DMX 09: Early Checkout
“I rate the skillful tactician above the skillful strategist, especially him who plays the bad cards well.”- Sir A.P Wavell, 1939
Editor’s Note: This is an installment in our Decision Making Exercise (DMX) Series. Solutions should be sent to cxfile0302@gmail.com NLT 28 April for a chance at publication.
Situation
You are the company commander for Lima Company, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines. Your company is mechanized in ACVs.
3/7 is currently conducting offensive operations as part of a regimental-sized attack to seize OBJECTIVE IRON, a critical airfield within the area of operations (AO). The regimental attack is part of a larger Joint Task Force offensive across the entire front. After being held in reserve, 3/7 is being moved forward to seize IRON within the next 72 hours. The battalion is currently moving to occupy a series of company-sized Tactical Assembly Areas (TAA) to conduct final planning and coordination before passing through 1/7 and into the attack. 1/7 and 2/7 are the lead trace of the regiment, 6km to your north.
The enemy you are facing is a Threat C marine brigade. They have been forced onto the backfoot as a result of the relentless joint-force offensive. A battalion reduced is expected to be holding IRON. It is suspected that their mission is to retain the airfield in order to preserve the ability to lift reinforcements into the AO. The rest of the brigade has been withdrawing back towards the airfield under pressure for days. Despite being hard pressed, the enemy brigade has fought a tenacious maneuver defense. Their infantry formations have been employing multiple types of FPV drones and recon small-UAS to great effect, while their armored vehicles have proven well suited to the rough terrain.
The terrain is a jagged, rock-strewn savannah. Scrubby vegetation pockmarks the landscape, and intermittent clusters of trees disrupt the generally open environment. Sharp rocky hills further compartmentalize the AO. The low ground is generally permissive for wheeled and tracked vehicles. Vehicles are slow go on the hills. There are few major roads in this part of the AO, with the highest-speed avenues of approach limited to dirt tracks. Several pockets of civilian habitation dot the countryside. The locals seem neutral, with no desire to interfere with either party.
It is dusk as your company pulls into TAA HOLIDAY INN. “More like TAA Motel 6,” scoffs your 1stSgt as he surveys the rocky valley. You can see the ACVs disgorging the grunts before lumbering toward their designated positions for the night, and you can hear the scrape of e-tools as your Marines get to work hacking out defensive positions.
Suddenly, you notice flickering lights on the horizon to the north. Concussive booms rapidly follow the flashes. Moments later, you can make out the rapping of cannon and machine gun fire. More concussions. The faint whup-whup of a helicopter? Working a quick flash-to-bang calculation, you figure the commotion is about 6kms away. Right where 1/7 is supposed to be.
You jump on the radio. The whole battalion is supposed to be in EMCON, but this might meet the bar for breaking squelch…
Before you can finger the push to talk on the battalion net, the headphones crackle to life.
“Lima 6, Blade 3. Standby for updated tasking.”
“1/7 has been hit bad. The enemy has reinforced and is attacking with rocket and tube artillery and mechanized forces, including tanks. They’ve even got some attack aviation. 1/7 is going to have to fall back in vicinity of your position, likely through checkpoint 21. Pass them to the rear as they arrive IOT preserve friendly combat power. Make sure you push out guides to facilitate link-up. Retain your current position IOT prevent envelopment of the regiment. Higher is pushing 1/7 maximum air support and artillery, but it’s going to take time and . . . jamming frequenc . . . hold . . . good luck. . .”
The transmission dies in garbled static as you feel a cold sweat come on.
You begin calling in your key leaders for a rapid brief when you hear muffled explosions to your east. There is more machinegun fire and cannons. This time, you can see tracers. Your company radio net jumps to life.
It’s India 6, your fellow company commander and best friend since IOC. His truck-mounted company is in TAA HILTON, off to your east.
“Battalion net is getting stepped on; I need help. . . Mortars and rockets bracketing us . . . multiple priority . . . I’m in a knife fight . . . mult . . . ZBD-05s . . . send what you . . .”
The radio bleeds out in another fit of ominous static.
As your platoon commanders jog up to your vehicle, you can hear the unmistakable whine of a small quadcopter UAS buzzing somewhere overhead.
Night has fallen, and the time is now 1930.
What now, captain?
Brief your estimate of the situation, mission, CONOPs, tasks, coordinating instructions, and any reports to higher.
You have 2x attached Javelin teams.
Each squad has a MAAWs.
Your company has 3x Recon sUAS and 3x FPV drones. Each of your platoons has 1x counter UAS SMASH mounted rifle.
CAAT White and CAAT Red are the battalion reserve in TAA MARRIOTT 4km to the south. Kilo Company is also mechanized; they are collocated with CAAT White/Red in MARRIOTT 4KM to the south.
81s are expected to be approaching their TAA 1km to your south, just off the map. They are supposed to be firecapped in 15 minutes.
155s are firecapped. Cobras and Hueys are on 15-minute strip alert. Fixed wing is on 30. All supporting arms priority is 1/7, 2/7, 3/7.
Battalion has one attached LAAD section located with the Battalion Main in TAA MARRIOTT.
Battalion scouts are screening about a kilometer forward, but you haven’t heard from them.
