Back on Jan. 4, 1989 during the dogfight between the LARAF MiG-23MFs and F-14As on the southern most CAP station.
At 11:59:41 -From Alpha Bravo (aboard the USS Kennedy), where two the tomcats on patrol received the message, “Closeout ah, Warning yellow, weapons hold, I repeat, warning yellow, weapons hold. Alpha Bravo out.”
That gave them permission to fire if they felt they were doing it in self-defense. Now, if they were in the Aleutian Island group not to far from the old USSR and Soviet interceptors were approaching in the same threatening manor, the USAF and USN had a policy of letting the opponent take the first shot, what would the expression be, “Warning (Yellow, Red or some other color), weapons tight!” Weapons tight denies the pilots permission to fire on the opponent.
Does anyone know what the proper phrasing of this directive would be, for holding fire??
By: Adrian_44 - 31st July 2010 at 02:47
Re: A Naval Aviation Phrase
Thank you Wanshan, this is exactly the information I was looking for. The real surprise that it was on Wiktionary… again thanx.
By: Wanshan - 30th July 2010 at 10:30
English Phrase weapons hold
1.(military) An order that weapons may only be fired at targets (especially aircraft or missiles) when under attack, or in response to a formal order
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/weapons_hold
English Phrase weapons free
1.(military) An order that weapons may only be fired at targets (especially aircraft or missiles) that are not known to be friendly
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/weapons_free
English[edit] Phraseweapons tight
1.(military) An order that weapons may only be fired at targets (especially aircraft or missiles) that are known to be hostile
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/weapons_tight
weapons hold
From Department of Defense
.Filed In:US Military
Definition: (DOD, NATO) In air defense, a weapon control order imposing a status whereby weapons systems may only be fired in self-defense or in response to a formal order.
See also weapons free; weapons tight.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/glossarytermsw/g/w6783.htm
guns/weapons free
From Department of Defense
.Filed In:US Military
Definition: (DOD) In air intercept, means fire may be opened on all aircraft not recognized as friendly.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/glossarytermsg/g/g2766.htm
weapons tight
From Department of Defense
.Filed In:US Military
Definition: (DOD, NATO) In air defense, a weapon control order imposing a status whereby weapons systems may be fired only at targets recognized as hostile.
See also weapons free; weapons hold.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/glossarytermsw/g/w6789.htm
IMHO weapons hold rather than tight would be applicable in the Soviet scenario. After all, letting someone take the first shot by definitions means that any response action you undertake is in selfdefence.
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July 30, 2010 at 4:50 am