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-
- F117A STEALTH FIGHTER FULL MANUAL By SHaRD!/N&B
-
- PART 2
-
- Landing The F-117A
-
- Airbases: All airstrips have a north-south orientation and a centre strip
- down their middle On approach, a course of 000o (if coming from the south)
- or 180o (if coming from the north) will align you with the runway.
-
- Airbases are more than twice as long as your safe landing distance at 200
- kts - a large safety margin. Aircraft carriers have arrestor cables near
- the stern. You must touch down before or on these cables in order to stop
- before rolling off the deck. Do not attempt to land on the bow of an
- aircraft carrier because there are no arrestor cables here. Furthermore,
- regular aircraft spotted for launching may be positioned there, and you
- certainly don`t want to crash into them!
-
- Aborted Landings: If you get in trouble landing, open the throttle to full
- power and retract the flaps and landing gear. Climb away and come around
- for another try Do not make sudden movements with the control stick while
- landing or aborting. Wait or your airspeed to exceed 300 kts before making
- any big turns or similar maneuvers Until then, gross maneuvers with the
- control stick may stall the plane, causing a fatal crash.
-
- Using The Instrument Landing System (ILS)
-
- To use the ILS, tap HUD Modes (F2) as necessary to switch the HUD to NAV
- mode, tap Cam Ahead (/) to activate the Tracking Camera, and tap ILS (F9)
- to activate the ILS. The ILS and camera will automatically track the
- nearest friendly or neutral landing site. It will not track rough
- airstrips behind enemy lines.
-
- Line Up Your Approach: The first step is to line up on the correct course
- to the airbase (or aircraft carrier). To do this, fly at 500' to 1,000' to
- a point about 40 to 50 kilometers (km) north or south of the base and turn
- until the ILS vertical bar is centred on your Nose Indicator.
-
- Intercept the Glide Slope: Once you're on course, you want to intercept
- the glide slope represented by the horizontal bar. Descend until the
- horizontal bar is slightly above the horizontal ticks of your Nose
- indicator. The horizontal bar gradually drops until it aligns with the
- horizontal ticks of the Nose indicator. When this occurs, you are
- intercepting (flying through) the glide slope.
-
- Descent: Once you've intercepted the glide slope, begin your descent.
- Keep the horizontal bar centered, which means making a gradual descent.
- You must manage the descent like a normal landing (see "Descend on Final."
- below).
-
- Touch down: The ILS will not guide you to touchdown. It is not accurate
- in the immediate vicinity of the base. It turns off automatically before
- you reach the runway.
-
- ILS and Landing Patterns: The ILS is designed to guide you to the airbase.
- It does not control your plane through a landing pattern.
-
- Straight In Landings
-
- Line Up Your Approach: Use the ILS to line up a correct approach.
- Beginners intercept the glide slope about 40 50 km from the runway.
- Attempting to find the approach and make a landing less than 20 km from
- base is not advised for the beginner.
-
- Throttle at 7O%: Fly your approach at 500' to 1,000'. Reduce the throttle
- to about 70%, which should reduced your speed to about 300 kts. Eventually
- you`ll need to pitch up (raise the nose) a little to maintain level flight.
-
- Flaps Out, Throttle 5O%, Gear Down: Now extend the flaps and reduce the
- throttle to about 50%. This slows the plane to about 230 kts. As you
- reach this speed lower your landing gear. If you`re moving too fast,
- extend the brakes - tap Brake (0) for a brief period.
-
- Descend On Final: When the ILS horizontal bar reaches the middle of the
- HUD Nose Indicator, you should start descending down the glide slope.
-
- Reduce the throttle slightly. If you were in level flight, you will
- gradually descend with your Nose indicator above the Flight Path indicator
-
- Use the ILS horizontal bar to control your rate of descent. Adjust the
- throttle to keep the bar in the middle of the Nose Indicator.
-
- Finally, keep an eye on your airspeed and Stall Speed Indicator. If the
- stall bar indicator gets within 25 kts of your current airspeed, your
- throttle is too low. Conversely, if your airspeed is over 250 kts, extend
- the brakes for a brief period.
-
- Touch Down: Your altimeter reads 0 on a runway, and 125' on an aircraft
- carrier These are your "touchdown" altitudes. The safe touchdown vertical
- velocity is shown by an arrow on the VVI of your altimeter. A vertical
- velocity of 400`/minute or less (4 ticks on the scale) is always safe. In
- certain conditions a higher vertical velocity is allowable. Once you're on
- the runway, cut the power by tapping No Pwr (Shift -), and engage the
- brakes by tapping Brakes (0).
-
- Aircraft Carriers: Landing on a carrier is slightly more difficult, since
- you must touch down in the arrestor cables area. To avoid overshooting the
- cables, increase your descent by lowering the nose a little, then at the
- last second extend the air brake by tapping Brakes (0) as you pull the nose
- up.
-
- If you miss the carriers arrestor cables, don`t bother trying to touch
- down. Instead close the brakes tap the Max Pwr (Shift +).
-
- Offensive Actions
-
- This section provides a short primer on how to use your weapons. Also, see
- page 139, for a chart indicating your various weapon's effectiveness
- against various targets
-
- Finding And Hitting A Target
-
- 1. Find the Target: Your primary and secondary targets are stored in your
- INS, initially as waypoint 2 and 3. If you've moved the waypoint, you can
- reset them by pressing Reset Way Pt (Shift F8).
-
- To reach the target, call up the waypoints by pressing Select Way Pt (F7),
- select the appropriate waypoint by tapping Next Point (Shift/keypad 3),
- then steer toward it following the INS cursor above the HUD Heading Scale.
-
- 2. Check HUD Mode: Change the HUD to the correct mode. Use HUD modes
- (F2) to select the right mode: AIR (for firing at aircraft), or GND (for
- firing at ground targets)
-
- 3. Use Tracking Camera: Lock your tracking/targeting system onto the
- nearest target ahead, by tapping Cam Ahead (/). The display remains blank
- if there are no targets ahead within 80 to 100 km.
-
- To track other targets, tap Select 7arget (B). The tracking/targeting
- system is limited to targets stored in your onboard computer database.
- This group of course always includes your primary and secondary targets.
- To find the right target, you may have to tap Select Target (B) several
- times. When the primary or secondary target is located, your right MFD
- informs you
-
- To track a target not stored in your onboard computer tap Designate New
- Target (N). The nearest potential target ahead is temporarily added to the
- computers database. Once you've added a target to the database, it remains
- in the computer and becomes part of the group that Select Target (B) cycles
- through. You can store only one new target in the database at a time.
-
- 4. Select Weapon: Tap Select Weapon (Space Bar) to cycle through the
- weapons in your bays (Your cannon is always available.)
-
- Make sure you have the correct weapon selected. The size and colour of the
- Tracking Box on the HUD indicates how effective the current weapon is
- against the target (see Display Colors Summary in the Appendix).
-
- 5. Aim and Fire: Different weapons are aimed in different ways, described
- below. Depending on the weapon selected, make sure it is correctly aimed
- at the target before you fire.
-
- 6. Observe Results: Friendly AWACS aircraft observing your mission report
- the results. Sometimes a hit damages a target without destroying it,
- sometimes you miss entirely, and other times a hit may be ineffective.
- Ineffective hits are caused by using the wrong weapon, or because the
- weapon malfunctioned.
-
- All your missiles are self guided (fire and-forget) weapons, and there are
- several available to you. Some are used against enemy aircraft and others
- are used against ground targets. All fire-and forget missiles are aimed
- and fired in a similar fashion (described below).
-
- Missile Targeting Envelope: If the HUD is in Air mode and an air to air
- missile is your current weapon, the Missile Targeting Envelope appears on
- the HUD outlining the limits of your missile's seeker head; though your
- Tracking Camera can lock-on to a target any where, the air-to air missile
- itself can lock on to in range enemy aircraft only within this circle. In
- CND mode, no targeting envelope appears, but a missile cannot lock onto a
- target that is not currently visible through your HUD.
-
- Oval Lock-on: When the Tracking Box turns oval (and the "LOCK" light on
- the console begins flashing), the missile is locked on to the target and
- has a good chance of hitting. When the oval turns red (and the "LOCK"
- light stops flashing) the missile has superior accuracy. Additionally,
- when the missile locks-on, a box (the "Lock Box") appears in the Tracking
- Camera display, and when you have attained superior accuracy, the Lock Box
- begins repeatedly contracting.
-
- To fire, open the weapons bay by tapping Bay Doors (8) and then tap Fire
- Weapon (Return/Enter).
-
- Restrictions and Suggestions: Missiles drop about 300-400` - with whatever
- airspeed, climb rate, or dive rate your plane has before their own power
- carries them away. As a general rule, launching below 500 or in a power
- dive is not a good idea, and may even be dangerous. It is also unwise to
- launch while in a tight turn or inverted, as the missile may tumble when
- leaving the bay, losing guidance or even smashing into your plane. Once
- the missile is launched you can change to new targets, new weapons, and
- maneuver as you wish.
-
- Your cannon has a maximum range of 6 km and an effective range of about 3
- km.
-
- Air-to-Air Anticipation Firing: Your cannon's fire control system uses a
- "historical gunsight" that shows where your shells would be landing, if
- you`d fired a few seconds ago. Unless you're tracking a target, the fire
- control system assumes the range to be 6 km, and places the gunsight to
- show where the shells would be had
-
- If you are tracking a target, the system uses the current range to the
- target to calculate where to place the sight on your HUD. The Tracking Box
- shows the targeted enemy airplane and the range to the target appears in
- the right MFD.
-
- To fire, you must "anticipate" when the enemy and your gunsight will meet.
- For example, if the enemy and your gunsight are converging and the range to
- the target is 6 km. You should open fire about 6 seconds before they
- converge. If you estimated correctly, they will converge just as your
- gunsight moves onto them.
-
- Air-to-Ground Walking Fire: Attacking ground targets is much easier since
- they don`t move. The easiest way is by "walking" your fire over the
- target. Do this by flying low (about 500'), opening fire about 6 km from
- the target and observing where the shells hit the ground. Guide your plane
- to "push" the advancing explosions onto the target. Unfortunately, this
- technique consumes ammo rapidly unless you fire short, well-spaced bursts
-
- Bombing
-
- Laser guided bombs are essentially motorless missiles that glide from your
- plane to a target "painted" by the PAVE TACK laser mounted on your plane.
- Operating these weapons is a lot like launching self guided missiles. You
- use the tracking / targeting system in exactly the same way with only a few
- exceptions.
-
- Oval and MFD lock-on: The Tracking Box on the HUD frames your target and
- the Tracking Camera is locked onto it. When the Tracking Box turns oval,
- the bomb is locked onto the reflected laser energy and has a good chance of
- hitting. When the oval turns red, the bomb has superior accuracy.
-
- However, because you must release the bomb so close to the target, you
- often can`t see the Tracking Oval when it turns red; for this reason, you
- must rely upon the console "LOCK" light and Lock Box in the Tracking Camera
- to tell you when the optimal release time is.
-
- The Lock Box appears on the right MFD and the "LOCK" light begins flashing
- when the Tracking Box turns oval. When the optimal release time is
- reached, the "LOCK" light ceases flashing, and the Lock Box on the right
- MFD begins repeatedly contracting.
-
- Toss Bombing: Glide bombs travel as fast as your plane, so if you release
- at low altitude, they hit the target when your plane is about directly
- overhead; if you`re not careful the explosion can destroy you.
-
- The standard attack technique is called "toss bombing". Approach fast and
- level at about 500. When 3-6 km from the target pitch up into a 30-40o
- climb, tap Bay Doors (8) to open the bay, and watch the right MFD. When
- optimal release time is reached (the Lock Box begins contracting and the
- "LOCK" light stops flashing), tap Fire Weapon (Return / Enter) to release
- the bomb and turn away.
-
- Level Bombing: You can also level bomb with glide bombs. As a general
- rule though, you'll need to attack from at least 2,000 altitude. Here you
- can lock onto the target at 4 km range. Attack immediately and turn away.
- Needless to say, however, high altitude attacks make you a sitting duck for
- enemy radar and SAMs.
-
- Restrictions and Suggestions: You must keep the underside of your aircraft
- facing the target until the bomb hits. If not, the laser guidance breaks
- and the bomb will almost surely miss. You can fly over the target instead
- of flying past at an angle, but you must rise above 3,000` to do this
- safely. However, the blast has a danger zone of roughly 3,000`, so you
- must gain enough distance or altitude to avoid the blast.
-
- Retarded Bombs
-
- Retarded bombs are unguided but have parachutes or special fins to slow
- them down very quickly as they fall. As a result, you can be far away by
- the time they impact, allowing safe low altitude bombing runs
-
- Level Bombing: Dive bombing and toss bombing don`t produce useful results
- with retarded bombs, so you must use level bombing in this standard
- technique for low altitude runs with retarded bombs, fly straight and fast
- over the target at 600-800`, releasing the bomb(s) according to cues from
- the Flightpath Guide and Ranging Bar on the HUD.
-
- Flightpath Guide: When using retarded bombs, the diamond- shaped
- Flightpath Guide appears on your HUD. Turn to align the Flightpath
- indicator to the Flightpath Guide. You can be above or below the
- Flightpath Guide without losing accuracy, but being left or right of it may
- cause a miss.
-
- Ranging Bar: As you approach the target, the Ranging Bar appears on the
- HUD. As you near the target, the bar begins to collapse; the cue to
- release is when the line becomes a single dot. You may wish to extend your
- brakes to make the bombing run more manageable
-
- To Release the Bomb, tap Bay Doors (8) to open the bay, then Fire Weapon
- (Return) to release the weapon if your brakes are extended, retract them
- immediately after launch to escape the blast area.
-
- Restrictions and Suggestions: Retarded bombs are the easiest and safest
- weapons to use, and one of the most popular among USAF pilots. If you keep
- up speed in your bombing run, you can safely release from 600`, even though
- the blast area is 3,000`. The Ranging Bar and Flightpath Guide flash if
- you're too low for safe release However, the targeting system predictions
- assume you'll continue to fly "as is". If you drop the bomb. then
- immediately turn up and away, you could drop a bomb within the "danger
- area" and escape.
-
- Free Fall Bombs
-
- These are traditional bombs that arc down at high speed toward the target.
- In level bombing. The techniques for using them are identical to those for
- retarded bombs except that you need to be considerably higher to release
- them safely. A safe minimum altitude for releasing a free fall bomb in
- level bombing is 3,000` as opposed to 600` for retarded bombs
-
- Level Bombing: You use the Flightpath Guide and Ranging Bar just as you do
- or retarded bombs, but you have one additional HUD cue: the Bombsight Fall
- line and Bullseye. In level bombing this indicator may be ignored
-
- Bombsight Fall-line and Bullseye: This indicator appears on your HUD as a
- line extending from your Flightpath Indicator to the place on the ground a
- bomb would hit were it released now. At that point is a red oval bullseye.
- In level bombing the fall line indicator usually extends off the bottom of
- the HUD, with the bullseye out of sight below. But in dive bombing it is
- indispensable.
-
- Dive Bombing: To make a dive bombing at tack, start by flying low to ward
- the target. Switch your HUD to GND mode, make sure the correct weapon is
- selected (Mk82-0 Slick or Mk 122 Fireye), and put your Tracking Camera onto
- the target. Now follow these steps:
-
- 1. Guide on the Bomb sight Flight Path: Approach the target by flying
- straight at the diamond shaped bombing flight path indi cator. It`s okay
- if the indica tor is above or below your flight path, but make sure it`s
- not to the left or right.
-
- 2.Climb to Attack Point: When the target is about 6 km away (you can tell
- by looking at the right MFD), zoom up into a 55o climb to an altitude of
- 8.000' opening your bay doors as you climb (tap Bay Doors (8)). Your
- objective is to reach 8,000` about 1.5-2 km from the target.
-
- 3.Dive on to the Target: Level out, flick open the brakes (tapBrakes (0).
- At just under 1 km away, push down into a steep (80o) dive and align the
- Bomb Bullseye with the target box. Keep an eye on your altitude because
- you must release the bomb before reaching 3.000. If you can`t line up the
- Bullseye and Tracking Box before reaching 3,000` pull out and try again.
-
- 4. Release Bomb and Turn Away: If you manage to keep the bullseye steady
- within the target box before reaching 3,000`, release a bomb immediately
- (tap Fire Weapon (Return)), then another if possible. After the release
- pull up sharply and roll away in a 90o turn. Close the brake (0) as you do
- this. To maintain maximum speed into the turn. Then close the bay doors
- (8)
-
- Suggestions: The zoom climb to 8,000` is the most critical phase of the
- attack. If performed flawlessly, a 55o climb will cover 4 km of ground,
- assuming you start at maximum level speed at 200` and wish to arrive at
- 8,000`. Some pilots prefer to use a slightly shallower zoom climb up to
- 10,000`, but this exposes you longer to enemy detection
-
- Climbing to a dive bombing position usually broadcasts your presence to the
- opposition. Therefore, once you`re turning away from the target after the
- bombing run look over and check the missile warning lights for an attack
-
- The most common mistake when dive bombing is forgetting to open the brakes
- at the top of the climb. With the brakes closed you plummet so fast it`s
- almost impossible to line up the target and release the bomb before
- reaching 3,000`.
-
- Restrictions: The HUD bombing symbols flash if you're within the blast
- area of the bomb (within 3,000` of the predicted drop point). Do not drop
- the bomb unless you`re confident you can escape the blast
-
- Photos And Special Equipment
-
- The 135mm/IR Camera is a reconnaissance camera mounted in a weapons bay.
- It is fixed forward (unlike your target Tracking Camera, which moves) and
- looks down.
-
- Camera Operation: To configure your HUD and cockpit for camera operations:
-
- 1 Switch the HUD to GND mode by tapping HUD mode (F2)
-
- 2. Select the bay containing the camera by tapping Select Weapons (Space
- Bar).
-
- 3. Aim the Tracking Camera at the target by tapping Cam Ahead (/); tap
- Select Target (B) if necessary.
-
- 4. Tap Bay Doors (8) to open the bay doors.
-
- Taking Pictures: When you open the bay, you see the ground below and just
- ahead of your plane in the right MFD, which is now viewing through the lens
- of the camera. Fly so that the cross symbol ("+") in the lower center of
- the HUD passes through the center of the Tracking Box. When this happens,
- you`ll see the target pass through the lens on the right MFD. As it does,
- hit Fire Weapon (Return) one or more times to take the pictures. You'll
- see a message on the HUD indicating a good picture (when and if you get
- one).
-
- Special Equipment
-
- Delivering or Picking up Equipment: As a stealth pilot, you`ll be required
- to make deliveries of highly classified materials; you may also be asked to
- pick up top secret items. Finding a secret airbase and landing there is a
- major challenge. They have no ILS system just a few flares at either end
- of the runway! Furthurmore, the runway is very short; it's only half the
- length of a runway at a major airbase
-
- To pick up or deliver equipment at a secret airbase, you must safely land
- at the airbase. Equipment is unloaded or materials delivered to you
- automatically. A mes sage in the HUD indicates when this has occurred and
- you can take off again.
-
- Dropping Equipment: To drop equipment, tap Select Weapons (Space Bar)
- until "EQUIP" appears in the lower left corner of the HUD Tap Bay Doors (8)
- to open the bay, then, as you pass over the radio beacon, launch the
- equipment by tapping Fire Weapons (Return/Enter).
-
- The minimum safe altitude to drop equipment is 500`. Try to avoid dropping
- it from altitudes above 1,000`, since the bigher you are the less accurate
- the drop.
-
- Defensive Actions
-
- Radar And Stealth Tactics
-
- Radar sends high frequency electromagnetic waves through the atmosphere at
- virtually light speed. These waves are reflected from solid object - some
- return to the radar set, which includes a receiver. By measuring the
- strength and angles of returning waves, and time it took to return, radars
- estimate the range, position, heading, and size of an object.
-
- Radar waves bounce best from solid, dense, flat, perpendicular surfaces.
- Tradi- tional aircraft shapes, especially aircraft engine intakes and
- vertical tail fins make excellent radar reflectors.
-
- Radar Effectiveness: The effectiveness of radar varies with terrain,
- range, and ype (pulse or Doppler). Radar is most effective over open water
- or flat countryside. In wooded and rolling hills radar effectiveness is
- less, while in mountainous country it is greatly reduced. The lower the
- radar effectiveness, the weaker the signal on your EMV scale; the bars
- representing enemy radar signals become shorter.
-
- Radar Range: Radar effectiveness is dramatically affected by range; the
- closer you are to a radar, the stronger its signal Maximum range for a
- radar varies dramati- cally with the set. As enemy radars emit signals you
- can graphically see their ranges on the Satellite/Radar map on the left MFD
- (Maps, F3)
-
- Pulse Radar: Pulse radar is represented by dotted arcs on your satellite
- map. It is least effective when your nose or tail is pointing toward it,
- and most effective when you fly at right angles to it. Therefore a common
- tactic is to fly directly at a pulse radar, then just after it emits a
- signal make a tight turn and fly away from it again.
-
- Doppler Radar: Doppler radar is represented by solid arcs on your
- satellite map; it is generally more powerful than pulse. Doppler radar is
- most effective when you`re flying toward or away from it, and least
- effective when you fly at right angles to it. Therefore a common tactic is
- to fly toward a Doppler until just before it detects you, then turn and fly
- in an arc around it, keeping a constant distance.
-
- Stealth Technology
-
- The radar reflections of an object are greatly reduced if its shape
- minimizes the returning waves. This does not make the object invisible,
- but does make it very hard to "see." For example, if a normal airplane is
- visible to radar at 200 km, a carefully shaped airplane might be invisible
- be- yond 50 km! Creating this shape in a form that is also aerodynamic
- requires ex tremely complex computer modeling. As the world's leader in
- computer applica tions, it's inevitable that the US would be first in this
- field. The SR-71 spyplane is an early example of such shapes in aerody
- namics; the redesign of the B-1 bomber fuselage is another example. Both
- these aircraft, though, have curved fuselages that tend to scatter radar
- energy equally in all directions, and therefore aren't en tirely
- successful.
-
- In addition to shape, certain rubber and ceramic compounds "absorb" radar
- waves, making the return signal weaker. Known generically as Radar
- Absorbent Material (RAM), it can be incorporated into paints, or planted in
- "wedges" along the surface of a wing or fuselage.
-
- Finally, an airplane's heat signature is an important consideration. Many
- air- plane killing missiles (IR guided ones) home on heat sources like
- friction heated parts of the craft, such as leading edges of the wings,
- tail, and air intakes. The main defense against heat seekers is heat-re
- sistant materials, and masking and dis persal of hot engine exhaust.
-
- The F-117A is a combination of all these design considerations. It
- sacrifices speed, maneuverability, and payload for maximum stealth. The
- fuselage is made up entirely of flat "facets" that scatter radar energy in
- a controlled. predictable pattern, which, under most circumstances will
- not reflect radar transmissions back to the transmitter Even if the energy
- does strike one of the plane's flat surfaces, the effect is transitory
- because the angle of incidence is constantly changing due to the planes
- motion relative to the transmitter. The tail is twinned, does not extend
- vertically, and is swept back like the wings themselves so that radar
- energy is reflected 45o left and right into the sky behind the aircraft
- (there is no other reason for the subsonic F-117A to have near delta
- wings). All vertical surfaces on the F-117A are angled at least 30o so
- that, in level flight, no truly vertical surfaces are present.
-
- The air intakes of the engines are masked upper and lower hull and wing
- surfaces are covered with RAM. All weapons are carried internally, since
- external pylons and armaments are excellent radar reflectors. All leading
- edges incorporate heat resistant surfaces and are as sharp as possible both
- to reduce air friction and to reflect radar energy away from the
- transmitter.
-
- Stealth also demands a new approach to combat operations. For decades jet
- aircraft have carried radars of increasing power, using them to aim
- weapons, check altitude, and fly low at high speeds. All this radar
- broadcasting reveals a plane long before enemy radars discover it. A
- stealth aircraft must fly without active radar emissions. The F-117A uses
- visual, thermal, and laser systems instead of radars. In addition. It has
- a radio burst decoder that is compatible with other USAF transmission
- equipment. On an active mission the F-117A constantly receices data burst
- from friendly AWACS planes and ground radars.
-
- Overall, the F-117A is most difficult to detect at very low altitudes.
- Even at higher altitudes (over 10,000`) it is far less visible on radar
- than a normal aircraft. This not only allows the F-117A to "sneak up" on
- the enemy. It also reduces the range and accuracy of enemy weapons
-
- Stealth Tactics
-
- EMV: The F-117A`s stealth configuration is most effective when flying
- level at low altitudes (at 500` or less and preferably about 200'). The
- EMV is further reduced if the engines are throttled back to cruise speed
- (70% power). Level flight, which presents a horizontal profile, is best.
- The steeper the turn, the more topside or underside surface is presented as
- a radar reflector, and thus your EMV rises.
-
- With respect to Doppler radar, your flight path is of crucial importance.
- Changing distance relative to a Dop pler radar increases the risk of
- detection many fold. If you remain at a constant distance, arcing around
- the radar, Doppler detection ability drops dramatically.
-
- Opening the bay doors, firing a weapon, or using the ECM jammer all raise
- your EMV, making the plane more visible. On the plus side, if you want to
- deliberately lure the enemy to a certain location without wasting a decoy,
- then turning on your jammer, opening the bay, and spi ralling upward in a
- tight turn often raises the EMV enough to make you visible. You can then
- close up, dive down to 200` again, and zoom away while they chase phantoms.
-
- Threading the Needle: As a stealth pilot, you must plan carefully, seeking
- the best route through en emy radar defenses. You must find a route in and
- out that either makes you invisible, or visible for the shortest time
- possible.
-
- Penetrating enemy radar umbrellas is tricky. Re member to arc around
- Doppler radars, but fly directly toward (or away from) pulse radars. The
- plotting of paths through radar areas is sometimes termed "threading the
- needle."
-
- Pulse radars are shorter ranged and less efficient so Dopplers are your
- biggest problem. If you must fly into a pulse radar's effective range to
- avoid a Doppler, you can arc around just inside and hope your EMV is low
- enough, and their crews sleepy enough that they don`t see you.
-
- Even the best of plans must be modified once the mission starts. Enemy
- fighters patrols and IL-76 Mainstays can force you to change your plan,
- while the periodic shut downs of enemy radars can suddenly open new
- opportunities. You must be flexible
-
- Low Altitude Tactics: On long missions with flight legs outside effective
- enemy radar range it's perfectly safe to use the autopilot and cruise at
- 500`. When within enemy radar range, get as low as you can. Fly through
- valleys - between hills and mountains if possible. Although coming up over
- ridge lines is fun, every time you crest a ridge you take a chance of
- detection.
-
- One especially sneaky tactic is to fly extremely low (200` or less) and
- throttle back your engine to about 30%. You'll need to extend flaps and
- pitch up to stay airbourne, but your EMV gets extremely low.
-
- Decoys:In Cold or Limited War, you must avoid leaving a positive radar ID.
- If your flight path takes you too close to enemy radar, you can try leaving
- one or two decoys behind. This can prevent them from getting a positive
- radar ID on you.
-
- Dash: Many radars turn off periodically if you see a critical Doppler
- radar station stop broadcasting. That may give you just the time you need
- to get past without being seen. Dashing through a radar`s area while he`s
- off the air is always risky; you never know if he`ll "wake up" and find
- you, but sometimes there's no other way.
-
- Blast: If you can't think of any better way to get through the enemy radar
- screen a final device is to open a gap in the radar defenses. Using a
- Maverick or HARM missile to destroy a radar at some critical sites. Of
- course. you`ve got to dash through the gap and get away quickly. Since
- enemy aircraft are drawn like flies to the site of an attack. Other radar
- stations will "wake up" and stay on the air after an attack. One way to
- "set up "a blast attack is show yourself briefly in one location drawing
- enemy fighters away from the area you plan to fly through and/or attack
-
- Disappearing: If you are detected and attacked by radar guided missiles
- (either the "TRAK" light is on, or the "RAD" missile warning is lighted),
- you can evade the attack by reducing your EMV. If the enemy radar loses
- sight of you the missile loses guidance and flies blindly ahead it
- continues until either the enemy finds you again and steers the missile
- back on course, or the missile runs out of fuel.
-
- Dealing With Surface To Air Missiles (SAMs)
-
- To cope with enemy SAMs, you should understand the principles of their
- opera tion. Then you can intelligently apply ap propriate defenses.
-
- Radar-Controlled SAMs
-
- Concept: Medium- and long ranged SAMs are controlled by radar. Radar-
- guided missiles appear as yellow lines on your Tactical Display (left MFD).
- There are three types of radar guided SAMs: beam riders, semi active, and
- command guid- ance. All use the same three-step process to engage targets:
-
- 1 Radar search: Search radar scans the sky for alien planes. Search
- radars scan an entire 360° area periodically (watch your EMV and satellite
- map for this).
-
- 2 Radar tracking: When a search ra dar finds your plane, it "hands off"
- the prospective target to a narrow beam fire control radar, usually running
- on a differ ent frequency, which locks onto your craft (the "TRAK" light
- illuminates).
-
- 3. Radar control: When the operators are sure the beam is tracking
- correctly they launch a missile (The "RAD" light illuminates).
-
- The narrow beam radar continues tracking your plane so the missile's course
- can be updated and corrected. There are two common methods of doing this.
- The older "beam rider" (or "command guid- ance") technique, and the newer
- "semi active homing" technique.
-
- Beam Rider SAMs: While the narrow beam radar continues tracking you, the
- SAM guides along the beam. As long as the tracking beam remains on your
- plane, the SAM will hit.
-
- Semi-Active SAMs: Semi active SAMs have radar receivers and computers on
- board. The tracking radar on the ground "paints" the target with a radar
- beam and the missiles nose receiver "catches" the reflections. The missile
- homes on these reflections until it hits you.
-
- Command Guidance SAMs: These modern missiles use semi active guid ance,
- but the firer has a command link to the missile, as well, which he can use
- to override the semi active guidance. This means that if the missile loses
- guidance or is otherwise confused, the ground controller can turn the
- missile around and try again.
-
- Evading Radar-Guided SAMs
-
- Reduce EMV: The basic way to evade radar-guided SAMs is to disappear from
- their radar. If their signals are just barely overlapping your EMV, you
- should find a way to simply "disappear." Obviously the further you are from
- the enemy radar, the weaker the signal. Therefore you may wish to simply
- turn and run until the signal is too weak to "see" you. If the enemy is a
- Doppler radar, at various points you should turn parallel to the radar.
- When you do his signal weakens. Also reducing your altitude, lowering your
- engine power, and levelling out your flight will help. Make sure your bay
- is closed, your gear up, and the ECM jammer is off.
-
- Decoys: A decoy will fool enemy radar for 20 to 60 seconds depending on
- the skill of the enemy. During this time missiles (and aircraft) will
- pursue the decoy instead of you. This gives you a perfect opportunity to
- outmaneuver the missile by escaping its 45o field of view
-
- ECM: Your ECM (electronic counter measures) radar jammer is an excellent
- defense against beam riders. As long as it's running they are flying
- blind, and therefore unable to hit you. ECM jammers are useful only at
- long range against semi active SAMs. Remember that if you continue flying
- toward a jammed semi active missile, eventually it will "burn through" and
- start homing on you.
-
- Caution: ECM jamming makes a lot of noise. Therefore, don`t use a jammer
- against semi active SAMs unless you're going to turn away.
-
- Chaff: Each chaff cartridge deploys a cloud of tiny tin-foil strips that
- reflect enemy radar. For two or more seconds the strips form a huge radar
- reflector, effectively blinding the missile, like a smoke screen Therefore,
- the classic chaff technique is to wait until the missile is just a couple
- seconds away (i.e., when the Missile Proximity Klaxon sounds).
-
- At that instant, tap Chaff (1) to fire a chaff cartridge and turn away.
- The blinded missile will fly straight into the chaff. Warning: Chaff may
- not fool a Doppler guided missile such as SA-10, SA-12, SA-N-6, or AA-10).
- In this case you must turn perpendicular to the missile (see
- "Outmaneuvering Missiles" below).
-
- Warnings and Responses: Your F-117A gives you four separate warnings that
- you are under missile attack:
-
- 1. Your first warning of a radar SAM attack appears on your EMV scale and
- your HUD when enemy search radar finds you: you'll notice the search radar
- signal overlap your EMV, the EMV light illuminates briefly, a warning beep
- sounds, and a message appears on the HUD.
-
- 2. Your second warning is when the narrow beam tracking radar locks onto
- your plane, setting off the "TRAK" light on your console, and initiating
- another warning tone. During these stages reducing the EMV is your best
- response
-
- 3. Your third and most important warning comes when a missile has been
- launched and is tracking you: the "RAD" missile warning light begins
- flashing and another message stating the type of missile launched appears
- on your HUD. Reducing your EMV at this point may derail the enemy attack,
- but if you.re too close to the radar you must use other defenses. Against
- a beam-rider turn on the ECM jammer (tap ECM (4)) and change course.
- Against a semi-active missile either jam with ECM or drop a decoy, then
- change course (some pilots use both - decoy first, then the jammer for
- insurance). However, this technique only makes sense if you can escape the
- missiles 45o field of view before the decoy and/or ECM effects end.
-
- 4. Your final warning is the Missile Proximity Klaxon. which sounds when
- the missile is just a few of seconds away. Check the console if the "RAD"
- light is flashing then a radar missile is inbound. Immediately drop a
- chaff cartridge and turn away.
-
- Infrared (IR) Homing SAMs
-
- Concept: Short range SAMs are usually IR homing IR missiles appear as red
- lines on your Tactical Display (left MFD). Like radar guided SAMs the
- largest and most powerful use a three step process to find and engage you:
-
- 1. Radar search: A search radar finds your aircraft (watch the EMV scale)
-
- 2. Radar tracking: A tracking radar follows your aircraft (the "TRAK"
- light)
-
- 3 Missile launch: The IR homing missile is launched (the "IR" light)
-
- For the remainder of the flight to the target, tracking radar is
- unnecessary, because the missile guides itself.
-
- Some shorter ranged IR SAMs use a much simpler method:
-
- 1 Search: The enemy detects you either with search radar or simple
- eyesight.
-
- 2 Missile lock on: The missile "locks on" to hot surfaces of your plane
-
- 3 Missile launch: The missile is launched and guides itself to the target.
-
- Shoulder-Launched IR SAMs: The existence of man portable IR SAMs makes
- your life difficult. The enemy frequently waits until point blank range to
- launch these missiles, the preferred technique being to launch them during
- your attack run.
-
- Carried by infantrymen, in trucks and jeeps, or stacked inside a building
- door, they are virtually undetectable until fired. Wherever significant
- enemy military ground forces are deployed you can expect to encounter these
- weapons. This includes rear area headquarters and depots as well as
- front-line troops (you`ll know where these concentrations are expectted to
- be from your intelligence briefing).
-
- First-generation IR Homers: Early IR homing systems required a large heat
- signature to "lock-on" to. The only area of a jet hot enough was the
- engine exhaust, so the missile wouldn't "lock on" until aimed at the rear
- of the plane. Furthur, the homing head wasn`t sophisticated or sensitive
- enough to distinguish between the jet exhaust and the sun or even hot rocks
- on the ground
-
- Your IR jammer is almost guaranteed to confuse first generation IR homers.
- As long as you leave the jammer on, the missile will be unable to follow
- your plane Remember, though, that the jammer slows you down, and eventually
- overheats, which shuts it off automatically
-
- You can even outmaneuver first-generation IR missiles by turning tightly
- toward them This "rotates" your hot exhaust away from the missile's view.
- The missile may try to turn and follow but a tight enough turn always
- outmaneuvers it (see "Outmaneu-
-
- Second-generation IR Homers: Modern IR homing systems are far more
- effective. They are fine tuned to "recognize" temperature variations
- typical of aircraft, including not only the exhaust, but all surfaces
- heated by air friction. This heating typically occurs at the nose, wing
- roots, and across the upper surfaces of the plane. Your IR jammer is
- effective only at long ranges against second generation IR homers.
-
- Evading IR SAMs
-
- Reduce EMV: Unfortunately, reducing your EMV has no effect upon IR SAMs
- already launched, but if you become invisible to search radar, it can
- prevent the enemy from launching others. EMV reduction methods are the
- same as described above.
-
- Decoys: A decoy will fool enemy IR missiles for 15 to 6O seconds. Tactics
- are therefore like those for decoys against radar guided missiles get
- outside the missiles view before the decoy expires.
-
- IR Jammers: This device is a heat strobe that sends out heat pulses that
- confuse a missile's guidance system. Unfortunately this equipment employs
- a generator to provide power. reducing your airspeed by roughly 15%. In
- addition, it shuts down before it overheats and melts and will not function
- again until sufficiently cooled.
-
- First generation IR missiles are easily confused at almost any range by the
- IR jammer, but second generation IR missiles are more "intelligent". They
- are "fooled" by IR jammers only at long ranges (in fact, at closer ranges,
- some second generation IR seekers actually lock onto the jammer) It is,
- therefore, unwise - and sometimes dangerous to leave a jammer running when
- second generation IR missiles are close
-
- Flares: Although called "flares," these are small, finely tuned heat
- decoys. A flare lures IR missiles toward it, but only during the 25
- seconds it burns. After that the flare dies and the missile resumes
- seeking. Therefore, wait for the Missile Proximity Klaxon, drop a flare.
- then turn away.
-
- Warnings and Responses: Your first warning of an IR missile attack may be
- identical to that of a radar guided one: your EMV light illuminates
- briefly, you hear a warning beep, and a message appears on the HUD. At
- that point its immpossible to tell whether the detecting radar site will
- launch an IR or radar guided SAM. However, when the missile is launched,
- the "IR" missile warning light begins flashing and you receive a message on
- the HUD announcing the type of missile launched.
-
- In many cases, however, your first warning of an IR attack is the "IR"
- missile warning light, because many IR SAMs don`t use search radar just
- eyesight searching
-
- If you know the missile is a first generation, (which you will if you`ve
- studied up on enemy SAMs), you can turn on the IR jammer and change course.
- Otherwise you`ll have to wait for the Missile Proximity Klaxon which may be
- a very short time because many IR missiles are fired from very short
- ranges. Often, the flashing, "IR" light is followed almost immediately by
- the klaxon. When you hear the klaxon and see the "IR" light flashing, your
- first act must be to drop a flare and dodge!
-
- Alternatively, of course, you can outmaneuver the missile if you`re really
- good.
-
- Outmaneuvering Missiles
-
- It`s important to remember that defense devices aren't perfect. Some
- missiles can "burn through" ECM, all continue seeking after your decoy or
- chaff expires, and Doppler missiles will ignore chaff if you're on the
- wrong course. Therefore it`s important to maneuver out of the missile's
- field of view when the defense expires. if you don't, the missile may re
- acquire you and resume tracking! (A truly skillful pilot may outmaneuver
- an enemy missile without any mechanical aid. Smart pilots normally use
- both their equipment and their skills.)
-
- Techniques for outmaneuvering IR missiles and radar missiles are
- essentially the same. But since IR missiles tend to be smaller and more
- maneuverable - second generation IRs are often the most maneuverable you`re
- best off relying on decoys, jammers and/or flares against them.
-
- Evading the Missile's View: SAMs can only "home" on targets within the
- acquisition arc of their seeker. This arc is a bare 45o directly in front
- of the missile. If decoys, jammers, or whatever temporarily confuse a
- missile. You can evade attack by moving outside this 45o arc. Usually the
- quickest escape course is one perpendicular to the missile's heading.
-
- Turning inside a Missile: When a missile is close, you still have a chance
- to outmaneuver it, because you can turn faster than it can. If a missile
- is trying to fly up your tail, roll over onto a wingtip for a tight turn,
- then pull straight back on the control stick. Keep an eye on your airspeed
- because the plane will soon the plane will stall in this attitude, but the
- missile makes a wider turn, causing it to zoom past harmlessly
-
- Turning toward a Missile: If a SAM approaches you from the side, gradually
- turn toward it. Increasing the tightness of your turn as it comes closer
-
- The objective is to keep the missile's course at right angles
- (perpendicular) to your own. This tactic works because the missile can not
- turn with you. Instead it gradually falls behind zooming past your tail.
-
- Evading Frontal Attacks: If a SAM approaches you from the front, wait
- until its between 8 and 12 km away (about two thirds of a grid square on
- the tactical display). Then make a quick 90o turn. This puts the missile
- facing your side. Now roll over 180o and turn toward the missile.
-
- Doppler Missiles: Enemy missiles with Doppler guidance systems are a
- special danger. These missiles will not home on chaff unless your course
- is perpendicular (at right angles to) the missile. If the missile chases
- you from the rear or attacks from straight ahead, chaff has no effect.
- Only three SAMs currently have Doppler guidance: the SA-10 SA-12, and
- SA-N-6. Only one air to air missile has Doppler guidance the AA-10.
-
- AIR-TO-AIR DUELS
-
- Using Air To Air Missiles (AAMs)
-
- The MicroProse F-117A (with "enhanced capability") carries two types of
- AAMs; the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the AIM-9M "Sidewinder." (The Lockheed F-117A
- carries no to-air weapons at all; it's never expected to be seen by enemy
- fighters, much less go out looking for a fight with them.) Like all your
- missiles, these AAMs are self guided, "fire and-forget" weapons that are
- easy to use and possibly the world`s best. The techniques for targeting
- and firing these weapons are identical to those for other self guided
- missiles (see page 68)
-
- AIM-120 AMRAAMS: Your AIM 120 AMRAAM missile is one of the best
- medium-range weapons in the world. It is the only "fire and forget" radar
- guided missile in US inventory. It has sufficient circuitry to penetrate
- most defenses, and maneuver- ability enough to chase down most enemy
- fighters, not to mention bombers and transports. Because the AIM-120 has
- roughly twice the range of the Sidewinder pilots typically open with the
- AIM-120, then switch to Sidewinders if any enemy aircraft survive to that
- range.
-
- AIM-9M Sidewinders: The short range AIM-9M Sidewinder is probably the best
- dogfighting missile in the world. It is more maneuverable than the AMRAAM,
- giving it a better chance of "hanging on" to a twisting, turning target.
- Since it is IR guided. The best place to fire the Sidewinder is up the
- enemy's tailpipes. Next is from above, diving down onto the top (hot side)
- of the enemy plane. The third best position is directly into the enemy's
- nose. Shots against an enemy plane as it crosses in front of you, or at
- its underside (the cold side) have very little chance of hitting. The main
- weakness of the Sidewinder is its limited range
-
- Missile Ranges: The maximum range of a missile depends not only on its
- motor, but your plane's speed at launch and the direction of enemy
- movement. The initial "lock on" range corresponds to missile maximum range
- if you're at maximum speed. However, if you're moving more slowly, the
- missile may not get the extra boost needed to reach the target.
-
- A much more important consideration is the enemy's heading relative to you.
- If he`s flying toward you. Even a maximum range launch is likely to reach
- him. However, if the target is flying away the missile may have a long
- "stern chase" ahead of it. You should probably wait for optimal lock on
- before launching.
-
- Technique: When firing a missile, always remember to open the bay doors
- and wait for the lock-on. If you don't wait for the target box to become
- oval shaped, you`re firing without lock-on, and will almost certainly miss.
- Then look at your airspeed. If you're moving fast (around 500 kts) or the
- target is closing, a maximum range lock on shot will probably hit.
- However, if, your speed is low or the target is flying away from you should
- wait until the range closes, ideally until the oval turns red.
-
- Missile accuracy doesn't take into account enemy defensive equipment or
- evasive naneuvering. First-line and elite fighter aircraft may prove more
- difficult to hit. although the "Mainstay" AEW&C craft maneuvers poorly, it
- haa superior defensive equipment. You may find that guns are necessary
- against Mainstays flown by a capable crew.
-
- Firing Attitude: Also remember that AAMs, like other missiles will fall
- 300-400` before their motor can guide them away. Until then the missile
- has your speed and VVI if you're diving at the ground, the missile may slam
- into the ground before it can fly away. Firing in a tight turn, or while
- inverted, can cause the missile to tumble as it leaves the weapons bay.
- The wisest method is to fire only when you`re level and above 500 feet.
-
- Target Discrimination: Sidewinders and AMRAAMs always home on the most
- prominent target, which is usually the nearest. They will do so even if
- you were tracking someone else. In Cold and Limited War, beware of this
- limited "brain power" in your missiles. You may be tracking a primary or
- secondary target, fire a missile, and discover it goes for one of the
- closer fighter escorts!
-
- Notes: Your F-117A uses a Tracking Camera instead of weapon guidance
- radars This system "downloads" appropriate launch parameters to the AIM-120
- AMRAAM. Although the AIM 120 itself uses radar, it is not activated until
- the missile is launched As a result, missile targeting does not increase
- your EMV. Of course opening the bay doors to fire does. A skillful
- stealth pilot opens the bay doors just before a launch, or during a
- dogfight.
-
- Using The 20mm Vulcan
-
- The Lockheed F-117A does not have a cannon of any sort because it`s not
- expected to need one; so if you prefer flying the Lockheed version, you can
- ignore the following. The MicroProse F-117A will definitely need a cannon,
- and does, of course, carry a good one
-
- Jet aircraft travel so fast that conventional machine guns and cannon
- cannot guarantee a hit: a plane could literally fly between the shells.
- Therefore, modern aircraft cannon are either a group of guns (such as the
- twin 23mm cannons in many Russian MIGs) or a multi barrel Gatling gun (such
- as the six barrel 20mm M61A1 on most American jets). Aircraft cannon have
- an effective range of about 0.5-3 km and a maximum range of 6 km. Inside
- 0.5 km there is a significant danger of "collateral damage."
-
- More About the Historical Gunsight : Your F-117A has the most modern and
- advanced gunsight available: a "historical" gunsight with automatic laser
- range finding. If you're not tracking a target, this gunsight "assumes"
- you are firing at maximum range (6 km). If you're tracking a closer
- target, the shorter range is used for gunsight calculations
-
- The gunsight computer constantly calculates range, flight path, and
- ballistics and displays where your shells would be if they were hitting the
- target now. The gunsight continually calculates firing, delays the
- appropriate time and displays potential hits as they would occur.
- Therefore, the sight is "assuming" you fired at the correct time in the
- past.
-
- The gunsight on your F-117A uses a laser range-finder sleved to the
- Tracking Camera, rather than the traditional ranging radar. This means you
- can use your gun without increasing your EMV; however, when you begin
- firing, of course, you create heat and this makes you more detectable.
-
- Anticipation Firing in Air-to-Air Engagements: It takes about six seconds
- for M61A1 20mm shells to travel the maximum 6 kilometer range. Therefore,
- to hit a target you must judge the speed at which the target and your sight
- coverage. You should fire about six seconds before they meet. If the
- range is less than 6 km, wait a little less. For example, at 3 km wait
- until target and sight are three seconds apart; at 1.5 km wait until target
- and sight are one second apart, and so on.
-
- You can use this sight like an old fashioned predicting sight. That is
- wait until the sight is on the target, then shoot. But at 6 km range
- you'll have to hope the target stays on the same course for six seconds to
- insure a hit.
-
- In short, the key to using a historical gunsight is anticipation. Don`t
- wait for the sight to reach the target. Instead, learn to anticipate the
- meeting of sight and target then shoot
-
- Dealing With The Enemy
-
- The best way to meet the enemy is to surprise him by sliding up behind him.
- Enemy aircraft have only forward facing radars (except the IL-76 "Mainstay"
- AEW&C craft) and will probably be unaware of your approach it you come up
- from behind.
-
- Traditionally fighter pilots prefer to attack from above. This gives them
- an energy advantage in any dogfight, but missile tactics and the importance
- of secrecy make height less valuable for a stealth pilot. Gaining altitude
- makes you visible to enemy radar, which in turn may warn your targets.
- Therefore, approaching low and from behind is often wiser. Only if your
- missile attacks fail and the enemy discovers you should you begin to seek
- an altitude advantage.
-
- If you're surprised or "bounced" (attacked from above) by enemy fighters,
- immedi ately look for incoming missiles and take appropriate defensive
- action. Missiles arrive faster than aircraft, and therefore must be
- avoided first. Only then can you begin dogfighting or attempt to escape.
-
- Missile Exchange
-
- Often an air to-air battle begins soon after you've de stroyed a target,
- and enemy fighters are vectored to intercept The result, quite frequently,
- is a head-to-head face-off
-
- In this Old West-style showdown each side starts with an exchange of long
- to medium ranged radar guided missiles. Be prepared to decoy, jam, and
- possibly chaff the "incoming." Once your radar missile is away switch to a
- Sidewinder. You may get a second close range missile shot if the AMRAAM
- fails.
-
- The Early turn: One of the most difficult, but useful maneuvers in a head
- to head match is the early turn. Against inexperienced pilots it's easy,
- since green horns usually keep boring in, hoping for a cannon shot Against
- experienced opponents an early turn requires fine timing; if you turn more
- than a second or two ahead of the enemy you're telegraphing your
- intentions. If you wait too long, you get no advantage.
-
- Dealing with Enemy AAMs
-
- Radar-Homing AAMs: The Russian AA-10 Alamo is a "fire and forget" missile
- just like your AIM-120 AMRAAM. All other Russian radar-guided weapons are
- semi active homers, which means that the firer must continue to "paint" you
- with radar, because the missile homes on the reflected radar energy
-
- You avoid radar-homing AAMs just like SAMs (see "Evading Radar Guided SAMs"
- page 80). That is, use reduced EMV, ECM jamming, and ultimately chaff.
- Decoys can be very effective. Note that the MiG-25 and MiG-31 carry
- extremely long ranged radar AAMs. Low EMV, ECM and decoy tactics are
- especially effective against these weapons.
-
- IR-Homing AAMs: All IR homing AAMs are self guided, "fire and forget"
- weapons Of these the AA-8 is the most dangerous because of its second
- generation IR seeker and great maneuverability. If enemy MiGs and Sukhois
- close to AA-8 range (8 km) you're often in big trouble.
-
- Techniques to evade IR AAMs are the same as those used against IR SAMs (see
- "Evading IR Guided SAMs" page 82). That is, use the IR jammer at long
- range, flares at short range; decoys also work.
-
- In practice, many IR homers are fired at short ranges during a dogfight.
- This means you've got to leap onto the IR jammer when you get a launch
- warning, then dodge out of the missile`s 45° field of view immediately. At
- dogfighting ranges missile flight times are very short you don't have time
- to fool around! If this fails, or you delay too long, the Missile
- Proximity Klaxon will go off. Now you've got bare seconds to react: dump
- a flare immediately and dodge.
-
- The older AA-2. AA-6. and AA-7 use first generation seekers. The enemy
- must get on your tail before these missiles lock on. Keep him off your
- tail and you avoid this entire class of weaponry.
-
- Dogfighting Maneuvers
-
- The essential rule in dogfighting is to get on the enemy's tail. On all
- fighter aircraft guns and missile guidance systems only face forward. If
- you're on the enemies tail you can shoot and he cannot. If you can't get
- on his tail, at least try to place his aircraft ahead of you as much as
- possible. So you have the maximum number of firing opportunities
- Maintaining higher speed or altitude is valuable in a dogfight. A plane
- slower and lower can only dodge attacks. A plane faster or higher can
- attack or retreat as desired. Having a higher speed or altitude is termed
- the "energy advantage".
-
- If the enemy is behind you, there are various classic escape maneuvers:
- Turning Inside, the Scissors, the Immelmann, the Split-S. and the Yo Yo.
- Not only should you master them, but also learn to recognize them.
-
- Turning inside: The simplest solution to an enemy plane coming up behind
- you is turn toward him. If you're turning faster than he, you'll gradually
- circle around and get on his tail. This kind of a "turn match" is
- frequently seen when greenhorns dogfight Of course, if the enemy is turning
- faster than you, he will eventually come around behind you. If this
- happens try something else immediately. The longer you wait the worse it
- gets, until he lines up a shot and toasts you.
-
- Scissors: A more complex way to out turn an enemy aircraft is the scissors
- maneuver. Begin a turn toward him, but once he begins to turn with you,
- quickly roll over to turn in the other direction. This opens the scissors.
- As the enemy realizes you've turned away and turns toward you again, you
- reverse the procedure and roll back toward him again. If your turns were
- quicker and tighter than his, and / or you're a slower plane, he will
- eventually pass in front of you. This allows you to get onto his tail.
-
- Novice pilots trying to turn with you can be lured into a scissors with
- ease. Even if their planes turn better, their slow reactions to each
- scissor opening and closing will quickly give you the edge. More
- experienced enemies may avoid this tactic by anticipating your next turn
- and blasting you (if they`re less maneuver- able),or by pulling up and over
- in a Yo-Yo (if they're faster).
-
- Immelmann Turn: This maneuver is an excellent way to reverse direction
- quickly. First you perform a half loop up wards to reverse direction, then
- a half roll to right your aircraft. If an enemy aircraft is behind you, an
- Immelmann can bring you nose to-nose with him. Note that an Immelmann
- gives you to an altitude gain but costs speed, since a half-loop upward
- slows you down significantly.
-
- Split-S turn: This maneuver complements the Immelmann. Begin by rolling
- inverted, then pull the stick back to half loop downward. Many pilots
- begin the loop before the roll is completed, roll ing the plane while
- looping. The Split-S causes you to lose considerable altitude so it's
- often wise to reduce throttle and/or use speed brakes to minimize altitude
- loss.
-
- The Split-S complements the Immel mann because you gain speed and lose
- altitude. Unwary fighter pilots have sometimes tried to Split-S into or
- away from the enemy without remembering their altitude. The result can be
- a Split-S right into the ground!
-
- Yo-Yo turn: This maneuver is used mainly by higher speed jets against
- slower opponents. Therefore the relatively slow F-117A has little occasion
- to use it. However, you may see enemy MiGs at tempting it against you!
- This turn also re quires excellent cockpit visibility, something the F-117A
- definitely lacks.
-
- In a Yo Yo turn you climb and roll toward the enemy until he`s visible out
- the top of your canopy. Then pull over into a dive while still turning.
- During the dive you roll the plane to help line up your shot. Very often
- you'll take that shot while inverted
-
- Because a Yo Yo requires good spatial perception, first practise it using
- the Slot View (if alone) or Tacti View. In combat conditions switching to
- a wide angle view is extremely helpful in pulling the HUD around onto the
- enemy after you come over the top. Then you can switch back to normal view
- again.
-
- In effect a Yo Yo is a very big turn in three dimensions. Most of the turn
- radius is "consumed" with the climbing and diving, allowing a faster plane
- to travel farther and turn wider, yet still come out on the tail of the
- more maneuverable plane. American F- 4 Phantom pilots used this maneuver
- with great success against slower but more maneuverable MiG 21s over North
- Vietnam during the Vietnam war.
-
- Note that the best defense against a Yo-Yo is to reverse your turn or use
- the third dimension yourself (usually by going into a split-S).
-
- Enemy Guns
-
- The enemy has cannon equivalent to yours in range and power. However the
- enemy still uses old "predicting" gunsights. This means they are required
- to get behind you before they can make a decent shot. In addition, all but
- the most elite pilots will be slow to fire, since they must place the
- gunsight on the target and keep it there to score a hit.
-
- If you sense the enemy is behind you and ready to fire cannons "jinking"
- (small violent moves in random directions) can throw off his aim.
-
- MISSION BRIEFING
-
- Mission Types
-
- Rules of Engagement (ROE) set forth guidelines restricting what targets a
- pilot can and cannot attack and to what extent you may expose your fighter.
- In Cold and Limited War situations it is imperative that the enemy not know
- exactly who or what performed the attack. This allows the politicians to
- say whatever they want
-
- In Cold War situations the State Department must have "deniability" for
- every mission. If the mission is successful and the political climate
- good, the US may claim credit for the deed. In other cases, however,
- America may not wish to attach its name to the action
-
- You may attack and destroy specified targets only. Engagement of other
- targets is prohibited unless if they fire first, or have spotted your
- plane. You must avoid visual detection by the enemy. Enemy air or ground
- forces that do detect you should be destroyed, to prevent embarrassing
- disclosures. Neutrals are considered friendly at all times, and you should
- avoid detection by them at all costs.
-
- You are warned when enemy radar returns are good enough to spot your craft,
- or when enemy aircraft come close enough to visually identify you. These
- enemies should be destroyed, although the effort can be counterproductive
- if the attack generates lots of additional sightings!
-
- The State Department may require deniability, since American aid to the
- combatants may need to be secret. However, since there is a war, and
- military targets are being destroyed, you will be rewarded for destroying
- enemy military targets.
-
- Conventional War
-
- You may attack and destroy specified targets only. Other targets with
- active weaponry (i.e.. which could attack your craft) may be attacked.
- You may attack these military targets even if they haven't seen you yet.
- You must never attack non-military targets unless required by orders.
- Neutrals are considered friendly at all times, and you should avoid
- detection by them.
-
- In a Conventional War you are allowed unrestricted conventional attacks on
- enemy territory. This includes civilian targets formerly forbidden.
- However, targets that represent an immediate military threat are most
- important. Therefore destroying enemy aircraft, airbases, SAMs, radars,
- depots, HQs, etc, gives more reward than bridges, oil refineries, oil wells
- and platforms, etc. Even conventional wars are fought for short term goals
- (such as the Grenada invasion in 1983, the Falklands Islands campaign of
- 1984, and Desert Storm of 1991).
-
- You must attack and destroy all targets specifically required by your
- orders. In addition, any other targets in enemy territory may be
- destroyed, including civilian targets. If able to select additional
- targets, select those with immediate military capability first. Neutrals
- are considered friendly at all times, and you should avoid detection by
- them.
-
- Air-To-Air Missions
-
- Here an important personage is travelling by planes your job is to make
- sure he doesn't arrive! The plane takes off about the same time as your
- own. Remember that his plane, your objective, is the flashing dot on the
- satellite map (left MFD)
-
- Although it`s possible to just fly to his destination and wait, roving
- fighter patrols or local air defenses will eventually spot you. In
- general, the wiser approach is to find the best way to "sneak through"
- enemy patrols and SAM radars to intercept him en-route
-
- In Limited or Conventional War you can take down his plane and escourt with
- AMRAAMs. In a Cold War situation you'll need to close for a clean
- Sidewinder or gun shot. Remember, though, that if the fighter escorts get
- a visual ID on your plane you must "zap" them too. If your attack location
- is well away from any ground radars or Mainstay AEW & C planes. You can
- attack from above, hit your man, drop a decoy to confuse them and zoom away
- with maximum speed at low altitude (say 200').
-
- Intercepting Terrorists or Commandos
-
- In this mission you know a transport plane. accompanied by fighters, will
- head for friendly territory. Your objective is to eliminate them before
- they arrive. The problem is you don't know their destination
-
- As you take off, watch the enemy aircraft carefully. Circle around a bit,
- observing their course until you can guess their objective. Once you know
- their goal, it`s easy pick a nice quiet spot to ambush them. Often you can
- stay in friendly territory all the way!
-
- Eliminating a Fighter Patrol
-
- Enemy fighter groups usually patrol near their own air defense systems, and
- are supported by Mainstay AEW&C planes, so going in after them can cause
- quite a battle One trick to avoid this mess is to publicize your presence
- in a nearby area with little or no SAM coverage, and with no nearby
- airbases. If you can lure the fighter patrol to this spot, the battle may
- be much easier.
-
- Once you've "dangled the lure," take a low profile. so you can ambush the
- enemy fighters as they arrive. As in many other aspects of modern warfare,
- getting the first shot is a big advantage.
-
- Destroying a Recon Bomber
-
- In most cases you must chase an enemy plane on its way home. Catch and
- attack him as quickly as possible. The longer you delay, the closer he
- gets to SAM cover and fighter aid. This is one mission where climbing to a
- higher altitude can be rewarding you travel faster and farther at high
- altitude.
-
- Attacking a Cruise Missile Bomber
-
- These aircraft cruise deep behind their own lines, guarded by SAMs and
- closely escorted by fighters. Given the defenses, attacking these planes
- is like hitting a ground target. You need to sneak or punch your way
- through defenses, elude counterattacks and blast the primary, just like a
- strike mission.
-
- Taking Down The Mainstay
-
- The IL-76 "Mainstay" AEW&C plane is the most difficult aircraft target.
- Sooner or later its radar will see you, forcing you to fight through
- fighters and SAMs to reach it. Make your approach as stealthy as possible.
- Destroying one or two crucial SAM radar sites on your way in can be useful
- it opens a radar free corridor to the target, and at the same time may draw
- off enemy interceptors, perhaps even some of the Mainstays fighter escort
-
- Strike Missions
-
- Dropping off or picking up items deep behind enemy territory seems rather
- straightforward. After all, you don't have to fly into SAM batteries or go
- head to head with fighter patrols.
-
- Secret Airstrips
-
- Instead, a secret airstrip challenges your flying skill. You must manage a
- landing without an ILS to guide you. Worse, the strip is only half the
- length of a normal runway You must land gently at low speed (under 160 kts,
- preferably),and touch down near the start. Otherwise you`ll roll off the
- other end and crash! To make matters worse, the strip's lights are only
- for a limited time. Make a note of the time the lights go off, then
- periodically check the Waypoints screen on the right MFD to see how much
- time you`ve got. Once the lights are out landing is virtually impossible.
-
- Airdrops
-
- In these missions your job is to avoid action and just fly over a radio
- beacon that`s quite clear on your HUD. The only real worry is reaching the
- beacon before it is turned off. Make note of the "turn off" time and
- periodically check the Waypoints screen. Once the beacon turns off there`s
- no way to find the drop site
-
- Photo Recon Runs
-
- Photo runs over enemy troop concentrations and/or near SAMs are especially
- nerve-wracking. You may need to take out a SAM before making the run. If
- shoulder fired SAMs infest the area, your only hope is to dump a decoy
- before you start, run your IR jammer as long as you can, and/or
- periodically dump flares.
-
- Striking SAMs
-
- Destroying a SAM battery requires that you "sneak up" on it , as best you
- can, then nail the radar first with a Maverick or HARM. With the radar out
- of action, the missiles are helpless. Unless there are other SAMs nearby
- you can have a strafing "picnic" until a fighter patrol shows up.
-
- Remember that the safest place around a SAM battery is directly above it.
- The radar cannot look straight up, and the longer-ranged missiles (such as
- the SA-2, -5, -10 and 12) have a minimum range of 4 to 5 km.
-
- Hitting the Sub Pens at Severomorsk
-
- The Severomorsk submarine pens in the North Cape are a unique and special
- target. These must be attacked by toss bombing from the north you must
- place an FAE through the sea doors. This means flying straight at the
- mountain and pulling up at the last second.
-
- Beware of the Krivak class frigates patrolling to seaward of this base
-
- Sinking Ships
-
- Don't underestimate enemy warships, especially those of the Soviet Northern
- Fleet. The larger ships have exceptionally good radar and very powerful
- SAMs. Patrol ships can be knocked out with a single missile, but a task
- force has so many ships that any close approach means you'll be dodging
- missiles left and right.
-
- When fighting a Conventional War with Libya, or in the Persian Gulf, be
- careful about attacking merchant ships. Avoid those on the high seas or
- near friendly coast lines: only attack ships cfose to enemy ports or
- shore. Otherwise you could end up hitting a neutral ship by accident.
-
- AREAS OF CONFLICT
-
- The Persian Gulf: 1984
-
- Since the overthrow of the pro US Shah in 1979, Iran has been ruled by
- Shi`ite radicals. In September, 1980, Iraq attacked Iran, beginning a
- costly war. Both combat ants are viewed with distrust by the Arah states
- along the Persian Gulf. Irans use of international terrorism as a tool of
- foreign policy has not improved the nations image
-
- Level of Conflict
-
- Cold War: Iran's use of terrorism has been very effective to date.
- Americas confused response to the hostage crisis in the early 1980s created
- a dangerous rift between the two nations.
-
- Limited War: Iran and Iraq have been fighting a limited war since 1980.
- US forces may eventually become involved in assuring the continued flow of
- oil through the Straits of Hormuz.
-
- Conventional War: The Soviets could invade Iran as part of a wider NATO
- Warsaw Pact conflict, or as a counter to the Shi'ite radicals, who would
- like to spread their revolution to the USSR's Moslem population.
-
- Iranian Military Forces
-
- Under the Shah, Iran's oil rich finances were invested in US military
- equipment Since the revolution many of these complex weapons have failed
- for lack of spare parts and maintenance, while many of the rest have been
- damaged or destroyed in the Iraq war
-
- Air Defenses: MIM 23B "Hawk" batteries are Iran's longest ranged SAMs
- Rapier batteries. Sold by Britain to Iran, are fast, but shorter ranged,
- and hindered by a fire control system that is primarily visual. The
- Tigercat, an antiquated British design appears in less important areas.
- Many Tigercat sites have little or no radar, since the missile is designed
- for visual control. The Seacat is a naval version of the Tigercat found on
- Iranian Vosper Mark 5 type frigates.
-
- Air Force: This service arm is composed primarily of US built aircraft
- acquired during the Shah's rule. Before the outbreak of the Iran Iraq war
- the Air Force had a nominal strength of 75 F-14 Tomcats, about 200 F-4D and
- F-4E Phantom IIs, and 140 F-5E Tiger IIs. Iranian fighters are equipped
- with AIM 9H Sidewinders, one of the best first generation IR AAMs. The F 4
- Phantoms are designed to carry the AIM-7F Sparrow long-range radar homing
- missile.
-
- Iran has few naval reconnaissance bombers, and most of those are P-3C
- Orions with inoperative electronic gear. However, it's possible that long
- range Soviet Tu-95 "Bear" bombers may make an appearance, flying from
- Afghanistan or Yemen.
-
- Iran has a variety of small, medium and large air transports, including the
- American C-130 Hercules and Boeing 707 and 747 transports. The exact types
- available vary greatly, depending on the supply of spare parts and the
- presence of knowledge able mechanics Given Iran's dislike of the West.
- Some consider it likely that she will shop in Russia for the next
- transports bought. Perhaps the new and very flexible An-72 "Coaler".
-
- Naval Forces: The Iranian Navy has suffered greatly in the Iran-Iraq war,
- since most resources go into the army and air force. Many ships were
- damaged in the fighting and remain in disrepair: others have deteriorated
- badly for lack of maintainence
-
- It is believed that one or more of the four Vosper Mark 5 frigates are
- still functional These 1,100-ton ships include a surface-to surface missile
- (SSM), Seacat SAMs and a 4.5" gun turret. Occasional patrols by these or
- smaller ships can be expected in the region of Kharg Island or in the
- Straits of Hormuz
-
- Iran's Shi`ite "Guards" also man a large number of fast motor boats called
- "Mosqui- toes." The crews carry rocket-propelled grenades to attack
- shipping and shoulder launched IR SAMs to protect themselves from air and
- helicopter attack. These boats are based all along the Iranian coast,
- especially at Bandar 'Abbas, and at a variety of offshore oil platforms.
-
- Iranian Cities and Targets
-
- Upper Khuzestan Triangle - Dezful, Masjed Soleyman, Ahvaz: These cities
- are the main "rear areas" behind the Iraq-Iran battlefront. They have a
- variety of SAMs. Although all originally had airbase facilities, it is
- believed that only Masjed Soleyman`s is still intact.
-
- Abadan: This city is located at the final junction of the Tigris and
- Euphrates Rivers. Numerous battles in and around this area have destroyed
- a large part of the city The surrounding countryside is now reverting to a
- poisonous marshland in the aftermath of heavy fighting, which included the
- use of chemical weapons.
-
- Bandar Khomenyi: This is the main Iranian military base behind the
- southern part of the Iran Iraq front. A major staging base for military
- supplies and munitions of all sorts. It has a large airbase, powerful SAM
- batteries, and a major military HQ.
-
- Kharg lsland: This oil rich island is covered with refineries, storage
- tanks, and port facilities. Until the Iran-Iraq war it was the greatest
- oil terminal in the world. Repeated attacks have ruined many of the
- facilities. Now protected by SAM batteries and missile boats. It is still
- Iran`s main outlet for oil. Beware that some offshore plat- forms in this
- vicinity are now used by Shi`ite "Guards" as military bases.
-
- Bushehr: This important coastal city was once a major oil port but is now
- completely overshadowed by neighboring Kharg Island. The military forces
- on its airbase and SAM batteries are not always first rate. But it is home
- port for frigates and missile boats
-
- Shiraz: This inland city is one of the largest Iranian cities: It
- contains the nerve center for Iran's southern military command. There is
- an exceptionally large airbase here, and it is protected by a powerful SAM
- battery.
-
- Esfahan: Nestled in a a large pass of the Zagros Mountains, Esfahan is the
- "gateway" to north western Iran. As a transportation and population centre
- it naturally boasts an airfield, and SAM sites protecting it.
-
- Bandar-e Lengeh: This western city on the Straits of Hormuz has a minor
- military base, including an airfield and SAM battery. However, its primary
- function is civilian, serving the large oil fields in this area.
-
- Bandar 'Abbas: This city is Iran's major military base on the Straits of
- Hormuz Major Iranian Navy elements are based here, as well as the latest
- SAMs and a large, well-equipped airbase.
-
- Friendly Bases
-
- CVN at Sea: This huge 80,000 ton nuclear carrier is the class ship of the
- latest and most powerful program of aircraft carriers. Normally assigned
- to the Pacific Fleet, it is prepared to visit the Indian Ocean at any time.
-
- Ras as Saffaniyah: This is Saudi Arabia's northern most oil terminal and
- port along the Gulf. Its airfield is in a useful strategic location.
- Basing privileges for a secret stealth mission can be arranged with the pro
- American Saudi monarchy
-
- Dhahran and Al Hufuf: Dhahran is Saudi Arabia`s largest city on the
- Persian Gulf, making its airfield an unwise choice for stealth aircraft
- operations. However, the Al Hufuf airfield slightly inland is a
- strategically useful and less public position for basing missions
-
- As Salamiyah: This small airbase outside of the capital Riyadh is a nice
- quiet location where clandestine missions can be organized easily.
-
- Bahrain: This small island nation is strongly pro American, providing
- large naval and airbase facilities for US military forces.
-
- Neutral Bases
-
- Kuwait City: Iranian threats and attacks have caused Kuwait to seek US
- military support. The Kuwait City airport can be used to stage missions
- that demonstrate US support of Kuwait, or for emergency landings, but,
- fearful of increased Iranian hostility Kuwait will not grant US basing
- rights.
-
- Qatar: This small independent nation works hard at neutrality, probably
- because it has strong pro US and strong pro Iranian factions. Although
- missions are`nt regularly staged from here, it is possible to launch
- specific clandestine missions or carry out emergency landings
-
- Ruweiss and Tarif in the United Arab Emirates: These small oil ports of
- the UAE are not especially friendly to the American cause. But the UAE is
- a decentral ized government, and US pressure in the right places can permit
- clandestine missions or emergency landings.
-
- Abu Dhabi and Khafi in the UAE: Abu Dhabi is the major city of the UAE
- where neutrality is most important. Staging missions or emergency landings
- from here s very difficult, but not impossible. The large airfield at
- Khafi is the most strategically useful of all UAe airfields it is the
- closest base to south-central Iran. But political problems make the use of
- this base difficult to impossible.
-
- Muscat in Oman: Oman is careful to remain neutral in all affairs, but it
- is strongly pro Western. For example, much of its army is trained and
- officered by "retired" British military personnel. The military portion of
- the Muscat airfield is available for missions and emergency landings,
- provided everything remains secret and politically "deniable"
-
- Europes North Cape: 1985
-
- The North Cape area is shared by four nations: Norway, Sweden, Finland and
- the Soviet Union. their political orientations parallel their geographic
- locations: Norway belongs to NATO, Sweden is a pro-Western neutral,
- Finland is a pro-Eastern neutral and the USSR, of course, leads the eastern
- Bloc.
-
- Cold War: Because of the threat to the Atlantic posed by the Soviet
- Northern Fleet NATO and Soviet forces are constantly sparring with each
- other, testing the others responses and jockeying for position should
- hostilities erupt. Officially at peace the two sides wage a covert
- conflict of intelligence gathering and military that could turn deadly in
- an instant.
-
- Level of Conflict
-
- Limited War: If US-Soviet foreign policy were conducted with greater
- hostility the North Cape would be ideal for raids or retaliations.
-
- Conventional War: If the balloon goes up, the Soviet Northern Fleet would
- make sorties into the Atlantic: Soviet troops would cross into Norway;
- Mainstays and MiGs would cloud the skies. Getting in and out with your
- skin intact would be very very tricky!
-
- Regional Military Forces
-
- In terms of global politics, the North Cape is the single most important
- military region in the Soviet Union. Murmansk is its only year round open
- sea access to the Atlantic Ocean. Soviet SSBNs (ballistic missile nuclear
- submarines), the heart of nuclear deterrence, sail from here into the
- Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The Soviet Northern Fleet protects these
- invaluable weapons, as well as maintaining a credible threat to NATO`s
- Atlantic lifelines
-
- Norway fields a large, well equipped force tailored for a dogged defense of
- its cold mountainous homeland. The northern bases have only token
- Norwegian garrisons but NATO plans to strongly reinforce the lightly
- defended northern areas with air, naval and marine forces should the
- shooting start.
-
- Sweden's armed forces are designed to make the USSR (or anyone) think twice
- about violating its neutrality. Swedish forces are well equipped and well
- trained, and boast a nationwide reserve system that makes a large part of
- the citizenry part time soldiers.
-
- Finland fields a much smaller and less sophisticated force than its
- neighbors Although fiercely independent, Finland has learned to accommodate
- the desires of its powerful neighbor, the Soviet Union. The Soviets
- maintain this "friendly" attitude by garrisoning powerful military forces
- near the Finnish border, and strongly encoraging Finland to buy Soviet
- military equipment.
-
- Soviet Air Defenses
-
- The Kola peninsula is vital to the USSR because it provides access to NATOs
- lines of communications. However, its close proximity to Russia makes it
- particularly vulnerable to NATO counterstrokes. Consequently, the Kola
- peninsula is likely to prove one of the most challenging anti aircraft
- environments in the world
-
- Long-rangeSAMs: the older SA-2s and SA-5s have been undergoing continual
- upgrade to SA-10 and SA-12 quality. The entire system is enhanced by the
- LPAR early warning radar system at Kirovsk.
-
- Light SAMs: Soviet ground forces in this area are outfitted with the usual
- battlefield SAMs, including the older SA-9 and SA- 13 IR missiles, as well
- as the newer SA-8 and SA-11 radar guided ones. Mobile infantry carrying
- SA-7 and SA-14 shoulder launched IR SAMs are a significant threat as well.
- Check out your Intelligence Briefing for "enemy troops."
-
- The PVO and Naval Aviation
-
- Fighters: This region is defended partly by PVO (National Air Defense)
- units with MiG-25 and MiG-31 interceptors using long-range radar homing
- AAMs. Naval aviation fighters operating from carriers or land strips
- include the Yak 38 V/STOL jet and the new Su-27 multi purpose fighter.
- During wartime shorter-ranged units may arrive including MiG 29 and Su-27
- dogfighters with short-range IR missiles as well as long range radar
- weapons.
-
- Reconnaissance Bombers: Many long range Tu-95D "Bears" are based in this
- area. To keep tabs on NATO naval activity in the North Atlantic. A
- nuisance in peacetime, these planes pose a more serious threat in war
- eliminating them - and thus blinding the Soviet high command - is always a
- high priority in NATO war plans.
-
- Transports: The Soviet Union possesses numerous air transports for its
- huge force of airborne units. The most modern of these is the jet
- propelled An-72 "Coaler" which is particularly suited to fast, high
- priority missions like inserting commando teams or transporting critical
- command personnel.
-
- AEW&C Aircraft: The Soviets routinely deploy IL-76 "Mainstay" aircraft in
- the region. The 300+ mile radars on these planes may be your most
- formidable enemy.
-
- The Soviet Red Banner Northern Fleet
-
- The USSR's Northern Fleet offers both tempting targets and a significant
- threat. Its modern Sovremennyy-class destroyers carry SA-N-7 missiles.
- While Krivak class fig ates sport the SA N 4. the larger Kiev class
- carrier has the powerful SA-N-6, a sea going equivalent of the SA-10.
- These warships are more than capable of defending themselves. Stationed
- off the northern coast, they significantly extend the Soviet anti- aircraft
- umbrella.
-
- In addition to these ships' SAMs, Kiev-class carriers mount a complement of
- Yak-38 "jump jet" fighters. While less capable than ground based fighters,
- the British Harriers in the Falklands taught the world not to underestimate
- the capabilities of such planes.
-
- An upcoming addition to the Northern Fleet is a class of huge aircraft
- carriers fitting out in the Crimea. Tentatively titled the Kremlin-class,
- these ships are expected to join the fleet soon
-
- Soviet Cities and Targets
-
- Murmansk: This major city is the Soviet Union`s only ice free port with
- access to the Atlantic Ocean. Its great piers and depots support not only
- a steady stream of merchant shipping, but the powerful Red Banner Northern
- Fleet. Murmansk is literally 'at the end of the line." In this case a long
- railway line that runs southward 700 miles to Leningrad.
-
- Murmansk is the nerve center of the USSR's powerful air forces, including
- both air defense planes and naval aviation of the Northern Fleet.
- Satellite airfields surround the city, including large bases at Kildenstroy
- and Kilpyaur. The great Severomorsk submarine pens are also near Murmansk.
- This underground base is the home port for the new Typhoon class ballistic
- missile submarine.
-
- The Northern Fleet includes, roughly, one aircraft carrier, 75 other major
- surface warships, one marine brigade, 133 submarines, and 446 naval
- aircraft. The protection of its bases is the duty of 12 divisions of the
- Red Army (about 300,000 men) and 150 planes of Frontal Aviation (air force
- planes supporting the army) and the PVO (air force interceptors guarding
- the border).
-
- Pechenga: This town is the USSR's forward most military base in the far
- north and the inevitable staging point for any invasion into NATO
- territory. Although it has an airbase and strong SAM defenses. The
- Polyarnyy airbase complex to the east is somewhat larger
-
- Monchegorsk and Olenegorsk: Near the base of the Kola peninsula, these two
- towns are major airbases for long-range naval aviation bombers, as well as
- providing fighter and SAM cover to the railroad link between Murmansk and
- the south.
-
- Kandalaksha: This small port city is the main population centre at the
- base of the Kola peninsula. South of the city lies the Loukhi air defense
- complex, including a large SAM battery that covers this section of the
- Murmansk-Leningrad rail line
-
- Arkhangel'sk: Although closed by ice during the winter, Arkhangel`sk (the
- USSR's largest city on the Atlantic) has excellent transportation
- connections to the interior of Russia, and is almost totally invulnerable
- to enemy attack. In addition to large port facilities, the city is
- surrounded by military defenses, the most notable being the complexes at
- Severodvinsk and Kushkushara, and units of the Northern Fleet which patrol
- offshore in the White Sea.
-
- Friendly Bases
-
- Kautokeino: Located in the barren tundra of the Finnmarksvidda the
- Kautokeino airfield is well suited for operations across the top of Finland
- to Murmansk. The population is very small and the entire area well
- defended by tundra swamps and bogs in summer, or sub zero blizzards in
- winter.
-
- Lakselv: Located at the base of the Porsangen Fjord, Lakselv has an
- airfield ideally suited to operations into Russia. It is far enough from
- the border to survive the first few days of fighting, but close enough for
- easy access.
-
- CV Kennedy at Sea: Just recently, the Navy Secretary announced a new
- wartime policy of sending aircraft carriers deep into the Norwegian Sea, to
- challenge the USSRs fleet near its home. Although considered suicidal by
- some, this policy is certainly useful for launching stealth missions. Here
- CV67, one of the conventional carriers with the US Atlantic Fleet, makes a
- quick dash to the North Cape to launch your mission
-
- Neutral Bases
-
- Available neutral bases in this region are all Swedish. Sweden is strictly
- neutral in international politics, but economically closely tied to the
- Western Bloc. Given recent events and aggressive Soviet moves, it's not
- unlikely that a few clandestine stealth missions, or emergency landings,
- would be allowed at northern Swedish airbases
-
- Kiruna: the northernmost airfield in Sweden, this base is located in the
- nearly unpopulated foothills of the Esrange Mountains.
-
- Gallivare: Although this airfield is also far north in Sweden, Gallivare
- is a junction of rails and roads. In the summer months it is a popular
- tourist area, with the Muddus National Park a few miles to the west.
- Stealth missions operating from this base must be very discreet.
-
- Lulea: This fairly populous city is the main Swedish military base in the
- Northern Region. It is also a port on the Culf of Bothnia, the northern
- most arm of the Baltic Sea.
-
- Libya: 1986
-
- Libya is ruled by Col. Mu'ammar al-Qadhaffi, leader of the secret army
- organiza tion that deposed the former king in 1969. The capital city is
- Tripoli and the nations chief source of wealth is oil sold to western
- nations
-
- Level of Conflict
-
- Cold War: At times Libya has enthusiastically backed international
- terrorism The US has already attacked tactical military targets in
- retaliation for Libyas role in numerous incidents of international
- terrorism in Europe and the Mediterranean
-
- Limited War: The Libyan army has fought minor border clashes against Egypt
- a US ally, that so far has proved considerably superior. Future limited
- wars between Libya and any of her neighbors are possible.
-
- Conventional War: In the event of NATO-Warsaw Pact conflict Libya is
- expected to provide bases for Soviet aircraft and warships operating in the
- Mediterranean. These bases could become the western most outposts of
- Soviet forces in the Mediterranean
-
- Libyan Military Forces
-
- The Libyan Army has approximately 60,000 men. The Navy has 53 ships and
- 6,500 men, while the Air Force has about 530 planes, 30 combat helicopters
- and 8,500 men. A paramilitary "Pan-African Legion" of about 10,000 also
- exists. In addition Libya has built and supported a variety of training
- camps for terrorist groups.
-
- Libya buys most of its armaments from the Soviet Union with money earned
- from selling its vast oil reserves to the West. Personnel are trained by
- Soviet Military advisors, but national pride has prohibited any significant
- Soviet presence
-
- Air Defenses: Libyan air defenses use Soviet built equipment. SA-2
- "Guideline" and SA-5 "Gammon" SAMs have been the backbone of Libyan air
- defenses, but are being replaced by SA-10 "Grumble" and SA-12 "Gladiator"
- systems.
-
- Local ground forces use the SA-7 and SA-14 shoulder fired missiles. These
- are also popular terrorist weapons, and can be expected in the vicinity of
- terrorist camps. Libyan army units also use various medium-range SAMs,
- including the SA-8, -9, -11 and -13.
-
- Air Forces: The Libyan Air Force is composed of 140 MiG-23MF "Floggers" a
- small number of MiG 25 "Foxbats" and old MiG-21s, and various Mirage 5D
- fighter bombers. Your primary opponents will be MiG 23s and 25s, although
- in Conventional War, or against higher quality pilots, you may encounter
- MiG-29 "Fulcrums" flown by Soviet pilots.
-
- Libya's antiquated C-130H and C-47 air transports (built in the US) will
- probably be replaced by the new Soviet An-72 "Coaler" jet transport.
-
- Naval Forces: The Libyan Navy is primarily composed of missile corvettes
- and patrol boats. The largest of these are the 770 ton Russian built
- Nanuchka II class armed with Styx surface-to surface missiles, SA-N4
- surface to-air missiles, and a twin 57mm gun turret. The other boats
- include the Soviet Osa-class, Italian built Wadi M`ragh class and the
- French built La Combattante II types: these have poorer missiles and SA N
- 5 SAMs, or no SAMs at all.
-
- Libyan Cities and Targets
-
- Tripoli: the capital city of Libya has a large military civilian airbase
- at Idris, and is well protected by SAM batteries. Until recently these
- were long range SA-5 "Gammons," but there are indications that Soviet
- military advisors have replaced them with SA-12 Gladiators. Tripoli is
- also the site of a major army HQ, various military depots, oil storage
- areas, and terrorist training camps. Missile boats often cruise off the
- coast.
-
- Sabha: This southern town is the main military base supporting Libyas
- southerly border expansion. The most important military installations here
- are the large airbase and the SAM battery protecting it.
-
- Misratah and Sirt: These two coastal towns harbor low level military HQs
- and oil storage tanks for refueling ships. Sirt is a secondary naval base,
- supporting missile boats that cruise the western side of the "Line of
- Death."
-
- Ras Lanuf and Port Brega: Ras Lanuf is Libya's largest and newest oil
- facility Port Brega is an older facility. still in operation despite the
- completion of Ras Lanuf. A number of SAM batteries support the Port Brega
- airfield, west of the town
-
- Benghazi: This is the site of Libya's second largest military base and the
- Benina airfield. It boasts a military HQ and small oil storage facilities.
- Terrorists train in the western hills.
-
- Al Badya: This sleepy coastal town in the mountainous Jabal al Akbar has
- major military significance. It overlooks the narrow lonian Sea between
- Libya and Greece making it an ideal site for anti ship missiles. There is
- a small airstrip and SAM site as well
-
- Oil Fields: The great oil fields of Libya are in the southeast where
- thousands of wells pump crude to Ras Lanuf and Port Brega. Most of the
- great fields have a few storage tanks on site, to hold crude oil
- temporarily.
-
- Friendly Bases
-
- Sigonella on Sicily: The US maintains a military base at Trapani. The
- Sigonella military field in southeastern Sicily is the main staging point
- for air attacks against the North African coast
-
- Neutral Bases
-
- CV America at Sea: this 60,000-ton "Kitty Hawk" class conventional
- aircraft carrier, designated CV66, often serves with the US Sixth Fleet in
- the Med. A participant in recent raids against Tripoli and Benghazi, it is
- ideally positioned for strikes against Benghazi, the Gulf of Sirte, or
- targets deep in the Libyan desert.
-
- These airbases are in neutral territory. You should not use these bases
- unless specifically so ordered, or if you must make an emergency landing.
-
- Suda Bay on Crete: This airfield, near the city of Khania, is not a US
- base although it has been a major NATO air and naval base.
-
- Halfar on Malta: On the island of Malta, and once a critical position for
- the British Commonwealth in the Mediterranean. This base is now a neutral
- port and sometime tourist haven.
-
- Central Europe: 1986
-
- Since World War II Europe has been divided into two hostile blocs. On one
- side are the communist East European nations, created in the wake of Soviet
- armies at the end of WWII. On the other side are the democratic Western
- European nations. Since 1949 the West has been linked by NATO: In 1955
- the East formalized an equivalent organization the Warsaw Pact dominated by
- the USSR. From then to now the two geatest military organizations on earth
- have eyed each other along the East-West German border.
-
- Levels of Conflict
-
- Cold War: This is the situation of the last 40 years. The two sides
- maintain a wary posture, generally trying to avoid overt provocations.
- Probing each other to gain information, stir discontent in the enemy
- population, and gain psychological advan tages. The F-117A, designed for
- clandestine penetration, is the perfect aircraft for the secret operations
- common in this situation.
-
- Limited War: Now the conflict is at the brink of open warfare, but armies
- have not yet crossed borders. As hostilities escalate, the opportunity for
- stealth missions increases Conventional War: Warsaw Pact tanks pour over
- the West German border While NATO forces scramble to stem the onrushing
- tide. On one hand lies the specter of conventional defeat. On the other
- the disaster of thermonuclear war. Stealth aircraft airmobile raiding
- groups, and long-range "smart" munitions make the dangerous crossing over
- the front to hammer Soviet rear echelons. If they can isolate the Pact
- spearheads from their base, they may give the politicians an OPportunity to
- avert disaster
-
- Military Forces
-
- The Warsaw Pact can deploy almost three million men, about 80,000 armoured
- fighting vehicles, and 6,000 combat aircraft. Against this juggernaut the
- Western powers can field around two million men, 40,000 AFVs, and 4,000
- combat aircraft. The numerical imbalance is partially offset by the higher
- quality of the Western troops and equipment, presumably along with the
- traditional advantages of the defense
-
- Together, the two sides have almost ten thousand battlefield nuclear
- weapons in Europe. These range from small. sub kiloton shells designed to
- wipe out troop concent trations, to multi megaton city busters. Artillery,
- planes. and missiles of all types and ranges can deliver these weapons.
- At one time NATO felt it had to use nuclear weapons to compensate for
- numerical inferiority. Today it has an alternative plan; "Air-land battle,
- 2000." In this NATO uses superior technology, including its stealth planes,
- to attack deep in the rear of the Warsaw Pact armies. Destroying their
- logistical support If this innovative strategy works, NATO need not use
- nuclear weapons to stem the Red tide. However, failure would mean a choice
- between nuclear holocaust and the loss of Europe to the Soviet Union.
-
- Air Defenses
-
- Equipment: Since the "Central Front" forms the focal point of the war, the
- anti aircraft defenses on both sides are the most intensive in the world.
- The Soviets are certain to deploy large quantities of their most modern
- weapons, Sa-10s and Sa-12s for area defense. In some areas the older, less
- effective SA-5 long-range systems may still be in place.
-
- Radar guided SA-8s and SA1-11s are most commonly used for more local
- defenses especially near important military concentrations or objectives.
- A few are even sited near larger SAM batteries to provide local defense.
- The shorter ranged infrared SA-9s and especially SA-13s may appear instead
- if radar -guided weapons are not available At sea the Baltic missile boats
- typically have either SA N-5 or SA-N-7 systems although Krivaks and larger
- ships with SA N 4s can be expected in wartime
-
- Pact Air Forces
-
- The Soviet Air Force is the largest in the world, and one of the most
- modern. It deploys a wide variety of interceptor, bomber, and support
- aircraft. The Soviets know the value of air superiority and will give it
- high priority.
-
- Fighters: With 6,000 combat aircraft to choose from. You can bet the Red
- Air Force will find a few to spare for you. If you're lucky, you`ll see
- only second line MiG-23s but more likely quality dogfighters like the MiG
- 29 and Su 27 will be flying. In rear areas you're more likely to see long
- range interceptors like MiG-25s and MiG-31s
-
- Bombers: One of the most troublesome enemy bombers you`ll encounter is the
- Tu-95 "Bear" modified to carry cruise missiles. A number of these craft in
- orbit deep behind enemy lines gives them an "untouchable" airborne nuclear
- force
-
- AEW&C: The Soviet IL-76 "Mainstay" AEW&C was designed for work in this
- kind of environment. Flying "racetrack" orbits deep behind friendly lines,
- its powerful radars can see NATO air operations develop and radio
- appropriate orders to various fighter squadrons. The effort to develop
- these planes has been long and costly; the size weight, and expense of the
- electronic gear is gigantic. Each plane is precious eliminating them would
- cripple Soviet air operations
-
- Transports: Thousands of air transports will shuttle back and forth on
- both sides of the front line, carrying troops, raiding parties, munitions.
- staff officers, etc. The new Soviet workhorse that flies anywhere and
- carries almost anything is the An-72 "Coaler"
-
- Naval Forces
-
- The Soviet Baltic fleet, headquartered at Baltiysk outside of Kaliningrad,
- controls 4 cruisers, 16 destroyers, 7 Krivak class large frigates, 22
- missile boats and other light warships, 21 amphibious assault ships, and 45
- submarines. It also controls the East German and Polish navies, which have
- numerous additional frigates and missile boats. This force has two goals:
- to cover the northern flank of the Warsaw Pact from air attack, and to
- invade Denmark in the event of war.
-
- Stealth missions will generally deal with the former, your problem being
- how to penetrate the warship screen in the Baltic. The SA-N 5 is a first
- generation IR homer and no serious threat. The SA-N-4 uses older pulse
- radar guidance, but the new SA-N- 7 is a more serious problem. Fortunately
- very few Baltic warships carry the powerful long ranged SA N-10.
-
- Pact Cities and Targets
-
- East Germany: During a Limited or Conventional War the main strength of
- the Warsaw Pact forces will travel through here, surging into West Germany.
- The greatest natural barrier in East Germany is the Elbe River, running
- from the Czechoslovakian mountains northward to Hamburg. Destroying its
- bridges would be cut off from the pact`s forward troops from their bases.
-
- Covering the Pact's forward areas are two main air defense complexes, one
- in the north near Wittstock and Wittenburg, another in the south just east
- of Leipzig and Magdeburg. including the big radars at Mittenwalde and
- Grossenhaim
-
- Poland: In a NAtO-Pact conflict Poland is the "rear area" through which
- Soviet troops and supplies would flow toward the front lines. Many
- important HQs and depots are situated in the central and western part of
- the nation. The Wista-Vistula river system divides Poland in half, from
- north to south. Destroying the road and rail bridges can seriously damage
- Pact operations. Polish defense complexes include a powerful system west
- of Gdansk at Stupsk, and south of Lodz at Radom. In addition Warsaw is a
- major transportation hub, so active SAM batteries can be expected in that
- area during wartime.
-
- Czechoslovakia: This Pact nation. separated from Germany by the Ore Moun
- tains and the rugged highlands of the Bohemian Forest, is likely to play a
- secondary role in wartime. Czechoslovakian defenses are also somewhat
- lighter than East Germany and Poland. Tabor is the most significant
- installation. Far to the east, guarding the entrance to Hungary and
- southern Poland, is another defense complex at Konmarno.
-
- Kaliningrad: This region of the USSR, named after the major seaport of
- Kaliningrad (renamed from Konigsberg in 1945), is the Soviet "front-line"
- on the Baltic. It includes a major over-the horizon (OTH) radar station,
- as well as the Klaipeda Airbase.
-
- Friendly Bases
-
- West Germany, Holland, and Denmark are studded with airfields that could
- serve as bases for stealth raids into Eastern Europe. They form a gentle,
- north south cresent bulging west in the middle. Which is the most suitable
- starting point for a particular airstrike depends mainly on the location of
- the target. However, the F-117A unique characteristics will be most
- effective in the areas only thinly covered by radar to the north and south
- of the main arena. Therefore, deep penetration raids will usually start
- from Denmark or southern Germany. Shorter tactical strikes, however must
- fly directly into the mouth of the tiger.
-
- Jutland Peninsula - Vandel and Leck: These far northern bases make ideal
- jump-off points for raids out across the Baltic. Often it's easier to deal
- with missile boats in the Baltic than the heavier SAM defenses in East
- Germany and Poland
-
- Nothern Germany (Hanover) - Ahlhorn and Gutersloh: These bases directly
- behind British Army Of The Rhine (BAOR) face across the flat densly
- populated North German plain, the most likely axis of advance should the
- Warsar Pact attack NATO. therefore, they represent the most direct route
- to one of the greatest concentrations of hostiles in the world.
-
- Central Germany (Westphalia) - Rhein-Main and Ramstein: These bases are
- the great, famous bases of American air power in Europe. Rhein Main is one
- of the largest military bases in the world, while Ramstein is headquarters
- for the 4th Tactical Air Force, America's combat air arm in Europe.
-
- Southern Germany (Bavaria) - Neuberg Leipheim and Memmingen: These bases
- are all Luftwaffe (air force of the Federal Republic of Germany) but like
- many German bases, are entirely willing to host American aircraft as
- needed. Any of these bases makes an excellent jump off point for missions
- into Czechoslovakia
-
- The Middle East: 1989
-
- The Middle East has been the scene of constant tension and recurring
- warfare since the United Nations formed the nation of Israel in 1948. In
- the crucible of this conflict, the Israelis have forged a superior army and
- air force that has consistantly outmatched its opponents. The threat to
- Israel today comes from Syria and Iraq although Iraq has been significantly
- worn down by eight years of warfare with Iran The Jordanians have adopted a
- near-neutral policy and are not expected to take an active part in any near
- future conflict. Lebanon has been torn apart by civil war and invasions by
- Israel, Syria, and Palestinian refugees
-
- The Syrians and Iraqis are supported financially largely by the Saudi
- Arabians out receive their weapons and training from the USSR. Jordan and
- Saudi Arabia act independently and have relatively strong ties to the West.
-
- Level of Conflict
-
- Cold War: For many years, Syria has engaged in the trainig and supplying
- of various terrorist organizations, including the PLO, which has proved a
- never ending source of annoyance to the Israelis. In addition, several
- Western hostages are rumoured to be held somewhere in Syria.
-
- Iraq is in the process of building the region's most formidable armed
- force. The Iraqi military is working furiously to develop nuclear weapons,
- and already has large stores of chemical and biological devices. Saddam
- Hussein, Iraqs leader, ordered the use of these during the war with Iraq
- and is rumored to have used them against Kurdish rebels in his own country.
-
- Limited War: An Iraqi-backed Syrian invasion of Israel is underway and the
- Israelis have called upon the US for support. The Jordanians, as expected,
- are staying out of this fight for fear of losing what little armed force
- they have to defend themselves against their powerful neighbors
-
- Conventional War: In response to US air intervention in the Middle East
- the USSR has sent air forces into the region to support its Syrian and
- Iraqi allies. No superpower can keep its hands off all the oil that comes
- from this vast desert region. This war could quickly flare into a global
- superpower confrontation
-
- Syrian Forces
-
- Air Defenses: The Syrians use Soviet built equipment and are trained by
- Soviet advisers. They possess over 75 batteries of surface to-air missiles
- mostly SA-2 "Guidelines" and SA 5 "Gammons". Ground forces are equipped
- with SA-7 and SA-14 shoulder fired missiles, and these can also be expected
- in the vicinity of terrorist camps in Lebanon and Syria
-
- Air Forces: The Syrian Arab Air Force is composed of over 450 combat
- aircraft and 50,000 men. The majority of the interceptor aircraft
- available are MiG-21s and MiG 23s, with one squadron of MiG-25s. The MiG
- 25 squadron is reportedly serviced and manned by East Germans and Russians.
- Intelligence expects that MiG-21s and MiG- 23s will be your primary
- opponents, although you may encounter MiG-25s and possibly new MiG-29s
- flown by Soviet personnel.
-
- Syrian Cities and Targets
-
- Damascus: This ancient city, the capital of Syria, is situated east of a
- gap in the coastal mountain ranges and was founded on the east west trade
- route. Damascus is the major military base in Syria and home to a majority
- of the Syrian Arab Air force. Sub stantial SAM batteries and a major
- airbase are located west and southwest of the city.
-
- Dayr As Zawr Hims and Palmyre: These towns support airbases that guard
- Syria's northern and western border with turkey. Dayr Az Zawr is located
- at an ancient crossing point on the Euphrates River. Palmyre is a desert
- oasis town near the centre of Syria. Hims is northeast of Lebanon, helping
- to surround that country. All of these cities are protected by substantial
- air defense facilities.
-
- Halab: Previously known as Aleppo, this city is located in the northern
- hills of Syria near the turkish border. Aircraft based here cover the
- Tuurkish border and can reach south to Israel or into the Mediterranean
-
- Al Ladhiqyah: This town north of Lebanon on the Mediterranean coast is
- near the Turkish border and supports the airbase closest to Cyprus. It is
- not a shipping port but is a vacation spot and fishing center.
-
- Iraqi Forces
-
- Air Defenses: Iraq is just beginning to invest large resources in air
- defense, but currently has only 10,000 men assigned to this branch.
- Largely separated from enemies to the west and north, and just ending a
- bloody, protracted war with Iran, it has concentrated most of its defense
- against air attacks in the east. SAM batteries deployed are either SA 2
- "Guidelines" or SA-5 "Gammons"
-
- Air Forces: The Iraqi air force has modern equipment, but did not
- demonstrate a high degree of training or skill during the war against Iran.
- The main air defense aircraft are MiG 21s and Mirage F 1s, although a few
- MiG 25s and MiG-29s are known to be in service.
-
- Iraqi Cities and Targets
-
- Baghdad: The capital city of Iraq is located between the Tigris and
- Euphrates Rivers. Although low in strength due to war losses, major
- elements of the Iraqi air force are based here. Outside the city is a
- nuclear power plant that many believe is producing materials for nuclear
- weapons
-
- Mosul: The second largest city in Iraq also has heavy air defenses and a
- nuclear facility is thought to be operating nearby. Probably because of
- this and the close proximity to turkey, Mosul has heavy SAM protection.
-
- Kirkuk, Habbabiyah, and H3: At these locations the Iraqis have airbases
- ringing their country. Kirkuk faces Iran and H3 is an outpost at a pumping
- station in the desert along a major oil pipeline to Syria.
-
- Jordanian Forces
-
- Air Defenses: Jordanian air defense is obsolete, relying primarily upon
- the antiquated MIM 23B, "Hawk" missile system, a good weapon for the 1970s
- but not for the late 1980s.
-
- Air Forces: Jordanian air power, too, is limited to a couple of types.
- The main type of aircraft is the US-built F-5, an inexpensive strike
- fighter that is obsolete by todays standards. The other is the French
- Mirage F-1, an outdated fighter bomber
-
- Jordanian Cities and Targets
-
- Amman: Amman is the capital of Jordan and home for the major elements of
- the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
-
- Ma' An: Outside this city is the Prince Hassan Airbase, where half of the
- air forces combat planes are deployed. Planes were placed here to reach
- the Sinai Peninsula but now that the Israelis have made peace with Egypt,
- air elements here may be moved further north to cover the West Bank areas.
-
- Friendly Bases
-
- Akrotiri on Cyprus: Aircraft from this British airbase are capable of
- reaching targets along the Mediterranean coast. US or Israeli aircraft
- would not normally base there, but would use the facilities in an
- emergency.
-
- CVN Eisenhower at Sea: This 80,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear carrier often
- serves with the US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. Here it cruises off
- the coast of Lebanon, positioned to strike anywhere along the Mediterranen
- coast. Carrying a complement of approximately 85 aircraft, the Eisenhower
- is constantly guarded by a combat air patrol of fighter planes.
-
- Ramat David, Tel Nof, Lod, and Hatzerim: These Israeli airbases are home
- for the fighters and fighter bombers of the air force many consider to be
- the best in the world. Backed up against the sea by enemies or
- non-friendly neutrals, the Israelis must be prepared to launch air defense
- or attack missions in any of three directions. A long standing US ally,
- Israel's bases would be shared freely with US forces during wartime
-
- Malatya in Turkey: Turkey is a NATO ally and no friend of Iraq or Syria.
- This airbase is home for aircraft assigned to defend Turkey's southeast
- border and from here planes can reach the capitals and other targets within
- both Iraq and Syria
-
- Tabuk in Saudi Arabia: This minor airbase serves as a defensive post along
- the Saudi Arabian frontier. In any armed conflict in the region, US
- aircraft would only be allowed to land here in an emergency, unless
- circumstances clearly called for Saudi Arabian support of US interests or
- vice versa
-
- Desert Storm: 1991
-
- The western end of the Persian Gulf protrudes into the center of the map,
- and around it lie the region's three most powerful nations: Iran, north of
- the Gulf; to the west Iraqi and Saudi Arabia to the south. Between them
- all, sitting astride the most valuable oil fields on Earth, is the tiny
- Arab sheikdom of Kuwait.
-
- Iran, the successor state to ancient Persia, is ruled by a radical
- fundamentalist Shi'ite Moslem regime, a brutal government that has actively
- tried to spread revolu tionary fundamentalism to its neighbors. Iran has a
- large population and oil revenues to support a powerful military (though
- obtaining modern military equipment has been difficult since 1979, when it
- basically declared war on the world
-
- Iraq is a populous Arab country centered on the fertile Tigris and
- Euphrates river valleys. It has a Shi'ite Moslem majority but is ruled by
- Saddam Husseins Baath Party which is dominated by Sunni Moslems Wealth from
- oil revenues has enabled presi dent Saddam to build a well-equipped, modern
- military, outfitted mainly with Soviet built equipment and trained by Red
- Army advisers. In 1980, sensing potential weakness to the east. Saddam
- ordered an invasion of Iran. For eight long years, the two countries
- fought a savage and debilitating war of attrition. When a cease fire was
- finally signed in 1988 neither side had gained anything except the deaths
- of hundreds of thousands
-
- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a vast, underpopulated desert ruled by a
- conser native royal family. Like its neighbors, Saudi Arabia has spent
- much of its considerable oil wealth on modern arms, purchased mainly from
- the West. Like other Gulf states Saudi Arabia fears Iran's Islamic
- fundamentalism will incite rebellion among its own populace. Accordingly,
- Saudi Arabia lent monetary support to Saddams Iraq during the Iran Iraq war
-
- Arrogant, oil rich Kuwait, with the highest per capita income in the world,
- is disliked by all three Gulf giants. Kuwait has also spent freely on
- armaments, but it is so small that it cannot really rely on arms for
- protection. Instead, it trusts its staggering wealth to pay for its
- troubles. Despite its longstanding border disputes with Iraq (over
- ownership of some of the richest oil producing terrain known), Kuwait also
- supported Iraq with cash during the Iran Iraq war.
-
- 1990 found Saddam Hussein in a bind. He had nothing to show for his
- disasterous eight year war with Iran except staggering foreign debt. His
- economy was depressed and his personal myth as a great Arab leader in
- doubt.
-
- To Saddam, it was clear that only a major move on the world stage could
- recoup his losses and put his regime back on the road to glory. Kuwait,
- virtually undefended the richest piece of real estate in the world, seemed
- like an easy mark. Who would come to the aid of unloved Kuwait? If Iraq
- absorbed Kuwait in a lightning invasion, Saddam was confident that the
- nations of the world will bluster for a few weeks take note of his powerful
- military, then accept it.
-
- It was to be a costly mistake
-
- Within days following the invasion, US air, ground, and naval forces
- gathered in the area, and prepared to meet what was believed to be Saddams
- next move: an invasion of Saudi Arabia. For several weeks the build up
- continued and US forces dug in to the desert in Operation Desert Shield.
- Almost unbelievably, the Iraqis did nothing but wait for the forces
- opposing them to get stronger. Soon, US forces were joined by soldiers
- from Great Britain, France, Egypt, Syria, and a host of others
-
- While the build up continued Allied leaders demanded the "complete and
- unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait." Saddam was
- recalcitrant. Soon the US-led coalition had achieved an irresistible force
- of men and equipment, airpower and seapower ..but Saddam refused to move
-
- On January 16, 1991 US air forces led by F-117A stealth fighters began a
- long withering bombardment of Iraqi strategic targets . . .
-
- Levels of Conflict
-
- Cold War: During the build up, the F-117A is used to fly reconnaissance
- sorties over Iraq and occupied Kuwait to determine the strength and
- dispositions of Iraqi forces
-
- Limited War: During the first few weeks of the aerial bombardments,
- Coalition forces are very careful to restrict their sorties to surgical
- strikes. The tense political environment of the Gulf makes wanton
- destruction unwise.
-
- Conventional War: As the bombardment continues the the target list is
- expanded until, when the ground troops finally go in, all military targets
- are fair game.
-
- Iraqi Military Forces
-
- Iraq has the world's fourth largest standing army, deploying around 50
- divisions with nearly a million troops under arms. Many of these soldiers
- are poorly trained poorly motivated, and poorly led, but at the core of the
- Iraqi army are the eight elite divisions of the Republican Guard, whose
- morale is high and whose equipment is first rate.
-
- Air Defenses: Iraq has invested heavily in surface to air missiles
- especially SA-2 "Guidelines" SA 6 "Gainfuls" and SA9 "Gaskins" but you may
- face almost any Soviet made SAM in the catalog. Older SAMs like the SA 2s
- have been considerably improved by Iraq's domestic missile industry, which
- has added enhancements like modern infrared terminal guidance systems.
- Iraq also has a vast array of antiaircraft artillery ("triple-A"), but it
- lacks modern fire control. It offers little threat, and isnt even
- represented in the game.
-
- Air Forces: The Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al lraquiya, the Iraqi Air force, has
- over 500 modern combat planes, including a number of very formidable
- fighters and interceptors. The types you are most likely to encounter are
- the MiG-29 "Fulcrum" MiG 23 "Flogger" and the Mirage F-1E The F-1E is built
- by the French Dassault Aviation company, and is a multi-role air
- superiority/ground attack fighter with modern avion ics and the ability to
- carry Exocet anti-ship missiles. Normally the F-1 is configured to carry
- French Matra 550 air to air missiles, but the Iraqi planes may have been
- altered to enable carriage of Soviet AAMs.
-
- Kuwait Cities and Targets
-
- Kuwait City: At the head of the Gulf is Kuwait City, capital of Kuwait and
- home to nearly all the country's population. Occupying Iraqi troops have
- made the city an armed camp, within which the Baathist secret police
- conduct a reign of terror
-
- Sea Island: The pumping station here gushes crude oil directly into the
- Gulf, an act of Iraqi environmental terrorism.
-
- Kuwait,Saudi Border: Look closely and you'll see Iraqi armored units
- awaiting the Coalition invasion, or orders to attack Saudi Arabia to the
- South
-
- Iraqi Cities and Targets
-
- Basra: Iraq`s second-largest city boasts an oil refinery and a major
- airbase. Fixed Scud launching sites are located to the west.
-
- Jalibah and Amarah: These are major Iraqi airbases. Capturing Jalibah
- west of Basra, will be a goal of Coalition troops when the ground war gets
- underway
-
- Baghdad: Iraq's capital and largest city, Baghdad is also the country`s
- military command center. Targets here include the Defense Ministry, the
- Presidential Palace a nuclear weapons research plant, an oil refinery and a
- major airbase
-
- Samarra and Qaim: Biological weapons plants are located in these towns
-
- Salman Pak: This is iraq's most important chemical weapons plant
-
- Habbaniyah and Hadithah: Iraqi Air Force bases.
-
- Mosul: Targets at this important northern city include a nuclear weapons
- research facility and an airbase.
-
- Kirkuk: Another major city, defended by an Iraqi airbase.
-
- Samarra: This town is the home of another major chemical weapons plant
-
- Irbil: The research facility here is an important part of Saddams nuclear
- weapons project.
-
- Friendly Bases
-
- Tabuk, Ha'il, Buraydah, Shagra: These desert airstrips have been ex panded
- for the use of Coalition planes making strikes into Iraq
-
- Riyadh: The capital of Saudi Arabia, and equipped with a large airbase.
- Riyadh is a frequent target of Iraqi Scud missile attacks.
-
- Dhahran and Huffuf: Dhahran is perhaps the largest, most modern airbase
- serving the Coalition
-
- CV Constellation in the Gulf: Of course, Air Force (Lockheed) F-117As did
- not actually fly from Navy carriers in the Gulf War, but naval air played
- such an important part in the air campaign that we thought they shouldn`t
- be overlooked. (And besides, the MicroProse F-117A is fully equipped to
- launch from carriers.)
-
- Vietnam: 1994
-
- Now roughly 20 years since the end of the Vietnam war. The Vietnamese
- military is expanding its hold in Southeast Asia, seeking to become a
- regional superpower. Their first move was to officially absorb Laos into
- Vietnam, and divide it into several provinces under direct Hanoi control.
- Secondly. they pushed back into Cambodia under the pretense of solving the
- confusing political situation there, and ousting once and for all Pol Pot's
- threat of resurfacing as a tyrannical leader.
-
- In the Soviet Union, meanwhile, the conservatives have had, enough of
- reform and decadence, and have reasserted their dominance over the course
- of the nations future They are now fueling regional communist states into
- expansion and inciting revolution just like "the good old days." Now, only
- pro-Western Thailand remains to stand against Soviet-backed Vietnamese
- expansion in Southeast Asia - looks like the "domino theory" should be
- dusted off again.
-
- Level of Conflict
-
- Cold War: As soon as it is clear that Vietnam has aggressive designs on
- her neighbors, F-117A sorties are initiated over the area for recon and
- selective strikes
-
- Limited War: With the annexation of Laos and invasion of Cambodia, US
- response intensifies. Ground troops are sent into the theater and
- aggresive air activity is initiated
-
- Conventional War: The Vietnamese invasion of Thailand initiates outright
- war between US forces and the Vietnamese army. The full power of the US
- military machine is again in action in Southeast Asia.
-
- Vietnamese Military Forces
-
- AirDefenses: The North Vietnamese use Soviet built equipment and are
- trained by Soviet advisors. The majority of the SAMs deployed are SA 10
- "Grumble" and SA-11 "Gadfly" Vietnamese ground forces are also equipped
- with good Soviet equipment they carry SA 7B "Grail" shoulder launched
- missiles, and some units are equipped with SA 9B "Gaskin."
-
- Air Force: The majority of the fighter aircraft in the Vietnamese Air
- Force are MiG 21s and MiG 23s some what out dated but still effective. The
- soviets have also sold a substantial number of MiG 25s, a few MiG29
- "Fulcrum" and intelligence reports sightings of the Su 27 as well; the
- MiG29s and Su 27s are probably being operated by Soviet personnel.
-
- Navy: the Vietnamese Navy consists only of a few torpedo boats transferred
- to it from the navies of Communist China and the Soviet Union. From the
- Soviets came 190-ton SO 1 class boats and from the Chinese came Shanghai II
- class boats. Both these boats are antiquated compared to a modern navy.
- but their crews may carry SA 7B "Grails".
-
- End Of Part 2
-
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