SimHQ.com - Air Combat Zone - Preview: The Black Sea Operations

Turning to the northwest I slew the TDC over one of the jamming lines and jam the lock button and a HOJ (Home On Jam) symbol comes up in the HUD. I've seen this mode in other sims, but how it works in the F-15C in LOMAC is still a bit of a mystery to me. Using only the steering commands and a range estimate derived from the AWACS I wait until I feel the target is in range before launching my first AIM-7 Sparrow.

After my missile leaves the rail I wait anxiously but nothing appears to happen. I think I've missed. The bearing quickly drops down the side of the scope and AWACS announces that I've "merged". I turn my head side to side scanning for the target but the darkness precludes me from spotting him. I keep waiting for the enemy to fire on me but I continue to fly unmolested. I attempt two more intercepts on jamming targets and two more times my missiles are either spoofed or are launched outside of the proper parameters. Whatever the case, I finally achieve radar burn through on one of the targets at just outside of 20 miles and I quickly slew the TDC over the solid radar contact and designate the target. This time I have all the familiar symbols that I know so well from other sims: the steering dot, target designator box, dynamic launch zone, etc. I make a wish and jam the launch button once more.

Boom! That's a hit! Finally! In my elation I almost fly into the ocean as I've dropped perilously close to the water.

Scanning through the other targets in the neighborhood I realize that what I've been fighting are cruise missiles! No wonder I wasn't smacked down from the skies as I fumbled and bumbled around! Though some of the cruise missiles sneak through my wingmen and other flights are able to down a few of the sea-skimming missiles. I did have the wherewithal to release my wingmen to engage targets on their own. They certainly wouldn't have accomplished anything with me directing them!

With AWACS reporting no other threats I continue following my navigation steerpoints and soon am lined up on the ILS into Suhkumi airfield. As I float down final and the tires chirp onto the runway I think to myself that those sneaky Russians sure know how to welcome a guy into the theater. The mission is rated a success (confession: I had to play it twice) which unlocks the next mission in the series.

The second mission is titled "Walk in the Park" and is similar in concept to the opening missions in both Jane's F-15 and Jane's F-18 where you take the "grand tour" of the area and start learning the disposition of enemy forces. This mission is a simple navigation exercise to both get familiar with the area and to test the response of the enemy forces to the north. (This screen shot was taken before I applied the new menu textures that will be included in the pack.)

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