So this chapter I decided to break away from Pierce and his guys for a quick second. This one focuses on the aircrew of an AH-1Z SuperCobra. You may ask why I don't give much description about the two airmen, well, don't want to give anything away so you'll just have to read. To help a little in case you get confused about who is who in this chapter, lots of dialogue using callsigns:
Pilot: Bull
Copilot/gunner: Don
Callsign: Star Three-Four
Command SuperCobra: Zero-Six
Enjoy
(P.S. Review please!)
"Let's go Bull, we're late," Don said as he flicked several switches in the cockpit of the AH-1Z SuperCobra.
"We're going, keep your pants on Donny," Bull said as he brought the helicopter to full power.
Over the radio came the voice of an operator in the Combat Information Center of the helicopter assault ship USS Peleliu, "Star Three-Four you are cleared for dust-off."
"Copy Eagle Command, Star Three-Four is airborne," Bull said as he pulled the cyclic back, raising the SuperCobra into the air.
The helicopter rose, following the procession of other aircraft that took off from the decks of the several assault ships in the fleet that were stationed a dozen miles off of the Russian coast. Star Three-Four was one of twelve SuperCobras that were based on the Peleliu, and they were responsible for making sure that the AAVs and other landing craft would make it safely to the shore to deploy their loads of Marines.
The heavily armed SuperCobra was topped off with a full load of Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rockets, plus seven hundred and fifty 20 mm explosive rounds stored under the nose in the chain gun. Bull and Don hoped that by the time they had to return to the ship, that they would be fresh out of ammo; all expended over Russian targets.
"Star Flight this is Zero-Six, go to angels two and proceed to Waypoint Charlie, over."
"Copy Zero-Six," Bull said as he continued to pilot the attack aircraft into formation, "Jesus would you look at all that."
Don paused from checking his instruments and looked out both windows that enclosed him in the cockpit, "That's a lot of hardware goin' ashore."
Beneath the flights of aircraft, both attack and transport, an armada of ships lay beneath them. Dozens of amphibious assault ships of all kinds were anchored miles from Russia's shore, and emerging from the well decks of those ships, were hundreds of AAVs, EFVs, and LCACs. Pretty much any vehicle that could be launched from a ship was on it's way to Russia; the Marines from 1st Division were about to storm the beaches.
"Hornet Two-Two spread formation and cover the right flank."
"Roger that Two-Six, we're on it."
"Star Three-Three tighten up on Three-Four and keep with 'em."
"Copy Zero-Six."
The radio chatter was constant as the aircraft made their way to the coast, which took just over five minutes. The SuperCobras went feet dry just before the first AAVs hit the land.
"I got something here," Don announced as he peered through the FLIR scope, "Probable tanks at two clicks, two-eight-two."
"I tally," Bull said after hearing Don's voice fill his helmet, "Star Zero-Six enemy armor two clicks out, permission to engage?"
"Green light Three-Four," replied Zero-Six, the command helicopter, "Take Three-Three and Three-Five, along with you, over."
"Copy Zero-Six, Star Three-Four outbound."
Bull banked the aircraft and adjusted the course so they would fly right over the enemy positions. The two other SuperCobras followed suit as the trio broke from the main flight.
"You got a cleaner picture," Bull asked as they approached the position.
"Yeah, two T-90s idling by some buildings, I got a good tone on one of em."
"Three-Three you copy that," Bull asked.
"Copy that Three-Four, we have solid tone on the other."
"Three-Four copies," Bull said as he tried to peer out the canopy in the direction of the tanks, "Don do it."
"Three-Three missile away," Don said as he pressed the trigger.
A single AGM-114 Hellfire anti tank missile streaked from the SuperCobra's left wing. Seconds later, Three-Three fired their own and the two missiles connected to their targets within several seconds. The twenty pound warhead carried by the Hellfire was more than enough to punch through the armor of the T-90 MBT. The missiles hit their tanks on their turrets, creating a fireball inside the small compartments, igniting the shells and munitions carried by the T-90s.
The explosions rocked the buildings, blowing holes in the walls and shaking the trees that surrounded them, sending flocks of birds scattering in the sky. Several Russians that were not in the tanks could be seen scrambling around in confusion as their vehicles were destroyed by the unseen aircraft. Three-Five followed the two SuperCobras over the target, firing it's 20 mm chain gun at the Russians on the ground. The targeting aides in the system created a clear black and white picture on a two inch display that was projected on the gunner's face mask. The targeting reticle centered in the screen followed where ever the gunner looked. When Don first tested the system several months before back in California, he thought he was playing a video game it was so easy.
The three SuperCobras only needed to make one pass over the target, the tanks had been destroyed and the majority of the Russian's that had escaped the explosions had been killed by the chain gun.
"Good run boys," Bull said as he banked the helicopter around and returned to where the rest of the flight was several clicks down the coast.
"Repeat, this is Saber Two, we are in danger of being overrun by enemy armor and infantry, we need immediate air support."
Burris cursed as his pleas went unanswered. They had been promised air support ten minutes ago and here they still were without. Now the Russians were about to gain the upper hand on the two under-strengthen Marine companies.
Alternating between firing and desperately trying to contact someone on the radio, Burris was about at his limit, "Gunny targets fifty meters right," he shouted as he saw several Russians weaving in and out between the buildings. Burris fired several rounds at them before Gunny had spotted them and took them down with a burst of fire.
Ducking behind his cover he keyed the radio again, "This is Saber Two, does anyone copy?"
The twelve SuperCobras were circling the invasion forces at four clicks out. There was no heavy Russian resistance that met them on the beach. In fact the only contact they had, were the two T-90s that were easily destroyed in the opening moments. Don and Bull wondered if they would get to see any real action today as they completed another loop of the beachhead.
"Star Three-Four," the radio cracked as it came alive, "Switch freq to 101.7."
"Copy that Zero-Six," Bull said as he adjusted the dial on the console in front of him.
The headset blasted noise as the frequency hit 101.7, "Saber Two, under intense enemy fire," there was a pause, the speaker interrupted by a short burst of automatic fire, "Grid reference Alpha-Kilo-Eight-Three-One."
Zero-Six could be heard next, "Copy Saber Two, flight of twelve SuperCobras inbound on your location, ETA zero-two minutes, over."
Automatic gunfire could be heard as the voice came back over the channel, "Copy that Star Zero-Six, friendly positions will be lit by IR strobes, Saber Two out."
"Sounds like we're gonna get some," Don commented as he began checking the weapon instruments.
"Star Flight proceed to grid reference Alpha-Kilo-Eight-Three-One," Zero-Six stated, "Friendlies need immediate assistance, marked by IR strobes, all weapons are free."
The twelve SuperCobras banked out of their flight patterns and immediately turned inland towards the airbase. Their altitudes lowered as they began to skim the tree line, not more than one hundred meters off the ground.
"Alright boys, low and fast," Zero-Six's voice filled the channel, "Just like we've done, target the heavy armor first, then work your way through."
Eleven different voices then spoke as they all copied the orders. As the flight bumped over a final hill, smoke plumes filled the early morning sky. The black smoke of smoldering vehicles and buildings rose hundreds of feet into the sky.
"How long has this been going on for," Bull questioned.
"I didn't hear of anyone going ashore before the invasion," Don answered as he stared in amazement at the signs of the battle raging before them.
"Probably some special ops guys," Bull reasoned.
"Well they sure as hell know how party," Don said before being cut off.
"Star Flight be advised, flight of -18s are overhead," Zero-Six said with just enough time for Bull and Don to look up to see the four nimble fighters streak over the battle space.
The four F/A-18E Super Hornets were in and out in seconds. The jets streaked over the battle and released two munitions each. The Paveway bombs fell onto their targets, hits being visible as large explosions could be seen by the SuperCobras.
"Time to go to work," Bull said before the twelve SuperCobras broke off from their formation.
Three-Four and Three-Five broke off from the main flight and banked right as they began to circle the outskirts of the airfield. Craters, vehicle wrecks, and bodies could be seen littering the ground outside of the airfield's perimeter.
"BTR seven hundred meters," Don called out after spotting the vehicle.
"Hit 'em," Bull said an instant before Don fired another Hellfire HEAT missile, this one slamming into the BTR just under turret, Good hit, good hit."
The channel was filled with chatter as the helicopter crews found the new area to be ripe with targets. The amount of concentration that was needed to not only find, track, and destroy the Russian targets, but to also coordinate with friendlies and avoid collisions in the air was astounding.
"Infantry," Bull called out as he lined the SuperCobra up over a runway and began a run past it.
Don controlled the chain gun through the helmet mounted display that he had grown to love. He easily sprayed the area in front of them with 20 mm explosive rounds, that tore into the advancing platoon of Russian infantry. For good measure, Don also fired a salvo of Hydra 70 rockets, that streaked towards the ground, cratering the runway and sending thousands of fragments into the platoon.
The SuperCobra continued to rocket over the battlefield as the two crewmen searched for targets and threats. Bull banked the helicopter right as they began to make another sweep of the airfield.
"We got friendlies below us," Don shouted as he saw the IR strobe flashing in the display screen, "Shit Zeus bank left, bank left!"
A Russian ZSU-23-4, commonly called a Zeus, a multi-barreled anti aircraft vehicle had appeared from behind cover and the SuperCobra was in a path to take them right over it. Bull slammed the cyclic left and the SuperCobra swerved and climbed to avoid the Zeus. The Zeus ignored them and instead drew its' sights on Three-Five.
The four barrels of the Zeus barked as dozens of rounds filled the air, tearing into the fuselage of Three-Five. Smoke began billowing from the helicopter as it began to swerve slightly in it's flight, controls to the aircraft obviously lost. The Zeus fired another volley in quick succession into Three-Five, this time filling the canopy and engine with lead. Flames erupted from the SuperCobra as it spun widely out of control and crashed into the earth, landing on the wreckage of a BTR and the bodies of dead Russians.
Don was leaning his body against the right window, watching the destruction of Three-Five happen right before him.
"Shit they got 'em," he said as he dropped back into his seat.
"Three-Five is down, repeat, Three-Five is down," Bull relayed through the net channel, "No survivors," he said as he saw the entire wreckage burning on its side.
Bull circled the aircraft around the Zeus, who had claimed another kill as the wreckage of Star Two-Two crashed into an aircraft hangar that was already missing sections of the roof.
"I'm bringing us up behind it," Bull announced, "You tear it a new asshole."
From five hundred meters in the sky, the SuperCobra angled downward and began the attack run. The gunners of the Zeus must had seen them, for the barrels began traversing, trying to get their sights on the SuperCobra before they were destroyed. They were too and too slow late to shoot.
Don centered the targeting reticle onto the rear compartment of the Zeus and fired a combination of the 20 mm rounds and two salvos of Hydra 70s at the vehicle. The entire area erupted in a cloud of debris as the Zeus and the Russians around it were killed by the blasts.
Bull jerked the aircraft left and avoided debris that was flung into the air at the last second. Don continued to fire the chain gun at any unfortunate Russian that crossed into the targeting display. By the time he stopped firing, they were down to only seventy some rounds left in the weapon.
The SuperCobra gained altitude as they regrouped from the last attack run when the channel came alive with Zero-Six, "Star Flight be advised friendly air assets coming in to extract ground elements, watch your fire."
Several MV-22 Ospreys could be seen on the horizon, growing larger each passing second. They were almost finished with this fight, they only needed to last a few more minutes. Bull piloted the aircraft to make another strafing run on the runway to clear it of any last Russians.
Don fired the last remaining 20 mm rounds and a half dozen Hydra 70 rockets into a Russian position that was positioned next to a small building in the center of the airfield. One of the rockets streaked into the building and a fireball erupted into the sky. The rocket struck the fuel pumping station, igniting the thousands of gallons of fuel that were stored in the pipes and tanks.
"Shit," Bull shouted as he tried to avoid the fireball they were about to enter.
The tail rotor brushed the flames but they had survived the explosion. They made another half circle waiting to line up another pass on the runway.
"Watch what you're shooting at next time Donny," Bull said.
"Hey I hit the bad guys didn't-" he was cut off mid sentence as rounds exploded throughout the cockpit.
A BTR had targeted the SuperCobra and the main turret was unloading into them. Bull took evasive maneuvers and avoided the trail of rounds that chased the helicopter across the sky.
"Don, Donny," Bull shouted over the noise of air rushing through the holes that appeared in the side of the canopy as well as the rotors spinning.
There was no response, then Bull noticed the left side of the canopy, the glass painted red with the blood of his gunner.
"Oh Goddamn it," he said in disbelief, "Three-, Three-Four, I lost my gunner," he noticed that it was getting increasingly difficult to control the helicopter from going into a right spin, "I'm losing control of lateral movements, over."
"Copy that Three-Four, RTB now, Two-Four, ride shotgun on Three-Four."
"Roger that," Two-Four said as they broke off from their attack run and flew towards Bull.
Bull tried to turn the SuperCobra back towards the coast, but this task was made increasingly difficult by the loss of his controls. He had to take a wide arch that brought him over the airfield once more. He could see in front of him the Ospreys that were about to land and retrieve the ground forces.
As he crossed over the hangars and was over the open ground between the airfield and the woods, his radar warning began blaring. A shoulder launched SA-11 SAM had locked onto him.
"Fuck," he mumbled, realizing there was nothing he could do to avoid the missile, "Two-Four SAM launch, break off."
The other SuperCobra broke off of it's flight next to the wounded aircraft and cleared the area. A grey smoke trail burst from the edge of the woods, and a single missile streaked from this position into Three-Four, striking the bird underneath the right wing, tearing off the tail from the fuselage of the aircraft.
Bull felt the impact of the missile, and then really felt it as the canopy around him shattered from the fragments, showering him in glass. With the loss of the tail, the SuperCobra began spinning wildly as it dropped to the earth like a boulder.
As the air rushed around him and his vision was blurred, not able to tell what was ground or sky, Bull mumbled, "Hey Donny."
The SuperCobra slammed into the woods, tearing down a section of trees and sending a fireball into the air that caught the other trees near it on fire.
"Three-Four is down," Two-Four noted as they saw the fireball burst from the trees, "Repeat, Three-Four is down."
Pierce poked up from cover and fired off several rounds at the Russians two hundred meters away, "Go, go, go."
The remaining Marines in his squad raced from the cover to the waiting Osprey, the ramp down and crew chiefs crouched on the tarmac firing at the Russians. Pierce and Barnes were the last to board the Osprey, well, the crew chiefs were, but they were the last ground forces to board this Osprey.
Hardly any time was wasted from when the last man boarded to when the Osprey powered up and rose from the ground. Small arms were hitting against the steel floor, sending pings throughout the cabin. Pierce ignored the pings and moved away from the back of the aircraft.
The first thing he noticed was how few Marines were aboard this aircraft. He saw Burris, Gunny, and four others from that squad standing at the front of the Osprey holding onto straps dangling from the ceiling. Behind them, he saw a Marine on the floor with his pant leg ripped open and two Marines applying field dressings to a wound. Adding his men to the mix, Pierce counted only nineteen Marines.
He turned back towards the open ramp and could see the burning airfield behind him in the distance growing smaller each second. The remaining SuperCobras in the air were still engaging the Russians, as a distraction to allow the troop carrying Ospreys to evac from the area.
Pierce worked his way back towards Barnes, who was already in one of the red cargo seats against the side of the aircraft. Before he took a seat next to him, Pierce saw a fire in the forest, and the wreckage of a SuperCobra in the center of it; the SuperCobra that had saved Pierce and his team from certain death.
