It’s a misty summers afternoon on the Stennis. The visibility at low level is not good and there is a 15-knot wind from the south. You, Ford, have just dropped into the cockpit of your Hornet f18C. You are about to carry out your Weapons Deployment Practice Sortie.
This one sortie will test your ability to deploy various weapons in various ways , the operation of the radio, the execution of JTAC protocols and the entry of coordinates for target locations both whilst on the ground and flying, You will need to navigate in poor visibility caused by low level mist using Tacan, Runway headings and ( in the case of the carrier only) ICSL. This whilst landing both at a land base ( for rearming and refuelling) and returning to the carrier. Oh, and there will be a cross wind at the air base, and you never no there could be an airborne interception !
The mission is fully voiced (Auto)
To successfully pass the Weapon Deployment Practice Sortie you will need carry out the following :-
1. A cold start on the carrier.
2. Hooking up to the Cat 2 (remember to get the wheel chocks removed before taxi)
3. Operation of the radio and its frequencies throughout the sortie
4. Taking off and following the sortie way points and instructions.
5. Dropping a Mark 83 bomb successfully on target first using way point targeting and then converting to CCIP for delivery. Avoiding ground-based guns.
6. Dropping a GBU 12 successfully on target fr om high level to avoid numerous SAM sites using an auto delivery linked with laser guidance from a ground based JTAC. Carrying out all 9 line communications required.
7. Landing and refuelling / re-arming at an air base in very poor visibility conditions using Tacan, Runway Course Heading and radio communications. (Note 15knt cross wind from the south when landing)
8. Rearm and refuel wh ere and as directed.
9. Take information for new targets and enter coordinates into aircraft systems.
10. Take out SAM site on hill using AGM65F
11. Take out moving tank in poor visibility using AGM65E with help of lasing JTAC. Carry out all necessary 9 line communications.
12. Take additional target information coordinates whilst in the air.
13. Locate using given coordinates and take out moving tank on road using AGM65F.
14. Deal with and take out any air interceptions using attack radar (for location) and AIM9X AA missiles and/or Gun.
15. Locate and land back at Stennis in poor visibility conditions using Tacan and ICSL system using all necessary communications.
SORTIE NOTES
STENNIS ATC 127.500 MHZ
WP1 TURNING POINT
WP2 TURNING POINT RUN IN FOR TARGET 1
WP3 TARGET 1 (BARRACKS) MK83 CCIP (THREAT GUNS)
WP4 TARGET 2 (BARRACKS) GBU 12 JTAC AXEMAN LASE 133.000MHZ CODE 1688 ( THREAT 4 SAM OSA RANGE 5.5 NM)
SENAKI ATC 132.000MHZ TACAN 31X RW HEADING 275
TARGET 3 (SAM OSA ON HIGH GROUND RANGE 5.5 NM) AGM65 F N 42 27 18 E 42 58 31 ALT 5781
TARGET 4 (MOVING TANK BY LAKE) JTAC DARK KNIGHT LASE 1688 144.000MHZ AGM65 E N 42 22 22 E 42 18 53 ALT 377
TARGET 5 (TANKS ON ROAD IN VALLEY) AGM65F N 42 36 17 E 42 22 10 ALT 1450 FT
STENNIS RETURN 125.500MHZ TACAN 10X ICLS CHANNEL 1
