North Vietnam Campaign
❝Date : 4th September 1965
Time : 11 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-17
Airfield : Kien An Airbase
Mission overview
American bombing has become routine in the Haiphong region. It is time to break this routine. Scramble and intercept enemy formations in the Haiphong region.
Background
On April 9 1965 USAF send Skyraiders and F-4 to attack Ham Rong Rail Bridge and a power station in the Haiphong region. Migs intercepted attacking aircraft but US forces managed to slightly Damage Bridge and totally destroy a power station before being routed.
❞ Before we start here is an inspirational message from our leaders:
❝Our courage, dedication, and skill against the enemy have won the gratitude of the mother country. It is more vital now than ever that we do not weaken, but meet each challenge with renewed energy and resolve.
❞ It's a long way to the patrol zone - over 100 miles - so I used the opportunity to get in some formation practice. Several attempts later (I kept crashing into my wingmen) we reached the bridge and spent quite some time dogfighting. Fuel was a problem and as the manual suggests - I needed to activate "unlimited fuel".
A long dogfight ensues - it all seems a little sedate though.
❝Date : 17th June 1965
Time : 11 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-17
Airfield : Kien An Airbase
Mission overview
On this date a USN strike group attacked targets in the Ninh Binh province. Scramble and meet the threat.
Background
4 MiG's scramble to engage a large USN strike group ($-4's with F-4 CAP). During the dogfight 2 F-4 Phantoms were shot down and 3 MiGs.
❞ It's 163 miles to the 2st waypoint so I pressed X to warp.
Yikes - after winging an F-4 I had a head on with an A-6 Intruder.
On my second attempt my wingmen crashed on takeoff - I guess that happens occasionally. On the third attempt I collided with the 4th wingman on takeoff. I was probably taking too long to takeoff and being flight leader they were trying to formate on me at low altitude.
Anyway, eventually it was into the fray and some graceful if unexhilarating dogfighting.
I had to replay this mission several times before I survived - air to air collisions were the usual cause of my demise exacerbated I felt by a lack of response in the pitch axis from the MiG-17. Usually I would be closing too fast on a bogey and snatch the stick back desperately to avoid a collision. I would expect that I could at least enter a stall by doing this but no joy...
Finally I managed to avoid collisions by flying a lot less aggresively than I would have liked, and went to warp home. It was very frustrating at that point to get the "warp disabled"message! I set the simulation rate to 4 x and wobbled back up the coast.
After a nice landing I was informed "You failed to meet the mission objectives"... grrrrr... but hallelujah, I was allowed to proceed to the next mission.
❝Date : 20th July 1965
Time : 11 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-17
Airfield : Tam Dao Airbase
Mission overview
Tam Dao and Vinh Phu province has been under attack for over a week. Headquarters has added a months pay for every aircraft we shoot down. Lets all retire rich men.
Background
2 MiGs engage 2 Navy F-4s over Tam Dao, Vinh Phu province. One F-4 shot down, both MiGs shot down.
❞ The mission began with my MiG airborne and 245 miles to the first waypoint ... I elected to warp there.
Mmmm... 3 F-4 kills later and a successful landing and I still received the "Mission failure"message. Ah well, press on regardless.
❝Date : 20th September 1965
Time : 11 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-21
Airfield : Vinh Airbase
Mission overview
This evening we are going to attack Quantri airbase. This Marine base has been a staging ground for too long. Take out the radio station and tower on the north end of the base. Watch for intense flak.
Background
Watch out for intense FLAK.
❞ At last I got to fly the the coveted MiG-21 !! Well I didn't have to wait too long really. Can't complain.
Let's see if it responds better than the MiG-17. Woo--hoo a night mission... mmm the briefing said 11 am, never mind.
The first difference I noticed was that the take-off roll was much longer and takeoff speed seemed to be around 180 knots. Intial climb out had to be gentle, I stalled a few times.
The night sky looked good, dark blue shades with a blanket of stars. After strafing the Marine base with every rocket in the NV arsenal (I had unlimited weapons selected as usual) and flattening practically everything I headed for home. There were still a couple of bandits floating about - from the sound and speed I assume they were choppers as I couldn't actually see them.
Couldn't see much at all actually except the tracers from AA and my burning wings! Quickly nipping into "invincible"mode I flew home and had to exit without landing as the gear would only extend 80 %.
Anyway I earned a promotion and another stripe and star.
❝Date : 2nd March 1966
Time : 17 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-17
Airfield : Vinh Airbase
Mission overview
Hueys are picking up troops and dropping supplies near Cho Ben. Our ground forces having been fighting heroically unfortunately the area has been patrolled by Stingers and they are taking a toll on our ground troops. Take out the Stingers and then have a go at the U.S. ground troops.
Background
The Stinger (AC-119G) were armed with four 7.62mm SUU-IIA/IA minigun pods, one more minigun than the three carried aboard the AC-47s, and with the increased ammo supply afforded by the larger payload capacity, the AC-119G was about 25% more effective than the AC-47.
❞ Really I should have been able to carve up the AV-119G's but to me the MiG-17 was sluggish in the pitch axis.
The environmental lighting was good.
❝Date : 29th June 1966
Time : 17 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-17
Airfield : Kep Airbase
Mission overview
Americans have been bombing Hanoi day and night. Headquarters has ordered us up to destroy their next assault. Good luck.
Background
B-52s escorted by F-105's bomb petrol storage facility at Duc Giang, Hanoi province. 4 MiGs scrambled at Kep AB. One Mig was lost to an F-105.
❞ I swear these B-52 pilots have been reading too many Dale Brown books! They fly like demented fighter pilots - actually going inverted and favouring the split-S manoeuver.
❝Date : 29th June 1966
Time : 17 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-21
Airfield : Kep Airbase
Mission overview
The carrier Enterprise is anchored in the Tonkin Gulf. From this carrier the US Navy has been bombing crucial military sites in North Vietnam. It is time we sank the Enterprise. This target will not be easily destroyed, but well worth the effort.
Background
At the outbreak of hostilities, the United States had a total of 16 attack carriers and 10 carriers that had been converted for anti-submarine warfare. On August 7, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving the President the authority to commit American forces to war against North Vietnam. This was the beginning of a gradual escalation of hostilities that would continue for almost ten years.
❞ Strangely the carrier was sailing without escorts, or tankers, destroyers or any other support ships!
There were a few Combat Air Patrols but I left these to my wingmen as a pummelled the Enterprise with my unlimited supply of rockets.
❝Date : 29th March 1967
Time : 17 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-17
Airfield : Kep Airbase
Mission overview
On March 29 1967 USN aircraft struck various targets in the city of Hanoi. At this point in time this was the largest North Vietnamese victory with the loss of 3 F-4 fighters in one day.
Background
US Navy launched 24 aircraft to strike in and around Hanoi. 8 MiGs were sent to engage them, none were lost.
❞ Hmmm, well I seemed to lose all my wingmen! They flew off into the clear blue sky so I was left to round up the USN fighters - who, it must be said, didn't put up any kind of a real fight.
❝Date : 25th April 1967
Time : 17 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-17
Airfield : Kien An Airbase
Mission overview
Spotters have observed USN aircraft moving NE over Thai Binh. HQ believes their target is Haipong Harbour. Scramble and intercept.
Background
24 USN a/c attacked Haipong. 4 MiGs scrambled from Kien An. 10 USN a/c were lost to AAA.
❞ The first attempt was a milk run. I had a nice tour of the harbour facilities then followed the waypoint home. My wingmen crashed and I earned another medal: the "Order of the Soldier of Glory".
I chose to fly again - not because I felt guilty about the medals but because I was keen to have a dogfight. According to the map there were Phantoms and Skyhawks ahead.
Well, our AAA gunners must have eaten their oats because once again there was not a bogey to be seen.
By now my chest was looking like this.
❝Date : 23rd August 1967
Time : 07 : 15
Player Aircraft : MiG-21
Airfield : Phuc Yen Airbase
Mission overview
Ground troops are moving supplies through Eastern Laos to the Vietcong in South Vietnam. The Amercians have been strafing and bombing our troops daily, It is time to increase our kill ratio.
Background
40 USAF a/c are detected over Laos en route to Hanoi. 2 MiG-21s and 2 flights of 4 MiG-17s are scrambled from Phuc Yen. The MiG-21s attack the enemy from behind, the MiG-17s from ahead. The MiG-21's shoot down one F-105D and one F-4E. The MiG-17s shoot down 2 F-105Ds and one F-4E.
❞ This was more like it - a target rich environment. Still the fast jets didn't put up much of a fight - the props presented a bit of a challenge.
