Revision as of 21:51, 18 June 2026

14TH VSFS special operating procedures

Overview

The 14th Virtual Strike Fighter Squadron (VSFS) "Top Hatters" is a carrier-based F/A-18C strike fighter squadron deployed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). The squadron takes its name, identity, and doctrine, from VFA-14 "Top Hatters": the US Navy's oldest continuously active squadron, founded in 1919 and known as "The Oldest and the Boldest."

14th VSFS strives to honour that century-long legacy by upholding the professionalism, discipline, and tactical excellence of the real Top Hatters, with authentic US Navy carrier procedures adapted into all virtual operations.

Carrier operations and procedures

The USS Harry S. Truman is the beating heart of our operations. All mission-ready pilots in our squadron are expected to be comfortable operating to, on, and from the carrier. Below you will find useful guides and resources to conduct safe and efficient carrier operations.

Case I Procedure (work in progress)

Case III Procedure (work in progress)

Carrier Communications and Phraseology (CATCC)

Landing Signal Officer (LSO) Guide

Tactical Procedures (WIP)

Tactical Procedures will cover how we fight together.

Air to Ground Tactics

Close Air Support (CAS)
Strike/Air Interdiction
SEAD/DEAD
Anti-Ship

Air to Air Tactics

Tactical Turns
Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Tactics
Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM)

General Flight Procedures (WIP)

General Flight Procedures will cover how we fly together.

Airfield operations (Shore-based)

Formation Flying

Fuel Management

Night Flying

Resources and Files

14th VSFS Standard Livery

14th VSFS Kneeboard (Checklists + Quick Reference Guides + LTAG Aerodrome and Tacan Approach Charts)

Chucks Guides - F/A-18C Hornet

NATOPS FLIGHT MANUAL F/A-18A/B/C/D A1-F18AC-NFM-000 (Sept, 2008)

Eagle Dynamics F/A-18C Early Access Guide (March, 2024)

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 == Carrier operations and procedures ==
-[[File:Screen 260405 152707.png|left|thumb|347x347px]]
+[[File:Screen 260405 152707.png|left|thumb|444x444px]]
 The USS Harry S. Truman is the beating heart of our operations. All mission-ready pilots in our squadron are expected to be comfortable operating to, on, and from the carrier. Below you will find useful guides and resources to conduct safe and efficient carrier operations.
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 [[General/CATC Communications Guide|Carrier Communications and Phraseology (CATCC)]]
-== Tactical procedures (WIP) ==
+Landing Signal Officer (LSO) Guide
-[[File:Screen 260327 220735.png|thumb|413x413px]]
+== Tactical Procedures (WIP) ==
+[[File:Screen 260330 155406.png|thumb|601x601px]]
+'''<u>Tactical Procedures will cover how we fight together.</u>'''
 Air to Ground Tactics
 * Close Air Support (CAS)
-* Strike/Coordinated Attack
+* Strike/Air Interdiction
-* SEAD/DEAD<br />
+* SEAD/DEAD
+* Anti-Ship<br />
 Air to Air Tactics
 * Tactical Turns
-* BVR Tactics
+* Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Tactics
+* Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM)<br />
+== General Flight Procedures (WIP) ==
+[[File:Screen 260327 220735.png|thumb|512x512px|left]]
+'''<u>General Flight Procedures will cover how we fly together.</u>'''
-== general Flight procedures (WIP) ==
 Airfield operations (Shore-based)
 Formation Flying
-== Resources and files ==
+Fuel Management
+Night Flying
+== Resources and Files ==
 [https://polybox.ethz.ch/index.php/s/S8Es6KCzBao5WYm/download?path=%2FLiveries&files=14th%20VSFS%20Top%20Hatters%20HiVis%20V1.0-20260330T154252Z-3-001.zip 14th VSFS Standard Livery]
 [https://polybox.ethz.ch/index.php/s/S8Es6KCzBao5WYm/download?path=%2FKneeboards&files=FA-18C_hornet.rar 14th VSFS Kneeboard (Checklists + Quick Reference Guides + LTAG Aerodrome and Tacan Approach Charts)]
+[https://chucksguides.com/aircraft/dcs/fa-18c/ Chucks Guides - F/A-18C Hornet]
+[https://info.publicintelligence.net/F18-ABCD-000.pdf NATOPS FLIGHT MANUAL F/A-18A/B/C/D A1-F18AC-NFM-000] (Sept, 2008)
+[https://info.publicintelligence.net/F18-ABCD-000.pdf Eagle Dynamics F/A-18C Early Access Guide] (March, 2024)