The enclosed file Operation BeachHead is a Flying Nightmares game already in progress, just launch the programme and then use the Load Game option to select Operation BeachHead. A back up copy should be made first.
Important Note: due to a technical fault the TAWADS system aboard the Tarawa is continuously signalling a mission abort signal from the President, ignore this. You will notice that the telephone hotline to the right of the operational telephone is flashing its red light, do not answer it otherwise the game will be terminated by the spurious Presidential command.
Briefing
The campaign to occupy Timor has been delayed due to bad weather and for 10 days the Task Force has been forced to wait in the southern coastal waters for the weather to improve. Better weather conditions on the northern coast has allowed the Indonesians to reinforce their garrison. The Task Force Commander, worried by the continuing build-up of enemy forces, has decided to use the first break in the weather to launch an assault on Timor. To quickly subdue the Indonesian armed forces a huge military landing will take place at the Hatudo beachhead (Waypoints 3 & 4) followed by a rapid pincer movement to the east and west to encircle and capture both the capital of Dili and Dili airport.
While on route to the Hatudo BeachHead (at Waypoint 2) the Task Force dispatched numerous Special Force units by helicopter to strategic points all over the western end of the island. The dual function of these units is to feed back high grade intelligence to the Task Force regarding enemy deployments, reinforcements and movements, as well as assisting air strikes by the laser designation of targets for strikes by laser guided ordnance (such as laser guided iron bombs and AGM-65E Mavericks).
The Task Force has taken up station at Waypoint 3 just before dawn close to the beachhead at Hatudo. The beachhead itself is defended by several enemy troop units, which are dug in, as is the formidable SAM site which is a short distance inland on the road from the beachhead. This site not only contains two SAM missile launchers but also eight artillery pieces which can be used for both ant-aircraft and ground attack. If your advancing troop columns encounter the enemy troop positions and these artillery pieces while they are still active your ground casualties will be very high.
Your first mission is to neutralise the enemy troop positions at the BeachHead and at the Hatudo SAM site which is programmed into your Harrier as Waypoint 1 and 2 respectively. This first Harrier mission is the only Harrier mission programmed in the whole battle plan. You must choose Combat Patrol in the Briefing Room to fly further missions and use your own initiative to select targets and manage the navigation to target. Use the Plan window to monitor allied (blue) and enemy (red) positions and movements, use your judgement to decide which is the most important target for a Harrier strike at any particular moment. Please note that the TAWADS system aboard the Tarawa will occasionally offer you pre-selected missions, you must decide whether any such mission meets the priority of the moment, if you decide it does not then select your own target for the mission.
At 5.18 am the Harrier Mission against the Hatudo SAM site is launched. The first wave of allied ground assault forces are heading for the BeachHead. You must destroy the enemy troop positions at the BeachHead and around the SAM site before severe damage is inflicted on your troop columns.
Between 5.00 am and 5.52 am the Task Force will land all its ground troops at Hatudo in a series of waves, the Task Force will remain stationed off shore from the Hatudo beachhead until 22.00 hours. These troops will move east and west on the coast road and take the first route inland to begin the pincer assault on Dili.
Dawn is breaking and the light should rapidly improve. Sunrise is at 6.00
The first wave of troops will move to occupy Alas to the west, Zumali to the East and the two nearby airfields of SAME/44 and SUAI/37. The early assault on the SAM site at Alas is to establish an Eastern defensive perimeter. After taking these initial targets the advancing troop columns will move rapidly inland in a parallel movement to take Dili.
Your priority must be to attack enemy troop positions ahead of your advancing ground forces. Clearly the nearby enemy airfields at SAME/44 and SUAI/37 will pose a grave threat both to your aircraft and to the advancing ground forces, you must use you own initiative to decide when and how to neutralise this threat. Remember that the Task Force stationed close to the shore is equipped with its own powerful air defences (including SAM's) and if enemy fighters can be lured into its range it will prove an invaluable asset in the airwar.
Some Advice
In your first programmed mission against the SAM site at Hatudo the game does not initially offer you any HARM missiles, I would strongly suggest that you take at least two HARM missiles.
Good luck.
Tony Swash
tonyswash@urulbi.demon.co.uk
Feed back and comments appreciated.
The problem with the Presidential hotline mentioned at the beginning of this briefing seems to be the result on the long delay I programmed into this battle plan in order to allow the enemy forces to be reinforced. Just ignore it.
This Battle Plan can be distributed freely as long as this documentation accompanies it.
