Background (From the novel "Vortex" by Larry Bond): Two FA-18 Hornets on a tactical recon mission over an embattled South African region are engaged by two South African Mirages. Within moments more Mirages and a pair of Cuban-flown MiG-29s enter the battle. The FA18s manage to accomplish their reconnaissance, downing two Mirages in the process and escaping as the Cuban MiGs and remaining Mirages begin fighting. Maps: (Air Strike) F, G, H, J MIG-29 Entry: Two MiG-29s enter on turn 10 from anywhere on East edge of Map G at altitude 20 and speed 7.0. They must enter within three hexes of each other. Mirage F-1 C Reinforcement Entry: Two F-1 Cs enter on turn 12 anywhere on West edge of Map F at altiude 15 and speed 6.0. They must enter from adjacent hexes. South African Air Defenses: Two Panhard 20mm mobile AAA guns, and one Blowpipe infantry SAM, placed one per hex in any urban hex of maps F & H. These are hidden defenses and not placed on map until they fire. Cuban Air Defenses: Two SA-7B infantry SAMs, One ZSU-23-4 23mm mobile AAA, Two M-38 37mm AAA placed one per hex in any urban hex of maps G & J. These are hidden defenses and not placed on map until they fire. Game Length: 30 game turns. Notes: (This is a 3-player scenario) 1. FA-18 #1 has just commenced his recon run and must travel straight North without changing facing or altitude for 20 hexes in order to complete it. If forced to break off he may return later in play and try to repeat the run. FA-18 #2 has a recon pod also and may be used as a backup A/C by flying over the same hexes #1 must cover. 2. No A/C begin sighted but the FA-18s have radar contacts on the first two Mirages. All Mirages and MiGs are camoflauged. The Hornets are Air Sup. Gray. 3. FA-18 Loads: Stations 1 & 9= AIM-9M IRM. Stations 4 & 6= AIM-7M RHM, Stations 3 & 7= 1200L FT. Station 5= Recon pod. Conf.= DT, Load= 15, Wt.= 6300. 4. Mirage F-1 Loads: Stations 1, 2, 6 & 7= One Kukri V3 IRM (or Matra Magic II). Station 4= One 1700L FT. Conf.= DT, Load= 9, Wt.= 4,600. All have Helmet Mounted Sights for their IRMs. 5. MiG-29 Loads: Stations 1, 2, 6 & 7= One AA-10C IRM. Stations 3 & 5= One AA-10A RHM (short range version). Station 4= One 1700L FT. Conf.= 1/2, Load= 12, Wt.= 5,100. 6. ECM: All A/C have a DDS-B. U.S. and South African A/C have 8 chaff and 8 flare decoys. MiGs have 10 chaff and 10 flares. 7. Victory: The FA-18 player gets 40 bonus VPs if either aircraft completes the recon run and gets off the board. The South Africans and MiG players get 10 points each if he doesn't. Neither the S.A. or MiG player can win without downing at least one enemy A/C. 8. Optionals: Weather and Pilot quality may be generated from the tables except at least one MiG must be a Regular and none can be Green. Fuel: All A/C start with 0.8 times internal and must bingo with 0.4 times internal. 9. Variant: Escort the Photo FA-18 with an F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter in place of the second FA-18. Back to Table of Contents -- Air Power # 19 Back to Air Power List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by J.D. Webster This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com