CAS
There has been a lot of confusion surrounded by these missions for several
reasons. They have been somewhat buggy throughout the patch life of MiG
Alley and they use a unique comms system that generally isn't part of
any other type of missions.
CAS missions are found in two different campaigns. The second campaign
"Pusan Perimeter" is made up of entirely scripted CAS missions. The "Spring
Offensive" campaign is MiG Alley's dynamic campaign and CAS mission only
are available under certain conditions.
There is never any CAS missions available during the first day of your
Spring Offensive campaign. Depending on how well you are doing the CAS
missions should show up around day 3 or 4 of the Spring Offensive. You
will be shown a film clip of your forces going on the offensive. Once
in the Map you can now click on the brown "Front Line" icons and see
what CAS missions are available. The west and central brown icons are
the ones with the CAS missions available.
There has
been some debate as of the usefulness of CAS missions in the overall
campaign strategy. Because of some of the early bug problems I got in
the habit of ignoring these missions all together and just kept the pressure
on the front line supply depots, villages and truck convoys to achieve
success in moving north. Eventually you can move north without ordering
any CAS missions, but it does seem to take more time this way. So to
move your forces as quickly as possible CAS missions are useful. They
are also very safe in that there is never any anti air defenses in the
area of the CAS missions.
The set up is fairly straightforward with the load out being rockets
and napalm. The attack profile being individual targets. Individual targets
works best here because it is the most efficient way to wipe out enemy
forces. Each one of your elements will attack a particular target all
on the same pass. So instead of multiple passes that you would need using
"Spaced target selection". You would use your ammo more efficiently with
"Spaced target selection", but it would take so many passes that your
all of your flights would be at bingo fuel before you knocked out all
of the targets.
You can save time and fuel by moving your waypoints in a close circle
around your targets with the IP being placed right in the thick of things.
This will put your aircraft IP point very close to the FAC. The comms
interacts with the FAC automatically. Just follow the instructions the
FAC gives you. Cut your speed and follow the FAC closely. At this point
make sure you have your formation "Spread out" via the radio pre-combat
command to reduce the chance of mid-air casualties. The FAC will eventually
tell you that he is going to lay down a rocket marker and ask you if
you can see them. At this point you still don't have to interact at all,
but it is important that you be patient and wait till he gives tells
you what kind of ordinance to place on the target.
Stay up above 8,000' until the FAC tells you what kind of ordinance to
use. If you bring your flight down low they will only have to go back
up again to get in attack formation. When you hear the flights start
saying "I can't identify the target" then you know its time to move on
by using the FAC radio command "More Targets". Then repeat the process.
I personally find these missions pretty boring. In fact I typically don't
even join the attack. I just flying at 8,000' while orbiting the target
area. This is one way of never to have to worry about hitting UN Ground
forces. After the target is out sometimes I'll even visit a nearby supply
depot and use up my ordinance on that.
If you do decide to join in the attack be very aware of the other flights,
as mid-air collision is a real threat. Avoid using guns on troops because
this typically just scatters them and doesn't destroy them. You won't
get credit for troops broken up with guns because despite the fact they
are scattered they are not counted as destroyed. Use rockets and napalm
for the grunts.
TAC is used much the same way as FAC only they are stationary. These
have been a little buggier than the FAC, but the 1.23 patch works fairly
well. I suggest not letting the AI do CAS missions on their own as they
seem to be 100% failures. Those assets are better spent on the immediate
supply depot or truck convoys in the area.
With a little luck and a little practice you'll be winning those CAS
missions in no time.
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