need help! Stuck on mission C01M02

[seaniam81]

As the title says I'm stuck. I keep loosing my two small ships by missiles even before I can do anything.

Anybody have a strategy that worked for them?

[XanderF]

IIRC, there is a sub in the area that is detecting them when they crank up their engines and firing the missiles. I usually just have the two small ships flat-out stop, and do much of the work from the mission from the land-based air.

[Arclight]

Had another go at it; lost 1 missile boat at the start to a sub. Send over helo from FFG and ASW plane to look for it, helo picked it up and damaged it, forcing it to surface. Missile from the FFG finished it. Meanwhile, CAP stationed between their airbase and my target area visually spotted their FFG, and their missile boats where detected by the ASW effort. Launched 2 missiles from remaining missile boat at each of theirs, damaging 1 and sinking the other. Closed with the FFG to finish off the cripple, case closed.

Never radiated anything at all. Detached a F-35 from 4-ship flight to hunt down the Tupolev I picked up on ESM to the N. Actually, that F-35 radiated briefly on the way back to the tanker, since I lost visual to a missile boat. Drew some attention from fighters from the airbase, but the CAP was stationed to block their aproach.



Think key is, as often, not radiating. At least not close to something that you want to keep hidden. Anything with its radar on atracts attention, and units painted by radar often turn on their radar, which can cause them to stray close to and see things you don't want them to see.

[stormrider_sp]

In this mission, its important to save your missiles for the main task force.
Both enemy and Friendly are using the "bait" tactics, an advanced task force (2 missile boats) and the rear main force. Underwater there is also a submarine which already detected one of our forward elements (f.e.).

The winner team is usually the one who shoots the decisive salvo first, that is, the salvo who can accomplish the mission´s objectives.

What you do. Like it or not, your gonna loose that first f.e., so turn his sensors on to attract all the attention to himself (including the frigate´s missiles!) and launch his missiles at one of the enemy´s f.e. Kill the other one using a helicopter while saving your other f.e. and the main element missiles for a concerted attack on the enemy´s main element.

Naval Combat is usually defined by the enemy´s "defensive capacity", that is, the number of missiles that his elements can shoot down during a certain time. Thats the salvo equation published by Wayne P. Hughes in his book, Fleet Tactics and Coastal Combat. In other words, the key to winning is to saturate the enemy with missiles. Be the first to shoot and put more missiles in the air than he can shoot down.

[Arclight]

Task force? You mean the single FFG? Why bother with it?

Pick off the 2 small vessels, done. Only need to get 2 kills.

[stormrider_sp]

I meant task force because while I´m radiating the targeted one, I´m rushing the other one to group up with the Frigate.
But you´re right, you only have to kill 2 ships and the mission terminates itself instantly.

[Arclight]

Heh, always figured "task force" to refer to a formation/fleet of several ships. Seems that's not nescesarily true. Live and learn.

[0rpheus]

Originally Posted by Arclight

Task force? You mean the single FFG? Why bother with it?

Pick off the 2 small vessels, done. Only need to get 2 kills.

This is true for a fair few of the missions, the larger objective will be outlined in the briefing, but the 'in-game' objectives tied to it are often less daunting than you'd expect. Always worth checking the Objectives panel at the start of a mission, then you can plan a minimal loss/maximal aggression strategy.