20 FEB 2020 Kahnauj Knockout

[Lion]

TIME: FEB 20, 2020, 1930L TAKEOFF (Night, zero lunar illumination)
WEATHER: 6 kts from E, cloud base 37,000 ft, very low surface turbulence
LOCATION: GULF OF OMAN

SITUATION:
Carrier Strike Group Three, with the USS John C. Stennis and accompanying escorts have returned to the Persian Gulf region after emergency resupply at Diego Garcia. All squadrons temporarily deployed to Al Dhafra have returned to the carrier group.

With the exception of hostile forces occupying Khasab, Oman, the majority of Iranian ground troops have been eradicated and scattered into disarray in the UAE. Emirates forces have recaptured Fujairah International and are preparing to shore up defenses along the coastlines against enemy air incursions.

Iranian recon patrols have stepped up intensively in recent days and the CSG officers believe attacks against the strike group itself are imminent.


MISSION:
VFA-41 Black Aces flights will launch on a strategic strike mission into southeastern Iran to attack the Kahnaj power plant.

Four major buildings have been marked with waypoints as GPS coordinates. (Hornet waypoints #4,5,6,7) (F-14 WP3 is Initial Point, target area marked as Surface Target, Bandar Abbas marked as Hostile Area)

Satellite intel indicates the hardliners in control have fortified the plant with SA-15 Tor SAM systems, which are known to track and engage inbound cruise missiles and glide bombs.

Additionally, Jiroft Airport is very close by and will almost certainly launch flights to defend the powerplant.

- NOTE: The CSG only has small-capacity S-3B Tankers for a bit of extra fuel during recoveries.
The UAE has opened Fujairah International as a divert field if unable to recover aboard the USS Stennis, however the carrier group is currently almost 100 nm east of it.



AIR THREATS: MiG-23 Floggers, MiG-21 Fishebds, F-4 Phantoms, F-5 Tigers, F-14 Tomcats, Su-27 Flankers
GROUND THREATS: ZSU-23 Shilka, ZU-23 AAA, SA-15 SAM

NOTE:
The Carrier Strike Group is currently operating under strict EMCON, but will activate its air defenses and missile batteries if hostile aircraft and ships penetrate within 50 nm.


TACAN (USS STENNIS): 74X, ICLS 11

4x F/A-18C, Dealer 1: 315.00 MHz
4x F/A-18C, Dealer 2: 316.00 MHz
4x F/A-18C, Dealer 3: 317.00 MHz
4x F-14B, Dealer 4: 318.00 Mhz
1x E-2D, Overlord (AWACS): 266.00 MHz - Preset Channel 1, comm 2
4x S-3B, Shell (TANKER), TCN 114-117Y, 232.10-232.40


BULLSEYE: KHASAB, OMAN
HOMEPLATE: (USS STENNIS): 74X, ICLS 11, Comms 127.500 MHz
DIVERT: Fujairah International, Comms 124.600 Mhz

Mission Length: Approx 400 nm