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KANIUM SUNDAY 23rd of June 1800 GMT - OP STRIKEBACK by Nike-Ajax Where: Kanium TS : teamspeak3.i3d.net:10077 World Clock 1800 GMT (Same time as always - now adjusted for European Summer Time: click the time below for your local time) World clock 1800 GMT IMPORTANT NOTICE: This SB session may be recorded with video and sound and uploaded, including to a public youtube channel. Everybody is Welcome: you don't have to belong to Kanium. We love playing with you all, the arranger and CO loves you even more if you sign up in advance Operation Strikeback 7´th of October 2019 SB Mission by Nike-Ajax 0. Background Following years of tensions and proxy wars in the region, combined with support of Terrorists groups from both sides, things have come to a head now. Our opponent - as no one and neiher side officially wants to declare war - have been pressured by their failing economy as well as internal pressure. USA have reluctantly been dragged into this conflict. This is mostly due to the presence of oil and thus even though both USA and EU have tried to become self-reliant on oil since 1973, then they are far from this goal. And ois supply are thsu a strategic goal of the highest order. EU and others have tried diplomacy and talks with little or no effect and success. And diplomacy being what it is, then for better or worse, they are reluctant to support other solutions even though their own does not work. We are thus forced into a number of bad choices and poor options. Of which the politicians have now decided a a short sharp stab is the least bad. So a punitive expedition almost reminiscent of days gone by. This means that this is a POLITICAL as much as a military mission, and thus that everything we do will be measured and weighed. By our opponents and friends as well as UN. I. Situation Time: 0700 Local Time Weather: Ligthly clouded with no chance of rain, 26 degrees Centigrade, no wind and LOS 3500 Meters General We are a TF STRIKEBACK, so a Broadsword being tasked to do the job of a scalpel, but we have our orders, so we make do. We are NOT officially at war, and our mission today is officially considered a "Policing action". A rather hollow and UN-desriptive term which in reality means a punitive expedition against oru NON-enemies. We have been quietly if not clandestinely been landed at our opponents shore in limited numbers and with a narrow focus on our mission. Leading up to this, our opponent have been struck with surgical but limited air attacks, which means that we have Air Superiority locally and that the enemy cant reinforce. More relevantly perhaps, then we have hit the Opponents Oil pipelines, not only hurting their pride and economy. But also forcing them into using Oil Takers to move their primary moneymaker: Their oil. Our goal is therefore to strike and destroy a concentration of the Opponents Tanker trucks. This will serve to hurt not only their military but equally their oil based economy. We have been given the best equipment and ammunition available in theater, but that is about the only advantages we have. Even though the opponent cant reinforce, then they already have strong forces in theater, most ominously perhaps a large number of ATGM´s including the opponents copies of the Milan and TOW missiles. As our goal is to strike and then exfiltrate and not to hold any Object or area, our equipment reflects this. We go in fast, hard and with violence of action it is hoped we will overcome the advantage eth Opponent holds. Terrain: Mixture of closed and open, with channelling and blocking terrain features, making it defensible, paticularly with the number of Opponents ATGM teams. Obstacles: NO Minefields, prepared defences or entrechments. Current Situation. The Enemy is on the DEFENCE with superior numbers, but we have the better equipment and to some degree the element of tactical surprise and they have not had the time to entrench. Our Taskforce (TF) STRIKEBACK, have been tasked with this mission, allthough fewer then we are better in eqipment, ordnance and training. We are on our Opponents soil, and must expect a fair number of civilians in the AO - and the international community and our own country is watching. Therefore, you are tasked to avoid civilian casualties unless it DIRECTLY and CLEARLY endanger your command or overall goals. FIRES in the Urban areas are only authorised by TF COMD, and is FORBIDDEN under ANY circumstances in the indicated Artillery NO Fire Zone (reference Map trace). Enemy Forces Strength: ENY Combined Bn(+). Equipment: At least three (3) full combined and reinforced Companies with M60A3, Chieftain Mk. 5, BMP-2´s, locally produced AFV´s (Represented by M113AS4´s) and ATGM Teams including the equivalent of TOWs and Milan´s and with additional support and recon troops (From INTEL likely Scorpions and Technicals). Likely also a screening forces SE of the Enemy HQ with M60s and otherwise same composition as above, estimated as at least COY+ strength, and deployed in a defensive posture. Quality: likely experienced conscripts and their ammunition the best they can get for their older platforms. MDA: ENY only in HASTY DEFENSE in Main Defensive Areas (MDA), no constructed defences, entrenchments and major obstacles identified or likely, confidence about which is HIGH. Reinforcement: NOT expected from the North nor West as their lines of communication are cut for now. Confidence HIGH. ENY CoA: Likely will initially probe towards our Assault Point with RECON assets and try to hit us with INDIRECT fire missions, but once past that, then they will likely try to lure our forces into an attritional fight where their numerical advantage and number of ATGM teams, and use of terrain, will make up for their relative weakness in equipment. ENY have access to Artillery in substantial numbers, exact units deployed for this operation unknown. Friendly Forces (FF). Local AIR SUPERIORITY achieved temporarily. Flanks. FF SOUTH and EAST to SECURE Flanks, but not to Spt Attack in any way. TF STRIKEBACK: TF in ASSAULT POINT ALHPA consists of 3 x tank platoons of M1A2(SEP) as well as 2 x Cavalry platoon of M3A2 (ODS), there are no reinforcement and no help beyond that. B Coy Dismounted Cavalry troops equipped with 4 x Anti-Tank teams (FGM-148 Javelin). Each Cavalry platoon in B COY thus has 4x Anti-Tank teams but no medic team or LMG, and are all considered Elite. FIRES; 4 x 6 Tubes of 155mm SP howitzers, no FASCAM available (with the howitzers being further back, so off-map) 8 CAS strike missions on call. (As usual: ALL ARTILLERY IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF CO AND FO: So do NOT touch the ARTY controls if you not one of these two). LOGISTICS: In TF STRIKEBACK: Repair Sect, 2 x Supply and 1 x MED Sect. NO Engr, as there are expected no major obstacles in vector of attack. So BYPASS ENY obstacles. Rules of Engagement. NOTHING IN THESE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT LIMITS YOUR RIGHT TO TAKE APPROPIATE ACTION TO DEFEND YOURSELF AND YOUR UNIT. A. You have the right to use force to proactively engage any and all ENY targets of opportunity. B. You are cleared to fire first on all hostile targets or targets with deemed hostile intent, including armed civilians. C. The force should be used under the circumstances and proportional to the threat. D. We are at war. Destruction of civilian property has been cleared by the local authorities ONLY if CO deems that there is a CLEAR military value and goal in said destruction, including FIRES in urban areas. It is however FORBIDDEN to use FIRES under ANY circumstances in the indicated Artillery NO Fire Zone (reference Map trace). E. All Laws of War are to be observed. II. Mission: TF STRIKEBACK is to ATTACK and CONDUCT EXPLOITATION, DESTROYING the ENY between PL ONE and PL TWO as situation demands and by COs judgment, to facilitate ability to DESTROY ENY fuel truck concentration at OBJ OMEGA, IOT disrupt their future operations and achieve political goals. III. Execution Concept of the Operation: Taskforce STRIKEBACK, ATTACK from SOUTHEAST to NORTHWEST; conducting an attack by fire from PL ONE towards PL TWO, and then ASSAULT to DESTROY ENY fuel trucks. Once achieved, CONDUCT HASTY Retreat to ASSAULT POINT ALPHA. This will DISRUPT the ENY and achieve our immediate political goal. Commanders Intent Purpose - The purpose of this operation is to DESTROY the ENY forces in the OBJ OMEGA, then RETREAT, thus weakening the Enemys will to fight and persuading them not to conduct further offensive actions. Key Tasks 1. Attack from PL ONE towards PL TWO to DESTROY the ENY. 2. ASSAULT OBJ OMEGA to DESTROY ENY fueltrucks. 3. Conduct HASTY RETREAT to ASSAULT POINT ALPHA. End State: Friendly. FF postured in or IVO ASSAULT POINT ALPHA; consolidated and prepared and able to DEFEND towards the EAST and NORTH. Enemy. ENY DESTROYED between PL ONE and PL TWO, unable to support Enemy forces SOUTH and EAST of the OBJ OMEGA. Terrain. All tactically commanding terrain features SECURED and CLEAR of ENY. Civilian. As little disruption to civilian life and property as possible. Fires Concept. 4 x 6 Tubes of self-propelled 155 mm howitzers that will directly support this operations, from outside of the AO (offmap). There are 8 priority missions ready for tasking. 4 x 6 x Tubes of 155 mm off-map fires under TF CO control. 8 CAS sorties were awarded during this targeting cycle of the ATO under TF CO control. Aviation Nil IV. Sustainment Supply TF will carry forward 2 x resupply vehicles, No resupply possible beyond that . Maintenance TF will carry forward 1x combat repair team (CRT) Medical TF will carry forward 1x foward aid station (FAS) V. Command And Signal Succession of Command TF STRIKEBACK: HOTEL-66 TF Commander HOTEL-65 TF XO Alpha-11 1 PLT LDR/A Alpha-21 2 PLT LDR/A BRAVO-11 4 PLT LDR/A Signals No Change; as per unit SOP