Coop: Operation Quicksand

[spoiler=OPORD]Map: Desert Island
Time: 0230 hours
Weather: Clear
Host: [user avatar=“https://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/2509934/avatar/small.1584375752.gif” name=“Baegel”]2509934[/user]

Task Force Aegis is a small offshoot of Task Force Noctem, operating independently in most matters but sharing a similar hierarchy. Whereas TFN is trained in standard warfare tactics, TFA is known for their counter-terrorist training and unconventional tactics. Members of TFA are exclusively recruited from TFN, leaving the Task Force at a small fraction in size compared to its parent force.

OPORD

I Situation:

The People’s Republic of China has recently begun expanding its military presence in the South China Sea again - despite the 2024 Sydney Agreement. Architect behind this new expansionism is Rear Admiral Wu Shengli who is acting under express authorisation of Xi Jinping to stake claim to the South China Sea once more. He is currently visiting the artificial island of Ngong Shuen Chau to oversee construction there.

NATO wishes for Wu Shengli to be taken out of the picture. Commander of the Navy Shen Jinlong has a moderating influence and nobody in the West wants to see Wu Shengli replace him. The HMS Ocean is currently conducting a “Freedom of Navigation” exercise closeby, which will draw the attention of the PLA and let Angel get close without raising any alarms. Wu Shengli needs to be taken alive.

Friendly Forces:

[indent][list]
[] Task Force Aegis (TFA)
[
] Delta (Command), Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Angel (AC130) are available for this Operation.
[/list][/indent]

Assets:

[indent][list]
[] 1x AC-130 Gunship
[
] 7x SDV Submersibles
[*] 1x Darter Drone
[/list][/indent]

Enemy Forces:

[indent][list]
[] PLA
[
] The PLA has a moderate garrison (~150 troops) on the island while it is still under construction. The Zìyóu, Wu Shengli’s personal ship is also docked with its troops nearby.[/list][/indent]

Civilians:

[indent][list]
[] Construction workers are on the island and working around the clock.
[
] RoE: No witnesses.
[/list][/indent]

II Mission:

Locate and extract Rear Admiral Wu Shengli who is overseeing construction of the island. Stay undetected for as long as possible.

III Execution:

Commander’s intent

[indent][list]
[] TFA is to infil using SVD submersibles attached to HMS Proteus.
[
] Angel is to overwatch and give intel as it becomes available.
[] TFA is to take the Zìyóu destroyer and eliminate its personnel, thus cutting off most of the communication from the island.
[
] Wu Shengli is not expected to be on board, but a thorough search will be necessary to be absolutely sure.
[] With Angel’s help, locate Wu Shengli’s position on the island.
[
] Remain undetected until you know of Wu Shengli’s location.
[] Once hot, Angel is eliminate all air assets on the island to prevent Wu Shengli escaping and provide general fire support as needed.
[
] Extract Wu Shengli with a helicopter sent from HMS Ocean. Extract TFA with SVDs.
[/list][/indent]

Movement Plan

[indent][list]
[] Infiltrate the Zìyóu using the SVDs provided.
[
] All further movement decided by Delta.
[/list][/indent]

Fire Support

[indent][list]
[*] Angel[/list][/indent]

Optional Tasks

[indent][list]
[*] Take and download any strategic intel that you find.[/list][/indent]

IV Administration / Logistics:

Resupplying

[indent][list]
[*] Resupply is not available for this mission.[/list][/indent]

Reinforcements:

[indent][list]
[*] There are no reinsertions, this is a one life mission.[/list][/indent]

Task Force Aegis (Friendly Forces):

Target: Wu Shengli

Area of Operations:

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Area of Operations]

General AO:

Close-up of the island

Close-up of Docks

Close-up of main facility


[/spoiler]

General Notes:

  • Task Force Aegis is focused around the fire team as a main element. Squads are made up of two fire teams, each with an FTL, Medic, AR, and Rifleman LAT. This gives each fire team the ability to act completely independent of one another if needed. Fire team leader 1 is in charge of the whole squad if need be, but both FTLs have long range radios.
  • Each soldier is equipped with quad nvgs, IR flashlights, lasers, flashlights, suppressors, good armour, and a GPS. This is a huge advantage to what we normally bring, which should let one fire team take on a larger group of enemies than they are used to.
  • AC-130 fire support is inaccurate if at a distance. Danger close is not advised, as the spread at 2-3km altitude is greater than 100m. It is best to let Angel choose their targets or advise Angel to fire at targets further than 100m away.
  • Your starting loadout with Wetsuit and Rebreather can be changed in the SDV submersibles once you ascend to the surface using an action button "Change Loadout". Do not ascend to the surface until you are sure you wish to disembark.

[user avatar=“https://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/2509934/avatar/small.1584375752.gif” name=“Baegel”]2509934[/user] Ok, I’ll try to fire up discussion. This is obviously a classic raid where speed, stealth and surprise should be used. Raid SOP goes like this:

  1. We need 3 elements - security, support, assault.
  2. Map recon should give us some good ORP (rally point out of sight and sound of the objective but still close enough) where we could setup temporary camp and do some scouting.
  3. Pinpoint the objective. Establish S&O (surveillance and observation) of the objective with a small, usually 3 pax, team. Their duty is to report all changes on the objective at all times but also to provide immediate suppressive fires on the objective in case we get discovered.
  4. Do leader’s recon where proper positions for security/support and assault teams are found. Map planning is just tentative, still positions have to be reconnoitered on the spot.
  5. Go back to ORP, issue orders, plan the escape routes!
  6. Send security element to isolate the objective from any reinforcements going in and enemies escaping. This is crucial because we’re fighting company strength opposition and if we get too complacent, slow, not using stealth, speed and surprise, we will be soon fighting conventional war against numerically superior PLA. Using mines, car blocks on the road is more than welcomed.
  7. Support element moves to support by fire position and provides overwatch of the objective.
  8. Assault element moves to assault position.
  9. Support element starts engaging the enemy, when the enemy gets pinned down, assault element breaches the objective and completes the task (in this case - we need to take this SOB rear admiral alive).
  10. We retreat in organized manner the reverse way we deployed - assault retreats first, support second, security last.

Ok, this is what the SOP says. Now, great thing here is that campaign maker allowed us to have balanced elements with smaller teams and assigning them semi-independent tasks will make this work.

Time is pitch dark (0230 hours), enemy is deployed but unaware of us. From commander’s intent we can see few points:

  • We have 3 phases of operations: 1. isolate the island by taking out the Zìyóu destroyer, 2. locate VIP, 3. hijack VIP alive.
  • Angel is an asset that will provide surveillance of the objective but also security - isolate it from any reinforcements (surveillance & security requirement check).

Phasing the operation

Phase 1. Assault on Zìyóu destroyer

Task organization (estimated number of players 15).

ANGEL - security & support element. We can’t support ourselves from the subs, and Angel is an obvious asset.
ALPHA - assault 1. Assault 1 consists of Assault 1 Red and Assault 1 Yellow.
BRAVO - assault 2. Assault 2 consists of Assault 2 Red and Assault 2 Yellow.

We need to identify 2 entry points on the Zìyóu destroyer which can be used by Assault 1 and Assault 2, or ideally 4. Command, please ask CIA for detailed drawings of the ship if available.

Phase 2. Locate Wu.

With Angel’s help, locate Wu Shengli’s position on the island. This is where we get passive and stealthy. I’m thinking going back to subs might be the best place for this because going on the ground will be more risky. Island is pretty flat, no natural cover and random patrols can completely ruin everything.

Phase 3. Hijack Wu.

This one is a planning nightmare. We don’t the VIP location and most likely we will need to do the planning on the spot.

Planning to be continued.

UPDATE 1.

Command, do we know if there are armored assets on the island?

PHASE 3. Judging by detailed overhead plan of the compound, we see several important targets:

TRP 1. AA - really important target, taking this out means ANGEL get unconstrained access to airspace over the island.
TRP 2. Encampment HQ - probable VIP location.
TRP 3. Fuel station
TRP 4. Power plant
TRP 5. Military offices - see TRP 2.
TRP 6. ATC tower - seizing this tower will make any enemy reinforcements by air very hard.

All these points are legitimate diversion targets during the raid as part of shaping operations. Tentative plan below

Green is Assault 1 split in two fireteams.
Red is Assault 2 split in two fireteams

https://imgur.com/1VJN651

The Ship
The CNS Ziyou is a classic frigate very similar in design to NATO ships (trademark violation lawsuit has been filed).

It has two access points: One ladder on either side on the aft of the ship. Due to its docked nature a third access point would be the pier itself.

The Target
Wu’s location is unknown but most likely not at the docks or the Ziyou as he is inspecting island construction and the garrison. It is also not likely that he is asleep, since at this time at least some elements of the garrison will be on alert at the HMS Ocean’s Freedom of Navigation mission nearby. This is a double edged sword, since the PLA garrison will not expect a dive team from the HMS Proteus and all eyes will be on the HMS Ocean instead. It does however mean that a general level of alertness is already present on the island.

Enemy Composition
Air and Infantry are the only threats on the island. No Armoured targets were ever spotted.

Like the plan. Few points to consider;

  • it’s unlikely we will be able the destroyer with out enemy radio coms going out. There’s a fair bit of hallway from the deck to the bridge
  • as we are most likely overt after the capture of the destroyer, speed may be better then surprise. There should be small boat at the main or secondary doc. These will run as over to the main compound much faster , less time to alert defended/ VIP to escape.
  • in that regard we probably have to hit the AA early as possible to allow angle into the airspace and the ability to trap the VIP on the island (by destroying escape craft).

[user avatar=“https://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/20330489/avatar/small.1594394879.png” name=“Mattdogs”]20330489[/user] - hitting AA and ATC in the phase 1 may be necessary, I agree. ATC will stop VIP going out. AA will give us complete control with Angel. My biggest concern is that we’ll be spread thin like butter over too much bread.

I’ll open up the map and also see how many entry points are there for destroyer.

I also agree that destruction of AA needs to be prioritized to get ANGEL safely into the AO asap. With Angel no only do we have a significant force-multiplier but like [user avatar=“https://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/20330489/avatar/small.1594394879.png” name=“Mattdogs”]20330489[/user] pointed out: it allows us to trap the HVT on the Island by destroying any means of escape.

WARNO 1

1 pax => 1 soldier
x/y (min/preferred number)

    • as much as possible

Phase 1. Ship

Task Organization.

ANGEL - 2 pax
ASSAULT 1 - ALPHA RED - 3/4 pax
ASSAULT 2 - ALPHA YELLOW - 3/4 pax
ASSAULT 3 - BRAVO RED + DELTA - 4/* pax
ASSAULT 4 - BRAVO YELLOW - 4/* pax

Mission. Seize destroyer CNS ZIYOU, land near AA emplacement, Air Traffic Control.

Execution.

ANGEL will circle the area around ZIYOU and provide surveillance and security. ASSAULT 1, 2, 3, 4 will move towards their start positions (marked on the image with A1, A2, A3, A4). At Delta signal:

A1 will board the ship using red ladders
A2 will board the ship using yellow ladders (image 2)
A3 will land at shore
A4 will land at shore

A1 and A2 will coordinate and seize the ship under command of ALPHA lead (ALPHA lead might provide detailed plan on this). A3 will collect intel about EN AA emplacement. A4 will collect intel about EN ATC and airbase installations.

Phase 2. Locate VIP, regroup.

Mission. Locate VIP with help of ANGEL, move A1 & A2 in position for assault of VIP.

Execution.

ANGEL will locate VIP. A1 and A2 board their SVDs immediately after seizing the ship and move to red A1 and A2 starting positions.

Phase 3. Assault.

Mission. Destroy AA guns. Seize ATV. Destroy EN air assets. Capture VIP.

Execution (in chronological order)

  1. A3 captures EN AA guns. ANGEL destroys the MAIN and SECONDARY DOCK (if possible).
  2. A4 calls in strikes on airbase. ANGEL destroys hangars 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (not ATC tower!). A1 & A2 land on shore. A3 assaults and seizes ENCAMPMENT HQ.
  3. A4 captures ATC tower and controls the escape route (airfield). A1 and A2 move in and assault respective buildings (see red arrows). A3 provides support by fire. ANGEL provides support.
  4. A1 assaults WAREHOUSE. A2 & A3 support by fire. A4 sweeps the airbase for remaining enemy.
  5. A3 assaults BARACKS. A4 seizes FUEL STATION and POWER PLANT. Hopefully by now we’ve taken VIP.
  6. RETREAT, A4 take VIP to airbase, friendly heli transport is already there. A1/A2/A3 move back to their SVDs. ANGEL provides immediate support.

Image 1 - operational graphics overview -> https://imgur.com/kkIZdYC
Image 2 - SHIP entry points -> https://imgur.com/Rcp7AgA

8 pax is enough to seize destroyer (there are literally no routes to operate for A3/A4).

Now, let’s start.

[youtube]9pmVNivQjwI[/youtube]

There is one major constraint in OPORD.

If that wasn’t in, we could seize AA and ATC tower simultaneously with SHIP.

By the constraint of remaining undetected the only first step we can take is assaulting the Zìyóu destroyer IMHO.

Assaulting AA to get Angel operative would probably reveal us, since the AA position is very close to other facilities. Same goes for assaulting the airfield to prevent VIP from escaping the island, plus only Angel’s activity can guarantee every means of escape are actually put out of order to avoid VIP from fleeing.

There’s gonna be very little margin of error here, but [user avatar=“https://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/13688253/avatar/small.1433248519.jpeg” name=“Highway”]13688253[/user] 's last plan could work.