In memory of Edlor whose excellent F7F-3N inspired this ‘what if’ Tigercat variant.
Many thanks to ecf111 for his time and outstanding custom paint schemes that kept this project moving along.
Still a few months of work to do but hoping to have it available for the community early next year. I will post further user guide screenshots as features and formats become finalised.
ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare)The aim of this option is to simulate the various elements of ASW. Air to surface search RADAR, SONAR hydrophones and a Magnetic Anomaly Detector are available to assist in search and strike missions. If on the surface, hostile submarines can be detected with ASV-19B search RADAR (range 80km), however once the F7F-5WS (or any other opposition aircraft or ship) are within 20km of these vessels, they will submerge and will disappear off the RADAR scope. A series of hydrophones will then need to be dropped to try and find the location of the submerged submarine. If the SONAR picks up a target within a 3km radius, it will direct the player closer to the submarine. A MAD boom can then be deployed and with along cockpit instrumentation, guide the pilot to an attack run on the underwater vessel with Mk24 acoustic homing torpedos.
FirebomberSeveral F7F Tigercat’s have been used as civilian firebombers and this option simulates the player extinguishing fires on land or water using the F7F-5WS. Slurry tanks can be filled with either a chemical retardant or water (chosen via loadout selection). A ‘what if’ feature is an extendable scoop which allows for the slurry tanks to be refilled over water to continue the firefighting. To help judge the correct height above water to fly and scoop up water, HUD assistance is provided along with slurry tanks ‘filling’ and ‘full’ indicators in the cockpit.
ECM (Electronic Counter Measures)To simulate ECM confusing enemy airborne RADAR, this loadout option exploits a command within Maneuver.class and prevents any AI controlled aircraft (stock or modded) within 20km from executing an attack run on the ECM aircraft (and other friendly aircraft flying with it). However, this will not prevent turret gunners on hostile aircraft visually detecting the ECM aircraft and firing on it. If you are flying a F7F-5WS against one of these ECM aircraft, you will get a RADAR being jammed message and it (and any other hostile aircraft flying with it) will not be shown on your RADAR scope. Onboard ECM equipment can be turned off and on by the player. ECM used in combination with the nose mounted AN/APS-19 air to air search RADAR (range 30km) and AAM-A-1 Firebird / AAM-N-2 Sparrow air-to-air missiles makes for a potent interception aircraft when given a hostile airborne target by CIC controllers.
AEW (Airborne Early Warning)Two loadout options are available for the F7F-5WS equipped with AN/APS-20 search RADAR. The ventral radome mount which maximises the search for surface vessels and low flying aircraft (range 160km) and the dorsal radome mount which optimises the search for high flying aircraft (range 160km). Dorsal radome rotates and can have ‘dome art’.
Player has access to the AN/APS-20 search RADAR scope, which can track up to eight foe and eight friendly targets at once. Having a RADAR operator onboard means the pilot can request approximate speed and flight level of any tracked RADAR blips. Also simulating the RADAR operator’s speculation on the nature of the target from it’s RADAR cross section and movements, they may communicate the marked blip is possibly a fighter, bomber, aircraft carrier or submarine. The RADAR Gain keys cycle through the list of identified scope targets (both foe and friend) to display speed, altitude and possible type information. This feature is also available for the AN/APS-19 and ASV-19B RADARs.
Aerial TankerThe air to air refuelling option for the F7F-5WS, allows other carrier-based aircraft to undertake extended missions. This tanker can service any probe/drogue compatible aircraft. When the max fuel level in the receiver aircraft is reached, it is release or if it receives 900 litres of fuel (for TypeFighter/TypeStormovik) or if it receives 1800 litres of fuel (for TypeBomber). Fuel flow indicator lights are also mounted in the drogue refuelling assembly. If flown by a player, the F7F-5WS can release receiver aircraft at any time. Once the F7F-5WS tanker is low on fuel, players will no longer be directed to it by CIC controllers for refuelling.
This F7F variant envisages the Tigercat being operated beyond the mid 1950’s with more advanced avionics and sensor equipment, guided weapons, air-to-air refuelling, ejection seats, etc. Such late model F7F’s could form the backbone of the carrier-based assets for the ‘what if’ Project Beartrap. Project Beartrap being a ‘cold war’ military strategy, seeing smaller light carriers (both US and allied) take on the role to protect Western ballistic missile submarines from Soviet attack submarines, surface vessels & ASW aircraft.
cheers mace
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Topic: F7F-5WS (ASW-Firebomber-ECM-AEW-Tanker) (Read 8294 times)
