you NEED to hit a specific ship, you will need to use a precision guided munition, such as Mav-F or any laser-guided weapon.
![Image](http://vfa-41.com/images/bahog2trn.gif)
Re: 02 October, 2022 - Anti-Ship/Bad Wx Procedures Training
Pilot records and Greenie Board updated.