Friday the 13th - Damascus Strike Test Package

[TitaniumTrout]

Scenario for testing. Friday the 13th

Uses the publicly available list of assets for the 13 April strike on chemical weapons sites in Syria.

I would appreciate feedback and comments. Of particular interest is the location of BUK and Pantsir assets, or at least an idea of what to expect where. The numbers and info I've found varies wildly and leaves much to be desired. I erred on the low side of published figures and sprinkled them where it seems appropriate. S 400 system locations are based on what reports I can find online, but again, I'd love some better data.

There's a couple of special actions, one will sum up weapons fired into Syria, current score, and status with the Russian Federation. Another simulates a comms blackout prior to the strike so Syria has less warning of a potential attack.

Edit : Update #2 Added
More SA-22 and SA-17
Added Special Action for Russian Federation
Adjusted OOB for Coalition
Added EA-6B and Fighter Escort for Cheeto Flight

[Tashtego]

I took a quick look, and you might want to double check the location of the Higgins. Reports I came across had her location in the north Arabian Gulf, rather than the Persian Gulf.
I liked the images in the briefing, pretty slick.

[Dysta]

After a lot of discussions in War-drumming Syria thread, I am interested and inclined to test it. Kinda hope it is a 'whack-a-mole' gameplay to see how capable the Syrian air defense against missile strikes, with and without Russia's help.

[Grazyn]

According to wiki, they used AGM158-B JASSM-ER not AGM158-A. The ERs have a much longer range

[chrispman]

Interesting!

I fired 73 missiles, 27 were shot down. All primary and secondary targets destroyed: 367 points Minor Victory.

I find it difficult to coordinate the strikes because the missiles automatically fly off-axis approaches (using shift-F1).

Thanks for the scenario!

[Gunner98]

You'll need to plot their courses: Use Shift+F1. Bottom right box you can manually plot the courses of your CMs, and perhaps guide them around the SAMs or keep them terrain masked for as long as possible.

[Primarchx]

Yep. Go to Relief View and start plotting those TLAMs down ol Beggar's Canyon...

[Filitch]

To set correct Syrian Order of battle you could use Zaslon's post fb.asp?m=4467319.
Replace part of SA-3b with SA-3c, add more SA-17 and SA-22
Probably you should append A-50 with AEW mission to Russian Federation side.

[TitaniumTrout]

I've made a few revisions.

Changed JASSM to JASSM-ER
Swapped 7 SA-3B for SA-3C
Added a special action to make RusFed hot at scenario start
Missile intercept counter on hold
USS Higgins will remain as is if only to keep the mission area from stretching out too far


Current SAM count is :

36 SA-2D
24 SA-3B
7 SA-3C
40 SA-6A
5 SA-17
3 SA-19
14 SA-22
5 SA-5c

I plan on increasing the quantity of SA-22's and SA-17's. Will get an updated scenario up tonight.

[Dysta]

Speaking of SA-22 (Pantsir), I think it's pretty much the only silver bullet against some beasty missiles. So I think SGA will put them at more important assets, like airports and important facilities. Maybe make these targets have bigger scores if playing as Allies, and more likely avoid them if playing as Syrian side.

[ExNusquam]

I took a quick look, and you might want to double check the location of the Higgins. Reports I came across had her location in the north Arabian Gulf, rather than the Persian Gulf.
I liked the images in the briefing, pretty slick.

The US Navy calls the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf, mostly to annoy Iran.

[TitaniumTrout]

Edit : Update #2 Added
More SA-22 and SA-17
Added Special Action for Russian Federation
Adjusted OOB for Coalition
Added EA-6B and Fighter Escort for Cheeto Flight

[Grazyn]

These articles have details about units used in support of the attack, from Aviano and Sigonella, and tankers positions

https://theaviationist.com/2018/04/14/h ... s-mission/

https://theaviationist.com/2018/04/14/e ... -on-syria/

[TitaniumTrout]

Thanks man! Seems I'm going to need to add quite a few more tankers. I'm debating how detailed to go initially as a lot of the assets don't actually strike, but support the strike. I may add a separate special action that allows for a Syrian/RussianFed retaliation. Then maybe those F-16's and Rafales would see some action.

[Gunner98]

Another option to consider is creating another 'side' which is allied to the player and runs the tanker tracks and CAP over the Med. They would then only get involved if someone comes out to play. You could also transfer assets to the player from that side if things heat up.

B

[Sharana]

Back to JASSM, the ER wasn't used, so the russians got it right by saying that B-1Bs did enter Syria (over the Al-Tanf pocket) and explains the escort. Also some F-22s were used after all, the reports were about jets flying east of Euphrates (CAP in case of retaliatory strike against coalition bases there).
https://www.military.com/defensetech/20 ... r0.twitter

[FoxZz]

Nice work on the scenario !

I've noticed a few things though :

It seems that there was a British Astute SSN and a Russian Kilo SSK in the AO which aren't in the scenario although they were kind of "involved" since they were screening each other.

There is also a few mistakes on the French Strike package. There was only 4 Mirage 2000-5F and 5 Rafale (4*B and 1*C) involved. The departure bases for the raid were Avord for the AWACS, St-Dizier for the Rafale, Luxeuil for the Mirage 2000-5F and Istres for the Tankers (which were the C135FR and not the KCs).

It seems there was also 7 F16s along 8 F15s and 2+ KC-135 tankers providing OCA and flying from Aviano airbase in Italy : https://theaviationist.com/2018/04/14/h ... s-mission/

Coalition bases, bar Cyprius and H5 should be modelled as single unit airfields, this would save computing power.

Maybe you could also include Russian fighters and anti-ship batteries if the player decides to play the Russian hot scenario. It seems that a few Su-57s were deployed recently, it could make an interesting opposition along SU-30s, which would be challenging for the coalition.
Could also add some Syrian Mig 25s.

Other than that, I suggest starting the mission with all the assets on the ground and a longer time limit. This would complexify the mission allowing the player to play with the timing and the coordination of its different strike packages starting from different bases far awat fromm each other.

[Zaslon]

It seems that a few Su-57s were deployed recently, it could make an interesting opposition along SU-30s, which would be challenging for the coalition.
Could also add some Syrian Mig 25s.

The russian air detachment in Hmeimim should be enough. If not, some Mig-31 with the hypersonic missile Kinzhal.

I am not sure but I think that Syrian's MiG-25 are not operational. He can use Syrian MiG-29SM but it's not in the DB at this moment.

[Gunner98]

This is very well done! Thank you.

Everything ran properly I believe, although when I killed the last mandatory target the assessment routine popped up, it was all good except it said the Syrian SAM system had knocked down '0' weapons - I think it actually knocked down about 5 or 6.

Most of the SAMs were fired at a couple Typhoons who ventured too close, but they served as a nice distraction and their Decoy chaff worked a charm.

Was using the B-1's to snipe at positive ID on the SA-22 and SA-19, got one of each but those are pretty good systems.

Parked the Prowler right between Homms and Damascus - nothing could see it as it was never shot at. A couple Mig-23 on a close intercept might make that a bit more interesting.

Great job on this, the scoring and difficulty are good for tension and you really need to plan each shot.

SIDE: Syria
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
1x Ammo Bunker (Mountain)
1x Ammo Bunker (Surface)
3x Building (Large Government Building)
2x Radar (Big Back [5N69])
1x Building (Barracks)
2x SA-6a Gainful [2P25] TEL
1x Vehicle (Straight Flush [1S91])
2x SA-22 Greyhound [96K6 Pantsir-S1E, KAMAZ-6560 8x8] TELAR
1x SA-19 Grisom [2S6M] TELAR
2x Vehicle (Truck Depot, 40x Vehicles)
1x Structure (Military Base)
1x Structure (Forward Operating Base)


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
50x SA-5c Gammon [5V28M5]
10x SA-19 Grisom [9M311]
2x SA-3c Goa [5V27DE]
41x 30mm 2S6 Burst [50 rnds]
70x SA-6a Gainful [3M9]
9x SA-3b Goa [5V27, V-601P]
4x 30mm 2A38M Burst [50 rnds]
3x SA-17 Grizzly [9M317]



SIDE: Coalition
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
30x RGM-109E Tomahawk Blk IV TACTOM
20x MdCN [Naval SCALP EG]
8x AGM-158B JASSM-ER
13x Generic Chaff Salvo [8x Cartridges]
1x Ariel Mk2 FOTRD
8x Storm Shadow
2x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]



SIDE: Civilian
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------


EXPENDITURES:
------------------



SIDE: Russian Federation
===========================================================

[Ancalagon451]

ORIGINAL: Gunner98

You'll need to plot their courses: Use Shift+F1. Bottom right box you can manually plot the courses of your CMs, and perhaps guide them around the SAMs or keep them terrain masked for as long as possible.

Is it posible to plot the course simultaneously for multiple weapons you want to follow the same course?

Terrain masking is a big thing but I seldom use it due to sheer micromanagement involving a big missile strike.

If I could only plot once for each axis of attack (of which ther are never more than two or three) it would be huge.

Ancalagon