I used the DLC campaign editor to start a campaign flying A-1J's in the SF2 1959 campaign (forget the name...). This will be a catch up AAR, as I've alread finished 5 missions. There wouldn't have been much to report on each mission since most have ended the same way... (you'll see).

First mission: Anti-Ship.
Wingman and I take off loaded with all kinds of goodies to wreak havoc on enemy shipping.


Imagine my disappointment when we reach the target waypoint and find one lonely sampan motoring around. Lame. I miss with rockets on my first pass. As I come around for another, a friendly F-100 swoops in and nails the sampan with rockets. Well, crap! No other targets in sight, so wingy and I start to head by to the ship.

However, on the way we are jumped by some enemy hunters. Where our escort was, I have no idea. We dump our stores and do our best to tangle with the Hunters. I manage to get a kill!


My wingman isn't so lucky and ends up going down. I can't remember what happened to the other Hunter (either he bugged out, help arrived, or I shot him down...). I head back to the carrier and finally catch a wire on my 4th attempt.


Next mission is a strike. Well, guess what... Jumped by enemy Hunters on the ingress. Dump stores and start the dance again! I grabbed another kill. Next mission - another strike. Jumped again. More A/A kills for me!



So far, haven't really be doing so well. A/A kills are great, but we are not meeting our mission objectives.

Next mission is CAS. Finally! What the A-1 excels at! Loadout and ready to do some damage:


Well, we're jumped by Hunters again on the ingress. This time we have some help, but we've been slowed down enough that the enemy forces have been over-run by the time we get to the battle. Mission failed. Again. I hang around anyone and get as many tanks as I can, but the 37mm guns protecting the tanks do a good job at keeping me high, and I don't get as many tanks as I think I should have.

Next mission - Strike. On an oil tank, right there on the coast. OK, guys. We can do this. But, wait for it... We are jumped on ingress and have to dump our stores. I think my wingman was shot down again (can't remember, it was a few weeks ago that I actually flew these). I tangle with the Hunters/MiGs for a little. I can't remember if I got a kill or if help arrived, but the bottom line was that I was up around 10K feet with the coast in sight. I dove for the deck topping out near 400kts (I think) and made a b-line for the oil tank. I flew pretty much straight at the thing and laid into it with my cannons. Finally! Primary objective accomplished!


So at this point, we aren't doing so well. I thought that 1959 would be early enough and be enough of a low threat environment for an A-1J to operate, but maybe I was wrong. When I pick this campaign back up, I'm going to start adjusting waypoints so that I go feet dry over friendly territory and hopefuly give my escort (if there is one) a better shot at allow me to reach my objective. I've also adjusted the carrier station so it's a little closer to the FLOT, which may help route me away from the danger as well.

(If all that still doesn't work, I may try a USMC A-1J unit in the 1956 GermanyCE campaign. But hopefully we'll get thing on track in the Desert).

How have you adjusted the carrier?

And BTW... NICE JOB! Not easy flying in a A1!

I'm using this mod, which adds a carrier station to the stock desert terrain and adds carriers to each of the stock SF2 desert campaigns.

http://combatace.com/files/file/11366-sf2-carrier-and-campaign-mod/

The carrier station is added in the desert_targets.ini file. The position can be adjusted to your liking. (I'm planning on updating this mod in a few days to fix a couple of minor bugs I found in the campaign descriptions, so if you're interested in it, please hold off for just a bit.)

I used the campaign editor to add the A-1 to the campaign.

Many thanks! IŽll keep an eye on it!

Nice report..

It's updated:

http://combatace.com/files/file/11366-carriers-in-stock-sf2-campaigns/

THANKYOUSOMUCHSIRIMMADOWLOADINGIT!

An Excellent read.

Well, I did a little investigating last night into why I wasn't getting any escort. It looks like there was a typo in one of the campaign _data.ini files that prevented the F-8C squadron from showing up in campaigns.

I've updated the file at CA, so komemiute, you may want to re-download and reinstall, or find campaign1_data.ini and make the following change:

[AirUnit047] <---------------------- change to 47 (was 46)
AircraftType=F-8C
Squadron=VF32
ForceID=1
Nation=USN
DefaultTexture=USNGrey1
CarrierBased=True
BaseArea=Whiskey Station
CarrierNumber=63
RandomChance=100
MissionRate=0.9
MaxAircraft=16
StartAircraft=16
MaxPilots=16
StartPilots=16
Experience=100
Morale=100
Supply=50
MissionChance[SWEEP]=90
MissionChance[CAP]=90
MissionChance[INTERCEPT]=60
MissionChance[ESCORT]=90
MissionChance[STRIKE]=20
MissionChance[CAS]=0
MissionChance[SEAD]=0
MissionChance[ARMED_RECON]=0
MissionChance[ANTI_SHIP]=0
MissionChance[RECON]=0
UpgradeType=FIXED
...

The bad news is that I need to restart my campaign now. The good news is that I'll have some F-8C's covering me (hopefully)!

LOL Ok no problem, thanks dude!

Well, VA-25 was withdrawn from combat for a bit until some much needed help arrived... a squadron of F-8C's to keep the MiGs and Hunters off of our backs!

Next mission was a strike against some oil tanks on the coast. The F-8's did their jobs, and we did ours!

Well, our new-found success was short lived. Next mission was search and destroy near a city well inland.

Wingy and I on our way to the target.


Nearing our assigned area, we encountered some heavy AAA.


We cleared the AAA, and I thought we'd have a chance to get some work done. But then we were jumped by MiGs. With our escorts already busy elsewhere, they made quick work of Wingy.

I got into a turning battle, but I ran out speed and altitude. Eventually, he saw his opportunity and took it.





However, while my A-1 was still barely controllable, he must have thought I was going in. We broke off and left me for dead. I was able to gain altitude, and (barely) maintain control. Engine was running fine. Fuel level was stable. After what seemed like an eternity of fighting the stick, the coast was in sight.


Once I got to the carrier, I did a flyby for a systems check. Flaps were good. Main gear were down, but the tail gear was a no-go. No arresting hook. No speed break. No thank you.



I punched out over the carrier and watched my pretty plane plunge into the warm, shark infested waters. I was wounded and received a purple heart for my actions.


VA-25 is being withdrawn from combat. This conflict is simply no place for the A-1.

Nice reading Malibu.
What are you going to be flying now that the Skyrader is too easy of a target?


Wheels

I've actually been thinking of flying something like a Hunter in Europe. I'm starting to feel the need for some guns only air to air.

But, before that, I have a feeling we may see VA-25 and the Skyraider again in a conflict and theater where history has shown it to perform better...

I love the Hunter, being able to knife fight with MiG-15s and 17s is a treat after doing so much boom and zoom or arms length tactics. Ditto for the Meteor in the Israel/Suez 56 campaign.