DOWNTOWN: COMBAT LANCER

Operation Combat Lancer was the operational debut of the USAF’s F-111 fighter-bomber which took place in March,
1968. This operation may be simulated as a short campaign game using Downtown as an experimental vehicle. Unless
otherwise noted, all rules from Downtown are in effect. (In any situation where the variant material presented in this
article conflicts with the game rules, the game rules will take priority in resolving any dispute.) This scenario is conducted
in the same manner as the campaign scenario included in the original game.

Campaign Game: Operation Combat Lancer

Background:

In March, 1968 detachment 1 of the 428th TFS, 464th TFW flew six F-111 fighter-bombers to Takhli RTAFB in Thailand.
These aircraft were the units participating in Operation Combat Lancer, whose objective was to demonstrate and evaluate
the F-111’s performance in combat.
According to the United States media, this operation turned out to be a military disaster since three of the six participating
aircraft were lost. Investigations later revealed that the F-111 had been rushed into production and combat before it had
been fully tested. Examination of the F-111 wreckage revealed that the crashes were caused by the failure of a weld in the
tail plane.
Unfair criticism from the media drew plenty of unfavorable attention to the F-111 which obscured the fact that this aircraft
was, once manufacturing defects were corrected, an outstanding combat aircraft.

POTENTIAL TARGETS:
DIE ROLL OBJECTIVES HEX PROFILE VP
1 Yen Bai Airfield Runway 0248 B 1/4/7
Yen Bai Airfield Tower 0248 C 1/3/4
Yen Bai Airfield Revetments 0248 B 1/3/4

2 Yen Bai Ammo Depot 0248 D 2/6/9

3 Tien Cuong RR Yard 0547 C 2/6/9

4,5 Phu Tho Bridge 1041 A 3/7/11

6 Viet Tri Power Plant 1337 B 3/7/11

7 Hoa Lac Airfield Runway 2035 B 1/4/7

Hoa Lac Airfield Tower 2035 C 1/3/4
Hoa Lac Airfield Revetments 2035 B 1/3/4

8 Xuan Mai NVA Barracks 2334 C 3/7/11

9 Dong Suong Airfield Runway 2533 B 1/4/7

Dong Suong Airfield Tower 2533 C 1/3/4
Dong Suong Airfield Revetment2533 B 1/3/4

10 Bai Thuong Airfield Runway 4935 B 1/4/7

Bai Thuong Airfield Tower 4935 B 1/3/4
Bai Thuong Airfield Revetment 4935 B 1/3/4
USAF Forces:

F-111 Missions: 6x {1} F-111A, Bombing (see SSR), 3 Dummy flights

USAF Pilot Quality: Veteran

NVA Defenses: Air Units:

2x {4} MiG-17F, 2x {4} MiG-21F-13, 2 Dummy flights
Start on ground at: MiG-17 - Hua Lac (in revetments)
MiG-21 - Gia Lam

Ground Units:
SAM Battalions: 15 (6 located)
Dummy SAMS: 3
Dummy Radars: 1
AAA Points: 9
Firecans: 10

DRV Pilot Quality:

MiG-17 units - Rookie
MiG-21 units – Regular

Victory Conditions:
1) The USAF player receives VP for target: slight/heavy/destroyed
2) The USAF player receives 4 VP for each DRV plane lost; 3 VP for each EWR, Firecan or SAM destroyed.
3) The DRV player receives 9 VP for each F-111lost.

Special Rules:
1) Night rules in effect
2) USAF has only 6 F-111 units, if all are lost – Game Over!
3) Only the Mig-21s may intercept, the Mig-17s are targets at Hoa Lac airfield.

Variations:
1) Daylight raid.
2) USAF has 1x {1} RB-66.
3) DRV has 2x {4} MiG-19S, vice MiG-17s.
4) If any USAF planes are lost, a CSAR attempt be made for each of the two-crew that survive.