OPERATIONS ORDER
Operation Valiant Guardian (2020), Artery Severe (Part 2)

--- OPERATIONS ORDER ---

Situation

Background Information
With Lightning platoon hanging on by a thread in the logistics base outside Bolshie Kuptsy, the rest of B Coy, 'Sokolovi' Btn finally move in to relieve and regroup the beleaguered defenders Read carefully Lightning/Reaper Callsigns start surrounded and under enemy attack. Reaper gunners will use the weapons systems on immobilised Pandur-2's. Hitman/Ironside Callsigns will act as a rescue force, Hitman 1-1 and 1-2 may benefit from having a volunteer infantryman mount Ironside vehicle weaponry for the first stage of the operation. As soon as is feasible, Reaper gunners will merge with Ironside driver & commander to form a single cohesive vehicle callsign within Ironside's vehicles.

Friendly Forces
Mechanized Platoon with; 2x BTR-80 1x Ressupply HEMT 1x Repair HMMW 1x M1025 Transport Stranded squad with; 2x Pandur II (immobilized) 1x M1025

Supporting Assets
Once survivors of lightning platoon have been rescued, the rest of the company will arrive and hold the bridge. Friendly airborne troops are operating in the area of Monakhovo. Their tasking is to disable artilery that is hammering lightning platoon as well as nearby SAM position.

Enemy Forces
Mechanized infantry (BTR, BVP) and airborne infantry. Posibilities of enemy aircraft and tanks operating in the AO. The recon UAV has been shot down in the area so we are lacking any intel of enemy positions between Bolshie Kuptsy and Shpagino.

Mission

Tasking
Reinforce and relieve the survivors of Lightning platoon then complete the encirclement of the airbase by taking and holding the town of Shpagino.

End-state
Once Shpagino is firmly in our grasp, the platoon will hold position to prevent the enemy to re-take the town and re-open a resupply route.

Execution

Commander's Intent
The purpose of this mission is to hold, reinforce and deepen our beachhead South of the Treshka river. Lightning platoon begins at half strength with immobilised Pandur 2's in the logistics base just outside Bolshie Kuptsy. Their initial objective is carried over from the first part of this operation - to hold fast until reinforcements arrive. Hitman platoon has been wracked by inexplicable engine malfunctions, leading to them being unable to leave Mikhalevo until now, some functional older model BTR's have been brought up for their use. They dispatch a squad to move quickly SouthWest and storm the town of Armanikha and the FOB there, which Lightning had been pushed out of by determined enemy counterattack mere hours ago. Following this, they will strive to re-unite with Lightning. The combined force will launch an assault on Shpagino and Malaevo to complete the encirclement.

Tasks and Sequencing
PHASE 0 Lightning and Reaper will have limited preparation time before the enemy launches attacks on their position, a freshly captured logistical base. Hitman, Ironside, Phoenix and Guardian will prepare and brief as normal before stepping off Southwards in convoy to relieve Lightning/Reaper. PHASE 1 Lightning/Reaper are to hold their position. With most of their transportation immobilised a fallback is untenable, so the decision has been made to dig in and attempt to hold out for reinforcements. The primary threats faced are enemy attacks from the directions of the airfield to the West, and Beketov to the SouthEast. Airborne troops were also recently sighted being parachuted across the river to the North. Hitman's group will route to Armanikha, where they will recapture the recently levelled town and FOB and interdict themselves onto the axis of the more powerful enemy attacks. Further friendly elements will be following behind to allow Hitman to cross the river Treshka and regroup with Lightning. At this point some reorganisation will occur - the surviving gunners from Reaper will merge into Ironside's vehicles, forming a complete crew complement for each. Lightning will receive any logistical resupply and medical attention they require, and radio nets will be reorganised to cede direct control of elements from Hitman 1 to Lightning 9. PHASE 2 With the 2 partial platoons merged, the joint unit will advance SouthWest towards the towns of Shpagino and Malaevo. Friendly elements will again move in to occupy and defend positions around Bolshie Kuptsy, so we can operate knowing our rear is secure. Hitman 1 and Lightning 2 will perform mounted bounds utilising Ironside along the marked blue route, stopping at alternating waypoints. Hitman 3 will utilise the marked green route, providing long range AA and AT support from these positions. The goal with these movements will be to achieve fire superiority against any outward defenders before committing to crossing the open terrain into the towns themselves. PHASE 3 Should we complete all objectives previously listed ahead of schedule, we will make ourselves available for tasking to support NOMAD, which is an airborne platoon currently operating SouthEast of our AO. Communications have been patchy, but we are aware that they have at least neutralised the enemy artillery battery responsible for inflicting severe casualties on Lightning.

Administration/Logistics

Resupply
Logistics will be provided by Phoenix. Requests are to be made in a timely manner through the Platoon Sergeant, who can be contacted via Hitman 1 for Phase 1, then via Lightning 9 from Phase 2 onwards. The only pre-planned LOGPAK will be at the logistics base at the end of Phase 1.

Medical
PAK's available on request from Guardian, requested through Platoon Sergeant

Rules of Engagement
In accordance with SOP

Fire Support Plan
In accordance with SOP

Close Air Support
In accordance with SOP

Command/Signal

Communications Plan

Callsign	Primary Frequency	Superior Frequency	ACTUAL
LIGHTNING 9	40mHz	37mHz	SP1 Wavan (Ret.) Platoon Commander (≤45)
HITMAN 1	250mHz	40mHz	Capt WhiteWolf Squad Leader (≤15)
HITMAN 1-1	251mHz	250mHz	Cpl Applechaser Fireteam Leader (≤6)
HITMAN 1-2	252mHz	250mHz	SP1 LegacyStetson Fireteam Leader (≤6)
LIGHTNING 2	260mHz	40mHz	SFC Kevin Squad Leader (≤15)
HITMAN 3	270mHz	40mHz	SP2 B.Miller Infantry Team Leader (≤8)
IRONSIDE 3	300mHz	361mHz	SP3 Phili AFV Section Commander
PHOENIX 4	70mHz	43mHz	SP3 Poet Logistics Support Chief
GUARDIAN 4-1	71mHz	70mHz	Cpl Argo CMT Leader

Considerations
In accordance with SOP