TDG 13: Timpan-ni
Your mechanized company guards the left flank.
You are a rifle company commander with three rifle platoons on armored personnel carriers (APCs), an attached tank platoon of four tanks and an attached antitank section of four TOWs. Your rifle platoons are additionally equipped with man-portable antitank missiles (MANPATs) effective to 1500 meters. You are operating in rugged, broken terrain spotted with sparse vegetation. Line of sight from one terrain feature to the next is rarely more than a kilometer. Efficient vehicle movement is restricted to the roads and tracks, although it is possible to take up positions on adjacent terrain. The vegetation and small hills are not a problem for infantry. The enemy is a tough infantry force reinforced with tank and mechanized support.
The regiment is advancing north. Your company is deployed to guard the left flank, about 5-10 kilometers west of the main body. As the regiment advances, your mission is to “advance north on Rte. 110 in order to provide early warning and protect the regiment against enemy forces advancing from the west.” Rte. 110 is a 2-lane paved road. You are approaching Rte. 306, an east-west gravel road. These are are the only improved roads in the area, although the freezing temperatures have kept the unimproved routes trafficable for heavy vehicles.
Bad weather has grounded the planned aviation support, so you put temporary observation posts (OPs) on the neighboring hills as you advance along Rte. 110 (although it slows your rate of movement). You reach the hamlet of Timpan-ni at the 110/306 intersection without incident, where you are instructed to hold your position.
1st Platoon is north of the town. 2d Platoon deploys west to Hill 305. You are able to launch a UV, and you send it to reconnoiter west along 306. The tank platoon is located with you at the intersection. The antitank section takes up an overwatch position on Hill 323. 3d Platoon bringing up the rear is still on Rte. 110. The platoon commander has put an OP on Hill 321, which reports 8 medium tanks and 10 APCs heading east in column toward Rte. 110 about 3 kilometers southwest of Timpan-ni. The UAV feed shows nothing on Rte. 306 but about 20 enemy combat vehicles further south, moving east about 4 kilometers southwest of the intersection. 3d Platoon commander reports artillery impacting on the slope of Hill 321.
What now, Captain?
Requirement
In a time limit of five minutes, make your decision in the form of any orders you will issue or reports or requests you will make. Then provide a brief explanation of your decision.
Order:
S: Bn armored column moving east towards CP 66, likely attempting to attack the Reg main body.
M: Delay the enemy from moving east of Hill 314 IOT enable the regiment to organize a defense oriented on the attacking enemy.
3rd Plt: Delay en from passing CP 66 IOT allow remainder of the company to establish battle positions.
2nd Plt: Reinforce 3rd Plt and assist their delaying action.
1st Plt, rein with tank plt and AT section: Main effort, delay the en at the intersection south of Hill 314 IOT prevent the enemy from attacking our main body for at least one hour.
60s: POF to 1st Plt. Delay en dismounts from maneuvering on friendly forces.
UAV: Maintain observation of the enemy main body.
I will go with 2nd Plt. XO coordinate our battle positions on Hills 328B and 314.
Report to higher: Bn armored column moving east, currently 2km W of CP 66. We will delay en at CP 66 and at intersection S of Hill 314. Requesting any fire support available to conduct counter-battery fire. If reg wants to maneuver on the enemy, we can also attempt to contain them on Rte 66.
Rationale: I need to buy time for the regiment to orient a defense against this threat. I intend to establish two engagement areas to attrit the enemy and delay their movement east. 3rd plt, rein by 2nd plt, will engage the enemy as they approach CP 66. This will buy time for my company ME, 1st Plt rein with tanks and the AT section, to establish another EA oriented on the trail intersection S if Hill 314. Forcing the enemy to fight through these two EAs should give higher enough time to prepare their own battle positions or conduct a counter attack.
SITUATION
Enemy forces, assessed as a mechanized infantry company reinforced with tanks, are advancing east toward Route 110 from the southwest of Hill 321A. A second mechanized force of similar strength is following the same axis. Our company’s mission is to halt the enemy advance and enable the forward movement of the battalion’s main body.
COMPANY COMMANDER’S DECISION
Designate Intersection 66 as the primary kill zone (KZ) and destroy the enemy forces there.
TASKS AND DISPOSITIONS
1st Platoon – Move to Hill 314
Engage and destroy the leading mechanized company from the flank.
2nd Platoon – Move to Hill 305
Block the follow-on mechanized company if it attempts to move north toward Direction 12 and transition onto Route 306.
3rd Platoon – Move south along Route 110 and occupy the area north of Intersection 66
Engage and destroy the enemy inside the KZ.
Tank Platoon – Occupy Hill 328
Coordinate with 3rd Platoon and deliver decisive fires to annihilate the enemy in the KZ.
Antitank Section – Occupy Hill 305
Interdict and halt the advance of the follow-on mechanized company.
Scouts – Move into the woods south of Hill 321A
Observe and report enemy activity west of the KZ, particularly the movement of the follow-on force.
REASONING
The enemy is assessed as the lead echelon of a mechanized battalion (−) reinforced with tanks. The follow-on force is likely to use the same axis of advance as the lead company in order to maintain movement speed.
Therefore, I will establish a deep, layered engagement area along the enemy’s axis of advance—from Route 110 through Hill 328B and up to Hill 314—and concentrate company fires at Intersection 66 as the primary kill zone. Any enemy elements that survive the initial engagement will be destroyed from Hill 314.
A dangerous enemy course of action is that the follow-on mechanized company may turn north toward Direction 12 and bypass eastward via Route 306, threatening the regiment’s flank. Hill 305 will therefore serve as a blocking position to prevent such a movement.
The approach along Route 306 must continue to be monitored and covered.