Sitting in your MOPP gear, you reflect on your current situation. “Decades of sustained combat against these guys and here we go again…” you think as you dig through your assault pack looking for your map markers. You are in the third month of your battalion’s deployment to Donovian-occupied Atropia. The 3rd ABCT “Bulldog Brigade” of 1st Armored Division cut its teeth during continuous operations south of the Tiefort Mountain complex. Your battalion, specifically, served as the BCT decisive operation–seizing Guba. Now you are being called upon again to apply your expertise in urban operations. This time though, you will be attacking Razish. “I wonder how many times and how many units have fought to take back this city…”
Situation
You are the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer (AS3) for staff for Regulars Battalion, 4-6th IN. You are task organized with 2 mechanized infantry companies and 2 tank companies. Your unit is currently at 80% strength after your operations in Guba. Your battalion is currently in a tactical assembly area south of the John Wayne Foothills.
Upon orders from Brigade to seize Razish, the Battalion Commander gave hisplanning guidance to the staff. ”We are going to be attacking from east to west within the brigade’s order of movement. The enemy owns this ground and has scouts everywhere. We likely won’t have the element of surprise. Coordinated pre-assault fires, synchronized warfighting functions, speed to the foothold, applying the necessary forces to clear, and maintaining tempo will be key. I want to fix from one position and attack in mass from another.”
Enemy
The enemy in Razish consist of elements of the Donovian 111th BTG and the Donovian-aligned Bilasuvar Freedom Brigade (BFB). Most of the forces are BFB and will, through their dress and movement patterns, blend in with the local populous. The 111th forces will likely position their armored vehicles and tanks along key entry points into the city. The S2 also assesses that the 111th infantry forces are likely staged at the center of the city and prepared to flex, pending initial reports from the BFB, to the point of attack from U.S. coalition forces.
Mission
The Regulars Battalion attacks to seize Razish NLT H-hour in order to provide FOM for U.S. coalition forces in the AO and restore Atropian-control.
Output Required
You have 25 minutes. Develop a FRAGORD that provides a template of enemy forces, a concept statement and sketch (using the graphic above), and tasks to subordinate units. Be prepared to brief your plan to the Battalion Commander with a general fires plan and triggers that drive the scheme of maneuver.
Looking for some lessons learned from an actual unit that went through a similar mission set? We have you covered. Check out the lessons that Lt. Col. Jimmy Howell’s 3-21 IN (SBCT) learned when attacking Razish: Part I and Part II.
A Few Leader Questions to Consider:
- Where will your place your key leaders?
- Where will the enemy emplace their tanks and armored vehicles?
- What is your decisive point?
- Who is your decisive operation?
- What is your SOSRA plan for seizing a foothold?
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