Egypt: Operation Citadel

[Thomas R. Jones]

Operation Citadel
Encrypted and Classified
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Background:
Relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Turkey have recently deteriorated over the Middle East. Despite the fact that Turkey has entered the peace talks, a decision by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will put all service branches on high alert, and deploy naval and air assets into the Mediterreanean.

Egypt will focus primarily on the Levantine Sea, and will conduct regular air patrols in the airspace formerly designated a no-fly area by the United States, and extending to Cyprus and Crete. Operational commanders have authorisation to deploy their vessels as they wish, as long as they stay 55 miles from Turkish territorial waters. Aircraft will patrol closer to home, in a 500-mile radius around Cairo, and focusing on Israel and Palestine.

The entirety of the operation will be conducted in KM.

Forces Involved:

-1st Squadron, Mediterreanean Fleet, Egyptian Navy​

-1 Romeo-class submarine (Moon)​

-54 Personnel​

-1 Tiger-class fast attack craft (S41 Tiger)​

-2nd Squadron, Mediterreanean Fleet, Egyptian Navy​

-1 Pohang-class corvette (Silver)​

-95 Personnel​

-1 Descubierta-class corvette (El Aboukir)​

-118 Perssonnel​

-42nd Squadron, 104 Tactical Fighter Wing, Egyptian Air Force​

-10 Dassault Mirage 2000C​

-10 Personnel​

-10 Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet​

-10 Personnel​

-44th Squadron, 104 Tactical Fighter Wing, Egyptian Air Force​

-20 General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon​

-20 Personnel​

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Objectives:

-STANDBY Successfully deploy naval forces in the Mediterreanean​

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-STANDBY Successfully deploy air forces in the Mediterreanean​

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-STANDBY Show air and sea superiority over the Eastern Mediterreanean​

 

[Thomas R. Jones]

Encrypted and Classified

The ships would be checked one last time- packages of self-contained, non-perishable food were loaded onto the vessels, followed by extra fuel and ammunition. Sailors then began to board their vessels, some filled with fear and dread, some with anticipation and excitement at their first deployment. Plans had been given to the Mediterreanean Fleet to meet up at the coordinations 33 degrees North and 31 degrees East in the Mediterreanean, as the ships were stationed in Alexandria and Port Said. From there they were to begin patrols in international waters around the Lebanon and Cyprus, before moving further north.

And so the vessels were fueled and prepared, replenished with all necessary supplies, and waited for the order to leave port.

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104 Tactical Fighter Wing was located at Wadi Abu Rish Air Base, around the coordinates 30 degrees North and 31 degrees East. The aircraft there would be unprepared at short notice, but after the orders had been transmitted, they would be fueled and prepared for deployment. Fresh orders from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces meant that they were to head to Borg El Arab Airport near Alexandria, where they could maximise their range over the Mediterreanean. The pilots were informed of this change of plan, and they were given a few days to finish preparations.

 

[Thomas R. Jones]

Encrypted and Classified

The order had been given- the Navy was to begin deploying into the Mediterreanean, with the Air Force given until the end of the month until they left. First to start leaving was the Descubierta-class corvette, El Aboukir, followed by Moon, then Silver, then Tiger. On El Aboukir was the Commander of the Navy, Admiral Ahmed Saeed, coordinating and watching over the operation as he communicated with Cairo. The crews' feelings had changed from mixed apprehension and fear to excitement. This was Egypt's first deployment.

All this would happen in KM.

 

[Thomas R. Jones]

Encrypted and Classified

The two Navy squadrons met up at the given location- or, rather, a few miles southeast of it, but the first task- successfully meet up at a location with no radio contact- was ticked off. From now on, for operational purposes, they were Task Force Sphinx.

After this, orders were given for the speed of the vessels to be lowered to 16 knots, to preserve fuel and money. But here the first problem came.

The Tiger-class fast attack craft, S41 Tiger, did not have enough fuel or range to go as far as the mission required it to. Admiral Saeed authorised for it to head back to Alexandria. Task Force Sphinx would have to do without it.

The ships would soon go past Israel, most of Cyprus and the Lebanon- but stopped short of the 35th parallel north. A joint air-naval exercise was to take place there, and for now the crew was to wait.

All this was in KM.

 

[Thomas R. Jones]

Encrypted and Classified

The aircraft stationed at Wadi Abu Rish Air Base were fully fuelled and supplied. The pilots, who had been selected by the Base Commander for their skill in training, climbed into the aircraft. Despite not yet meant to deploy, they had to go to Borg El Arab Airport near Alexandria, to get a better range over the Mediterreanean. One by one they took off.

"Falcon-1 calling ATC, requesting permission to take off."

"Falcon-1, cleared for takeoff runway zero-one."

"Cleared for takeoff runway zero-one, Falcon 1."

They would head for Borg El Arab, where they would rest, meet with families, and prepare for the day ahead.

 

[Thomas R. Jones]

Encrypted and Classified

The aircraft were prepared and supplied, and the pilots climbed in. As their familes and fellow pilots watched, within a few minutes of the order being transmitted from Cairo the aircraft had taken off and were climbing at around 270 metres a second from Borg El Arab Airport. They then flew out to meet Task Force Sphinx.

When they arrived, they circled around the ships, whilst the radio operator aboard El Aboukir contacted the lead aircraft, the Fighting Falcon with the callsign Falcon-1.

“Falcon-1, this is El Aboukir. Prepare for the first training exercise- sea skimming.”

Sea skimming was a tactic used by aircraft to avoid electronic detection, by flying as low as possible.

“El Aboukir, message received. A Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet will be used first.”

The Alpha Jet was commanded by Flying Officer Ahmed Amin. He flew his jet to be just 4 metres abovd the water. Meanwhile, El Aboukir used its Thales ZW-06 radar to attempt to detect it. Meanwhile, Admiral Saeed watched from the bridge of the ship, with the captain and two officers, as a burst of blank fire from the corvette’s 76mm gun missed the aircraft by at least ten metres.

Amin watched as two more rounds of fire- 40mm guns this time- attempted to find the aircraft, and missed again, albeit by smaller margins this time. Finally, as his aircraft approached the ship, he pulled up and flew off. The sea skimming exercise was a success.

 

[Thomas R. Jones]

Operation Citadel was to end, with all further plans for it cancelled. Egypt was to switch its attention to Israel, and start mobilising ground assets in Operation Fortress.