Gulf of Sidra incident

[+Typhoid 231]

View File

Gulf of Sidra incident

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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.

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• Submitter
  Typhoid
• Submitted
  01/09/2008
• Category
  User Made Missions

 

[Guest Saganuay82]

In para 13 you say you can't land. Are the airfields not flattened?

[+Typhoid 231]

In para 13 you say you can't land. Are the airfields not flattened?

 

looks like there is a problem with the terrain coming over the runways. I didn't delve into that because it is beyond my understanding at this point but I suspect there is some problem with the runway elevation in relation to the terrain. At any rate, launch and recovery didn't work and since it stretched out the timeline quite a lot to run the scenario I just put them airborne at the approx position they were reported feet-wet and pressed on.

[Guest Saganuay82]

Hmm weird. Have to have a look at that or perhaps Wrench can chime in on it cause he has done mods to Libya.

[Canadair 16]

Can you tell us more about this TCS mod?

[+Typhoid 231]

Can you tell us more about this TCS mod?

 

Like that? might be coming soon to a file upload near you.......

 

I did a mod that includes the avionics70, and also for the avionics60 for those who don't have WOE, that includes the TCS and an upgrade to the RWR. I've done this for the F-14A, F-14A+, F-14D, the IRAF F-14A, and my own F-14QS2 version. It took me awhile to figure it all out. Then I took a look at Land Warriors F-14QS to see what it would take to add that and much to my embarrased chagrin, I realized he had already done it.......

 

(hits forhead with the Air Force Reserve Salute)

 

at any rate - I'm waiting for permission to include the RWR portion of the mod since it is borrowed from other work already posted by wpnsgt. When that is clear, I will post the mods.

[Canadair 16]

Like that? might be coming soon to a file upload near you.......

 

I did a mod that includes the avionics70, and also for the avionics60 for those who don't have WOE, that includes the TCS and an upgrade to the RWR. I've done this for the F-14A, F-14A+, F-14D, the IRAF F-14A, and my own F-14QS2 version. It took me awhile to figure it all out. Then I took a look at Land Warriors F-14QS to see what it would take to add that and much to my embarrased chagrin, I realized he had already done it.......

 

(hits forhead with the Air Force Reserve Salute)

 

at any rate - I'm waiting for permission to include the RWR portion of the mod since it is borrowed from other work already posted by wpnsgt. When that is clear, I will post the mods.

Excellent: but does it really track air-targets? is it modelled as an EOGR?

[topcat II 6]

Got mine thank you for this!!!!

[tank03 1]

Just loaded this up and gave it a try. Fantastic mission

 

Thanks for sharing this.

Edited January 10, 2008 by tank03

[+Typhoid 231]

Excellent: but does it really track air-targets? is it modelled as an EOGR?

 

nope :( its just boresighted. Haven't been able to get it to track air or ground targets.

[Canadair 16]

nope :( its just boresighted. Haven't been able to get it to track air or ground targets.

 

I ve been following the topic on 3rdwire forum. Shame, I tried EO/IR too but to no results; I was hoping someone else figured it out. BTW, based on belknap? Ever been in Gaeta? I am italian, and I have an house there just under the old castle and used to look at the belknap and other ships at USN pier.

[+Typhoid 231]

I ve been following the topic on 3rdwire forum. Shame, I tried EO/IR too but to no results; I was hoping someone else figured it out. BTW, based on belknap? Ever been in Gaeta? I am italian, and I have an house there just under the old castle and used to look at the belknap and other ships at USN pier.

 

I got a lot of good info there and a few other places which made it possible to adapt to the F-14, but TK never chimed in how to make it track. So it remains boresighted, at least for now.

 

I was in Gaeta, on the Belknap, from 1988-1990. We lived up in Maranola. We enjoyed our time there and really liked the town and all of you there. I would like to go back some time as a tourist and just be able to enjoy the countryside.

Edited January 10, 2008 by Typhoid

[+Crusader 2,082]

I got a lot of good info there and a few other places which made it possible to adapt to the F-14, but TK never chimed in how to make it track. So it remains boresighted, at least for now.

 

I was in Gaeta, on the Belknap, from 1988-1990. We lived up in Maranola. We enjoyed our time there and really liked the town and all of you there. I would like to go back some time as a tourist and just be able to enjoy the countryside.

 

it doesnt track 'cause its not in the gamecode... lets hope TK is enhancing that too.... but its no priority for him.... yet... it might changes if he makes something which includes a Tomcat.. LOL

[Guest Saganuay82]

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...eoid=1543354278 Well, this is a different version.

[xrearl 27]

http://www.patricksaviation.com/videos/mitor%2074/751/

Yet another version.

Edited January 11, 2008 by xrearl

[+Typhoid 231]

http://www.patricksaviation.com/videos/mitor%2074/751/

Yet another version.

 

 

what do you all mean by a different or another version?

[Wrench 9,792]

Typhoid: you using Dave's stock Lybia??? I'm pretty sure I moved some of the airfields around to more flattened places. I'll have to recheck my Modern Lybia update(s) to be sure. {there's 2 - each using a different tile set}

 

The 'runway sticking in the terrain' is that "flattened for airfield" thing I'm having a problem with in SoCal

 

Wrench

kevin stein

[+Typhoid 231]

Typhoid: you using Dave's stock Lybia??? I'm pretty sure I moved some of the airfields around to more flattened places. I'll have to recheck my Modern Lybia update(s) to be sure. {there's 2 - each using a different tile set}

 

The 'runway sticking in the terrain' is that "flattened for airfield" thing I'm having a problem with in SoCal

 

Wrench

kevin stein

 

 

I'm using the stock Lybia with the 1.3 and 1.4 updates. I noticed that with the 1.4 the gunboats are now in the water (good!) but the airfield issue is now there.

[Guest Saganuay82]

Well what I meant is this video version of the event was done as a cartoon with Du Hast blasting in the background. I can't see his yet but I would say he means the same. I have seen this done also with video clips of F-14s and MiG23s flying and the audio overlay. I have also seen LOMAC videos, especially one by GlowingAMRAAM, done with the audio overlay. I can't seem to find that one now.

 

Typhoid, since you were there, the audio only seems to last 6-7 minutes Is that accurate or was audio dead spaces clipped out of it? Most I have heard start with them telling the A-6s to head north and the F-14s turning into meet the MiGs.

[+Crusader 2,082]

Edited January 11, 2008 by Crusader

[+Typhoid 231]

Well what I meant is this video version of the event was done as a cartoon with Du Hast blasting in the background. I can't see his yet but I would say he means the same. I have seen this done also with video clips of F-14s and MiG23s flying and the audio overlay. I have also seen LOMAC videos, especially one by GlowingAMRAAM, done with the audio overlay. I can't seem to find that one now.

 

Typhoid, since you were there, the audio only seems to last 6-7 minutes Is that accurate or was audio dead spaces clipped out of it? Most I have heard start with them telling the A-6s to head north and the F-14s turning into meet the MiGs.

 

I have a tape of the comms which lasts about the same 6-7 minutes that is in the videos that I have seen. Its a different channel but the same events and timeline. The videos are accurate, no breaks, and covers the time the Migs were an immediate threat. The entire incident from Mig engine start to chutes was only about 15-20 minutes. It seemed like about 15 seconds at the time.

 

I will never forget the look in the Admiral's eyes when I gave him the combat summation. For about 5 seconds you could have heard a pin drop in Flag Plot. Then all Hell broke loose!