SF2 Series After Action Reports

[+Dave 2,322]

This is for your mission reports.

[Guest Tazkiller]

So has anyone fought the mighty MiG-15bis from Thirdwire?

[jomni 6]

Yes and it shot me down.

[+Dave 2,322]

I got 3 so far in the Meteor.

 

This is not a bug thread. TK is aware of the problems.

[harryleith 12]

I do a lot of air-to-mud work and I flew a mission this afternoon which shows how far I've come since buying this game last Christmas.

 

I flew a single mission strike over Libya terrain in an Su-7BMK FitterA. The target was a warehouse on the docks. Enemy air defenses and air activity were set to random. My 2-ship flight was loaded with four 250kg FAB unguided bombs each.

 

As we flew into the target area, I started getting RWR warnings for HAWK SAM radars, so I dove for the deck. I could see several SAM launches on the coast and deepened my dive angle, looking to get under 100 metres altitude to break the radar lock in the clutter from the sea. The SAMs streaked in, passing over my canopy and nailing my wingman, who had been slower to start to dive. He took about 3 direct hits and it was just debris that came out of the explosion - no ejection and no chute.

 

I leveled off at 60m AGL and heard the search radars lose me. There weren't any fighters that I could see, but I wasn't willing to wait around and find out. I pushed the throttle up to full military power and streaked towards the target and the coast.

 

At about 6 miles, I could see a number of tankers docked in the harbour, and identified my target just beyond them. I lined up on the target and then pulled the stick sharply back and climbed. As I gained altitude the RWR told me the search radars were still active and looking. Some AAA also started to arc up towards me from the docks. I couldn't jink because I had leveled off was lining up the sight on the target, but I was moving fast and the tracers curved away behind me. I set the ripple release to 2, and nosed over onto the bombing run. The warehouse was right there and as it drifted into my sights I pressed the pickle once, then again a fraction of a second later. I felt the weight of the bombs come off the aircraft as all four of the 250kg bombs separated cleanly. I pulled out of the dive and rolled right just as the shadow of a SAM passed over my cockpit and some more tracers arced past my wing. I pulled around over the docks and heading for the safety of the deck, keeping an eye back over my shoulder (Thank you, TrackIR). I just caught a glimpse of the warehouse before it was obscured by the dock cranes and tankers - it was a blazing ruin. I must have scored a direct hit!

 

The HAWK tracking radars lost me again as I dropped to the water and I advanced the throttles, streaking for home. Mission complete!

 

It used to be I couldn't even hit the target on a run with dumb bombs - let alone fight my way in against enemy air defenses and do a pop-up bomb run. I guess all that practice is starting to pay off.

 

 

Banking away from the coast and hugging the water on the run for home in my Su-7BMK FitterA after completing a successful strike mission.

[HarryM 0]

Very good!

[+EricJ 4,245]

Hell I was flying a Flanker one time and took a Sparrow as soon as I lifted off the runway...

[exhausted 55]

13 May, 1981

 

The European conflict isn't in a war yet, but it might as well be. Open conflict has existed for a week now since 2 Norwegian submarines were sunk on separate occasions somewhere in the Baltic Sea. NATO has stood on high alert and the US Air Force has packed a hell of a doozie to get back at the Warsaw Pact. Two cruisers suspected of hunting down and sinking the Norwegian subs are heading west as part of a show of force to NATO. My squadron, called up from Utah, has been given the task of penetrating Soviet airspace at low level, then locating and destroying the two cruisers in a surprise raid. Tensions are high, and no one knows if this will send a message to the Soviets or make things worse, but one thing's for sure: I'm leaving the peaceful Dutch for possibly the last time to perform a mission they Navy should have been tasked with in the first place.

 

We cruise at 4,000 ft on a routine course used for training.

 

 

When it's time to turn east we drop to 200 ft to surprise the Soviet air defenses.

 

 

5 minutes from target the Spark-varks start transmitting noise to the Soviet radar sites.

 

 

These are the targets.

 

 

The low level ingress is hairy, but it's easier to show you then it is to explain it, because I'm tired.

 

Somehow, we make it out of danger and hit our cruise altitude of 22,000 ft for the ride back so we can conserve fuel. I line up for approach and take her in.

 

 

When I left this morning diplomats were discussing ways to circumvent total war, I imagine I just made our guys' job a hell of a lot harder!

[JDUK 13]

I posted this yesterday - when I came back today to add some screenies, I couldn't find any edit option - so I deleted it and made a new post :)

 

Wow! Just had a baptism of fire on my first campaign. Thought I was getting nowhere in all my single mission activities, which I was using as training, couldn't hit a barn door at 5 feet with a Blunderbus!

 

So what the hell, I thought - might as well do some proper training - on the job!

 

I chose Vietnam for my first campaign, as I'm a striker by nature (being ex-army, I would be! ).

 

I had never taken off from a carrier in a jet before, either - full power, brakes off and hope! It turned out pretty easy in the end.

 

 

Anyway - first mission wasn't much different from the single mission types, except there were much more enemy aircraft about.

We did have to scarper pretty rapid, like, after accomplishing the mission goal and destroying the inevitable warehouse.

 

Daft, isn't it - in all the training bombing missions I've done in the last week, I never hit a thing (well, not the target, anyway) and yet on my first campaign mission I hit with my first bomb.

 

 

Second mission is SEAD - a bit more interesting. Main mission goal was completed tout suite - but we got bounced by a flight of Frescos. Whilst the escort and my wingman held them off, I bashed another couple of AAA units before heading home.

 

By this time, a Fresco had got on my tail, and he was clearly visible in my mirrors. So I quickly doubled back and pulled him into my sights..... click! Winchester! Sheeee-hit!

 

So I did a quick squiggle-all-over-the-joint (special technique... ) and managed to pull out a few hundred yards on him. Then I had to skoot the whole way home with this guy on my tail, at less than 150ft agl, as I don't know what kind of AA kit he has on board and think I have better chances at treetop level than up where he can easily see me. I had to take a windy route around the several AAA sites enroute home and just hope no-one would get the chance to get a shot off at me, wondering the whole time if an A-4 can outrun a MiG-17? I thought not, and he did seem to be gaining - but maybe help was at hand...?

 

I called in to base for assistance and they duly sent a flight of interceptors in our direction - but unfortunately, from our rear - and they never caught up! Eventually they gave up and turned away - I couldn't believe it!

 

By this time, we were over open ocean - there was nowhere to hide. My only remaining hope, with him gaining by the minute, was to fly back to the carrier and hope they would blast him when he flew over - unless he chickened out first.

 

 

 

At times I was less than 50ft above the waves

 

 

 

Finally, the carrier came into sight - huge relief and desperation in equal measures sweeping through me as I kept an eye in my mirros

 

 

- as I approached the carrier really fast, like, I started worrying that I wasn't going to pull up in time to make it over the deck and yanked back on the stick - and just made it, zowsing past the 'tower' in a move that would make Maverick cry into his beer!

 

 

Anyway, I noticed on the map view that the Fresco hung around a bit over the carrier, before pulling away.

 

With a sight of relief, I turned back towards the ship - only to see him suddenly rejoin and start coming at me again!

 

 

The ship's crew didn't seem to have any AAA to hand, so my only chance was to try and land the thing (which I've never done on a carrier with a jet - just a couple of time in props in IL-2). My approach was a shambles, and I did a Cougar and came in wayyyy too low - but just popped up at the last second and plonked it on the deck, having only remembered at the last second to lower the hook.

 

 

Made it!

 

"He's bugging out and heading home..."

 

 

Actually, on later debrief I noticed he is heading straight towards my wingman, who got left behind (as if I was hanging around...). Well he will go galavanting off on his own!

If they are all like this, I'm gonna need a new pace-maker!

 

Cheers

 

JD

[Spinners 15,986]

Great action report!

[+KnightWolf45 1,147]

cool man

[Talez 0]

Warning: I'm a newbie forum user, and sim gamer... I guarantee you, a lot of mistakes you'll find...

Warning 2: This is totally fictional!!! Believe it or not.

 

Sep. 29th, 1986.

Germany

 

As we all know, the dotty head Soviet leader never decided to open their border at all . And their march to Berlin... started again. Just like 1945. My squadron (417th TFS) was stationed at West Germany and was the only one that can launch intercept flights against the Soviet attack planes. Oh yeah, we found out how F-15As can be burnet down by MiGs!! Technically, they outnumbered us 5:1. I didn't even use radar to shoot down 3 MiGs with AIM-9L. The all-aspect charm howled everywhere that my nose was heading. We suffered 2 KIAs(actually, four... WSOs..) that day with 3 F-4E scraps.

 

As usual, the high command (a.k.a. campaign mission generator) never understood current situation. Our first assignment was a SEAD sortie on an airfield located far eastern part of Germany. I bet we could reach Warsaw in no time if we can get there. The East Germans already formed a beautiful garden of SAM sites on their territory. Of course, none of bomber sortie made it to the objective and my wing always called a premature(!) Winchester due to the thick SA-2 fortifications. While NATO land forces getting pounded as hell, I couldn't see any CAS sortie reach their position because of them as well.

 

Finally, at the 7th day of the intrusion, they began to make sense. At least, they assigned air patrol wings with strikers. Also, more F-15As finally emerged from hidden bunkers of 'supply' system, along with their 'ACE' pilots. So, why not, they assigned us another strike package on an airfield across the German capitol city. The target was also reasonably simple: Fuel tanks.

 

 

Since we were getting out of planes and ordinances, our loadout was limited to Mk. 82s and two F-4E phantoms at this time. Regarding the distance of the SA-2 flower garden that we had to penetrate... I wouldn't say no more...

 

 

The flight plan was simply 1600 feet altitude would save yourself and your wingman. No, not for this SAM ground with 400 nm of travel distance including mission area. I stayed at lower than 1000 feet alt as soon as '2' symbol appears on my RWR screen. Of course, they also prepared a good old AAA welcome party for us.

 

 

I guess red carpet was so hard to find among communists.

 

Of course, they never forgot their good old welcome gifts which took our escort flights down.

 

As usual, my bombing accuracy without CCIP reticle is less than 5%. But, at least I tried .

Lining up was the first step.

 

Then gain 'dive bombing' altitude (5000 ft) right after punch the 'Radio' button, hoping nobody listens my annoying noise broadcast.

 

Finally, "Heya, Christmas presents! not so right season though."

 

Well... of course, as always..., missing one... (Actually, I missed the primary object...)

 

Surely, my wingman would have taken it out if he hadn't bought a farm two minutes ago... The Soviet welcome party transformed him into an orange ball, I suppose... At least the escort wings served their purpose before facing the same fate of my wingman.

 

Thankfully, my 20 MM was still in service to take out such a fiery object, although I had to risk 6G turn at 400 feet height...

 

Finally, the last (and the actual target) went down.

"Hey, why didn't I just strafe it??"

 

 

As usual, I got out of the mission area as soon as Red Crown calls mission accomplished. I missed a Soviet style good bye gift on the way out. I guess they actually listened my ECM radio broadcast. They fired a couple of shots too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope maintenance team won't find alpine leaves in my plane this time...

 

In this mission,

4 F-15A was scrapped,

1 F-4E was scrapped,

and at least one pilot died.. and captured. (yeah, my wingman finally turned out as KIA)

 

What a way to blow out a fuel depot...

 

Thanks for reading!

[Heretic 2]

One from yesterday (no pics though).

 

First of all, I never play "dead is dead" campaigns. If I die during a mission, I put it down as a "bad dream the night before the actual flight" (can happen multiple times, lol).

 

The following one took me three or four tries to survive. It's set in NF4+ in the 1968 campaign.

 

 

Anyways, the mssion objective was intercepting an enemy flight over Bremen. While defaulted as a mere two plane flight, I had to increase to eight to stand a chance. Planes were F-4Ds with standard A2A loadout plus SUU-23 pods for my flight of four.

 

Takeoff and transit was uneventful, but shortly after arriving in the target area, Red Crown pointed out multiple contacts a mere 10 nm from my position. I didn't notice anything on radar, so I started circling and bobbing up and down to get them to show up. My WSO calculated the enemy's position (aka I looked on the map) and I vectored my flights away and around the enemy, but foolishly established a head-on position, tried to gain a Sparrow lock and ordered my flights to engage. That's when things went horribly wrong.

 

While just gaining a lock, the enemy fighters, ten to twelve Su-15s, let some of their AA-3s rip through the sky and subsequently splash two F-4 of my second flight. We zoomed past each other and a missile-fueled furball ensued. I was busy to deal with three to four Flagons on my tail and their attempts to Mach 2-probe my tailpipes and my buddies didn't fare any better.

At one point, I could isolate a single Flagon and rip it apart with my SUU-23, but not until another F-4 succumbed to an Anab. The tally was 1-3 now. Not good at all.

Over time, the fight dispersed. The Reds had exhausted most of their missiles by now and things got a lot easier. One more F-4 tumbled down the sky though, but in turn one of my Sparrows found its target in an unaware Flagon while two more ate SARH or IR ammo. 4-4.

Red Crown, however, suddenly gave me a mission failed, because two Su-15s, which simply ignored the missile lobbing fest and dashed straight for Bremen, started harassing a german F-104 CAS flight and, worse, my actual targets, ten "Brewers", put their can opening skills to use on BLUFOR tanks.

After some unsuccesful shots with Sparrows and Sidewinders at Flagons, I decided to call it quits and head home. Luck or dumb planning by the Soviets had it that both the Brewer and the Flagon flight crossed my path on the way home. Bliss and rage ensued. I bounced the Brewer flight, ordered my remaining three other Phantoms to attack and let a Yak-28 eat an Echo Sidewinder. The enemy flight dispersed explosively and in the process, two of my guys got lucky again. 7-4. At one point, while pursuing a Brewer, I noticed the Su-15s zooming overhead on their way home and I broke off and decided to have my way with them instead. Those arses got some of my squadron's better pilots and thus, this became kind of personal. I nailed one - 20 mm style with a humiliatingly obvious and slow approach from behind. 8-4. I wanted to zap one more Flagon after that, but east german airspace was approaching fast and I didn't want to fall victim to a SAM. So curses and wishes for a catastropic landing was all he got. Back on course and willyoulookatthat!, there was a pair of Brewers that got separated from the main furball. And I still had ammo in my gunpod. Yay!

A nervous glance at my fuel gauge assured me that I could afford one more fight, but I was on my own. The surviving rest of my forces got sent RTB after the Yak-28 incident for calling out bingo fuel and Winchester. I didn't need the 'though. Yak-28s don't pose much of an air combat threat. So down I went, but they saw me coming and dispersed. In an extreme case of underestimation I was surprised how well those planes can turn. I've tried several times to get a shot or stay inside his turn, but to no avail. After cursing him with a wide array of f-words, I broke off the attack and headed home.

 

All in all, the mission was well, not optimal. Failed the objective and had to pay in precious pilot and aircraft currency, but nearly got ace status in a single mission in return. And considering that this way just my second mission of the NF4+ 1968 campaign, I'm sure this won't be the last onslaught I'll see...

 

 

Tl;dr - my missile fighting and command skills are sub par.

[+daddyairplanes 10,238]

One from yesterday (no pics though).

 

First of all, I never play "dead is dead" campaigns. If I die during a mission, I put it down as a "bad dream the night before the actual flight" (can happen multiple times, lol).

 

 

 

is your pilots name bobby ewing?

[Heretic 2]

is your pilots name bobby ewing?

 

Qué?

[+daddyairplanes 10,238]

from Dallas the old TV show. one of the seasons (where Bobby Ewing had died) was revealed to all have been a bad dream when Bobby is shown alive and well in the shower

[AvalancheDiode 0]

Enlisted as 2nd Lt. in 1st Special Fighter Sqdr of KDAF (Kingdom of Dhimar Air Force) in 1959.

 

The Parani forces launched major offensive in the summer of 1960, and destroyed KDA 3rd Armor Division. The Parani army were able to occupy Mosak and Najafti but failed to push further. During the Parani offensive, the merc sqdr. suffered heavy casualty. 6 F-100 were lost, 3 pilots MIA and one severely wounded. They've lost tonnes of IL-28 bombers.

 

By 1961, the offensive stalled and the front line became a stalemate. Things started to change when KDAF started to receive F-8D in late '61 and major KDAF campaign against EPAF commenced. EPAF's major aviation fuel depot were raided and destroyed by the mercs in spring of '62. The weapons shipment from Soviet Union were intercepted and sunk just off the coast of Mosak. Now the Parani forces are running low on fuel and spare parts, while KDAF received US military aid and re-equip F-8D units with F-4B. In early '63, KDAF strategy focuses on Parani Army's front line units.

 

After repetitive strike against Parani tank forces, mainly T-54 and T-55. KDA launched major autumn assault into Mosek and Najafti. Initially the fighting was fierce, and KDA offensive were driven back. However, Parani 2nd Tank Division suffered heavy loss to KDAF merc sqdr during September, forces them to retreat from Najafti area. The merc sqdr raid in Mosak further destroyed Parani 1st Tank Division, allowing KDA 1st Armor to liberate the city. In the meantime, KDA 3rd Armor cut through Parani infantry units and recovered Najafti.

 

During the attrition stage of the war (late '61 to late '62), EPAF briefly deployed MiG-21F-13 near KDAF merc base just north of Najafti. However, one KDAF merc pilot successfully ambushed MiG-21F during landing phase many times, plus repetitive shelling of the base by KDA units, forced EPAF to redeploy their only -21 squadron to protect capitol area.

 

During the last raid to destroy Parani tank division in Mosak, one more F-100D were damaged by Parani ZPU-2. Although the pilot made it back, the aircraft is beyond repair. The 1st SFS of KDAF is now down to 8 F-100D from original 16.

[Heretic 2]

from Dallas the old TV show. one of the seasons (where Bobby Ewing had died) was revealed to all have been a bad dream when Bobby is shown alive and well in the shower

 

"Dallas" and "Ewing" rings a bell, although I only know him by "J.R.".

 

And yeah, I must be JR then. :english_en:

[AvalancheDiode 0]

 

June, 1966.

 

After years of bitter fighting since 1959, both Dhimar and Paran have been exhausted. The Parani invasion of Kerman valley have been pushed back in early '63 and the ground fighting grind down with both sides heavily entrenched near the original border. War of attrition, however, continues in the air.

 

With Parani offensive halted and reversed, USMC 1st Division left Dhimar, but they left enough M48 tanks and other equipment for Dhimari army to reorganize the depleting ground forces into two corps centered around each armored division. Meanwhile, Parani army still have four tank divisions, but the 4th and 3rd Parani tank division in the front line have been depleted.

 

Dhimari spy network in Paran have intercepted the schedule of weapons shipment from Soviet Union in spring of '64. As a result, Dhimari headquarter ordered strike against those shipments. The merc squadron has destroyed the ship carrying arms to Paran, and other Dhimari F-4B squadrons shot down Parani An-24s. The intercept of arms shipment had effectively put Paran under embargo.

 

Knowing that Parani ground forces are now in shortage of supply, spare parts, fuel and ammunition, Dhimari HQ is planning an all-out assault on Parani position. The strategy is to use 1st Armored Division to attack alone D9-P2 axis, drawing Parani reserve to inland desert. Then, 2nd Armored Division will be unleashed alone Mozak-Ridqur line alone the coast. The merc squadron is ordered to carry out heavy close air support.

 

Soon, Parani 3rd Tank Division was crushed under the combined air-land assault of Dhimari forces near P2 airfield. Parani HQ rushed 1st Tank to hold the offensive, but they themselves were also pounded by merc's F-100D from the sky.

 

However, the success comes with heavy toll:

 

Dhimari 2nd Armored Division launched to liberate Mozak in early '65 after 1st Armored captured P2 airfield. Parani 4rd tank Division once again was annihilated. Parani 2nd Tank were sent to guard Riqdur. After heavy fighting alone the river border, 2nd Tank lost momentum and had to take defensive position. Parani HQ thought they have stabilized the front line, but, little did they know, Dhimari army have other plan.

 

In spring to summer of '65, 2nd Armored suddenly changed their front and attack south. In a pincer movement, 1st Tank Division is encircled by Dhimari forces. The commander surrendered, and the southern front is open to Dhimari blitz. Parani HQ ordered 2nd Tank to attack as the last minute resort to relieve ahd rescue 1st Tank, but were again pounded from the air and halted by entrenched Dhimari infantry.

 

Parani army pulled whatever they have to stop the onslaught of Dhimari 2nd Armored, but to no avail. All their functioning armored vehicle is send to bolster 2nd Tank, which is now pegged by Dhimari 1st Armored stationed in Rigdur. The only good news for Paran in summer of '65 is the delivery of two SA-2 systems that somehow slipped Dhimari interception during the ground campaign.

 

In the following months, 2nd Armored rushed through desert area, captured P6, P7 and eventually P9 airfields. Parani air forces sent Su-7M and obsolete Il-28 in attempt to destroy 2nd Armored from the air, but were shot down again and again by the merc squadron.

 

The merc squadron have been fighting since 1959 and continued to fly F-100D. Although no pilot was ever lost again, the airworthy airframe is now down to 5. Efforts have been made to transfer some of former USAF F-100D to the merc to boost the strength a little bit.

 

 

The final mission is to carry out fighter sweep above Kurzah area so that 2nd Armored can advance toward the Parani capitol unmolested. The mission is quite underwhelming, given the amount of Dhimari F-4B rushing into the airspace, and the big crater in the middle of major airbase P10's runway. Nevertheless, Parani air forces still managed to scramble quite a few MiG-17Fs and some obsolete Hawker Hunters. Since the F-4Bs were faster than merc's F-100D, the mercs came late and can only find a few MiG-17s trying to get back to the airport:

 

 

Nothing's better than shooting down enemy fighters with gear down in final approach.

 

Return to base and..... Victory!

 

[Heretic 2]

I've just had one of those "Heck freakin' yeah!" missions.

 

Background: NF4+ infinite 1968 campaign.

 

Mission: Fighter sweep over (enemy occupied) Bremen.

 

My flight: 8*F-4D. (One valuable lesson learned during this campaign so far: Always take along as many planes as you can or you WILL regret it!)

 

Loadout: The supply situation is bad, so it had to be this for each one of us...

 

4*AIM-9B (running low on Es)

4*AIM-26B (running low on Sparrow-Es)

1*GAU-16 (always low on Gau-23s)

2*370 Gal (plenty of those though!)

 

Takeoff went well, transition got ended abruptly when Red Crown called out an enemy flight approaching mine shortly before the IP. Turned out to be two MiG-21Ss. After telling my squadron to engage, I let them pass underneath me, swung low and achieved a lock. Since the bandit wasn't maneuvering and his wingman was busy with the rest of my squadron I had all the time in the world to get my Advanced Falcon to track and hit (a rare occasion). Made for a small grin on my face.

I then went after MiG number two, but that one ate friendly Sidewinder at one point.

Then, back on course to Bremen, a pair of MiG-21PFMs joined the party. The ensuing dogfight was kind of the same. I got number one, this time with a Sidewinder Bravo (mark that day in the calendar,guys!), while another, unrelated Flight of Phantoms somehow got Fishbed number two.

Since the only other enemy flight Red Crown had called out went straight for Bison, I abandoned the plan to loiter over the target area and help the AI out with what turned out to be two MiG-19s (my arch enemy - I hate them, hate them, hate them!). MiG number one gave chase to the leader of the other flight, but soon succumbed to a missile from that guy's wingman.

MiG number two was a different story. Despite all the resentment, I felt kind of sorry for him having ten Phantoms wanting his tailpipes and other airframe parts.

 

 

He evaded and gave chase very aggressively, which was kind of amazing, but not nearly as amazing as the inability of ten F-4s, eight of which had gunpods, to shoot him down.

At one point, he went for me and I decided that playing the scared bunny was the best thing to do. Keep him focused, but out of cannon range and offer him to any of the guys as a trophy.

The ruse only worked for a few seconds, so I dumped the ears and fluffy tail and exposed my fangs. I chased him east, until I got near what resembled a german opera with tons and tons of kettle drums.

In my bloodlusting chase, I've strayed too close to an airfield and S-60s and Sa-9s do NOT make for a good time. Bunny time!

I was so caught up in evasive maneuvers that I lost track of the Farmer. Never mind, I had two kills already.

As I wiped a few treetop bird nests clean with my wingtips, I noticed that the red idiot, for whatever reason, had gone west again. He was alone, unchased and oh, such a juicy target on the screen of my APQ-109!

Mark, lock, turn, unload the wings, Fox one. The AIM-26 dropped, started and tracked. Tracked, tracked, tracked and BINGO, the back smoke trail of utter satisfaction!

 

A celebratory barrel roll and it was RTB.

 

After all the setback in the just eight missions of the Fulda Gap onslaught this one was a perfect mission. Four victories, no losses and a DFC as a bonus. Heck yeah!

[AvalancheDiode 0]

 

The story behind 2Lt. Ben Nathan's MOH.

 

It was October 30th, 1962, about a week after Red Army invasion started at Fulda Gap. The first wave of Operational Maneuver Group consisted of 13th Tank Division and 7th Guard Division broke through US defenses and thrust into Frankfurt am Main. The situation can't get any worse than this.

 

NATO HQ in Brussels think that if they can't stop Warsaw Pact's first OMG, then they have to stop the second OMG from reaching Bonn and Rhine River. Thus, the destruction of fuel supply is imminent, and the fuel depot in Jena, DDR is the first target in line.

 

However, when the order came down to 7th TFS, no one wants to fly this mission. This is suicidal. There is no counter for SA-2 and the commies have placed heavy AAA around the region. Plus dense MiG cover in the region, the chance of survival is close to none.

 

So, someone has to volunteer this mission. Someone green and inexperienced. Someone like 2Lt. Ben Nathan, who is about to fly his 4th mission, alone.

 

The F-105D that Nathan will be flying is the same one that he flew in the last mission, which one single 14.5mm shot into the armor plate for hydralics of the elevators, and deflected away causing no harm. The fixers were quick to patch the skin, but the deformed armor plate were not replaced. Nathan is told that he has to fly low and fast, mimicking recon flight in hope that commie GCI would mistaken escort flights as strike pact, and direct interceptors away from him.

 

The extreme bad weather of late October in Germany is the blessing for 2Lt. Nathan. Despite heavy ground activity, VVS can only launch a few MiG-17s from paved airfield, and all lacks all-weather capability. The advanced avionics of the Thud pays off, as Nathan was able to navigate through heavy cloud, rain and mist while flying low and fast.

 

Within 5nm from the fuel depot, Nathan pulled the stick and climbed up, then dive onto the target, releasing all 6 M117 750lb, which destroyed all fuel tanks of the Jena depot. Not willing to dwell any longer within the heavy anti-aircraft artillery, Nathan quickly dashed to the ground level and sped away toward Erfurt. At the outskirt, he spotted a Soviet KS-30 directly in front of him, and destroyed it with 20mm gun fire.

 

For some reason, 2Lt. Nathan decided to turn toward occupied Frankfurt am Main when he was over Giessen, which is defended by 1CR and repelled another Soviet attempt to take it yesterday. At western outskirt of Frankfurt, he spotted an armored column belongs to 7th Guard Div. near the front line. Nathan quickly dispatched two BTR-ZPU vehicles and then skillfully destroyed all 10 T-62A tanks by shooting 20mm shells into external fuel tanks and engine compartments. The heroic act of 2Lt. Nathan was witnessed by Western German infantry battalion attacked by the Soviet armored column. The German position was about to be overrun when Nathan and his F-105D showed up, and was later reinforced with anti-tank guns. Threat to Colblenz and Bonn has been temporarily neutralized. Together with the Soviet attack thwarted at Giessen, the pincer movement failed, and several Soviet OMG divisions are now trapped in the southern bulge in shortage of fuel.

 

2Lt. Nathan landed safely back to base, but he never told anybody why he made the decision of the detour. Some of his colleagues believe that it has something to do with woman. Nevertheless, the act of single pilot in single Thud changed the course of the war.

[+ianh755 196]

Top Story there, although it appears I've been on the interweb too long and forgot that OMG is Operational Maneouver Group to the Sov's and not Oh My God, made the story funnier though!

[AvalancheDiode 0]

[Centurion-1 1,228]

Lt. Al Koholic's 68' Europe Campaign After Action Report(s)

 

I feel i wanted to post some of the incredible campaign time i've been having with SF2 and Nato Fighters IV+. This is the first campaign so far that I've not gotten my ass handed to me, I feel like im getting a hang of how to fight and live to tell about it in the F-4.

 

So I give you the story of one lieutenant Al Koholic who is flying for the USAFs 55th TFS, riding the F-4D Phantom II into battle.

So far I am three missions into the campaign, which got off to a bit of a bumpy start.

 

1st mission

Night Time CAS

 

 

Green and barely ready for it, I was tasked to put some hurt on the communist tractor drivers to prevent a breakthrough in our lines. Me and my wingman went jet engines roaring off the runway to help the mean green fighting machines on the ground. Nothing could quite prepare us for the mayhem of full-blown warfare. I loaded up some CBUS and two SUU-23 gunpods, feeling the need to be ready for anything. My wingman was loaded with rockets and a gunpod, with the plan for us to sweep in hard and fast, expend our ordinance and bug out. But, as they say, the best laid plans of men and mice oft go astray..

 

 

We were greeted with a sea of fire on the ground, and to make matters worse we picked up a flight of Soviet bombers as we prepared our strafing run. Deciding to switch roles, I went after them and ordered my wingman to pound the tanks.

 

 

I downed one Beagle and went after another one but in the excitement i found myself overflying directly an area filled with AAA fire, both blue and red. Not being a lucky fellow, I got hit pretty hard and barely had time to bug out.

 

 

Luckily, I bailed out on the right side of friendly lines and managed to walk my sorry and wounded ass back to friendlies... I survived, but just barely, and learned a dear lesson about survival in an air combat enviroment..

 

Second mission

Fitter blues

 

A fairly straight-forward affair of intercepting a flight of enemy mud-movers approaching friendlies, me and my wingman got straight on the job. Not difficult.

 

 

 

Ground control vectored us to the flight of unfortunates quite quickly and trough the magic of BVR missiles we broke up their formation pretty hard, destroying three SU-7s in the matter of minutes. I gunned another one but it limped back to base... To my regret my wingman got shot down and captured in the furball that ensued, but I made it back.

 

 

Third mission

Homeland security

 

This mission was some welcome payback time, as a sorry flight of commie fliers had taken it upon them to try and bomb our home base. In a matter of minutes me and my wingman were airborne and vectored towards the incoming flight. They didn't even see it coming, and we both racked up a few MiG kills before they turned tail and left. Job well done.

 

 

Fourth mission

Evening Sead

 

 

Well, just as I began to feel comfortable in my A2A role, HQ tasked us to deal with some air defences for a strike package. Not only was this something I was inexperienced with, the target was located in the northern DDR meaning a flight trough some decidedly unfriendly skies. Well, atleast the sunset was pretty.

 

 

I decided to load up on Shrikes and AAMs and let my wingman roll with CBUs and a gunpod, planning to let me silence radars on the ingress and then having my wingman mop up AAA while I cover him.

 

 

 

Wiser, and more fearful, from my clash with AAA we rolled hot and high to avoid getting tangled up into anything on our way to the target area. The area was teeming with both friendly air and Soviet interceptors, but we managed to stay out of it.

 

 

On our ingress to the target area we got lit by ground radars. Diving for cover I launched a couple of Shrikes which atleast shut one of the radars up temporarely. I expended all my anti-radiation missiles without results as we screamed for the airfield and ordered my wingman to take on the AAA guns. I loitered the area watching for bandits and keeping the SAM radars busy. I also tangled with a Mig-17 expending my AAMs. My wingman managed to destroy a couple of guns before being hit by ground fire. I ordered him to abort and RTB. Almost winchester and with no gun I joined up and we headed back. The mission was a failure with only three destroyed guns and one beat up F-4.

 

 

 

Fifth mission

Strike!

 

 

After the letdown at SEAD and with lessons learnt, we took on our next strike mission with relish. This time we would be the hard-hitters (wonder why they didn't task us with SEAD?) and the target area was easier to get to. Not confident in my bombing provess I loaded up on only two Mk-84s to leave rail space for AAMs, while i let my wingman take a heavy load of Mk-82 bombs.

 

 

The flight was uneventful until we got the target area, Soviet ground control apparently got caught with their pants down as our escort flight were only preoccupied with downing an enemy transport. Unchallanged up high, I felt the adrenaline surging as we neared the target. Diving down to race before my wingman, I lined up the run as best I could.

 

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6417/img00391dn.jpg

 

I had already ordered my wingman to attack as I let my bombs go, not feeling confident I had got a perfect hit. A peek in the rear view mirror confirmed it was a near miss!

 

 

My wingman apparently did not share my ineptitude at bombing for he reported that all of his twelve bombs hit the runway. That's gonna take a while to repair! After some cheerful banter in the comms we joined up and went for our home base. A second strike package was already upon the base and reported taking out the radar and guns. But apparently the East germans had finally caught up and had come to play ball.

 

 

Panic erupted on the comms as the first SEAD jet got gunned down. The other jet turned south and headed away, pleading for assistance. Ground control did not seem to consider us for the job, so I took the matter into my own hands and turned around.

 

 

Apparently the MiGs were so overcome with their hunting instinct they forgot to have a look around. My first sparrow impacted clearly into the lead Fresco ending the hunt then and there, turning the tables of the fight. My wingman went after one Fishbed while I trailed the other one. Using burners generously I engaged in a turning fight getting quite low at times. The fisbed was dangerously close on my six at one time but my wingman forced him to give up the chase allowing me to beutifully come up on his six. Splash one bandit, and an outstanding mission success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

to be continued...

[Centurion-1 1,228]

Mission six

Deep strike!

 

A repeat of the last mission, this time we were ordered to destroy a fuel tank at Drewitz airbase. Going in with a simple two ship formation, I decided to try out some Walleye PGMs while my wingman loaded up on dumb bombs. As per usual I had a complement of A2A missiles and a gunpod.

 

 

As we approached the target area we were going close to the speed of sound and were relatively unchallanged. I ordered my wingman to go in first and he hit the deck. I continued to shadow him from above, ready to attack any agressors or take on the objective should he fail.

 

 

Pretty soon ground control alerted me to the presence of bandits coming in from 10' o clock. I swiftly changed direction to meet them head on and challange them, buying time for my wingman. The radar gave a lock and I let a Sparrow fly but it failed and by then we were already within visual range! My ears barely recognized my wingmans radio call that the target was hit, as migs were zipping by me and I manouvred around at full burners and high speed, ditching the Walleyes. I clearly had gotten in a lot more trouble than I bargained for.

 

 

Burners screaming I headed south towards friendlies while my wingman crept up behind the bandits. The ensuing furball must have been epic in proportions but I had little time to think about that as a Fishbed was pursuing me with a determination. Getting worried about my fuel supply I had to reduce thrust. My wingman was trailing the bandit but apparently did not get a firing solution on him. Twice I dodged Atolls before I tried to get high and vertical using my momentum to my advantage. Unfortunately the Mig-pilot was a real good stick-jockey and I could not get on his tail through a series loops. I was low on E and had lost some of my lead so I decided to head south again trying to stay out of his gun-range. My wingman finally caught up and engaged the skilled Mig-flier but he evaded all my wingmans AAMs. I was flying on fumes by then and ordered my wingman to disengage and head back to base. I realized I was not going to make it, it was now a race for friendly lines. Luckily I made it and ejected over friendlies, though it pained me to watch the F-4 become an expensive lawn dart...