One of the scenarios based on "tanker war" between Iran and western countries.<br />
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As part of deescalation agreement between Iran and USA it was agreed that Iran would decommission its Tomcat fleet. Airworthly airframes are being flown by USN pilots to UAE to be scraped at Al Minhad AB. You are flying one of the last Tomcats to UAE in the early morning. A local Dubai radio station, Banker radio on 82.3MHz, is playing all 80s hits, tune to it to make your boring flight time pass more quickly. You are flying high above Abu Dhabi when you hear the news. An Ukranian flag tanker is stopped in the southern shipping corridor just south of the Siri island. Iranians are claiming the ship is part of an illegal ELINT operation. It is reasonable to expect that they will try to board it for inspection or sink it plainright.
As part of deescalation agreement between Iran and USA it was agreed that Iran would decommission its Tomcat fleet. Airworthly airframes are being flown by USN pilots to UAE to be scraped at Al Minhad AB. You are flying one of the last Tomcats to UAE in the early morning. A local Dubai radio station, Banker radio on 82.3MHz, is playing all 80s hits, tune to it to make your boring flight time pass more quickly. You are flying high above Abu Dhabi when you hear the news. An Ukranian flag tanker is stopped in the southern shipping corridor just south of the Siri island. Iranians are claiming the ship is part of an illegal ELINT operation. It is reasonable to expect that they will try to board it for inspection or sink it plainright. Iranians have experienced IRGC marine crews equipped with Mi-8s on Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb islands. Also, a pair of missile boats are spotted just south of Bandar Lengeh.<br /><br />
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US marines have a Tarawa group with Harriers just south of Sir Abu island. They are scrambling a pair of Harriers (callsign Pontiac) to fly a patrol over the stranded tanker. They are lightly armed with a pair of GPU-12 each in case they need to counter any surface threats. In case the scenario spirales out of control it is reasonable to expect that Iranians will scramble F-5Es (callsign Enfield) from any of nearby airbases, Kish, Bandar Langeh or Tunb. Our ELINT resources in the area have pinpointed the Enfield flightgroup communicating at 315MHz AM. All remaining Tomcats are located in Bandar Abbas. They may still have some Phoenix missiles operational. Iranians may choose to scramble these as a last resort measure. Also, there are MiG-29s patrolling further north inland. They may also be called to help.<br /><br />
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UAE is determined not to get involved militarily since deescalation agreement is interpreted as USA leaving its ally in the lurch. Above Abu Dhabi you have only supporting aircraft, AWACS (callsign Overlord) and KC-135 (callsign Texaco). Air-to-air refueling is on 255MHz (channel 16) and TACAN 12X (TKR). UAEAF will only provide a BARCAP for these support aircraft wit a pair of M-2000C. <br /><br />
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USN is caught a little bit off-guard in this situation since carrier group is located just off Fujairah. The carrier group is ready to scramble a pair of F-18s (callsign Sprinigfield) if situation gets out of control. Keep in mind that they are some 140 miles away. This group is transmiting on 305MHz (channel 19), tune in to check their status.<br /><br />
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Carrier group 127.5MHz AM (Ch15) TACAN 55X (CBG)<br /><br />
Texaco (KC-135 refueling) 255MHz AM (Ch 16), TACAN 12X (TKR)<br /><br />
Overlord (E-3C AWACS) 251MHz AM (Ch 17)<br /><br />
Pontiac (AV-8B) 243MHz AM (Ch 18)<br /><br />
Springfield (F-18C) 305MHz AM (Ch19)<br /><br />
Enfield (F-5) 315MHz AM (Ch 20)<br /><br />
