19 March, 2023 - Operation Noble Tempest Week 19

Rhino · Post by **Rhino** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:16 pm

SITUATION

Our strikes in previous weeks helped the Georgians to halt the secondary advance of the Russian forces on the coastal city of Poti and effectively shut down Russian fixed wing close air support operating out of Gudauta. Now any Russian fixed wing aviation must come from much farther away, with the nearest attack/bomber base at Maykop and fighters coming all the way from Krymsk.

The front line is still stagnated along the Tskhenistskali River between Samtrieda and Abasha. The weather is starting to warm up and it won’t be long before the Russians attempt a large-scale breakout offensive to take Kutaisi. Even with fixed wing aviation coming from longer distances, they ARE still coming and flying sorties over the battle area, plus Russian helicopters, including Ka-50 and Mi-28 attack helos, are still operating out of the seized base at Senaki.

To the East, our Air Force and United Kingdom brethren have had success in assisting the Georgian forces with pushing the Russian and South Ossetian forces nearly all the way back to the South Ossetian capital at Tskhinvali. They are launching strikes today to mop up the last forward positioned Russian units. With any luck, the eastern front will be secure within the next week or two.

MISSION

Today’s mission is a Battlefield Interdiction sortie under Forward Air Control (Airborne) direction from U.S. SOF personnel operating with Georgian Special Forces. The controller, Callsign Spartan 2-1, is airborne in a Georgian UH-1 Huey and will be spotting targets for VFA-41 and VF-211 aircraft. Once feet dry over Georgia, expect contact from Spartan, who will spot and pass target information via MGRS coordinates and red phosphorus smoke markers. Spartan does not have laser designation capability, so final confirmation and weapons guidance will be up to individual pilots.

This is a close air support environment and since the Georgian forces operate mostly former Soviet bloc equipment, just like the Russians, it is imperative the Rules of Engagement are strictly followed. To assist with situational awareness, Waypoints 4-7 have been created to designate the known hostile area. VFA-41 pilots are NOT to engage any targets SOUTH or EAST of the two rivers in the AO (See the Target Area map with FLOT designations).

To avoid airspace conflict with other flights, attack runs are limited to SOUTH to NORTH runs only. After weapon release & impact, egress EAST (right turn out) and flow back south to WP2 to marshal for the next attack run. Priority targets for this mission include artillery, both self propelled guns and Multiple Launch Rocket systems, as well as main battle tanks. There are confirmed reports of 2S19 Msta and BM-21 GRAD artillery, plus T-90 and T-72 model tanks (See Intel photos below). VFA-41 should plan to remain on station until Winchester on ordinance, or 1745 hours. All aircraft should depart the airspace at or before 1745 hours to make the recovery window.

THREATS

SIGINT and IMGINT have not revealed any new higher digit SAM systems in the AO, however MANPADs and AAA are still numerous and systems like SA-13 and SA-19 are possible as well. Aircraft should remain above 12,000 feet to avoid ground threats, but beware, the cloud ceiling is at 18,000 feet, so expect to operate between Angles 12 and 18 for attack runs. Preemptive use of flares and chaff during runs will also help mitigate dangers from potential ground fire.

Russian aircraft have been operating in the AO as of recent days, though they are coming from much further afield in Russia. Attack and fighter bomber aircraft are likely and fighter CAP from Krymsk is not unrealistic to expect either. A dedicated F-14 CAP is stationed just off the coast northwest of the AO, but VFA-41 should also dedicate at least a section of Hornets for CAP duties directly overhead the AO..

ROE

Restricted. Only engagement of FAC(A) spotted and called ground targets OR ground targets confirmed NORTH and WEST of the rivers is authorized. Russian aircraft may be engaged as required.

MISSION OVERVIEW

DATE: 19 March, 2023

TIME: 1630 local

SUNRISE: 0813 local
SUNSET: 1910 local
MOON: First Quarter

TASK: Battlefield Air Interdiction

WX: 139@16kt / SCT-BKN 18,000 / FEW 36,000 / T04 / Q29.97

FLIGHT DURATION: ~320 nm plus loiter for attack runs

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 /KC-135 MPRS / SHELL / Freq: 251.000 [8]/ TCN: 35Y
Recovery Tanker / S-3B / TEXACO / Freq 353.000 [10] / TCN:61Y

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

BULLSEYE: Poti [WP8]

ROUTE OVERVIEW: