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What do the lightning bolts mean?

Featured Replies

Hi,

 

I am an old Harpooner who decided to D/L the HC demo the other day. I had all the DOS versions and battlesets, and I did beta testing for H97 and EC2000. I had H2, and I bought Patriot too.

 

So I notice these little lightning bolts that show up next to my a/c, enemy a/c, and enemy surface units. What are theytelling me? I am guessing jamming, but I can't find anthing in the manual.

 

Speaking for jamming, does it just "happen", or are their finer points t using it.

 

In general,I am impressed with the demo. Love the refuelling implementation, and the fact that i don't have to remember to split the tanker off and RTB it. I still think the Phoenix missle is too accurate against fighters.

 

Thanks

Hi, I am an old Harpooner who decided to D/L the HC demo the other day. I had all the DOS versions and battlesets, and I did beta testing for H97 and EC2000. I had H2, and I bought Patriot too.

 

Welcome back. :)

 

So I notice these little lightning bolts that show up next to my a/c, enemy a/c, and enemy surface units. What are theytelling me? I am guessing jamming, but I can't find anthing in the manual.

 

It is in fact an indicator of jamming, and more specifically, that the unit is being jammed.

 

Speaking for jamming, does it just "happen", or are their finer points t using it.

 

The jamming you are seeing with the lightning bolt symbol is offensive jamming. The jamming equipment is employed by the platform energizing its radar(s), i.e. its radar must be active for the offensive jamming to be active.

 

In general,I am impressed with the demo. Love the refuelling implementation, and the fact that i don't have to remember to split the tanker off and RTB it. I still think the Phoenix missle is too accurate against fighters.

 

Glad you're liking it. HC has come a long way, and continues to improve.

 

As for the Phoenix, the AIM-54A version has a pK of just 0.40. The improved capability AIM-54C version has pK 0.55. Whether they will score hits against fighters depends on the maneuverability of that target (its ATA/DATA values) and whether it has defensive jammers and/or decoys.

Welcome back! The following thread/topic should get you started on the jamming: http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=2574

 

In short they indicate that unit's radars are being jammed to some extent (which if you turn on ECM logging via the command line you could see more numbers). A jammer must have its radar on in order to jam, that is the on/off switch.

 

Refueling has a long ways to go (as do most things despite it being a 20 year old game) but it works perhaps more reliably now than ever and that is a start!

  • Author

Thanks for the answers. I was turning the radar off on loitering Prowlers to maintain EMCON! Oops!

 

I take it the altitude effects ECM range, yes?

 

Does the radar ON also control the ECM pods on attack jets? I usually go EMCON on Hornets and Tomcats if I am doing a "turn and burn" to outrun incoming AtA missiles, but if the ECM pod is off when the radar is off, perhaps I should turn it on. Or is this a double edge sword, where I get some reduction in PK, but I also tell everyone where I am.

 

Are there AtA weapons in the game that will home on radar or jamming emissions?

Thanks for the answers. I was turning the radar off on loitering Prowlers to maintain EMCON! Oops!

 

I take it the altitude effects ECM range, yes?

 

Does the radar ON also control the ECM pods on attack jets? I usually go EMCON on Hornets and Tomcats if I am doing a "turn and burn" to outrun incoming AtA missiles, but if the ECM pod is off when the radar is off, perhaps I should turn it on. Or is this a double edge sword, where I get some reduction in PK, but I also tell everyone where I am.

 

Are there AtA weapons in the game that will home on radar or jamming emissions?

 

Good questions :)

 

Altitude does affect ECM range to the extent of the radar line of sight.

 

The radar ON only affects active jamming which in the game is defined as jamming pods with a range > 0. So if The pod lists Horizon or 0 as the range it means you have a point defense jammer that will work to reduce the PK of weapons targeted at that individual unit whether the radar is turned on or not.

 

There is no home on jam code in the game.

  • Author

Thanks again!

 

I am playing "Backyard II" in WestPac in the demo. Gonna need all the help I can get when I go to destroy Petropavlovsk and the Red surface groups.

Thanks again!

 

I am playing "Backyard II" in WestPac in the demo. Gonna need all the help I can get when I go to destroy Petropavlovsk and the Red surface groups.

 

The surface groups are easy. Watch out for Petropavlovsk, though, it's TOUGH ... :-)

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