Mission 8A - Finishing Touch AA II: OA Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Note: this scenario is available and you can play it only when you weren't able to get Aziz in the previous mission called "Eye of the Hurricane", additionally you were shot down over enemy territory in "Open Season", and finally you saved this poor AH-64 pilot in the episode titled "From Hell". But if you were able to kill Aziz in "Eye of the Hurricane" then you'll pass from mission 7 directly to the last one (9th scenario - "The Press Conference").

Date and place: Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 7:00, FOB (Forward Operating Base) Revolver (1) near Loy Manara village. Mission: After the take-off from the base (1) your attack helicopter AH-64 Apache (codename "Renegade") will hunt for "Wacko" (2) - UH1H chopper used by colonel Aziz for his escaping purposes.

Support: a nice, female voice will keep you informed during your flight about the current course and altitude of Aziz chopper.

Proposed equipment: you don't need any firearms because as a pilot of a gunship you've got more powerful "toys" for Aziz.

Successive objectives in this scenario:

• Find and kill Aziz (2)
• Return to base (1)

[1]

[2]

Right after starting the mission hop as a pilot into the attack helicopter AH-64 Apache which is standing on your right - this is the chopper in the foreground (hint for noobs) (#1).

Take off and fly northwards - after a while you'll hear this nice, female voice instructing you (also with hints written blue at the lower edge of the screen) on what azimuth you should fly (#2). She gives you three values but only two of them really count: the first (altitude) and the last one (optimal course). So climb up to this given altitude and fly along the optimal course to intercept "Wacko" (2). There are also other Apaches in the air and you can count on them in the latter part of this scenario, but, to be honest, their help shouldn't be needed. You have to find and kill Aziz.

[3]

[4]

On my map for this mission I've marked the position of "Waco" (2), on which position I was usually intercepting him: this is the grid 0407 (more or less). It doesn't mean obviously that you'll also get him on this position, but it should happen somewhere in this area (#3), because UH1H takes always the same route: to W/SW, towards the road Gospandi-Mulladost and along it.

When you hear on the radio a conversation which leads to the conclusion that you've finally get close enough to UH1H helicopter of Aziz (2) and the enemy was identified positively, then you can order your gunner (armament operator) to lock the target. It's best to press the 2 key and select the adequate option (UH1H) (#4). Otherwise you can easily make a mistake with the Tab button (there are also other enemy helicopters in the air - gunships Mi-24). Focus on Aziz chopper, don't bother too much about these two Hinds. You can lock UH1H (so you'll have it marked with a green square/circle on your HUD) only if you order your gunner to use a cannon. Hellfire missiles are useless in this mission, unlike the unguided rockets.

[5]

[6]

While you're chasing Aziz helicopter (2), the HQ is proposing you via the radio the help of other Apaches, in order to let you escape from these Takistani Hinds on your tail (#5). But if you're really fast with shooting down Aziz, then this help won't be even needed (as I wrote somewhere above). I didn't use it during my gameplay. If you're attacking UH1H chopper with your cannon then it's best to switch to "manual fire" and fire long series. Your gunner controlled by AI was trained to fire short bursts which are definitely less effective in this particular case (the pursuit lasts too long).

Obviously you can also treat UH1H of Aziz (2) with your unguided missiles - it's more difficult to hit the target, but if you can hit him then the effect is tremendous (#6). After shooting down Aziz you'll be ordered to return to base (1). You won't be able to do this, though, because after a moment your screen should fade out and this weakest mission of the whole campaign should end.