TDG 04: Cherokee Crossing—The Company Commander
It's back to Cherokee Crossing for a replay. Does a different perspective change your thinking?
If this is your first TDG, you may want to check out these instructions first.
You are a light armored reconnaissance (LAR) company commander. Your company comprises three platoons. For this mission, each platoon consists of four LAV-25s, organized into two sections, and an attached section of two LAV-ATs. The LAV-25s are armed with a 25mm main gun capable of firing high-explosive (HE) and armor-piercing (AP) rounds to an effective range of about 2,500 meters. The LAV-ATs are armed with the TOW antitank missile, which is effective to 3,750 meters against tanks and other armored vehicles.
You are fighting a mechanized enemy in an open desert environment.
The battalion is occupying a screen line about 30 kilometers west of the division. The mission is to provide early warning of enemy advance. Your mission does not require you to delay the enemy, but engaging the enemy is authorized as long as you do not become decisively engaged. Your company occupies three platoon positions on the screen line. B Company is to your south, and C Company is to your north.
At 2330 hours, after an uneventful evening, unexpected orders arrive to withdraw the screen line immediately. Something must be up. You order your platoons to withdraw on their preplanned routes to the company rallying point (RP) at Checkpoint 82 on the far side of Wadi Kabir at the Route Cherokee crossing. Wadi Kabir is a significant obstacle with a limited number of high-speed crossing sites, although there are a few other points where a unit could carefully navigate its way across one vehicle at a time. Cherokee Crossing is a major, improved crossing site; the next closest are Navaho Crossing 12 kilometers north and Iroquois Crossing 10 kilometers south. From the RP, the company is to continue east another 10 kilometers until it conducts a rearward passage of lines through the main defensive positions. This surprises you because the original concept was to fall back initially only as far as the Wadi, where the battalion would reconstitute the screen line. You query battalion, which confirms the order to withdraw all the way back though the forward edge of the battle area.
Your headquarters section arrives at the RP with 2nd Platoon, and 1st Platoon arrives shortly after. Meanwhile, 3rd Platoon, withdrawing on Route Apache, reports that its withdrawal has been cut off at the Apache-Cherokee split by an enemy formation consisting of approximately 8 tanks and 4 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) advancing east. The platoon commander reports that he believes he is undetected, and he is preparing to ambush the enemy formation.
What do you do, captain?
Requirement
In a time limit of five minutes, make your decision in the form of any orders you will issue and/or reports or requests you will make. Then provide an explanation of your rationale.
On the COY net:
Listen up!
Third platoon is cut off by a tank heavy armored company combat Team on route Apache, they remanente undetected and are preparing to ambush theme.
Our mission will be to attack these forces in order to force their withdrawal or destruction, allowing third platoon to link up with own forces on RP 82.
My intent is to mass firepower on the enemy from unexpected directions, overwhelming him and forcing a retreat or route.
In order to achieve this I'll have one platoon spring an ambush on the enemy, then attack the engaged enemy from an unexpected direction with another platoon, while keeping at least one platoon as a reserve.
For this, 3rd platoon will prepare the ambush from the south, 1st platoon will attack from the east through route apache and 2nd platoon will act as reserve, moving behind 1st platoon, they must be ready to support or relieve 1st platoon.
Third platoon will report when engaging, 1st and secon will move once 3rd is engaged.
TO BATTALION:
I'm in contact with a company sized mechanized element, 8 tanks, 4 IFVs, moving east through route Apache, time now.
I'm engaging them in order to force them to break off, regroup my command and continue east to the main battle area.
RATIONALE:
My force knows the terrain and holds the surprise element, the enemy force is most likely a forward security element of an advance guard, which means they'll expect some support form.another forces further back.
If the ambush and subsequent flank attack manages to overwhelm them, they'll most likely retreat and reorganize, which will allow 3rd platoon to rejoin the rest of the company and proceed to the passage of lines. If the enemy does not retreat, I expect to use my reserve to cover the retreat of both 1st and 3rd platoon, new orders will be issued, 3rd will have to go through iriquoise crossing and 1st and 2nd through their pre-planned routes (we'll have to improvise another RP before the passage of lines).
PS: Sorry for the bad english, not a native speaker.
Thanks John for doing these, will repost or restack on my site.