07 July 2025 - Kola Week 7 - In HARMs Way

[Maniac]

Kolawk7.png (5.48 MiB) Viewed 14501 times

VFA-41 Black Aces participated in a large effort to degrade the extensive air defense systems the Red Russians have established in the northern ranges of the Kola peninsula. The number of these installations present a grave threat to Allied forces and must be reduced so that future operations can take place with acceptable risks. The task force launched 54 BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles toward SAM sites located further inland prior to carrier aircraft operations. Then an EA6-B Prowler along with its F-14 escorts and a F-14 TARCAP were launched. Black Aces launched at 1530 local time in three flights of three aircarft in 3 minute intervals in zero visibility/ceiling conditons. Aircraft were armed with HARMs with several Dealer 1 and 2 aircraft also carrying TALDs to cause SAM sites to actvated their radars. Flights met up at WP1; launched TALDs prior to reaching WP2; then proceded to WPs 2 &3 to attack targets that illuminated their RWRs.

Result of the mission is as follows:

26 of the 54 Tomahawks destroyed their targets.

Dealer 1
1) Maniac; 2X S-60
2) Chaos; 1X SA-15
3) Leadfoot; 1X SON-9; 1X SA-3; 1X Dog Ear

Dealer 2
1) Hedgehog; Combined SON-9 & S-60 hit; 1X SA-15
2) Crash; Vertigo Induced Mishap during climbout
3) Sven; 1X SA-11

Dealer 3
1) Rhino
2) NoPro; 2X SA-11; SA-15
3) Bamm Bamm; 1X SA-3; 1X SA-11

This mission was adversely affected by DCS issues, probably due to the large number of Tomahawk launches stressing the DCS mission/software . Pilots observed reduced frame rates, stuttering, loss of datalink SA indications, unusual aircraft behavior, and a delayed response from Mother to CASE III approach requests. These issues, along with challenging zero vis/ceiling condtions, resulted in no Black Aces pilots recovering aboard the carrier or divert airfields. DCS issues may also have affected TacView so that results listed above may be incomplete.

Despite issues with recovery, this mission has some measure of succues in that many SAM sites if not completely destroyed were severly damaged.

[Hedgehog]

Pilot records updated.