Flight Orders: Seawitch 2 "The Return" Mission


Date: 		Today						Location:	Yellow Sea
Time:		1030 Local  Carrier Enterprise		Status:		On Alert Duty
Weather: 	Clearing, seas 3-4 feet, wind 360/15		Hornet 1:	Located Near CAT 1	
	

Your flight has just completed a tough mission and many lives will be saved since they stopped 
the North from getting those missile components (see Seawitch Mission). The flight deserves a 
break and a 24 hour stand down.  However, the CAG has some bad news. The enemy is expected 
to launch a heavy counter-strike across the DMZ within hours and all available fighters have 
been assigned appropriate targets. Although the CAG had deliberately left your team off the duty 
roister for reassignment, he is now short on aircraft to fly CAP over the Seawitch until she can 
return to port. Since you are familiar with the area and the preceding events, your team has drawn 
the short straw. It is unlikely the enemy would attempt another attack in such a short time after 
being defeated. With the anticipated counter attack coming, all his offensive forces should be 
committed elsewhere. This mission should be a cakewalk for you and your wingman. You've got 
thirty minutes to take care of essentials while your aircraft is being refueled and reloaded. Then 
it's off again, cause the fat lady still hasn't taken the stage.

Mission Background:

The South Korean freighter "Seawitch" was damaged by a severe storm and wandered into 
North Korean territorial waters where it was attacked and taken over by North Korean gunboats. 
The North Koreans tried to fly a portion of its cargo, electronic missile components, to Kaesong 
AB by Hind helicopters. Your teamed foiled that attempt. All the helicopters were shot down and 
the  escort gunboats destroyed. However, the Seawitch is still barely able to make headway due 
to storm and battle damage. Inchon harbor has dispatched armed sea tugs to help tow the 
Seawitch back to port. Until they arrive, the Seawitch needs a CAP cover. Failing to procure the 
cargo for themselves, the North may try to destroy the "Seawitch" and her remaining cargo to 
keep it out of Allied hands. The freighter has cleared into international waters but still needs 
Allied protection. 

Action Plan:

You're Flight Lead and you and your wingman are tasked to fly combat air patrol cover (CAP) 
over the freighter "Seawitch" until the armed sea tugs reach the site. You are cleared to engage 
and destroy any and all unidentified boogies coming within twenty miles of the freighter. You 
are to takeoff from the Enterprise, command Hornet 1 to form up on you  (he should takeoff a 
few seconds after you) and proceed to Waypoint (WP) 1 the last known position of the 
"Seawitch". Setup a standard 300 knot High/Low CAP pattern over the freighter and remain 
there until:

	1.)  The sea tugs arrive or
	2.)  You are relieved by Hornet 3, or
	3.)  You or your wingman reach bingo (joker) fuel. 
	4.)  Return to the Enterprise (WP 0).

•  Area Intelligence:

	Enemy air defense radar units that were disabled or destroyed by your last action may
            have been repaired in the few hours since your last mission. 

	North Korean hovercraft w/assault troops have been  spotted patrolling adjacent islands. 
	There are also AWACS reports of Hind helicopters operating in the coastal islands.	

	Air defenses, SAM and AAA sites, become more concentrated as you approach the coast 
            and are considered impenetrable as you near Kaesong AB.

	The Seawitch has cleared enemy covered territory (SAM coverage) but remains close.

	There may be friendly shipping and air traffic in the area. Visual ID may be required.

•  Flight Assignments:

   Hornet 1: overall mission responsibility for the protection of the "Seawitch". All boogies
   within 20 nmi of the freighter are to be identified. Hostiles are to turned back, or engaged and
   destroyed. Anticipate possible SEAD action and plan your loading accordingly. Maintain
   High-Cap (8,000 ft) position.

 	Note: Hornet 2 should be released prior to WP (1) to setup and remain on Low-CAP duty. 
	Hornet 2 will remain on station should there be a need for you to investigate any boogies.
	If any hostile targets are identified, they should be intercepted and destroyed.
 
   Hornet 2: assigned Low-CAP (4,000 ft) protection over the "Seawitch" - intercept loading.
   From the low-altitude CAP Hornet 2 will respond to any boogies tracked within 15 nmi of the
   freighter and will engage and attempt to destroy said hostiles. 

Mission Criteria:

For the success of your mission you must keep the "Seawitch" safe during your duty tour.

•  Hostile boogies penetrating within 20 nmi of "Seawitch" shall be destroyed or turned back.

•  Hornet 1 also needs to return to the carrier for reassignment.



Speedbrake  04-24-98

dale.e.schmidtbleicher@lmco.com

DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT
Unless.....




Each of the following Tweaks will tend to make the mission easier or harder! Use all of them and 
you may be flying a piece of cake or you may just want to take the courts marshal and refuse to 
fly the mission as it would be suicidal!



Tweaks for Making the Mission Easier


1.)  Ignore the Hind helicopters. They are mainly outside of the 20 mile limit.

2.)  Deactivate a SAM site.

3.)  Reduce the weapon loading to the SU-27 interceptor.




Tweaks for Making the Mission Harder


1.)  Increase the weapon loading on the SU-27 interceptor.

2.)  Switch the SAM sites to the SA-2E extended range.



