| Designer | Franze |
| Map | Persian Gulf |
| Running time | 12 hours |
| Type | PvE |
| Slots | 50 |
| Date | 16 June 1998 |
| Start time | 0800 Local |
| Version | vOB256_004k |
| DCS Version | 2.8 |
| Skill level | Easy to Moderate |
Overview
Jena’s Pass presents a scenario where players must ensure that a carrier group can escape the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. It incorporates anti-shipping, deep strike, and search and destroy, in a more easier, palatable format to accompany a variety of skill levels. The mission incorporates a weapon restriction script, AI support requests, suppressible ADA systems, and civilian units.
The primary purpose of the mission is to leverage carrier operations in a less-urgent manner. Players have enough time to flexibly accomplish their goals before any real threat presents itself to the carrier group. Further, the AI assistance option allows for a more limited roster to enjoy the scenario without having to multitask.
Objectives
There are three key objectives to the mission: destruction of Su-24s deep in Red territory; destruction of hostile surface vessels in the strait; and location plus destruction of a Silkworm missile convoy moving to the north shore of the strait. These objectives can be bypassed if the carrier group makes it into the Gulf of Oman unscathed by mission timeout.
The Su-24s are located at Kerman airfield; for carrier based aircraft, this is a round trip of about 600nmi. Allocation for fuel and time over target must be factored in for this objective; the margins are razor thin for most aircraft. Standoff weapons may be useful for this task.
Red surface vessels are not numerous nor advanced, mostly consisting of older corvettes and frigates, but there’s a catch: civilian shipping vessels are also transiting the strait, so identifying the right targets is incredibly important.
The Silkworm convoy is a bit harder to locate: as there is little, if any, intelligence on their whereabouts, players will have to search by GMT radar modes if available or by eye. This makes the situation precarious due to the various air defenses spread throughout Red territory. There is a spy present on Sirri Island who knows the location of this convoy, but he must be rescued and airlifted to Sir Abu Nuayr before revealing any information.
If the above objectives cannot be achieved, then the final way to win is to ensure the carrier group makes it into the Gulf of Oman unscathed. This is possible if enough damage can be done to any one of the three above objectives, reducing their combat effectiveness and allowing the ships to defend themselves from a reduced threat.
Considerations
There are a number of civilian units present in-theatre; these units add a layer of difficulty as players will have to ID their targets before engaging, particularly aircraft and ships. As AWACS does not presently identify neutral units properly, do not rely on AWACS calls for hostile aircraft. Civilian shipping is also present in the strait, so weapons like Harpoon must be utilized with caution.
AI assistance is available; it must be requested before any player takes off to 500ft altitude. This will cue a large combined strike package that will hit two out of three primary objectives as well as destroying a number of air defenses in the area. If any player climbs above 500ft before the option is exercised, the option will be removed.
There is a weapon restriction script active, due to the mission date. AIM-120C, AIM-9X, JDAM, AGM-154C, APKWS, and WCMD are all prohibited weapons.
The mission will restart automatically if no players are present within 15 minutes of mission start time.
Slots
| A-10A | 2 |
| A-10C | 2 |
| AV-8B NA | 4 |
| F-14A | 2 |
| F-14B | 6 |
| F-15C | 4 |
| F-16C Blk 50 | 4 |
| F/A-18C Lot 20 | 10 |
| M-2000C | 2 |
| SA342L, M, Mistral | 2 each |
| UH-1H | 4 |
| AH-64D | 4 |
AI Flights
There are numerous AI aircraft operating in the scenario, including Red fighters, Blue support aircraft, and Neutral transports. A number of Red airfields have several waves of fighters available for scramble, but once these waves are depleted there will be no further aircraft. If the AI assistance option is requested, then several Blue flights will be spawned, to include F-14 strike and escort aircraft, F/A-18C SEAD/DEAD, F-16C SEAD/DEAD, F-16C escorts, and F-15Es on strike. These aircraft will open up the objectives for players to exploit.
Red aircraft primarily consist of western types such as the F-5E and F-4E, but occasionally MiG-21 and MiG-29 may be encountered. Hostile F-14s are also a rare possibility.
Caution must be exercised over the strait itself due to a number of neutral civilian aircraft transiting the area.
Weather
Temperature: 39C
Winds: Light and variable.
Clouds: Moderate.
Signal
315MHz AM UHF is the default frequency used by AI assistance.
315-320MHz AM UHF – Tactical Frequencies
315MHz AM UHF – USAF CAP/SEAD/DEAD/Strike frequency
316MHz AM UHF – USN CAP/Strike/Anti-shipping frequency
277MHz AM UHF – Wizard E-2 AWACS
278MHz AM UHF – Focus E-3 AWACS
298MHz AM UHF – Shell1-1 S-3B (TACAN 37Y)
298MHz AM UHF – Shell2-1 S-3B (TACAN 40Y)
296MHz AM UHF – Texaco KC-135MPRS (TACAN 38Y)
297MHz AM UHF – Arco KC-135 (TACAN 39Y)
380MHz AM UHF – CVN-72 (TACAN 32X ICLS 11)
380.7MHz AM UHF – CV-62 (TACAN 33X ICLS 12)
380.6MHz AM UHF – LHA-1 (TACAN 34X ICLS 10)
380.2MHz AM UHF – MURPHY
380.4MHz AM UHF – ERIE