Operation Desert Fox

DATE: 11/12/2024

TIME (GMT): 19:00

ERA: Modern

MAP(S): Persian Gulf

TYPE: COOP

GAME: DCS

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Chewie

SLOTS: 15 / 20

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RATING: (2)

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The Operation Desert Fox was a major bombing campaign against Iraqi targets, in 1998, from 16 to 19 December 1998, by the United States and the United Kingdom. On 16 December 1998 Bill Clinton announced that he had ordered strikes against Iraq. The strikes were launched due to Iraq's failure to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions and its interference with United Nations inspectors that were searching for potential weapons of mass destruction. The inspectors had been sent to Iraq in 1997 and were repeatedly refused access to certain sites. The operation was a major flare-up in the Iraq disarmament crisis as it involved a direct attack on Iraq. The aim of the bombing was to disable military and security targets which may have enabled Iraq to produce, store, maintain, and deliver weapons of mass destruction.

The bombing campaign had been anticipated earlier in the year and faced criticism both in the U.S. and from members of the international community.[2] Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates initially announced they would deny the U.S. military the use of local bases for the purpose of air strikes against Iraq. U.S. Navy aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Three, flying from the USS Enterprise, and Patrol Squadron Four flew combat missions from the Persian Gulf in support of ODF. The operation marked the first time that women flew combat sorties as U.S. Navy strike fighter pilots and the first combat use of the United States Air Force's B-1B bomber. Ground units included the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), of which 2nd Battalion 4th Marines served as the ground combat element. The U.S. Air Force sent several sorties of F-16s and A-10s from Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base into Iraq to fly night missions in support of the operation. On the second night of Operation Desert Fox, 12 B-52s took off from the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and launched a barrage of conventional air-launched cruise missiles (CALCMs).

The other bomber wing was the 28th AEG out of Thumrait AB. The missiles successfully struck multiple Iraqi targets, including six of President Saddam Hussein's palaces, several Republican Guard barracks, and the Ministries of Defense and Military Industry. The following evening, two more B-52 crews launched 16 more CALCMs. Over a two-night period, aircrews from the 2nd and 5th Bomb Wings launched a total of 90 CALCMs. The B-1 Lancer bomber made its combat debut by striking at Republican Guard targets. From Thumrait AB, Sultanate Oman. The 28th AEG with the B-1b aircraft from Ellsworth and Dyess AFB also conducted missions. Also on 17 Dec, USAF aircraft based in Kuwait participated, as did British Royal Air Force Tornado aircraft. The British contribution totaled 15 percent of the sorties flown during Desert Fox.

On 18 December 1998, the 95d Tactical Fighter Squadron “Skulls” has been deployed to help finishing targets that the bombers could not strike properly, together with the 555th Figther Squadron providing air superiority support for both the USA and British at the same time. Taking off from Shiraz, the USA are expected to perform this task flawlessly with the help of the UK Airforce to protect the Skulls.

Expected enemy forces are:
- Aircrafts with Short Range and Long Range Capabilities;
- Small Numbers of Anti-Air Units;
- Enemy Scouts;

Objetives:
- Defend Warthogs until they complete their main objective.
- Provide Air Superiority Control over the enemy area.
- Help Friendly forces.