ThunderStruck – Part 3

RSVP: 12 October 2023 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAP, Air Interdiction, Escort, Anti-ship
Theatre: Syria
Modules: F/A-18C, F-16C, F-15E, AJS 37, A-10C ll, AH-64, KA-50 lll
Prerequisites: Basic aircraft knowledge, rookies are welcome to signup.

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

Syria has still an active air force and boots on the ground. The Syrian air force has conducted several missions against our FOB at Hatay.

We have reports from two different sources that the Syrian Navy has managed to rent a carrier, Admiral Kuznetsow and two Grisha corvettes.

Skill of the crew on these navy ships are not high, but the contractor pays really good money for the pilot’s, so be aware.

1.2 Area of operations

West of Basse Al-Assad and at Abu el-Duhur.

1.3 Time and weather

* July 08 – 2022
* 08:00 local time
* Light Scattered (14000′)
* Wind from 360 / 8
* FORCE QNH 2992 / 1013

1.4 Air threats

Su-33’s

The Syrian air force has only Su-33’s left, the other type of air crafts has been shoot down. The Su-33 flight has the ability to launch from a carrier or from land.

Our radar shows two different CAP flights, one north and one south west of Basse Al-Assad.

1.5 Ground threats

BMP-2, ZSU-23 Shilka, MANPADS, SA-19, SA-11, SA-10

MLRS launchers escorted by BMP-2 platoons, protected by Shilkas, MANPADS and SA-19s. MLRS units are reported to be static for now but as they are mobile they can quickly redeploy and possible course of action is that once MLRS locations are engaged they will start to relocate.

SA-11 at Abu el-Duhur air base

SA-10 at Basse Al-Assad air base

1.6 Friendly forces

Convoy with different vehicles.

Hawk battery at Aleppo and Hatay

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

No civilian traffic in the area

2 MISSION

The Joint Force Air Component (JFAC) will conduct air strikes to destroy different targets in the AO and escort our convoy.

Two groups from the Le saboteurs, a small exclusive special force group from France (trained by the Dirty Dog Driver from F21, Class 90) will be inserted 30 km from Basse Al-Assad and Abu el-Duhur.

Their task are to disable the SA-10 at Basse Al-Assad and the SA-11 at Abu el-Duhur. When the SA-10 are disabled, they will transmit a short encrypted message on the high broadband to all with the information for how long time it will be down, same will be done for the SA-11. The 2 groups will then exfiltrate and be picked up by two helicopters, Huyes.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent

Search and locate if there are any Syrian Navy ships south west of Basse Al-Assad (in grid YE), if there are, engage and sink them.

Abu el-Duhur – Primary targets SA-11 and the Command center N 35°44’11”, E 037°05’32” alt 820ft. Secondary targets taxi/runways.

MLRS launchers North of Abu el-Duhur needs to be destroyed.

3.2 Packages

The mission contains of 3 packages, callsigns,

JOYFULL – Artic1, Bender2, Crimson3 , Dusty4, Kraken2

HAPPINESS – Hawg8, Pig7, Rage9, Salty1, Orca6

DREAM – Indy9, Jester1, Venom4

AJS37 and F-15E are not signed to any Package.

3.3 Order of events

1. Package JOYFULL, Set up CAP at Station A.

2. Package DREAM – Set up CAP at Station B.

3. Package HAPPINESS – AH-64, A10 and KA-50 meet up with the convoy and escort them to Taftanaz.

F-15E destroy the SA-11 at Abu el-Duhur and the Command center.

AJS37, destroy the MLRS at N 36°1’7″, E 037°4’22” alt 311m, then search and destroy navy ships in Grid YE

3.4 Rules of engagement

ROE: C
As per SPINS
Addition: Weapons free on all enemy.

3.5 Acceptable level of risk

ALR: HIGH
As per SPINS

3.6 Flight tasking

Package JOYFULL (Lead: Artic11)

ARCTIC1 – BENDER2 – CRIMSON3 – DUSTY4 – KRAKEN2

* Depart from Carrier in grid WA
* Hold at Hotel (WP2) at 20000’
* Push to CAP A (WP3) on Stingrays order.
* Refuel at ARCO1, ARCO5 or rearm/refuel at Larnaca
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. WP1 Tanker
2. WP2 Hotel
3. WP3 CAP A

Package DREAM (Lead: INDY91)

INDY9 – JESTER1 – VENOM4

* Depart from Incirlik
* Hold at Hotel (WP1) at 20000’
* Push to CAP B (WP2) on order from Stingray.
* Refuel at TECACO2, rearm/refuel at Incirlik
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. Hold HOTEL
2. CAP B

Package HAPPINESS (Lead: RAGE91)

FENRIS6
* Depart from Incirlik
* Destroy MLRS at N 36°1’7″, E 037°4’22” alt 311m. Report TRASHCAN if successful.
* Rearm/refuel at Aleppo, search and sink Admiral Kuznetsow, Carrier.
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. Target MLRS
2. Grid YE

HAWG8 – PIG7
* Depart from Incirlik
* Hold at HOTEL (WP1) at 15000’ and report to Rage9
* Push and locate blue convoy.
* Escort the convoy and coordinate engagements with RAGE9
* RTB

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. Hold HOTEL
2. Convoy

RAGE9 – SALTY1 – ORCA6
* Depart from Hatay when Hawg8 report at Hotel
* Push and locate blue convoy.
* Escort the convoy and coordinate engagements with Hawg8
* RTB

Waypoints:
1. Convoy

HITMAN3 – CYLON5 
* Depart from Incirlik
* Hold at Hotel at 18000’
* Push to Abu el-Duhur when SA-11 is deactivated
* Destroy Primary targets SA-11 and the Command center at N 35°44’11”, E 037°05’32” alt 820ft
* Destroy Secondary targets, taxi/runways

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. Hotel
2. Abu el-Duhur

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

* Incirlik
* TCN: 21X
* Active runway: 05

* Aleppo
* TCN: —
* Active runway: 09

* Larnaca
* TCN: —
* Active runway: 04

4.2 Carrier operations

* CASE 1
* BRC: 030
* Departure time: 08:20
* Departure sequence: ARTIC1 decides
* Charlie time: 10:15

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 JOYFULL lead is ARCTIC11
* Package DREAM lead is INDY91
* Package HAPPINESS lead is RAGE91

5.2 Frequencies

As per Comms SOP

5.3 Authentication

RAMROD: FUNMOTHERS
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) or CAP B (ch 10). 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
* WALKOVER – SA-11 neutralized
* DIRTPILE – Command center destroyed
* SMASH – Carrier Admiral Kuznetsow destroyed
* TRASHCAN – Taxi/runways destroyed at Abu al-Duhur

5.7 Bullseye

N 35 34.57′ E 35 43.18′

6 ANNEXES

Maps
Overview, Updated 05.10.2023

Abu el-Duhur

MLRS & AAA

Convoy route & CAS area