MiGMan’s Combat Diary | RAF Campaign
RAF Mission 01
Dawn Raiders I | 5/1/1982 | 0900 | ac : Harrier FRS.1
❝It is 1982 and the Falkland Islands off the coast of Southern Argentina have been invaded and occupied by hostile Argentine forces. A military Task Force is assembled and sails South to recapture the Islands for Britain. Both Royal Navy and RAF Harriers are aboard the two carriers ready to do battle.
It is the first of May and your Task Force takes up position approximately 180 miles East of the Falklands capital, Port Stanley. Use your 'Jump Jet' in anger for the first time against the enemy Skyhawks, Mirages and Pucaras and do your part to free the Islands from tyranny - Long Live the Queen !
It's day one of the campaign and 800 Sqn Sea Harriers are following up the night raid by the Vulcan on Stanley airfield with an early morning strike.
Your orders are to shoot down at least three of the Pucaras in the area.
The airfield is very well defended with 20mm and 35mm Anti-Aircraft guns and a Roland SAM launcher. The enemy Pucara aircraft will try to get airborne before you arrive and flee to Goose Green.
❞
He's taking off as I'm trying to slow down!
MiGMan's Combat Diary
The lighting is low in this part of the Atlantic! The mission starts in the air and heading straight towards the Port Stanley runway.
Flying straight ahead and braving the formidable flak, I had a few close encounters as you can see!
Some turning and burning later I managed to despatch the Pucaras. They seemed more intent on getting away than dogfighting, which suited me fine in my first mission!
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 02
Dawn Raiders II | ac : Harrier FRS.1
❝You are in the second group attacking the Falklands defenders - whilst the first group concentrates on Stanley airport, you bypass this battle to head for Goose Green airfield, your primary target. There you catch up with the Pucaras that managed to escape the raid on Stanley.
Destroy at least three of the Pucaras in the area before returning to the carrier.
Like Stanley, AA guns heavily defend the airfield - try to avoid engaging the enemy aircraft over the airfield. You may be able to catch some aircraft taking off - these will be easy targets, so act immediately.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
Similar to the first mission. Good clouds and some excellent dogfighting.
Once again you start in the air, but strangely, the waypoint which shows up after you've despatched the Pucaras shows 130 miles to home base!
Warping is disabled, but with half a tank of gas left, that shouldn't be a problem in the Harrier... right ?
Think again - I tried twice and ran out of gas both times - even at 20,000 feet and 50 % throttle. So I selected "Flight - End Mission" ... and received the dreaded "Mission failed - you did not achieve your objectives" message.
Ah well, enjoy the dogfight, end the mission, accept the harangue, and on to mission 3 !
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 03
Corporate Cavalry | ac : Harrier FRS.1
If only I had a sidewinder....
❝You are on Combat Air Patrol in your Sea Harrier when you get a message from HMS Glamorgan that they have detected two enemy Mirage Daggers descending from high altitude, heading right at you and your wingman. Destroy both Mirage Daggers.
This is your force's first contact with these supersonic interceptors and no one knows for sure how the 'SHAR' will stand up against such a powerful foe.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
The Mirage Daggers are a Mirage variant.
First time into this mission I was gobsmacked at the visuals. Watching the Mirage Daggers gracefully arc in formation through the towering cloud formations, trailing a faint exhaust was a visual feast.
Second time in I buckled down to the task and was still shot down!
Aha - well the Mirage Daggers are indeed turning out to be more of a challenge than the Pucaras.
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 04
La Muerta Negra Is Coming | ac : Harrier FRS.1
❝In the fading light of the first day of combat, the destroyers HMS Alacrity, Glamorgan and Arrow are shelling the airport at Port Stanley with their 4.5 in. guns and three enemy Mirage Dagger aircraft have been detected on an attack vector.
Already inbound on a CAP mission you arrive just as the attackers are starting their attack run on the ships.
Destroy all three Mirage Dagger aircraft. Take care not to fly too close to the AA guns and missiles at Stanley airport.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
First time into this mission the Mirage Daggers flew gracefully, in formation, into the ocean !
Happily on the second attempt they decided life was worth living and we had a grand old dogfight.
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 05
The Sea Wolf Bites | ac : Harrier FRS.1
❝HMS Brilliant and Glasgow are 15 miles South of Stanley and have come under attack from four enemy Skyhawk fighter-bombers. One has been hit by one of Brilliant's Sea Wolf missiles. Finish off the remaining three aircraft.
This is your force's first contact with the A-4Q Skyhawk. Although lacking the high speed of the Mirage Dagger, it is very manoeuverable and will be a difficult adversary.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
It is a difficult adversary !
But clear skies and spirited opposition made me one happy virtual - Harrier - Pilot
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 06
Broken Arrow | Harrier GR.3
❝It s D-Day for the Task Force and the ground forces are disembarking. HMS Argonaut is positioned at Fanning Head, guarding the entrance to San Carlos Water, the chosen landing point. She has suddenly found herself under attack by no less than six enemy Skyhawks. Damaged, she is desperately trying to defend herself whilst calling for support.
As an RAF GR.3 pilot, it s time to lend a hand to your hosts in the 'Senior Service'. You and your wingman are called down from your CAP position over the north of the island to lend assistance. Shoot down at least two Skyhawks. These Skyhawks are Air Force P versions and have a slightly less sophisticated gun-aiming system than the Navy ones, but they will still be tough to bring down.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
Pea soup.
That's one way to describe the totally impenetrable fog in this and the next few missions. Over the course of time I coined several other choice appellatives which I won't print here!
Nuff said.
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 07
No Safe Haven | Harrier GR.3
❝It is still the first day of the invasion and there is no let-up in the enemy air attacks. This time, a trio of Mirage Daggers are inbound and will try to sink ships in the crowded anchorage of San Carlos Water.
Your flight of GR.3 Harriers must shoot down at least two these attackers, preferably before they can drop their bombs.
You will approach the enemy jets from the rear, but these are fast aircraft and will not linger in the area as they need to conserve their fuel - your timing will be critical.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
OK - this is getting ridiculous. I like a challenge as much as anyone but really ! This is liking flying in a bowl of porridge, and if you touch the bottom of the bowl you're dead.
The trouble is you don't see the bottom of the bowl until 0.0005 seconds before impact!
Anyway, by using Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2's "targetting aids" I was able to score one kill.
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 08
A Home Away from Home
Ship from 500 feet altitude.
❝It's day six of the invasion and your ground forces are already fighting further inland. The engineers are setting up a forward operating base for the Harriers, which will be called HMS Sheathbill'. This 850ft temporary strip will be a great asset to your air forces and must be protected at all costs.
Four Skyhawks are inbound from the north with orders to destroy the new airstrip before it is finished.
Destroy all four attacking Skyhawks. The enemy know what you are doing and are desperate to deny you this area.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
Fog, more fog.
Check out the picture of the ship at 500 feet altitude and 305 knots - I wasn't game to go any faster !
Another mission where I conceded defeat.
View out of my canopy...
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 09
Mountain View | Harrier GR.3
❝Your ground forces artillery positions on the slopes of Mount Kent have come under attack from four Pucara aircraft.
Destroy the four attackers before they can deliver their bombs onto the troops dug in on the Mountainside, then return to your new base at the San Carlos bridgehead. Destroy all four Pucaras.
The biggest danger facing you on this mission will be disorientation - the weather has closed in on the mountain and you will need to keep in the narrow gap between the ground and the cloudbase if you are to get on the tall of a Pucara.
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
Just when I was getting close to giving up on this campaign the skies cleared and it was on for young and old.
The mission starts you at low level heading towards the Pucaras. It's impossible to convey the sense of speed in a still image, but look at the ground texture in the centre right image. Now imagine that ground flying past at breakneck speed.
The ground textures developed for this package are very effective, it's just a shame I couldn't see more of them (the fog).
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
Campaign: RAF Mission 10
Last Ditch | Harrier GR.3
❝Your ground forces have taken Mount Tumbledown and are advancing on the capital, Port Stanley. The enemy resorts to one last attempt to stop you in your tracks by launching an all-out attack on your anchorage at San Carlos Water.
The area has come under attack by four Skyhawks and the last two Pucaras. There are also four Mirage Daggers providing cover that you will also have to deal with. It's up to you, your wingmen and the anti-aircraft gunners to protect your ships and airstrip by destroying at least five of the attacking aircraft.
The Skyhawks are going to attack your airstrip as a priority, the Mirage Daggers will go for the ships in the anchorage, the Pucaras will attack any target of opportunity, including you!
❞ MiGMan's Combat Diary
Clear skies and plenty of targets, my kind of mission.
These images were taken during 2002, flying in Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 2, rendered by a Hercules 3D Prophet III Titanium 500 video card with full screen anti-aliasing enabled.
