[Sweden]: Operation Omphacite

[Connor]

OPERATION OMPHACITE SWEDISH ARMED FORCES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

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OFFICIAL OPERATION ORDER
APRIL 1997
TOP SECRET​

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Situation Report
Following a review by the National Security Council by order of the Executive Office of the Prime Minister of Sweden, the focus on pushing for Swedish orientation around the globe has moved to the very forefront of the defence agenda; at present the Kingdom of Sweden does not retain a presence in and around the continents of Africa and Asia. The focus of this mission is to provide a strategic presence in the region and consequently enable the newly acquired equipment from the Unites States of America to have real-time operational experience thus enabling the crew to actively hone their skillsets. In addition, this will enable the maiden deployment of unmanned aerial aircraft purchased for use within the Swedish Royal Navy and how their use could change the deployment of Swedish forces in the future.

Belligerents

Kingdom of Sweden

v.

Intelligence
NTR

Objective(s)

1. Immediate deployment of Swedish Royal Navy from mainland Sweden bound for the Mediterranean Sea.​

2. Exercising Carrier Strike Group formation and positioning through congested European waters.​

3. Reporting to the Mediterranean Sea to tactical logistical situation review.​

4. Defensive positioning pending refuelling by replenishment vessels.​

5. Monitoring of French Armed Forces given unpresented Swedish presence in the Mediterranean Sea.​

6. Continuation of passage via the Suez Canal and towards the Arabian Sea.​

7. Reporting to the Arabian Sea to tactical logistical situation review.​

Casualty Report
NTR

Campaign Register
OO-1A - COMPLETE - Deployment of Task Unit Papa in order to preserve shipping lane security prior to deployment.
OO-1B - COMPLETE - Preparation, armament, and equipment of Carrier Strike Group and associated aircraft.
OO-1C - ACTIVE - Deployment of materiel from respective home port/base.
OO-1D - PENDING - Arrival, landing and parking of air assets onboard HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf.

Deployment

1st Carrier Battle Group (CSG-1) [Kungsbacka Naval Base]* Kitty Hawk-Class Aircraft Carrier​ [5624x] Active Personnel​ HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf​ Naresuan-Class Frigate​ [450x] Active Personnel​ HSwMS Naresuan HSwMS Songtham HSwMS Saowaphak​ Brandenburg-Class Frigate​ [864x] Active Personnel​ HSwMS Hesse HSwMS Saxony HSwMS Saarland HSwMS Hamburg​ Koster-Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel​ [28x] Active Personnel​ HSwMS Ven​ Södermanland-Class Submarine​ [24x] Active Personnel​ HSwMS Halland​

Carrier Air Wing One [Ronnebay Naval Air Base] Strike Fighter Squadron 11​ [10x] McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet​ [20x] Active Personnel​ Strike Fighter Squadron 12​ [10x] McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet​ [20x] Active Personnel​ Strike Fighter Squadron 13​ [10x] McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet​ [20x] Active Personnel​ Electronic Attack Squadron 11​ [10x] Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler​ [40x] Active Personnel​ Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 11​ [5x] Grumman C-2 Greyhound​ [20x] Active Personnel​ Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 11​ [12x] Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk​ [48x] Active Personnel​ Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 11​ [7x] Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV​ [35x] Active Personnel​ X X X

Kattegat Task Group Task Unit Papa [Port of Varberg]​ CB90-Class Fast Assault Craft​ [144x] Active Personnel​ BLUEGILL-1 BLUEGILL-2 BLUEGILL-3 BLUEGILL-4 BLUEGILL-5 BLUEGILL-6​ X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

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Copyright © Swedish Armed Forces, Kingdom of Sweden
All information is subject to the Swedish Document Classification and Security Act 1995​

 

[Connor]

Kattegat Task Group, Task Unit Papa​

TOP SECRET
Security and Preparation
The morning of authorisation for Operation Omphacite was a brisk one, the grey cloudy sky overshadows the snow-topped hills surrounding Kungsbacka Naval Base and the landscape only interrupted by the littering of residential properties and businesses through the landscape alongside the dashing of tall trees trailing up the side of the hills. The temperatures were low and the sun was no-where to be seen yet the regular daylight occasionally broke the wondering cloud formations in the sky high above the preparations ongoing. Kungsbacka Naval Base was in full swing. This state-of-the-art facility had only recently been constructed by the now defunct Old Norse Construction Company and was highly cherished by the Swedish Royal Navy not only due to it's modern design but also because it was the home of the Swedish naval powerhouse; HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf, a Kitty Hawk-Class Aircraft Carrier carrying some of the finest pieces of defence technology capable of projecting Swedish presence worldwide. Walking the naval base your ears are almost defended by the echoing beep noise of reversing logistical vehicles accompanied by their deep-toned engines which were easily distinguished from the regular thudding and metal-on-concrete sounds of forklift forks scraping pallets from the ground and towards the awaiting aircraft carrier standing tall amongst the other vessels in the base. This was the first time HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf had been used operationally and this was the first time Sweden was deploying for a strategic purpose meaning the extensive crew, of over seven thousand personnel total, required a clear and concise briefing to ensure they understood the purpose of the mission and the objectives set by the Department of Defence but this was still to come.

Kattegat Task Group, Task Unit Papa, operating under the callsign 'BLUEGILL' deploy from their home base of the Port of Varberg immediately. Each vessel equipped with three Browning M2HB machine guns, a Mk19 grenade launcher and six depth charges alongside a complement of twenty four personnel to operate a purely security role within the vicinity of the Carrier Strike Group due to depart. A radio communication is broadcast informing all passing traffic of the 1000ft exclusion zone around each and every Swedish Royal Navy vessel, excluding the Combat Boat 90's operated under the 'BLUEGILL' callsign, is announced across all publicly-accessible VHF radio channels. These vessels would immediately make their way towards Kungsbacka where they would perform a security patrol of the area ensuring the safe passage of any Swedish Royal Navy traffic.

Out of respect for their sovereignty, the close proximity to their territorial waters and penetration of the Economic Exclusive Zone both the Ministry of Defence, or equivalent government office, of Great Britain and Norway would be informed of the substantial passing of Swedish Royal Navy traffic due to come - whilst the specifics of the deployment would not be disclosed, they would also be informed of the 1000ft exclusion zone around the vessels which will increase to 6000ft once in open waters.

Logistics teams in Kungsbacka Naval Base work tirelessly to equip all the vessels with the necessary equipment, this includes arming each and every asset with their appropriate ammunition. The Kitty Hawk-Class Aircraft Carrier is equipped with twenty four Sea Sparrow and RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles and the ammunition for four Phalanx CIWS. The Naresuan-Class Frigate is equipped with ammunition for one 5in/54 Mk45 Mod 2 naval artillery gun, two 30mm MSI-DSL DS30MR automated small calibre gun, thirty two RIM-162 ESSM launched from an 8 cell Mk41 VLS, eight RGM-84 Harpoon SSM and two triple 324mm Mk32 Mod 5 tubes. The Brandenburg-Class Frigate is armed with ammunition for one OTO-Melara 76mm/62Mk-75 multi-purpose naval gun, two Mauser BK-27 27mm rapid-fire cannons, sixteen Sea Sparrow missiles launched from a Mk41 Mod 3 VLS, twntry one Rolling Airframe Missiles launched from two Mk49 launchers, four MM38 Exocet antiship missiles and four Mk46 torpedoes. The Koster-Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel is equipped with ammunition for one Boford 40mm gun, two Ksp 58 machine gun alongside mines and depth charges. The Södermanland-Class Submarine is equipped with mines and torpedoes for the six 533mm and 400mm torpedo tubes. All vessels are equipped with reserve ammunition, missiles, depth charges, mines and torpedoes as a resilience. In addition to the armament capacity, the assets are also fully loaded with essentials such as food, beverages, tools, emergency equipment, personal protective equipment and basic necessities for life at sea.

Shortly prior to departure each vessel is fully loaded with the appropriate fuel as the ships company begin to load into their respective vessels. Briefing will be conducted on a role-relevant basis aboard each of the ships.

Jamie Zak

 

[Connor]

HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf​

TOP SECRET
JO > IO > IN > IM > JM
Aboard the HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf, the crew management are quickly summoned to the pilot briefing room where a number of principally decorated cinema-style chairs line the floors facing towards a tall dark oak podium on-which the ships emblem hangs proudly on the front. Behind the podium stands commanding officer Captain Oliver Norddahl; fully manned the HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf holds a crew of just over five thousand personnel, making the floating airport the equivalent to a small city and it's organisation echos this similie. Standing strongly alongside Captain Oliver Norddahl for the duration of the deployment would be executive officer Captain Märtha Samuelsson who in turn would stand about the rank structure of the respective departments littered through the ships company, each with it's own specialised area in the ships operation and mission. Both the Captains would begin the briefing of each and every department lead to prompt the dissemination of the mission and responsibilities through the remaining watches and sections. A similar function would occur through the remaining vessels joining the aircraft carrier to form the Carrier Strike Group.

In a matter of moments later Task Unit Papa would begin clearing the shipping lanes for the deployment of the vessel, the six 'BLUEGILL' vessels would butterfly themselves out into the Kattegat where they would have ample vision of inbound and inbound vessels. Radio communication would be imperative for this portion of movement given the huge amount of vessels involve and the sheer size of the Carrier Strike Group. The 'BLUEGILL' vessels proved invaluable to the security of the slow stage deployment.

Almost unbelievable in nature, the HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf leads the way as it exits the naval base; the crew are prompted to manning the rail causing them all to line the perimeter of the ships deck and the super structure at even spacing through the leaving ceremony. The families of the ships company would engulf the perimeter fencing of the naval base as they watch their loved ones leave for deployment, knowing they would not see them for months and communication would likely be extremely difficult. Following the aircraft carrier the remaining vessels of the Carrier Strike Group perform exactly the same courtesy. This was a true depart for deployment.

The ships, armed, fuelled and equipped to go would begin their journey on the pre-planned path past Norway and towards the English Channel. Campaign OO-1C is in effect.

 

[Connor]

HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf​

TOP SECRET
Mediterranean Sea
Passing through the busy shipping lanes of the Baltic, North Sea and English Channel were a challenge but none-the-less completed without a hitch, the vessels which by now had securely formed a bubble around the HSwMS Carl XVI Gustaf would operate through to the Mediterranean Sea as planned. Although... the aircraft were missing and this was a fundamental part of the mission which, without it's inclusion, would completely invalidate the point of Operation Omphacite. With immediate effect Carrier Air Wing One would depart from Ronnebay Naval Air Base, this consists of a total of twenty McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets (equipped with two Zuni rockets, four AGM-65 Maverick missiles, electronic countermeasures pod and two AGM-84 Harpoon missiles), ten Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers (equipped with two AGM-88 HARM missiles, two AN/ALQ-99 TJS pods and one AN/ALE-43(V) BCDS pod), five Grumman C-2 Greyhounds, twelve Sikorsky MH-60R (equipped with two Mk54 air-launched torpedoes) and seven Sikorsky MH-53M. All miniguns onboard the deployment are fully armed with the required ammunition.

Upon safely departing mainland Sweden they would take the most efficient route to the Carrier Strike Group, ensuring their departure coincided with the appropriate positioning of the aircraft carrier to maximise fuel efficiency and upon arrival would in-turn make their safe landing and parking on the deck and/or hangar as appropriate. From there Strike Fighter Squadron 11 would remain in a constant state of readiness.

By this stage the Carrier Strike Group would be entering the Mediterranean Sea where it would begin to idle. All surveillance equipment remains operational.

 

[Connor]

Operation Omphacite has formed part of ongoing missions as part of Operation Pyrite, Operation Boron and now Operation Rutile. The operational orders given in April of 1997 governing this particularly mission were now substantially out of date and do not reflect the interests of the Kingdom of Sweden or the ongoing tensions on the international stage prompting the Department of Defence review and subsequent termination of this operation.

All assets are now governed by operational orders of Operation Rutile.