Exercise Cautious Guard – Day 1

Time: 24 04 25 – 19:30 (Last signup time: 24 04 25 – 19:00)
Activity: Mission/exercise
Map: Cold War Germany
Available ACFT: F1EE & BE, F-4E, F-5E

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview
August, 1979.
Germany is organizing a defense exercise named Cautious Guard. Büchel Air Base has been chosen to host fighter squadrons. The exercise is focused on low-level strike operations. Norwegian and French squadrons have been invited and will take part.

Daily exercises are to be flown. Initially, they will be single-route operations, but as the missions progress, more advanced multi-route and time-on-target operations take over.

The Norwegians are from Rygge Air Station, Sq. 336 flying F-5 Freedom Fighters,
France is providing a few F1s. And joining from Hopsten is the 72nd Jagdgeschwader with their F-4s.

1.2 Area of operations
Central and south Hessen, limited by Hockenheim in the south, Geibelstadt and Fritzlar in the east, and RAF Gütersloh in the north. It consists of varying countryside and is populated by smaller towns. Frankfurt is the only large city located in the AO.

1.3 Time and weather
* Light haze, good ceiling.
* Winds from the east.
* QNH 1021hpa / 30.16inhg
* Target QFE 984hpa / 29.06inhg

1.4 Air threat
None

1.5 Ground/Surface threat
None

1.6 Friendly forces
Apart from our operation, the RAF will operate in the area with C-130s.

1.7 Civilian/3rd part
Beware of civilian air traffic outside the AO. Frankfurt has heavy commercial traffic and expect GA activity outside our corridors and airspaces.

2 MISSION
The opening exercise will be a visual, low-level navigation with high-drag bombing.

All groups will fly the same route, separated by 3 minutes.

The target is a bridge in central Hessen. The route will take you around the target in a left-hand pattern, and the attack direction will be from the north.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent
The intent is for all flights to hit all waypoints within +/- 1 minute and, of course, have bombs on target.

If this can be achieved without climbing to locate one’s position, the exercise will be a success.

3.2 Packages
–

3.3 Order of events
(Times are given in CET)

– Startup at 0705
– Departure
– Establish in holds at WP 0

ROLEX = 0730

Push times:
– Zippy 8 ROLEX
– Cylon 3 ROLEX + 3
– Merlin 4 ROLEX + 6
– Banshee 2 ROLEX + 9

Aircraft on the track from 0730 to 0810

Sharp RTB at 0815.

3.4 Rules of engagement
ROE: A – Peacetime
As per SPINS

3.5 Acceptable level of risk
ALR: LOW
As per SPINS

3.6 Flight tasking
(Times are given in CET)

Route parameters from push to WP7 (All flights)
400kt and 500ft AGL or below.

Zippy 8
– Startup at 0705
– Depart, leave via exit east.
– Establish in hold at WP 0 by latest: 0725 and @ 3500ft AMSL
– Push from WP 0 on ROLEX
– Bombs on target 0748 +/- 1
– Sharp RTB at 0815.
– Approach via entry west.

Fixed loadout: 4 x Mk82 Snakeye, 1 x drop tank, 2 x AIM-9P

Cylon 3
– Startup at 0705
– Depart, leave via exit east.
– Establish in hold at WP 0 by latest: 0728 and @ 4500ft AMSL
– Push from WP 0 on ROLEX + 3
– Bombs on target 0751 +/- 1
– Sharp RTB at 0815.
– Approach via entry west.

Fixed loadout: 6 x SAMP 250kg HD, 2 x drop tanks, 2 x R550

Merlin 4
– Startup at 0705
– Depart, leave via exit east.
– Establish in hold at WP 0 by latest: 0731 and @ 5500ft AMSL
– Push from WP 0 on ROLEX + 6
– Bombs on target 0754 +/- 1
– Sharp RTB at 0815.
– Approach via entry west.

Fixed loadout: 6 x Mk82 Snakeye, 2 x drop tanks, 4 x AIM-9P, 4 x AIM-7E

Banshee 2
– Startup at 0705
– Depart, leave via exit east.
– Establish in hold at WP 0 by latest: 0734 and @ 6500ft AMSL
– Push from WP 0 on ROLEX + 9
– Bombs on target 0757 +/- 1
– Sharp RTB at 0815.
– Approach via entry west.

Fixed loadout: 6 x Mk82 Snakeye, 2 x drop tanks, 4 x AIM-9P, 4 x AIM-7E

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations
* Büchel Air Base
* TCN: BUE 118X
* Active runway: 03

5 COMMAND AND CONTROL

5.1 Commander
* Mission commander is STINGRAY

5.2 Frequencies
As per Comms SOP

5.3 Authentication
RAMROD: STANDGUARD
As per Authentication SOP

5.4 Freq flow
7, 3, 7
No clearance is required for startup. Contact tower (ch 7) for taxi and departure. Tactical/Stringray (ch 3). If Stingray is awake, expect RAMROD. Use Tower (ch 7) for recovery.

5.6 Brevity
– TANGOUNIFORM: Mission declared successful
– NIGHTFALL: Abort mission
– ROLEX: Push time = 0730

5.7 Bullseye
–

6 ANNEXES