A Christmas Carol
2025-12-18 19:30 - 22:30 (Europe/Stockholm) | Kola
RSVP: 25 12 18 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAP, Air Interdiction, Strike, Escort
Theatre: Kola
Modules: ANY, but preferably: Spitfire, P51D Mustang, UH-1H Huey, F-4E Phantom II, C-130J, F/A-18C
Prerequisites: Christmas spirit

1 SITUATION
1.1 Overview
Dec 24th 1972
It was a wet and dreary Christmas Eve in Da Nang. Air Force General E Scrooge sat by himself in his office. Well, one would be hard pressed to call the shed an office but it was the most luxurious establishment on the premises. He was finished yelling, or had at least taken a brief pause in yelling, at his subordinates. “Christmas be damned, they still need to sort their shit out” he muttered. Some bourbon had been consumed, not much else available to brighten the day, and cigar smoke filled the room. Planning was underway for the next Linebacker mission which would bring yet more B52-borne death to bear on the North Vietnamese infrastructure. “Humbug!” he shouted to himself. “It won’t do to just run into their SAM-traps again and again”.
Scrooge could have sworn there was no wind but still the cigar fumes started to swirl around the room. Faster and faster until they began to take shape. A familiar one at that. But no, it couldn’t be… In front of him stood his predecessor, General Marley, who had died in the opening months of the war. Scrooge panicked, ran to open a window hoping the wind would dispel the ghostly figure. On opening the window he was shocked to see snow outside! This would in itself have justified another outburst of derogatory comments aimed at some subordinate scumbag of an officer but somehow, having a ghost in the room seemed more important at the time. A gust of cold wind did indeed find its way into the room but Marley just stood there. How miserable he looked.
“Scrooge”, he said, voice much softer now than it was in life. “I am here to tell you what awaits. For years now I have wandered this land, not finding rest. Not experiencing the slightest joy even as afterburners light the skies and the smell of napalm welcomes the morning.”
Marley paused, looking at Scrooge’s mission planning board. “Tonight you will be visited by three spirits. One of Christmas Past, one of Christmas Present and one of Christmas Yet to Come. Listen to them, and you may yet avoid sharing my fate.”
1.2 Area of operations
Northern Norway and Sweden
1.3 Time and weather
* Dec 24th – 1972 (In-game mission date will differ from this, in order to give us some daylight)
* 12:00 local time
* FEW/SCT 8/10, SCT 23/24
* Wind from 230 / 6
* Temp -5°C
* FORCE QNH 2992 / 1013
1.4 Air threats
Bf-109, Fw-190, MiG-21, MiG-29
1.5 Ground threats
AAA, SA-2, SA-6
1.6 Friendly forces
N/A, we are the only blue forces in the AO.
1.7 Civilian/3rd part
N/A
2 MISSION
Ghost of Christmas Past: Protect Bergkompanie 2 and their supply convoy from Luftwaffe harassment as they advance on Alta.
Ghost of Christmas Present: Clear the road ahead of the ground convoy. Suppress or destroy SA-2 sites in preparation for B-52 strikes in grid EB85.
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Destroy the uranium enrichment facility.
3 EXECUTION
3.1 Commander’s intent
This seems like a load of humbug! But all right, let’s see where Marley’s spirits take us.
The three missions will run in parallell, separated by geography.
3.2 Packages
The mission contains 3 packages: Past, Present and Future

3.3 Order of events
TBA
3.4 Rules of engagement
ROE: C
As per SPINS
3.5 Acceptable level of risk
ALR: HIGH
As per SPINS
3.6 Package tasking
Ghost of Christmas Past
Liberation of Norway, Alta-region, 1944. As the weak winter sun rises, yet another air raid siren stirs the weary pilots into action. In minutes, the patrol takes to the skies to keep the Luftwaffe at bay. Surprised by a German counter-offensive, the Norwegian troops of 2nd Bergkompanie are in desperate need of supplies which can only be delivered from the sea. The freight ships must be protected. “Tally Ho” the lead Spitfire calls on the radio as the first German fighters are spotted. Yeah, here we go again.

Ghost of Christmas Present
The familiar thumping of the Huey’s rotors once again fills the air around the base. On today’s agenda – another search and destroy mission ahead of the advancing ground forces. Thunder erupts as a squadron of F4 Phantoms – Wild Weasels – pass overhead, on their way to disable yet another SA-2 somewhere. They seem to be in no short supply. Another day with more death. More destruction. Maybe after this raid the commies will surrender?

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
The enemy has no respect for Christmas. Choosing this time to bring their uranium enrichment facility online. The strike will have to be carried out today. Low level ingress at breakneck speed through a winding canyon. Then a max G pull-up, roll inverted and dive to the target – only seconds to locate it and drop the ordnance before pulling up again, hoping not to pass out as the airframe bends under the load. But it won’t be over then. At their most vulnerable point, the strike fighters must now contend with the hundreds of surface to air missiles that defend the area. Good luck, Gentlemen!

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
4.1 Airfield operations
TBA
4.2 Carrier operations
TBA
As per Carrier Ops SPINS

4.3 Tankers
As per Aerial Refueling SOP
5 COMMAND AND CONTROL
5.1 Commander
TBA
5.2 Frequencies
Three radio channels will be available, providing thematic music for the forces

BBC General Forces Radio – Holiday Special
Radio Saigon
Radio Mighty Wings

5.3 Authentication
RAMROD: BAHHUMBUG
As per Authentication SOP
5.4 Freq flow (Airfield 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 A (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 A (ch 5). Use Marshal (ch 16) and Tower (ch 1) for recovery.

5.6 Brevity
TBA
5.7 Bullseye
TBA
6 ANNEXES
TBA

Seven Days to the River Rhine
2026-01-08 19:30 - 23:00 | Cold War Germany
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

LINEUP
F/A-18C
ARCTIC11 (400):
ARCTIC12 (401):
ARCTIC13 (402):
ARCTIC14 (403):
F/A-18C
BENDER21 (404):
BENDER22 (405):
BENDER23 (406):
BENDER24 (407):
F/A-18C
CRIMSON31 (410):
CRIMSON32 (411):
CRIMSON33 (412):
CRIMSON34 (413):
F/A-18C
DUSTY41 (300):
DUSTY42 (301):
DUSTY43 (302):
DUSTY44 (303):
F-14B
ELVIS51 (100):
ELVIS52 (101):
ELVIS53 (102):
ELVIS54 (103):
AJS 37
FENRIS61:
FENRIS62:
FENRIS63:
FENRIS64:
AJS 37
GRIM71:
GRIM72:
GRIM73:
GRIM74:
A-10C
HAWG81:
HAWG82:
HAWG83:
HAWG84:
F-16C
INDY91:
INDY92:
INDY93:
INDY94:
F-16C
JESTER11:
JESTER12:
JESTER13:
JESTER14:
F/A-18C
KRAKEN21 (304):
KRAKEN22 (305):
KRAKEN23 (306):
KRAKEN24 (307):
F/A-18C
LION31 (310):
LION32 (311):
LION33 (312):
LION34 (313):
F-14B
MUSTANG41 (104):
MUSTANG42 (105):
MUSTANG43 (106):
MUSTANG44 (107):
CH-47F
GREYHOUND31:
GREYHOUND32:
GREYHOUND33:
GREYHOUND34:
UH-1H
NITRO51:
NITRO52:
NITRO53:
NITRO54:
AH-64D
RAGE91:
RAGE92:
RAGE93:
RAGE94:
AH-64D
SALTY11:
SALTY12:
SALTY13:
SALTY14:
OH-58D
BLACKJACK41:
BLACKJACK42:
BLACKJACK43:
BLACKJACK44:
Ka-50
ORCA61:
ORCA62:
ORCA63:
ORCA64:
A-10C
PIG71:
PIG72:
PIG73:
PIG74:
M-2000C
QUEBEC81:
QUEBEC82:
QUEBEC83:
QUEBEC84:
A-10C
TUSK21:
TUSK22:
TUSK23:
TUSK24:
F-16C
VENOM41:
VENOM42:
VENOM43:
VENOM44:
F-15E
HITMAN31:
HITMAN32:
HITMAN33:
HITMAN34:
AWACS
STINGRAY: TBA
STINGRAY: TBA
Airport
Ground:
Tower:
Control:
Carrier
Marshal:
Tower:
LSO:

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
* 06:46 local time
* Scattered (11000′)
* Wind 099 / 4
* Temperature: 7 degrees Celsius
* FORCE QNH 2992 / 1013
1.4 Air threats
MiG-23, MiG-29
1.5 Ground threats
BMP-1/2, T-72B, ZSU-23 Shilka, MANPADS, SA-13, SA-6, SA-10, SA-11, SA-5
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 Commander’s intent
3.2 Packages
The mission contains 2 packages, callsign STRIKE EAGLE and WOLF PACK.

3.3 Order of events
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)
Packade WOLFPACK (Lead: TBA)
4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
4.1 Airfield operations
* Fassberg (A-10C Take-off)
* Sittensen (A-10C Landing)
* Hamburg (Divert & Re-arm)
* Wunstorf (F-16)
* Wittenburger FARP (Rotary Take-off)
4.2 Carrier operations
* CASE III (departure)
* BRC: TBA
* Departure time: ASAP
* Departure sequence: TBA
* 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: DeadGun_SWE
* Mission commander deputy is: TBA
* Package STRIKE EAGLE lead is: TBA
* Package WOLFPACK lead is: TBA
5.2 Frequencies
As per Comms SOP
5.3 Authentication
RAMROD: GRANDSLICE
As per Authentication SOP
5.4 Freq flow (Airfield 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
