Rule 4.B:
I assume each weapon station can carry only one item unless it uses a weapons rack correct? What can be carried on a rack? Can you mount six Mavericks on an MR, or six Missiles? What about Stingers in a quad mount?
You are correct. A DR or TR may carry BB, BG, RP, RK, and Maverick type RGIRS weapons only. An MR may carry BB or RP weapons only and is limited to a max of three RP's. An MRT is restricted to BB and BG class weapons only. This information was published by GDW as Air Strike errata dated March 8,1988.
The Stinger Quad mount is not provided for in the game. To the best of my knowledge, the basic Stinger SAM has only been adapted as an Air to Air missile for helos using a twin or quad mounting on a pylon. This should be treated as regular "caged" IR missile. A more sophisticated version for aircraft was designed and tested in the early 1980's which featured a streamlined twin mount and an IR uncage capability. This was tested on A-10s and Luftwaffe Alpha Jets but was never put into service due to lack of funding. For those of you that must have it, the twin pod weighs 100 lbs., Load=]. The AIM-92 Air to Air Stinger was detailed in issue #3 of Air Power but was not rated as IR uncage capable should be. If you do not have issue 3, the Air Strike Stinger SAM data is the saw.
Infrared Search and Track Systems (AP issue #1):
How many targets can an IRSTS detect at once? How many can it lock on to? If only one, then which one? The closest?
An IRSTS may detect or attempt to detect all targets in its field of view that are in range. Only one may be locked onto and it does not have to be the closest. If it is not the closest the same procedure that is used for locking "uncaged" IRMs onto a target must be used.
IRSTS:
If you have an IRSTS lock on one aircraft and other comes in closer, does that break the earlier lock?
No.
IRSTS:
Does IR uncage technology or HMS technology (Helmet Mounted Sights) have any affect on IRSTS lock-ons?
IR uncage does not. An HMS can be used to aid the IRSTS to lock on to a target which is not the closest just as it does for uncaged IRMs. (HMS systems were described in AIR POWER #5 ).
Rule 18.G:
If you already have a lock-on to an aircraft, does auto track keep the lock-on even if you do restricted maneuvers?
No. Selecting Auto-track only allows you to attempt a lock-on after doing restrictive maneuvers. If you do restricted maneuvers with a lock-on, regardless of how it was acquired, you lose the lock.
Rule 18G:
What happens if you have a lock- on already and then select auto-track?
Selecting auto-track at the beginning of your move cancels all previous locks. You would only want to do this in a dogfight situation where you anticipate violating the radar restrictions during your move but want to lock-up the nearest enemy anyway. Note: once a lock-on is achieved via Auto-track, the radar returns to its normal mode and tracks only the locked on target even if others subsequently come closer.
Rule 28A
In order to start aiming for a ground attack, the aircraft must have visually sighted the target, or a smoke or laser spot right?
Right. But you may only see a laser spot if you have a Laser Spot Tracker in your Technology section. Also, bombing modifiers apply when attacking unseen targets by aiming off a smoke or laser spot.
Rule 41:
Do you have to have a laser spot tracker to use laser guided weapons?
No. However, you would not be able to attack an unseen target which is marked only by a laser spot.
Rules 42 and 43:
Do command guided weapons, or smart weapons require the target to be visually sighted or can they be dropped or fired at targets marked by smoke?
Command guided weapons and Smart weapons require the pilot or weapons officer to have the target visually sighted up until weapon impact in the case of CG weapons and at launch in the case of smart weapons. These weapons cannot be used against unseen targets, even if they are marked by smoke or laser spots.
Rule 28:
What effect does a "D" or "21)" result have against an EWR (early warning radar)?
The radar is considered inoperable while the unit is suppressed. It returns to operation upon becoming unsuppressed. An EWR operates normally until a "K" result is achieved. Exception: if the damage was done by an ARM weapon, then the radar is considered inoperable for the rest of the game if the die roll that did the damage was an even number. The same applies to damage from ARMs against radar guided SAMs as mentioned in GDWs Air Strike errata dated 8 March 1988.
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© Copyright 1990 by J.D. Webster
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