Now Available for Download---LWAMI v3.03!!!

[LuftWolf]

Here is the v3.03 addition to the readme.

XX-Changes for LWAMI 3.03-XX
SLAM-ER Upgrade-We have enabled ASuW capability for the SLAM-ER equipped on the player P-3 Orion. The missile can now function in Strike mode and ASuW mode. To set the missile for Strike mode, use as described in the manual as before. Be sure to make the final waypoint directly over the target or the missile will likely cause only light damage (as the SLAM-ER has a much smaller warhead than the TLAM, about half). To use the missile in ASuW mode, set the two approach waypoints such that the missile is headed at the surface target as it approaches the final waypoint and ***set the last waypoint over water*** (this is how the missile is able to distinguish Strike mode and ASuW mode... if the last waypoint is over land, it will operate in strike mode, if it is over water, it will operate in ASuW mode). The last waypoint is the enable point for the weapon. At the enable point, the missile will drop from its skimming altitude of 30ft to just above wave-level. At this point the weapon will enable, and if it immediately has a target, will stay low to the sea and home the target. If the missile does not immediately acquire a target, it will slowly climb back to search altitude of 30ft, and travel in a straight line, searching and homing using a radar seeker. The sequence described is a "stealth enable" feature that should improve the survivability of this weapon over the standard Harpoon. In this mode the weapon resembles a Harpoon with upgraded stealth, range, warhead, and waypoint capabililty. In terms of warhead power, two SLAM-ER hits will destroy a FFG7 OHP. The AI F/A-18 Hornet and P-3 Orion previously equipped with the SLAM-ER have been given an appropriate load of SLAM's for Strike capability and Harpoons for ASuW capability as the AI is not able to properly use the SLAM-ER.

Helo Dipping-Several internal changes have been made to the helo doctrines to prevent dipping sonar "dragging" and limit crashes. There is still work to do, but it will have to wait for the changes in DW 1.04.

The files are currently available for download from the CADC, courtesy of OneShot, in this thread http://www.commanders-academy.net/sh...=8557#post8557 , and I'm sure Bill Nichols will have it posted to www.subguru.com soon as well.

I hope you enjoy the new version, and as always, be sure to let me know if you find any bugs, etc.

Thanks!

Cheers,
David

[LuftWolf]

Just so you guys know, expect another version of LWAMI 3.xx in the next two weeks or so that will address any bugs found in 3.03, introduce more helo tuning, add the HellfireII to the US Navy arsenal (fire and forget version of the Hellfire allowing the MH60 salvo capability) and perhaps add the expanded playable unit list that is included in the LWAMI 4.xx playtest (I still haven't decided if that will be exclusive to the "next-gen" version of LWAMI, but probably not).

Be sure to give me your ideas as well.

Cheers,
David

[UglyMowgli]

Thank's a lot for the work along waited news for our maritime Patrol crew. I will publish the news at MS when the webiste will be online (got a lot of trouble with it ).

[LuftWolf]

I should have ported this over to LWAMI 3.xx sooner.

Without proper ASuW capability the P-3 is really hamstrung.

Oddly enough, it took me some time to come over to the camp of people who thought such a change was necessary... perhaps it coincided with the discovery of a way to fix it.

The P-3 really ought to be feared in MP now. Even if the SLAM-ER's effectiveness proves to be low for a single missile, the fact that it can carry so many of them, and the TACCO can vector them from so many directions at once, means any single FFG caught outside an AEGIS umbrella is going to have a serious problem.

I suspect some previous cake-walk FFG scenarios will be tipped in favor of the P-3's now (I'm thinking specifically about some of your's Molon... Taiwan...).

I also hope more people decide to take the P-3 as a primary platform in clubs, etc., that can only be good for DW.

Cheers,
David

PS They're also going to be getting the Mk60 CAPTOR Mine.

[sonar732]

Good news on the Captor mine! The Captor was a common tactic in the SOSUS-lined area waiting for the Soviet subs to come across them and BAM! Please make sure that this is implemented as it will cause problems for friendlies!

Its acoustic detection system is designed to seek hostile submarines, ignoring surface craft and friendly submarine acoustic signatures.

[Bill Nichols]

Excellent news! Now all we need is for XabbaRus to finish his work on the new models for DW.

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by LuftWolf

I should have ported this over to LWAMI 3.xx sooner.

Without proper ASuW capability the P-3 is really hamstrung.

Oddly enough, it took me some time to come over to the camp of people who thought such a change was necessary... perhaps it coincided with the discovery of a way to fix it.

The P-3 really ought to be feared in MP now. Even if the SLAM-ER's effectiveness proves to be low for a single missile, the fact that it can carry so many of them, and the TACCO can vector them from so many directions at once, means any single FFG caught outside an AEGIS umbrella is going to have a serious problem.

I suspect some previous cake-walk FFG scenarios will be tipped in favor of the P-3's now (I'm thinking specifically about some of your's Molon... Taiwan...).

Hey now, the whole purpose of the FFG in that one was to create an AAW "bubble" that the P-3 coudn't operate in unless the Kilo's got the job done. Both side's missions are dependent on the performance of other platforms on ownside. If the P-3 could win that one all on its own, that would be a Bad Thing. If there is anything I've tried to avoid in any mission design, its setting it up so that one player can launch a missile volley right in the beginning and win right there. The original version, made for stock DW, disabled most of the P-3's pylons to prevent this from happening with the "SuperMav" going up against the non-functioning RAMs. As it stands now, if the P-3 really wants to hit the FFG instead of supporting the Kilos or locating the 688I, it can successfully attack the FFG while the FFG is busy handling an AI missile volley. You know, unless the FFG guy has figured out that 1.03's phalanx won't miss and isn't bothering with the SM2's.

You are right that the FFG doesn't have to face much that it can't handle, but the P-3 isn't the problem there. The piss-poor performance of subsonic SSMs versus the now-100% effective Phalanx and the near-100% effective RAM SAMs are the problem. The single best way to improve the balance of that mission would be to add supersonic land based SSMs, or maybe to turn down the CIWS to pre-1.03 performance. =P

[Molon Labe]

I just tried 4 times to hit a lone Udaloy...got nothing.

In one attempt, one missile did get through, but then as the missile was inside Rmin for the SA-N-9, it suddenly pulled up and dissapeared. Is this what a spoofed SLAM will do? Another missile that I know was spoofed was seaskimming rather than climbing to chase the chaff, but was shot down before Rmin so I couldn't repeat it.

It seems like the acquisition range of the seeker is about 8nm, which is about the same range the SA-N-9 is fired. (Guns engagement begins around 13nm) At least against the Udaloy, the SLAM-ER doesn't seem to be getting any benefit from its flight profile. The salvo must pass through the entire engagement range of the Gauntlet. Since the detction range for the Udaloy is at least 13nm and the seeker range is only 8nm, and the missile won't drop to seaskimming mode unless it has acquired a target, effectiveness does not change whether the enable point is set right at 8nm or if it is further out. Although, to be totally fair, the SA-N-9 (SA-15) is pretty badass, probably at least as good as the ESSM. (although the near 100% hit rate we're seeing in DW is probably a little too badass).

Trying against a Sovremennyy, detection/guns engagement took place at 15nm. The SA-N-7 Gadfly (SA-13) engaged around 8-9nm and was about 40% effective, which is in line with Globalsecurity estimates. But the Sov's CIWS picked up most of the slack. Between two tests, one missile got through (and caused a CTD). In both, the division of labor was about half and half between the Gadfly and CIWS. (In comparrison, an AGM-65 run against the Sovremennyy scored multiple hits for 76% damage.)

Against an AI OHP, the OHP engaged with, sigh, single SM-2 shots (should be 2 at a time!) from 15nm out. It shot down 4 with SM-2s, 2 with the CIWS, and spoofed the other with chaff.

Against a Krivak, it detected the missiles and engaged with guns at about 12 nm, shot down 1 with the SA-N-4 (SA-8), shot down 4 with its CIWS and spoofed the other two.

So I shot 56 SLAM-ERs today and got 1 hit out of it.

It seems that the SLAM-ER is just as ineffective as the Harpoon is, with its improved flight profile having little to no effect. In any case, the overwhelming effectiveness of the Gauntlet and CIWS systems is more than a match for this or any other subsonic missile.