11-30-2009, 07:04 AM
We siezed the Keyhole but weren't able to seize the Shrine and destroy the mortar. Everyone worked very well as a team and this is what made it enjoyable even with a high casualty rate...
We moved into FUP1 (form-up position) - Gum's squad (Bravo) secured it and Bormann's weapons squad (Charlie "=North=") cleared towards and established the SBF position. We waited in position, and our MFC (mortar fire controller - Zwobot) called in a fire mission to soften up the Keyhole. Charlie got into heavy contact as Bravo assaulted and seized the Keyhole. Not much resistance was encounted by the assault (Bravo) due to either Charlie fixing and cutting the enemy off or the mortar fire mission, or a combination of both. The objective was ticked.
Charlie was still in heavy contact with at least 1 casualty, so Bravo and PHQ manouvred to provide assistance and get the medic to location. I think Borman was KIA and T34 took command which was good initiative and good comms. Charlie now had several casualties requiring treatment and withdrew to the edge of the forest near their SBF position. I sent the medic  to their location, but they were still under fire, and as they healed a GP-25 40mm grenade landed right in the middle of them killing the medic (Kurtz) and most of Charlie. I think Zaq was the only one left alive.
At the same time Bravo had taken some casualties from automatic fire, and from a hidden sniper I think. Gum and Slash were crippled, and lost their legs.... We withdrew into the forest to reorganise. The enemy were exploiting their momentum and had us surrounded with contacts on three sides.
We fought on and captured a tripod mounted DSHK in the forest. Gum's squad was reinforced with Zaq (PKM) and Ninja (from PHQ) and we formed all-round defence at FUP2. We still had contacts on three sides and multiple inbound enemy from the Shrine. The mortar ran out of bombs after some DFs (defensive fires) on the Shrine and the valley to the west of it. I called the CAS (close air support - Hinds) but they were "having mechanical problems" and could not help us.
The enemy lost momentum (maybe when Tony mounted the DSHK and gave them a taste of 12.7mm), we consolidated and began the assault on the Shrine at crawling pace (Gum & Slash ). We reached the dead ground west of the Shrine with many sparodic contacts, and managed to break into a sandbag fortified position with multiple handgrenades.
Then everything fell apart... I think Tony was hit and bleeding out, others were hit, and I was hit by a sniper, and started bleeding heavily. No one had any bandages left. We all got KIA. :'(
Well done to Gum and Slash for going on even with broken legs. Good work by the Squad leaders. Good work by Zaq and Ninja slotting into Bravo and reinforcing them. Good work by Ninja being my personal protection until he reinforced Bravo. Everyone who turned up worked well as a Platoon right from the start - great teamwork.
My observations in terms of our gameplay/proceedures:
Sustains (good points we should keep doing)
1. When callsigns halted or secured FUP's etc - we had very good all-round defence. Everyone was facing outwards 360 degrees, in a circular formation and giving target indications or engaging threats. This was good security.
2. Comms between Squad leaders and PHQ (platoon headquarters) was very good. I knew squad positions and whether they were in contact etc.
3. When we lost Borman (Charlie leader) others (T34 I think) stepped up and took command and let me know. This was good initiative.
Improves (Bad points we should try and fix)
When Charlie were still in contact at the edge of the forest near their SBF location I told them to stay there and sent the medic (Kurtz) over - that's when the GP-25 grenade destroyed Charlie and the medic. I should have told Charlie to withdraw into the forest further, then sent the medic over when it was safer. (Hero of the Soviet Union medal for Kurtz for running over under fire).
We took no bandages when our medic was KIA. Ninja was wounded and bleeding at FUP2 and had to run back to try find bandages and was KIA. Myself and Tony (I think) were hit and bleeding on the assault up the Shrine and no one in the remainder of the platoon had any bandages. Next time when the only medic is KIA we need to collect the bandages and ruck bandages and redistribute them.
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In terms of tactics - the assault on the Keyhole went well, but maybe we should have exploited that terrain more and set up an attack by fire position on it, reduced some of the enemy to the W and NW and then went on with the assault from FUP2.
All round it was fun and good teamwork and communications by all. Nice mission too Zwobot!
Everyone please feel free to add comments and also add some Retains and some bad points!
We moved into FUP1 (form-up position) - Gum's squad (Bravo) secured it and Bormann's weapons squad (Charlie "=North=") cleared towards and established the SBF position. We waited in position, and our MFC (mortar fire controller - Zwobot) called in a fire mission to soften up the Keyhole. Charlie got into heavy contact as Bravo assaulted and seized the Keyhole. Not much resistance was encounted by the assault (Bravo) due to either Charlie fixing and cutting the enemy off or the mortar fire mission, or a combination of both. The objective was ticked.
Charlie was still in heavy contact with at least 1 casualty, so Bravo and PHQ manouvred to provide assistance and get the medic to location. I think Borman was KIA and T34 took command which was good initiative and good comms. Charlie now had several casualties requiring treatment and withdrew to the edge of the forest near their SBF position. I sent the medic  to their location, but they were still under fire, and as they healed a GP-25 40mm grenade landed right in the middle of them killing the medic (Kurtz) and most of Charlie. I think Zaq was the only one left alive.
At the same time Bravo had taken some casualties from automatic fire, and from a hidden sniper I think. Gum and Slash were crippled, and lost their legs.... We withdrew into the forest to reorganise. The enemy were exploiting their momentum and had us surrounded with contacts on three sides.
We fought on and captured a tripod mounted DSHK in the forest. Gum's squad was reinforced with Zaq (PKM) and Ninja (from PHQ) and we formed all-round defence at FUP2. We still had contacts on three sides and multiple inbound enemy from the Shrine. The mortar ran out of bombs after some DFs (defensive fires) on the Shrine and the valley to the west of it. I called the CAS (close air support - Hinds) but they were "having mechanical problems" and could not help us.
The enemy lost momentum (maybe when Tony mounted the DSHK and gave them a taste of 12.7mm), we consolidated and began the assault on the Shrine at crawling pace (Gum & Slash ). We reached the dead ground west of the Shrine with many sparodic contacts, and managed to break into a sandbag fortified position with multiple handgrenades.
Then everything fell apart... I think Tony was hit and bleeding out, others were hit, and I was hit by a sniper, and started bleeding heavily. No one had any bandages left. We all got KIA. :'(
Well done to Gum and Slash for going on even with broken legs. Good work by the Squad leaders. Good work by Zaq and Ninja slotting into Bravo and reinforcing them. Good work by Ninja being my personal protection until he reinforced Bravo. Everyone who turned up worked well as a Platoon right from the start - great teamwork.
My observations in terms of our gameplay/proceedures:
Sustains (good points we should keep doing)
1. When callsigns halted or secured FUP's etc - we had very good all-round defence. Everyone was facing outwards 360 degrees, in a circular formation and giving target indications or engaging threats. This was good security.
2. Comms between Squad leaders and PHQ (platoon headquarters) was very good. I knew squad positions and whether they were in contact etc.
3. When we lost Borman (Charlie leader) others (T34 I think) stepped up and took command and let me know. This was good initiative.
Improves (Bad points we should try and fix)
When Charlie were still in contact at the edge of the forest near their SBF location I told them to stay there and sent the medic (Kurtz) over - that's when the GP-25 grenade destroyed Charlie and the medic. I should have told Charlie to withdraw into the forest further, then sent the medic over when it was safer. (Hero of the Soviet Union medal for Kurtz for running over under fire).
We took no bandages when our medic was KIA. Ninja was wounded and bleeding at FUP2 and had to run back to try find bandages and was KIA. Myself and Tony (I think) were hit and bleeding on the assault up the Shrine and no one in the remainder of the platoon had any bandages. Next time when the only medic is KIA we need to collect the bandages and ruck bandages and redistribute them.
---------------------
In terms of tactics - the assault on the Keyhole went well, but maybe we should have exploited that terrain more and set up an attack by fire position on it, reduced some of the enemy to the W and NW and then went on with the assault from FUP2.
All round it was fun and good teamwork and communications by all. Nice mission too Zwobot!
Everyone please feel free to add comments and also add some Retains and some bad points!
Marto