BF2S Forums SPAAA/SAM Guide II

Hey how about a "How to not be locked onto every 5 seconds as MEC on Sharqi" guide..

It is also good if you can get an engie in your turret for constant repair. Then be a medic to help him stay alive.

Also, shoot one or two missles while you wait for the flares. This reminds them to flare or kills them outright.

This was very well done and certainly deserve a karma point.
Belongs in the featured posts section.

I just want to add that I've yet to shoot down an aircraft with the static AA...

Last edited by Sambuccashake (2006-08-17 07:13:05)

Sambuccashake wrote:

Belongs in the featured posts section.

Ty, unfortunatly I have no Idea what I have to do to get it there.

Cbass wrote:

Nice Guide +1

One thing though, Attack Choppers would probly be the worst enemy of AA. A experienced chopper pilot can easily take out and fight AA, stationary or mobile. U can't shoot a chopper hiding behind trees and buildings. This tactic works for me 90% of the time. When im tracked by AA i pop flares and dive for the nearest group of trees or a large building. Then wait a sec for flares to reload and try to think where the AA operator thinks im going to come out, and go the other way. Then ill fly out from the cover, pop flares again and line up my gunner for a TV shot and boom. Sure i take some damage but nothing serious. And im not saying i've never been shot down by AA but usually it's being "caught with my pants down" so to speak, when it happens.

Experienced pilots are my worst enemy. They know what to do when they hear the beep. But I have my own tactics to protects myself from their tactics.

It's refreshing to see something helpful on these forums again. The poorly constructed polls and inifinite debates on the Middle East are starting to get old. Good job, Bern! +1

A very good and guide on using AAA in BF2. Thumbs up and +1!

I have tried to apply some RL (yeah, that one with the better graphics...) rules of use for AAA to the simplified BF2 environment - only some survived the test (broken down to the basics, there are MORE in RL):

1. High density of ammunition at the target AND/OR high accuracy (applies:++):
While the first applies to fast firing gun systems (Tunguska) the second concerns the SAMs. SPAAA in BF2 combines both virtues. Why note make use of both? When attacked by hostile aircraft use the gun after getting visual contact (if you don't do much damage you can scare him a bit at least), after the flare game (read above) get a solid lock-on and fire all SAM at you disposal in fast succession (high ammo density and accuracy - solves that). If the pilot isn't very skilled that solves the problem in most cases (ammo resupply is a problem so - than you know why RL AD systems got at two guys+ whose only purpose is to resupply and reload the guns/launchers, or why the SPAAA has a front seat that spells death).

2. Early Warning (applies:--):
Usually you won't get much. Except for well meaning spotters or very fast commanders. Therefore doesn't really apply in BF2. No Early Warning of your own either because on board radar is not available.

3. high weapons range (applies:+/-):
Engage as early as accurate aiming is possible. Know your range (good AH gunners know theirs). Problem if you want to max it out: requires early warning therefore only of limited use. Sticky point: It is not recommendable to fire at enemies flying away from you because they will have released their payload by then and your SAMs probably won't catch the hostile anymore or burn up fuel to fast allowing the target to escape (because of this not practicable in RL - in BF2 why not shoot up the tailpipe, an enemy down is an enemy down, ain't it?).

4. Sensor range > weapons range (applies:-):
Read 2, doesn't apply in BF2 for the lack of sensors except the SAM lock system (and even this doesn't fulfill the equation). The lack of sensors poses another problem: you can only acquire targets if you can see them. You don't get an overall picture of the airspace (no radar or EW). This fact requires you to scan the horizon constantly in your (relatively slow moving) turret.
This collides with an other rule that calls for 360°/24/7 cover of Airspace. In BF2 therefore sometimes it is convenient to find a good position that actually LIMITS the sector you want to monitor (less nervous scanning) and channels enemy attacks (if you, for example, take position at the road in Kubra you won't be attacked by hostiles from the East since there is a steep cliff that provides you with some cover what frees you to only keep watch for hostiles along the road and the valley).

5. suitable AAA positions, camouflage (applies:+, -):
Basically: stay away from points that are easy to address (cross roads, peaks, etc.). Better to be along the road somewhere (where exactly the pilot may ask) then at at easily discernible point. Stay away from routes tanks are likely to use except if you are accompanied by it yourself. And keep moving - your victim will be back for you (as Bernadictus has explained already).
Pull back, set traps for those searching for you - for this even a suboptimal position is a very good position since the hunters won't be look there for you. Camouflage is no option in BF2 (expect behind houses you still can see over or palm trees that keep you covered and don't decrease your FOV to much).

6. combine the firepower of two or more weapons (applies: +/-):
On the technical part DICE povided for you quite well with the introduction of SPAAA systems: guns and SAMs in multiple mountings (the stinger posts is crap on that point). The tactical part (combining and coordinating the firepower of two or more AA-systems) in general doesn't work at all in BF2 - it requires teamwork and active communication.
Other tactical rules like unity of air defense command and such don't work in BF2 for the same reason.

DICE has spared us (not counting the flares) the bads of electronic warfare so no talk on that.


I hope that I was able to give you a solid if quite basic insight of how things with AAA tactics work here (RL) and there (BF2) and what could be useful on the battlefield (the one with the 2 - "there", that is).



Note: The application of some of this rules have earned me my Air-Defense Ribbon in the pre-patch era when stingers where almost as useless as medipacks to shoot down aircraft :-). Still proud on that one because I earned it not by shooting up infantry. Yeah, okay I'll stop now ...

And: Try Bernadictus' tips, they work!

Umm Bernadictus, eFFe won't get shot down by AA, just like any other pilot who knows what he's doing. I know how to abuse a little bug in the game that can let you take down a chopper with an AA vehicle at close range easily, but quite frankly AA is, and always has been, absolutely useless.