THT – Operation Sawfish

RSVP:
22 01 13 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity:
Mission – CAP, Surface strike
Version / Modules:
Open Beta, F/A-18C, F-14B
Prerequisites:
Good knowledge of the aircraft systems

Lineup:
(F/A-18C Surface strike)
ARCTIC11 (400): Bankler
ARCTIC12 (401): Giant
ARCTIC13 (402): Paawman
ARCTIC14 (403): Creedarn

(F/A-18C Surface strike)
BENDER21 (404): JackFlash
BENDER22 (405): Johnny
BENDER23 (406): Super19
BENDER24 (407): Leka

(F/A-18C CAP)
CRIMSON31 (410): Justin
CRIMSON32 (411): Lirc
CRIMSON33 (412): Magnum
CRIMSON34 (413):

(F/A-18C CAP)
DUSTY41 (300): Jasnisse
DUSTY42 (301): Chris
DUSTY43 (302):
DUSTY44 (303):

(F-14B CAP)
ELVIS51 (100): Nillefix
ELVIS52 (101): Troll
ELVIS53 (102): WeX
ELVIS54 (102):

(F/A-18C CAP)
LION31 (310):
LION32 (311):
LION33 (312):
LION34 (313):

(AWACS)
STINGRAY: Knugen
STINGRAY: Arco

(Carrier)
Marshal:
Tower:
LSO:

(OPFOR)
GCI: Urist

1: Deadgun
2: Goofy
3: Punch
4: Viktor

Background:
The Syrian civil war has been ongoing for several years, with no end in sight. Following a string of successes for the various rebel groups Russia has decided to step up their support for the Syrian government and has promised delivery of modern IFVs, APCs and MBTs. This move has met severe outcry from the western powers, who fear that the advantage these vehicles would provide would allow to goverment forces to reclaim large tracts of lost land, with severe repercussions for the locals. A convoy consisting of four freighters escorted by two Russian navy warships left the port of Sevastopol at 0400 local time.

Situation:
Having tried, and failed, with diplomatic channels the USA has decided to prevent the convoy carrying the military vehicles from reaching Syrian ports by force. The carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, present in the eastern black sea for military drills with Turkey, has been dispatched to intercept.

Time and weather:
* May 1 – 2017
* 0600 local time
* Partly cloudy (7500′-11500′)
* CASE 3 conditions, expected to become CASE 1 conditions for recovery
* QNH 30.14

Package mission:
Intercept and engage the convoy using AGM-84 Harpoon Anti-ship missile.
Establish and maintain air superiority over the area of operations.

The Harpoon launches will need to be simultaneous and synchronised between the two Strike flights to saturate the convoys defenses. In order to maximise the hit probability the flights will attack the convoy from two different directions –  ARCTIC from the south & BENDER from the the west.

The Anti-ship strike will release their payload at exactly 07:30:00. The release points have been programmed as waypoints for each flight. The release points have been set at 50NM from the expected position of the convoy at 07:30:00 based on their current speed and heading. The ships may change course and/or speed, so use your radars to obtain an accurate range to the targets. Each flight lead must ensure that he is as close to 50.0 NM from the target at 07:30:00 as possible for weapon launch. 

Order of events overview:
1) CAP flights depart and establish CAP over the AO.
2) ASW flights depart
3) ASW flights release their payloads and RTBs
4) CAP flights RTB following the ASW flights.
5) All flights recover

Intel:
* Bullseye: WP1 – N 42 49.410 E 31 28.610
* Air threats: Third and fourth gen fighters
* Ground threats: Ship-based AA
* Joker: 7000 lbs
* Bingo: 5000 lbs
* RAMROD: GRANDSLICE
* Abort mission code: NIGHTFALL

Carrier:
* CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln
* TCN: 72X
* ICLS: 1
* BRC: TBD
* CASE 3 departure, CASE 1 recovery
* Hornet Tank: 2000
* Tomcat Tank: 2000
* Minimum Fuel: T + 2**
* Charlie time 08:45
* All aircraft expected to check in for recovery 08:20-08:30

**During Case 1, every go-around is estimated to 500 lbs, and you need to carry fuel for 2 go-arounds. This means that when showing up in the groove for the first time, you need to have 3000 lbs. After 2 go-arounds, you need to hit the tanker.

Departures:
* ARCTIC5:
* BENDER6:
* CRIMSON1:
* DUSTY2:
* ELVIS3:
* LION4:

Loadout: WIP
* ARCTIC1: XT, 2 x 9X, 4 x AGM-84, 2x AIM-120C, Tpod
* BENDER2: XT, 2 x 9X, 4 x AGM-84, 2x AIM-120C, Tpod
* CRIMSON3: 3 x XT, 2 x 9X, 5x AIM-120C, Tpod
* DUSTY4: 3 x XT, 2 x 9X, 5x AIM-120C, Tpod
* ELVIS5: 2 x XT, 4 x 54A, 2 x 7MH, 2 x 9M
* LION: 3 x XT, 2 x 9X, 5x AIM-120C, Tpod

ROE:
* Weapons free on all enemy air defences and aircraft within 100nm of the convoy
* Weapons free on target convoy

Common Comms:
* Ch 1 Carrier Tower: 305.00
* Ch 2 Carrier Tower (AI): 264.00
* Ch 3 Package: 265.00
* Ch 4 Carrier Red Crown: 256.00
* Ch 5 CAP A: 254.00
* Ch 6 Ground: 250.00
* Ch 7 Tower: 270.00
* Ch 8 Control: 257.00
* Ch 9 AWACS Check In: 255.00
* Ch 10 CAP B: 262.00
* Ch 11 Mission Specific: 259.00
* Ch 12 Mission Specific: 268.00
* Ch 13 Mission Specific: 269.00
* Ch 14 Navy Main Tanker (AI): 260.00
* Ch 15 Carrier Approach A: 263.00
* Ch 16 Carrier Marshal: 261.00
* Ch 17 Carrier Approach B: 267.00
* Ch 18 AWACS (AI): 251.00
* Ch 19 Carrier Overhead Tankers (AI): 253.00
* Ch 20 Air Force Main Tanker (AI): 266.00

TCN:
* UNION – 72X – CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln
* ARCO – 101X – KC-135MPRS at 18.000′
* TEXACO – 102X – KC-135 at 16.000′
* SHELL – 103X – KC-135MPRS at 8.000′

CombatFlite file:
WIP

Detailed Taskings:
WIP

ARCTIC1
WP1 BE
WP2 Release point
WP3
WP4

BENDER2
WP1 BE
WP2 Release point
WP3
WP4

CRIMSON3
WP1 BE
WP2 CAP A
WP3 CAP B
WP4 CAP Reserve hold

DUSTY4
WP1 BE
WP2 CAP A
WP3 CAP B
WP4 CAP Reserve hold

ELVIS5
WP1 BE
WP2 CAP A
WP3 CAP B
WP4 CAP Reserve hold

LION3
WP1 BE
WP2 CAP A
WP3 CAP B
WP4 CAP Reserve hold