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Fulda Gap (Mission 1): Rasdorf Cav Screen |
You are the commander of A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, screening the border between West and East Germany. The mass migration of East Germans through Czechoslovakia to Western Europe has prompted hardliners in the Soviet government to mass huge troop concentrations all along the Iron Curtain. Your squadron has been ordered to the international border in anticipation of an all-out invasion.
OPORD (Operations Order) 13-89
2 / 11 ACR (EAGLEHORSE)
1. SITUATION:
A. ENEMY FORCES:
1. At 091900NOV89, Günter Schabowski, the leader of East Berlin's communist party (SED), announced that emigration from east to west would begin on a limited basis. The announcement precipitated civilians vic EAST BERLIN to begin demolition of the Berlin Wall. This triggered reconnaissance infiltration across the corps sector. Enemy artillery groups have moved up to the IB (international border) and are now within range for offensive operations.
2. In 11 ACR's sector, the 173rd and 171st MRD (Motorized Rifle Division) will attack NET 1000600NOV89 with six MRR's (Motorized Rifle Regiments) abreast, (from North to south) the 156th, 157th, and 119th in the 171st zone and the 315th, 316th and 223rd in the 173rd MRD's zone. These MRR's are at 95% strength.
3. In our sector, we face the 315th MRR is at 95% strength with approximately a 30 / 90 / 30 (thirty T-72S's/ T-80B's, ninety BTR-60PB's/ BMP-2's, and thirty BRDM-2's with AT-5's). 315th MRR has a RAG (Regimental Artillery Group consisting of 1 BN of 2S1's at 18 tubes. The DAG (Division Artillery Group) has task organized 2 BN's of 2S3's to the MRR.
4. The most likely course of action is that the enemy will attack with 2 MRB's (Motorized Rifle Battalions) abreast along PL ARMAGEDDON. The second battalion echelon will consist of one MRB, as the exploitation force. Expect to see fixed wing sorties as the enemy crosses PL SODOM and SOKOL (rotary-wing aircraft) protecting the flanks of the enemy attack. The enemy may use non-persistent chemicals on key terrain through which he will not be passing.
B. FRIENDLY FORCES:
1. Higher Mission. 11 ACR (BLACKHORSE) guards the IB (International Border) along PL ARMAGEDDON NET 100600NOV89 in order to destroy the 171st and 173rd MRD's and prevent penetration of the regimental rear boundary for at least 6 hours in order to allow VII Corps to complete preparations for a defense of FRANKFURT.
2. Adjacent Units.
a. To our left, the 1st Squadron, 11th ACR (EAGLEHORSE) guards the IB (International Border) along PL ARMAGEDDON NET 100600NOV89 in order to destroy the 157th and 119th MRR's and prevent penetration of the squadron rear boundary for at least 6 hours in order to allow VII Corps to complete preparations for a defense of FRANKFURT.
b. To our right, the 3rd Squadron, 11th ACR (EAGLEHORSE) guards the IB (International Border) along PL ARMAGEDDON NET 100600NOV89 in order to destroy the 316th and 223rd MRR's and prevent penetration of the squadron rear boundary for at least 6 hours in order to allow VII Corps to complete preparations for a defense of FRANKFURT.
c. To our rear the, VII Corps first divisional echelon defends NET 101200NOV89 to prevent penetration of the Corps rear boundary and destroy the 19th CAA in order to maintain the IB (international border).
C. WEATHER:
1. Winds are expected to be out of the west at approximately 10 miles per hour
2. The hours of daylight are as follows. Before morning nautical twilight (BMNT) will begin at 0606. Sunrise will be at 0706. Sunset will be at 1745. Early evening nautical twilight (EENT) will end at 1835. Moonrise on the afternoon of 09NOV89 is at 1610. Illumination will be at 90%. Moonset is at 0500.
2. MISSION. 2nd Squadron, 11th ACR (EAGLEHORSE) guards the IB (International Border) along PL ARMAGEDDON NET 100600NOV89 in order to destroy the 315th MRR and prevent penetration of the squadron rear boundary for at least 6 hours in order to allow VII Corps to complete preparations for a defense of FRANKFURT.
3. EXECUTION:
A. COMMANDER'S INTENT.
1. Key Tasks:
a. Prevent penetration of the squadron rear boundary for at least 6 hours.
b. Destroy the 315th MRR.
2. Endstate. 2nd Squadron, 11th ACR guarding along PL ARMAGEDDON with at least 1 troop of combat power remaining.
B. CONCEPT OF THE OPERATION.
1. Maneuver. This operation will be conducted in 3 phases.
a. Phase One. This phase begins at 100600NOV89. The 2 / 11 ACR guards along PL ARMAGEDDON and destroys the first battalion echelon of the 315th MRR. This phase ends with the destruction of the 11th and 13th MRB, 315th MRR.
b. Phase Two. This phase begins with the 11th and 13th MRB, 315th MRR destroyed. 2 / 11 ACR guards along PL ARMAGEDDON to destroy second MRB echelon, the 12th MRB, 315th MRR. This phase ends with the 315th MRR destroyed.
c. Phase Three.
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2. Fires. Priority of fires for 3-18 FA (DS, 155mm SP) are initially to A Troop, 2 / 11 ACR. O/O (on order), priority of fires for 3-18 FA shift to A Troop, 4 / 11 ACR (Attack Helo). Priority of fires for How Battery are initially to D Company (Tank). Our fixed wing aircraft (4 X A-10 Thunderbolt) are allocated to A Troop, 2 / 11 ACR. The Corps GS assets are too far back to provide fires in support of our guard action.
3. Tasks to Subordinate Units. See Appendix C for Task Organization.
a. A Troop, 2 / 11 ACR.
1. Screen in sector between RASDORF and GROSSENTAFT NET 100600NOV89.
2. Destroy CRP's, AT Batteries, mortar batteries, and ADA assets in sector.
3. Attrit the 11th MRB to 30 combat platforms (tanks, APC's, and AT vehicles).
b. B Troop, 2 / 11 ACR.
<paragraph omitted>
c. C Troop, 2 / 11 ACR.
<paragraph omitted>
d. D Company (Tank), 2 / 11 ACR.
<paragraph omitted>
e. A Troop (Attack Helo), 4 / 11 ACR.
<paragraph omitted>
f. Howitzer Battery, 2 / 11 ACR.
<paragraph omitted>
g. 3-18 FA.
1. Initially, provide fires in support of A / 2-11 ACR screen in sector to attrit 11th MRB, 315th MRR.
2. O/O (on order) provide fires in support of A / 4 / 11 ACR guard in sector to destroy the 13th and 12th MRB, 315th MRR.
4. Coordinating instructions.
a. The limit of advance for all elements is initially PL ARMAGEDDON. Should the enemy cross the IB (international border, PL ARMAGEDDON) with more than a platoon of combat vehicles (defined as tanks, APC's, or anti-tank platforms), the LOA is no longer in effect.
b. No fixed wing sorties or indirect fires are authorized across PL ARMAGEDDON unless and until the enemy crosses the IB (international border, PL ARMAGEDDON) with more than a platoon of combat vehicles (defined as tanks, APC's, or anti-tank platforms).
c. Indirect fire inside population centers (any area indicated as Urban Level 1 or higher) is not authorized. Direct fire inside population centers is authorized only on positively identified targets.
d. PIR
<paragraph omitted>
4. SERVICE SUPPORT. There will be no resupply of any class of supply until mission completion.
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL.
A. Succession of command is per SOP
B. Current SOI is in effect.
C. Should the squadron be overrun, the rally point is vic FRANKFURT, HWY 45.