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Using cruise missiles tactically
Hints and tips for mission editors
Using cruise missiles tactically
Hints and tips for mission editors
This is the Field Operator's Manual for the CoC Tomahawk Pack, version 1.0. It governs the usage of the Tomahawk launchers with the Chain of Command Unified Artillery (UA) engine. The CoC Tomahawk Pack is compatible with both versions 1.0 and 1.1 (in testing as of the release of the Tomahawk Pack) of UA. This manual supposes a basic familiarity with CoC UA.
The Cruise Missile modelled in version 1.0 of the pack is an RGM-109 Tomahawk Block II, a cruise missile common in the US Arsenal in the late 1980s. The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) has a range of well over 1000 km and is capable of delivering a 1000lb payload with precision to its target, or at least to a river near that target. Before launch, the missile is programmed with a path that sends it through the lowest terrain on the way to its target. A rocket motor launches the missile, then power in flight is provided by single turbofan. The cruise missile then flies Nap-of-Earth at high subsonic speed until it reaches its target.
The RGM-109s in the CoC Tomahawk Pack carry one of three warheads:
WDU-25: A TLAM-C carries a 1000lb conventional HE warhead. In version 1.0, this warhead is detonated as an airburst above the target. It is highly effective against structures and armor, and also flattens light vehicles and infantry.
BLU-97: A TLAM-D carries 166 BLU-97 submunitions. As it flies over the target, it flings the submunitions out of 24 ports on the sides of the missile. The effect field covers an area approximately 400m long and 200m wide. The TLAM-D is excellent against soft vehicles and infantry, and has some effect against armor and light structures.
W-80: The TLAM-N (or -A) carries a W-80 Nuclear Warhead. For OFP, the yield has been reduced to around 1 KT. By default, CoC_CM Launchers do not normally carry the nuclear warhead (TAC); the mission designer has to add it in expressly. (unit addmagazine "CoC_CMNuke")
Note that warheads can be requested regardless of whether they are available. If a warhead is not available, the mission will not go through. So keep count of how many cruise missiles you have available and what kinds of warheads.
A TLAM block II normally requires at least 30 minutes to load a mission. For OFP, we have reduced those numbers significantly. However, we do use several sophisticated navigational routines that do take time to prepare and load the course into the Tomahawk's navigational system. The mission editor can adjust the time required by setting CoC_CMCPUPause; the observer can exchange course fidelity for accurace by setting the mission priority.
When requesting a fire mission, one of three priorities can be selected. Priority affects the aggressiveness of the pathfinder routine, and therefore the time between mission request and mission ready. If the CoC_FED is enabled (UA version 1.1), Priority also affects the order in which missions are processed.
Priorities are:
High: target is of high value and/or unlikely to remain in target area very long.
Normal: planned target; there is time to plot a safer route.
Opportunity: time is irrelevant.
Note that currently when a launcher is processing a mission, it cannot be overridden by a higher priority mission.
The current build of Tomahawks entering US service, the TLAM Block IV or "Tactical Tomahawk", is designed for tactical usage, with provisions for loitering and engaging targets transmitted in real time from observers on the ground. The Block II does not do this.
Instead, the person calling the Tomahawk must take into account that there will be a considerable delay between the request and when the missiles arrive on target. For targets that are on the beaches, this delay will be minimal; for others in difficult terrain, the wait may be closer to five minutes.
Therefore, the cruise missile is not an ideal platform for engaging moving targets. But for fixed targets, such as buildings, camps, truck parks, golf courses, the TLAM is an ideal weapon.
Call the target, avoid detection, and leave the area. You're not being paid to sightsee.
*Tomahawks are not common battlefield assets. Use them sparingly. Remove magazines from a launcher to balance the game.
*To speed up mission plotting time (at the expense of cpu load), set CoC_CMCPUPause to .00001 or so.
*To add the Tactical Nuclear Warhead, use the format LauncherName AddMagazine "CoC_CMNuke".
*The recommended mode of uses the Cruise Missile is with CoC_Arty. The cruise can, however, fly on its own. The easiest way to do this is to place a tomahawk in the air (flying), give it waypoints, and at the target, order it to fire (Tomahawk fire "CoC_Payload" for the WDU-25 and Nuke; Tomahawk fire "CoC_Bluload" for the BLU-97).
Manufacturer: Raytheon Company
Length: 5.56 meters, Width: 51.8 cm.
Wingspan: 2.67meters.
Range: 600 NM.
speed: 880 Kph
Inertial guidance system, Digital Scene Matching Area Corellator
Request Strike
Set Aimpoint
Clear Aimpoints
Change Warhead
Add Missile
Subtract Missile
Method of Control
Priority
Launch
Cancel
The CoC Cruise Missile pack was originally the vision of Jostapo, who put a lot of work into the product in the spring of 2003. By the summer, with the addition of Denoir and Bn880's pathfinding routines, the missile was near completion. Unfortunately, it never had a proper texture. So it got kicked to the back while the good folks at the CoC did other stuff.
Finally, in the spring of 2004, Denoir came up with a skin for the Tomahawk. Bn880 took this as his cue to redo pretty much the entire 3D model, the skin, and a good bit of the guidance system. Dinger tried to make the whole thing stick together and work with UA. He also did the cutscenes and missions and heck even this here documentation.
Cassandra G provided the soundtrack, available for use in other CM missions by calling Playmusic "CoC_Espionage".
AngusHeaf, Tactician and Phaeden (WGL) generously helped test the CM in multiplayer.
All bugs are my fault.
-dinger@thechainofcommand.com
http://www.thechainofcommand.com
visit our forums at http://forums.thechainofcommand.net
Cassandra G's music can be found online at: http://www.mp3.com.au/Cassandra_G/
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