different mission. Their movement, if ever observed by the enemy will be interpreted as a regular supply and replenishment mission for the Kalayaan. The fighters will only escort them on their return trip after they have completed their mission.
After initiating the mission General Bane told the National Security Council about the strategy.
“This is the scenario, gentlemen,” told General Bane in the electronics conference. “Chinese flotilla will enter the Spratly as a single projection of force that no Third World country can confront without being crushed. At this time our naval forces that were composed of modified World War 2 vintages and newly acquired ships were positioned near the vicinity of Patag and Lawak islands. But these ships will not challenge the flotilla frontally. It was a qualified suicide. We must remember that battles is not always a matter of hard fighting We will engages them in a battle of positioning by negating them to use the narrow passage. Without this passage I believed that in this preliminary battle we will win by positional advantage. But how much we will gain from the aerial mining? Gentlemen, by this, we will gain precious time. Time that was needed by our ally the United States of America to prepare and send her forces to defend our territory by virtue of our Mutual Defense Treaty. This territory that was rightfully belongs to us is now slowly gnawed by our enemy. I assure you my fellow countrymen, in this initial confrontation, our enemy will suffer a setback.”
The Chinese flotilla reached the narrow passage northwest of Parola Island. They were confident as evidence of the scattered formations of their warships as they traverse the narrow gap leading to the heart of the Spratly. The lead ship, a mine hunter cruised without operating its sonar. Then suddenly it hit the mine. The explosion wrecked the lower part of the bow of the ship. Instantly, deluge of water rushed in from a wide gaping hole. The crews were shocked at the explosion. Then panic settled in upon them as the ship dived because the running engine plowed the bow in forward motion taking tons of waters that hastened its sinking. Few minutes later the ship vanished in the dark of the night. The rapidity of the incident made the flotilla to slow down to almost a halt. Then they execute a single file formation as the remaining mine hunter speeded ahead of the formation to sweep the area of mines. To their astonishment, the result indicates that the area was heavily mined. The mine hunter can only clear a limited space at a certain time, needed for their safe passage. But it will take time to fully clear the entire length of the narrow passageway. The flotilla decided to ovoid the area. They turn around and sailed westerly. They cancelled their original invasion route. They will re-enter the heart of the Spratly using the passageway called Fiery Cross-Central Reef gap before heading toward their objective. They will use the gap because they knew that it was a safe passage because the area was patrolled by their naval ships stationed on the two islands.
But to traverse the gap requires additional fuel supply for the flotilla as well as other adjustments for their combat air patrol because the scenario was not included in the war plan. The problem the flotilla encountered was a minor one, but it was a significant one. They have lost a decisive advantage over their enemy as they regroup to hatch again another war plan.
7. FRACTIONAL STRIKE
The Philippine Air Force had acquired squadrons of Bronco planes from the United States through foreign military sales. The primary mission of the planes was reconnaissance but it was upgraded and retrofitted for maritime attack. This was done due to the scarcity of funds to finance the acquisition of modern maritime attack aircrafts. These upgraded Bronco planes provided the Philippine Air Force modest maritime aircrafts which the air force are lacking due to the priority for planes ideal for air defense of the country. Except for a squadron of F/A-18 Hornet dedicated for air interdiction with as secondary role for maritime attack, there are no other aircraft the Philippine Air Force possessed suited for this type of mission. Because the Bronco has a mission range of 560 nautical miles, the military planners believed that the aircraft was best suited for the operation in the Spratly. Two squadrons of Bronco operating in the area were a big boost to the defense of the Kalayaan.
As originally built, the Bronco was configured to carry a three-barrel 20 mm cannon on its belly. This was retained by the planners. The cannon can be used against helicopters or flying boats that the Chinese possessed. The sponson mounted hard points under its body designed to carry ground attack ordnances was reworked to accommodate lightweight torpedoes. It has also hard points under its wings designed to carry Sidewinder missiles were redesigned to carry Sea Skua anti-ship missiles. Most of the electronics goodies of the Bronco were retained. These are the forward looking infrared sensor and the automatic video tracker with a powerful zoom capability. Sea surveillance and targeting radar was installed as an added modification. As originally designed, the Bronco possesses a survival instinct. It has a modified exhaust system that directs the heat emitted by the engines rearward for a low infrared signature. It was also equipped with chaffs and flares dispensers, used to defeat radar-guided missiles as well as heat-seeking missiles. Since the Bronco has a speed of 320 knots, the military strategists knew that the plane can dash out of the Spratly area before the enemy fighters arrived to intercept, considering that the nearest airbase of China on the Paracel Island is hundreds of miles away. The strategists calculated tht the Bronco can attack maritime targets in the area and still have enough loiter time before dashing out. Spratly is too far away for Chinese fighters to intercept on time. The strategists believed that after a successful attack, the Bronco can escape before enemy’s interceptors arrived.
Lieutenant Commander Valdez, the commanding officer of the Maritime Strike Squadron 86 led the two flights of Bronco to attack the flotilla.
“Seaside this is Barter flight lead,” radioed by Commander Valdez.
“Go ahead,” acknowledged General Bane.
“Barter is a flight of over- one- zero, and carries sixteen light pounded, and eight swath for mission number two-zero-zero one,” said Commander Valdez. The leader informed the controlling base that the flight carried an ordnance load of sixteen Sea Skua light anti-ship missiles, eight sidewinder air to air missiles as specified in their mission order. Commander Valdez thought of the Barter flight, consisted of four Broncos and their load of missiles and torpedoes. He knew that they are going to attack as well defended surface target, the Jiangu class destroyer. He knew that their missiles can’t sink the destroyer but it can render it electronically crippled. And base on the assumption that the first wave of attack crippled its radars, the target could not put as decent air defense the Dagger flight will home for the next phase of attack using the missiles with much heavier firepower together with the torpedoes in a close range engagement.
Dagger flight was composed of four Bronco planes that carry a much heavier load. All of the four planes carried two torpedoes on their sponsons. Each plane also carried two Gabriel anti-ship missiles and full load of ordnance for the cannons. Dagger flight is in coordination with the Barter flight on the attack, led by Commander Valdez. Barter flight will engaged the flotilla first, attacking only a single target, the Jianghu destroyer then Dagger flight will follow suit attacking again the same target in order to sink it.
“Seaside this is Barter flight led approaching Sangley point,” called Commander Valdez.
“Roger, Barter flight,” acknowledged General Bone. “Initiate combs spread formation for condition Bravo.”
“Roger Seaside.”
“Seaside this is Dagger flight lead, approaching Szngley point,” called the leader.
“Roger, Dagger flight. Initiate condition Bravos. Proceed to maneuver to besting two-nine-zero. Target updated is on bearing zero-one-one, five-three miles from Sangley point,” ordered by General Bone.
“Dagger flight lead, copy.”
“Barter end Digger flight, Seaside is shifting tactical for condition Bravo.
The two flight leaders acknowledged the shift of their
communication frequencies predetermined in their mission orders.
The initial phase of the attack has just begun. Two flights of Bronco planes had just reached the imaginary Sangley point which is the vicinity of Parola Island. Condition Bravo is an attacking phase that requires the two flights to separate after reaching Parola. From this point, barter flight will intercept the destroyer frontally while the Dagger flight will attack from the rear of the flotilla after maneuvering away from the flotilla’s radar range.
“Where is now our air cover the F/A 18?” asked General Bane.
“Hammer flight is airborne and approaching Poro Point. Estimated time to arrived at the station at twenty minutes,” told by the tactical action officer.
‘The Broncos?”
“Barter flight is descending into attack formation, while the Dagger flight is maneuvering to the rear of the flotilla,” answered by the officer.
Then the radio came alive.
“Seaside this is Barter flight lead,” called by Commander Valdez. “Go ahead Barter lead,” answered by General Bane.
“We are now at Lamitan Point, altitude of one-five zero feet. Our target is three-five miles and tracking our flight path. There’s a heavy jamming on our electronics suits,” reported by Commander Valdes. Lamitan point is an imaginary distance between the aircrafts and the surface targets where in the flight is entering into the presumed range of the air defense missiles of the target
“Latest report from U.S. satellite, frigate on its rear is closing on the target ready to assist for air defense. Continue with the closure. Proceed to attack as stated in Plan Pag-asa Zero-One” ordered by General Bane.
“Barter flight lead copy.”
Commander Valdes then called his subordinates.
“Execute attack formation Plan Pag-asa Zero-One,” ordered Commander Valdez to the group in their inter-plane frequency.
The members acknowledged the message.
Commander Valdez, the leader of the Barter flight dropped his plane to one hundred feet above the water and leveled his flight at that altitude. The three Bronco planes slowly fell one by one at the wake of the lead plane until they arrived at a single file formation, dashing at two hundred and thirty knots speed.
“Barter flight, this is Seaside base,” called the radio.
“Go ahead Seaside,” acknowledged by Commander Valdez.
“There’s a combat air patrol of four high speed bandits on your ten o’clock as confirmed by U.S. AWACS. Proceed to attack immediately and return to base via the prescribe route. Hammer flight will cover your egress. Bandits will be intercepting your move anytime from now!”
“Roger, Seaside. We’re tracking now.”
Commander Valdez felt like doused with cold water upon hearing the message. They were entering a trap. High speed fighters of the enemy were coming into them armed for air attack against their lumbering planes without any air-to-air missiles to depend on. But the target was already in front of them. All they have to do is pressed for the attack. They have the opportunity to inflict the first blood even if it means-annihilation of the Barter flight.
“Seaside this is Barter flight lead. There’s an electronic jamming on our firing solution. We continue on our closure.”
“Press for the attack, Barter. Bandits are estimated to arrive with in ten minutes. Dagger flight is withdrawing and seeking protection from Hammer. Hammer is in route fifteen minutes ETA.”
Fifteen miles away from the target at an altitude of one hundred feet, the single file Bronco flight was picked up and locked by the Jianghu class destroyer. Its fire control