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Syrian Dawn – Night ONE
September 12 @ 19:30 - 23:00
RSVP: 24 09 10 – 23:59 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAP, SEAD, Strike, Air Interdiction
Theatre: Syria
Modules: F/A-18C, F-16C, A-10C, AH-64D, OH-58D
Prerequisites: Night AAR, Case 3 for naval aircraft
Background
Nov 25th 2009
White House Situation Room, meeting of the National Security Council
– Mr President, I know it’s been a long time in the making but I’m now ready to present the findings of Operation Euphrates. – Allright, Jonesy. Oh, I’m sorry, that’s General Jones to this council. – No worries, Sir. All friends here. So, we know all too well that the WMD-related findings during Operation Iraqi Freedom were disappointing to say the least. But despite mainstream media consensus, our intel was actually quite good. Saddam did indeed have fissile material as well as the equipment needed to produce the actual devices. – So you kept telling my predecessor. And yet nothing was found. Not so much as a tick from those Geiger counters, huh? Quite the embarrassment. – Correct, Mr President. Not our finest hour. We were had, quite frankly. It would seem that Saddam saw the writing on the wall and decided to pass on the assets to someone who could keep them safe for him. Of course, what he didn’t see coming was the fact that he’d quite literally lose his head before he could get his WMDs back. – Can’t blame the guy for not expecting that outcome. We never said he was stupid. Just a mean sunnofabitch. So, cut to the chase, where did it go. Iran? – No, Sir, not quite. That was indeed a working hypothesis, based on how Iran took in most of the Iraqi Air Force back in the day. However, backtracking on satellite intel before the ground offensive, and based on quite a bit of work by our local assets, we’ve been able to identify four different convoys from known Iraqi enrichment and weapons development sites that all ended up… in Syria. With our old friend Assad. – I’ll let that sink in for a moment, General. But tell me, how sure are you this time? – Mr President, I’ll let you read the full report and decide for yourself but the Agency considers the evidence to be 100%. Not 90, not 99 and a half. It’s definitive. – And you realize, General, that this conclusion could very well mean boots on the ground. Again. Your fellow Marines among others. How can we expect them to go through hell once more? – A Marine lives by one thing, Mr President. SEMPER FI! – And faithful you have always been. We’ll take this to the UN. Not sure if they’ll buy this story for the second time but we can’t let this rest either way. General Jones, Admiral Mullen; I want the joint chiefs to give me options on how to remove this threat. Covertly or by force. And if we have to go kinetic, be ready to deploy no later than six months from now. Once the genie is out of the bottle, this could get ugly in no time.
April 3rd, 2010
April 3rd, 2010
United Nations General Assembly, New York
-I give the floor to the president of the United States of America, Mr Barack Obama. -Thank you, Mr Secretary. I must say I am overwhelmed by the support for this resolution. Tonight, you have voted to make the world a safer place. The United States is proud to take the lead in this coalition. We will start our deployment as soon as possible and I know that many of our allies throughout the region, as well as in Europe, will do the same. None of us will rest until the Syrian regime stands down in full compliance with this resolution. The threats we have heard from the Syrian representative are, quite frankly, monstrous. That anyone would threaten an entire region with nuclear holocaust is a degree of evil that this world has not seen in half a century. It cannot, and it will not, go unpunished. I speak now directly to you, President Assad: The United Nations has given you one month to stand down, and hand over all assets related to nuclear proliferation. I strongly suggest you comply. Failure to do so will mean an end to your regime and trust us, that end will not only be swift; not only decisive; it will be delivered with all the might and fury that the civilized world can muster. Don’t stand in our way.
May 2nd, 2010
May 2nd, 2010 Coalition HQ, King Hussein Air College, Jordan
– I still have my doubts, General. – You sailors always do, Admiral. I know you wanted to do this by the old textbook but that’s exactly what Assad has been preparing for. They’re dug in now, expecting a month or more of aerial “shock and awe”. – Few people have won an argument against a GBU-38, you know… – If you’re gonna win an argument, you need to find someone to argue with, Admiral. You were an aviator once, you know this. Right now, all your boys are seeing through their fancy targeting pods is sand. And I’m more than a little concerned about that intel report on possible unconventional deliveries of nuclear devices. We can stop a SCUD, no problem. But a civilian boat, or plane? We might hesitate. And millions will pay the ultimate price. – So Army rolls in on night one? – Damned right. The enemy is mostly stationary. We’ll punch a hole, roll through and mop the bastards up from behind. You just do your part, Admiral. And trust that the Air Force does the same. – Oh we’ll be there. And the Marines will certainly do their part too. Last I heard they were as happy as a labrador with a new tennis ball. Good old fashioned amphibious landing, huh? Assad is in for quite the surprise. What about the Brits, and the Germans, on the northern front? – They’ve mostly agreed. A bit pissed at not getting any action for the first few days but that’s just what we need to keep the Syrians guessing. – Saudis? – Happy to make good use of all the goodies we’ve sold them over the years. The southern front is going to light up like the fourth of July, Admiral. We may not get to use napalm anymore but I’ll settle for the smell of burning T-72s in the morning.
LINEUP
LINEUP
F/A-18C Strike ARCTIC11 (400): Bouncer ARCTIC12 (401): Moose ARCTIC13 (402): Frefeh ARCTIC14 (403): Tryggast
F/A-18C SEAD/CAP BENDER21 (404): Deadlift BENDER22 (405): Bankler BENDER23 (406): Enska BENDER24 (407): Fretz
F/A-18C SEAD/CAP CRIMSON31 (410): Leka CRIMSON32 (411): Pita CRIMSON33 (412): Yaotl CRIMSON34 (413):
A-10C Air Interdiction HAWG81: Baconbomb HAWG82: Gallo HAWG83: Deadgun HAWG84: DrSoos
A-10C Air Interdiction PIG71: PIG72: PIG73: PIG74:
F-16C SEAD/CAP INDY91: Ulvar INDY92: Mags INDY93: Sive INDY94: Drone
F-16C CAP JESTER11: Pahi JESTER12: JESTER13: JESTER14:
F-16C CAP VENOM41: VENOM42: VENOM43: VENOM44:
AH-64D Air Interdiction RAGE91: Asken / BFQ RAGE92: Shiggan / Jinx RAGE93: RAGE94:
OH-58D Reconnaissance BLACKJACK31: Tony / Sandpatch BLACKJACK32: WeX / JackFlash BLACKJACK33: BLACKJACK34:
AWACS STINGRAY: Apollo STINGRAY: Fille
Airport Ground: Flaxx83 Tower: SirToadie Control:
Carrier Marshal: Blichten Approach: Blichten LSO: Blichten
1 SITUATION
1.1 Overview
The international coalition is ready to strike. The initial thrust will be from the south, where American forces have been deployed to Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Knowing that Assad will expect a prolonged air campaign before the invasion begins, campaign planners have decided to do the exact opposite. Ground forces will move in on night one.
The Syrian army is mostly dug in and is expected to have trouble responding to a fast mechanized assault. Reserve forces have been identified and will be selectively targeted. Fixed wing assets will have to establish local air superiority in support of ground forces. SEAD/DEAD will be performed in selected areas against tactical SAMs. The strategic threats will be suppressed by deep strikes against their C2.
1.2 Area of operations
Southern half of Syria, adjacent parts of Jordan and Saudi Arabia
1.3 Time and weather
* May 10 – 2010
* 01:00 local time
* Weather: SCT 8/10 FEW/SCT24/26
* Wind: From 320 / 4 kts
* FORCE QNH: 2992
1.4 Air threats
MiG-21, MiG-25, MiG-29, SU-24
The Syrian Air Force has dispersed its aircraft in the AO, mainly operating from smaller airfields around DAMASCUS as well as TIYAS and PALMYRA. They have limited all-weather (night) capability. To further degrade their response, cruise missile strikes will be aimed at several airfields.
1.5 Ground threats
Strategic SAMs consist of SA-2, SA-5 and SA-11. The Syrian IADS is impressive in its coverage but relies on a centralized command and control structure that should be vulnerable to attack.
On the tactical level, the main threats are SA-6, SA-8, MANPADS and ZSU-23. These are controlled by battlefield commanders and will have to be engaged directly.
1.6 Friendly forces
An all-out ground offensive will be mounted along the southern border. Simultaneously, the Marines will land on the western shores.
2nd Infantry Division (Rotary wings unit) will breach the enemy early warning line at PL BLACKFEET and attack over PL CHEROKEE and NLT end of day capture OBJ ALABAMA and OBJ KANSAS vicinity PL SIOUX.
1.7 Civilian/3rd part
Some flights have been noted between civilian airports but only in daylight.
2 MISSION
USAF and USN will establish air superiority in the AO, strike enemy C2 resources, perform SEAD/DEAD as needed and cover ground forces as they advance into southern Syria.
3 EXECUTION
3.1 Commander’s intent
Conduct OCA and establish CAP over the AO.
Perform SEAD/DEAD in support of the ground offensive.
Destroy Command & Control (C2) resources and Early Warning Radars in the Sayqal region.
Conduct strike missions to open the road for ground forces.
Strike Syrian armor reserves at known locations.
3.2 Packages
The mission contains 3 packages, follow links for more detailed orders
PKG ARDENT – Hornets and Vipers (OCA/CAP, SEAD, Strike). PL is Bouncer
PKG BRUTAL – Apaches and Kiowas (Striking enemy locations ahead of ground forces). PL is BFQ
PKG CRUSADER – Warthogs (Strike known reserves). PL is Baconbomb
3.3 Order of events
- F/A-18s on Strike duty launch SLAM-ER against C2 resources and known EWR near Sayqal. Once C2 is disrupted, the Syrian strategic IADS (SA-2, SA-5 and SA-11) should be disabled for several hours.
- Rotary wing assets depart the Assembly area at their earliest convenience. Strikes target area and destroys Syrian defence forces ahead of own ground forces. See TARGET PACKAGE BRUTAL for target locations and detailed orders.
- Hornets and Vipers on counter-air duty conduct fighter sweep to take out any Syrian aircraft that are already in the air. Then establish CAP.
- Vipers perform SEAD against assigned SAMs, then establish patrol to engage any emerging surface to air threats.
- A-10s engage enemy armor reserves in assigned sectors. See TARGET PACKAGE CRUSADER for target locations and detailed orders.
3.4 Rules of engagement
ROE: C
As per SPINS
Addition: No cluster munitions allowed in civilian populated areas
3.5 Acceptable level of risk
ALR: HIGH
As per SPINS
3.6 Flight tasking
See package orders linked above.
Coordination instructions
Mission start 01:00 (local)
H-hour is 01.30 – No incursions into Syrian airspace before this time
4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
4.1 Airfield operations
* Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (Jordan) elevation 1636′
* TCN: 33X
* Active runway: 31
* Departure sequence: Indy9, Arctic1, Hawg8, Jester1
* Departure: Straight ahead on runway heading, climb to 3000′
* Approach: Follow directions from TWR – vectoring using radials. Expect final inbound turn to radial 120.
4.2 Carrier operations
* CASE 3
* BRC: 036
* FH: 027
* Departure radial: 100
* Departure time: ASAP
* Departure sequence: Any
* Marshal time: 03.00 – expect first push time at 03.15
As per Carrier Ops SPINS
4.3 Tankers
Texaco2 in orbit EAST of Muwaffaq Salti at A16. Arco5 in orbit WEST of Muwaffaq Salti at A20. Arco1 along the coast of Israel at A18.
5 COMMAND AND CONTROL
5.1 Commander
* Mission commander is STINGRAY
* Mission commander deputy is ARCTIC11
5.2 Frequencies
As per Comms SOP
5.3 Authentication
RAMROD: GRANDSLICE
As per Authentication SOP
5.4 Freq flow (Airfield flights)
6, 7, 9, 3/5, 7
Contact Ground (ch 6) for departure and taxi instructions. When ordered, Tower (ch 7) for departure. When ordered, Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) or CAP A (ch 5). Use Tower (ch 7) for recovery.
5.5 Freq flow (Carrier flights)
1, 9, 3/5, 16, 1
Remain on Tower (ch 1, unmanned) during startup and departure. Go to Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) or CAP A (ch 5). Use Marshal (ch 16) and Approach (ch 17) for recovery.
5.6 Brevity
* TANGOUNIFORM – Mission declared successful
* NIGHTFALL – Abort mission
* BRAINFREEZE – Command and Control for strategic SAMs destroyed
* NULLIFIED – 78th Armored Brigade destroyed
5.7 Bullseye
N 33° 17.00′, E 36° 48.00′ (East of Damascus)
6 ANNEXES
Maps
Southern AO air superiority region
