1(F) Squadron have been tasked with deploying to the Persian Gulf to assist in the ongoing Operation Portcullis, 1(F) will deploy in to the AO from the west and 1 Sqn will enter the conflict zone from the West with accompanying tankers and additional AWACS aircraft. They will be accompanied by a flight of F18's from the OCU. The F18's are tasked with escorting the AWACS and tankers and will intercept any incoming threat to assist 11Sqn (F14) as required. The AV8B aircraft will remain as close protection for the AWACS and tankers in the event of “Leakers” getting past the F18's and F14's.
Briefings to follow once all route cards have been received from higher.
Op Portcullis is based on the threat of Iran closing the Straits of Hormuz by invading the top of the UAE peninsula. By doing this they can place Silkworm anti-shipping missle systems on both banks of the Strait and effectively prevent any shipping from entering.
The Campaign will consist of 5 phases:
Counter Air - winning the air war and degrading air assets. Kill enemy aircraft in the air, bomb airfields and airforce infrastructure, destroy SAM systems.
Air Interdiction - Attacking ifrastructure, power installations,roads, rail links, fuel depots, ports etc, reducing their ability to supply or move their forces.
Battlefield Interdiction - Attacking their forces in the field, destroying armour, artillery, MLRS systems, fortified positions and any supply dumps.
Maritime Operations - if necessary. Attacking military shipping, fast-attack boats and naval facilities.
Pre Invasion - Attacking ports, beach heads, coastal defences in preparation for NATO forces putting boots on the ground and fully regaining control of the Straits, restoring safe passage.
Each phase will consist of two or three missions. Each consecutive mission will be based on the results of the previous one, so be prepared to fly over the wreckage that you created on the last one. If an objective is not completed, it will be rescheduled and flown again in the next mission.
The Iranian forces that we are up against is based on Janes estimate of their "serviceable" strength and will diminish in real terms. By the same token, our stocks will be based on the same basis - Carriers will have a real world level of wpn stocks, as will land bases, so no unlimited amount of GBU's or LGB's, Phoenix etc or smart weapons. Waste stock and you'll be dropping dumb bombs, Sqn Cdrs take note.
Initially, waypoint planning will be done by the OCU for all Sqns with a FRAG to Sqn Cdrs giving them complete control over their loadouts, tactics, formations and fuel etc. Once everyone gets used to the FRAG and creating their own briefings, I am hoping that the .miz can be efficiently circulated through the Sqn Cdrs so that they can plan their own missions in every detail from their FRAG. This would get us into a far more realistic mission planning environment, making it far more immersive for all and reducing the planning load for any single entity. Efficiency is the key - if we go this way, Sqn Cdrs must turn the .miz around in 24hrs and pass it on to the next Sqn Cdr. I'm hoping that this can be done in a fixed order every time and I'll publish that once we get to that stage.
The first Mission will be a precursor to the campaign: Flying Into Theatre.
Some assets are in place in the UAE, having been there on exercise prior to the Invasion. The numbers here are based on the responses we have had to the initial publicity for the campaign, but now that we are running it on a Tuesday night I suspect that we will have to increase numbers, so don't panic, we will augment numbers as necessary but not last minute! If you want in, say so ASAP. Current numbers are:
OCU F18 up to 12 (Flying in on 1st mission)
NAS F18 4 (In country on ex)
AV8B 4 (Flying in)
A10C 8 (In country on ex)
F16 0 (due to tech problems with the DCS airframe)
F14 6 (Based on approaching Carrier Group from the East)
It's been a long road getting it all in place but I hope that we can give you an enjoyable and demanding look into war-fighting from the air. I am grateful for all the support on behalf of the OCU and look forward to seeing you all in the air.
Regards