Syrian Dawn – Day TWO

May 11th, 2010. H-hour plus 39. Northern outskirts of Damascus.

– Starbase, Lima six one
– Go for Starbase
– Spotted your precious cargo at Bravo Tango five eight one six, one niner seven zero. Eastbound. Lead element of two armored vehicles. Main element is four trucks, no markings. Range from our posit is two thousand. It’s long but we could give it a try with the fifty?
– Negative six one, they might be dirty. Hold your fire. Report speed.
– Roger, wepons are tight. Estimate four zero miles.
– Copy forty miles an hour. Stay on the scope, report any trailing elements.
– Wilco, Six one.

 

RSVP: 24 10 03 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – Strike, SEAD, Air Interdiction
Theatre: Syria
Modules: F/A-18, F-16, A-10, OH-58, CH-47
Prerequisites: None

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

Day TWO, H-hour plus 39. Ground forces are advancing on all fronts but are encountering heavier than expected resistance. In our AO the FEBA is currently along PL SIOUX, some 35 nm south of Damascus, where the SAA 7th Armored Division are making a stand. Casualties so far are within pre-war estimates but morale has taken a hit in some units that have suffered blue-on-blue incidents. Air Force and Navy have flown numerous, mostly successful, sorties against air bases and long-range SAMs.

Earlier today, Intel managed to intercept communications related to a relocation of WMD-related equipment. This MAY include fissile material (U-235 and/or Pu-239). A convoy has left Damascus and is currently en route to Palmyra. The research facilities, in downtown Damascus, are being dismantled. SOCOM is assebling a raid to secure evidence.

1.2 Area of operations

Southern Syria

1.3 Time and weather

* May 11 – 2010
* 16:30 local time
* SCT 8/9, FEW 21
* Wind from 305 / 2
* FORCE QNH 2992 / 1013

1.4 Air threats

MiG-21, MiG-29, Mi-8, Mi-24

The Syrian Air Force is heavily decimated. While a few dozen MiG-21 and MiG-29 airframes are still intact, there are currently no operational air bases to fly them from. Dispersed road bases are a possible threat but Intel believes the aircraft are mostly held in underground shelters at the air bases. In the past 12 hours we have not seen any fixed-wing sorties. The air threat, therefore, is mainly rotary wing.

1.5 Ground threats

BMP-1, T-72B, ZSU-23, MANPADS, SA-8. SA-13, SA-2, SA-11

Most long-range SAM-sites have been destroyed. One SA-2 remains operational in Sayqal and one SA-11 in Palmyra.

1.6 Friendly forces

USMC operating northwest of our AO

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

No civilian air traffic

2 MISSION

Support the ground offensive.

Strike the WMD-convoy before it reaches Palmyra.

Support the SOCOM raid on Damascus.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent

Support 2nd Infantry Division’s attempt to flank the SAA 7th Armored Division near the town of Shahba.

Strike road blocks in the Damascus area in preparation for SOCOM raid.

SEAD vs known SHORADS sites in the Damascus area to facilitate extraction.

Strike SAA 4th Armored Division to prevent interference with the SOCOM raid.

Locate and destroy WMD convoy en route to Palmyra.

3.2 Packages

MAYHEM – OH-58D, A-10C

ANVIL – F-16C, F/A-18C, CH-47F

3.3 Order of events

Mission start 16:30

Lima One reaches staging area 17:25. Awaits BULLDOZER

WMD convoy enters NAI KILLZONE approx 18:00

3.4 Rules of engagement

ROE: C
As per SPINS
Addition: No cluster munitions in populated areas

3.5 Acceptable level of risk

ALR: MEDIUM
As per SPINS

3.6 Flight tasking

Available to package leads at this time

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

* King Hussein Air College
* TCN: 34X
* Active runway: 31
* Departure
* Approach

4.2 Carrier operations

* CASE 1
* BRC: 030
* Departure time:
* Departure sequence:
* Charlie time: 19:00

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 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
* BULLDOZER – Roadblocks in Damascus eliminated
* DUREX – Reinforcements from 4th AD prevented
* FALLOUT – WMD Convoy eliminated

5.7 Bullseye

N 33 17.00′ E 36 48.00′

6 ANNEXES

Maps