Operation Erase & Replace V3

Operation Erase & Replace V3

Operation Erase & Replace has proved to be popular among the group of pilots I fly with. As our numbers grew, and as more DCS modules became available, it was time to give E&R a facelift.

In addition to adding tasks for Gazelle M, Gazelle L, F-5E-3 and F-15 aircraft, a second phase of operations has been included as well. AI aircraft have been added to handle mission-critical tasks if no human pilot has taken the role, or if assistance is simply desired. Indeed, single players can actually fly this mission to success.

Although the following slots are available, the mission would be overwhelmed if all were taken. This was done to offer variety for certain tasks. I will follow this list with an ideal aircraft makeup.

Available Aircraft (Cold Start)

Ideal Player Aircraft Makeup

F-15 and SA342L flights are truly optional and their absence will be taken into account with regard to threats, tasks and scoring. If other flights are missing, AI aircraft will be made available to accomplish mission-critical tasks.

Single players can fly these aircraft and still complete the mission with AI assistance:

Narrated mission brief video (length 7:30) is included with download and can be viewed on YouTube (written brief below).

Mission Brief

It is expected that this mission will play out in two phases. The goal of Phase I is to eliminate enemy forces that have occupied the town of Verhnebakanskiy, stop enemy reinforcements from arriving and occupy the town with friendly forces. Individual mission tasks will be described in a moment.

If we are successful in Phase I, we anticipate a counterstrike from the enemy as an attempt to immediately retake Verhnebakanskiy. All flights will be instructed to RTB, rearm, refuel and get airborne over Verhnebakanskiy as quickly as possible in case the counterstrike occurs.

The following are individual mission assignments for Phase I.

All flights except F-15 CAP and Gazelle CAS will originate from Anapa-Vityazevo. F-15 CAP flights will originate from Sochi-Adler. Gazelle CAS flights will originate from FARP London.

Su-25T SEAD flights must take out SAM and triple-A sites that surround Verhnebakanskiy. Radar has been detected, so SEAD aircraft have been fitted with the Phantasmagoria pod and associated missiles.

A-10C and/or Ka-50 CAS flights should avoid overflying Verhnebakanskiy until notified that, at a minimum, SAM sites have been eliminated. Once all enemy air defense sites have been eliminated, including triple-A, you will be notified of that as well. Your mission is to hunt down and destroy enemy reinforcement convoys travelling to Verhnebakanskiy from the northeast and southeast.

F-5E-3 CAP flights are to hold position at waypoint 1, southwest of Verhnebakanskiy, and await tasking orders.

F-15 CAP flights are to fly northwest up the coastline to Verhnebakanskiy and monitor Overlord for enemy aircraft activity.

UH-1H and/or Mi-8 transports will fly on a heading of 120° from Anapa-Vityazevo to FARP London and pick up troops using the F10 CTLD menu. The FARP landing zone is marked with blue smoke. Hold at FARP London until notified that all enemy air defenses have been cleared around Verhnebakanskiy. You will then continue on a heading of 120° until southwest of Verhnebakanskiy and turn north into the town. Troop drop-off zones are marked with red and green smoke. Return to FARP London for more troops if needed to eliminate enemy troops within those zones.

Gazelle M flights are tasked with destroying a mobile command center located at an enemy FARP. You will fly nap-of-the-earth to avoid enemy air defenses around Verhnebakanskiy and will hold at waypoint 4 until notified that all air defenses have been neutralized. At that time you can press your attack. After the mobile command center has been taken out, attack targets of opportunity at the FARP.

One Gazelle L flight is available for escort of Gazelle M flights. The escort will fly ahead of Gazelle Ms and seek and destroy any ground forces along the flight route. Once at the FARP target zone, the Gazelle L can attack targets of opportunity as well.

Throughout Phase I, AI SEAD, CAS and transports are on call via the F10 menu if needed. Generally, these would not be used unless no human pilot has taken the role. AI CAS and transports will hold at points away from Verhnebakanskiy until all enemy air defenses have been cleared. However, they can be released sooner using the F10 menu if desired.

Phase I success will be defined by achieving these goals:

If you are notified of Phase I success, return to base, rearm, refuel and get airborne over Verhnebakanskiy as quickly as possible in anticipation of an enemy counterstrike. You will have 30 minutes after Phase I success before Phase II commences. Phase II can be initiated sooner and manually using the F10 menu.

All flights will be given on-screen individualized target assignments at the commencement of Phase II. Transport helicopters should anticipate cargo duty, so stay light when you rearm. Make note of type of any given crate selected for transport. If damaged, you can request another using the F10 CTLD menu. F-5Es are likely to be given a bombing assignment, so rearm accordingly.

Phase II and overall mission success will be defined by achieving the following goals:

AI flights are available via the F10 menu to accomplish the strike missions if human pilots have not taken those roles.

JTAC – Enfield 11; 131 MHz AM

AWACS – Overlord; 124 MHz AM

FARP London – 121.5 MHz AM

FARP London ADF – 40 MHz FM

Mission file download link:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/upload/iblock/48a/Operation_Erase_n_Replace_V3.zip

Folks, be aware that the mission also uses the following skin packs:

HMLA-167 (AI helicopters)

• Ka-50
  
• SA342
  
• UH-1
  

HMLA-169 (Player Helicopters)

• Ka-50
  
• SA342
  
• UH-1
  

The mission will work just fine without the skins, but things look even better when you have attack and utility helicopters from the same composite squadron working together. :joystick:

Thanks Home Fries. The skins do look sharp!

Skeeter