About calling in CAS
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 2:57 pm
Hey guys,
Wall of text incoming.
Yesterday, during the S2 GN, I was piloting an MI-24V Hind and I'm fairly certain we wiped out half of Alpha with one or two of our rocket runs.
Due to some weird issues with TS (not related to ACRE, I think), I missed the debrief entirely, so I don't know what was said, nor was I able to give my input about it. (would've been too long for a TS debrief anyway)
I want to focus mainly on the "How can we improve?", in particular I want to discuss if and how we could change the way we call in CAS. This is not specific to S2, hence why I write this in General.
First, let me run you through a particular situation that occurred yesterday which triggered this thread, to show what's going on to everyone that doesn't fly.
Unfortunately, I forgot to record, or take a screenshot from the actual mission, but the following image should be a representative recreation of what the map looked like yesterday. Note that almost none of these marks were prebriefed, but added as the mission progressed.
So, what happens quite often, in my experience as a pilot in this community:
We're hovering somewhere or circling / scanning the AO, when we get the call from FAC / JTAC:
"Svernyatka 1, FAC, check map, TRP Urgent, request immediate CAS, rockets."
In this situation, I had several concerns:
1) There are 3 items that make it really dangerous for a pilot to open the map:
- Full screen map, obviously obstructing your view (TAO Map is an option, but has its own drawbacks unfortunately, or I'm not familiar enough with it)
- Zooms in on your current position quite a lot, regardless of speed
- In the background, everything just goes on. Spend too long in the map, and you may find yourself engaged, damaged, nose down with terra firma in close proximity, ... upon exit.
2) Urgency. Didn't know why, though. High threat or overwhelming force inbound but still unaware? Active contact in unknown or unreachable position? Heavy contact? All I could make out by the tone and designation of the TRP, is they wanted that CAS 5 minutes ago, instead of 5 seconds from now.
3) Friendly units in proximity? Supposedly so, given the urgency, but where? Do I need to come in from a specific angle to minimise risk?
4) I have both HE and AP rockets. Am I looking for infantry or armour?
5) Where the hell is TRP Urgent? When you (the reader) first checked the map, did you notice there was a TRP Urgent? How long did it take you to eventually find it?
Basically, I try to avoid using the map as much as possible when flying, because of the reasons mentioned above. When I do need to check the map, I do so in bursts of generally no more than 5 to 10 seconds, depending on altitude, flight path and threat activity. In some situations, I cannot look at the map at all.
In the situation described above, what I need to do in 5 - 10 seconds (or rinse and repeat until completion):
- Open the map
- Zoom out from my own position
- Zoom back in on the AO to make out the overlapping markings (a lot of which weren't there yet the last time I checked)
- Find the mentioned reference marker
- Check the surrounding area (roads, fields, elevation or other recognisable landmarks) and attempt to visualize what the target area would look like from where I'm sitting
- Make sure I know where friendlies are (especially important in Danger Close calls, which happens with similar calls unfortunately)
So, eventually, I did all that, found TRP Urgent (between Y6 and Y8, just northwest of Charlie, for those still looking), checked friendly positons about 200m south and 150m east, and shift my view out the window.
At this point, I'm stumped ... I can't see any of the roads or fields from here, other than the causeway, and there's no discernable elevation change, so I have no clue where each reference marker is supposed to be.
Ask the gunner, as he can see what I'm seeing. The white warehouse on our 1 o'clock... Is that Y5 or Y6? The blue warehouse... Y4 or Y5? Or maybe W1?
Pretty sure the construction site far north is W4. Right?
Of course, the gunner also needs to check the map and get his bearings straight before he can confirm or correct, but remember, urgency, so all the above happens over the course of 30 seconds. In general for this community, I've noticed that FAC will ask why it's taking so long if CAS isn't raining down on target within the minute, so as soon as my gunner seems somewhat certain, I decide to go in, assuming the white warehouse is indeed Y6. Fire a salvo of HE into the trees to the west, and return to BP East. On the way out, my gunner tells me he thinks we may have hit the wrong target after all.
"Svernyatka 1, FAC, good effect on target. Thanks."
* SIGH OF RELIEF *
The friendly fire incident mentioned at the start, where I (nearly) decimated Alpha, was caused mainly by an unfortunate mis-identification between Y5 and Y4, due to lack of situational awareness about marker positions, and in lesser part, a lack of upstream about friendly positions and movement.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Now,
How can we improve upon that?
What I would suggest:
- First and foremost, don't drop the map markers, but use them as a backup rather than the primary reference.
- Be aware that a pilot can not take cover and take a moment to check the map like ground units can.
- Be aware that what you see on the ground is not what the pilot sees.
- Provide visual reference points that stand out from a distance.
- Whenever possible, deploy smoke, flares, laser designators, laser aimpoint, IR strobes, ... to clarify the target or friendly area.
- When relying solely on map markers, provide at least a grid or other known reference point, and use a colour that's easily distinguishable from other markers or map background.
- Declutter the map as much as possible. Mark in the correct channels. Remove obsolete markers as soon as possible. (general advice, not just for CAS)
- Give a pilot as much actionable intel as possible on what's going on and what he's targeting. Always inform a pilot if friendly units are close-by. (for ArmA, I'd use <250m in most cases)
So, instead of "Svernyatka 1, FAC, check map, TRP Urgent, request immediate CAS, rockets."
Say: "Svernyatka 1, FAC, request immediate CAS, danger close, rockets, target BMP, 100m north of blue building west of causeway, friendlies 50m south of white smoke, TRP Urgent on map if necessary"
It may take a bit longer to transmit, but it takes away every need for the pilot to check the map. He can look outside and scan for either the causeway, the blue building or the white smoke and immediately know where he's expected. He knows what his target is, select the proper weapon, and could be delivering arms within 30 seconds.
Those are my two cents, wide open for remarks, questions, additions, changes, ...
Cheers,
Eagle-Eye
Wall of text incoming.
Yesterday, during the S2 GN, I was piloting an MI-24V Hind and I'm fairly certain we wiped out half of Alpha with one or two of our rocket runs.
Due to some weird issues with TS (not related to ACRE, I think), I missed the debrief entirely, so I don't know what was said, nor was I able to give my input about it. (would've been too long for a TS debrief anyway)
I want to focus mainly on the "How can we improve?", in particular I want to discuss if and how we could change the way we call in CAS. This is not specific to S2, hence why I write this in General.
First, let me run you through a particular situation that occurred yesterday which triggered this thread, to show what's going on to everyone that doesn't fly.
Unfortunately, I forgot to record, or take a screenshot from the actual mission, but the following image should be a representative recreation of what the map looked like yesterday. Note that almost none of these marks were prebriefed, but added as the mission progressed.
So, what happens quite often, in my experience as a pilot in this community:
We're hovering somewhere or circling / scanning the AO, when we get the call from FAC / JTAC:
"Svernyatka 1, FAC, check map, TRP Urgent, request immediate CAS, rockets."
In this situation, I had several concerns:
1) There are 3 items that make it really dangerous for a pilot to open the map:
- Full screen map, obviously obstructing your view (TAO Map is an option, but has its own drawbacks unfortunately, or I'm not familiar enough with it)
- Zooms in on your current position quite a lot, regardless of speed
- In the background, everything just goes on. Spend too long in the map, and you may find yourself engaged, damaged, nose down with terra firma in close proximity, ... upon exit.
2) Urgency. Didn't know why, though. High threat or overwhelming force inbound but still unaware? Active contact in unknown or unreachable position? Heavy contact? All I could make out by the tone and designation of the TRP, is they wanted that CAS 5 minutes ago, instead of 5 seconds from now.
3) Friendly units in proximity? Supposedly so, given the urgency, but where? Do I need to come in from a specific angle to minimise risk?
4) I have both HE and AP rockets. Am I looking for infantry or armour?
5) Where the hell is TRP Urgent? When you (the reader) first checked the map, did you notice there was a TRP Urgent? How long did it take you to eventually find it?
Basically, I try to avoid using the map as much as possible when flying, because of the reasons mentioned above. When I do need to check the map, I do so in bursts of generally no more than 5 to 10 seconds, depending on altitude, flight path and threat activity. In some situations, I cannot look at the map at all.
In the situation described above, what I need to do in 5 - 10 seconds (or rinse and repeat until completion):
- Open the map
- Zoom out from my own position
- Zoom back in on the AO to make out the overlapping markings (a lot of which weren't there yet the last time I checked)
- Find the mentioned reference marker
- Check the surrounding area (roads, fields, elevation or other recognisable landmarks) and attempt to visualize what the target area would look like from where I'm sitting
- Make sure I know where friendlies are (especially important in Danger Close calls, which happens with similar calls unfortunately)
So, eventually, I did all that, found TRP Urgent (between Y6 and Y8, just northwest of Charlie, for those still looking), checked friendly positons about 200m south and 150m east, and shift my view out the window.
At this point, I'm stumped ... I can't see any of the roads or fields from here, other than the causeway, and there's no discernable elevation change, so I have no clue where each reference marker is supposed to be.
Ask the gunner, as he can see what I'm seeing. The white warehouse on our 1 o'clock... Is that Y5 or Y6? The blue warehouse... Y4 or Y5? Or maybe W1?
Pretty sure the construction site far north is W4. Right?
Of course, the gunner also needs to check the map and get his bearings straight before he can confirm or correct, but remember, urgency, so all the above happens over the course of 30 seconds. In general for this community, I've noticed that FAC will ask why it's taking so long if CAS isn't raining down on target within the minute, so as soon as my gunner seems somewhat certain, I decide to go in, assuming the white warehouse is indeed Y6. Fire a salvo of HE into the trees to the west, and return to BP East. On the way out, my gunner tells me he thinks we may have hit the wrong target after all.
"Svernyatka 1, FAC, good effect on target. Thanks."
* SIGH OF RELIEF *
The friendly fire incident mentioned at the start, where I (nearly) decimated Alpha, was caused mainly by an unfortunate mis-identification between Y5 and Y4, due to lack of situational awareness about marker positions, and in lesser part, a lack of upstream about friendly positions and movement.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Now,
How can we improve upon that?
What I would suggest:
- First and foremost, don't drop the map markers, but use them as a backup rather than the primary reference.
- Be aware that a pilot can not take cover and take a moment to check the map like ground units can.
- Be aware that what you see on the ground is not what the pilot sees.
- Provide visual reference points that stand out from a distance.
- Whenever possible, deploy smoke, flares, laser designators, laser aimpoint, IR strobes, ... to clarify the target or friendly area.
- When relying solely on map markers, provide at least a grid or other known reference point, and use a colour that's easily distinguishable from other markers or map background.
- Declutter the map as much as possible. Mark in the correct channels. Remove obsolete markers as soon as possible. (general advice, not just for CAS)
- Give a pilot as much actionable intel as possible on what's going on and what he's targeting. Always inform a pilot if friendly units are close-by. (for ArmA, I'd use <250m in most cases)
So, instead of "Svernyatka 1, FAC, check map, TRP Urgent, request immediate CAS, rockets."
Say: "Svernyatka 1, FAC, request immediate CAS, danger close, rockets, target BMP, 100m north of blue building west of causeway, friendlies 50m south of white smoke, TRP Urgent on map if necessary"
It may take a bit longer to transmit, but it takes away every need for the pilot to check the map. He can look outside and scan for either the causeway, the blue building or the white smoke and immediately know where he's expected. He knows what his target is, select the proper weapon, and could be delivering arms within 30 seconds.
Those are my two cents, wide open for remarks, questions, additions, changes, ...
Cheers,
Eagle-Eye