Metz, France

1 Air Division, RCAF
Metz, Moselle, France,
071200 Aug 57.
S4-2-113 (AOC)

References:

SHAPE Exercise Instruction 4G 1730.2AO
4 ATAF Operation Order 7/57M
1 Air Division Operation Order 17/57
1 Air Division War Plan
1 Air Division Alerts and Measures
1 Air Division Ground Defence Manual Vol. 1
World Aeronautical Charts 1:1,000,000.

Time Zone Throughout the Order – Z

1 SITUATION

Exercise Counter Punch is a SHAPE sponsored theatre wide joint atomic exercise designed to test, practice and evaluate the current plans, policies, and procedures for the employment of nuclear weapons in the Defence of Allied Command Europe. It will be conducted in the period 19 through 22 Sept 1957. These four days will represent a simulated period of D-Day through D-Day plus 3, against an aggressor with whom political and economic relations have deteriorated to a point resulting in implementation of General Alert Measures. The exercise will embrace the whole of Allied Command Europe and will involve all forces assigned or earmarked for SACEUR. The boundaries of the exercise area will contain the whole of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and West Germany. Exercise targets will be located in south-eastern France and simulated air operations will be conducted on a southerly attack axis.

a. Enemy Forces

1. Exercise enemy forces, termed aggressor, will represent the USSR and its satellite states. Attacks by enemy forces will be simulated by Control Staffs at 1 Air Division HQ and higher commands.
2. The aggressor Order is outlined in 1 Air Division Standard Exercise Data for Joint Atomic Exercises.

b. Friendly Forces

1. Friendly forces will be those land, sea, and air forces assigned or earmarked to SACEUR which would be available in the event of actual hostilities at the time of the exercises plus such support as is available from external commands.
2. The Air Order for 4 ATAF forces is detailed in Annex "A".

2 MISSION

1. To conduct air operations in support of SACEUR’s air offensive.
2. To practice partial deployment, dispersal and evacuation
3. To conduct ground defence maneuvers.

3 EXECUTION

a. General

1. Notification of events leading up to the announcement of H-Hour will conform to procedures as detailed in 1 Air Division Alerts and Measures.
2. COs of units shall support Exercise Counter Punch with a maximum continuous effort.

b. Operations

1. Simulated fighter operations shall be initiated and conducted in accordance with 1 Air Division Operation Order 17/57 or as detailed by FRAG Order.
1. Air Defence rules are outline in Annex "B".
2. Air Combat and Flying Safety Regulations are detailed in Annex "C".
2. Weather limitations shall be the published weather minima for each Wing. At deployed bases, the limits prescribed at the discretion of the CO of the deployed force shall apply
3. Sorties flown against exercise targets shall be planned in such a manner as to provide an in-flight time closely approximately the time required for a normal profile sortie against the actual targets contained in Air Div Ops Order 17/57. Exercise targets are contained in Appendix 1 to Annex "H".
4. Transport operations shall be as directed by the AOC, 1 Air Division.

c. Employment

1. Deployment of transport and IDF aircraft to bases with POL, oxygen, and ammunition facilities only, shall be advised by FRAG Order and conducted in accordance with 1 Air Division War Plan except for reference to road convoy. All movements of personnel and required equipment shall be accomplished by 1 Air Division air transport element.
2. Deployed units shall be in position and fully operational prior to 0001 19 Sep 57.

d. Dispersal

1. Air Division Operational HQ and Support Unit HQ shall disperse to filed sites within the Air Division HQ area
2. The CO SU is responsible for accommodation, and the necessary facilities for this dispersal
3. Air Division Operational and SU HQ shall be manned by 1700 16 Sep 57.
4. War task assignments for the Ops HQ shall be in accordance with 1 Air Division Headquarters (to be issued shortly) except for special instructions issued separately.

e. Dependents Evacuation

The dependents evacuation plan shall be exercised as detailed in Annex "D".

f. Ground Defence

1. General – Actual incidents involving active defence/security measures shall be injected by the Control Team on all units (except 30 AMB). Rules for ground defence play are contained in Annexes "E", "F", and "G". Annex "F" will be attached only to those copies of Operations Order Counter Punch which will be held by the enemy forces.

g. Intelligence

The general situation, and intelligence estimate of the enemy capability and probable courses of action are contained in Annex "H".

h. Meteorology

Detailed instructions regarding meteorology are contained in Annex "J".

i. CPX Play

1. A decision to CPX air missions when weather conditions fall below published weather minimums may be made by higher authority during the course of the exercise.

1. In event a mission is CPX’d, all functions required to launch a mission or service the aircraft after landing shall be accomplished or simulated with proven timings in order to present a true picture of capabilities.
2. A CPX play of casualties and losses due to simulated aggressor air action shall be conducted. All prescribed reaction to enemy attacks shall be CPX’s by units and 1 Air Division HQ, but shall not be reported to higher authority nor other external forces.

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

a. Administration

1. Normal procedures shall apply, except as detailed in special instructions
2. Press releases shall be issued by 1 Air Division/SOPR in accordance with SHAPE policy on public relations activities for exercises.

b. Logistics

Normal, except for special instructions issued separately.

1. Reports

1. Reports and returns shall be submitted in accordance with 1 Air Division Operations Order 17/57 and as detailed in attached annexes.
2. Post exercise reports will be required for Exercise Counter Punch. Information regarding details will issued at a later date.

5 COMMAND AND SIGNAL

a. Command - Normal station routine

b. Communication

1. All exercise messages shall be prefixed "EXERCISE COUNTERPUNCH".
2. Normal VHF channelization shall apply. Details concerning communications – electronics are covered in Annex "K".
3. Emergency Cancellation of Exercise - Should it be necessary to cancel this exercise because of an emergency situation, this HQ or higher authority or both, shall pass in the clear, the nickname "CLEAR CIDER" by all available means of communication.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT INSTRUCTIONS: G11.

(WFM Newson) G/C,
for AOC, 1 Air Division, RCAF

"A" 4 ATAF AOB
"B" Air Defence Rules
"C" Air Combat and Flying Safety Regulations
"D" Dependents Evacuation
"E" Ground Defence – Special Instructions Own Forces
"F" Ground Defence – Special Instructions Enemy Forces
"G" Ground Defence – Security Instructions
"H" Intelligence
"J" Meteorology
"K" Communications – Electronics
"L" Operation Effectiveness Report
"M" Casualty Reporting Procedure

Annex "A" to
S4-2-113 (AOC)
Dated 7 Aug 57

Annex "B" to
S4-2-113 (AOC)
Dated 7 Aug 57.

Air Defence operations shall be conducted in accordance with 1 Air Division Operation Order 13/57.

Interceptions shall be conducted only against strike missions flying at 21,000 feet or higher.

Strike missions originating in 4 ATAF area will be regarded as friendly when enroute to targets. They will be regarded as hostile on return to bases when approaching the 4 ATAF track production area bounded by the line 4611N – 0610E, 4720N – 0400E, 4950N – 0500E, 5121N – 0940E.

Strike forces originating in 2 ATAF area and UK will be regarded hostile enroute to and from targets whenever they approach the 4 ATAF track production area.

Normal cross telling procedures shall be practiced.

The role of Yellow-Jack will be that of a CRC in Support of both 12^th Air Force and 1er CATAC ACC’s. Controllers at Yellow-Jack shall scramble fighters for air defence purposes as co-ordinated by the ACC’s.