30 October, 2022 - Noble Tempest Week 4

[MrBean]

VFA-41 took part in a nighttime strike against several Russian operated supply and command and control facilities in South Ossetia last night.

Nine F/A-18 Hornets departed Tiblisi around 19:00 local time and proceeded towards targets in and around the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali. Primary targets consisted of a Russian communications bunker as well as two large hardened ammunition depots on the Eastern side of town, as well as one additional ammunition depot located approximately 8 miles to the north in the foothills.

Aircraft from Dealer 2 launched a mix of AGM-154c and 154a munitions at the northern target. All missiles made it through to their target, and multiple vehicles at the Russian FOB were destroyed at that location, but the 154c warheads were not sufficient to penetrate and fully destroy the ammunition bunker. After weapons release, Dealer 2 returned to the Tiskhinvali area to assume CAP duties for the follow-on attacks by Dealer 1 and 3.

Dealer 1 aircraft utilized 2000# GBU-31V4 munitions to destroy both ammunition bunkers as well as the command and control facility within the Tishkinvali city limits. No damage was observed to the adjacent municipal stadium, which is believed to be housing a number of Georgian and South-Ossetian loyalist Prisoners of War. Before Dealer 3 aircraft could be called up to attack secondary targets in the area, a pair of Russian SU-27s was detected, presumably scrambled out of Mozdok across the Russian border.

Remaining strike flights were held south of the target until the intent of The Russian fighters was established. Unfortunately, the Russian fighters proceeded southwards across the border and Dealer 2 was directed to engage the targets when they closed to within 50 miles of other friendly aircraft. In the ensuing air battle, one of the SU-27s was destroyed, but the remaining Flanker was able to down all three Dealer 2 aircraft. At which point, the remaining Flanker disappeared from radar and AWACS contact and was presumed to also have been shot down.

Dealer 3 was subsequently given the OK to proceed back towards target to drop on any secondary targets available in the target area. The raging fires and secondary explosions from the ammunition bunkers made it very difficult to obtain good target imagery for the inbound Dealer 3 aircraft. When approximately 15 miles from target, another Russian radar contact appeared to the north (later determined to be one of the original SU-27s that had disappeared from radar previously) and headed towards Dealer 3. Without dedicated CAP coverage in the area any longer and minimal air to air capability of Dealer 1, the decision was made to abort any attempt to prosecute the secondary targets and all aircraft were ordered to return to Tiblisi.

All aircraft from Dealer 1 and Dealer 3 landed safely at Tiblisi.

Post-flight analysis determined the mission to be a partial success as three of the four primary targets were completely destroyed, as well as multiple vehicles consumed by secondary explosions in both target areas. However, the loss of another three aircraft to Russian fighters continues to demonstrate that any success is coming at a high price in the early stages of combat operations.

DEALER 1
1-1 Mr. Bean Ground targets hit, landed Tiblisi
1-2 Hedgehog Ground targets hit, landed Tiblisi
1-3 Dirty Dan Ground targets hit, landed Tiblisi


DEALER 2
2-1 Trim Ground targets hit, shot down by SU-27
2-2 Maniac Ground targets hit, shot down by SU-27
2-3 Lion 1x SU-27, Ground targets hit, shot down by SU-27


DEALER 3
3-1 Rhino mission aborted, Landed at Tiblisi
3-2 Crash mission aborted, Landed at Tiblisi
3-3 Chaos mission aborted, Landed at Tiblisi

[MrBean]

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[Hedgehog]

Pilot records updated.