After a long night supporting your reconnaissance troop’s zone recon mission, you do a final radio check with your Fire Support NCO in his OP on hill 509. The scout platoons are settled in to their positions on the screen line, watching the valley known as the 15 tango for enemy movement. So far, the troop has encountered Skolkan alliance Special Purpose Forces in trucks, as well as wheeled recon vehicles from the enemy’s Brigade Tactical Group (BTG) recon company. The troop’s 120mm Mortars are sitting at 60% of their base ammunition load after suppressing those enemy Ops the night before, with 30 rounds of HE between the two tubes. The troop commander is huddled in the CP on his headset, receiving an intel update from the Squadron on the enemy’s anticipated attack. The call concludes, and he looks at you. “You’re going to be busy today”, he says, only half-jokingly.

Situation

You are the Troop Fire Support Officer of B Troop, 1-91 CAV (Airborne). Your unit deployed to southern Germany to check the advance of the Skolkan alliance with our NATO allies. Two months ago, the Alliance poured out of the North through the Suwalki Gap in northern Poland, and the forward stationed units of US Army Europe have been fighting tooth and nail to halt the advance until the Armored brigades from CONUS arrive in theater. Your Brigade was inserted by airborne drop two days ago astride a key mobility corridor, denying its use to the enemy while the 3rd Armored DIV (UK) and Panzer Brigade 21 (GER) advance toward your position from the west to exploit the advantage created. The Skolkan 112th BTG (mech.) is advancing on your brigade from the west.

Enemy

Friendly UAS identified the 2-112th Mech infantry BN in TAAs in company-sized elements of 3x T-80s and 6x BTR-80s. Their mission is to find the weak points in the screen , paving the way for the main body of the 112th BTG to attack and destroy US forces, re-securing a key line of communication before NATO reinforcements arrive. You expect the 2-112th to begin the attack in about six hours, (1500 Local). You expect the T-80s to lead, supported closely by dismounted infantry from the BTRs. They will avoid high speed avenues of approach, relying on the work of their recon units to identify small unimproved mobility corridors to avoid detection for as long as possible. The steep and forested hills of the region will aid them in concealing their approach.

Task Organization

Your mounted recon troop consists of two platoons of four HMMWVs each, with your own Knight fire support HMMWV (laser designation capable) forward with 1st platoon, and yourself positioned with the commander and 1SG at the troop CP. The troop mortars are in position 1 km to the west, with 60 rounds of HE and 25 rounds of White Phosphorous (WP) smoke on hand. The troop has 1x 155mm Field artillery target to plan for this phase. Additionally, a section of 2x AH-64s will be available to the squadron from 1500-1600. Your Scout platoons are capable of calling for indirect fire. Each platoon also has a Puma Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS) capable of daytime and nighttime observation, and of pulling 10-digit grid coordinates.

Mission

Your troop’s mission is to screen the 15 Tango valley, fixing the 112th BTG fixing force, buying time for the brigade’s infantry battalions to complete defensive preparations. Your displacement criteria is contact with a company-sized element of armor.

Commanders Guidance for Fires

To buy our infantry troops the time they need, our troop needs to destroy at least 3x T-80s and 5x BTR-80’s before breaking contact. I want our mortars to focus on neutralizing stationary wheeled vehicles and dismounts. We will do this as they make contact with our platoons, to maximize their available ammunition. We will use our FA target to destroy any platoon or company sized groups of vehicles we detect, while the Apaches will prioritize the T-80s. I also want to see a fires plan for when we break contact, preferably using our own mortars.”

Outputs

Your commander wants to discuss the fires plan with you in 30 minutes as he refines the maneuver plan. Plot Mortar and FA targets within your troop’s AO, and assign observers, triggers, and firing assets for each. Plot an alternate Mortar Firing Point (MFP) as a survivability move due to the threat of enemy IDF to your mortars. Be ready to describe to the commander how you will achieve the effects he desires.

Some Leader Questions to Consider:

1. Can you achieve all the desired effects with the assets you have? If not, what assets would you request from Squadron / Brigade?

2. How will you use non-standard observers? (SUAS / AH-64)

3. What are your triggers for the targets?

4. At what point will you request ammo resupply for your mortars?

5. How can you merge your plan with the direct fire plan to achieve the desired effects?

***Click HERE for a PDF version of this TDG to use at your unit.***

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