Bravo Zulu on taking out those bridges Black Aces! This success will greatly hamper Russian logistic efforts in the eastern part of the combat area. A UAV was launched just after your return to do a more comprehensive Battle Damage Assessment. The UAV’s real-time video feed confirmed the destruction of the primary target bridges, as well as some of the bunched up Russian ground forces. The damaged third bridge span finally fell after a couple hours. The video feed also shows the Russian ground forces are remaining stationary in the vicinity of the bridges and appear to be in the middle of CASEVAC operations, as numerous helicopter flights from the north have been making in and out flights appearing to load wounded personnel.
MISSION
This is a follow on tasking to further attrite the Russian ground forces currently bunched up in the canyon north of Katzbegi. Command wants these advance units destroyed to relieve the pressure on the Georgian Border Guards and send the message to the Russians that the Darial Gorge is closed. The same route data from this morning's strike is still loaded in the aircraft mission computers. All flights are to locate, engage and destroy enemy armor and remaining logistics vehicles in the vicinity of WP3 “Ruby”, WP4 “Coral”, WP5 “Opal”. Use of CBU-type munitions is authorized (AGM-154a, Mk 20 or CBU-99) if the Mission Commander desires. Squadron stocks of GBU-12 and Mav-E are at critical levels. Consideration should be given to use of intermediate weight guided weapons such as GBU-16. Additionally, AIM-120c stocks are very low as well. Consideration of substituting AIM-7P is encouraged. Command is only authorizing one sortie, so once Winchester on initial loadout, flights are to RTB.
An F-15 CAP flight will get airborne just before our launch and the Georgians are sending a pair of Su-25’s to attack a Russian MLRS artillery position just north of our target area. Let the Su-25s taxi and take off ahead of our flights.
THREATS
Review of the UAV footage shows what appears to be three destroyed SA-13 Strela IR SAMs among the ground forces. No other missile shots have been recorded taken at the UAV. It does appear some mobile AAA units are active on the ground however and the potential for a Russian soldier to pop up with a MANPAD is always possible as well. As in the past, the SA-11 Battalion north of the border is active, so it is still advised not to venture farther north than WP5. ELINT has not detected any further Russian VKS fighter aircraft airborne in the AO, though attack aircraft sorties by the Russians are still possible.
ROE
Weapons free on any Russian ground or air units in the vicinity of WP3 through WP5, including any armed helicopters at low level.
MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 20 November, 2022
TIME: 1500 local
SUNRISE: 0844 local
SUNSET: 1746 local
MOON:
TASK: Battlefield Interdiction
WX: 320@10 kts /Few 11,000 /T12 / Q30.12
FLIGHT DURATION: ~195nm
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:
(CVN-) / Freq [] / TCN: / ICLS:
SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-3A / WIZARD/ Freq 266.000 [4]
Mission Tanker / / / Freq: []/ TCN:
Recovery Tanker / / / Freq [] / TCN:
DIVERT
Kutaisi [WP]
Rwy: 07/25
VOR: TACAN 44X
ATC: 134.000 [18]
BULLSEYE: Gori [WP6]
ROUTE OVERVIEW:
- Route Overview.PNG (5.34 MiB) Viewed 744 times
Target Area:
- Target Area Detail.PNG (8.04 MiB) Viewed 744 times
UAV Recon Photos:
- Katzbegi.jpg (922.43 KiB) Viewed 744 times
- WP3 Ruby.jpg (983.06 KiB) Viewed 744 times
- WP4 Coral.jpg (983 KiB) Viewed 744 times
- WP5 Opal.jpg (975.59 KiB) Viewed 744 times
Mission Data Card:
- Z_Mission Data Card.PNG (61.54 KiB) Viewed 744 times
Ordinance Stocks Week 8:
- Week 8 Ordinance.PNG (24.8 KiB) Viewed 744 times
