01 January, 2023 - Operation Noble Tempest Week 11

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Rhino
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01 January, 2023 - Operation Noble Tempest Week 11

Post by Rhino » Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:15 am

Eight VFA-41 squadron aircraft launched in three flights on a Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses strike mission to further the Strike Group Commander's objectives of degrading the Russian and Abkhazian air defense network and continue establishing air superiority over the western Georgian area of operations. The squadron was tasked with destroying two separate SA-10 Grumble SAM sites located north and south of the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi. Dealer 1 flight was assigned the northern site and Dealer 2 flight was assigned the southern site while Dealer 3 flight, a mixed section of F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet were tasked with Barrier Combat Air Patrol in order to deal with any enemy interceptors.

Dealer 3 launched first immediately followed by Dealer 1 and Dealer 2. Once the two strike flights arrived at the PUSH point (WP1), Dealer 3 and AWACS reported Russian interceptors were launching out of Gudauta. Dealer 3 aircraft engaged two inbound bandits while Dealer 1 and 2 held at WP1. Dealer 3 successfully splashed one of the bandits, but the second leaked through and continued inbound on Dealer 1 and 2. Dealer 1 flight turned into the remaining bandit and was able to splash in, but not without loosing Dealer 1-1 at the same time.

Dealer 2-1 took over mission command upon the downing of Dealer 1-1 and proceeded with the mission plan. One additional bandit launched out of Gudauta, but disengaged and returned to base once engaged by Dealer 3. Dealer 2 flight was able to launch TALD decoys and HARMS on the southern SA-10, with one HARM making it through to the target and destroying that sites Big Bird search radar. The remaining two aircraft of Dealer 1 flight were not successful in deploying ordinance on the northern SA-10 and were both subsequently shot down by it. The follow up JSOW's launched by Dealer 2 at the southern site were also shot down by missiles from the northern site. The end result was only one site suffering any damage in the form of the destroyed Big Bird radar.

Mission is deemed a failure and will need to be re-flown either by us or another air wing squadron. :1undecided:

Dealer 1:
1-1 Rhino - x1 Su-27, shot down by same Su-27
1-2 Crash - shot down by SA-10
1-3 Chaos - shot down by SA-10

Dealer 2:
2-1 Hedgehog - TALD & JSOW launched, trapped
2-2 Maniac - TALD & JSOW launched, suffered mid-air with Dealer 2-1, attempted to divert while on fire but crashed into sea just off shore of Batumi. SAR operations ongoing at this time.
2-3 Trim - HARMs launched, ground targets hit, trapped

Dealer 3:
3-1 Lion - x1 Su-27, trapped
3-2 Dirty Dan, trapped

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