Able Archer II

RSVP: 25 10 02 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAP, Escort, Strike, SEAD
Theatre: Cold War Germany
Modules: F/A-18A, F-14A, F-16A, F4 Phantom II, UH-1H, AJ-37 Viggen
Prerequisites: None

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

Decades of cold war have now suddenly turned into a hot one, with shots exchanged between NATO and Warszaw Pact aircraft and multiple casualties on each side. The red side was already at high alert due to our ongoing exercise – ABLE ARCHER 83 – and can be expected to roll across the border any minute now. 

1.2 Area of operations

West Germany, Denmark, Baltic Sea

1.3 Time and weather

* Sept 07 – 1983
* 09:15 local time
* SCT 8-10
* Wind from 270 / 7 kts
* Temp 23° C
* FORCE QNH 3051

1.4 Air threats

MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29

1.5 Ground threats

East Germany is littered with SAM sites, mainly SA-2 and SA-3. Closer to the ground expect MANPADS and ZSU-23.

1.6 Friendly forces

West German air defenses have now been brought up to full alert status. Several HAWK batteries are situated along the border.

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

Civilian air traffic is suspended.

2 MISSION

Execute pre-planned SEAD and STRIKE missions against Warszaw pact forces before they cross the border.

Eliminate the Soviet naval threat in the Baltic.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent

Warszaw Pact mechanized units are stationed in close proximity to the border. Once they are on the move, we will be severely outnumbered. As per pre-war planning we will strike them while they are still on their side of the border. Doing so will require a daring SEAD mission by the Wild Weasels.

During exercise ABLE ARCHER, several high-ranking officers were in bunkers close to the border. We will need to evacuate them before they are hit by air strikes and/or steamrolled by armor.

The Carrier Air Wing will provide CAP.

Sweden was drawn into the conflict and Viggens have found themselves stationed in Lübeck. Their mission will be to sink the Soviet naval forces in the Baltic but doing so requires ordnance that is not available in NATO stores. A C-130 transport from Sweden will deliver RBS04 to Hamburg (Finkenwerder). The transport must be met over Denmark and escorted to Hamburg. Once there, the Viggens will also land to rearm for their anti-ship mission.

3.2 Packages

The mission consists of three packages.

Package ARCHER (Elvis5, Arctic1 and Bender2) provides CAP. Package lead is ELVIS51.

Package MACE (Banshee2, Jester1 and Indy9) will conduct SEAD and STRIKE on Warszaw Pact forces still east of the border.

Package ULV (Fenris6 and Grim7) will escort the C-130 transport to Hamburg and then conduct anti-ship strikes in the Baltic.

Not part of package is NITRO5, tasked with VIP evacuation

3.3 Order of events

ARCHER departs ASAP to establish CAP over the AO.

MACE departs ASAP, assembles at designated IP and proceeds on STINGRAY’s orders

ULV departs ASAP on their escort mission

NITRO5 departure depending on air picture

3.4 Rules of engagement

ROE: C
As per SPINS

3.5 Acceptable level of risk

ALR: HIGH
As per SPINS

3.6 Flight tasking

Package ARCHER (Lead: ELVIS51)

ELVIS5

* Depart Mother
* Check in with STINGRAY to receive CAP instructions
* Refuel at ARCO1 or 5 as needed
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Waypoints:
WP1: CAP NORTH Lat Long Standard: N 54°05’08” E 9°51’23”
WP2: CAP MID Lat Long Standard: N 53°12’03” E 10°06’50”
WP3: CAP SOUTH Lat Long Standard: N 52°05’17” E 10°08’10”

ARCTIC1

* Depart Mother
* Check in with STINGRAY to receive CAP instructions
* Refuel at ARCO1 or 5 as needed
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Loadout: FL decides (within limits of historic restrictions)

Waypoints:
1. CAP NORTH
2. CAP MID
3. CAP SOUTH

BENDER2

* Depart Mother
* Check in with STINGRAY to receive CAP instructions
* Refuel at ARCO1 or 5 as needed
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Loadout: FL decides (within limits of historic restrictions)

Waypoints:
1. CAP NORTH
2. CAP MID
3. CAP SOUTH

 

Package MACE (Lead: INDY91)

INDY9 and JESTER1

* Depart Ramstein
* Hold at IP
* Strike the tank regiment assembly area in Gardelegen – objective is to disable as many armored vehicles as possible
* Refuel at TEXACO2 as needed

Loadout: FL decides (within limits of historic restrictions)

Waypoints:
1. Ramstein
2. CAP N
3. CAP M
4. CAP S
5. IP (Fassberg AFB, also has TCN 95X)
6. TGT Tank assembly area Gardelegen
7. SA-2 Mahlwinkel
8. SA-3 Stendal
9. SA-3 Quedlinburg
BANSHEE2

* Depart Ramstein
* Hold at IP
* Suppress and/or destroy SA-2 Mahlwinkel and SA-3 Stendal
* Secondary target SA-3 Quedlinburg
* Refuel at TEXACO2 as needed
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Loadout: FL decides (within limits of historic restrictions)

Waypoints:

 

Package ULV (Lead: Fenris61)

FENRIS6 and GRIM7:

* Depart Lübeck
* Escort C-130 transport over Denmark and all the way to landing at Hamburg Finkenwerder
* Land Hamburg to refuel and rearm for anti-ship
* Strike the Soviet naval forces in the Baltic Sea

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
TBA

Not part of packages

 

NITRO5

* Depart Fritzlar
* fly to H FRG 20 Refuel and Rearm
* Locate VIPs in bunker complexes along the border (details in attachment below)
* Expect enemy scout forces to be en route to the AO

Waypoints:
TBA

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

* Ramstein AFB
* TCN: 81X
* Elevation: 805 ft
* Active runway: 27
* Departure TBA
* Approach TBA

* Lübeck AFB
* Active runway: 25
* Arrival on radial 360-030

* Hamburg Finkenwerder
* Active runway: 23

* Braunschweig (divert for MACE and ARCHER)
* N52° 19.18′ E10° 33.79′ elev 273
* Runway in use: 26

4.2 Carrier operations

* CASE 1
* BRC: 308
* Departure time: ASAP
* Departure sequence: N/A
* Charlie time: 11.30

As per Carrier Ops SPINS

4.3 Tankers

ARCO1 west of Denmark
ARCO5 and TEXACO2 west of Hannover

As per Aerial Refueling SOP

5 COMMAND AND CONTROL

5.1 Commander

* Mission commander is STINGRAY
* Mission commander deputy is ELVIS51

5.2 Frequencies

#3 Tactical (pkg MACE and Nitro5)
#5 CAP A (pkg ARCHER)
#7 Ramstein GND/TWR
#13 ROCKAN STRIL

NOTE: No check-in (all flights already checked in during Able Archer part 1)

As per Comms SOP

5.3 Authentication

RAMROD: GRANDSLICE
As per Authentication SOP

5.4 Freq flow (Airfield flights)

TBA

5.5 Freq flow (Carrier flights)

TBA

5.6 Brevity

TBA

5.7 Bullseye

N 53°02’03” E 11°32’47”
117.70 MHz BKD
Chan 124X

5.8 Restrictions

Mission date is set to 1983 meaning no GPS. Make sure your aircraft startup procedure is in accordance with this.

No targeting pods

No GPS- or laserguided munitions

No datalink for F-16 and F-18

A2A ordnance limited to AIM-54A, AIM-7M and AIM-9M

 

6 ANNEXES

Overview North

Overview South

Nitro Overview

Nitro FOB and LZ

Nitro LZ

MACE targets

Gardelegen tank regiment assembly area

SA-3 site Quedlinburg

SA-2 site Mahlwinkel

SA-3 site Stendal