Archives: Gazette Magazines

By Capt Jeffery M. Opsitos

Situation

You are the commander of Company G, 2d Battalion, 2d Marines. Your company is at table of organization strength. You are mounted on AAVs and have a platoon of tanks attached. You have been tasked as the advance guard in a battalion movement to contact toward the village of Westcott. Within the last 24 hours, the enemy has withdrawn to the north, breaking contact. Your battalion is advancing north to regain contact in order to bring the enemy to battle and destroy him. Up to this point, enemy resistance has been limited to a brief contact with a platoon-size unit approximately 20 kilometers (km) south of Westcott. The enemy unit was traveling in BTRs and broke contact to the north along Rte. 2. The S-2 believes what we hit was part of a rear guard of a battalion mechanized/motorized force.

Terrain is made up of several large hill masses, a north/south river, which is fordable during the current dry season, and two unimproved roads trafficable by wheeled vehicles. Vegetation has patches of mature hardwood forests with sparse, grassy fields in the open areas. The swampy low ground directly south of Westcott is not trafficable to mechanized assets and is slow-go by foot.

You’ve just received word from your lead platoon commander that he is in contact with what he believes to be a squad-size element located in the vicinity of Hill 130. The platoon commander reports that his lead track is “down hard,” and he is currently dismounting in attempt to clear the enemy from Hill 130. In his last transmission to you, he said that he could see dust clouds to the north approximately 4km away. Your current position is with the company’s main body, which is 2km from the Krause River. The forward air controller tells you that a section of Cobra’s is en route and will be there in approximately 7 minutes.

Requirement

In a time limit of 5 minutes prepare a frag order that you would pass to your subordinates, to include your intent. Include any reports that you would make to battalion and complete the graphic with your actions for the company. Be prepared to provide a brief explanation of your solution. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #00-5, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax 703-630-9147.

By Dr. Andrew H. Hershey

Situation

You are commanding the 1st Rifle Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. In addition to your organic weapons, you have one M240G machinegun team attached and a designated marksman in each squad. Your battalion is currently in Kosovo as part of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) for peacekeeping duty. Your company is billeted in a small village. Your platoon has been assigned to a neighborhood that formerly housed mostly ethnic Serbs. The village is a mix of stone and wood houses many of them damaged. Running through the village is a stream with steep, grassy banks. Your specific orders are to prevent unauthorized ethnic Albanians from crossing to the south of the bridge and entering the Seth section of town, where several dozen Serb families still remain in residence, as well as preventing Serbs, without authorization, from transiting north. The bridge is of stone construction, designed for pedestrians and horse-cart traffic. You have barbed wire obstacles at either end, and at the southern exit is a vehicle control point.

It is 1930 hours, a deepening dusky sky overhead. Your command is deployed as follows: 3d Squad, with the M240 team, is in fighting positions just south of the bridge. Three men from 3d Squad man a checkpoint at the northern entrance to the bridge. 2d Squad, along with your command element and two interpreters, are deployed around a partially ruined stone building to the south of 3d’s position. Some 10 minutes ago, Ist Squad began to make its way back to the chow line to the rear, for the only hot meal of the day.

As you wonder what is on tonight’s menu, the checkpoint comes on the net. “Sir, some 50 Albanians, including several women and some men who act drunk, are at the north end of the square heading toward the bridge. Three men and a woman are in the lead. I can make out several AK47s and hunting rifles. Over.”

In the waning light, you scan the lead group with your binoculars. You immediately recognize the face of Shefki Mahti from pictures circulated by the battalion S2. He is an ex-major in the Kosovo Liberation Army who is believed to be running death squads against former Serb leaders and those alleged to have committed crimes over the past months against Albanians and their property. The others are unknown to you. The ex-major is also the darling of the Western press having given several headlinemaking interviews in recent days. Not surprisingly a CNN television crew pulls up in a European style subcompact and rapidly deploys to begin filming the crowd and your positions. Through an interpreter you issue the following warning: “You are approaching a KFOR permit area-one closed at this hour regardless of KFOR permit. Disperse immediately! Do not attempt to cross the bridge!”

With the crowd still advancing, the exmajor through his own bullhorn answers you in English. “We are coming for the Serb bastard who killed my sister’s husband and raped my niece and the daughters and wives of these men. What will you do, kill us all Lieutenant … Calley?” What now Lieutenant?

Requirement

In a time limit of 2 minutes issue any orders/reports you might make. Then provide a sketch of your actions and the rationale behind them. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #00-3, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax 703-630-9147.

>Editor’s Note: If your unit uses TDGs to PrePare “strategic corporals” to handle tough peacekeeping or operations other than war situations, we’d welcome copies to share with our readers. If your unit doesn’t use TDGs this way, it probably should.

By Capt Douglas J. MacIntyre

Situation

This scenario uses the same general setting as TDGs #99-10 and #99-12. However, this time you are the platoon commander of the Ist Platoon, Company C, Ist Battalion, 6th Marines with two assault squads and one machinegun squad attached. Your battalion has deployed to Athsano, a war torn country in southern Europe, to secure key nodes within the capital before the arrival of follow-on forces. These nodes consist of the powerplant, airport, and communications centers. The rebels have transitioned to deliberate defensive positions within the city and will fight for control of vital areas. They are employing heavy weapons, 82mm mortars, and antitank/personnel minefields. Typically operating in squad- to platoon-size elements, they are considered well trained and logistically sound.

Company C (battalion main effort) is attacking in zone to seize the radio station at Battalion Objective A (Bn ObJ A) to deny the rebel forces the ability to communicate with their supporters and the civilian populace. Initially, 2d and 3d Platoons will attack to seize Company Objective I (Co Obj 1), an important intermediate objective, as Ist Platoon covers their movement. After these platoons establish covering positions in Co Obj 1, Ist Platoon (company main effort) will attack north to seize Bn OhJ A, gain a foothold, and pass through additional units to help clear the building. The 60mm mortar section will provide fires in support.

From a second story window at your current position, you observe your frontage. Your assaultmen identified an antitank/personnel minefield along the road. It is active, as shown by the visible wreckage of an Athsano M113 armored personnel carrier, but a 15-meter-wide gap appears directly behind the wreck. A thinly wooded park extends north to Co Obi I and offers good terrain for team to squad movement. Co Obj 1, two three-story concrete buildings, appears to dominate the area, but exhibits no enemy presence. In the background, the radio tower at Bn Obj I is visible. The rebels have raised their flag on its apex.

It is now 0230. 2d Platoon, advancing through the buildings on the extreme left of the company zone, has secured a route through the first building and is entering the next. Your command element and 3d Platoon are in trace. Suddenly, the enemy engages 2d Platoon and attacks south into the same building. From your position, you can observe enemy machinegun fire coming from the third floor of Co Obj I to engage the company’s positions.

The CO radios, “Attack halted, new plan. Ist Platoon attack to seize Co Obj 1. 3d Platoon assume the company main effort on order and will pass through lst Platoon to attack Bn Obj A. Ist Platoon has priority of fires from 60s until 3d Platoon launches its attack. Rotary-wing close air support requested. Intent: Catch the enemy off balance through a well-supported attack and regain the initiative. . . ” What now, Lieutenant? Requirement

In a time limit of 10 minutes, decide what you will do, prepare appropriate orders and any report/requests that you would submit. Pro-6de a sketch and an explanation of your plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #00-2, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax 703-630-9147.

By Maj John F. Schmitt, USMCR

Situation

You are an advisor to the 719th Guerrilla Battalion in a civil-war-torn country, which makes you the de facto commander when it comes to operations in the field. The 719th consists of five 80-man companies (71st-75th), a mortar platoon, and an antitank guided missile (ATGM) platoon. The companies are actually fairly good guerrilla forces, making effective use of ambush and hit-andrun tactics, but for political as well as operational reasons, coordinated operations at battalion level and above are practically impossible, The battalion is lightly equipped, with few vehicles and only one unencrypted VHF radio. The companies are armed with mostly older-generation small arms, light machineguns, and light antitank weapons. Each company also has a pair of 23mm antiaircraft guns mounted on trailers. You have recently received a large arms shipment of shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles and medium mortars-enough mortars to form a sixtube platoon in each company and an eight-tube platoon at battalion level. The mortars have a range of 3,500 meters and the ATGMs have a range of 2,000 meters, although line of sight in this rolling, wooded terrain is rarely more than a kilometer. Vehicle forces are pretty much restricted to the trails and few roads.

The 719th is responsible for defending the Millennium complex, with each company based near one of the five villages in the complex. The 719th draws it support from the local population and is resupplied from a series of cache sites throughout the sector. You have one assistant advisor, a squared-away junior captain.

The enemy is attacking generally from the south and outguns your forces in practically every way. The enemy has air superiority, which he relies on heavily. He prefers to operate in massed formations of brigade or even larger to maximize his firepower. The enemy has demonstrated the capability to lift up to a battalion by helicopter at one time. Intelligence indicates he is preparing for a major offensive-up to a brigade-size air assault with gunship support deep into guerrilla territory, probably in conjunction with a ground penetration by a mechanized battalion from one of the several fire bases some 40 kilometers south of your sector. Intelligence has even learned the enemy’s code name for the operation: “Operation Lump Sum.” Recent enemy reconnaissance activity suggests the enemy has been reconnoitering landing zones (Us). Your assistant has hastily mapped the likely enemy Us in your sector. The two largest, each of which will handle a battalion, are between Millennium I and Millennium 3 along Rte. 6.

Higher headquarters estimates the enemy offensive will commence within 72 hours and wants to know the 719th’s plan for defending its sector. The battalion commander turns to you. What’ll it be?

Requirement

In a time limit of 15 minutes, describe your plan in the form of the orders/guidance you will “recommend” to the battalion commander. Then provide a sketch and a brief explanation of your reasoning. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #00-1, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax 703-630-9147.

By Capt Douglas J. MacIntyre

Situation

This scenario uses the same general setting as TDG #99-10, but changes your role. You are now the commanding officer of Company C (Co C), 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. Your company is at 85 percent strength and has a scout/sniper team attached. Your regiment has been deployed to help stabilize conditions in the war ravaged country of Athsano. Rebel units are taking control of the capital. Athsanco, Government forces are reorganizing in the south, but are expected to arrive within the next day or so. Marine forces have been sent to secure key nodes within the capital city prior to the arrival of follow-on forces. These nodes consist of the port facility, airport, and several government and communications centers.

Battalion has been tasked to attack in zone to seize the radio station at Battalion Objective A (Bn Obj A) (see map), in order to deny the rebel forces the ability to communicate with their supporters and the civilian populace. Additionally, the battalion must assist in refugee control. The battalion commander’s end state is the radio station secure; the battalion’s zone clear of rebel forces and fleeing refugees; and the battalion prepared to continue the attack. Co C is the battalion’s main effort, with Co B as a supporting effort assisting refugees to the east, and Co A (Mech) as the reserve.

To date, the rebels have been quite effective in urban ambushes and weapons employment, with heavy volumes of rocket propelled grenades and light machinegun fire noted. They are considered well trained, logistically sound, and night capable. Typically operating in squad- to platoon-sized elements, they are expected to fight for control of vital areas.

In support of your plan, the attached scout/sniper team moved to a vantage point located in the building across from the northwest corner of the large, open park area that runs across your zone. From their position, they reported a platoon-sized rebel force moving into Bn Obj A before dark. The rebels appeared to be in a low state of alert.

Noting this, you briefed your plan. At 0100, 2d and 3d Platoons will attack along Axis Silver, secure Company Objective 1 (Co ObJ 1), and provide support for the company main effort. 1st Platoon (the main effort) will initially cover 2d and 3d’s movement to Co Obj 1. On order, Ist Platoon will attack along Axis Gold to conduct the initial penetration into Bn Obj A, gain a foothold, and pass through additional units to help it clear the building. Both 1st and 3d Platoons are reinforced with assault and machinegun squads from Weapons Platoon; the 60mm Section will provide preplanned smoke and illumination missions only.

It is now 0 120. 2d Platoon has secured a route through the first building along Axis Silver. You and your command element have just entered the first building, with 3d Platoon in trace. Suddenly, an engagement is heard from the north. 1st Platoon reports observing a heavy volume of small arms fire into and around the building where the scout snipers are located. 2d Platoon is caught between buildings. What now, Captain?

Requirement

In a time limit of 5 minutes, decide what you will do, prepare appropriate orders as well as any reports/requests that you would submit. Provide a sketch and an explanation of your plan.

For more detailed information on the structure of Marine Corps units, Marine Corps equipment, and symbols used in TDG sketches, see MCG, Oct.94, pp. 53-56 and the modification reported in Jan95, p. 5.

By Maj John F. Schmitt, USMCR

Situation

You command the 1st Battalion. Your enemy is elements of the Quantico Liberation Front QLF). A tough and effective guerilla force, the QLF tends to operate in small units, relying on ambush and hit-and-run tactics. Faced with a superior enemy, QLF forces will usually withdraw quickly, springing ambushes on their pursuers. QLF forces have shown themselves capable of mounting operations up to battalion size, with up to 8-10 light tanks in support. The terrain is thickly vegetated; line of sight is rarely more than 200 meters, and often less than 100. The largest stream, Rocky Run, is never more than 3 feet deep; the others are intermittent and pose no obstacle to infantry. The only road in your area is Highway 6, a one-lane dirt road. Vehicles are mostly limited to the road and trails.

Regiment hopes to bring the QLF to battle with a pair of simultaneous predawn surprise attacks. Your battalion is tasked to locate and attack a possible enemy regimental supply depot in Rocky Run Hollow west of Highway 6. The regimental commander makes it clear that the true objective is to force the QLF to fight, and the idea is to do that by threatening his logistics. Meanwhile, some 10 kilometers east, 2d Battalion will launch a helicopterborne raid on Triangletown, a suspected QLF assembly area.

You have two sections of Cobras (Zipper 1 & 2) in direct support and two preplanned close air support missions. Your antiarmor assets are organized into “Whiskey” Company, consisting of M2 heavy machineguns, Mk19 grenade launchers, and TOWs mounted on HMMWVs and organized into four platoons of four vehicles each.

You come up with what you think is an adaptable plan. Alpha will swing around to block the western flank near Hill 86. Whiskey will advance north on Highway 6 to block from the cast. Bravo will advance directly north on the suspected logistic site in order to fix the enemy or flush him toward Alpha or Whiskey. Charlie will be in reserve, ready to exploit the situation. Aviation will be on call.

The approach march goes well. Alpha reaches its attack position at 0300 without making contact. Whiskey reaches Homestead 1 having lost only one vehide to an enemy mine. Bravo advances quickly in the face of sporadic harassment from an estimated squad and reaches the rise overlooking the suspected logistic site with minimal casualties. Radio traffic indicates 2d Battalion has rim into a sizable force near Triangletown. As Bravo continues to advance at 0400, Whiskey moves north from Homestead 1 toward the E-14 trail intersection to “tighten the noose.” Bravo reports increasing resistance, probably platoon strength, but no sign yet of a logistic site. At 0430, Whiskey reports an enemy colunm of infantry with six enemy tanks at the Highway 6/E-14 intersection, heading east on E-14. Whiskey was able to knock out a light tank before “everybody went to ground. They didn’t expect us.” Just then, you receive a report from higher headquarters of an enemy infantry company “double– timing” south on Highway 6 near Homestead 2.

What will you do?

Requirement

In a time limit of 5 minutes, make your decision in the form of any orders you will issue or reports you will make. Then provide an overlay and a brief explanation of your decision. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #99-11, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax (703) 630-9147.

By Capt Douglas J. MacIntyre

Situation

You are the battalion commander of 1st Bn, 6th Marines, with a weapons company and three rifle companies, one of which has an attached amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) platoon.

6th Marines has been deployed to help stabilize Athsano, a war ravaged country in southern Europe. Athsano government forces are currently reorganizing to the south and are expected to push west along Highway 9 within the next 24 hours. Marine forces have been sent to secure key nodes within the capital city prior to the government’s renewed offensive and arrival of follow-on U.S. forces. These nodes consist of the port facility, airport, and several government and communications centers.

Rebel units appear highly trained and make good use of the terrain. Their tactics have centered around prepared defenses and ambushes within the city. They possess medium to heavy weapons, rocket propelled grenades, and limited indirect fire capability from 82mm mortars. Operating in squad to platoon size elements, they are expected to fight for control of vital areas.

The battalion’s mission is to attack in zone to seize the radio station designated as Battalion Objective A (see map) in order to deny the rebel forces the ability to communicate with their supporters and the civilian populace. Additionally, the battalion must assist in refugee control. Your desired end state is the radio station secure, the battalion zone clear of rebel forces, refugee flow diverted away from Hwy 9, and the battalion prepared to continue the attack. Company C is the battalion’s main effort, with Weapons Company and Company B as supporting efforts, and Company A as the reserve.

The plan of attack is as follows: At 0100, Company C attacks in zone to seize Bn Obj A in order to deny the enemy use of the television station. Company B will have moved earlier to the east to prevent refugees from entering either Company C’s zone or Hwy 9. The 81mm Mortar Platoon is in general support of the battalion, and the remaining Combined Antiarmor Team (CAAT) is patrolling Hwy 9. Company A (Rein) is in reserve with attached Dragon Section, CAAT and the AAV Platoon. Upon consolidation of Bn Obj A, the reserve will reinforce Company’s C zone and expand local security.

It is now 0120. From a vantage point on Hwy 9, you observe heavy fighting to the north. The S-3 states, “Company C (advancing via the buildings on the left of its zone) has been stopped by a determined enemy defense and reinforcement. It reports heavy casualties in its lead platoon. Company B reports over 500 refugees in a holding area and an enemy of unknown strength moving to its north. The battalion reserve and 81mm platoon have staged on a secondary road south of the Hwy 9 overpass. What now, sir?”

Requirement

In a time limit of 15 minutes, decide what you will do, prepare appropriate orders as well as any reports/requests that you would submit. Provide a sketch and an explanation of your plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #99-10, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax 703-630-9147.

For more detailed information on the structure of Marine Corps units, Marine Corps equipment, and symbols used in TDG sketches, see MCG, Oct94, pp. 53-56 and the modification reported in Jan95, p. 5.

By Capt Timothy E. Barrick

Situation

You are a Marine rifle platoon commander in a multinational force conducting peacemaking operations in a war-torn Third World country. At 0600 on a rainy morning, you set out with your platoon on a dismounted patrol through your battalion’s sector of the nation’s capital. You have a machinegun squad (two M240Gs), two SMAW teams, and an antiarmor squad (four Dragons) attached. Additionally, each of your fire teams is carrying two AT4s. At 0630, you hear the following report to battalion from a light armored reconnaissance patrol farther to your north:

“Thunder 3, this is Rat 1, observing 3 T-72s and about 30 to 40 dismounts moving south on Sunset Boulevard. Uniforms and markings belong to Faction X ”

At 0635, you hear gunfire to the north and the following over the radio:

“Thunder 3, this is Rat 1, contact! Tanks are firing on my pos! I have one vehicle destroyed and at least four men down! I’m disen- -”

The radio transmission abruptly ends. At 0640, you receive the following frag order:

“U.S. forces have been engaged. Faction X designated as hostile. Weapons free versus Faction X. Enemy tank-infantry team moving south on Sunset Blvd. Move your platoon to vicinity Intercon Hotel and establish a hasty defense in order to prevent enemy penetration south of Sixth St. You have no air or arty in support, but you have priority on SIs. You are advised utmost caution to minimize/prevent civilian casualties.”

As you ponder the ambiguity of the last sentence of your frag order, you quickly maneuver your platoon north. As you near the Intercon Hotel, the scene before you is one of chaos. People are fleeing the streets. Several shout, “Tanks!” as they run by and point north up Sunset Blvd. You put your platoon sergeant and 3d Squad into building L (see map) and 2d Squad into M while you move with 1st Squad into the bottom floor of the Intercon. As you enter, you see about 20 foreigners and locals in the lobby. They are all very excited and anxious. At least two are obviously reporters, and their cameramen are positioned in anticipation of the tanks rolling by on Sunset Blvd.

You switch frequencies on your radio to talk to the scout team you know to be positioned in the hotel. The team reports:

“We’re on the 6th floor facing north. There are three T-72s and at least two platoons of infantry moving south on Sunset, The lead tank and infantry have just passed Third Street. The tanks are moving at a crawl allowing the infantry to clear the way in front of them.”

As you put down the radio, you feel about 30 pairs of eyes, both Marine and civilian, staring at you in expectation of your orders. What do you do now, Lieutenant?

Requirement

In a time limit of 2 minutes, decide what orders/reports you will issue, then provide a sketch of your actions and the rationale behind them. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #99-9, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax it to 703-630-9147. Solutions may also be submitted by email. See our web site at <www.mcamarines.org/gazette/gaz.html> for instructions.

For more detailed information on the structure of Marine Corps units, Marine Corps equipment, and symbols used in TDG sketches, see MCG, Oct94, pp. 53-56 and the modification reported in Jan95, p. 5.

By Capt Michael J. Targos

Situation

You are the commanding officer of Company C, Ist Battalion, 2d Marines, Regimental Landing Team 2. RLT-2 is conducting an amphibious assault in the country of Burgundy. The country is characterized by many rolling hills, sporadically forested. The coastline is fortified with numerous concrete bunkers, minefields, and tank obstacles. Your company is a pre-Hhour helicopterborne force tasked with inserting into Landing Zone (LZ) Hawk near “The Ville” (an evacuated hamlet of 25-30 wooden huts) and blocking on enemy reserve force along the line of the Green River. Higher’s intent is to prevent, at all costs, the enemy reserve force, which is believed to be a reenforced mech battalion equipped with BMP-2s and a platoon of T-72 tanks, from interfering with the fight on the beach. Plans call for the destruction of East Bridge by airstrike at L-30. Lhour is scheduled for 0630. H-hour for the rest of the battalion is 0900 across Red Beach 5 kilometers south of LZ Hawk. Bravo Company (Rein) will comprise the assault wave with a tank platoon close behind in LCUs.

Your plan is to seize the West Bridge with your first wave and to add depth to your position with the second wave along Route 3. The first wave is loaded with two rifle platoons (1st and 2d), two machinegun squads, four assault teams (attached to the platoons), a 60mm mortar squad, a Dragon section, and your company command element (-) with a tactical air control party and naval surface fire spot team attached. The remainder of the company is capable of being in zone in 1 hour. USS Spruance (DD 963) is in direct support of the RLT, and there is a section of AH1Ws (TOWs) escorting your helicopter formation. A section of AV8Bs armed with 500-pound bombs comes on station at 0700.

As you approach LZ Hawk, you observe from your helicopter a company-sized mech force crossing East Bridge. The bridge wasn’t destroyed? You count approximately 10 BMPs and see no tanks. Your helicopter hits the deck. The ramp drops. What are your orders?

Requirement

In a time limit of 3 minutes, issue any orders you would give and prepare any reports or requests you would submit to higher headquarters. Provide a sketch of the actions taken and the rationale behind them. Send your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #99-8, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax to (703) 630-9147.

By Dr. Andrew H. Hershey

Situation

You are the commanding officer of a small combat engineering detachment consisting of three squads, each equipped with a chain saw and normal weapons (M16s, M203s, and two SAWs), and five vehicles (a 5-ton truck with a ring-mounted .50 caliber machinegun, a 5-ton dump truck, a frontend loader, a 1 1/4-ton truck, and your HMMWV).

Your mobility enhancement mission (a prelude to pending offensive operations) involves improving road conditions along Rte. 4 and repairing the bridge over Gore Creek, a 20-meter wide, bolder-strewn, moderately flowing stream.

Much of the terrain about you is covered with tall pine forest of moderate density. A stone farmhouse, whose plowed fields are enclosed by threestrand barbed wire fences stands close to the bridge. Route 4 and a cart track not marked on your map (or explored by you for lack of time) are the only visible avenues for vehicles. It is late January in a temperate region of the world. While there is no ground snow, the sky is low and heavily overcast; back home one would say “it feels like snow”.

At about 1600, shortly after you have completed work on the bridge, your 3d Squad, which was working about 1,000 meter east of the bridge, was taken under fire by enemy located 500-600 meters further to the east. Reportedly the enemy element has, at least, one BTR and a BMP.

In response to this threat, you directed the 3d Squad to disable the front-end loader to block the road near their position and then to join the rest of the command near the farmhouse complex. You had the dump truck disabled on the bridge to create another roadblock. You sent the 1st Squad with the 1 1/4-ton truck to recon the cart track leading northeast just to the west of the cultivated fields. Finally, you notified the battalion responsible for overall security of the contact and received priority of 81mm mortar fire.

The two squads and the truck with the machinegun remaining in the vicinity of the farm occupied hasty firing position. No further movement was detected on the road, but within a very short time you began receiving a steadily increasing volume of small arms fire from the tree lines east of the bridge. A short while later several of your men spotted enemy troops maneuvering toward the bridge. Your men and the .50 caliber retum fire. Enemy medium caliber mortars begin impacting 150 meters east of you. At that moment, 1st Squad comes on the net and reports, “Sir, we followed that cart track. It headed generally northeastwards, but there was one spur heading west. The track itself continues northeast and runs into Gore Creek maybe 2 kilometers from the bridges. There is a small wooden cabin up there and a shallow stretch of river. I have a team east of the creek, and they have just signaled enemy tracks approaching. Over.”

What now lieutenant?

Requirement

In a time limit of 2 minutes issue any orders/reports you might make. Then provide a sketch of your actions and the rationale behind them. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #99-7, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax it to (703) 640-0823. Solutions can also be sent by e-mail. See our web site for instructions.

For more detailed information on the structure of Marine Corps units, Marine Corps equipment, and symbols used in TDG sketches, see MCG, Oct94, pp. 53-56 and the modification reported in Jan95, p. 5.

By Maj John F. Schmitt, USMCR

Situation

This scenario is the continuation of TDG #99-4, based on the author’s solution shown on p. 99. You command a task force (TF) consisting of a tank battalion (bn) (lst), a mech bn (2d), a motorized bn (3d), a LAR company (Alpha), and two mixed host-nation bns (4th and 5th, each consisting of two tank companies and two motorized companies). The host-nation bns are capable of most basic missions. Friendly forces, advancing north, and enemy forces, advancing south, met along the Tziepov River, which is slow-moving and fordable in many places. Your TF was sent west along Rte. 30 with urgent instructions to secure bridges on the roads leading to Gunnington and Pageton, or at least to deny those crossing sites to the enemy. Elements of your command made contact at both bridges.

Shortly after midnight the situation stabilized somewhat. Alpha was holding Thorpe Bridge and screening to the west. It received periodic probes from an estimated enemy bn north of the river. Enemy forces were holding a bridgehead south of Fouse Bridge. They were contained by 3d Bn, but the situation there was confused. Intel reported increasing enemy activity in the Emamiville-Fouse Bridge area. 2d Bn was positioned north of Gunnington; Ist, 4th, and 5th Bns were in assembly areas near Pageton. Replenishment was underway with completion expected around 0300.

You were unhappy with this posture. You felt you were losing the initiative. Although you couldn’t identify any really attractive option, you decided to undertake these actions: (1) Initiate heavy supporting fires on enemy in vicinity of Fouse Bridge. (2) Order 2d Bn, reinforced by 1st Bn, to ford the Tziepov west of Fouse Bridge without first replenishing and seize Lafferty Heights. (3) Initiate a relief-in-place between Alpha and 4th Bn in order to free up Alpha. (4) Keep 5th Bn in reserve.

2d Bn’s “immediate” move takes longer than you like but by 0415 2d’s leading elements are across the river without making contact. At 0430, the enemy estimated at regimental strength launches a dismounted attack out of the Fouse bridgehead. At 0445, 2d Bn makes contact with an enemy force in defensive positions on the slopes of Lafferty Heights. With priority of fires, it advances slowly against incr easing resistance. The relief-in-place at Thorpe Bridge is complete by 0500. The 4th Bn commander launches a probe across the bridge and at 0530 reports only scattered resistance. 2d Bn reports stiffening resistance and estimates the enemy on Lafferty Heights to be a battalion in hastily prepared defensive positions. 3d Bn reports it has halted the enemy attack out of Fouse bridgehead, at least temporarily. What do you do now?

Requirement

In a time limit of 10 minutes, make your decision in the form of any orders/guidance you will issue to subordinates and any reports/requests you will make. Include a sketch of your plan. Provide a brief explanation of your decision, to include any possible follow-on plans. Submit your solution to the Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #99-6, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax 703640-0823.