[Su-tehp]

Here are the types of squadrons (and examples) I remember from the main campaign:

Heavy Assault (107th Ravens)

Bombing (64th Raptors)

Reconnaissance (FS2 mentions recon wings several times and reconnaissance fighter squads exist in Real Life(TM)

Space Superiority (53rd Hammerheads)

Interceptor (242nd Suicide Kings)

Special Ops (99th Skulls)

Combat Evaluation Unit or CEU (134th Barracudas)

Multi-role (203rd Vasudan: it did recon [Alpha 1 flew the Ptah stealth fighter], bombing [Alpha 1 flew the Bakha against the Sathanas], and space superiority [Alpha 1 flew the Serapis in the nebula]; I suppose the 70th Blue Lions could be considered an elite multi-role squadron)

I know of Wild Weasel/Electronic Warfare squadrons, but I'm not sure how to design FRED missions with such fighters.

If anyone here knows anything about military flying or knows of other types of FS or real life squad types, please reply here.

Other suggestions for squad types are also welcome.

[Sheepy]

Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons (HC)

Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadrons (HCS)

Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadrons (HM)

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadrons (HS)

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadrons Light (HSL)

Helicopter Training Squadrons (HT)

Electronic Attack Squadrons (VAQ)

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadrons (VAW)

Composite Squadrons (VC)

Fighter Squadrons (VF)

Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA)

Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA)

Fighter Squadron Composite (VFC)

Patrol Squadrons (VP) (VP-1 to VP-62)

Patrol Squadrons (VP) (VP-64 to VP-94)

Patrol Squadrons Special Units (VPU)

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons (VQ)

Fleet Logistic Support Squadrons (VR)

Fleet Logistic Support Squadrons (VRC)

Sea Control Squadrons (VS)

Training Squadrons (VT)

Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons (VX)


Lifted off some sight so dont ask what they are

[Su-tehp]

I recognize some of the abbreviations like VF and VFA; these are US Navy aircraft squadrons.

This could help me brainstorm some new stuff.

Keep those suggestions coming!

[Labcoatguy]

Re: possibility of electroninc warfare,

You could have a squadron of interceptor or superiority fighters loaded with:

-disruptors/morningstars
-Lamprey
-EMP
-Stilletto/II
(I chose these weapons based on their intended function, rather than their actual usefulness, as it appears that the lamprey and EMP are not the most effective weapons out there)

...and use them to disable/weaken enemy ships and fighters. They'd probably be much more useful in multiplayer team vs team than SP, though.

[aldo_14]

I think an electronic warfare squad would be heavily involved in the use of AWACs (defensive e warfare ).  Probably also using EMP weapons to disrupt enemy bombers' sensors/target locks, or to disable enmy sensors to enable sneak attacks / recon runs.... I think recon could partly fall under this.

[BlackDove]

Originally posted by Su-tehp
I suppose the 70th Blue Lions could be considered an elite multi-role squadron

Mmm, more like a squadron that is entrusted with a lot of lives, so they would be the "protect/escort" squadron. You didn't really have any "attacking" missions while you flew with the Lions, just escorting a MAJOR number of people. And missions like those are only entrusted to the best because the percentage of success has to be low from the start....or...something

[Solatar]

Electronics warfare dquadron would actually be a good idea. Maybe they could use TAG missiles.

They could be armed with Kaysers also. Because if they are just armed with Circes and Lampreys, they are sitting ducks. Putting a Kayser in the fray would increase the survivability of the pilots. This would be nice because if the pilot was lost, all of that expensive stuff would go to waste.

[Killfrenzy]

EW squadrons are a difficult thing to implement in FS as the only real EW unit is the AWACS.

What to real-world EW squadrons actually DO anyways?

[Solatar]

Actually, an Erinyes would be a good EW fighter. One bank with Circe or Lamprey, the other with Kaysers. A few volleys of Circe fire would knock out shields like heck, and Lampreys would disrupt the taregt extremely quickly. It can carry massive amounts of TAG missiles. These TAG missiles direct fire from an AWACs.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Killfrenzy
EW squadrons are a difficult thing to implement in FS as the only real EW unit is the AWACS.

What to real-world EW squadrons actually DO anyways?

AFAIK, they jam radar systems, etc.  And counteract the enemies attempt to do likewise...

[Su-tehp]

Originally posted by Hades
Actually, an Erinyes would be a good EW fighter. One bank with Circe or Lamprey, the other with Kaysers. A few volleys of Circe fire would knock out shields like heck, and Lampreys would disrupt the taregt extremely quickly. It can carry massive amounts of TAG missiles. These TAG missiles direct fire from an AWACs.

Hmmm...this has potential. Putting this loadoaut on an Erinyes and making sure there are no other weapons available so the player can't change the loadout does seem like a good idea...

Originally posted by killfrenzy
What to real-world EW squadrons actually DO anyways?

IIRC, EW planes in Real Life(TM) are actually modified bombers that have been outfitted with lots of electronic equipment designed to jam enemy radars. They're also outfitted with "anti-radar" missiles, so whenever they "painted" (i.e. detected) by an enemy ground-based radar, like one from a missile battery on the ground, the EW plane fires an anti-radar missile that follows the path of the enemy radar back to its source and destroys the missile battery before it can fire on the EW plane.

I'm not sure, but I think EW planes can also scan the radio spectrum for enemy radio frequencies and once they find them, they jam them so the enemy can't communicate with each other.

For a real world example of an EW plane, look up the EA-6 US Navy plane, it's a heavily modified version of the A-6 Intruder. I don't remember the EA-6's actual name, but Navy pilots have nicknamed it the "Queer," because of it's unusual appearance.

[Thor]

How about Sentry units for guarding installations.  Or an Interdiction unit for crime prevention (Has it been decided if there is a civie police force or not?)  Ohh!  How about a parade squadron, like the Blue Angels or the Snowbirds.

[Killfrenzy]

Hehe - the GTVA's elite display team?

How the hell would you implement that in a mission?

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Killfrenzy
Hehe - the GTVA's elite display team?

How the hell would you implement that in a mission?

A series of marked waypoints which must be hit exactly using

when
-<
--Distance
----Alpha1
----Waypoint
---10

[Su-tehp]

A military display team like the Blue Angels? In FS2?

Nah, I don't think so. What purpose would it serve in a space combat sim?

As for civilian police forces...well, my campaign is going to take place in Shivan space, so that idea is right out.

Thor, I'm looking for new military squadron types, not display teams that fly pretty. And I'm certainly not looking for civvies in mothballed fighters.

Try again.

[karajorma]

No purpose. Just like the real display teams. They are not used in combat situations. But that doesn`t stop the military from having them.  So the GTVA would most probably have something similar.

Now missions involving the team wouldn`t appear as combat missions but if someone wants to stick together a mission where you fly as a member of the display squad I`d almost certainly give it a try just for the sheer novelty factor.

[QuantumDelta]

I find it funniest...that those who know how to use the ships, and those who know what works best....are those that are never asked, and those that never want to tell...
circe...heh....
SOME, forms of tactical warefare can be implemented well in FS.
However, the only real way for a person to tell if their tactics work is if they test it against the best.
I still meet people in TvT trying to use circe/maxim ms/maxim and other useless combos...
all I have to say...is...

Ruri Hoshino

...

Oh...
Side note...
There is a use for air show style pilots.
It's called moral.
For the civilians, and for the soldiers, There would DEFINATLY, be a 'for show' squadron in the GTVA, normally these pilots are 'the best'.
If you would like an example...watch Macross 2.

[karajorma]

I wasn`t saying that display teams are useless. far from it. They aren`t used in combat though, which was the point I was making

[BlackDove]

Originally posted by QuantumDelta
I still meet people in TvT trying to use circe/maxim ms/maxim and other useless combos...
all I have to say...is...

Damnit man, how many times have I told you. Stop calling everyone idiots. It's not their fault they can't play the game straight...well..actually...it is  

[Black Wolf]

Black Ops - the GTVAs Dirty little secret, they would go around killing inconvenient people, eliminating criminals that the GTVA knows are guilty but can't prove it, destroying the convoy guards of companies when they grow just that little bit too big, etc. etc.

Subspace Squadrons - perform missions in subspace, and train others to do the same.

They might not be too useful for a campaign in Shivan space, but they're interesting.