Structured Beta - Air/Ground Interactions

[WNourse]

I've started this thread to cover the interaction of air and ground forces for structured beta testing.

Scenario 1: Overwhelming air power against (virtually) unprotected ground forces

Anticipated results: Swift destruction of ground forces

Blue Force: 1 US MP Platoon (14 M998A2 HMMWV, 1 Platoon Leader, 3 MP Sections). HMMWV armed with 1 M2 HMG.

Red Force: 1 Russian SU-25 Frogfoot Squadron (13 Aircraft). Default loadout: 30MM Cannon (150 rounds), 2 AS-7 Kerry ASM, 2 AS-11 Kilter ASM, 2 KAB-500L Laser guided bombs.

Map: South Central Iraq
FOW: None

Results through turn 18:

Blue Force losses: 3 HMMWV
Red Force losses: 4 SU-25

!!!!!!!!

Attacks were initiated both manually (Expert level 3, with multiple passes and different weapons systems selected) and by the AI. It appears that total ammunition expenditure by the Red Force is relatively low, perhaps contributing to the lack of success. In addition, only the cannon has been fired. The ammo class for the AS-7 indicates Visual/Radio/UC/HT, so it should, in theory have been usable (and was explicitly set on several of the manually targeted airstrikes).

Attached is the log file and the saved game file (now through turn 18).


I'll send the above to Scott for evaluation as well.

Will

[WNourse]

Hi Will,



Thanks for your emails and file.



First, to answer your question - the program does not put any kind of extra spacing into the aircraft units. If you have a unit with 2 aircraft, they are both assumed to be in the same location. Which, while not 100% accurate, is normally good enough. However, because they are so close it is possible to get “overkill” results, as I think you did. Specifically, I think what happened is that one aircraft was hit and it exploded, taking the other one with it (which is something I’m going to look at modifying in the code, if true).



The only way get more accurate spacing, especially for the fast movers, is to make each aircraft its own unit and then place them appropriately on the map (and keep them spaced apart). It’s more work, but it will eliminate the “same location” inaccuracies.



That aside, I agree that the results seem odd for the scenario you set up. There may be a logical explanation, but my guess is that I knocked something out of kilter with all the tweaking I’ve been doing over the past few months.



I’m in the middle or updating the manual, so I’m going to ask Jeff to check it out and we’ll let you know what we find. We’ll also check out the default weapon setting when selecting a new game - I’m assuming the RedFor was CIS.



Thanks again!



-Scott