SITUATION
NATO forces are reinforcing their positions North of the city of Aleppo in preparation for a final push to take the city in the coming days.
To this point, an increasingly desperate Syria has refrained from resorting to chemical or biological attacks on civilians or NATO forces. However, it is still feared that hardline generals within President Assad’s extremist Ba’ath Party may decide otherwise as NATO nears the city limits of Northern Syria’s largest and most important city.
Syrian informants working with NATO have learned that a meeting of top Syrian generals and Ba’ath party members will be taking place today at the Ba’ath Party Headquarters in south-central Aleppo.
Disrupting the meeting and/or eliminating any number of these High Value Targets (HVTs) would severely disrupt the command authority of the Syrian Army and the Assad regime.
MISSION
VFA-41 will launch from USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) and take up station to the West of Aleppo until called in to strike the Ba’ath Party HQ Compound and/or the HVT’s individual convoys as they travel to/from the meeting.
The Target Compound [WP3] is located south of Aleppo Fort on the western edge of a large city park. The compound consists of two large (presumably reinforced) buildings and is surrounded by other civilian structures. Therefore, precision 2,000# penetrator munitions (GBU or LGB) are desired for this task.
The HVTs will be traveling to the meeting in small convoys consisting of 2-3 Jeeps/Land Rovers, possibly escorted by Scout Cars or BMPs.
A NATO drone (SPYGLASS) will be on station over the city to monitor the Ba’ath Party HQ for activity and search for any HVTs on the move within the city.
NATO command would prefer to wait and attack the compound while the meeting is underway with the HVTs concentrated in one area, but SPYGLASS will have target marking and lasing capability should targeting individual convoys be required.
Pilots should familiarize themselves with the major Aleppo landmarks as identified in the Intel Photos section as they will be helpful if called upon to locate/target HVTs in/around the city.
THREATS
It is possible that Syria will attempt to have CAP up over the city while the meeting is in progress. USAF BARCAP assets will be on station to the west, however due to the unpredictable timing of the meeting and possible short-notice response, DEALER aircraft may need to sweep the area of any Syrian fighters prior to arrival of the rest of the strike package.
The SA-11 site SW of Aleppo is still believed to be operational, but Syrian EWR in the Aleppo area has been severely degraded by previous strikes. Regardless, a flight of Incirlik based F-16s (JEDI flight) will attempt to neutralize that SA-11 threat prior to our arrival (ToT: 10:30L)
Aleppo still contains numerous AAA sites throughout the city and at Aleppo Airport. If prosecuting convoy targets at low level, be on the lookout for AAA in the area.
ROE
Weapons free- All Syrian targets may be engaged.
MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 29 May, 2022
TIME: 10:00
SUNRISE: 05:27
SUNSET: 19:42
TASK: Strike against military HVTs
WX: 040@05 kt / Few 8,000 Scattered 24,000 / T25 / Q30.02
FLIGHT DURATION: 300 nm (Plus loiter)
AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 4: 4 x F-14b
CARRIER:
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) / BRC 050° / Freq 127.5 [6] / TCN 73X "GWH" / ICLS: 13
SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-3D / MAGIC / Freq 266.000 [4]
Mission Tanker / KC-135 / TEXACO / Freq: 251.00 [8]/ TCN 55Y
Recovery Tanker / S-3B / SHELL / Freq 353.00 [10] / TCN:66Y
SEAD / 3x F-16c / JEDI / Freq: 266.0
Target Area Surveillance / MQ-9 / SPYGLASS / Freq: 266.0 / Desig Code: 1688
DIVERT
Hatay AP [WP6]
Rwy: 4/22
VOR: 112.5
ATC: 250.25
BULLSEYE: Hatay Airport [WP6]
DD-19 Route Overview
DD-19 Target Area Detail
Aleppo Landmarks
Target: Ba'ath Party HQ Compound
Target Overhead View
Mission Datacard
29 May 2022 - Damascus Dawn Week 19
Re: 29 May 2022 - Damascus Dawn Week 19
CAPT Hedgehog assigned as Mission Commander
LCDR MrBean on standby/alternate
LCDR MrBean on standby/alternate