Well, sounds like you got some major knowledge gaps then. I'll see if I can fill them in a bit.



Yes, you're missing something. Your release spacing has less to do with your target's spread (almost nothing to do with it in fact) and more to do with the weapons you are using. If we take the Mk-82 as an example, you're ripple spacing is 75ft. Why? Because 75ft between each bomb is the spacing at which the explosive yield of the Mk-82 produces the most damage. Any closer and you are not making the most of the weapons capability, any further and you're spreading your bombs too thin, and will be less effective as a result.

To give some perspective, for Mk-84s a 150ft spacing is most effective. And for CBU-87, the ripple settings should allow for around 60ft of bomblet pattern overlap. With ripple single used for soft targets and ripple pairs for armoured targets.



It is how long it take the bomb to hit the ground. But from what altitude?! The point of DTOF is to provide you aiming cues via the Desired Release Cue (little horizontal line on the PBIL). If you hold the DRC on the target, the pipper will move up the PBIL to meet it. Once the two symbols meet, releasing the weapons will result in the desired time of flight, and as a result you'll be releasing at the altitude you planned.



Well, many of the RW fusing options are not simulated in DCS, and there are still a few errors in the modelling. But low drag/high drag/pilot option for Mk-82AIRs are the setting most will come across.



The safe escape manoeuvre is just about the most important part of the weapon delivery. The SEM you select is used by the IFFCC (in addition to the min alt) to generate real time safe escape cues (RTSE) in the form of the CCIP minimum release cue etc. It is the method by which you ensure you are able to escape from the frag or your own weapons and avoid hitting the terrain.

The options are Climb, Turn, and Turn-Level-Turn. There is a forth SEM, Level Straight Through, but that isn't really used in the A-10C and as such missing from the DSMS profile settings, but can still be carried out using the None setting.

Example: Climbing SEM





Actually, you don't really understand it. It's not to keep you safe from frag (although it is used in the RTSE calculations), it can be set to 0 and the IFFCC will still give you RTSE cues based on the selected SEM and the weapon/fusing you're using. The RW min altitude settings are derived (like some other aspect of the weapon profile) from mission planning software and publication the public don't (and never will) have access to. But there are certain parameters than you can employ. For example, if you want to stay out of the most effective range of MANPADS, set min alt to 6000. That way the IFFCC will give you the abort cues if you are not going to be able to release your weapons without dropping below that height. Another use depends on the delivery type, for example in a high altitude dive bomb attack you should descend below 4500ft, so set you min alt to 4500 or above.

Here's an example of a Z-Diagram for a 45 degree HADB BDU-33 (simulated Mk-82) delivery. I won't go in to detail explaining what each number means(it'd need a post much longer than this one), but hopefully you can work some of them out and it'll give an idea of how involved 'mud moving' really is when you start doing more than just 'put the thing on the thing'.



And for another example, here's a screenshot of the pre-set profiles in the Virtual Hawgsmoke 2012 mission. See if you can work out what each profile is for.

If a SEM doesn't affect the blast radius in anyway why does the DSMS need to know how you will 'escape'? I am on the training mission that is mentioning this and couldn't work out why you need 3 options.

Because if it doesn't know which SEM you'll be using, it can't know how far away from the weapon impact you will be when they impact, and therefore if you'll be outside the blast radius.

With each SEM you'll be in a different position/distance when the weapons impact. A turning SEM will leave you closer to the point of impact than a climbing SEM, therefore with a climbing SEM you can be a bit closer/lower when you release and still be able to safely escape the blast.

And as a picture speak a thousand words, here's diagram of the turning SEM so you can compare with the Climb SEM above.

Ah right I see, it affects the deployment of the ordnance, when the DSMS allows it to be released, rather than the impact.

BTW are you RAF? Just noticing your location and knowledge.

Not when it 'allows' weapons to be released as such. The system will never stop you releasing weapons, but it will give you the abort cues on the HUD (cross in the pipper etc) to tell you it's a really bad idea.



Yes, amongst other things.

Haha! Thank you very much for that very informative post!


So the spacing is just to ensure the blast radius or the effective damage radius is properly utilized? I always thought pilots guesstimated the spacing of the targets and adjusted the ripple to match so that each bomb would drop in the vicinity of the enemy along the convoy or tank column.



DTOF always made sense as a string of words and I did assume that it was for release at a specific altitude, but always wondered "what if you were higher or lower than your desired altitude by the time you got the thing on the thing?" So DTOF only affect the HUD cues and does not affect the bomb at all? ie, if you release above the planned altitude the bomb won't explode in the air or if you release below the planned altitude, the bomb won't plunk on the ground, wait a few seconds, then explode?



I understand the fusing options for the AIRs, and IIRC some of the other bigger bombs had this too, ie, make it a tail fusing so that the bomb penetrates more before exploding, is this the other uses for it?



Yes, the escape maneuver is important, but why bother mentioning whether is is a climb, turn, or TLT? Does it just affect the HUD cues? I always just though "bugger out after the bombs come off" and usually do a climbing turn both to escape any incoming fire and regain altitude. However, in this game, I am always guilty of botching the escape maneuver to watch the "fireworks."



I have no clue at all what this means and would like to know more about it... can you tell me where you got this, or at least where you got the info for it? Would love to know the profiles for other weapons as well!


Eddie, if I understand this right, all the settings there (DTOF, fusing, SEM, etc.) are just set to ensure that you release the weapon at the altitude and attitude you have planned, is that right? I always thought you just place the CCIP pipper on target and the computer did all the calculations for you...



Hmmm... the first is for a low-drag release, the second is for a 20-degree dive low-drag release, the third is for a 45-degree high-angle low-drag release, the fourth is for a high-altitude (10K) release, and the last is a rocket profile. All BDU profiles are set to release 3 bombs as well. How'd I do?


This has been one of the most brain-stirring posts I've had to do. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Eddie!

Great stuff, Eddie! Thanks!

Yes, it only the HUD cues that are affected. It's just a feature to provide you with cues to help you deliver the weapons they way you want to.



IRL, every different fuse configuration needs a separate profile, and you can't change fuse settings in flight like you can in the sim (apart from with some advanced programmable fuses that are not modelled in the sim). So for example, if you have 4 Mk-82s on the aircraft, and 2 are set with an impact fuse and 2 with an air burst fuse you would need to have 1 profile for each, rather than just one Mk-82 profile.



Yes, it just affects the HUD cues and the underlying IFFCC calculations. Like everything else, IRL the SEMs are defined in black and white, and they are the most effective and efficient that they can be, but in the sim you can do whatever you want. Although nothing you can do will be better or more effective than a proper SEM.

Anther point to note with SEMs is that if your attack will involve a dive angle above 20 degrees, only the climbing SEM should be used.



When the vHawgsmoke SOPs are released sometime next week (fingers crossed), there is an explanation for the Z diagrams in it, so even if you're not taking part in vHawgsmoke, the SOP will have some info in that you might find useful.

In the meantime, here's an extract from the 2010 real world Hawgsmoke Mils document, it's one of the source documents used to plan vHawgmsoke and it has some good weapon delivery information in.

Hawgsmoke Mils



The first is a Visual Level Delivery (VLD), the second and 20 degree Low Angle Low Drag (LALD), the third a 45 degree High Altitude Dive Bomb (HADB) and the forth is a 30 degree/10 degree Medium Altitude Toss (MAT). So you were actually not far off at all. And FYI, these profile are all named as per the real world A-10C profile naming convention.




Good, I must be doing something right then. Always glad to share with anyone who wants to know.

I'm sure Morgan Freeman says in the unguided bombs training in DCS that you HAVE to have a SEM set for a release to be made but earlier you said it could be set to none, is that in RL or the sim?

Both RW and in sim.