Tango Line

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Before the two planes take off, capture both of them in one shot. Got it?

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This article is about an in-game mission. For the in-universe event, see Operation Woodpecker.

For the location featured in this mission, see Istas Fortress.

Tango Line
Campaign Mission 10 Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
Mission Order
Previous	Operation Bunker Shot
Next	Escort
Mission Details
Focus	Air-to-ground Air-to-air Air-to-sea
Objectives	Score a certain number of points in the time limit.
Time Limit	20 minutes
Character	Mobius 1

Tango Line is the tenth campaign mission in Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies. Tango Line is one of the game's longer, extended missions in which use of the Return Line is typically required to complete the objective.

Briefing

The Tango Line is a vital line of defense for the Erusian forces on the eastern mainland. Istas Fortress is a strategic foothold on that line. It utilizes unique terrain features that make it virtually impregnable. Support our troops by attacking and neutralizing the combat power of Istas Fortress. Be forewarned, this will put you within range of Stonehenge. However, your skills should prove to be more than a match for it.

Objectives

There are four main areas of the Istas Fortress to attack in this mission: (in counter-clockwise order starting from the south) Scion Air Base, the VTOL base, a submarine base, and a resupply base. Each area is defended by a network of anti-air weapons and features sparse high-value targets defended by various aircraft. The mission's score requirement depends on the player's selected difficulty:

• Easy or lower: 2,400
• Normal or higher: 3,000

The player must surpass the point threshold within twenty minutes to complete the mission.

The player must also avoid three waves of Stonehenge fire, which occur around the 5-minute mark (timer shows 15:00:00), 12-minute mark (timer shows 08:15:00), and 19-minute mark (timer shows 01:15:00). All times are approximate and will change with each replay due to allied and enemy radio chatter delaying the countdown. AWACS SkyEye will provide ample warning about 30 seconds prior to the arrival of Stonehenge's fire. Each Stonehenge wave lasts exactly 10 seconds, and the player will be safe so long as an altitude below 2,000 feet is assumed during the waves.

Enemy Lists

Standard Units

	Unit	Points	Count	Notes
	R-M01	60	4
	MI-24	50	12
	F-14	60	3
	AV-8B	60	15
	CH-47	40	7
	C-130	100	1
	EF-2000	60	4
	F/A-18	60	7
	GROUND TARGETS	3080	72 (total)
	NAVAL TARGETS	1290	20 (total)

Special Units

Main article: Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies/Aces

	Unit	Points	Count	Notes
	R-M01 "FAYE"	240	1

S Rank

An S rank for this mission requires 5,400 points on Normal difficulty or above (4,400 points on Easy difficulty or below). The recommended aircraft for this mission are the F-15C Eagle and the F/A-18C Hornet equipped with the UGBM SP weapon. This mission features many bombing opportunities, especially in the VTOL bases and the submarine base, which feature clusters of closely grouped targets.

Ground targets alone, however, are not enough to achieve the S rank on this mission. Air targets are just as important, particularly the large number of AV-8B Harrier IIs located in and around the VTOL base. They are worth 60 points each, are extremely vulnerable even after takeoff, and fly in a static path. Shooting them down will help accumulate enough points to earn the S rank.

Debriefing

Istas Fortress was destroyed. The troops broke through the Tango Line and are now in control of Los Canas. A new field HQ was established in order to spearhead a deeper invasion into the mainland, as well as to attack Stonehenge.

Gallery

• 

  Scion Air Base concept art

• 

  Resupply base concept art

• 

  Submarine base concept art

• 

  VTOL bases concept art

Trivia

• Approximately 20 seconds after the submarine base is destroyed, another submarine will surface in the middle of the base; SkyEye will confirm this via radio.
• Stonehenge can be inferred to be firing even before SkyEye gives the warning. The subtitles for radio messages in AC04 typically remain on screen for a couple of seconds after the character has stopped talking. However, the subtitles for the radio messages immediately before SkyEye's Stonehenge warning will disappear as soon as the audio is done playing, followed by SkyEye's warning after a short pause.
• Some AV-8Bs are static ground targets and will never takeoff. However, if they are destroyed, radio messages will play as though they are being flown.