Flight Orders: Sector 7 Deep-Strike Mission


Date: 	 Today						Location:	Sea of Japan
Time:	 0630 Local Carrier Enterprise			Status:		On Flight Duty
Weather: Clearing, seas 4-8 feet, wind 360/25		Hornet 1: 	Located Near CAT 3

It's 0530 and you've already been up for hours. Weather, rough seas, and a lack of enemy air 
activity forced the squadron into a 48 hour stand-down. However, the skies are now clearing with 
the sunrise and the seas are calmer. Flight activity is once again being scheduled. The CAG has 
pulled you and two other pilots aside for a special briefing in his quarters along with the Air 
Operations Officer and Intelligence Officer. This is a high priority Top Secret need-to-know 
mission. You've been selected to command this mission. The other two pilots will be providing 
the punch to complete it. There will be only one easy attempt at your specific target. 
Surprise will be on your side. The enemy will fortify his defenses once alerted, should your 
mission fail. These are words you don't care to hear, as failure is not part of your vocabulary.

Mission Background:

Enemy activity across the peninsula has been negligible since the storm hit. But now with 
clearing skies, activity is expected to pick up. Air Force assets are currently tied up along the 
front. The Navy has been given a high priority deep-strike assignment by the Area Commander.

Early in the war a nuclear reactor located in Sector 7, by a lake in the middle of the North, was 
sabotaged by a commando team. They destroyed the reactor interior but left the empty shell of 
the structure still standing. Secret enemy codes have recently been broken and newly decoded 
information has determined that this Sector 7 facility has secretly been renovated and turned into 
a  North Korean missile plant producing high volumes of weapons for the enemy fighter force. 
Infrared satellite reconnaissance photos show high levels of truck traffic at night running between 
the  facility and nearby Maeng San air base. For all appearances, it looks like an abandoned 
facility  during daylight hours and has been overlooked by Command because of its deep in-
country location and the lack of heavy air defenses for protection which normally would signify 
a high priority target of this type. Your flight is tasked to take out the entire site! The tricky part 
is to get to the location without being detected, destroy the facility, and get back to the carrier. 
The mission is long and very time and fuel dependent. It will require your best aviator and 
leadership capabilities.

Action Plan:

Hornet 1 has been given the task to led and provide SEAD capability  to the deep-strike attack 
force, taking out critical air defense systems along the route. Hornet 2 and 3 will be carrying the 
punch to complete the assignment to destroy the entire facility. It will take both aircraft's 
weapons to do it. Start engines at 0631, depart the carrier at exactly at 0632 hours. Remain NOE,  
below 1,500' AGL, and have Hornet 2 & 3 rejoin on you in tight formation. Proceed to 
Waypoint (WP) 1. If you are picked up by enemy radar they will think you're the normal 
morning ship-to-shore courier aircraft. Hornet 2 & 3 have heavy loadings and speed/fuel 
conservation is a definite consideration. Time your arrival at WP2 to be at 0645, using WP1 
airspace to make adjustments. Depart WP1 and remain below 1000' AGL NOE. Avoid enemy 
aircraft along your route. However, if detected, destroy the enemy before he can engage the strike 
aircraft. You enter Sector 7 at WP4. The critical portion of the mission aside from the attack is 
the radar coverage narrows between WP2 and WP4. Release Hornet 2 & 3 from formation just 
after WP4 to carry out their objectives. Locate the factory at WP5 and destroy critical air 
defenses. Rejoin the flight just prior to WP7 and recover back to the carrier via pre-planned 
egress routing. Once the carrier is visually acquired, command Hornet 2 & 3 to Go Home (F4).

	Note: Timing (your speed) is critical as Hornet 2 and 3 are carrying heavy loads and three 
	tanks. This also impacts the ability of the F-14 CAP force to protect all of you as you 
	egress the area. This is a long mission and fuel reserves will be critical to all strike force 
	aircraft. Afterburner use should be kept to a minimum.

•  Area Intelligence:

	A commando team will create a gap in the enemy 's SAM site coverage along the front
        lines at exactly 0645, if all goes well. This should coincide with the strike force arriving
        at WP2 at that time. Your flight will have to thread the needle through the gap as enemy
        radar will only be down a few minutes at most. Once past the FEBA  (forward edge of the
        battle area) (WP3) enemy air defenses consisting mainly of AAA and SAM sites are
        expected to be light as the enemy does not want to call attention to this area.

	Enemy air activity has been monitored for several days prior to the storm and was limited
        to impromptu movements of single or paired aircraft between Maeng San air base and
        Nyon Ni training air base.

	Due to the deep in-country location of area air bases, many enemy aircraft operate
        locally without their warning systems turned on and may also only be lightly armed.

	The factory's air defenses, not to attract attention, are expected to consist of the enemy's 
	normal low priority target assignment of  AAA sites. SA-2/3 SAM units would be to
        easily spotted from satellite, hidden SA-6/8 mobile SAM launchers could be present.

	Expect SU-27s to be launched from Maeng San AB once the attack is realized.

•  Assignments:
 
	Hornet 1: responsible for Strike Force Led and SEAD action against high threat targets 
	along the attack route. Fly NOE and arrive at WP2 at  exactly 0645. Maintain tight 
	formation until within target area WP4. Rejoin prior to WP7. Avoid detection, but if 
	engaged, destroy the enemy quickly. The satellite determined target position is WP5.
	Select your weapon loading carefully;  flown properly, a centerline tank should work.

	Hornet 2: responsible for primary attack on the target.

	Hornet 3: responsible for primary attack on the target.

	F-14 1&2: responsible for offshore CAP and egress protection once you're feet wet.

Mission Criteria:

For the success of your mission:

	The missile factory must be totally destroyed. 
	Two of three deep-strike mission aircraft must return to the carrier.  (Includes Hornet 1)

Mission Hints:

Tight formation is echelon, using two commands. Order Hornet 2 into echelon; look at his 
position, order him again; look at his new position, tight! The same is true with Hornet 3 as well.

Wingman will follow orders, but may not always answer over the radio....check visually!

Avoid tracking over the top of a mountain, go around if possible using saddle points.

It takes 90% power to fly at approx. 350-400 KTAS with (2)IR+(2)BVR+(2)MK-84+(3)Tanks.

There is a SPOILER file in this archive if you have a problem and need to buy a clue.

							Speedbrake   4-28-98

							dale.e.schmidtbleicher@lmco.com 


