Seven Days to the River Rhine

RSVP: 26 01 08 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAP, SEAD, CAS, Air Interdiction
Theatre: Cold War Germany
Modules: F/A-18A, F-16, A-10C, AH-64, OH-58D
Prerequisites: CASE III departure

v1,0

 

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

Gentlemen, we are operating under the assumptions of the Warsaw Pact’s (WP) worst-case scenario:
‘Seven Days to the River Rhine.’

The Soviet Group of Forces Germany (GSFG), spearheaded by the Second Guards Tank Army, has initiated a massive, non-nuclear push across the Inner German Border (IGB) and into the North German Plains. Their primary objective is to bypass resistance and reach the logistical hubs of Hamburg and Bremerhaven within the next 72 hours, effectively severing the supply line for US reinforcements (REFORGER). The advance is rapid, heavily mechanized, and protected by a dense, mobile air defense umbrella (SA-8, Shilka, SA-6). Fassberg Air Base is already under direct, imminent threat from WP strike packages.

1.2 Area of operations

North German Plains

1.3 Time and weather

* Mars 11 – 1987
* 07:16 local time
* Scattered (11000′)
* Wind from 263 / 4
* Temperature: 7 degrees Celsius
* FORCE QNH 28.94 inHg / 979.92 hPa

1.4 Air threats

Su-24, Su-25, MiG-23, MiG-27, MiG-29

1.5 Ground threats

BMP-1/2, T-72B, ZSU-23 Shilka, SA-5, SA-6, SA-10, SA-11, SA-13, MANPADS

SA-5 and SA-10 are known and should not be a factor west of the inner border.
SA-11´s have been approximatley located, they are marked on the map.
SA-6´s have not been spotted, but it´s well known they travel with the ground forces. Their appearance is to be expected.

1.6 Friendly forces

N/A, we are the only blue forces in the AO.

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

Civilian air traffic is suspended.

2 MISSION

Prevent the enemy ground forces to advance through Sector Wittenburg. Locate and neutralize enemy indirect fire support to cripple their long-range capabilities. Deny enemy strike packages by all means necessary from achieving effects against Bremerhaven and Hamburg.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Endstate

Mission successful when the enemy attack towards Hamburg has been prevented.

3.2 Packages

The mission contains 2 packages, callsign STRIKE EAGLE and WOLF PACK.

3.3 Order of events

This will be a one-phase mission.

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 STRIKE EAGLE (Lead: TBA)
INTERCEPT enemy airstrikes against Bremerhaven and Hamburg
DEFEND package WOLFPACK from enemy aircrafts
DESTROY SA-11 “Gadfly” in NAI 2

Packade WOLFPACK (Lead: MC)
ATTACK enemy ground forces in TAI 1-3
DESTROY enemy artillery in NAI 1

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

* Wittenburger FARP / ADF: 210 kHz (VRS) / 127.50MHz
– RAGE9
– BLACKJACK4

Frassberg / TCN: 95X (FSB) / 251.00MHz
ATIS: 270.500MHz
– FENRIS6 (Take-off)
– HAWG8 (Take-off)

Wunstorf / TCN: 116X (WUN) / 253.95MHz
ATIS: 270.600MHz
– INDY9
– JESTER1
– HITMAN3

Hamburg / TCN: 78X (HAM) / 252.35MHz
ATIS: 270.700MHz

Sittensen (STS) 66X 255.90
ATIS: 270.800MHz
– FENRIS6 (Landing)
– HAWG8 (Landing)

4.2 Carrier operations

* CASE III (departure)
* BRC: 346
* Departure time: ASAP
* Departure sequence: According to ARCTIC11
* Charlie time: TBA by STINGRAY

As per Carrier Ops SPINS

4.3 Tankers

As per Aerial Refueling SOP

5 COMMAND AND CONTROL

5.1 Commander

* Mission commander is: HITMAN31
* Mission commander deputy is: STINGRAY
* Package STRIKE EAGLE lead is: ARCTIC11
* Package WOLFPACK lead is: HITMAN31

5.2 Frequencies

As per Comms SOP

5.3 Authentication

RAMROD: GRANDSLICE
As per Authentication SOP

5.4 Freq flow (Airfield/FARP flights)

7, 9, 3/5, 7
Remain on Tower (ch 7) during startup and departure. Go to Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) or CAP (ch 5). Use Tower (ch 7) for recovery.

5.5 Freq flow (Carrier flights)

1, 9, 3/5, 16, 1
Remain on Tower (ch 1) during startup and departure. Go to Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) or CAP (ch 5). Use Marshal (ch 16) and Tower (ch 1) for recovery.

5.6 Brevity

* TIMBER – Mission declared successful
* SIX DAYS – Abort mission
* CHAINSAW – Air superiority over Sector Wittenburg achieved

5.7 Bullseye

N 53° 37′ 40″ E 11° 23′ 36″ (Football field Schwerin)

6 ANNEXES

1987 loadouts apply

AO

Sector Wittenburg

Overlays

Flights