29 January, 2023 - Operation Noble Tempest Week 15

Rhino · Post by **Rhino** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:32 pm

SITUATION

Although the Russian Ministry of Defense and state media are denying it, our strike on two Russian Black Sea Fleet corvettes was successful in that the Tarantul-class vessel ultimately sank while trying to limp up the coast to Novorossiysk. The Grisha-class vessel rescued crew members from the Tarantul after it went down off shore from the port of Tuapse. The Grisha is now pier side in Novorossiysk, presumably to re-arm and repair damage from the HARM hit it took. While the Russian MOD is downplaying the action, in any event both ships are now out of the area of operations and are no longer shelling Georgian positions in and around Poti. That said, the Russians are still pressing their assault on the port city and satellite reconnaissance has spied what appears to be an armored column preparing to move out from a staging area at the Russian/Abkhazian controlled Senaki air base. Georgian forces defending Poti report sporadic contact with lead elements of a Russian force, likely a recon company, just across the Rioni River northeast of the city, as well as indirect mortar fire from the same general area.

MISSION

Intelligence suggests the armored column at Senaki will be moving out soon to attack Poti. VFA-41 is tasked with interdicting this column before it can arrive at the Poti front and cross the Rioni River into the city. The satellite recon photos show approximately 20 vehicles in the column including tanks, IFVs and APCs, self propelled artillery and support vehicles. The only direct route to Poti from Senaki is along the E60 highway, which runs fairly straight directly from the air base due west to Poti. By the time we arrive overhead, the column could be anywhere along that route, so GMT radar and ATFLIR are the order of the day. Waypoint 3 (IP) at the coast near Poti and Waypoint 4 (Bullseye) at Senaki airbase itself provide reference points to help locate the armor column. All vehicles in the convoy are valid targets, but priority should be given to destroying any tanks, self propelled artillery pieces and other armor assets.

CAG has also tasked us with a second objective for this sortie, which is the final destruction of what remains of the SA-10 site near Gudauta airbase. Given the substantial losses we’ve sustained thus far in attempts to destroy the site for air superiority, CAG and the Strike Group Admiral want to take advantage of the success of last week's airwing action, which severely degraded the SA-10 site, and put it out of action permanently. Waypoint 5 has been co-located on the site's Flap Lid tracking radar. Primary targets in addition to the Flap Lid include the remaining Clam Shell low altitude search radar, the mobile command post and any remaining TEL launchers. BDA from VFA-14 and VFA-192’s strike indicates only 4 launchers remain mission capable.

THREATS

The Abkhazian SA-6 site at Senaki Airbase is still online and covers much of the E60 highway between the base and Poti. The site needs to be suppressed prior to any attack runs over the coast. WP4 is located on the airbase grounds and should be designatable for pre-briefed HARM shots (See kneeboard). Expect possible short range air defenses embedded within the armor column. Russian forces are known to operate SA-13 and SA-19 in this capacity. AAA and MANPADs are possibilities as well. Be on the lookout for Russian helicopters operating out of Senaki as well.

The SA-10 site still poses a threat even without its Big Bird radar, though with only 4 functional TELs, its capabilities are severely diminished.

Finally, Russian VKS aircraft out of Gudauta are still ever present. Fighters as well as attack aircraft have been sortieing regularly from the base. VF-211 is launching a two-ship F-14 CAP in this cycle to assist, but all pilots should be prepared to defend themselves if required.

*Exercise caution if directly overflying the city of Poti itself as the Georgian defenders there have both AAA and MANPADs of their own and maybe engaging rotary wing or fixed wing threats themselves.

ROE

Restricted. Ground targets may only be engaged east and north of the Rioni River (see FLOT line below) as friendly Georgian forces are located south and west of the bridges and within the city of Poti. Air threats may be engaged as required.

MISSION OVERVIEW

DATE: 29 January, 2023

TIME: 0830 local

SUNRISE: 0855 local
SUNSET: 1828 local
MOON: N/A

TASK: Battlefield Interdiction + DEAD strike

WX: 050@13kt / SCT-BKN 17,000 / BKN 32,000 / T +02 / Q30.07

FLIGHT DURATION: ~400 nm + loiter for targeting

AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 4: 4 x F-14b

CARRIER:
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75) / Freq 127.500 [6] / TCN: 75X / ICLS: 5

SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-2D / OVERLORD/ Freq 266.000 [5]
Mission Tanker / / / Freq: []/ TCN:
Recovery Tanker / S-3B / TEXACO / Freq 353.000 [10] / TCN:61Y
CAP / F-14B x2 / COLT 2-1 / Freq 305.000 [20]
SSC / F-18c x2 / ROMAN 2-1 / Freq 305.000 [20]
SSC / S-3B / PONTIAC 2-1 / Freq 305.000 [20]

DIVERT
Batumi [WP]
Rwy: 13/31
VOR: TACAN 16X
ATC: 131.000 [16]

BULLSEYE: Senaki Airbase [WP4]

ROUTE OVERVIEW: