Introduction
After the initial shock of Iceland being taken by Soviet amphibious and airborne Forces, NATO has resolved to destroy any airfield infrastructure which still remains intact. The initial Soviet attack was conducted by surgical strikes conducted by Badger bombers launching air-to-surface missiles aimed at radar sites and air defences, carefully avoiding to destroy aviation facilities, as it is believed they will be required for their own aircraft and as a staging post for Badger and Backfire bombers.
With the facilities captured largely intact, and damaged assets having been repaired by Soviet army engineer units, Soviet naval aviation will be able to conduct long-range recon and strike sorties into the Atlantic shipping lanes. Unless NATO shuts Iceland down.
Orders for Cmdr NATO Forces
Situation
Following the capture of Iceland, Soviet Naval Aviation has now established a presence at Keflavik including the 14th Fighter Regt (MiG-23M Flogger B) and the 143rd Bomber Regt (Su-24 Fencer B) with associated tanker support. No AEW Aircraft have been identified so far.
Initial recon overflights have assessed that the airfield will be fully operational within two days.
The Oriskany CVBG with Carrier Air Wing 19 embarked has been allocated to pre-emptively take down the airfield using "Alpha Strikes".
Oriskany is an old ship having started her career in WW2, Korea and more recently Vietnam but still has one good fight left in her, "The Mighty O" is now in position with the rest of her strike group along with assets from Sondrestrom and Thule Air Base.
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| Recon imagery of NAS Keflavik |
Air : MiG-23 Flogger fighters and Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft.
SAM / AAA : SA-6 Gainful, SA-7 Grail, SA-9 Gaskin , ZSU-23.
Surface : Unknown.
Sub-Surface : Unknown.
Friendly Forces
Sondrestrom Air Base:
- 20th BS (B-52D Stratrofortress)
- 561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief)
- 57th FIS (F-4C Phantom)
- 38th TRS (RF-4C Phantom)
- 334th ARS (KC-135A Stratotanker)
- 960th AEWCS (EC-121H Warning Star)
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| Recon imagery of Reykjavik airport |
1. B-52Ds to conduct strikes on all runways at Keflavik and Reykjavik.
2. F-105Gs to conduct SEAD on radar and SAM sites.
3. Oriskany CVBG to conduct Alpha Strikes on hangers, fuel depots and ammunition dumps.
Execution
1. Coordinate your "Alpha Strike" with USAF Forces in Greenland to maximum effect for the destruction of Soviet aviation facilities.
2. Oriskany CVBG has the ability to launch two "Alpha Strikes" in two hours, USAF Forces can only manage 1 strike due to limited assets available.
Command and EMCON
Command: USS Oriskany
EMCON: Alpha-limited emissions
September 12, 1975, 020000Z
I suppose I could just wing it and launch everything at Iceland, dealing with any threats as they come, and trust in the invincible might and power of the United States, and the inexhaustible supply of pilots, airmen and sailors, and be confident in victory.
But no. I want to try to do this "right," in the sense that I will plan a coordinated strike (as the mission briefing dictates), and attempt to accomplish the mission with a minimum of casualties. As I have multiple types of aircraft at wildly separated airfields and the Oriskany, I'll have some serious planning to do.
The Air Tasking Order will go something like this:
Recon/Fighter Sweep
38th TRS (4 A/C) (RF-4C Phantom) (Recon)
57th FIS (16 A/C) (F-4C Phantom) (Fighter Sweep)
SEAD (SEAD around Keflavik and Reykjavik, and also the radars stationed around Iceland)
561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief) (12 A/C) (SEAD)
Runway Strike Package
20th BS (B-52D Stratofortress) (12 A/C) (Strike)
Facility Strike Package (Hangars, Fuel Depots, Ammo Dumps)
VA-153 Blue Tail Flies (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (SEAD and Buddy Stores)
VA-155 Silver Foxes (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Ammo Dumps)
VA-215 Barn Owls (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Hangars/Fuel Dumps)
VF-191 Satan's Kittens (F-8J Crusader) (4 A/C) (Strike Escort)
VF-194 Red Lightnings (F-8J Crusader) (4 A/C) (Fleet CAP)
VFP-63 Eyes of the Fleet (1 A/C) (RF-8G Crusader) (Recon/BDA)
I need to plan how long it will take each Flight to reach their targets, and I need to take into account takeoff, forming-up time, re-fueling if necessary, and the cruise speed of each Flight.
Sweep Package
16 F-4C Phantom
8 Flights of 2 a/c
Fuel Consumption
Internal Fuel: 5315kg
2x 370 USG Drop Tank = 18.8min each
1x 600 USG Ddrop Tank = 30.4min
Takeoff: 2min * 118.65kg/min = 237.3kg
Formup: 2min * 63.28kg/min = 126.56kg
Climb to 36k ft: 2min * 56.02kg/min = 112.04kg
Cruise to Tanker location: 475nm at 480kts = 60min * 31.71kg/min = 1902.6kg
Total fuel expended to reach tankers = 2378.5kg
Fuel needed from tankers = 2378.5kg * 16 = 38056kg
30min to top off fuel at tankers : 30min * 25.36kg/min = 760.8kg
On station: 230 miles * 2 = 460nm * 480kts = 57.5min * 31.71kg/min = 1823.3kg
+ 2min Afterburner at 191.92 kg/min = 383.84kg
Total fuel expended to return to tankers: 2207.14kg
Additional fuel expended to return to base: 1902.6kg
Total fuel expended to get home: 4109.74kg
Time to Target
Total time to get over the target: 2min(takeoff) + 2min(form up) +2min(climb) + 60min(to tanker) + 30min(refueling) + 28.75min(on station) = 124.75min.
SEAD Package
12 F-105G Thunderchief
6 Flights of 2 A/C
Fuel Consumption
Internal Fuel: 3180kg
2x 450 USG Drop Tank = 22.8min each
1x 650 USG Drop Tank = 33min
Takeoff: 2min * 103.28kg/min = 206.56kg
Formup: 2min * 48.86kg/min = 97.72kg
Climb to 36k ft: 2min * 37.26kg/min = 74.52kg
Cruise to Tanker location: 475nm at 480kts = 60min * 27.66kg = 1659.6kg
Total fuel expended to reach tankers: 2038.4kg
Fuel needed from tankers = 2038.4kg * 12 = 24460.8kg
30min to top off fuel at tankers: 30min * 22.12kg/min = 663.6kg
To Target and back to tankers
Flight Radar NW: 212nm; 112nm (14min at 480kts) * 27.66kg/min + 100nm (12.5min) * 37.26kg/min + 212nm (26.5min) * 27.66kg/min = 387.24kg + 465.7kg + 733kg = 1585.94kg
Flight Radar NE: 353nm; 253nm (31.6min) * 27.66kg/min + 100nm (12.5min) * 37.26kg/min + 353nm (44.125min) * 27.66kg/min = 874.056kg + 465.7kg + 1220.49kg = 2560.246kg
Flight Radar SE: 422nm; 322nm (40.25min) * 27.66kg/min + 100nm (12.5min) * 37.26kg/min + 422nm (52.75min) * 27.66kg/min = 1113.3kg + 465.7kg + 1459.065kg = 3038.08kg
Flight Radar SW: 340nm; 240nm (30min) * 27.66kg/min + 100nm (12.5min) * 37.26kg/min + 340nm (42.5min) * 27.66kg/min = 829.8kg + 465.7kg + 1175.55kg = 2471.05kg
Flight Reykjavik: 252nm; 152nm (19min) * 27.66kg/min + 100nm (12.5min) * 37.26kg/min + 252nm (31.5min) * 27.66kg/min = 525.54kg + 465.7kg + 871.29kg = 1862.53kg
Flight Keflavik: 243nm; 143nm (17.875min) * 27.66kg/min + 100nm (12.5min) * 37.26kg/min + 243nm (30.375min) * 27.66kg/min = 494.42kg + 465.7kg + 840.17kg = 1800.29kg
Flight Radar SE will have the longest trip, and so will have expended 663.6kg + 3038.08kg = 3701.68kg, so they will be thirsty for fuel on the return leg.
Time to Target
Flight Radar NW: 2min(takeoff) + 2min(form up) +2min(climb) + 60min(to tanker) + 30min(refueling) + 26.5min(on station) = 122.5min.
Flight Radar NE: 2min(takeoff) + 2min(form up) +2min(climb) + 60min(to tanker) + 30min(refueling) + 44.125min(on station) = 140.125min.
Flight Radar SE: 2min(takeoff) + 2min(form up) +2min(climb) + 60min(to tanker) + 30min(refueling) + 52.75min(on station) = 148.75min.
Flight Radar SW: 2min(takeoff) + 2min(form up) +2min(climb) + 60min(to tanker) + 30min(refueling) + 42.5min(on station) = 138.5min.
Flight Reykjavik: 2min(takeoff) + 2min(form up) +2min(climb) + 60min(to tanker) + 30min(refueling) + 31.5min(on station) = 127.5min.
Flight Keflavik: 2min(takeoff) + 2min(form up) +2min(climb) + 60min(to tanker) + 30min(refueling) + 30.375min(on station) = 126.375min.
Fuel required from Tankers: 38056kg + 24460.8kg = 62516.8kg
Each Tanker currently: 70102kg to Bingo fuel; + 2hrs loiter and refueling at 65.31kg/min * 7837.2kg
70102-7837.2 = 62264.8kg fuel available for refueling operations each
Fuel needed for OCA Package = 38056kg (19028kg per tanker)
Fuel needed for SEAD Package = 24460.8kg (12230.4 per tanker)
62264.8kg - 19028kg -12230.4kg = 31005.6kg remaining per tanker after initial refueling operations.
2 hours loiter during mission = 7837.2kg, so will have 31005.6kg - 7837.2kg = 23168.4kg fuel remaining each for any return-leg refueling operations.
Fuel required for both OCA and SEAD flights to return home, assuming all are Bingo fuel = 30min Loiter (refuel) + 60 return leg:
OCA Flight = 760.8kg + 1902.6kg = 2663.4kg * 16 = 42614.4kg
SEAD Flight = 663.6kg + 1659.6kg = 2323.2 * 12 = 27878.4kg
Total Fuel required for return leg (if all a/c are Bingo Fuel) = 70492.8kg
Fuel available from tankers = 31005.6kg * 2 = 62011.2kg
This means I can't refuel everyone on the return leg if there is an emergency and everyone is out of fuel. Therefore I must make sure that my tankers themselves have relief, so I'll need to launch replacement tankers that will be on station when I need them.
Runway Strike Package
The B-52s will not require refueling during the mission, so all that needs to be calculated is their travel time to target.
6 Flights of 2 a/c each
Flight Reykjavik: 730nm at 450kts = 97min + 2min takeoff + 2min form up = 101min
Flight Keflavik: 715nm at 450kts = 95min + 2min takeoff + 2min form up = 99min
Facility Strike Package
The distance to target is only 150-175nm, and the strike radius for my A-7Bs is 425nm (Shrikes), 550nm (Walleyes), 610nm (CBU-59/b APAMs), 600nm (Mk82 Snakeeyes), so I have plenty of fuel for my strikes, so there is little need to do all the fuel calculations.
Target List: Keflavik:
8 A/C Hangars
6 AV Gas Depots
6 Ammo Dumps
Reykjavik:
3 Hangars
3 AV Gas Depots
1 Ammo Shelter
VA-153 Blue Tail Flies (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (SEAD and Buddy Stores)
VA-155 Silver Foxes (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Ammo Dumps)
VA-215 Barn Owls (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Hangars/Fuel Dumps)
All flights will require 2min (takeoff) + 2min (formup) +
150nm to target at 415kts = 21.6min (Keflavik) = 25.6min total
172nm to target at 415kts = 24.9min (Reykjavik) = 28.9min total
So I have information on my own strike packages now, so now I need to think about threats.
They have MiG-23 Floggers, which have radar-guided missiles, so they will be the primary target of my F-4C Phantoms.
SAMs and AAA include the following:
SA-6 Gainful (15nm max range, SARH)
SA-7 Grail (10nm max range, IR)
SA-9 Gaskin (19nm max range, IR)
ZSU-23 (0.3nm max range, AAA)
Most of these assets will be around Keflavik and Reykjavik, and the SA-6 is the only radar guided SAMs, so I'll have to take those out with my Shrikes; the others I'm mostly just going to have to deal with as they come.
Beyond that, there's are surface and subsurface threats to think about. I will set up the standard ASW patrols around my CVBG, and keep my eyes open for surface threats.
So the next thing to deal with is planning out each strike so that they arrive in the proper order.
So a more detailed tasking order is now as follows:
Air Tasking Order (ATO)
0200Z
Oriskany
AEW RVAW-110 Det. (1 A/C)
CAP VF-194 Red Lightnings (2 Flights of 2 A/C)
Sondrestrom
Sweep 57th FIS (F-4C Phantom) (16 A/C) (TOT: 0405Z (1st Flight) 0437Z (Last Flight)
Thule
AEW 960th AEWCS
334th ARS (2 A/C)
0235Z Sondrestrom (Flight Rebel 19)
SEAD 561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief) (2 A/C) (Flight Radar SE) (TOT: 0512Z)
0237Z Sondrestrom (Flight Quest 94))
SEAD 561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief) (2 A/C) (Flight Radar NE) (TOT: 0457Z)
0239Z Sondrestrom (Flight Poker 41)
SEAD 561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief) (2 A/C) (Flight Radar SW) (TOT: 0457Z)
0241Z Sondrestrom (Flight Killer 79))
SEAD 561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief) (2 A/C) (Flight Radar Reykjavik) (TOT: 0448Z)
0243Z Sondrestrom (Flight Jimmy 10)
SEAD 561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief) (2 A/C) (Flight Radar Keflavik) (TOT: 0449Z)
0245Z Sondrestrom (Flight Wild 45)
SEAD 561st TFS (F-105G Thunderchief) (2 A/C) (Flight Radar NW) (TOT: 0447Z)
0319Z Sondrestrom (Flight Speed 6)
20th BS (B-52D Stratofortress) (3 A/C) (Strike) Flight Reykjavik 1 (TOT: 0500Z)
0325Z Sondrestrom (Flight Hydra 85)
20th BS (B-52D Stratofortress) (3 A/C) (Strike) Flight Keflavik 1 (TOT: 0504Z)
0331Z Sondrestrom (Flight Shark 24)
20th BS (B-52D Stratofortress) (3 A/C) (Strike) Flight Reykjavik 2 (TOT: 0512Z)
0337Z Sondrestrom (Flight Lancer 80)
20th BS (B-52D Stratofortress) (3 A/C) (Strike) Flight Keflavik 2 (TOT: 0516Z)
0425Z Oriskany
VF-191 Satan's Kittens (F-8J Crusader) (4 A/C) (Strike Escort) (TOT: 0452Z)
0429Z Oriskany
VA-153 Blue Tail Flies (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (SEAD and Buddy Stores) (TOT: 0456Z)
0500Z Oriskany
VA-155 Silver Foxes (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Ammo Dumps) (TOT: 0527Z)
0504Z Oriskany
VA-215 Barn Owls (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Hangars/Fuel Dumps) (TOT: 0531Z)
(Follow-up Strike)
0508Z Oriskany
VF-191 Satan's Kittens (F-8J Crusader) (4 A/C) (Strike Escort) (TOT: 0537Z)
0512Z Oriskany
VA-153 Blue Tail Flies (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (SEAD and Buddy Stores) (TOT: 0541Z)
0516Z Oriskany
VA-155 Silver Foxes (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Ammo Dumps) (TOT: 0545Z)
0520Z Oriskany
VA-215 Barn Owls (A-7B Corsair II) (4 A/C) (Hangars/Fuel Dumps) (TOT: 0549Z)
Looking at this ATO, from 0405Z to 0600Z, things are going to be very busy over Iceland. My Times on Target are estimates; we'll see how this plays out in practice and see how well my planning was.
That's enough planning...now I need to set up the missions, and execute.
Continued in Part Two.
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