C:MANO Carribean Fury 1: Hot Tamale!

Mentre, in Europa, infuria la guerra, nei Caraibi, almeno per il momento, la situazione è abbastanza tranquilla.

Questo scenario si inserisce, cronologicamente parlando, dopo The Road to Byzantium, abbandonato perché davvero ingiocabile (vedremo se riprovarci con questa nuova versione del gioco) e si svolge in contemporanea con Storm the Gates, primo scenario del Battleset ambientato nel Baltico,SyrianSurprise (secondo scenario del Mediterraneo) e, soprattutto, con H-Hour, X-Ray Station e Dagger to the Heart, del Battleset Nord Atlantico e già giocati.
Ha inizio il 13 febbraio 1994, ore 12:45 Zulu, ovvero le 07.45 locali. Vista la differenza di fuso orario, terrò però l’AAR con l’orario locale.

Andiamo con ordine e vediamo l'introduzione di questo scenario.

You’re commanding the USS John F. Kennedy CVBG on routine patrol in the Caribbean. Although homeport is Norfolk Virginia, the Battle Group has been operating out of New Orleans Louisiana for most of the past year due to the increased tensions in Central America. The air wing (CVW-7) has just completed 4 days of intense training with the Army up at Fort Hood, and you now heading to Roosevelt Roads Puerto Ricco for some ASW and ASuW work.

You still haven’t decided if you’ll take the northern route past Cuba along the Florida Strait, very tight confines but sends a message to the Cubans who’ve been getting uppity of late. Or the southern route through the Straits of Yucatan past the Cayman Islands and Jamaica and take a look at Venezuela, which has also been flexing its muscles. Either way it should be a pleasant evening with perfect Caribbean weather.

 

Designer’s notes:

This is a complex scenario which, at times, will have fights in four or five distinct areas happening simultaneously. I encourage the use of missions and Weapons Release Authority (WRA) to manage your forces.

• You should turn 'special messages' ON and in a Pop-Up, and scenario events OFF.
• Please respect the initial ready times for aircraft, this represents designed delays that both balance the scenario and paint the picture of routine air operations where machinery breaks and requires preventive maintenance inspections and repairs.
• There are a large number of units in this scenario that are not initially under your control and some that never come under your control. Until informed that these units are under your command or in support of your operations, please refrain from conducting anything other than routine and self-defence tasks with them. Many units will fall under your command, and some will depart, during this scenario but most have strings attached and restrictions that should be adhered to.
• Your initial tasks are quite vague. You are on a routine, peace time, patrol from one area to another - to conduct training. The situation will become clearer as the scenario progresses and you will be given more information and specific tasks.
• Recommend that you have a word or text document open in the background to allow you to cut and paste the numerous special messages you will receive. This will allow you to refer to them later at your leisure to double check details of tasking or assignments.
• Points are allotted or deducted for losses, and for accomplishing assigned tasks.

• This scenario uses the excellent Dynamic Pilot Ejection and SAR Rescue script created by ‘angster’. You will need to use USCG and other resources to rescue your pilots when they get shot down. Each AC shot down will have a 60% chance of leaving a bailed out pilot or crew member, you will have a random amount of time to send a helicopter or ship to rescue them or you will lose the crew (and points). You also gain a point for each pilot rescued which takes a bit of the sting out of losing an aircraft.

Interessante quest'ultimo paragrafo. Poi è più facile a dirsi (in questo caso scriversi) che a farsi, come si vedrà con il racconto dello scenario, visto il gran caos che ci sarà.

 

Approfondiamo un po' di più.

Caribbean Fury 1: Hot Tamales

You’re commanding the USS John F. Kennedy CVBG on routine patrol in the Caribbean. Although homeport is Norfolk, the Battle Group has been operating out of New Orleans Louisiana for most of the past year due to the increased tensions in Central America. The air wing (CVW-7) has just completed 4 days of intense training with the Army up at Fort Hood, and your air ops staff has been running full tilt keeping the birds flying. By all accounts they’ve done some good work, both the Army and the CAG seem happy, he’s got half the wing stood down for Sunday routine to give them a break. The Coms guys are rigging up a big screen on the hanger deck to watch the Olympics and everyone is looking forward to the games, especially the grudge match Hockey series with the Canadians!

The Battle Group is off to Roosevelt Roads now for some intensive ASW and ASuW work, two Sturgeon SSNs and a SAG out of Charleston will meet ups there. Now that the Enterprise (CVN 65) has cleared the training area our exercise window has been lengthened by a couple days so there are supposed to be a couple more ships joining us. Your N3 has just arrived for your 0600L morning brief:

Sir: We’ll be arriving off Vieques at dawn on Thursday 17 Feb; prior to that, VF-45 out of Key West and VC-10 out of Guantanamo Bay, will be conducting 36 hours of SimStrikes against us starting midnight (local) tomorrow and we’ll be conducting a long range Alpha strike on land targets at Roosevelt Roads with live bombs, Tuesday; and two Alpha strikes, one day, one night, on Wednesday. The ASW Ex starts when we enter the range and the 2 SSNs will give us a 20-mile standoff start. Live land strikes and SEAD will continue around the clock for 72 hrs once we reach the range, VC-3 and the Air National Guard Sqn will fly counter-force against us.

At some point on Wednesday, Long Beach (CGN 9) accompanied by Kidd (DDG 993) and Nicholas (FFG 47) will begin to shadow us, CAG is not aware of this wrinkle, the surface on surface action will culminate on Saturday with a simulated massed missile strike. Next Sunday we dock in Roosevelt Roads, refuel, re-ammunition and head south to cruise along the Venezuelan coast a week from Tuesday.

Status today:

         CVW-7: in rest mode, otherwise good shape.
         CVBG: CG 48 Yorktown, DD 979 Conolly, FFG 57 Reuben James all operational
         FFG 25 Copeland in port, New Orleans for minor repairs, scheduled to join us next week

Independent Operations:

         CG 19 Dale, conducting anti-piracy patrol off Nicaragua, will have to port at Cristobal for fuel shortly, scheduled for dry-dock in Norfolk once released.
         DDG 968 Arthur W Radford in company with FF 1089 Jesse L Brown, and FF 1095 Truett. One day out of New Orleans to relieve the Dale and Ouellet off Panama.
         FF 1077 Ouellet patrolling off the Panama Canal, due to return to New Orleans to repair an ESM casualty.
         SSN 614 Greenling patrolling off Venezuela

Transiting Forces:

         CGN 37 South Carolina in company with DDG 19 Tattnall, off the outer Antilles transiting to Charleston.

NATO forces:

         HMS Westminster patrolling off Belize.
         F 810 HNLMS Banckert arriving from Europe for a 3-month patrol.
         F 32 ESPS Diana, departing Trinidad after minor repairs, plans a stop in Dominica then to head south and meet up with the Spanish Carrier in Rio.
         F 733 FS Ventôse, Departing Port Au Prince Haiti, mid-way through a 4-month cruise.

That’s all I have for you today sir, the Sparks will be up shortly to rig a TV in your day cabin for the games. It should be quiet until tomorrow night when the ‘Blackbirds’ (VF-45) start buzzing us: they’ve got a mix of ex-Israeli Mirages, F-16’s and F-5s so they should be low and fast, probably from multiple directions, they may even have some Phantoms! ‘The Challengers’ (VC-10) have got a flock of A-4 Skyhawk’s so that will be real trick keeping them off us, it’s almost like they fly below the waves!

 

The day passes quietly it is now 1745hrs Local, 1245hrs Zulu time

Note: you may be wondering what the scenario will require you to do, the briefing is vague and not directive, this is deliberate. The situation at the start of the scenario is routine, you are a 1-Star Admiral charged with keeping your assigned forces combat ready, the training plan outlined will do that. The enemy however – who has not yet revealed himself – has a vote, and things will become very interesting, very quickly.

You should not do too much in the way of readying aircraft etcetera: except to prepare for the tasks outlined in the brief, setup routine patrols, adjust formation and so forth. In the opening hours of the scenario you will be assigned significant, almost overwhelming resources, but most will have restrictions placed on their employment for reasons that will be outlined.

At the start these unassigned forces should simply be conducting routine and self-defense tasks

In the meantime, enjoy the Caribbean cruise and become familiar with your assets and those that might become available to you as time moves on.

There are three Ferry missions set up in the mission editor.  You should leave them set up throughout the game as they are used several times.

 

Ecco una panoramica della situazione.

Come si può notare nella mappa allegata, a nord-ovest (in alto a sinistra), c’è il gruppo da battaglia della Kennedy.

Tra la Florida e Cuba abbiamo un paio di unità della Guardia Costiera, mentre nello Stretto dello Yucatan naviga la squadra guidata dalla Radford (classe Spruance), accompagnata da due fregate classe Knox.

A sud di Haiti si trova la fregata francese Ventose (classe Floreal), mentre al largo del Nicaragua (a sud di questa schermata), naviga solitario l’incrociatore Dale (classe Leahy). Più a sud, al largo delle coste del Belize, si trova la fregata britannica Westminster.

Dall’altra parte, a sud-est di Porto Rico, sempre fuori da questa schermata, si trova la fregata spagnola Diana (classe Descubierta), a nord della Repubblica Dominicana naviga la fregata olandese Bankert (classe Kortenaer), mentre parecchio ad est di Porto Rico, l’incrociatore a propulsione nucleare South Carolina, accompagnato da una caccia classe Adams, è diretto verso Norfolk.

Nei pressi del canale di Panama naviga la fregata classe Perry, USS Ouellet.

Dalla East Coast americana stanno scendendo, separatamente, l’incrociatore Long Beach accompagnato dalla fregata Nicholas, il caccia Kidd ed il sottomarino Sea Devil (classe Sturgeon).

Un bel po’ di unità, a cui si aggiungono dozzine di aerei, sparsi tra:

Guantanamo: 14x A-4, 2x EC-130, 4x Super Cobra, 2x UAV
NAS Key West (Florida): 10x F-5E, 6x F/A-18A, 6x A-4M, 6x TF-16N
Homestead (Florida): 24x F-16C
Mc Dill AFB (Florida): 1 squadriglia di KC-135
NAS Jacksonville (Florida): 18x F-16A, 8x Phantom, 9x Orion
NAS New Orleans (Louisiana): 12x F/A-18A, 24x F-15A, 24x F-16C, 6 KC-130

A Tucson, in Arizona, dispongo di 54 A-7D Corsair II e nel Belize sono schierati 3 Harrier GR.7. Inoltre a Panama sono stanziati una sessantina di velivoli di ogni tipo, soprattutto elicotteri, ma anche qualche F-16.

Senza dimenticare, ovviamente, il gruppo imbarcato della Kennedy.

Un imponente schieramento, che non sarà affatto facile da gestire. Già l’impostazione degli ordini e degli assetti alle varie unità prende parecchio, parecchio tempo.

Come già accennato precedentemente dal progettista dello scenario, queste forze danno la sensazione di essere sopraffatti nel dare gli ordini.
Perciò inizio con ordine e con calma. Pattuglie ASW, CAP e ricognizione degli UAV a Guantanamo.

 

Poi do finalmente il via allo scenario.
Passa meno di un minuto ed un radar da sorveglianza aerea del tipo ASR-9 GCA, viene misteriosamente distrutto nel sud di Panama, in piena giungla. Nessuna forza nemica avvistata. Sarà stato qualche guerrigliero pagato dai comunisti?

Do un’occhiata più da vicino anche alla zona di Guantanamo. Sono certo che diventerà molto calda a breve. Vedo che attorno al perimetro della base sono schierati 4 plotoni di fanteria cubana. Sono parecchio vicini. Se le cose dovessero precipitare, certamente ne arriverebbero altri.
La base è comunque ben difesa, come si può vedere da questo zoom. Oltre ai 9 bunker che ne delimitano il perimetro, ho diversi plotoni di marines a bordo di M-113, uno di M-113 TOW ed uno di Abrams, oltre ad una batteria di M-101 da 155m, e diverse di SAM Stinger, Hawks e AAA.
Attorno svolazza un MiG-23ML, che non per nulla rassicurante. Come da richiesta del creatore dello scenario, non faccio decollare in allarme le mie forze, per rendere un po’ più reale la situazione.
Le pattuglie ASW navali sono invece normali routine per i tempi della guerra fredda.
Ciò che è piuttosto deficitaria è la difesa aerea. Poco più di una dozzina di A-4 non saranno certo sufficienti a fermare l’aviazione cubana se deciderà (anzi, ovviamente, quando deciderà di attaccare).

 

Di fronte alle Key West ho invece la parte occidentale dell’isola di Cuba, in cui si trova anche la base navale russa di Marieb e la capitale Havana. Si trovano inoltre gli aeroporti di San Antonio de losBanos e San Julian.

Quando inizieranno le ostilità, gli aerei cubani, si troveranno a circa 90 miglia dalle Key West. Tutto si svolgerà in pochi secondi. Anche qui un paio di MiG-23 sono già in volo. Va bene osservare le raccomandazioni, ma forse un paio di caccia potrei anche mandarli in CAP. In fondo dall’Europa arrivano notizie tutt’altro che rassicuranti.


07:55 (12:55 Z)

Flash message from Fleet Sir!

Hostilities in Europe appear imminent. Probable Soviet attack in Poland, Germany, Turkey and Norway.

Do not initiate hostilities but be prepared to conduct self defence operations!

What the hell does that mean!?

 

Ore 08:01 (13:01Z)

FLASH FLASHFLASH
To: All US Military Forces.
FROM: CINCLANT
DEFCON 4
All US Forces Worldwide to adopt DEFCON 4 REPEAT DEFCON 4.
Increased all local security measures.
increased intelligence gathering.
Increased vigilance
War imminent
Release of special weapons NOT REPEAT NOT authorize
FLASH FLASHFLASH

Questo non mi autorizza a sparare per primo e quindi i caccia cubani (e probabilmente anche sovietici) che si alzano in volo uno dopo l'altro continuano ad avvicinarsi indisturbati.

 

Ore 08:06 (13:06Z)

The N6 pulls you aside:
Sir
We’re getting HF radio and satellite intercepts originating in Cuba – and others from around the gulf to Cuba. Lots of Excitement, mostly in code but some in clear, were trying to make the best of it.
I think that the Cubans are as surprised about all the activity over the past little while as we are. And I think they’re kinda pissed off.

Bisognerà poi capire con chi sono incazzati. Un'idea ce l'avrei e credo che avrò la conferma presto.

 

Finalmente (si fa per dire), si comincia a fare sul serio. Almeno posso provare ad eliminare qualche pericolo.

Ore 08:08 (13:08Z)

CDC calls and asks for your specifically:
Sir, we’re catching the main news channels – all of them. All the same story but very confused and conflicting  – we seem to be under some sort of attack

Ore 08:09 (13:09Z)

New contact! Designated SAM #714 - Detected by HMLA 167 Warriors #1 (AH-1W Super Cobra) [Sensors: Mk1 Eyeball] at 308deg - Estimated 18nm - No Contrail Detected.

Uno dei due UAV Pioneer viene abbattuto dai SAM. In tutta risposta con 2 A-4 in volo spedisco un paio di Maverick contro uno dei plotoni meccanizzati cubani appostati fuori dalla base di Guantanamo.
Ma i SAM in arrivo sono davvero tanti e perdo un paio di A-4. Poi iniziano a cadere proiettili di artiglieria sull’intera base come se non ci fosse un domani (e se continua così non ci sarà di certo).

Mi sento un po’ sopraffatto dagli eventi ma basta mettere in pausa ogni volta lo scenario per riuscire a fare qualcosa di decente. D’altronde in verità io avrei dozzine di collaboratori e sottoposti che si occuperebbero di tantissime altre cose. Se devo svolgere il lavoro di tutti mi sembra corretto poter anche mettere in pausa

Sono passati solo 5 minuti dall’apertura delle ostilità ma sembra un’eternità. E’ ora di cominciare a picchiare duro. Seleziono il caccia Radford, in navigazione ad ovest di Cuba e gli ordino di lanciare una dozzina di Tomahawk contro due postazioni SAM ed un radar sul lato occidentale dell’isola.

E’ abbastanza scontato che dovrò colpire l’isola con le forze aeree a mia disposizione, quindi meglio cominciare a spianare la strada.

 

A proposito dell’aviazione cubana. Su Wikipedia trovo questa informazione:

In 1990, Cuba's Air Force was the best equipped in Latin America. In all, the modernCuban Air Force importedapproximately 230 fixed-wingaircraft.

Non fornisce ulteriori dettagli a proposito di questi 230 aerei. Peccato ma cambia poco la sostanza. Inoltre credo che a questo numero devo aggiungere anche un po’ di aerei sovietici basati a Marieb. Quanti e di quale tipo non ne ho idea però.

 

Ricognizione ad alta quota?

 

In che senso?

 

Qualche aereo tipo U2 ed effettui delle ricognizioni, vedi nel tuo OdB cosa hai

 

Ho i 2 UAV a Guantanamo al momento, anzi, ora uno solo. Devo guardare cosa ho a disposizione negli USA ma mi sa che non c'è nulla. Satelliti nemmeno. Se riesco a continuare stasera, comunque controllo bene e aggiorno.

 

Molto bello, ti seguo.

 

Alle ore 08.15 (13:15Z) ricevo questo messaggio flash


FLASH FLASHFLASH

TO: ALL US MILITARY FORCES ATLANTIC

FROM: CINCLANT

SITUATION: SOVIET AND WARSAW PACT FORCES HAVE PRECIPITATED WAR THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND PROBABLY THE ENTIRE GLOBE. NAS KEFLAVIK HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ATTACKED AND IS NOW CLOSED TO AIR OPERATIONS FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL HOURS, PROBABLY DAYS.

MISSION: DEFCON 2! ADOPT A WAR FOOTING, AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS: CONSIDER ALL SOVIET OR WARSAW PACT FORCES HOSTILE AND PROSECUTE WITHOUT HESITATION.

USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS NOT, REPEAT NOT AUTHORIZED.

MESSAGE ENDS

FLASH FLASH FLASH

eh...questo messaggio arriva dopo che un UAV è stato abbattuto e l'artiglieria cubana martella Guantanamo. L'avevo capito che siamo in guerra. Però ci sta. Si tratta di minuti ed in una situazione di Terza Guerra Mondiale, con il caos che ne consegue, è del tutto normale.

Lo scenario prosegue, ma non ho il tempo di fare aggiornamenti, perché i messaggi flash si susseguono.


Ore 08:19 (13:19Z)


IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATEIMMEDIATE

TO: CVBG KENNEDY
TG LONG BEACH
TG SOUTH CAROLINA
TG RADFORD
CG 19
DDG 993
FF 1077
SSN 614
SSN 664
SSN 668 (at Galveston)
SSN 674
T-AO 195
NS GUANTANAMO BAY
NS ROOSEVELT ROADS
NAS KEY WEST
NAS JACKSONVILLE
NAS NEW ORLEANS
NA GALVESTON
VF 45 (at Key West and Jacksonville)
VFA 106 DET KEY WEST
VFA 204 (at New Orleans)
VP 24 (at Jacksonville)
VP 51 (at Roosevelt Roads)
VQ 2 DET JACKSONVILLE
VC 3 (at Roosevelt Roads)
VC 10 (at Guantanamo Bay)
VR 54 (at New Orleans)
VMO 2 (at Howard AFB Panama)
VMU 2 (at Guantanamo Bay)
HMLA 167 DET GUANTANAMO BAY
HMLA 367 DET HOWARD AFB
VMR 1 DET GUANTANAMO BAY
INFO: TYNDALL AFB//CAOC
USCG DISTRICT 7//OPS

FROM: CINCLANT

131319Z FEB 94

OPERATION HOT TAMALE

1. SITUATION: SOVIET AND WARSAW PACT FORCES HAVE PRECIPITATED ATTACKS IN NORTH NORWAY, GERMANY, DENMARK, TURKEY, THE BALKANS, WESTPAC AND POSSIBLY OTHER AREAS. NAS KEFLAVIK CLOSED. NY, HALIFAX, BOSTON & CHARLESTON ATTACKED, CIVILIAN TRAFFIC HALTED. LIKELY THAT CUBA, HONDURAS, NICARAGUA AND POSSIBLY VENEZUELA WILL OR HAVE ALREADY COMMENCED HOSTILITIES.
2, MISSION: STABILIZE SITUATION IN GULF OF MEXICO/CARIBBEAN.
3. EXECUTION: ALL ADDRESSEES PLACED UNDER COMMAND CVBG KENNEDY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, MINIMUM 48 HOURS.
3.A. TASKS IN PRIORITY:
3.A.1) ACHIEVE SEA AND AIR DOMINANCE BETWEEN 60W & 100W, 10N & 30N EXCEPT NEUTRAL AIRSPACE.
3.A.2) PROTECT PANAMA CANAL FROM ALL THREATS.
3.A.3) PREVENT ANY ATTACK ON CONUS BY ANY FORCES: WP, NATIONAL OR CIVIL
3.A.4) ASSIST NATO FORCES IN AO
3.A.5) ASSIST ALLIED FORCES IN AO
3.A.6) PREPARE AND WHERE PRACTICABLE EXECUTE COUNTER STRIKES
3.A.7) BPT ACCEPT ADDITIONAL FORCES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE
3.B. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS:
3.B.1) ALL SOVIET OR WARSAW PACT FORCES CONSIDERED HOSTILE.
3.B.2) AIRSPACE CONTROL THROUGH CAOC SOUTH, TYNDALL AFB
3.B.3) SEA-SPACE CONTROL THROUGH USCG DISTRICT 7 HQ, MIAMI
3.B.4) WEAPONS RELEASE AUTHORITY COM CVBG KENNEDY
3.B.5) SPECIAL WEAPONS RELEASE NOT, REPEAT NOT AUTHORIZED.
4. SERVICE SUPPORT:
4.A. T-AO 195 SCHEDULED MIAMI ASAP
4.B. CG 19 REFIT POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
4.C. FFG 25 RELEASED NEW ORLEANS FORTHWITH
5. COMMAND & SIGNALS: ALL TO REPORT STATUS TO CVBG KENNEDY ASAP

MESSAGE ENDS

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE


Questo messaggio, oltre a rendere attenti tutti quanti dello scoppio della Terza Guerra Mondiale, mi informa che il Dale e la Copeland sono poste sotto il mio comando.
Questa è una buona notizia perché mi sa tanto che avrò bisogno di tutto l’aiuto possibile. La Copeland è a New Orleans, perciò le ordino di salpare immediatamente. Il Dale è al largo del Nicaragua e lo richiamo verso nord. Buon incrociatore con capacità antiaeree notevoli, vediamo se arriverà in tempo utile per dare una mano ai difensori di Guantanamo.

 

Ore 08:22 (13:22 Z), nuovo messaggio:

CDC calls again:

Sir: a NOTAM has just been issued by NORAD in Colorado Springs authorized by POTUS:

All civilian air traffic is to land immediately.

The Coast Guard is also working on a NOTMAR telling all civilian shipping to head to the nearest port.

NOTMAR = Notice to Mariners
NOTAM = Notice to Airmen
POTUS = President of the United States

E poi ancora alle 08.24 (13:24 Z) . Piuttosto complesso.

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE

TO: CVBG KENNEDY

INFO: CINCLANT
USCG DISTRICT 7//OPS
FROM: TYNDALL AFB//CAOC
131324Z FEB 94

USAF COMMITMENT OPERATION HOT TAMALE

REF: CINCLANT 131319Z FEB 94

1. USAF TASKS FOLLOWING UNITS TO OPERATION HOT TAMALE FORTHWITH:
1.A. UNDER COMMAND FOR OPERATIONS:
1.A.1) 122 FW, DEPLOYING TO PATRICK AFB
1.A.1) I. 113 FS, TARRE HAUTE ANGB, IN ANG
1.A.1) II. 138 FS, HANCOCK FD ANGB, NY ANG
1.A.1) III. 163 FS, FT WAYNE ANGS, IN ANG
1.A.2) 162 FW, DEPLOYING TO MACDILL AFB
1.A.2) I. 148 FS, TUCSON ANGB, AZ ANG
1.A.2) II. 152 FS, TUCSON ANGB, AZ ANG
1.A.2) II. 195 FS, TUCSON ANGB, AZ ANG
1.A.3) 482 FW HOMESTEAD ARB
1.A.3) I. 93 FS HOMESTEAD ARB, AFRC
1.A.3) II. 122 FS, JRB NEW ORLEANS, LA ANG
1.A.3) III. 159 FS NAS JACKSONVILLE, FL ANG
1.A.3) IV. 198 FS, MUNIZ ANGB, PR ANG
1.A.3. V. 706 FS, JRB NEW ORLEANS, AFRC
1.A.3) VI. DET 127 FS, HOWARD AFB, KS ANG
1.A.4) 63 ARS MACDILL AFB
1.A.5) 153 ARS MS ANG
1.A.6) 41 ECS DET NAS GUANTANAMO BAY
1.A.7) 196 ARS DET, NAS ROOSEVELT ROADS
1.A.8) 301 RQS DET NAS KEY WEST
1.B. IN SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS (NO REBASING)
1.B.1) 24 COMP WNG HOWARD AFB
1.b.2) 46 FW (Trials), EGLIN AFB
1.b.2) I. 39 FTS (Flight Test Sqn, weapons)
1.b.2) II.40 FTS (Flight Test Sqn, airframes)
1.b.3) 53rd FW (Test & Eval), TYNDALL AFB
1.b.3) I. 82 ATARS (Air Target Sqn), TYNDALL AFB
1.b.3) II. 83 TES (Testing & Evaluation Sqn), TYNDALL AFB
1.b.3) III. 86 FWS (Precision Wpn Testing Sqn), EGLIN AFB
1.b.3) IV. 422 TES (ARM Wpn Testing Sqn), EGLIN AFB
1.b.4) 325th FW (Training), TYNDALL AFB
1.b.4) I. 1 FTS
1.b.4) II. 2 FTS
1.b.4) III. 95 FTS
1.B.5) 19 SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP
1.B.5) I. 7 SOS HURLBURT FD, EGLIN AFB
1.B.5) II. 9 SOS DUKE FD, EGLIN AFB
1.B.5) III. 16 SOS HOWARD AFB
1.B.6) 16 ACCS, TINDALL AFB
1.B.7) 965 AACS, TINDALL AFB

END

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATEIMMEDIATE

Notes:

1) 122nd, 162nd, and 482nd FWs represent the downside of keeping active USAF F-16 squadrons running beyond the historic post cold war downsizing. The Northern Fury series has 16 historically converted or inactivated F-16 squadrons retained, 12 of them in Europe. The effective increase in regular squadrons is achieved in many ways, three of these are evidenced in this scenario: 1) most ANG F-16 Sqns are still ‘A’ model where historically many of the guard Sqns were Blk 25, 30 or even 40 by this time; 2) ANG F-16 Sqns are limited to 18 AC vice the standard 24; and 3) Seven ANG squadrons have not yet converted to F-16, six of them in this scenario. The ANG Sqns have a mix of pilot experience levels from Cadet to Ace.

2) 24th Composite Wing at Howard AFB was primarily used to support the Colombian and Central American Governments in countering their various insurgent threats. It was a constantly changing mixture of aircraft and squadrons. What is in scenario is the best I can figure as a representation. Included in the Wing is the CORONET NIGHTHAWK detachment from the ANG part of the anti-drug campaign. In this case 6x F-16 from 127 FS, Kansas ANG who are on a 6-week rotation assisting, mostly with sensors, as the F-16 flights were usually unarmed missions.

3) Tyndall and Eglin AFBs are on sustained mode; you can expect to get 1 sortie per day for aircraft stationed there.

4) 46 and 53 FWs are primarily testing and evaluation units, hence they have a high level of very experienced pilots (aces) but a low sortie generation rate represented by the sustained mode for readiness. With these units you have a glimpse at the future (from 1994) with some very interesting airframes and munitions including the F-16XL and a small number of most F-15 & 16 models available up to 2001. Very high VP loses accompany any casualties amongst this group. 82nd Air Target Squadron is included just for fun, its aircraft, the QF-101 & QF-106 were normally flown remotely as drones but could be piloted, as they are in this scenario.

5) 325th FW (Training) at Tyndall is the Operational Conversion wing for F-15s in the USAF with a mix of mostly APG-63 radars but 6 aircraft in 1 FS with APG-70. The wing is a mix of instructor pilots (aces) and students (regular) with 25% down for maintenance. At one sortie a day, most of the pilots flying the operational missions will be aces, but some will not be. This will be a major balancing point in the scenario development, 72 F-15 sorties a day is a powerful equalizer! Very high VP loses accompany any casualties amongst this group.

6) 16 ACCS, and 965 AACS at Tindall AFB are the OCU’s for AWACs and JointSTARS respectively and therefore also fall under the 1 sortie per day rule.

7) 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB is deploying to Europe. 58, 59 & 60th Fighter Squadrons will disappear through the scenario and you will not have control over them. They exist in scenario for completeness and to show the priorities being set; as the 30-year-old F-4’s & A-7’s start rolling into your AO, the shiny new F-15C’s are rolling out. Besides another 72 F-15C’s are cool to look at but would unbalance the scenario somewhat.

C'è da dire che l'autore degli scenari fa le cose con cura.

 

E di nuovo alle 08:25 (13:25 Z)

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE

TO: CVBG KENNEDY
INFO: CINCLANT
TYNDALL AFB//CAOC
USCG DISTRICT 7//OPS
FROM: 482ND FW HOMESTEAD ARB

131325Z FEB 94

482 FW STATUS OPERATION HOT TAMALE

REF: A. CINCLANT 131319Z FEB 94

1. TYNDALL AFB//CAOC 131324Z FEB 94
   
2. 482 FW OPS ESTABLISHED AND PREPARED TO COORDINATE ALL USAF AND IF REQUIRED USN AIR OPERATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH CAOC TYNDALL.
   
3. SPACE AND MUNITIONS AVAILABLE HOMESTEAD FOR ENTIRE WING TO ASSEMBLE
   
4. CURRENT STATUS: READ IN 11 COLUMNS:

TYPE/SQN/LOCATION/TOT AC/RDY/RDY3/RDY6/RDY12/RDY24/RDY48/NRA.

F-15A/122FS/NORLEANS/24/4/4/3/3/4/2/4
F-16A/127FS/HOWARD/6/4/-2/-/-/-/-
F-16A/159FS/JACKSONVILLE/18/4/-/4/4/1/1/4
F-16A/198FS/MUNIZ/16/4/4/1/1/-/1/2/3
F-16A/198FS/HOWARD/2/-/2/-/-/-/-/-
F-16C/93FS/HMSTD/24/4/4/4/2/2/1/7
F-16C/706FS/NORLEANS/24/4/4/4/3/5/4

5. MUNITIONS AVAIL: 48HR MIN ALL LOCATIONS EXCEPT AIM-120, STOCKS LIMITED

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Note: A ferry mission is established but AC are not assigned as there are many options for this wing. One workable option is to simply leave the various squadrons of this wing in place, moving them to Homestead is more viable but costs you time. There are 4 main bases in Florida, excluding Key West which is small and almost maxed out, and 3 large Fighter Wings to move. Each base can handle more than one wing of AC and munitions are spread around so you can make choices. You should only run into problems if you try and put two full wings on one base.

Gli aerei pronti al decollo non sono molti, come si può notare. Dovrò arrangiarmi con quello che ho.

 

questo gruppo "1.b.3) I. 82 ATARS (Air Target Sqn), TYNDALL AFB" fa ricognizione aerea
Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS)