The siege of Kobanî – (mini-tht)

RSVP: 23 07 20 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAS, Strike, Air Interdiction
Theatre: Syria
Modules: F/A-18C, F-16C, F-15E, AJS 37, A-10C, AH-64
Prerequisites: None

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

The siege of Kobanî was launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on 13 September 2014, in order to capture the Kobanî Canton and its main city of Kobanî (also known as Kobanê or Ayn al-Arab) in northern Syria, in the de facto autonomous region of Rojava.

By 2 October 2014, the Islamic State succeeded in capturing 350 Kurdish villages and towns in the vicinity of Kobanê, generating a wave of some 300,000 Kurdish refugees, who fled across the border into Turkey’s Şanlıurfa Province. By January 2015, this had risen to 400,000. The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and some Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions (under the Euphrates Volcano joint operations room), Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and American and US-allied Arab militaries’ airstrikes began to recapture Kobane.

On 26 January 2015, the YPG and its allies, backed by the continued US-led airstrikes, began to retake the city, driving ISIL into a steady retreat. The city of Kobanê was fully recaptured on 27 January; however, most of the remaining villages in the Kobanî Canton remained under ISIL control. The YPG and its allies then made rapid advances in rural Kobanî, with ISIL withdrawing 25 km from the city of Kobanî by 2 February. By late April 2015, ISIL had lost almost all of the villages it had captured in the Canton, but maintained control of a few dozen villages it seized in the northwestern part of the Raqqa Governorate. In late June 2015, ISIL launched a new offensive against the city, killing at least 233 civilians, but were quickly driven back.

The battle for Kobanî was considered a turning point in the war against Islamic State.

1.2 Area of operations

Area of operation is east northeast of Alepo and Tabaqah at the town of Ayn Al-Arab.

1.3 Time and weather

* January 26 – 2015
* 05:00 local time
* Lite Scattered (7000′-8000′)
* Wind 056 / 6
* FORCE QNH 2992 / 1013

1.4 Air threats

Only from Syrian air force consisting of Mig 21, 23 and 29. Some Su-22 and Su-24. As long we honor the No-Fly-Zone we should be fine.

1.5 Ground threats

AK-47 and 74, PK, RPG, Manpads. DShK and 37mm mounted on trucks and/or on the ground. Armor consist of BTR, BMP and T-55.
SAM systems active in the No-Fly-Zone.

1.6 Friendly forces

We have SF units in the center part of the town helping with the security for the refugees. The SF units will assist as JTAC to point out targets in the green area of the town. Turkey have a large number of troops on the Turkish side of the border.

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

A large number of refugees are leaving the town to the north and over the border to Turkey. The civilian is traveling by foot, cars and busses.

2 MISSION

To reduce ISIL:s power in the town of Ayn Al-Arab by eliminate all checkpoints in to the center and reduce ISIL:s ability to counter attack the YPG by eliminate there command bunker, supplies and the incoming reinforcements from the south.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent

RAGE9 and ORCA6 (friendly help from the Turkish SF) to attack the checkpoints. We don’t need to reduce the checkpoints to dust, but you will need to eliminate any hostile forces at that area. Be aware of heavy fire from the ground. INDY9 will work directly with our SF JTAC on the ground in the center part of the town. ARCTIC1 will pound the command bunker and all military equipment at their WP:s. HITMAN3 will look for the two reported convoys on there way from the south. The convoy consist of a mix of trucks with what we expect to be troops. The convoys are guarded by BMP:s. HAWG8 will support JTAC with its sensors. JESTER1 will search for any ISIL buildup west of the OA.

Note that every flight needs to know their specific operations height in and around the staging area and operation area. You can only leave your flight level on request or approval from JTAC and/or package lead.

The No-Fly-Zone needs to be respected!

3.2 Packages

The mission contains 1 package, callsign WOLFPACK. All flights are part of package WOLFPACK.

3.3 Order of events

1. RAGE9 to leave Gaziantep latest 05:20 and proceed to WP 2 and then engage your target at WP 3 and 4. After success continue to staging area and report to package lead for further tasking.
2. ORCA6 to leave Gaziantep latest 05:20 and proceed to WP 2 and then engage your targets at WP 5 and 6. After success continue to staging area and report to package lead for further tasking.
3. HAWG8 to leave Gaziantep at 05:20 and proceed direct to WP 7 (ECHO) when enroute to WP contact JTAC for tasking.
4. INDY9 to leave Incirlik at 05:20 and proceed to WP 2 and established contact with JTAC for CAS tasking. After success continue to staging area and report to package lead for further tasking.
5. ARCTIC1 to leave mother at 05:20 and proceed to WP 2 and then engage targets at WP 7 and 8. After success continue to staging area and report to package lead for further tasking.
6. HITMAN3 to leave Incirlik at 05:25 and proceed to WP 2. Then leave south to search the two ISIL convoys. Ones the convoy is stopped engage and if needed call for assistance. After success continue to staging area and report to package lead for further tasking.
7. JESTER1 to leave Incirlik at 05:28 and proceed to WP 2. Then leave to WP 10 to search the area for any ISIL buildup. We have reports on possible attack on the dam just north of the boarder. You are weapons free on all military targets in and around WP 10.

3.4 Rules of engagement

ROE: B
As per SPINS
Addition: Weapons free on all targets declared by JTAC, and the ISIL convoys.

3.5 Acceptable level of risk

ALR: MEDIUM
As per SPINS

3.6 Flight tasking

Package WOLFPACK (Lead: HITMAN3)

ARCTIC1
* Depart mother at 05:20
* Refuel at ARCO1 if needed
* Continue to STAGING (WP2) at 18-20.000″
* Push on WP 7 and 8
* On success report to JTAC for CAS tasking
* RTB on order from package lead

Loadout: FL decides (CAS and STRIKE)

Waypoints:
WP 1 – Tanker
WP 2 – Staging
WP 3 – ISIL Checkpoint 1
WP 4 – ISIL Checkpoint 2
WP 5 – ISIL Checkpoint 3
WP 6 – ISIL Checkpoint 4
WP 7 – ISIL Command Bunker
WP 8 – ISIL supplies
WP 9 – ECHO
WP10 – Home

HAWG8
* Depart Gaziantep at 05:20
*  Cruise at 4-15.000″
* Push to WP 7 and contact JTAC for tasking
* RTB on order from package lead

Loadout: FL decides (CAS and STRIKE)

Waypoints:
WP 1 – ISIL Checkpoint 1
WP 2 – ISIL Checkpoint 2
WP 3 – ISIL Checkpoint 3
WP 4 – ISIL Checkpoint 4
WP 5 – ISIL Command Bunker
WP 6 – ISIL supplies
WP 7 – ECHO
WP 8 – Home

INDY9
* Depart Incirlik at 05:20
* Refuel at TEXACO2 if needed
* Continue to STAGING (WP2) at 21-23.000″
* Contact JTAC for CAS tasking
* RTB on order from package lead

Loadout: FL decides (CAS and STRIKE)

Waypoints:
WP 1 – Tanker
WP 2 – Staging
WP 3 – ISIL Checkpoint 1
WP 4 – ISIL Checkpoint 2
WP 5 – ISIL Checkpoint 3
WP 6 – ISIL Checkpoint 4
WP 7 – ISIL Command Bunker
WP 8 – ISIL supplies
WP 9 – ECHO
WP 10 – Home

JESTER1
* Depart Incirlik at 05:28
* Refuel at TEXACO2 if needed
* Continue to STAGING (WP2) at 21-23.000″
* Push WP 10
* RTB on order from package lead

Loadout: FL decides (CAS and STRIKE)

Waypoints:
WP 1 – Tanker
WP 2 – Staging
WP 3 – ISIL Checkpoint 1
WP 4 – ISIL Checkpoint 2
WP 5 – ISIL Checkpoint 3
WP 6 – ISIL Checkpoint 4
WP 7 – ISIL Command Bunker
WP 8 – ISIL supplies
WP 9 – ECHO
WP 10 – ISIL activity
WP 11 – Home

RAGE9
* Depart Gaziantep at 05:20
* Continue to STAGING (WP2) at 0-3.000″
* Push to WP 3 and 4
* RTB on order from package lead

Loadout: FL decides (CAS and STRIKE)

Waypoints:
WP 1 – ISIL Checkpoint 1
WP 2 – ISIL Checkpoint 2
WP 3 – ISIL Checkpoint 3
WP 4 – ISIL Checkpoint 4
WP 5 – ISIL Command Bunker
WP 6 – ISIL supplies
WP 7 – Home

ORCA6
* Depart Gaziantep at 05:20
* Continue to STAGING (WP2) at 0-3.000″
* Push to WP 5 and 6
* RTB on order from package lead

Loadout: FL decides (CAS and STRIKE)

Waypoints:
WP 1 – ISIL Checkpoint 1
WP 2 – ISIL Checkpoint 2
WP 3 – ISIL Checkpoint 3
WP 4 – ISIL Checkpoint 4
WP 5 – ISIL Command Bunker
WP 6 – ISIL supplies
WP 7 – Home

HITMAN3
* Depart Incirlik at 05:25
* Refuel at TEXACO2 if needed
* Continue to STAGING (WP2) at 16-17.000″
* Contact JTAC for CAS tasking
* RTB on order from package lead

Loadout: FL decides (CAS and STRIKE)

Waypoints:
WP 1 – Tanker
WP 2 – Staging
WP 3 – ISIL Checkpoint 1
WP 4 – ISIL Checkpoint 2
WP 5 – ISIL Checkpoint 3
WP 6 – ISIL Checkpoint 4
WP 7 – ISIL Command Bunker
WP 8 – ISIL supplies
WP 9 – ECHO
WP10 – Home

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

* Incirlik AFB
* TCN: 21 (DAN)
* Active runway: 05

4.2 Carrier operations

* CASE 3
* BRC: 046
* Departure time: 05:20
* Departure sequence: ARCTIC1
* Charlie time: 08:00

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 HITMAN3
* Package WOLFPACK lead is HITMAN3

5.2 Frequencies

As per Comms SOP

JTAC: Callsign Stalker 2 Freq: TAD514 44.000FM or 344.000AM. Preferably if we all communicate in 344.

5.3 Authentication

RAMROD: GRANDSLICE
As per Authentication SOP

5.4 Freq flow (Airfield flights)

7, 9, 3, 7
Remain on Tower (ch 7) during startup and departure. Go to Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) . 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). Use Marshal (ch 16) and Tower (ch 1) for recovery.

5.6 Brevity

* TANGOUNIFORM – Mission declared successful
* NIGHTFALL – Abort mission
* SMASH – WP 3 and 4 neutralized
* WALKOVER – WP 5 and 6 neutralized
* DIRTPILE – WP 7 and 8 neutralized
* TRASHCAN – ISIL Convoys are neutralized

5.7 Bullseye

N 37 11.48″ E 36 49.20″

6 ANNEXES