From: NBC Nightly News Report

 

"The U.S. military said Tuesday that the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived off Somalia’s coast and launched intelligence-gathering missions over Somalia. Three other U.S. warships were conducting anti-terror operations."

 

How would the "intelligence-gathering missions over x" be represented in H4 terms. What sensors would be relied upon most. I can remember in the beginning of A Bridge Too Far when the low-altitude, streaking photo recon plane taking pictures missed the panzers hiding under trees. I also can think of platforms like the predominantly high-altitude MiG-25R.

 

Would it be correct to assume that due to the relatively permissive anti-air threat, that these flights are made?

 

Thanks,

I believe Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7) is deployed with the Eisenhower CSG, and this has the VF-143 Pukin' Dogs. This squadron in turn is equipped with Super Hornets, and therefore, I'd say they are probably using the SHARP reconnaissance pod.

 

IIRC, Djibouti (where the AC-130 gunships flew from recently) has also operated Predator UAVs in the past, and I would not be surprised if they are being used as well.

 

(Slightly off topic, but it seems the attack sub USS Newport News, which had been assigned to the Eisenhower group as well, stayed behind when the carrier and her escorts moved to the Horn of Africa. As evidenced by her unfortunate collision with the supertanker).

and therefore, I'd say they are probably using the SHARP reconnaissance pod.

Thanks for the quick response Brad. I googled Sharp Reconnaissance pod and came up with this.

 

Now I just would like to smooth the interface into H4 workable terms. See if I can replicate something like that.