DATE: 02 January, 1991
TIME: 1100L (0800Z)
SUNRISE: N/A
SUNSET: N/A
TASK: Lakselv area Battlefield Interdiction and Anti-shipping strike
WX: 320@8 / Scattered 17,000 / T-6 / Q30.06
FLIGHT DURATION: 400 nm
AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
CARRIER:
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72)
SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-2D / MAGIC
Mission Tanker / KC-135 / TEXACO
Recovery Tanker / S-3B / SHELL
CAP/BARCAP / F-14B / CHEVY
DIVERT:
Andoya
Rwy: 14/32
TCN: 28X
BULLSEYE: Kiruna, Sweden
SITUATION
The USS PELELIU amphibious group has arrived in theater and is stationed to the east of the LINCOLN CVBG.
Recent Strikes near Lakselv by US Navy aircraft have greatly reduced Soviet force strength in the area.
Several days ago, a small convoy of Soviet cargo and amphibious assault ships was spotted leaving Murmansk. The advance group of these ships arrived off the shore of Lakselv overnight and Soviet reinforcements are currently being offloaded on a small peninsula north of Banak/Lakselv.
Additional cargo and resupply ships are just entering the mouth of Porsangerfjord and transiting south towards Lakselv port.
Additionally, several replacement Soviet aircraft have arrived at Banak to replace recent combat losses.
These Soviet reinforcements must be eliminated before they can bolster the already weakened defenses in the area.
MISSION
VFA-41 has been tasked to disrupt the Soviet resupply effort and destroy as many of the inbound ships and recently landed trucks/armor as possible before they can make their way south to resupply and reinforce Banak/Lakselv.
-DEALER 1 will target Banak Airport [WP 4] and eliminate any aircraft or armored ground units spotted on the various ramps at the airport. NATO forces hope to conduct operations out of the airport once it can be liberated, therefore laser guided bombs and IR Mavericks will be utilized to try to avoid widespread damage to the airport’s taxiways, runways, and buildings.
-DEALER 2 is tasked to attack the Soviet amphibious landing zone north of Lakselv. The LZ is located on a small flat peninsula [WP4] on the East side of Porsangerfjord. Two Amphibious assault ships have been offloading armor, trucks, and troops through the night, but they have yet to disperse and make their way into town. If we strike quickly, we can inflict maximum damage before they disperse from the beachhead. 2x Laser-guided Maverick Missiles and 2x Mk-20 Cluster munitions have been loaded onto each jet. Dealer 2 is carrying extra gas due to possible low-altitude maneuvering.
-DEALER 3 will be searching for and attempting to sink the remaining vessels in the resupply convoy that are just entering the fjord from the north. DEALER 3 should concentrate their search between [WP3 and WP4]. The fjord is not very wide, so spotting the convoy should not be overly difficult. DEALER 3 jets will be armed with 4x IR-Mavericks each. Intelligence indicates that two Molniya class Corvettes are accompanying the cargo ships, so be aware of AAA and short-range IR manpads.
All DEALER flights will depart the LINCON and proceed along their respective routes. Ingress and egress routes are similar for all flights, however targeting waypoints are specific to each flight/assigned target.
TEXACO (KC-135) will be orbiting approximately 80 miles west of the Egress point, in case outbound tanking is required.
The days are starting to get a bit brighter, but the sun does not yet fully rise this time of year in Northern Norway, so expect a CASE III launch and recovery. NVGs will be installed by default on all Hornets.
THREATS
Three F-14s of Chevy flight will be anchored overhead the target at 29K to hopefully handle any Soviet fighter patrols that approach the area.
Limited numbers of radar-guided (Shilka) and visually guided AAA may remain at Banak airport.
The only other surface to air threat expected would be ground fire from the two Molniya Corvettes escorting the reinforcement convoy.
ROE
Weapons free- Any Soviet vehicles or aircraft detected as hostile either visually, confirmed by IFF, or labeled hostile by AWACS that maneuver to intercept the strike package may be fired upon.
Week 5 Route Overview
- Week 5 Overview.png (3.04 MiB) Viewed 40 times
Week 5 Target Area
- Target Area Detail.png (2.69 MiB) Viewed 40 times
Soviet Landing Zone (Dealer 2 Target)
- Screen_260415_130443.jpg (1.05 MiB) Viewed 40 times
Molniya Corvette
- molinya.png (851.15 KiB) Viewed 36 times
Week 5 Kneeboards