Strike at Cam Pha
This scenario is based on a strike by CVW-11 from Kitty Hawk in April 1966 and b
est played as blue player.
An aerial campaign called "Rolling Thunder" started in 1965 to strike targets in
North Vietnam. For political considerations the campaign did not start with all
out blows against infrastructure targets, but intensity increased over time. Th
is gave the North Vietnamese the time to also increase air defense density and e
ffectiveness over time.
Now is the time to strike the North's supply lines. While the harbor of Haiphong
is off limits for the "Rolling Thunder" interdiction campaign, the nearby coal
port Cam Pha has been put on the target list.
On the US side Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) stationed on CV Kitty Hawk is availa
ble for the strike. On the North Vietnamese side MiG interceptors based at Kep a
nd a tightly integrated air defense system over Haiphong and Cam Pha is in place
.
The target Cam Pha lies in Route Package VIb.
19th April 1966, CVA-63, CVW-11
Strike Cam Pha (ZXp) harbor and inflict considerable damage to the facilities. Intel has revealed that several SA-2 SAM and AAA batteries guard the harbour. Care has to be taken to at least suppress the SAM batteries while the strike is on target.
Any shipping visually identified as hostile is a priority target and has to be sunk. Take care that no neutral shipping is affected by those strikes.
Haiphong (ZYp) and harbor facilities are off limits. There is a 20 mile no fly zone around Haiphong for this strike.
Kep airfield (ZZa) is also off limits for this strike.
Aboard Kitty Hawk is a squadron of A-1 Skyraider. While carrying a huge bomb load these planes are considered unfit for combat over Route Package VIb and should be kept as a reserve in case need for any SAR mission comes up.
Approximately 100nm north of the carrier group (AAC) a guided missile cruiser (Chicago) is on Red Crown duty, coordinating air interceptions (ABS).
SAR coverage has to be provided by the carrier group (AAC) itself. It is recommended to send helicopters to Red Crown station (ABS), refuel them there and be on alert from there.
Your strike force consists of
Kitty Hawk and escorts (AAC) with CVW-11
A-6A for strike and SEAD VA-85 "Black Falcons"
A-4C for strike and SEAD VA-113 "Stingers"
A-1H for reserve and SAR VA-115 "Arabs"
A-3B for tanker VAH-4 Det C "Four Runners"
E-2A for AEW VAW-11 Det C
F-4B for CAP and armed escort VF-114 "Aardvarks"
F-4B for CAP VF-213 "Black Lions"
RA-5C for recon RVAH-13 "Bats"
UH-2 for SAR HC-1 Dl Unit C
RA-3B for recon VAP-61 Det
EA-3B for EW VQ-1 Det
Chicago and escorts (ABS)