Iran

[WillowRun 6-3]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

So we are looking at the American ground force of what 10,000, 20,000 troops?
I wish them luck.
Have they not learnt anything from Afghanistan, you may hold little areas, but not the country.

Not necessarily advocating for the campaign to expand into causing effects on the ground, but .....
the figures for strength and related information on Irani forces, all that quoted stuff is the "before" picture, isn't it?

[Lonewolf_50]

Change in leadership: does this have an impact on operations?

DUBAI, March 24 (Reuters) - Iran named a former Revolutionary Guards commander and senior figure in the hardline political faction on Tuesday to replace the powerful head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes last week. Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr was appointed as Larijani's successor as secretary of the SNSC, the Iranian president's deputy of communications posted on X on Tuesday.

This looks a little like changing the Sec Def? With the "Mosaic" strategy already being discussed, I will offer a "not going to change much" in terms of mil ops.

As to the Islands: what the US has established is air superiority, but not air dominance, over the Persian Gulf.

Why do I make that assessment?

(1) MANPADS on the Iranian defensive side are going to be used, and (2) the usual issue of drones and cruise missiles are asymmetric efforts using the airspace over the proposed battlespace. SAM threat otherwise appears to be negligible, and Iranian Anti Air Artillery may be too limited in range to impact the airspace.

The Three Islands in Question: it would appear that the operational concept is to control them and thus establish greater security over the shipping lanes behind them. (Along the Saudi and Omani coast) Reduce the risk profile of oil tankers moving toward the SOH.
Interesting idea, no idea of the details.

[langleybaston]

Originally Posted by judyjudy

Hopefully they’ll have the wherewithal to dodge all the incoming such activity is sure to attract

One wonders just how good these 'elite' Iranian troops are, and how fanatical when exposed to genuine elite all-arms forces using complete intelligence overview. The nature of mosaic is to inhibit Iranian units ability to plan , control and coordinate fast moving combat developments.

So many 'elite' units turn out to be wind and p1ss.

Let us hope so.

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by judyjudy

Hopefully they’ll have the wherewithal to dodge all the incoming such activity is sure to attract

Here's a scientific wild arsed guess: EMP-type weapons (non nuclear) will be used tactically.

[Abbas Ibn Firnas]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

Here's a scientific wild arsed guess: EMP-type weapons (non nuclear) will be used tactically.

From which military?

[NumptyAussie]

Originally Posted by langleybaston

One wonders just how good these 'elite' Iranian troops are, and how fanatical when exposed to genuine elite all-arms forces using complete intelligence overview. The nature of mosaic is to inhibit Iranian units ability to plan , control and coordinate fast moving combat developments.

So many 'elite' units turn out to be wind and p1ss.

Let us hope so.

Suez, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq etc etc have all exposed issues with "genuine elite all-arms forces"

[larssnowpharter]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

Here's a scientific wild arsed guess: EMP-type weapons (non nuclear) will be used tactically.

Reports I have read on the Venezuela expedition would suggest that an EMP weapon or similar may have been used there.

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by NumptyAussie

Suez, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq etc etc have all exposed issues with "genuine elite all-arms forces"

Pound for pound, my experience with Spec Ops folks in Afghanistan from

US
UK
New Zealand
France

Were that they got amazing results while working without a net.

What's your experience in, or (like me) working with (or better phrased, in support of), Spec Ops units?

[NumptyAussie]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

Pound for pound, my experience with Spec Ops folks in Afghanistan from

US
UK
New Zealand
France

Were that they got amazing results while working without a net.

What's your experience in, or (like me) working with (or better phrased, in support of), Spec Ops units?

I have supported SASR, CDT1 & CDT4 operations during the course of my career, so what?

[gums]

Heh heh, Wolf.

I never go close enuf to smell the bad guys , but "helped" the friendlies from above.

A-37 in 604th Special Operations Squadron, previously 604th Air Commando Squadron. Escorted SOG folks and their little friends on insertion/extraction forays in northern Cambodia and southern Laos when we "had no troops on the ground in Laos or Cambodia". Hit bad guys trying to kill them when things turned into Prarie Fire emergencies. Also covered another unnamed outfit's insertions that were most cool - not as noisy as SOG and flew a foreign type chopper.
Flew night armed recce in southern Laos in that same outfit until Tet '68. On best mission got a few trucks by myself that were found by Covey and Raven FAC's. Pleiku, early '68.

A-7D, 356th TFS. Flew helo escort of Knives and Jollies in '72 (CH53's), plus flew Sandy role on several CSAR's. As Sandy 3, escorted one burning chopper outta an ambush scenario to safety, but survivor was captured - Acosta of Kansas 01B.
Last tour was a Sandy lead in 3rd TFS, Korat.

I enjoyed Sandy most, and nights over Trail were most scary. Very scary in mountains on moonless nights - was a challenge as we drppoed CBU from 300 -500 ft.

Gums sends...

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by NumptyAussie

I have supported SASR, CDT1 & CDT4 operations during the course of my career, so what?

OK thanks, I'd like you to elaborate on your terse line here:

have all exposed issues with "genuine elite all-arms forces"

What do you mean by that? That seems to me an overly broad condemnation.

Some of the best people I ever worked with, or supported were in that unique sub specialty.

[arf23]

lets face it, if Iran grabs just one American serviceman and parades them on TV then the US Military is tied up in knots, possibly for decades

[ORAC]

12 Regiment Royal Artillery has been deployed to Cyprus. STORMER fires the exact same missiles as RAPID SENTRY, but has 8 missiles ready to fire instead of 4.

A boost to the anti-drone role adding an active defence to the EW/ECM system previously deployed with the RAF Regiment.

[DogTailRed2]

All these missiles being fired makes me wonder how our stocks are doing to fight Putin?

[Wyntor]

Originally Posted by DogTailRed2

All these missiles being fired makes me wonder how our stocks are doing to fight Putin?

One would hope that Belfast has an open ended Purchase Order.....and a hurry up!

[Bergerie1]

An extract from an interview with Sir Alex Younger, ex-head of MI6 on the situation between the US and Iran in which he says Iran now has the upper hand:-

You Tube

[ORAC]

https://x.com/ArmchairAdml/status/20...809632333?s=20

​​​​​​​USAF United States Air Force - Coronet East

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 3x

#AE0486 62-3542 - GOLD 61
#AE038F 63-7996 - GOLD 62
#AE0687 60-0349 - GOLD 63

Three KC-135s are supporting the second cell of "SW" Shaw AFB F-16Cs to Spangdahlem Air Base this morning, with the F-16s flying as TREND 41-47. These had originally diverted into Bangor ANGB a few days ago due to issues with their tankers.

The first cell of F-16s which arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base as TREND 91-96 flight have now moved on to the Middle East, most likely Nevatim Air Base given the traffic of C-17s to that base. They were supported by BOBBY 61-62 from RAF Mildenhall.

​​​​​​​

[ORAC]

Sounds like they went deed into Iran for multiple targets - or had to go a long way round to avoid the severe weather in the area.

https://x.com/DefenceGeek/status/203...005552266?s=20

​​​​​​​Bomber Mission 34 - A long run! FreeIran!

--- Operation EPIC FURY ---

Early yesterday morning, a pair of B-1B "Lancer" bombers from RAF Fairford (EGVA) departed for another mission on OperationEpicFury as what we believe was "RULE" flight.

So far as I can tell, this circa 0630Z departure was the earliest mission thus far, but with reports that the jets returned around 0430Z today, the 22-hour flight time is much longer than the usual 16/17-hours we've seen lately.

The aircraft involved were:

Mission XXXIV
B-1B "RULE??" 86-0140 #AE6C0B "Last Lancer"
B-1B "RULE??" 86-0138 #AE6C09 "Seek and Destroy"
KC-135T "CABAL09" 59-1464 #AE0659 (From EGUN)
KC-135R "CABAL10" 60-0353 #AE062B (From EGUN)
KC-135T "CABAL11" 58-0095 #AE04FD (From EGUN)
KC-135R "CABAL??" 61-0315 #AE0237 (Spare From EGUN, did not fly)
KC-135R "CABAL33" 58-0004 #AE04B7 (From Bucharest)
KC-135? "CABAL34" ?? (From Bucharest, used fake hex #AE02BC)
KC-135R "CABAL35" 57-1486 #AE041D (From Bucharest)

​​​​​​​

[ORAC]

Video

https://x.com/front_ukrainian/status...182568458?s=20

​​​​​​​FPV drones operated by pro-Iranian militants are freely flying over Baghdad and even over the largest military base in the region — Victory Base Complex.

In the published video, FPV drone strikes on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and an AN/MPQ-64 radar station were recorded.

[ORAC]

Another indication of a ground attack if they're flying in gunships - Unless they're going to use them in the anti-SUV role.

Presumed stock photo of the airframe.

https://x.com/ArmchairAdml/status/20...446784320?s=20

​​​​​​​USAF United States Air Force 16:46

- HEEL 55 1x AC-130J Ghostrider, inbound RAF Lakenheath from Keflavik, working Lakenheath Command Post on 313.575

- no Mode-S, AirNavRadar shows tail as 18-5905

​​​​​​​