Following on from last weeks succesful mission we were tasked with destroying the SA-11 threat in the area.
11 was armed with two AGM-88 HARMs while 2 and 3 were loaded with SDBs.
The plan was to have 2 and 3 attack the 7th Air Defence Battalion with their SDBs and 1 would follow up with a HARM shot in HAS POS mode on the Snowdrift FCR. 2 and 3 pushed ahead with 3 launching first followed closely by 2 (who only loosed half of his ordnance). While those bombs were in the air, 1 fired the HARM.
Reviewing the ACMI showed the HARM hitting and destroying the Snowdrift before the SDBs arrived. Luckily the rest of the battalion stayed where they were and were summarily destroyed.
3 was Dakota by this time and instructed to orbit at the IP. 1 had one HARM left and 2 had three SDB. After discussing tasking with Warhawk, 1 and 2 headed for the surviving Straight Flush from last week's attack. No3 was called to rejoin for air cover. No1 dispatched the Straight Flush and No2's SDB's destroyed multiple launchers in that battalion.
As the attack ended we had "27" spikes from the SE. 1 and 2 turned west to get some distance while 3 engaged them. 3 got too close as AWACs was Midnight and he had no ID. So down he went. 1 had turned to assist but was too slow and heavy (600 gal wing tanks) and the SU-33 (as they turned out to be) shot him down despite his efforts to evade.
No 2 shot one of the SU-33's down and Lambda from the other flight shot down the other. No 2 RTB'd safely.
Lessons Learned; 1. Don't go into an air fight with heavy bags and low speed. It's a recipe for disaster. 2. Allow time for SDBs to hit their targets before launching quicker ordnance at the same area.
4.37.3.2 KTO Bear Trap 15 (3rd March)
Posted - 04 Mar 2024 : 16:09:37
