A Counter Ambush - Combat Mission Afghanistan AAR

Started by Bison, June 05, 2012, 07:12:21 AM

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Bison



Situation:
This scenario is strictly an infantry movement to contact operation.  C Company is ordered to disrupt Mujahedin ambush operations with the intent to engage and destroy in the vicinity of the village of Targab.  C Company will air assault into the Assembly Area (AA).


Bison

Terrain:
The primary terrain in the scenario is 3 hills, which the Soviet intelligence planners have creatively indentified as Hill A, Hill B and Hill C.  In between Hill A and Hill C is a large open valley floor.  The hills and the valley are covered in light scrub brush and tree groves.



Looking toward Hill C from the top of Hill A.  This is an extremely dangerous approach with cover and concealment limited to the tree groves and brush cover.  Any enemy positions on Hill C will have excellent over watch of the valley floor and clear line of sight (LOS) of maneuvering units.



Looking at Hill B from its base.  The hill will provide a difficult challenge to Soviet troops advancing up the hill to engage and clear ambush positions.  Cover and concealment is availible from tree cover, but mitigated by over watch of possible enemy positions on Hill B.



Looking across the valley floor with Hill A to the right, Hill C to the left and Hill B straight ahead.  The valley is going to prove a kill zone if there are ambush positions on the three hills that have not been disrupted or destroyed.




Bison

Enemy Forces:
Mujahedin machine gun teams, snipers, RPGs and small infantry units.  In short, a hodgepodge of arms that are constituted into teams of 2-4 men.

Here are some of the specific units that the Mujahedin are believed to be using for ambush operations.

Sniper


Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)


Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG)



Bison

Enemy Courses of Action:
We suspect that the Mujahedin have established ambush positions on all three hills.  The most likely course of action (COA) is draw our troops and convoys  on the road into a three directional complex attack of RPG and HMG fire.



There is a high probability that they have emplaced anti-tank and anti-personnel mines along the road and around ambush positions to disrupt our freedom of movement.


Bison

Friendly  Forces:
C Company, 1st Battalion

HQ Platoon (PLT)

3 Rifle (RFL)  PLTs (1st, 2nd, 3rd PLTs respectively)  which are comprised of a HQ and 2 rifle (RFL) squads (SQD).  It's important to note that Soviet rifle squads are consist of only 5 men.  This is not a major issue in this scenario as it's a movement to contact and not a urban environment where you would like to be able to split the teams into assault teams for building clearing.  I will most likely detach a scout team from a squad or two.  This will reduce the squad to 2 teams;  the 2 man scout team and a 3 man rifle team.



1 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) PLT (4th PLT) which has a HQ, 2 HMG Sections broken down into 3 fire teams with 2 men each.   The PKM is the machine gun used by Soviet HMG fire teams.



There are no artillery or airstrikes available for this operation.  The Soviet high command has allocated all indirect fire and air support to other operations.  This is not our lucky day Comrades if we run into heavy resistance.

Bison

Mission and Commander's Intent:



The Soviet high command is not into wordy mission statements or Commander's Intents.

Bison

#6
Course of Action:
The counter-ambush operation will begin at 0800 with 1 hour to conduct and complete the operation.   3/C/1 will move east along Hill A to the base of Hill B in order to (IOT) conduct counter-ambush operations on Hill B and disrupt enemy activity preventing freedom of movement for 1/C/1 and 2/C/1 eventual assault and clearing of Hill C across Phase Line Alpha.  (Note: 1/C/1 is read as 1 Platoon, C Company, 1 Battalion subsequently for example A/1/1/C/1 would be A Team, 1 Section, 1 Platoon, C Company, 1 Battalion) 1/C/1 will advance up Hill A and move toward the hill's eastern ridge conducting a counter-ambush sweep of Hill A.  2/C/1 will advance up Hill A IOT provide reconnaissance and over watch of Hill C.   4/C/1 will provide over watch fire on Phase Line Alpha and Hill C as well as providing flexible response to enemy ambush of Hill A.



Tasks to Subordinate Units:
4/C/1 will provide 1 HMG team each to 1/C/1, 2/C/1 AND 3/C/1.  The attached HMG are operationally controlled by the platoon leader to provide support and suppressive fire of suspected and know enemy locations during the anti-ambush operation.

Command:
C Company Commander has operational control of the anti-ambush operation.  HQ/C/1 will maintain command position from Hill A during the operation and move to extraction location vicinity Phase Line Bravo following completion of the operation.

Here we go!  I'll be playing out the scenario using real time and pause to give commands as my pixel comrades as the situation demands.

Bison

#7
0807 - Hill A
C Company has successfully maneuvered 1st, 2nd and 4th PLTs to the crest of Hill A.  The Mujahedin movement has been noted on Hill C.  They engaged our troops with sporadic small arms fire (SAF).  No casualties reported.



2/C/1 has begun its anti-ambush clearing operation along the eastern ridge of Hill A.  2/2/C will move along the southern ridge eastward in an effort to outflank possible enemy positions.  1/2/C will move along the northern ridge eastward to cut off possible retreat routes toward Phase Line Alpha and Hill C.  1/A/4 has established a fire position in the middle of the ridge facing eastward IOT provide cover fires.  The HMG will move up as 1st and 2nd SQDs clear and advance.  HQ/2/C will advance up the center of the ridge IOT provide additional fire support in case of enemy contact.



What it looks like with trees. 



1/C/1 will move in support of 2/C/1 clearing operations and provide quick reaction support in the event of heavy enemy resistance on the ridge of Hill A.

4/C/1 will hold position.  They will eventually move down the slope of Hill A to over watch positions to provide cover and suppression fires of the advance on Hill C.  Right now they have been ordered not to engage any targets over 200m in distance.  Ammo is limited and the HMG potential to provide future cover fires will be needlessly reduced.

Bison

#8
0807 - Hill B

3/C/1 has reached its first objective at the base of Hill B.  2/3/C will conduct movement to contact operations along the western slope of Hill B.  1/3/C will conduct its operation along the eastern slope.  HQ PLT will move between 1st and 2nd PLT and provide bounding over watch cover fire.  2/C/4 has taken its fire position on the western ridge edge of Hill A.

The Mujahedin have been sighted at the crest of Hill B.  HMG, sniper and rifle teams have been positively identified.

C Co CDR is considering flexing an additional HMG from 4 PLT to the eastern ridge of Hill A to provide further support to 3rd PLTs advance in response to the known threat.



2/C/4 view of Hill B.  The hill is heavily covered with trees and brush.  This is proving too much for 2/C/4 to effectively provide direct contact suppression fire on individual enemy targets.  The HMG team will possibly need to move its fire position further up on the northeastern ridge of Hill A.



Bison

0809 - Hill A

Contact with enemy forces on western ridge of Hill A.  1/B/4 took the first casualty from an unknown force at approximately 0808.  Suspect the enemy is located at the crest of the ridge.  The team moved much quicker into position then I expected it too.  I should have given a delay order to ensure they didn't outrun their cover fire.

1/2/C makes contact with an RPG team.  The RPG  caused 1 casualty and halted the SQDs advance.  1/2/C has been ordered to engage and destroy the RPG team.



2/A/4 has been ordered to move to the eastern ridge of Hill A to provide additional fire support to 3rd PLT.  The enemy numbers are increasing dramatically on the ridge of Hill B and they are firing on the backside of 1st and 2nd PLTs movements on Hill A.  They are specifically ordered to suppress an enemy HMG team.




Bison

0811 - Hill B

2/C/4 was ordered to move further down the slope of Hill A to get a better position to support the assault up the hill by 3nd PLT.  They were engaged by heavy enemy fire and destroyed.  Suspect it was a sniper team.

2/A/4 continues to suppress the enemy HMG position.  No clear shot on sniper or RPG positions.

3rd PLT continues its slog up Hill B.  They have been in engaged in SAF with Mujahedin RPG and rifle teams and the progress has been even slower than expected just to reach the base of the hill.  The next few minutes will be crucial if 3rd PLT is to take the hill and push the enemy out of position.



1/3/C advancing up Hill B.  Brave Comrades are not afraid to move into contact with the enemy of the Motherlands ambitions.



Bison

0812 - Hill A

2 HMG teams have moved down the slope of Hill A IOT establish fire positions to provide over watch and cover fires on Hill C.  The Soviet commander was hoping that the distance and tree cover would protect this movement into position.  The enemy engaged and destroyed 1/C/4.  2/B/4 has begun firing on a known sniper position on Hill C.



2/A/4 HMG gunner was killed on Hill A's eastern slope.  The ammo bearer is pinned.  3 PLT will continue its assault up Hill B without HMG cover fire. 

This anti-ambush operation is at a very critical stage.  The Soviet command anticipated losses to the Mujahedin, but the loss of 3 HMG teams is a huge blow to the operations success.  No need to panic yet Comrades.  Look on the bright side we haven't stepped on any landmines...

Bison

0818 - Hill A
The clearing of this objective has turned into no uncertain terms a bloody mess.  1/2/C was unable to take out the RPG team.  They proceeded to reduce 1/2/C down to 2 men.  And the effort to move into position turned fatal for the entire 2/2/C before 2/1/C could eliminate the RPG position.

2/2/C was engaged by the RPG and what is suspected to be an HMG position on the down slope of northwestern side of Hill A.  The entire team was destroyed and the HMG position has yet to be engaged.



Comrades we must eliminate the HMG position before we can take our remaining SQDs and finally move past Phase Line Alpha and attempt an assault on Hill C.  Hill C is also starting to cause significant issues with the operation on Hill A.  There is a heavy concentration of RPG, HMG and sniper teams who are flexing all their firepower on the SQDs clearing the remaining ridgeline.

The commander has decided to move all 3 of his remaining HMG teams into position to put down suppressive fires on Hill C.  Hopefully it is not too little too late.  32 minutes remain for the operation.


Bison

0822 - Hill B

3 PLT has achieved their objective with stunning success.  A much need victory to bolster the moral against a bloody morning so far for the Soviet operation to clear out ambush fighting positions.  They engaged and destroyed at minimum a HQ and a RPG team.  Routing from the field were at least 1 RPG, sniper and rifle teams.



This success will allow for a possible two prong assault onto Hill C if Hill A can be brought to resolution in the next few minutes.

Bison

0825 - Hill A

The assault on Hill A has been completed and was a success in so far as we were able to route the Mujahedin from their fighting positions.  They are on the run to the northwest and away from Hill C.   At least something positive has come of this clearing operation.  The question is can the remaining Soviet forces regroup and push the attack toward Hill C?

The Mujahedin have severely damaged the combat power of 1st, 2nd and 4th PLTs.

The remaining troops:

C Co HQ:
HQ/C/1 - 4 personnel

1st PLT:
HQ/1/C - 4 personnel w/ smoke grenades
1/1/C - 5 personnel
2/1/C - 4 personnel

2nd PLT:
HQ/2/C - 4 personnel w/ smoke grenades
1/2/C - 2 personnel

4th PLT:
HQ/C - 1 personnel w/ smoke grenades
1/A/4 - 2 personnel
1/B/4 - 1 personnel

The plan for the assault on Hill C:



1st PLT will assume responsibility of the main assault against Hill C.  The PLT will move northwest of Hill C and attempt to attack the western slope of the hill.  HQ/4/C will accompany the main effort to supply smoke cover for the assault.

HQ/2/C and 1/2/C will move north and establish a blocking position to the west IOT prevent Mujahedin forces from regrouping following their retreat off of Hill A and conducting an attack on an unprotected back flank of the assaults main effort.

1/A/4 and 1/B/4 will advance to tree cover and establish fire positions IOT provide suppressive fires for the advance of the main effort against Hill C.

HQ/C/1 will maintain its current position and provide cover fire for the main effort.  The CO will attempt not to become a KIA statistic.