| Rather than do a traditional review, I have opted for a mission run through. I think it is more readable and gives a better idea what it feels like to play the game. It won't tell you every last detail about sound quality etc. but it should tell you whether or not you would enjoy playing it. We join First Lieutenant Ivan Neizvestny on a mission in Kazakhstan ("Reinforcing the besieged Garrison"). The other two campaigns are set in Korea and Afghanistan. |
The mission is an urgent one. Our troops in a neighbouring town have been cut off and surrounded. We are to fly in reinforcements in the face of a strong anti-air threat and within range of enemy helicopter forces. I opt for eight Shturm radio-guided anti-tank missiles: I will use them at stand-off range from the deadly ZSU-23-4 AA platforms and to take down enemy helicopters. I also take 2 pods of 80mm unguided rockets for use against clustered ground targets.
The squadron lifts off under a cloudy sky. It is dark, but not dark enough to need the night vision equipment. We settle into formation and head low across the lake, making for the hills dividing us from the enemy. The sky is thick with fighter jets, ground attack planes, transport aircraft and helicopters. Within the first two minutes we have seen Mig-29s, Mig-27, Cub transports, Su-25s, Mi-17s and more Mi-24s. All ours so far, slava bogu!
We are approaching the front line. Our trucks shuttle to and fro. A supply depot is visible up the road. But here we swing left towards a smaller lake. On our side are ranged our Russian armoured forces. On the Kazakh rebel side is an armoured reconnaissance unit. They appear to be spotting for artillery, because there are shells exploding among our tanks.
The small Kazakh unit has a SAM-9 system with it. The gunner flicks on the chaff and flare dispensers and we dive lower. Just in time - a puff of white smoke indicates a launch, but the missile streaks over us. As the range closes we engage the launcher with automatic cannon fire and knock it out.
The launcher isn't the only threat to us. Every tank has a 12.7mm machinegun (0.5 inch) on the roof. Soldiers have shoulder-launched missiles and rocket propelled grenades. Some man heavy machineguns. There are ZSU-23-4s. Even the anti-tank Sagger vehicle has a chance of knocking us down. This is a hostile environment.
We have passed on into the plains on the other side of the hills and are approaching our target, flying down a long road. It is thick with enemy vehicles painted their distinguishing tan camouflage. The gunner arms the rockets.
Unlike the cannon or the radio-guided missiles, the rockets will not aim independently of the aircraft. This means that we have to point our unwieldy beast directly at the enemy columns to score hits. No easy task at over 300 kilometres an hour at just 150 metres AGL. Which is why we practice it so often.
We launch a salvo of rockets at the nearest enemy column. It is textbook stuff - nose down flying along the line of targets we are bound to score some hits. Three or four of the seven vehicles, I think.
We fly on towards the town. Fire arcs up to meet us. High deflection shots aren't much of a worry, so it's nose down for speed and on we go. We are approaching the ring of troops circling the town and they are firing directly up at us and scoring hit with rounds and missiles. The laser designator is out. Moments later we lose the Low Light TV system. Neither are critical at the moment but we can't keep on like this. We fire Shturm missiles at the obvious threats, then spot approaching helicopters from both sides. We swing left and take out a Hind and then a Hip with the radio guided missiles - they work perfectly. We swing back at low altitude, keeping the tall buildings of the town between us and the fighting on the other side. We are approaching the town along a road now and a gap between the buildings appears. I reduce collective and the Hind starts sinking, but too fast. I am stationary, dumping chaff.
I rock forward into the town square and settle. Above me between the building I see an enemy Hind flash past, searching. The crew chief drops the doors and my precious cargo clamber out to join the besieged defenders. Job done. Now to get out in one piece!
No time for heroics - I pull the collective up to the max and hurtle southwest away from the LZ. Sticking to the ingress route means that at least some of the AA weapons are already destroyed. A last missile hits me, knocking out my jammer, but by this time I am at full speed and heading for home.
