1. Introduction
2. AA Basics
3. AA Advanced techniques
4. Conclusions
1. Purpose of this guide is to help players, less familiar with AA concepts, get better results in fighting enemy air force. This AA guide is written with no considerations of improvements, which should be brought in with 1.2 patch, since those should only make AA combat easier.
2. AA Basics
Class selection
Best class to choose if you are planning to enter AA vehicles is support. Reason for this is that you will always need more AA missiles than you have and re-supplying own vehicle is what you must be prepared for. Most often, supply crates will not be there when you most need them. Difference between having missiles and not having missiles is question of life and death to AA.
Know your weapon
All AA systems of the game can be grouped on the following 4 categories
- Linebacker – main strengths of this vehicle compared to other mobile AA systems is its cannon. It is firing less rapidly but single shell has more power. Most importantly it has almost 0 bullet drop which makes it easier to fire at distant targets and even airplanes. Another advantage is that linebacker has rather good sight angle allowing for easier aiming. Common main weakness of all mobile AAs is that they do not have any decoy or smoke to “hide” or at least make it less vulnerable target.
- Tunguska equivalent AAs – rapid firing, ground shaking AA best used for close combat with enemy air force. Well suitable for killing large numbers of infantry but primarily it gives hell to helicopters. Its gun is almost useless against distant airplanes.
- Igla/Stinger – stationary AA site, which offers very little flexibility and one should not stay too long in these. Since you can not move, after firing missiles just run away from it as far as possible. Return to the site in about 20 seconds, just to be sure missiles are loaded. Always fire both missiles, there is nothing worse than having one missile to deploy and helicopter capping flag so close you could spit on it.
- Essex AA – 8 missiles and rapid firing gun makes this weapon of choice for killing base raping pilots that attack the vessel. At close range use prolonged cannon fire and in long range fighting just the short bursts. You will need the “heat” when the plane or helicopter approaches the ship.
Radar
Always look on your mini map for the enemy aircraft. As AA, you must be ready for the enemy as they approach (you will know why later). Ask team members to spot aircraft for you – they will benefit more from that. It is vital to know which side enemy comes from in order to prepare for an attack.
Using the missiles
Heat seeking missiles have “earned” me more TKs than anything else. Nothing beats the missile going for friendly aircraft after almost reaching enemy. Not to mention that when chasing friendly aircraft, missiles tend to make turn I can never even dream about when shooting at enemy.
Before shooting a missile check few things first
• That there are no friendly aircraft in the line of sight you are aiming for.
• That there are no friendly planes in 90 degrees (45 left and 45 right) in front of you and their path of motion should not get them in that area either when you fire the missile
• That the enemy has released decoy and that you are firmly locked ON the enemy with no decoy remains in sight
Always fire all missiles with no pause in between as fast as possible. To ensure a kill – fire missiles when the target is closer than 250m and remember that the closer the target less evasive action can be taken against your missiles. Remember - missiles hit harder than cannon.
Using the cannon
When firing the cannon you must remember to track the movement of the opponent and think of the bullet drop. For AA gunner it is vital to know to judge distances in order to be able to see how to position cannon with respect to the moving target. I will be using Kubra Dam Map as reference for distances and examples.
- close range would be a distance from AA spawn on Material Station to Refueling station. In this radius, targets are considered close. You can fire directly at the targets in that and equivalent ranges with little or no adjustments for bullet drops. If target is moving in short range, aim in advance of the air asset for ¼ of the length of target or less.
- Medium range would be distance at which you can visually identify enemy target. Kubra Dam Refference, from Construction site to Power Plant, on the opposite side. In this situation, aim for at least ½ to even full length of the moving target in advance of it. If using Tunguska – aim also somewhat higher above horizontal interception point.
- Long range targets are those which are further than the bridge when looking from construction site. Don’t engage such targets with cannon or only with short bursts just to prepare for incoming contact.
3. AA advanced techniques
Even though some things are not used as they are meant to – in particular jeeps. These advanced techniques are used only against helicopters. Get a jeep, one has 360 degree moveable turret and place it close to stationary AA vehicle. Again, position the jeep in such way that would allow you to get away from AA in perpendicular direction from the projected path of movement of enemy.
As the enemy approaches fire the missiles and get to the jeep. Continue shooting at the jeep in the same manner as you would with AA gun, until the gun overheats. Get back to the AA and repeat the action as many times as necessary. Just make sure you fire missiles after the decoy has disappeared. When you see the engine of the helicopter smoking – it is time when you need to get back to the gun and pound the hell out of those pilots. Always remember – they must have killed someone at least once to get their helicopter and there is nothing better than having your enemy thank you for taking down their own helicopter. This technique can be improved even further, by placing 2 or 3 jeeps inline with projected path of motion of the enemy.
Taking helicopters down with tanks is not as hard as it seems. Always look for those helicopters capping flags. They are the easiest targets and combine machinegun fire with tank rounds. Moving targets should get same treatments but with doubled elevation angles and doubled “follow up” distances. After shell it is always possible to get to machinegun as well and pound the helicopter as his engine starts smoking.
Maneuvering
Motion of the mobile AAs is crucial for survival. Without moving, you have no chance against a skilled pilot and correct maneuvering can save you. As soon as you get locked on signal – you have to start maneuvering. Don’t spin in place; just get as far as possible from the point where you were locked on.
The position you take is also very important. Take notice of where is the enemy airbase is and where they are most likely to pass when they are attacking. For example, on operation clean sweep more than half of the pilots fly over Control Center (MEC spawn closest to the USMC) so they are coming from the north. Position yourself on road T crossing so that when you move forward and backward you move left and right from the airplane incoming from the north. Basically – ALWAYS stay perpendicular from the projected motion path of the incoming air asset. As target come close, fire with all weapons at once. In close range maneuvering it is essential not to loose sight of the attacking air plane or helicopter. If the enemy slows down – it is doomed – just pound it with the cannon. If it goes away but just to return – again take different position to be perpendicular to its new path of motion. If by any chance or misfortune you are in line with the attacker – never move away from it! Always head towards the enemy, the lesser the distance between them more favorable the position becomes for you and your cannon.
Your worst enemy are those guided weapons and that is why you should stay hidden as much as you can. This means hiding between buildings from where you can emerge and hit them from behind! That is the soft spot. Other than buildings – terrain can be a good hiding place, but in such way that enemy can not see you until they passed you.
4. Conclusions
AA is formidable weapon if used correctly. Never engage a tank or APC alone. Jeeps and infantry are legitimate targets but primarily aim up for the helicopters. Only shoot rockets at planes in medium distance and from behind – preferably. Shoot at helicopters with cannon and missiles in medium and close range. Go berserk in short range, overheat your cannon and cheer every victory of AA over air force. Change tactics if you see that someone is deliberately looking out for you. Main thing you want to achieve is not to let the pilots relax and do their job. Let them be stressed out not knowing where you are going to attack from. Take as much fire off your team and help them win by not letting the enemy achieve air superiority. It alone could win the battle, but as long as there are AA Forces, they can only dream about easy points.
2. AA Basics
3. AA Advanced techniques
4. Conclusions
1. Purpose of this guide is to help players, less familiar with AA concepts, get better results in fighting enemy air force. This AA guide is written with no considerations of improvements, which should be brought in with 1.2 patch, since those should only make AA combat easier.
2. AA Basics
Class selection
Best class to choose if you are planning to enter AA vehicles is support. Reason for this is that you will always need more AA missiles than you have and re-supplying own vehicle is what you must be prepared for. Most often, supply crates will not be there when you most need them. Difference between having missiles and not having missiles is question of life and death to AA.
Know your weapon
All AA systems of the game can be grouped on the following 4 categories
- Linebacker – main strengths of this vehicle compared to other mobile AA systems is its cannon. It is firing less rapidly but single shell has more power. Most importantly it has almost 0 bullet drop which makes it easier to fire at distant targets and even airplanes. Another advantage is that linebacker has rather good sight angle allowing for easier aiming. Common main weakness of all mobile AAs is that they do not have any decoy or smoke to “hide” or at least make it less vulnerable target.
- Tunguska equivalent AAs – rapid firing, ground shaking AA best used for close combat with enemy air force. Well suitable for killing large numbers of infantry but primarily it gives hell to helicopters. Its gun is almost useless against distant airplanes.
- Igla/Stinger – stationary AA site, which offers very little flexibility and one should not stay too long in these. Since you can not move, after firing missiles just run away from it as far as possible. Return to the site in about 20 seconds, just to be sure missiles are loaded. Always fire both missiles, there is nothing worse than having one missile to deploy and helicopter capping flag so close you could spit on it.
- Essex AA – 8 missiles and rapid firing gun makes this weapon of choice for killing base raping pilots that attack the vessel. At close range use prolonged cannon fire and in long range fighting just the short bursts. You will need the “heat” when the plane or helicopter approaches the ship.
Radar
Always look on your mini map for the enemy aircraft. As AA, you must be ready for the enemy as they approach (you will know why later). Ask team members to spot aircraft for you – they will benefit more from that. It is vital to know which side enemy comes from in order to prepare for an attack.
Using the missiles
Heat seeking missiles have “earned” me more TKs than anything else. Nothing beats the missile going for friendly aircraft after almost reaching enemy. Not to mention that when chasing friendly aircraft, missiles tend to make turn I can never even dream about when shooting at enemy.
Before shooting a missile check few things first
• That there are no friendly aircraft in the line of sight you are aiming for.
• That there are no friendly planes in 90 degrees (45 left and 45 right) in front of you and their path of motion should not get them in that area either when you fire the missile
• That the enemy has released decoy and that you are firmly locked ON the enemy with no decoy remains in sight
Always fire all missiles with no pause in between as fast as possible. To ensure a kill – fire missiles when the target is closer than 250m and remember that the closer the target less evasive action can be taken against your missiles. Remember - missiles hit harder than cannon.
Using the cannon
When firing the cannon you must remember to track the movement of the opponent and think of the bullet drop. For AA gunner it is vital to know to judge distances in order to be able to see how to position cannon with respect to the moving target. I will be using Kubra Dam Map as reference for distances and examples.
- close range would be a distance from AA spawn on Material Station to Refueling station. In this radius, targets are considered close. You can fire directly at the targets in that and equivalent ranges with little or no adjustments for bullet drops. If target is moving in short range, aim in advance of the air asset for ¼ of the length of target or less.
- Medium range would be distance at which you can visually identify enemy target. Kubra Dam Refference, from Construction site to Power Plant, on the opposite side. In this situation, aim for at least ½ to even full length of the moving target in advance of it. If using Tunguska – aim also somewhat higher above horizontal interception point.
- Long range targets are those which are further than the bridge when looking from construction site. Don’t engage such targets with cannon or only with short bursts just to prepare for incoming contact.
3. AA advanced techniques
Even though some things are not used as they are meant to – in particular jeeps. These advanced techniques are used only against helicopters. Get a jeep, one has 360 degree moveable turret and place it close to stationary AA vehicle. Again, position the jeep in such way that would allow you to get away from AA in perpendicular direction from the projected path of movement of enemy.
As the enemy approaches fire the missiles and get to the jeep. Continue shooting at the jeep in the same manner as you would with AA gun, until the gun overheats. Get back to the AA and repeat the action as many times as necessary. Just make sure you fire missiles after the decoy has disappeared. When you see the engine of the helicopter smoking – it is time when you need to get back to the gun and pound the hell out of those pilots. Always remember – they must have killed someone at least once to get their helicopter and there is nothing better than having your enemy thank you for taking down their own helicopter. This technique can be improved even further, by placing 2 or 3 jeeps inline with projected path of motion of the enemy.
Taking helicopters down with tanks is not as hard as it seems. Always look for those helicopters capping flags. They are the easiest targets and combine machinegun fire with tank rounds. Moving targets should get same treatments but with doubled elevation angles and doubled “follow up” distances. After shell it is always possible to get to machinegun as well and pound the helicopter as his engine starts smoking.
Maneuvering
Motion of the mobile AAs is crucial for survival. Without moving, you have no chance against a skilled pilot and correct maneuvering can save you. As soon as you get locked on signal – you have to start maneuvering. Don’t spin in place; just get as far as possible from the point where you were locked on.
The position you take is also very important. Take notice of where is the enemy airbase is and where they are most likely to pass when they are attacking. For example, on operation clean sweep more than half of the pilots fly over Control Center (MEC spawn closest to the USMC) so they are coming from the north. Position yourself on road T crossing so that when you move forward and backward you move left and right from the airplane incoming from the north. Basically – ALWAYS stay perpendicular from the projected motion path of the incoming air asset. As target come close, fire with all weapons at once. In close range maneuvering it is essential not to loose sight of the attacking air plane or helicopter. If the enemy slows down – it is doomed – just pound it with the cannon. If it goes away but just to return – again take different position to be perpendicular to its new path of motion. If by any chance or misfortune you are in line with the attacker – never move away from it! Always head towards the enemy, the lesser the distance between them more favorable the position becomes for you and your cannon.
Your worst enemy are those guided weapons and that is why you should stay hidden as much as you can. This means hiding between buildings from where you can emerge and hit them from behind! That is the soft spot. Other than buildings – terrain can be a good hiding place, but in such way that enemy can not see you until they passed you.
4. Conclusions
AA is formidable weapon if used correctly. Never engage a tank or APC alone. Jeeps and infantry are legitimate targets but primarily aim up for the helicopters. Only shoot rockets at planes in medium distance and from behind – preferably. Shoot at helicopters with cannon and missiles in medium and close range. Go berserk in short range, overheat your cannon and cheer every victory of AA over air force. Change tactics if you see that someone is deliberately looking out for you. Main thing you want to achieve is not to let the pilots relax and do their job. Let them be stressed out not knowing where you are going to attack from. Take as much fire off your team and help them win by not letting the enemy achieve air superiority. It alone could win the battle, but as long as there are AA Forces, they can only dream about easy points.