Thank you NAM for running another excellent OP this weekend. We will be posting some images and short AAR for the OP. Congratulation Brian Ellingworth for FINALLY getting your very own AEG...even though you are going to have to pump iron to carry the M60 around the field! Thanks again to all who attended, your contribution will really make a difference to the children of our fallen heroes.
NAM provided some very nice props for the event including large warhead case with optional warhead, money case with $1 million in funny money!
Staff had a very professional booth with full chrono of all weapons including pistols
Contractor group awaits time after swaping the warhead for cash at the "South Mountain" LZ
Please send you AAR to me as soon as you can
NAM provided some very nice props for the event including large warhead case with optional warhead, money case with $1 million in funny money!
Staff had a very professional booth with full chrono of all weapons including pistols
Contractor group awaits time after swaping the warhead for cash at the "South Mountain" LZ
4 comments:
After Action Debrief
Operation: Solitaire
American Fire-Team
Bravo Squad Leader
06-11-07
Moss Land
I. 0900hrs: Roll Call
II. 1000hrs: Mission Briefing
- Objectives:
- Primary-
Alpha: Secure the Nuclear Warhead from Mossland militia forces.
- Secondary-
Bravo: Secure the killed American Sniper from the Mossland swamps.
Charlie: Secure the money transferred in the transaction between the two forces.
III. 1030hrs: Mission Start, insertion initiated
1045hrs- Insertion to our designated rendezvous point was successfully completed. American Rangers separated from American Alpha and Bravo Squads. Alpha and Bravo then moved out to locate and secure objectives.
- Bravo squad maintained a moderate distance from Alpha squad. Both Alpha and Bravo maneuvered through the “Snake Trail”: Oscar-5 to Yankee-2. No contact.
- At approximately Papa-4, the Fire-Team Commander made the decision to exit the “Snake Trail” into a region saturated with dense reeds and other vegetation. I instructed Bravo squad to follow.
- Near Yankee-2, the Fire-Team Commander directed Bravo to establish a secure position on top of Alpha-1, known as “South Mountain”. Bravo moved up a steep incline, eventually reaching the designated location. A perimeter was established.
- Directly following perimeter’s completion, fire erupted in the tree line below us. Alpha squad had been engaged by multiple contacts. Bravo remained in position. There was a large amount of casualties on both sides. After the firefight, the American Fire-Team leader and one other survivor emerged and regrouped with Bravo. Damage was assessed, and command of Bravo squad was relinquished to the Commander of the American Fire-Team.
- Bravo squad moved back down the hillside, and reestablished a position in Yankee-2. The location had been cleared, and security was set. The Fire-Team Commander coordinated with nearby American Forces. Bravo continued through the reeds.
- A radio transmission had confirmed that American Forces had located the American KIA, a downed sniper. The body was being transport to the grassy hillside near November-5 and Tango-5. Bravo squad rejoined with the rest of the American Forces, and established a perimeter for extraction of the body.
- Hostile forces were surveyed regrouping at a far range. The body, however, had been extracted. The hostiles moved away.
IV. 1330hrs- Reinforcements had arrived at the original insertion zone. With a sufficient amount of forces, both Alpha squad and Bravo squad were restructured. Command of Bravo squad was returned to me. American Forces moved out again.
- Alpha squad and Bravo squad commenced a brief period of over-bounding around the Northern edge of the “Snake Trail” to Yankee-5. Hostile forces were spotted, moving with a Southern trajectory. They seemed to be carrying a large object, possibly the nuclear warhead.
- Bravo was then instructed to break from the other American Forces, and cut through the Eastern edge of the Operational Zone. Our squad persevered with great tenacity; blazing a trail through a nasty species of vegetation known irreverently as the “Stinging Nettle”.
- Proceeding to Whiskey-3, I called “Contact”. Shots had been fired from a direction that vaguely seemed to be left, (East). We had taken a few casualties in the firefight that ensued. I and another medic were able to save all squad members.
- I feared a pitched battle, which would stall the American Forces, and compromise the assault plan. We withdrew to Whiskey-4, and commenced a sweep through the hostile region. Another firefight erupted. Due to our angle, we inflicted two or three casualties on the enemy. We had also taken damage, however the medics were able to save all hands. The hostile forces moved south.
- Bravo pursued the group up to between Whiskey-2 and Whiskey-1. This was the East end of “South Mountain”.
- Hostile forces had coordinated an ambush that ground our pursuit to a halt. Half of Bravo squad had become casualties, and the other half remained to fight. We were forced to “reinforce” at our designated reinforcement zone.
- At the reinforcement zone, the previously sporadic fighting had escalated into a pitch battle for superiority over “South Mountain”. It was confirmed that the nuclear warhead, the objective, had been barricaded on top of the “South Mountain”. It became apparent that action must be taken soon, for it was only 20:00 minutes until Mission Failure.
- Multiple attempts to loosely assault the Mountain were futile. Mass casualties were inflicted upon American forces. When the reinforcement zone had reached its fullest occupancy, a full assault was planned for “South Mountain”.
- With full force, every American Force was utilized in advancing on the hill. A hail of gunfire had greeted us. I was able to assist several wounded on my ascent to the objective. I fired on any visible hostiles as I advanced.
- The objective was finally spotted in a thick bush at the apex of “South Mountain”. I, along with another American, transported the warhead down “South Mountain”. The rest of the team covered our movement.
- From Papa-2, we made a line to Oscar-4. Our movement was covered. An engagement occurred between our units and hostile units, near a dried lakebed. I had to draw my handgun, rack it with my teeth, and fire at the hostiles while carrying the heavy package.
- I switched with another carrier. We proceeded to our designated extraction point, cleverly named “Dr. King’s House”.
- Covering the package as it reached its destination, I observed American Forces taking heavy casualties, yet nonetheless, successfully suppressing hostiles for our advance to extraction.
- The package was secured successfully, just as the Mission Time expired.
V. 1500hrs- Successful extraction of the warhead and American Forces completed.
VI. 1600hrs- Mission Complete:
- Objective Alpha- completed successfully.
- Objective Bravo- completed successfully.
- Objective Charlie- N/A.
VII. The mission was successfully completed, however victory for the American Forces was attained by a miniscule amount. Excessive casualties, and coordination issues make prevent the operation from being a major victory.
VIII. Operation Solitaire Complete
American Fire-Team
Bravo Squad Leader
-End of Debrief.
Operation Solitaire
AAR
Date: June 10 2007
Primary Objective: capture radiological dispersal device "dirty bomb".
Secondary Objective: retrieve body of US sniper.
We made our insertion into the Mossland area at about 1030hrs. We split ourselves into two squads me and another fellow Recondo student were attached to the smaller of the two squads. We had received an Intel report that both the bomb and deceased sniper were South East of our position. Both squads set out SW and moved in parallel about 50 meters apart. When the squad I was in reached a wooded area at the bottom of a hill called the "south mountain" our team leader signalled us to move through it quietly. After east through the brush for a couple of minutes we reached a tule field. Our team leader informed us that Intel suggests that the Primary and secondary objectives are on the other side of the tule field and that we must cross a complete our mission. As we got ready to move on one of my teammates spotted armed men between us and the mission objective and contact was made with the enemy. In the ensuing firefight we inflicted a took a number of casualties which included the other Recondo student. During the firefight I was separated from the rest of my squad but luckily I managed to spot a member from the other squad and link up with them. We then proceeded to check the area for hostiles and to retrieve our secondary objective. Because the Primary objective could not be found we then moved the to the North West and set up for helicopter extraction.
Because the primary objective could not be found we were again inserted into Mossland to look for it. Both of our teams headed east down a hill to look for the bomb. We then received Intel that the bomb was being moved to the top of the "south mountain" and both squads changed direction and headed for the "south mountain", It was decided that on squad would attack the south mountain from path on the east side and the other would attack from the north side. The east side squad's advance was to be met with fierce resistance so it was up to use to take back the bomb. We began our attack up the north face and we started to take fire. We manage to advance up to a large oak tree but were stopped there because of enemies hiding in the surrounding foliage. While we were pinned under the oak tree an enemy force engaged us form our rear and the team I was in was taken out of action.
INDIGENOUS FORCE ALPHA TEAM LEADER AAR: OPERATION: SOLITAIRE
2 Objectives: 1.) Money for warhead exchange -- Alpha team will pay $1M to contractors to deliver nuclear warhead. Meeting place is pre-arranged 2.) Successfully transport the warhead to extract zone. At the zone, get on the radio to the combat controller to verify safe arrival and await further instructions. 3.) Transport the warhead back to South Mountain with combined indigenous and contractor force and hold and defend from attack.
PHASE 1: 1030HRS -- Mission start
Alpha team began at south mountain with 6 members at the top of the hill. Shortly before deployment, we were assigned two more fighters which gave us a final total of 8 members. Point man found a very quick way to get off the hill with the first 6 members. The last two fighters encountered issues with their weapons and I stayed back and motivated them to resolve their issues quickly and to rejoin the lead element.
At the bottom of the hill, point man needed guidance on where to go to next for the meeting with the contractors. A quick survey of the map showed it was east of our location. Alpha team quickly made it's way to that point.
Upon arrival at the meeting area, we radioed the contractors (callsign Kilo) for exact location. They were nearby and instructed us to go to them to make the exchange. Alpha set a perimeter to reinforce the security Kilo had already set for the meeting.
The container with the money was locked and it took a moment to radio back to the controller for the numerical combination to open the case.
The case was eventually opened and Kilo team leader counted the money and verified that it was complete. Kilo team pulled back 50 yards from our location and set security. Alpha team stayed put and both teams were to hold the area for 15 minutes.
Within minutes of Kilo re-deployment both teams encountered fire from opposition forces. Alpha team held the area for the full 15 minutes but during this time experienced three casualties. I was wounded once and shot out once but the medic revived me and did the same for at least three other members of the team that was posted in our area. I wasn't sure how far apart our team members were deployed from each other and wasn't able to direct the medic to the casualties properly.
I also wasn't sure how many casualties Kilo sustained but by this time, they had moved on to their next objective. I called for the team to continue the mission and bugged out to a position approximately 60 yards to our east. We moved to this area covering our retrograde with alternating team members covering our rear. During this engagement, a couple of members had not heard the bug out order and literally ran under cover fire to rejoin the team. We did a head count and discovered our casualties but also found that one Kilo team member had been left behind. He stayed with our force to help us carry on to the extraction zone. Final head count was seven members.
The march to the extraction zone proceeded without incident. Upon arrival, we placed the warhead in an area to the rear of our perimeter and surrounded it with the remaining members of our force. This is to ensure that we had positions to fall back to and fire from, prior to discovery of the package -- we wanted the opfor to fight into the package.
The Kilo team member requested to disengage with our team and to rejoin Kilo. I radioed Kilo team and alerted them to the arrival of their team member. Kilo radioed back that they were also at their extraction point and will look out for their missing team member. Kilo team member left our area post-haste.
I radioed back to the controller for extract and received orders to hold the area for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes it became clear that extract would not arrive. Eventually, Kilo team had found a way to join us at our extract point. They arrived near the end of our hold period. Both teams held the area for a total of 35 minutes with no opposition force engagement whatsoever.
LUNCH
--vicious tiny tick bugs were out in force today. the teams had lunch, reloaded and de-loused and were ready to be back on line.
1330 HRS: PHASE 2 -- TRANSPORT NUKE TO SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND HOLD UNTIL END OF OP
Kilo and Alpha Team staged at the final extraction area in Phase 1. Kilo team was in charge of the operation and would lead the way and provide a blocking action back to South Mountain, the final resting place of the nuke. Alpha team was in charge of physical transport of the nuke and trailed behind Kilo 20 meters.
The march towards the South Mountain had no engagements whatsoever. Point man and guard kept a brisk pace and was instrumental in getting the team to the final objective quickly and safely. Kilo team had arrived at the area, set perimeter, selected a location for the nuke and advised us on how to deploy our team to cover the expected opfor advance.
The deployment of the Kilo/Alpha force to protect the nuke was as follows:
Nuke was positioned at the center of South Mountain in a covered position approximately 20 meters from the top of the hill. Security detail for the nuke was the medic -- his job was to be the final guard for the nuke if the perimeter falls apart. He would be the last guy to go down.
Kilo set up primarily to the West of the nuke and set up to cover the trail that leads to the top of the hill. The trail was 50 meters below the nuke and was heavily overgrown with tall shrubs, vicious "stinging nettle" and dried out wood limbs that have fallen from trees and blocked parts of the trail. This was going to be a nasty advance for opfor.
Alpha set up approximately 60 to 70 meters to the East of the nuke and was deployed to cover the trail that we had used to initially enter the South Mountain. This area was also heavily overgrown with the same vegetation and the trail had been blazed by our teams not more than 30 minutes earlier. It was a sure bet that opfor would advance using this trail. Alpha defensive element consisted of three members of the team, including myself, and was deployed no more than 40 feet from the mouth of the trail in an inverted V position -- very close defensive positions. Alpha point man and point guard had found spots to cover the nuke somewhere between the Kilo and Alpha areas, roughly 50 to 60 meters from the top of the hill.
Additionally, there was a very clear killing zone between the two trail entrances and to the north of the nuke. It was essentially open field on the side of this hill with almost no cover at all. Any assault from east, west and south towards the nuke would have to cross this field and engage in the open.
At about 1415-30 hrs, I radioed Kilo team for a situation report. Kilo advised that they were already beginning to take casualties on their front (I could heard the gunfire and carnage happening below me as he reported) and to stand ready. Apparently, Kilo had observed a secondary force approaching towards my side of the hill. As I walked back to reinforce the East position, I advised the medic that the attack had begun and that we would be getting company any moment. I rejoined the two members of Alpha and advised them to be ready for the secondary opfor arrival. We will hear them before we see them and not to engage until I fire. It was a perfect ambush spot but we would have to fire into the brush to take them out and I had no way of knowing how big the initial force would be.
1430 hrs (approx). we engaged the opfor as they tried to make their way out of the trail into our kill zone. Alpha used their weapons with vicious force and fired continuously into the mouth of the trail and swept the fire approximately 10 to 20 meters across the brush. From what I could tell, we probably shot out roughly 3 to 5 opfor during this first engagement. Opfor regrouped quickly and began to concentrate their fire into my position and shot out an Alpha member situated in front and below of me. Our medic was detailed to protect the nuke and was not able to revive this fighter and time eventually expired for him. He fought bravely and continued to fire even though he knew opfor was mounting up for a second volley. The remaining members of Alpha returned fire and a second break in firing occurred. This gave me and the remaining Alpha member time to fall back to a secondary position approximately 20 meters back which consisted of large brush that we could use to view the kill zone and to fire from.
Opfor began to advance cautiously and probed our area with gunfire whenever we spoke to each other. Point guard moved up from his position to below us on the hill to overlook the mouth of the trail and to support our position. We took out at least another three opfor during the next 15 minutes. I was wounded in the left shoulder. At the end of this time, another Alpha member was shot out and I was the remaining member supporting the perimeter. I waited between 5 to 10 minutes and made my move to fall back to a third position. I moved 15 meters uphill to a position which was approximately 3 meters away from the nuke behind a small shrub with enough cover to view the kill zone. I advised the medic that our perimeter had collapsed and that we were definitely going to be receiving company very shortly and asked him to recover my wound.
Within 5 minutes, a small force of opfor was spotted making their way towards us in two groups. I fired and eliminated one group to my left but at that moment exposed myself to the second group at my right. A volley of automatic fire came my way and I finally was shot out. The medic was not able to reach me for danger of exposing himself to the second group. I eventually expired and had to leave the hill. During the time I was shot out, I observed the medic valiantly defend his position with an opfor force that was slowly creeping up and trying to flank him. The medic shot out both attackers and stood ready for the next wave of fighters. He was the last man on the hill and was still protecting the nuke when I left the area.
At the reinforcement zone, I met the two Alpha team members that were previously shot out and an additional fighter I had never seen before -- there were four of us at this time. In the distance, at the opfor reinforcement zone, I observed them re-grouping and massing for one final go at the hill and at our nuke. Kilo had regenerated and was making their way back up the hill to reinforce the South Mountain defensive position.
I rallied the remaining fighters and instructed them that we would engage opfor from the rear and try to take out as many of them as we could. At this point, my recombined force could not find a way to enter the south mountain without being detected and it was simply too far a distance to do an end around and make it back up to south mountain. Time was running out. As far as I could tell, Kilo was already attempting this which I hoped, would be enough to repel opfor and stop or delay their advance. My idea was to come at opfor from the back and squeeze them into Kilo, delay their attack and to reduce their numbers. Additionally, if we survived this, could advance up the hill to the defensive position.
We set off to flank opfor to the rear left (eastward) as their attack on the hill was to the right. We engaged a few opfor stragglers from the rear and shot out at least 3 members. At this time, I saw members of Kilo fighting their way back up the hill and made me wonder how far they actually got and whether our brave medic was still there defending the nuke. I walked over the eliminated opfor members and began to make my way up the hill. After walking past the second body, I was shot out by small arms fire and had to leave the game.
When I made my way out of the bush towards the reinforcement zone, I saw that opfor had taken posession of the nuke and was making their way hastily up the hill on the other side of the field. Apparently, opfor had gutted out a victory in absolutely the waning moments of the game.
******
Finally, tremendous gratitude and appreciation to all the fine members of INDIGENOUS FORCE ALPHA that day. They all fought bravely, intelligently and with honour.
Is there more pictures of this game. I was going to put a bunch of pictures from this game on my myspace.
-Mitchell Ryan
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