SECRET
Copy Number
1 Air Division HQ, RCAF,
Metz, Moselle, France,
27 February, 1956
S4-2-96 (AOC)
Operations Order 7/56 – Exercise Bear Claw
References:
|
a |
Joint 4 ATAF/CENTAG/NAVCAG Exercise Directive dated 10 Jan 56 |
|
b |
ACE SHAPE Exercise Instruction 1/55, AG 1705.18 OT, dated 6 Dec 55 |
|
c |
HQ 4 ATAF Operations Plan 1-56M, dated 18 Jan 56 |
|
d |
1 Air Division RCAF Operations Plan, dated 22 Sep 55 |
|
e |
1 Air Division RCAF Pre-Alert Plan, dated 10 Dec 55 |
Time Zone used throughout the order: GMT
Task Organization:
|
1 Air Division |
A/V/M Godwin |
|
1 (F) Wing |
G/C Somerville |
|
2 (F) Wing |
G/C Newson |
|
3 (F) Wing |
W/C Garvais |
|
4 (F) Wing |
G/C Christmas |
|
61 AC&W Squadron |
W/C Strange |
|
Air Div Support Unit |
W/C Atherton |
Situation:
Exercise Bear Claw is a SHAPE sponsored Joint Command Post exercise (CPX) which will take place from 6-9 March 1956 (Inclusive). Its purpose is to exercise command structure and procedures for the implementation of SACEUR’s Atomic Strike Plan I-56. The exercise involves the whole of Allied Command Europe and will be played at command and unit level. Enemy forces will be known as Aggressor and their activities will be simulated by an Exercise Control Staff who will inject enemy action situations at all levels. Air Division will participate in SACEUR’s air offensive with Escort, Diversion and Screening Missions as directed by 4 ATAF.
The overall aims of this exercise are as follows:
|
a |
To exercise the joint command structure of ACE within the limitations of the exercise setting. |
|
b |
To provide opportunities for joint consideration of operational problems. |
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c |
To practice Joint Operations Procedures in the execution of: (1) SACEUR’s Counter-Air and Interdiction plans in accordance with SACEUR ASP 1-56; and (2) SACEUR’s Code Green Plans. |
|
d |
To practice Joint Intelligence and Operations reporting procedures. |
|
e |
To determine the adequacy of signal communications used in the exercise for emergency conditions. |
|
f |
To practice logistic support. |
|
g |
To test dispersal plans. |
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h |
To test the functioning of Wing Defence HQ. |
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j |
To assess effectiveness of Passive Defence measures. |
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k |
To test the functioning of Wing and Headquarters personnel staffs. |
Enemy Forces:
See Annex "D" – Intelligence.Friendly Forces:
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1 |
Higher HQ – SHAPE, CINCNORTH, CINCCENT, CINCSOUTH, COMAFMED, 49th Air Div, UK Bomber Command, SAC (Z), EUCOM. |
|
2 |
4 ATAF – participation will be down to and including 12 AF – 1 CATAC – 1 Air Division. |
|
3 |
1 Air Division – Participation will be down to and including Wings, 61 AC&W Squadron and Air Division Support Unit. |
Attachments and Detachments:
|
1 |
On the sounding of the Reinforced Alert, Squadrons will move to deployment sites as shown in para 7c, Part III of the Air Div Ops Plan. |
|
2 |
A control Team of three officers will be assigned to each Wing and a Control Officer to 61 AC&W Squadron. |
Mission:
To participate in exercise "Bear Claw".
Execution:
Air Division will carry out air operations as outlined in Part IV of 1 Air Division Ops Plan at a realistic rate to establish and maintain an air situation whereby the Allies regain the Atomic initiative.
The actual CPX play will commence on the declaration of a General Alert sometime after 0600 1 March to 2359 9 March.
Operations Rooms and Communications Centers will be manned continually from 0001 hours 6 March to 2359 9 March.
Task Organizations will play simulated was conditions based on the hypothetical situation outlined in Annex D. The role of aggressor will be played by exercise control teams at 4 ATAF, Air Div HQ and Wing levels.
Air Division HQ Tasks:
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1 |
All branches of Air Division will be required, when applicable, to aid in the resolution of the "enemy action" problems injected by the control teams. |
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2 |
To provide 4 ATAF with IDF under control of 61 AC&W Squadron. |
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3 |
To conduct air operations throughout the 4 ATAF area of responsibility. |
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4 |
To provide one officer for each unit Control Team and four officers for the Control Staff at Air Div HQ. |
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5 |
To receive and display passive defence intelligence. |
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6 |
To provide personnel and logistics staffs to deal with exercise problems during normal working hours and a skeleton staff on "telephone" availability during other hours. |
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7 |
To provide personnel, as requested, by higher HQ. |
Wing Tasks:
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1 |
To supply IDF aircraft as required by 1 Air Division under the control of 61 AC&W Squadron for escort, diversion and screening missions. Aircraft may also be required in the air defence role and reconnaissance of A-bombed units. |
|
2 |
To operate Wing Operations rooms and Wing Defence HQ as required under war-time conditions. |
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3 |
To remove all "enemy action" problems injected by Control Teams. |
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4 |
To provide each two officers (1 Technical, 1 Administrative) for Control Teams on other units as directed by 1 Air Div HQ. To provide personnel as required for Air Div and Higher HQ. |
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5 |
Commanding Officers are not to insert their own internal problems. |
61 AC&W Squadron Tasks:
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1 |
To assign an exercise staff for the entire period of this exercise. |
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2 |
To maintain exercise status boards on Wing aircraft states. |
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3 |
To scramble Air Division aircraft as required by the situations injected by the Control Team. |
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4 |
To keep Air Div Ops current on scrambles. |
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5 |
To pass intelligence from units to 1 Air Div HQ, in emergency as required by exercise conditions. |
Air Div Support Unit Tasks:
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1 |
SUTelO will man and operate the Comm Center and Crypto Center to handle the excessive expected exercise traffic. |
General:
Units are to take pre-alert measures as ordered. Unit staffs are to brief Control Teams fully on action taken before the exercise and their intentions in the period preceding and after receipt of a General Alert order.
Exercise Control – The exercise will be fully controlled at all levels of participation.
Intelligence – The political scenario of the exercise which leads up to this CPX is shown in Annex "D". The enemy situation will be fed in synthetically at all levels by the Control Teams. INT/OPS reporting will be conducted in accordance with Annex "D".
Weather – Simulated weather will be fed to Wing Met sections by the Control Team at unspecified times throughout the exercise period.
Ground Defence – Passive defence will be played extensively at Wing level with situations being injected by the Control Team. See also Annex "C".
Referencing System – For plotting purposes normal latitude and longitude will be used. When use of a code is required, such as in Air Defence, operations – GEOREF will be used. For air recce of a target on Air Div units code as designated in Annex "A" will be used. In contamination reporting refer to Annex "C" Appendix 2.
Administration and Logistics:
Administration – Exercise Reports will be submitted as per Annex "E".
Logistics – Logistic information is contained in Annex "F".
Command and Signal:
Command – 1 Air Division HQ.
Signal – Communications are to be conducted in accordance with instructions contained in Annex "B".
Acknowledgement Instructions – Acknowledgement shall be by routine message.
(HB Godwin) A/V/M
AOC, 1 Air Division HQ
Annexes:
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A |
Operations |
|
B |
Signal |
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C |
Ground Defence |
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D |
Intelligence |
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E |
Reports |
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F |
Logistics |
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G |
Personnel |