OPERATIONS ORDER
Operation Honeybadger (2001), Night Fighters II

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Situation

Background Information
After a few weeks of struggling to infiltrate the nearby entrenched Taliban mountains, Alpha platoon is under heavy assault. However, with a US Air Force AC-130 stationed and available for tasking nearby, the platoon plan to withstand the enemy attack until support can reach them and they can conduct an all out push deep into the Taliban strongholds... Additionally, a special forces detachment has been tasked on a separate side of the AO to infiltrate and destroy enemy Anti-air defenses deeper inside the mountains, before they regroup with the main force. (SF will be equipped with night vision but standard infantry will have to rely on handheld flares and mortar illumination rounds from zulu)

Five-Star Rating Expectations

Combat Intensity: ☆☆☆ Roleplay Emphasis: ☆☆ Difficulty: ☆☆☆☆

Mission

Execution

Commander's Intent
The purpose of this mission is to first identify, then investigate and eliminate suspected Taliban holdouts in towns and tunnels, shoring up the coalition territories enveloping this hostile pocket. Seek and destroy all anti-air defences enabling air supremacy.

Tasks and Sequencing
OVERVIEW ALPHA CALLSIGNS prepare for an assault on foot out of COP DAISY, aided by motorised logistics elements for transport and resupply as required via ZULU. SPIRIT establishes an initial high orbit around COP DAISY on stand-by. See section Close Air Support for details. ALPHA orientates south towards objectives SIERRA, TANGO, ROMEO. DELTA had split from camp during night to pursue objectives APOLLO, HERMES, ARES from a forward hide in the hills.

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Alpha

OBJ SIERRA

Purpose: INVESTIGATE and CLEAR the town of Rafi'ah. Threat: SUSPECTED HIGH Considerations: Rafi'ah is long and narrow, well suited to squads bounding either side of it while sweeping. Maintain cohesion and LOS. Consider civilian presence. Consider guerrilla tactics. Taliban use tunnels to great effect. ALPHA stages the assault via AP-1 NNW of town. ALPHA 1 enters first, establishing the foothold on the near side of the road. ALPHA 2 bounds in second, past A1 to the far side of the road. Both squads bound SW along the road to sweep Rafi'ah. Investigate and report all suspected Taliban positions, caches and collaborators.

OBJ TANGO

Purpose:

- Secure (flanks of) the MSR to minimise rearward contact later - Pincer and secure Y-intersection in 133-146

Threat: UNKNOWN Considerations: Utilise flares for light, navigation and signalling in difficult terrain, especially SE. Look out for tunnels. Alpha platoon splits east and west of the MSR. A1 punches out west from RV GREEN. A2 sweeps the woods closer to the road east from RV GREEN. Platoon remains synchronised on-line moving to contact southwest, Y-intersection as briefed. From a suitable AP, ALPHA 1 provides BOF. ALPHA 2 moves in to secure the intersection and RV BLUE.

OBJ ROMEO

Purpose: INVESTIGATE and CLEAR the town of Bushra. Threat: SUSPECTED HIGH Considerations: Bushra is in a valley. Watch out for surrounding threats from higher ground. Look out for tunnels. PREFERRED ROUTE: WP-2 through WP-5 SECONDARY ROUTE BRAVO: WP-2B through WP-4B Unless intel dictates otherwise, Alpha navigates as one platoon via WP-2 to the NW of OBJ ROMEO. Spirit provides cover from the overhead particularly observing east of the MSR, ROUTE BRAVO.

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Delta

OBJ HERMES

Purpose: INVESTIGATE and SEARCH the town of Ghazal.

- Verify enemy presence - Identify and relay intel to Alpha - Orientate for OBJ Ares re: enemy positions, AA, mortars

Threat: UNKNOWN, suspected hostile-aligned Considerations: Maintain low profile. Initiate direct action only as required.

OBJ APOLLO

Purpose: INVESTIGATE and SEARCH the marked intersection.

- Verify enemy presence - Identify and relay intel to Alpha - Search and secure

Threat: UNKNOWN, suspected hostile Considerations: Maintain low profile. Initiate direct action only as required.

OBJ ARES

Purpose: SEEK AND DESTROY TALIBAN HOLD-OUTS

1. Eliminate AA
2. Eliminate mortars
3. Search and clear Taliban camps, tunnels

Threat: VERY HIGH Considerations: Suspected several AA pieces. CAS via Spirit available if assessed critical, otherwise only after AA is eliminated.

Administration/Logistics

Resupply
Resupply and reinforcements are handled via Zulu. Provision LOGPAK for - RV GREEN in 137 152 - RV BLUE in 134 146

Medical
In accordance with SOP

Rules of Engagement
In accordance with SOP

Fire Support Plan
In accordance with SOP

Close Air Support
ROE: PID armed personnel outside of towns assumed hostile. Weapons Orange. Terminal control from the overhead only. Considerations: - OBJ ARES: stand-off orbit until AA threat communicated cleared - OBJ SIERRA, TANGO, ROMEO: valley may block weapon LOS, high-angle orbit required; consider stand-off distance to OBJ ARES in engagements - AA presence briefed suspected as AAA guns, scattered MANPADS

Command/Signal

Communications Plan

Callsign	Primary Frequency	Superior Frequency	ACTUAL
ALPHA 9	40mHz	37mHz	2Lt SkullCollector Platoon Commander (≤45)
ALPHA 1	250mHz	40mHz	Cpl Ross Squad Leader (≤15)
ALPHA 1-1	251mHz	250mHz	Fireteam Leader (≤6)
ALPHA 1-2	252mHz	250mHz	Acting Fireteam Leader (≤5)
ALPHA 2	260mHz	40mHz	SP3 Miksi Squad Leader (≤15)
ALPHA 2-1	261mHz	260mHz	Fireteam Leader (≤6)
ALPHA 2-2	262mHz	260mHz	SFC Jenkins Acting Fireteam Leader (≤5)
DELTA 9	361mHz	37mHz	LtCol James SF Commander (≤45)

Considerations
In accordance with SOP