Super Hornet Engages Moving Targets with JDAM

[The Chief]

Imitative deception was often encountered but never, if ever, effective, albeit confusing at times. This is based on having reviewed some 200 or so reports of attempted deception.

Somewhat related, on a Pearl/Yoko transit of the Connie, we placed a radar, identical to the Connie's, on the DLG running nothern screen for the carrier, 150 - 200 miles out. When the expected overflight by Petro based TU-95's were inbound, the Bears identified the DLG as the carrier (heavy overcast), they made their A/S missle run on the DLG, declared it a success and reported a simulated kill of the carrier. Bugged out home without getting with 250 miles of the carrier.

 

[Fly Navy]

Somewhat related, on a Pearl/Yoko transit of the Connie, we placed a radar, identical to the Connie's, on the DLG running nothern screen for the carrier, 150 - 200 miles out. When the expected overflight by Petro based TU-95's were inbound, the Bears identified the DLG as the carrier (heavy overcast), they made their A/S missle run on the DLG, declared it a success and reported a simulated kill of the carrier. Bugged out home without getting with 250 miles of the carrier.

I've read about this kind of tactic. Sucks to be the poor bastards on the DLG if it was a real attack... but the carrier is saved... and maybe you'd have a chance at waxing some bombers in the process?

 

[The Chief]

...maybe you'd have a chance at waxing some bombers in the process?

All emitters have a finger print. Just like submarines have a acoustic signature. We confirmed that they were using emitter characteristics rather than the RFP, that added to our knowledge of their probable capabilities.

We knew the Bears were inbound a full 8 hours before they arrived. We intercepted them way out, each time and everytime. AOB to go after any missile fired then the mother A/C.

Once we lost contact with the Bear, he apparently went way south and arc'd to the east. CAP thought they found him but as they broke cloud cover it was ID' as Pan AM Flight 001. Imagine that PAA pilot being distubred from his sleep by a couple of Navy fighers in mid-ocean. WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

 

[A4sForever]

The A-6 was there and did it's job in its time and place. Nothing did it better ... and it did it while the early FA-18's were still trying to figure out what their place in the world of Naval Aviation was .... check the early sorties against Saddam and Operation Southern Watch. Did I say A-6's were doing better than FA-18's ??? Yeah, you know, the early FA-18's --- the ones that are baking in the sun @ Davis-Monthan right now?? A-6's repeatedly got better air-ground results for a longer time --- but that was then.

The FA-18 "Super" and all its variants is going to do a great job for the Navy .... its time and place is arriving ..... the A-6 is gone and can rest on its laurels. And they are many --- it's all good stuff --- and nothing lasts forever.

Except attitude ...

 

[SteveG75]

How often did people fall for that? Wouldn't you have to be pretty out to lunch on your SA to fly in the opposite direction of where your boat SHOULD be (you know... at sea)?

And sometimes we did it to ourselves (from "The Intruder's Lighter Side", a collection of great stories):

There we were…we launched off the Coral Sea as a target for an Taiwanese Air Defense Exercise. Unfortunately the Air Boss gave us the wrong launch position on the 5MC. We were one degree farther North (i.e. 60 NM closer to Red China) than we thought. Our low alt ingress (with radar off in order to delay our detection) combined with a bit of salt spray on the windscreen caused us to be only about 9 miles from land before we could see it. Unfortunately we were expecting to see Taiwan on our right and saw Red China off to our left. Almost simultaneously we heard lots of garble on guard and “Hot Dog” calls. None of whose meaning was briefed by CVIC etc. We were intercepted by numerous F-5’s and who either thought we were lost or disoriented. One took trail position while the others tried to get us to follow them. They gave us the international sign for you have been intercepted and we want you to land there... pointing to Taipei. When they did that, Steve gave me some great advice... just look straight ahead... don’t even look at them. As we disregarded their signals, we proceeded south over-flying the entire island of Taiwan at medium altitude. Once feet wet we descended and flew to the ship as low and fast as our trusty Intruder could go. Soon they turned around as we ran them out of gas. We thought we’d be home free and nobody would be the wiser.

Not so fast. Immediately after we got on deck they wanted to see Richmond and Ackerbauer in the war room. It seems that the SDO had heard that we’d landed at Taipei. Intel had learned that the Red Chinese had launched every up MIG on the west coast to have a piece of us. Luckily we had turned East just in time and they were unable to catch us. We had obviously violated Red Chinese airspace and were close to being shot down. Our skipper, CDR Westfall, stuck up for us and threw his command pin on the table with the words, “You can take this pin but you won’t touch my guys.” We were called to the warroom Just about every night at midnight for a week while the State Dept and DOD asked us inane and irrelevant questions about the incident. Fortunately that was our only punishment because the skipper stuck up for his boys and we never read about it again... except in the welcome home skit.

(Acks version) RICHMOND /ACKERBAUER VA-95 1975

 

[SteveG75]

And part two:

There we were...at 20’above the water headed for Red China. We were supposed to be sneaking up on the Chinese Nationals on Taiwan. When we manned up for launch the ship’s posit was announced over the 5MC by the air boss. I saw Ack write it on his hand. It was about 60 miles off from our true position. We got an alignment and launched off on a DR heading for our first turn point. I made Ack turn off the radar, TACAN to receive, IFF off, we were really going to sneak up on those guys!

We saw a coastline but we weren’t sure what it was. I eased up a little higher and got a TACAN azimuth only lock-on pointing back behind our wing. Bad news! This coastline must not be Taiwan, but Red China. We turned and started to “buster” for the USS Coral Sea just as we were intercepted by a couple of National Chinese fighters. They were calling us on guard using our BuNo telling us to land at Taipei. Fat Chance!! Ack and I knew our careers were over but we were going to tell our story on the boat. I told Ack not to answer on the radio and not to look at the guys joined on our wing. We just proceeded straight “back sheep”. I was never so happy to see two F-4s join-upon us and escort us back to the ship. That got rid of the CHINATS.

Fast forward to the Admiral’s stateroom where we were drilled, on and off, for seven nights in a row. The CHINATS thought we were trying to start WW III. Our skipper, Van Westfall, backed us 100% At one point he tossed his command button on the table and told the Admiral, “Don’t try to hang this crew. I’ll put the navigator, the ship, everybody involved on report ! “ The Admiral basically answered, “Not to worry…nobody was going to hang. “ Turns out he was right, but at the time it looked like the end of two illustrious careers.

Take my word for it. You never want to be involved in an “International Incident”.

RICHMOND / ACKERBAUER VA-95 1975

 

[Fly Navy]

Niiiice

 

[HAL Pilot]

BTW: ATTENTION ALL AVIATORS - Per my discussions w/ other Prowler dudes up at the Prowler Ball, we're changing the "unofficial" name of the EA-18G to "Shocker" vs. Growler.Brett

I assume this wil be part of the new logo/patches?

 

[Brett327]

I assume this wil be part of the new logo/patches?

Now, that would be wrong and unprofessional of me to endorse such a thing, wouldn't it? Think of an EA-18 w/ 4 stations loaded and lightening bolts coming out of three of them, titled with "They'll never see it coming." It's perfect for EA.

Brett

 

[Ryoukai]

^ That's the best thing I've heard all week. Maybe all month. Wow.

 

[DanMa1156]

^ That's the best thing I've heard all week. Maybe all month. Wow.

Agreed.