OP2 Zone C Battle

[Double Deuce]

ZONE C

4th Peacekeeper Company
...x13 Peacekeepers
...x2 Fiat/OTO 661461
...x1 M60 Mine Plough

...x1 Mirage F1C

Briefing: Late in the week while patrolling the border with Zones C and G your Mirage pilot reports about 4 vehicles headed toward your men. It appears they are intent on passing into Zone G from Zone C and reinforcing the large Rebel garrison there.

The pilot has also reported the presence of Rebel Infantry forces providing security near the vehicles, but by Thursday night the infantry seems to have stopped to rest in Zone C while the vehicles continue on toward Zone G.

On the early morning Friday, 4th Peacekeeper Company begins assembling to prevent them from crossing the border.

Mission: Prevent ALL Rebel forces from reaching the Eastern Edge of the map and penetrating into Zone G.
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[Double Deuce]

TF 1-37 - Please post your ongoing AAR here once the battle starts.

[TF 1-37]

DD,

Understood.

[TF 1-37]

To: Lt. Gen. Toth
CC: UN Commanders

Lt. Gen., the following was received by radio from Lt. Col. Schurz, commanding 4th UN Peacekeeping Company:

"Col. Boomer, Lt. Col. Schurz reporting at 08:10 (after UN Turn 3). We have spotted Rebel elements advancing from the west toward Zone G. We can confirm at least 2 medium trucks, which appear to be civilian in origin. One of the trucks was towing a ZU-23 AA gun. In addition, we have spotted at least one and more likely 2 rebel infantry squads. We have taken the Rebels under fire and have destroyed 1 truck, apparently damaged the AA gun and caused casualties to the Rebel infantry squads. 4th Peacekeeping Company remains in good shape, with sufficient ammunition. We will continue to engage Rebel units and keep you informed. Please pass warning on to UN air elements to expect possible AA fire from Rebel forces. Lt. Col. Shurz out."

Lt. Gen., I second Lt. Col. Schurz's warning to our airforce. I intend to order 4th Peacekeepers to conduct an agressive patrol from the northeast toward the southwest, hoping to uncover the exact composition of Rebel forces in the area. We have reason to believe that the Rebel forces were tipped to our ambush, since some rebel units appeared to be retreating when spotted. We will report as additional Rebel units are spotted and engaged. At present, the Rebel forces sighted conform to no known Rebel unit.

Col. Boomer

[Pannonicus]

If we only rout the personnel of the AA gun (or destroy it by killing all its crew), and we manage to get to the gun with a Fiat or with the M60, I suppose we should be able to tow it away, so in the next battle we would have it.

I think it would be quite realistic and fair, at least with towed smaller weapons like a ZU-23 is. DD, I am asking you to authorize such thing! Commanders, if DD does so, then please do what I outlined here, only if it does not threaten the security of our forces, naturally.

Lt.Gen. Tóth
UN Force Commander

[Double Deuce]

If we only rout the personnel of the AA gun (or destroy it by killing all its crew), and we manage to get to the gun with a Fiat or with the M60, I suppose we should be able to tow it away, so in the next battle we would have it.
If it is abandoned and secured (surrounded) at the end of the battle by your forces then it would be considered captured/recovered.

[TF 1-37]

Lt. Gen. Toth and colleagues:

The fighting in Zone C is intensifying as of 06:20 today (after UN Turn 5). Reports from Lt. Col. Schurz indicate that 4th Peacekeeper Company is engaged with at least 1 Rebel Company and supporting elements. Approximately 7 minutes ago, Rebel scouts were spotted advancing against the southern portion of 4th PK Co's front and were taken under fire and destroyed. At approximately 06:15, the right wing of 4th PK Company discovered additional trucks, one of which had a second ZU-23 AA guns. All the newly spotted trucks were taken under fire and destroyed, bringing the total count of destroyed trucks to 4, plus one scout section. 2 ZU-23 AA guns are damaged, but still believed to be operable. Several Rebel squads are believed to have taken minor casualties.

4th PK Company has started to take some casualties, but all elements are still combat ready. However, pressure is starting to build on Lt. Col. Schurz's units, one Fiat and squad was nearly ambushed from behind by a second Rebel scout element. Fortunatly, the scouts fired too soon at the infantry squad with the Fiat and gave away their position.

Lt. Col. Schurz has asked permission for an airstrike on the AA guns and I have granted permission, recognizing the risk from the AA guns and to our ground troops from friendly fire. We will hope for the best; destroying or capturing the AA guns is now 4th PK Company's highest priority behind minimizing its own casualties.

More as the battle unfolds.

Col. Boomer

[TF 1-37]

Lt. Gen. Toth and Colleagues:

I forward Lt. Col. Schurz's sitrep as of 06:30 today (post UN Turn 8).

"Col. Boomer:

The action underway in Zone C appears to be moving forward in a mostly satisfactory fashion as of 06:30 today. Overall, we have identified at least 1 Rebel Company and probably 2, based on the amount of mortar fire we are taking and support units we are seeing, plus some additional units, including trucks and AA guns.

Rebel units appear spread-out along the front, with one platoon in the north and a second in the south. During the last 10 minutes Rebel forces have taken both D Platoon and E Platoon under fire from 400-800 meters. Both D Platoon and E Platoon report some casualties, but units continue to be combat effective.

Our airstrike by 1 Mirage arrived at approximately 06:25, striking the assigned target, a ZU-23 AA gun. No visible results were achieved. The Mirage remains in contact and available for additional support.

We continue to take Rebel elements under fire from long range with the Fiat's heavy machineguns. We believe that 4 Rebel trucks and 2 scout teams have been destroyed, with casualties caused to at least 5 additional rebel squads (mostly minor casualties), 2 ZU-23 AA guns, 1 RPG team and 1 61mm mortar. Estimated enemy losses in personnel are between 15 and 25 plus 4 trucks: our losses stand at 9 men.

We intend to continue long-range sniping at enemy formations, with some offensive sweeps by our mobile forces in an attempt to keep up the favorable loss ratio. We will break-off combat at 07:00 unless the situation changes."

Lt. Gen., I will continue to update you on the situation. I intend to allow Lt. Col. Schurz to continue this action so long as meaningfully positive results can be achieved. Overall, casualties are low, morale among the troops is reasonable and ammunition and fuel levels are good, although some units report running low on smoke ammunition. We believe the front line is now fairly coninuous for both sides running north/south. There is no evidence of additional enemy infiltration behind our lines or of successful enemy flanking movements. We have an advantage in mobility of our forces and will look to utilize that plus our armor. There is no evidence of enemy armor present, the majority is believed to continue to be in Zone G.

Col. Boomer

[Double Deuce]

It appears that after a halfhearted attempt by Rebel forces to reinforce their comrades in Zone G they given up and pulled back into the interior of Zone C.

No significant losses were reported by 4th Peacekeeper Company.

Both Rebel and UN Forces are still active in the zone!

[TF 1-37]

Lt. Gen. Toth and colleagues:

I have received confirmation from Lt. Col. Schurz that combat has broken off in Zone C. The news from 4th Peacekeeper Company is quite good and it appears that the ambush was successful.

4th Peacekeeper Co. was able to utilize its superior mobility and firepower, especially the AAMG's on the Fiats to disrupt what appears to have been 2 Rebel Companies plus some support units and cause significant casualties to the Rebels. We can positively identify one Rebel unit as being the 5th Rebel Company. Other units identities are unknown. While the Rebel's attempted to flank 4th Peacekeeper Company, they were unsuccessful.

Enemy losses include 4 trucks destroyed, 2 scout teams destroyed, 2 rpg teams destroyed and 2 rebel infantry squads destroyed. In addition we can confirm approximately 20 additional enemy casualties in other units not completely destroyed, and possibly more. We were unable to destroy or capture the 2 ZU-23 AA guns, but know that the gun teams suffered some casualties and hopefully their transport was destroyed. We do not believe any Rebel elements were able to reach Zone G.

Losses in 4th Peacekeeper Company amount to 20, including both KIA and WIA. No whole squad was destroyed and at the conclusion of the battle all elements of 4th Peacekeeper Company were ready for additional combat, mobile and unsuppressed. 4th Peacekeeper Co. will now tend to casualties, resupply with ammunition and especially smoke ammo, and be ready for further action shortly.

We believe that this action was a victory for UN forces and that the Rebels suffered between 10 and 15% losses.

Col. Boomer