About This File
Gulf of Sidra incident between 2 USN F-14's and 2 Libyan Mig-23's on 4 Jan 1989.
MENU
A. DESCRIPTION
B. REQUIRED FILES
C. MISSION BRIEFINGS
A. DESCRIPTION:
This is a set of missions replicating the Gulf of Sidra incident on 4 Jan, 1989, between 2 F-14's from VF-32 and 2 Mig-23's of the Libyan AF.
I've built these missions to replicate the incident to the best of my recollection of the events that morning. Some of the ship locations, particularly the USS Belknap, are repositioned from their actual locations for reasons which I will decline to discuss, but are included as general background as are some additional aircraft included on general air routes and carrier based support missions.
Rules of Engagement (ROE) in effect the morning of the incident are included in very general terms here. Follow these to make a challenging and realistic replication of that morning. Wartime ROE is NOT in effect and the ROE does not allow a pre-emptive attack. You are not required to wait for the bogeys to fire first but you can engage if the bogeys manuever aggressively in an attempt to obtain a firing position. Remember that the Mig-23 does have a forward quarter head-on capability! Attempt to intercept and escort but if the bogeys manuever to obtain a firing solution you are cleared to engage.
The missions should be copied into your Strike Fighters/Missions folder. The Mig-23 Loadout, aircraft data and avionics updates should be copied directly into the Mig-23MS folder and overwrite the existing files (after you backup the originals!).
B. REQUIRED FILES:
WHAT YOU'LL ALSO NEED to run the missions are:
1. The Mirage Factory F-14A
2. VF-32 skin for the F-14A
3. Mig-23MS (updated loadout, aircraft data and avionics files are included in this mission pack to provide realistic loadout and radar capability. The radar range settings have been adjusted to include a longer range selection, but the radar performance has not which will give a fairly realistic performance.)
4. A310z *
5. AN-12 *
6. E-2C *
7. KA-6D
8 A-6E_TRAM
9 CVA-63 (representing CV-67 JFK)
10. Spruance *
10.b. OH Perry *
11. CGN-9 * (representing CG-26, Belknap, 6th Fleet Flagship)
12. Libyan Koni *
13. The Libya Terrain by USAFMTL (note: I've generated each of the Libyan aircraft airborne both to keep the mission elapsed time down and because the terrain version (1.4) that I used to develop these missions has a problem with the Libyan airbases that prevents launch and recovery. On missions 3 and 4 don't try to land - if you happen to make it back).
* not required for the missions but provide realistic background of carrier air operations in the Med.
All of the above are available from this site, and contain their own installation documents.
C. MISSION BRIEFINGS:
Gulf of Sidra 1 and 2. Launch from the carrier and proceed to tank from Texaco. The E-2 is conducting airborne early warning and support ships for surveillance are on station. The A-6's are on a practice route over the Greek islands as you proceed and you should monitor their departure. When bogey's are called conduct a radar search. If the bogeys are closing vector to intercept and escort. ROE requires they take hostile action before you can engage. (one of these missions will be a benign intercept and escort and one will involve an engagement in close as it occured.) Return to the ship after the bogeys are outbound/splashed.
Note: if you escort without an engagement the sim will record a mission failure - but you can record a personal mission success as a thousand such missions were flown successfully without hostilities during the years of armed standoff and occasional conflict between Libya and the US.
Gulf of Sidra 3 is flown from the Libyan perspective. Vector to investigate the infidel violators of our sacred airspace! Sweep the skies of the invading crusaders and return to the glory of your country!
Gulf of Sidra 4 is flown from the Libyan perspective. Vector to investigate the contacts to the north. Do not engage unless fired on, and return to report the infidel operations.
Final note. The Gulf of Sidra event was an unplanned event, and from the USN perspective an unprovoked attack against a defensive CAP positioned to defend the carrier force during a routine transit of the Med. To this day, no one knows why the Libyan pilots manuevered as they did. It should be remembered that two very brave men, wearing uniforms and flying for their country, did not return that morning. All of the USN aircrews returned safely.
Any questions give me a shout on PM.
Typhoid
Battle Watch Captain and Tactical Action Officer, 6th Fleet Staff, embarked in USS Belknap on 4 Jan, 1989.