Operation Knight
This operation reflects a series of armed recce missions during Rolling Thunder. It is a fictional operation that takes place after the Tet offensive. The operation is best played as blue (US).
Besides so called alpha strikes against major targets Up North, Rolling Thunder was an interdiction campaign against the supplies and reinforcements sent from North Vietnam to the south. For operational purposes North Vietnam was divided into 'Route Packages'. The different Route Packages were assigned to Navy or Air Force.
Task Force 77, consisting of two carriers (AAC) plus support vessels, is tasked to conduct armed recce missions over North Vietnam in Route Packages III and IV. This is roughly the area from Thanh Hoa (ZPa) to north of Dong Hoi (ZQa). In the middle between these airfields lies Vinh (YFm), a major hub on the way south. Vinh also marks the southern most extension of the SAM defense, which extends from there all the way to the north of Haiphong.
The Task Force's supporting assets are the guided missile cruisers Horne and Biddle and escorts. Biddle and escort (AES) is on PIRAZ duty, providing intel on activities in the red river delta and is also acting as forward defense for the fleet. Horne and escort (ADS) is acting as Red Crown and coordinates air interceptions. Augmenting the fleets effort is a destroyer group (AFS), cruising closer to the area of operations. Navy Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters can be found on Biddle (AES) and Horne (ADS). The SAR helicopters are supposed to work with the destroyers (AFS) in case of a SAR operation.
US Air Force (USAF) forces in Korat, Thailand (ABa), are ready to strike the Dong Hoi (ZQa) airfield, which lies in the middle of Route Package II. A squadron of F-4C (escort) and F-105D (strike) and support aircraft are available for this task. The F-105D Thunderchief lack the endurance to make it to the target, so the KC-135 tankers should be used to extend their range.
Further USAF forces are in Nakhom Phanom (ACa), ready for any SAR task..
Blue Orders:
The operation consists of several parts:
1) Close Dong Hoi (ZQa) airfield (USAF)
2) Conduct iron hand missions north of Dong Hoi (ZQa) to Vinh (YFm) (USN)
3) Conduct iron hand missions north of Vinh (YFm) to Thanh Hoa (ZPa) (USN)
4) Conduct armed recce north of Doing Hoi (ZQa) to Vinh (YFm) (USN)
5) Conduct armed recce north of Vinh (YFm) to Thanh Hoa (ZPa) (USN)
6) Lookout for a stranded pilot, shot down yesterday (neutral); if found launch rescue mission from Nakhon Phanom (ACa) or the destroyer group (AFS)
Rules of Engagement:
Do not engage enemy outside of Route Package II, III and IV, e.g. north of Thanh Hoa.
Vinh is a protected zone. Only engage air defenses in the city perimeter when attacked first.
Any shipping targets most be positively visually identified first.
Your aircraft is composed of the following:
Bon Homme Richard
F-8E for CAP (VF-51 "Screaming Eagles")
F-8E for Armed Escort (VF-53 "Iron Angles")
A-4E for Strike (VA-93 "Blue Blazers")
EKA-3B for Jamming (VAW-13 Det 31)
A-4E for SEAD (VA-94 "Mighty Shrikes")
RF-8G for Recon (VFP-63 Det 31)
E-1B for AEW (VAW-III Det 31)
Enterprise
F-4B for CAP (VF-92 "Silver Kings")
F-4B for Armed Escort (VF-96 "Fighting Falcons")
A-4E for Strike (VA-56 "Champions")
A-6A for Strike (VA-35 "Black Panthers")
EKA-3B for Jamming (VAW-13 Det 65)
RA-5c for Recon (RVAH-1 "Smokin' Tigers")
E-2A for AEW (VAW-112)
KA-3B for Tanker (VAH-2 Det 65)
Nakhon Phanom
A-1H for Rescue support (1st Special Operations Squadron )
HH-3 for SAR (37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron)
Khorat
F-105D for Strike (34th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Rude Rams")
F-4C Phantom II (497th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Hooters", historically deployed in Ubon)
EB-66C for Jamming (42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron)
EC-121 for AEW (552nd Airborne Early Warning & Control Wing)