Supplied with hot-off-the-press coordinates for the Hawk battery location that protected the target area, Dealer 2 delivered JSOW-A stand-off munitions to destroy the radar equipment, rendering the SAM site harmless. Dealer 2 then assumed the CAP role to protect the primary strike package.
Dealer 1 had coordinates for precision JDAM weapons on port facility buildings as secondary targets, but locating the Kilo subs was still going to be a task for the trusty Mk. I eyeball and MavF infrared-guided missiles. The JDAMs found their marks easily, but the resulting fire and smoke obscured pilot views and made locating and locking MavF targets nearly impossible. Dealer 1-4 managed to lock and sink one of the Kilos after it had also been damaged by a nearby JDAM hit. Unfortunately, Dealer 1-4 also destroyed a nearby yacht with unknown crew aboard, and then impacted a radio tower while inspecting his work, killing himself and destroying his aircraft. Iranian authorities have vowed to bring his remains to justice for what they termed an "unprovoked attack on innocent civilian lives."
A "Gazelle" military helicopter was spotted flying near the port facility. Classified as hostile by AWACS, it was quickly dispatched with an AIM-9X heat-seeking missile.
Dealer 1-1 and 1-3 spotted the 2nd Kilo at the pier. With Dealer 1-3 unable to achieve MavF missile lock due to fire and smoke, both began strafing it with 20mm gun rounds, hitting it hundreds of times. Although not sunk, it will certainly be out of commission for some time.
Dealer 2-2 collided with a KC-130 tanker while attempting in-flight refueling in pitch dark conditions. Both aircraft were destroyed. The VFA-41 CO was quoted as saying, "This is a dangerous business." All remaining aircraft recovered safely aboard USS John C. Stennis.
Dealer 2-1 - Trim: gnd tgts, trapped.
Dealer 2-2 - Mad Dog: gnd tgts, crashed after collision with tanker.
Dealer 1-1 - Hedgehog: gnd tgts, 1x helo, trapped.
Dealer 1-2 - Shadow: gnd tgts, trapped.
Dealer 1-3 - Lion: gnd tgts, trapped.
Dealer 1-4 - Cord: gnd tgts, crashed into radio tower.
MISSION SUCCESS. Mission objectives achieved, though at the cost of two Hornets, a KC-130, and all crew.
- Dealer 1 flight ready to launch.
- AAR 21JUL a.jpg (38.19 KiB) Viewed 3274 times
- Dealer 1 flight forming up.
- AAR 21JUL b.jpg (32.13 KiB) Viewed 3274 times
- Targets at port facility on fire.
- AAR 21JUL c.jpg (14.97 KiB) Viewed 3274 times
- LT Trim on NVG approach for night carrier landing.
- AAR 21JUL d.jpg (26.79 KiB) Viewed 3274 times
