03 December, 2023 - Pick up Mission: 'Operation Hormuz 8'

MrBean · Post by **MrBean** » Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:35 am

VFA-41 was tasked with providing Combat Air Patrol in the Bandar Abas sector along the coast of Iran in support of ongoing operations in Operation Hormuz.

Two flights of four Hornets launched at noon and were given sectors to patrol for approximately 90 minutes until relieved by Chevy flight.

Shortly after arriving on station, AWACS notified Dealer 2 of Iranian aircraft approaching the eastern sector from the North. Dealer 2 flight proceeded to intercept, firing a salvo of AIM-120s at the approaching Mig-29's. The Iranian aircraft quickly retreated back to the North and evaded the first round of missiles.

Dealer 1 in the west sector noticed a lone Iranian F-5 that had blown through an adjoining CAP sector farther to the west, escaped the F-15s patrolling there and was headed straight for the AWACS operating south of Quesham Island. One section of Dealer 1 aircraft split off to intercept the F-5, downing it before it could launch on the defenseless E-2.

Shortly thereafter, AWACS notified Dealer 1 of a new flight of Iranian aircraft far to the northwest and directed Dealer 1 to intercept. As Dealer 1 was heading inland to engage, Dealer 2 was also engaged with a new flight of Mig-29's in the Eastern Sector. Two Dealer 2 aircraft were lost, and the remaining Dealer 2 aircraft was still engaged defensive. Dealer 1 again split the flight and one section continued on towards the original contacts, while the second section proceeded to the East to try to assist the remaining Dealer 2 aircraft.

The two Western Migs were downed by Dealer 1 missiles, but the Eastern Migs dropped off of radar and disappeared before they could be engaged by the second section of Dealer 1 aircraft and those two Dealer 1 aircraft subsequently broke off and proceeded to the tanker.

While half of Dealer 1 tried to chase down the speedy tanker, the pair of Migs re-appeared in the Eastern Sector the other two Dealer 1 aircraft vectored east to engage, downing both Iranian Migs.

With tanking completed, the two Dealer 1 sections reversed roles and the first section resumed patrol while the second section attempted to tank (but the tanker chose to RTB before the latter could join up). At 1400L, AWACS notified all Dealer flights that they had been relieved by Chevy flight and the four Dealer 1 aircraft as well as the remaining Dealer 2 aircraft proceeded back to the ship to recover uneventfully aboard the carrier.

DEALER 1
Mr. Bean - trapped
Chaos- 1x F5E, trapped
Trim- 2x Mig-29, trapped
Sven- 2x Mig-29, trapped

DEALER 2
Hedgehog- downed by Mig-29
Maniac- downed by Mig-29
Sabot- trapped