
Operation Bull Run – Part 1: Groundwork
March 23 @ 19:30 - 22:30
RSVP: 23 03 18 – 17:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAP, SEAD, Air Interdiction
Theatre: Syria
Modules: F/A-18C, F-16, A-10C, AH-64, KA-50, Gazelle
Prerequisites: Basic aircraft knowledge
LINEUP
F/A-18C CAP/SEAD ARCTIC11 (400): Bankler ARCTIC12 (401): Bouncer ARCTIC13 (402): frefeh ARCTIC14 (403): Nikkar_73
F/A-18C Strike BENDER21 (404): Leka BENDER22 (405): Johnny BENDER23 (406): Creedarn BENDER24 (407): Jasnisse
F/A-18C SEAD CRIMSON31 (410): CRIMSON32 (411): CRIMSON33 (412): CRIMSON34 (413):
F/A-18C CAP DUSTY41 (300): DUSTY42 (301): DUSTY43 (302): DUSTY44 (303):
F-14B CAP ELVIS51 (100): ELVIS52 (101): ELVIS53 (102): ELVIS54 (102):
AJS 37 Strike FENRIS61: FENRIS62: FENRIS63: FENRIS64:
AJS 37 Strike GRIM71: GRIM72: GRIM73: GRIM74:
A-10C Air Interdiction HAWG81: Kingtiger45 HAWG82: BigSwede HAWG83: Decoy HAWG84:
F-16C SEAD/CAP INDY91: Ulvar INDY92: Moldy INDY93: Pahi INDY94: Agaton
F-16C CAP JESTER11: JESTER12: JESTER13: JESTER14:
F/A-18C FAC-A KRAKEN21 (304): KRAKEN22 (305): KRAKEN23 (306): KRAKEN24 (307):
F/A-18C CAP LION31 (310): LION32 (311): LION33 (312): LION34 (313):
F-14B CAP MUSTANG61 (104): MUSTANG62 (105): MUSTANG63 (106): MUSTANG64 (107):
UH-1H Transport NITRO51: NITRO52: NITRO53: NITRO54:
AH-64D Air Interdiction RAGE91: Shiggan/Troll RAGE92: Igor/JackFlash RAGE93: BFQ RAGE94:
AH-64D Air Interdiction SALTY11: SALTY12: SALTY13: SALTY14:
Ka-50 Air Interdiction ORCA61: Puppysworth ORCA62: insop ORCA63: ORCA64:
A-10C Air Interdiction PIG71: PIG72: PIG73: PIG74:
Gazelle Recon GREMLIN81: Urist GREMLIN82: GREMLIN83: GREMLIN84:
A-10C XCAS TUSK21: TUSK22: TUSK23: TUSK24:
F-16C Air Interdiction VENOM41: VENOM42: VENOM43: VENOM44:
AWACS STINGRAY: Blichten STINGRAY:
Airport Ground: Tower: Control:
Carrier Marshal: Tower: LSO:
1 SITUATION
1.1 Overview
After a series of border provocations intel has confirmed that Syria will launch an invasion of Jordan in order to capture the Mafraq oil fields within the next 48 hours. The US and Israel has decided to intervene in order to assist Jordan, and a strategy of pre-emptive strikes in order to blunt the coming offensive has been chosen in order to give Jordanian army breathing room to reinforce. Several areas where the Syrian army is expected to be massing armored and mechanized units have been identified. Jordanian infiltration teams are working in the AO and further intel on staging areas may come in during the mission.
1.2 Area of operations
Northwestern Jordan and southwestern Syria. YB72 through BS82 northern/YA77 through BR 82 southern.
1.3 Time and weather
* August 01 – 2021
* 03:30 local time
* Overcast (13500′-20500′)
* Wind 320 / 4
* FORCE QNH 2992 / 1013
1.4 Air threats
MiG-23, MiG-29
The Syrian Air Force’s night operations capability is expected to be low. The most significant threat is expected from the ground.
1.5 Ground threats
SA-11, SA-10, SA-6, SA-8, MBT, BMP, AAA, MANPADS
Three SA-6 sites are confirmed in the AO. Presence of SA-8s is expected. Further air defence systems are expected to be enroute to the AO and may come online at any time. The SA-10 is located near Damascus and is not expected to be a factor unless straying to far north. An SA-11 is located near Khalkhala AFB and is not expected to be a factor unless straying too far north.
1.6 Friendly forces
Jordanian ground forces holding the line south of the border. No confliction with target areas.
1.7 Civilian/3rd part
No civilian traffic expected.
2 MISSION
Degrade enemy air defences in the AO. Attack enemy ground forces, with priority of whittling down the enemy’s armor advantage. Disrupt logistical operations and southbound armor reinforcements.
3 EXECUTION
3.1 Commander’s intent
SEAD Elements (Indy9 primary) shall attack enemy radars in the AO to suppress air defences. CAP elements (Arctic1 primary) is to uphold CAP presence in the AO and protect other elements in the package. Fixed wing ground attack elements (Hawg8 primary) to neutralize enemy armor(MBTs priority) and other ground forces in assigned target areas. Rotor wing elements to attack forward deployed enemy units (Orca6) and disrupt logistical operations along the western enemy main supply route (Rage9).
3.2 Packages
The mission contains 1 package, callsign WOLFPACK. All flights are part of package WOLFPACK.
3.3 Order of events
1. Flights depart and proceed to assigned holding areas.
2. SEAD assets prosecute targets in the AO assisted by CAP support and report FREEWAY when area cleared of SAM threats.
3. After FREEWAY reported ground attack elements proceed with tasking, SEAD and CAP elements maintain presence at CAP WEST and CAP EAST to protect.
4. Fixed wing ground attack elements maintain hold at WP1 awaiting intel on further ground targets.
5. RTB at 05:30 or on NIGHTFALL.
3.4 Rules of engagement
ROE: C
As per SPINS
3.5 Acceptable level of risk
ALR: MEDIUM
As per SPINS
3.6 Flight tasking
Package WOLFPACK (Lead: ARCTIC11)
ARCTIC1
* Depart from carrier at 03:50
* Proceed to WP1 (B/E).
* Cover Indy9 during initial SEAD phase.
* Uphold CAP at CAP West and East when area cleared of SAM threats.
* Refuel at ARCO1 if needed.
* RTB at assigned time or NIGHTFALL call from STINGRAY
Loadout: 2X Tank/4X AIM-120C/AGM-88/2X AIM9-X
Waypoints:
1. Ingress (Bullseye)
2. CAP West
3. CAP East
INDY5
* Depart from Ramat David at 03:50.
* Proceed to Hold at WP1.
* Once Arctic1 is on station to assist, engage SAM threats in the AO (SA-6, SA-8). When area is cleared call FREEWAY on package channel.
* Proceed to Hold and stand ready to engage any pop-up SAM threats that comes online in the AO.
* Refuel at TEXACO2 if needed.
* Remain on station until ordered to RTB by STINGRAY
Loadout: FL decides
Waypoints:
1. Hold (Bullseye)
2. SA-6 W
3. SA-6 E
4. SA-6 N
HAWG8
* Depart from Ramat David at 03:55.
* Proceed to Hold at WP1.
* When FREEWAY is called search and engage targets in assigned target areas.
* Return to Hold and standby in case of further target intel becomes available.
* RTB
Loadout: FL decides. Flight may carry max 2 CBU-105, may not be used within 500 feet of civilian buildings.
Waypoints:
1. Hold (B/E)
2. Tayyibah border post (target area 1)
3. Killbox west point (target area 2)
4. Killbox east point (target area 2)
*Notes: Search area within 4000 feet north of Killbox west/east (target area 2). Due to the cloud cover it may be necessary to keep part of the element below the clouds in the southern safe airspace and buddy lase.
BENDER5
* Depart from carrier at 03:55.
* Proceed to Hold at WP2.
* When FREEWAY is called search and engage enemy staging area located near the town Al Qurayya.
* Return to Hold and standby in case of further target intel becomes available.
* Refuel at ARCO1 if needed.
* Remain on station until ordered to RTB by STINGRAY
Loadout: FL decides. Flight may carry max 2 CBU-105, may not be used within 500 feet of civilian buildings.
Waypoints:
1. B/E
2. Hold
3. Al Qurayya
*Notes: Due to the cloud cover it may be necessary to keep part of the element below the clouds in the southern safe airspace and buddy lase.
RAGE9
* Depart from Megiddo at 03:50
* Follow the route through the canyon into the AO. Stay below 300 feet through the canyon. Beware of tight turns between WP2-3.
* Attack logistical assets in the target area along the MSR, watch for convoys passing south.
Loadout: FL decides
Waypoints:
1. Canyon entry (Hold)
2. Canyon right turn
3. Canyon lake
4. Canyon exit
5. MSR target area S
6. MSR target area N
ORCA9
* Depart from Jarash FARP at 03:55.
* Engage targets located in the designated four target areas.
Loadout: Vikhr, Ilum rockets
Waypoints:
1. 1. Jarash FARP
2. King Hussein Airfield (Hold)
3. Target area 1
4. Target area 2
5. Target area 3
6. Target area 4
*Notes: You may rearm and refuel at King Hussein Airfield if needed. It is recommended to fire Ilum rockets in an upward arc from ca. 4 km for optimal effect.
GREMLIN8
* Depart from Megiddo at 03:50
* Follow the route through the canyon into the AO. Stay below 300 feet through the canyon. Beware of tight turns between WP2-3.
* Recon Syrian army warehouses for enemy activity. (WP5-7)
* Recon for under-construction enemy CP and FARP. (WP8-9)
Loadout: 4X HOT3/IR deflector/Sand filter
Waypoints:
1. Canyon entry (Hold)
2. Canyon right turn
3. Canyon lake
4. Canyon exit
5. Warehouse 1
6. Warehouse 2
7. Warehouse 3
8. Search Area N
9. Search Area S
4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
4.1 Airfield operations
* Ramat David
* TCN: 84X
* Active runway: 33
* Departure via Exit Hayim
* Approach via Entry Amos Lake
<!– Copy-paste friendly headers for flight taskings
ARCTIC1
BENDER2
CRIMSON3
DUSTY4
ELVIS5
FENRIS6
GRIM7
HAWG8
INDY9
JESTER1
KRAKEN2
LION3
MUSTANG6
NITRO5
RAGE9
SALTY1
ORCA6
PIG7
QUEBEC8
TUSK2
VENOM4 –>
4.2 Carrier operations
* CASE 3
* FB: 264
* Departure time: 04:20
* Departure sequence: ARCTIC1, Bender2
* Charlie time: TBD
As per Carrier Ops SPINS
4.3 Tankers
As per Aerial Refueling SOP
5 COMMAND AND CONTROL
5.1 Commander
* Mission commander is STINGRAY
* Mission commander deputy is ARCTIC11
* Package WOLFPACK lead is ARCTIC11
5.2 Frequencies
As per Comms SOP
5.3 Authentication
RAMROD: GRANDSLICE
As per Authentication SOP
5.4 Freq flow (Airfield flights)
7, 9, 3/5, 7
Remain on Tower (ch 7) during startup and departure. Go to 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) during startup and departure. Go to Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) or CAP A (ch 5). Use Marshal (ch 16) and Tower (ch 1) for recovery.
5.6 Brevity
* TANGOUNIFORM – Mission declared successful
* NIGHTFALL – Abort mission
* FREEWAY – Enemy SAM threats in AO neutralized
5.7 Bullseye
N 42 15.00′ E 42 03.00′
6 ANNEXES
AO overview
RAGE canyon route
ORCA target areas