New Command scenario: Fighter Weapons School – GAT 5 and 6

September 11, 2013 · Posted in Command

by Chris Stoner

USAF vs. OPFOR

Date/Time: 21st July 1977 / 16:00:00 Zulu

Location: Nevada Test and Training Range

Playable Sides: USAF

Introduction

Established in 1954 and reinvigorated by lessons learned in Vietnam, the USAF Fighter Weapons School is the ultimate proving ground for the Air Force’s best fighter pilots. In 1977 the curriculum centered around the F-4E Phantom multirole fighter which put students through a comprehensive syllabus of air and ground attack challenges.

The final section was on Ground Attack Tactics and culminated in the GAT 5 & 6 exercises, run simultaneously with one section of aircraft striving for air to ground success and another for air superiority. Called The World’s Most Demanding Peacetime Mission, GAT 5 & 6 required eight students to attack an assigned target protected by staunch ground and air defenses. It was the fighter pilot’s graduate thesis and the final obstacle on their path to returning home with the covetted ‘Bullseye Patch’.

Scenario Notes
There are many challenges to overcome in this scenario. You have 4 Phantoms outfitted for air-to-air and 4 Phantoms fitted out for air-to-ground, including 2 with PGMs. Against you are SAMs, AAA and a heavy dose of OPFOR F-5E fighters. There’s no support from GCI, EW or SEAD assets. Just 8 planes and a mission. Good luck!

Scoring
Scoring is simple. The aircraft revetment targets are worth 15pts and all other OPFOR targets are worth 10pts to the USAF. Each lost Phantom loses them 20pts.

Download it as part of the Community Scenario Pack HERE.

Tags: scenarios