Moody AFB A-10s Increase Activity at Townsend Range

A-10s from the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA have become frequent visitors to Townsend Range in the last few months. The increase in A-10 activity correlates to the increasing number of A-10s that arrived at Moody from their former home base of Pope AFB. That move is now supposed to be complete, although I understand that the number of A-10s at Moody will be fluctuating due to aircraft being upgraded to A-10C standards.

Unfortunately I have not been able to ascertain which squadron the A-10s have belonged to as they have worked at Townsend, but I have begun a callsign and frequency listing for the 23rd Wing A-10s:

Callsigns:
BANZAI
BEAST
CLAW
DUDE
EASY
MUNG
NAIL
NARD
PABLO
PORK
PYTHON
SAGA
SHARK
TIGER

Air-to-Air Frequencies:
133.550
138.150
139.275
140.150
140.200
143.150
143.700
143.750


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Congressional Earmarks Benefit the Combat Readiness Training Center and Townsend Range

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, earmarks in the recently passed federal budget will provide for technology improvements at the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center and Townsend Range:

Kingston sponsored a $2.4 million earmark in this year's defense bill for a ProLogic project to provide military aircraft at the Townsend range and to give Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center an electronic network so that Marines and Air National Guard can share information, even while airborne. With the latest earmark, Kingston has poured a total $5.5 million into the project since 2006.

ProLogic, like most private contractors that benefit from earmarks, has generated substantial donations to lawmakers, particularly appropriations committee members. A computerized study of federal election records by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics found that ProLogic's executives and employees have contributed $411,600 to congressional campaigns since 2005. Of that total, $20,500 went to Kingston's re-election campaigns and his political action committee.

I won't editorialize on the second part of the quotation above, but I did think it important to include it in order to show how the process works. Hopefully improvments like these and others that are already ongoing will keep aircraft coming here to train for the forseeable future.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Exercise Southern Fury - Final Report

Exercise Southern Fury proved to be an interesting monitoring target. I thoroughly enjoyed the three days of Close Air Support and Convoy Escort activity. To me, this kind of activity is amongst the most interesting things to listen to on the radio. It could be compared to monitoring an active fireground channel in the field of public safety monitoring. Listening to how each participant has a role to fill and how different aircraft and different services fit into the puzzle is fascinating to listen to. The convoy escort work in particular was good monitoring; in that role, the aircraft served just as much as an "eye in the sky" for the convoy as they did as "bomb-dropper."

If anyone remembers exercise Carolina Guardian from July, the activity was very similar.

Southern Fury featured participants from at least three different services and eight aviation units (not counting the ground units that I could not hear). From the USMC, there was VMFA-115, VMFA-122, VMFA(AW)-224, VMFA(AW)-533, and VMGR-252. From the South Carolina Air National Guard, there was the 169th Fighter Wing. From the South Carolina Army National Guard, there was 1-151 AVN. An E-8C from the 116th Air Control Wing, a blended USAF/Georgia Air National Guard unit participated as well.

Frequencies
277.400 = Jax Center Brunswick Low
282.200 = Jax Center Jekyll Low
322.500 = Jax Center Savannah Low

139.700 = Safety of Flight
228.400 = Townsend Range, CAS
252.900 = Townsend Range, CAS
301.950 = Convoy Escort (normally VMFA-312 Tac 1)
300.200 = Fighter Check-in with FAC-A
358.900 = MAG-31 Base
302.200 = Check-In/Out with JSTARS
261.600 = Aerial Refueling with OTIS 13

225.725 = JSTARS Discrete
376.125 = JSTARS Discrete
388.225 = JSTARS Discrete (unencrypted/encrypted)
355.250 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)
372.150 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)
381.000 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)

339.500 = VMFA-115 Tac 1
225.675 = VMFA-115 Tac 2
274.500 = VMFA-115 Tac 3
283.400 = VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 = VMFA-122 Tac 2
250.300 = VMFA-224 Tac 1
258.900 = VMFA-224 Tac 2
336.225 = VMFA-224 Tac 3
299.300 = VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
141.825 = 169th FW V14
50.450 = 1-151 AVN air-to-air

Callsigns
STARGATE = E-8C, 330 CTS
HONCHO = FAC/JTAC
SMOKEM(?) = unknown Ground Station
KAISER = MAG-31
BLADE = F/A-18A+, VMFA-115
NIKEL = F/A-18C, VMFA-122
BENGAL = F/A-18D, VMFA(AW)-224
HAWK = F/A-18D, VMFA(AW)-533
OTIS = KC-130, VMGR-252
MACE = F-16CJ, 169th FW
MARAUDER = AH-64, 1-151 AVN
KNIGHT(NIGHT?) = unid ground station wkg JSTARS

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Exercise Southern Fury, Day 2

Exercise Southern Fury continued today, including participation from the 169th Fighter Wing, SC ANG and 1-151 AVN, SC ARNG from McEntire JNGB. The morning sorties again included participation from JSTARS.

277.400 = Jax Center Brunswick Low
282.200 = Jax Center Jekyll Low
322.500 = Jax Center Savannah Low

139.700 = Safety of Flight
228.400 = Townsend Range, CAS ISR
301.950 = Convoy Escort (normally VMFA-312 Tac 1)
300.200 = Fighter Check-in
358.900 = MAG-31 Base
302.200 = unknown use

225.725 = JSTARS Discrete
376.125 = JSTARS Discrete
388.225 = JSTARS Discrete (unencrypted/encrypted)
355.250 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)
372.150 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)
381.000 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)

339.500 = VMFA-115 Tac 1
225.675 = VMFA-115 Tac 2
283.400 = VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 = VMFA-122 Tac 2
250.300 = VMFA-224 Tac 1
336.225 = VMFA-224 Tac 3
299.300 = VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
141.825 = 169th FW V14

STARGATE = E-8C, 330 CTS
HONCHO = FAC/JTAC
SMOKEM(?) = unknown Ground Station
KAISER = MAG-31
BLADE = F/A-18A+, VMFA-115
NIKEL = F/A-18C, VMFA-122
BENGAL = F/A-18D, VMFA(AW)-224
HAWK = F/A-18D, VMFA(AW)-533
OTIS = KC-130, VMGR-252
MACE = F-16CJ, 169th FW
MARAUDER = AH-64, 1-151 AVN


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Exercise Southern Fury

Exercise Southern Fury kicked off this morning. F/A-18s from MCAS Beaufort worked at Townsend Range with support from an E-8 JSTARS from the 116th ACW at Robins AFB. My monitoring was incomplete due to work, but here is a listing of frequencies and callsigns from my monitoring prior to work:

282.200 = Jax Center Jekyll Low
322.500 = Jax Center Savannah Low

139.700 = Safety of Flight
228.400 = Townsend Range, CAS ISR
301.950 = CAS/ISR (normally VMFA-312 Tac 1)

225.725 = JSTARS Discrete
376.125 = JSTARS Discrete
372.150 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)
381.000 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)
388.225 = JSTARS Discrete (encrypted)

339.500 = VMFA-115 Tac 1
283.400 = VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 = VMFA-122 Tac 2
250.300 = VMFA-224 Tac 1
336.225 = VMFA-224 Tac 3
299.300 = VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2

STARGATE = E-8C, 330 CTS
HONCHO = FAC/JTAC
SMOKEM(?) = unknown Ground Station
BLADE = F/A-18A+, VMFA-115
NIKEL = F/A-18C, VMFA-122
BENGAL = F/A-18D, VMFA(AW)-224
HAWK = F/A-18D, VMFA(AW)-533
OTIS = KC-130, VMGR-252

Another possible exercise frequency is 302.200, but I haven't confirmed it yet. Hopefully I'll have more to add tomorrow.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Marine Times Reports: 300 troops head to Ga. for exercise Monday

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Nov 1, 2007 11:34:54 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Several East Coast military units will come together in Georgia on Monday for a three-day large force training exercise.

Marine Aircraft Group 31, based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., is playing host to Southern Fury, an exercise aimed at enhancing the interoperability of different branches’ ground and aviation units, according to an air station press release.

Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 will conduct convoy operations with Humvees and 7-ton trucks around Townsend Bombing Range near Jesup. Overhead, F/A-18 pilots from Beaufort will practice air interdiction and close-air support, strike coordination and aerial refueling techniques with a KC-130J Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueling Squadron 252, based at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C.

The South Carolina Army National Guard’s 1-151st Aviation Battalion out of McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, S.C., will provide AH-64 Apaches to support convoy operations in a simulated urban environment.

Nearly 300 Marines and soldiers are participating in the exercise.

Harris Neck NWR Monitoring Trip, 11 July 2007

This morning I took a trip down to the Harris Neck Wildlife Refuge area in an attempt to identify some repeater sites for the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Complex linked repeater system. Unfortunately, I did not hear the system in use the entire three hours I was in the area! Just my kind of luck. Some monitoring from last week led to some web research that has led me to tentatively ID one of the repeater sites: 169.825 is most likely in the area of Harris Neck. The only other repeater in the group I've been able to determine a location on is 172.450, which correlates to the Skidaway location that users have mentioned.

The trip itself, however, was not a total loss. Harris Neck NWR is not all that from Townsend Range. I was able to get excellent signals on activity from F/A-18Ds from VMFA(AW)-533 and from F-16CJs from the 169th Fighter Wing.

228.400 and 252.900 - Townsend Range Control
HAWK 81/82 (F/A-18D, VMFA-533) using 348.825 Tac 3 worked a simulated JTAC callsign METRO and also acted as FAC-A for HAWK 83/84 flight (F/A-18D, VMFA-533) using 299.300 Tac 2.

VIPER 21/22 (F-16CJ, 169 FW) using 140.125 V17 and VIPER 23/24 (F-16CJ, 169 FW) using 138.025 air-to-air did air-to-ground and air-to-air combat training with support from an AWACS using the callsign BANDSAW.

2007 Townsend Range Turkey Shoot Report

The 2007 Townsend Turkey Shoot offered some good monitoring this morning. I was able to catch two thirds of the competition live from home and caught the rest on a recording. As a result some of the final competitors are either unidentified or have no air-to-air frequency listing. If anyone is able to identify RAZOR 11 flight or CLAW 11 that among the final competitors, please let me know. I have some guesses, but without air-to-air frequencies or aircraft type IDs, I've got nothing solid.

228.400 was used for initial check in with Townsend Range and to pass the 9-line target descriptions. Once the flights were cleared into the range for their bombing and strafing passes, the were pushed to 252.900. 380.025, Savannah Approach control and 282.200, Jacksonville Center Jekyll Low sector were for entry into the area. Here are the flights I logged:

ARMY 15280/95146 - (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
WINDER 11-14 - (F/A-18C, VFA-86); 308.925 Tac 1
YANKEE 01-04 - (A-10, 118 FS); 138.550, 140.200 a2a
HAWK 81 - (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
GATES 31-34 - (F-15E, 4 FW); 300.725 a2a
ADLER 21-24 - (F-15E, 4 FW); 301.125 a2a
HAWK 11-14 - (A-10, 131 FS); 139.900, 143.825 a2a
SHARK 11/12 - (A-10, 23 Wing)
RAZOR 11-14 - (unknown)
MACE 11-14 - (F-16CJ, 169 FW)
CLAW 11 - (unknown)

An interesting visitor prior to the beginning of the competition was N6320T, a P-51D Mustang. He apparently flew a demonstration flight prior to the arrival of the AH-64s.

According to a report from the ScanSavannah email group, this year's winners were the YANKEEs from the Connecticut Air National Guard. For those that have followed the Turkey Shoot for any length of time, this does not come as a suprise. They have won several times previously and have always placed high in the standings.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Townsend Range Turkey Shoot Participant Update

More flights worked Townsend Range throughout the day getting in range familiarization flights for the Turkey Shoot. A-10s from the 118th Fighter Squadron, CT ANG and the 131st Fighter Squadron, MA ANG did familiarization flights on the range and landed at Savannah IAP afterwards. Here is an updated Turkey Shoot frequency list:

228.400 - Townsend Range Control
119.225 - Townsend Range Control
252.900 - Townsend Range Control

282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick
380.025 - Savannah Approach/Departure
120.400 - Savannah Approach/Departure
257.800 - Savannah IAP Tower
119.100 - Savannah IAP Tower
237.000 - Savannah CRTC Ops

140.200 - 118 FS air-to-air (A-10)
139.900 - 131 FS air-to-air (A-10)
141.675 - 131 FS air-to-air (A-10)
143.825 - 131 FS air-to-air (A-10)
140.150 - 23 Wing air-to-air (A-10)

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Townsend Range Turkey Shoot

Townsend Range's annual Turkey Shoot will take place tomorrow, April 25, at the range in McIntosh County, GA. Aircraft from various units will take part in a competition of bombing and aerial gunnery accuracy. Based on what I've heard recently while monitoring Townsend Range, participants should come from F/A-18s from MCAS Beaufort, F-16s from the 169th Fighter Wing from South Carolina, A-10s from the 23rd Wing at Moody and Pope AFBs, and AH-64s from 3-3 AVN at Hunter AAF. There will likely be other participants as well.

If you are interested in monitoring the Turkey Shoot, here are some range and area ATC frequencies to keep an ear on:

228.400 - Townsend Range Control
119.225 - Townsend Range Control
252.900 - Townsend Range Control

282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick
380.025 - Savannah Approach/Departure
120.400 - Savannah Approach/Departure

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

B-2 Stealth Bombers in Coastal Georgia

This morning brought a rare treat for MilCom hobbyists in the southeast, a flight of 3 B-2 bombers working Townsend Range in coastal Georgia. FURY 11-13 (B-2, 509 BW) used 228.400 and 252.900 with Range Control and used 388.850 for air-to-air. The B-2s were working relatively low level; I lost signals on them several times as they went low-level (I did hear altitudes as low as 3,000 ft mentioned). This put them lower than the F-16s that worked the range earlier; I never lost signals on them!

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

More ATLANTIC THUNDER

On Wednesday, ATLANTIC THUNDER activity continued at Townsend Range. JSTARS from Robins AFB, F/A-18s from MCAS Beaufort, and AH-64s (probably from 1-151 AVN, SC ARNG) participated in the activity. JTACS VENOM, SCORPION, and HAVOC were also involved in the Close Air Support and Forward Air Control activity. Below is an updated list of frequencies and activity:

228.400 - Townsend Range Control; Fighters working JTACs
252.900 - Townsend Range Control; encrypted traffic from JSTARS and simulated activity
338.550 - Townsend Range; JSTARS wkg JTACs
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS wkg Fighters
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS interplane
341.750 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS simulated activity
376.125 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS interplane, encrypted traffic
355.250 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS simulated activity
381.000 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS simulated activity
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete; encrypted traffic
364.200 - AICC; JSTARS link coordination

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

ATLANTIC THUNDER Activity

Yesterday morning, I posted a "heads up" for ATLANTIC THUNDER activity. Hoping that they will continue the activity the rest of the week, here is a more detailed listing of frequencies and activity from this morning:

228.400 - Townsend Range Control; Fighters working JTACs
252.900 - Townsend Range Control; encrypted traffic from JSTARS
338.550 - Townsend Range; JSTARS wkg JTACs
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS wkg Fighters
376.125 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS interplane, encrypted traffic
355.250 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS simulated activity
381.000 - JSTARS Discrete; JSTARS simulated activity
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete; encrypted traffic
364.200 - AICC; JSTARS link coordination

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

ATLANTIC THUNDER Exercise

STRIKESTAR (JSTARS) and WINDER 21 (F/A-18C, VFA-86) have been up working in the Townsend Range area this morning. STRIKESTAR has referred to the activity as ATLANTIC THUNDER while coordinating activity with Townsend Range.

228.400 STRIKESTAR, WINDER 21, VENOM
338.550 STRIKESTAR wkg VENOM
388.225 WINDER 21 wkg STRIKESTAR, check in/out and mission report


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net