Decided to try the Europe goes hot during the Cuban Missile Crisis campaign with VMFA-314 in an F-4B.
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In 1962 my air-to-air weapon selection is the AIM-9B Sidewinder and the AIM-7D Sparrow.
The AIM-9B is useless against a maneuvering target. The AIM-7D is useless below 2,500' AGL and in nearly all look-down scenarios.
The first mission was an intercept 8v8 looking for enemy Il-28. They attack nape of the earth so the Sparrows are out. They are escorted by 8 MiG-17F; so now it's 8v16. There's another four ship of MiG-17F and a two ship of MiG-21F-13 in the area as well; 8v22! You need 50% of the guys you're supposed to be shooting to count it as a win. I got two Il-28 with sidewinders and 3 MiG-17F (but not the escorts!) with the sparrows. One of the wingmen managed to take out a single Il-28. I am now done accounting our kills. Once I was out of missiles I disengaged and one of my wingmen was shot down before I landed and three had taken some sort of damage. Once I'd taxied back to the pad I ended the scenario (and prolly saved my wingmen since the game doesn't kill them once the player leaves the game).
The second mission was to find four MiG-15bis before they could take out friendly armor. Low level again! I got lucky with one sidewinder on the first Fagot but missed with the remaining three. I fired an AIM-7D at a passing MiG-21F-13 who was perfectly lined up for the shot by pure chance; got him. Then I got nailed by a MiG-17PF. KIA with posthumous Purple Heart.
I think that next time I try for 1962 in a Marine jet I am going for an F-8C. Having a gun of some sort sure would have made life a lot better.
In 1962 my air-to-air weapon selection is the AIM-9B Sidewinder and the AIM-7D Sparrow.
The AIM-9B is useless against a maneuvering target. The AIM-7D is useless below 2,500' AGL and in nearly all look-down scenarios.
The first mission was an intercept 8v8 looking for enemy Il-28. They attack nape of the earth so the Sparrows are out. They are escorted by 8 MiG-17F; so now it's 8v16. There's another four ship of MiG-17F and a two ship of MiG-21F-13 in the area as well; 8v22! You need 50% of the guys you're supposed to be shooting to count it as a win. I got two Il-28 with sidewinders and 3 MiG-17F (but not the escorts!) with the sparrows. One of the wingmen managed to take out a single Il-28. I am now done accounting our kills. Once I was out of missiles I disengaged and one of my wingmen was shot down before I landed and three had taken some sort of damage. Once I'd taxied back to the pad I ended the scenario (and prolly saved my wingmen since the game doesn't kill them once the player leaves the game).
The second mission was to find four MiG-15bis before they could take out friendly armor. Low level again! I got lucky with one sidewinder on the first Fagot but missed with the remaining three. I fired an AIM-7D at a passing MiG-21F-13 who was perfectly lined up for the shot by pure chance; got him. Then I got nailed by a MiG-17PF. KIA with posthumous Purple Heart.
I think that next time I try for 1962 in a Marine jet I am going for an F-8C. Having a gun of some sort sure would have made life a lot better.