I know what you're going through. Sorely disappointed with the implementation in the 1.1.0.9 you were all excited to try out the new and improved (and actually effective <ahem>) CBU-97 and its amazing load of BLU-108 Sensor Fuzed Weapons on main battle tanks in 1.1.1.0 DCS A-10C. You hastily created a quick mission with a column of T-72s (or maybe T-80s...yeah, T-80s FTW!) and load up your A-10C with as many CBU-97s as it'll carry. You cruise in over your helpless targets and ripple fire your entire load onto your unsuspecting prey, one lethal package of death at a time. <ka-chunk ka-chunk ka-chunk ka-chunk ... > You switch to external view, bristling with anticipating of the mass carnage you are about to effect...then there's a pop, a small cloud of smoke, and then...nothing. WTF? You do it again. And again. To the same effect. Is this what ED meant by "New CBU-97 animation"?!

No, my dear virtual pilot, that is not the all powerful CBU-97. That is the CBU-97 being deployed with a height of fuze (HOF) set waaaaaaay too low. The weapon actually pops its case so low that the submunitions hit the ground before they can spin up. Not an effective way to destroy enemies, IMHO, unless they are close enough to death that the shock and surprise of the failed attack is enough to push them over.

How to fix this? First, fire your ground crew. Or summarily execute them, depending on your country of origin. Second, set the HOF to a more effective setting using the A-10C's nifty DSMS feature.

Note: The HOF setting on the CBU-97 and most dispense weapons (that I know of) is actually set by the ground crew via controls on the weapon itself. The setting in the A-10C avionics is just so the 'puter knows what trajectory to predict and draw the neat little "this is what's about to die" circle on your HUD. This departure from reality is forgivable, in this author's opinion, in the interest of gameplay, but other opinions may will vary.

Then try this procedure in the cockpit:

1. Select the DSMS page by pressing the DSMS page button on your MFCD (OSB 14 on the left MFCD by default).




2. Then select the inventory page by pressing the INV button (OSB 5).




3. Next, select a station that has a CBU-97 (or CBU-105) with a HOF that you want to adjust.




4. Press the CBU button (OSB 7) to bring up the CBU Select page.




5. Next, press the OSB for the CBU currently loaded on the selected station (OSB 18 for CBU-97, OSB 8 for WCMD version, CBU-105).




6. Press the HOF button (OSB 18) to cycle through different HOF settings. 1800 is the recommended setting, but feel free to experiment. (This measurement is in feet above ground and the letter after the number refers to the corresponding reading on the control on the actual weapon that the ground crew reads).




7. Press the LOAD button (OSB 9) to change the settings for that station. If you have the same loadout on opposite pylons (e.g., 3 and 9), press the LOAD SYM button (OSB 10) to change both stations at the same time.



Now, go blow stuff up!

Small tip for the lazy:
After step 3, just press OSB3 (label INV STAT) and proceed directly to step 6. This replaces selecting and pressing two buttons with pressing one button which is always the same. This requires the correct loadout for this station already programmed, but that should be the case most of the time. See also flight manual page 288.

Good tip, Olaf! Thanks!

My beloved -97 is working again!! Yay!!

Good guide EinsteinEP. Just to piggyback on your note about ground crews setting bomb settings. All fuze settings on any bomb is set by the weapons crews. Pilots have the ability to change them on their walk around but normally just tell the weapons guys to do it. There is an exception and that would be the 152 series fuze. When the 152 is coupled with a JDAM the pilot can change the fuze setting via cockpit. Now until ED gives us fuze setting in the loadout screen I am 100% on board with cockpit selection to change settings. Once again great guide man!

Well done, Viper! Cheers!

Thanks, Weaponz248! BTW, I've been looking for a HOF table for the FZU-39/B, but the best I can find is an old ATK pamphlet. I'm curious to know if the HOF settings are natively in feet, or actually in meters and the aircraft OFP converts them to feet for the pilot.