AAR Operation: PHOENIX

[Edric]

Scenario: 
In 1993, peace talks between Palestine and Israel had been moving in the direction of a Two-State solution. That was until the assassination of President Mahmoud Abbas by unknown agents, which resulted in a counter-attack by Palestinian terrorist groups throughout Israel and the West Bank. A new splinter cell of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has formed calling themselves the Palestinian Arab Front (PAF). The PAF have sought out a new solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. They call this solution Operation Phoenix. 

A PAF leader has masterminded Operation Phoenix to reestablish Palestine to its former glory. His plan is to take a covert team of specialists into Kazakhstan to gain control of an old USSR missile bunker holding a 15 mega-ton nuclear ICBM missile, which was overlooked by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970. The PAF has gained access on the black market to soviet equipment capable of launching the Chelyabinsk-40 intercontinental ballistic missile. The PAF will attempt to fire the missile towards Jerusalem beginning what they believe to be the end of Israel. Azcheez has begun a propaganda campaign with the words, “Allah will strike down on Jerusalem with a blinding light, and through the ashes, Palestine will be reborn.” 

The only thing standing in their way is the Kazakhstani police special unit the Sunkar. Kazakhstan is made briefly aware of this attack and deploys the Sunkar to defend the nuclear missile bunker from the PAF until Russian Mi-24 Hind gunships can arrive. Russian gunships have been deployed and are one hour away. The Sunkar have to defend the PAF attack for 60 minutes until Hind gunships can arrive and end any chance of victory for the PAF.

This game was hosted by David Allgood at Star Bend.

The first mission went well. The Red team fought valiantly to defend the launch site, and the blue team kept coming in, wave after wave. But alas, stalemate.

The second mission saw a swap of rolls and another stalemate.

After that, it was lunch time, which is about the time I went home, so I look forward to hearing what happened next! 

[Komissar]

This OP was hosted by David Allgood.

The location was Star Bend, also known as NAM field, located about 10 minutes south of Marysville off Hwy 70.

Allgood kept the missions simple with the two forces represented as Palestine and the Sunkar. One team attempting to launch a rocket being defended by the defending team.

The temperatures were wonderful at around 65-70 degrees with an occasional breeze. Blue sunny skies for a December 3rd! Couldn't have better weather.

Corps operators who attended: Edric, Phoenix, Blazed, Jensen, JustJoe and Komissar. Most of the approximately 30 operators were regulars to our Browns Valley field, with a few new faces. A good turnout with around 15 on 15.

After the Corps troops met for coffee, it was a quick drive to the parking area where most operators were preparing. Allgood, arrived and got right to assembling the briefing. (This is not always easy to do with the details that OPCOM must attend to, but does speak volumes for a well organized event, and is greatly appreciated by the operators). Allgood laid out the operation history, followed by a quick safety briefing. Any questions were answered, and a ready time of 5 minutes was announced.

Sac-Air previously had run events at this location. Their briefings were poor, the missions were without thought, and any punctuality or organization were greatly lacking. Allgood was punctual, clear and concise. This is wonderful to find as so many organizations have leadership who shouldn't be allowed to tie their own shoes. My thanks to Allgood for hosting a balanced, well planned event.

Mission One: The Diamond Corps troops and around eight other operators were set to defend the launch site. The terrain is mostly open thigh high brush. (Lots of stickers if you have unprotected skin). Both sides of this field have a tree line with paths and leafy brush and vines.

Our team in red set up on both sides of the only cover near the launch site to keep open lanes of fire to the blue team approach. The blue team began as we had planned and having run into our lines, they pushed to our left flank and eventually into the opposite treeline behind us. From this point, an even exchange began where neither team could dislodge the other to gain ground. At the end of the lime allowed, we held off our attackers and the rocket was not launched.

Mission Two: We reversed the roles of the two teams, and Diamond Corps became the attacking side. Due to some equipment failures, the Corps troops were delayed in starting. Our troops took to the field about ten minutes into the already running mission. Without our support, the remaining troops of our team had done well, but had been pushed back almost to the treeline where we had begun, and the blue forces had strong positions. As we moved out late, the blue forces, lying in wait took their toll, and we never made it any further than perhaps one-hundred yards into the thorny brush. Despite the difficulties, our red team did well. I moved forward under the rifle protection of JustJoe, Phoenix and Edric as they performed a sort of bounding advance. As one would move, the others would fire. We advanced a good way toward the launch site in this way. I worked with Jensen at rooting out some of the more stubborn blue team at the far tree line. And Blazed and Bluewolf, who had made it past the treeline harassed the enemy forces from the West.

Although we never made it to the launch, we had a good time, and worked well together. Practice, practice.

Final Mission: After lunch, we began a final attempt at launching the rocket. Some new rules were introduced to keep things fresh.

We, the red team, were 'red' due to the color of markers we wore to distinguish our troops from the enemy who wore blue. These were provided by our host, and were made of red or blue cloth sewn together in a sort of sling that showed on both your front and back. For this mission, we happily took off our distinguishing red slings, and continued in just our standard Woodland kit. We, the 'unmarked', numbered around eight, and were to face the blue team who would start with around twenty or so operators. Our team would have unlimited lives, while the blue would switch teams after their third 'death'.

I love a challenge! This was exciting, where our eight would need to push hard to take on a larger force who would slowly diminish for every 'kill' we could get. This mission was run in an area nearer the boat ramp, where there are large trees and brush and vines. Very jungle feeling.

As it began, we advanced slowly, covering each side path and each other. We were killing one or two as we advanced, and being cautious. Working this way we advanced to within sight of the launcher where the larger portion of the enemy team waited. By this time, the teams were roughly even in number, and we held the treeline on our left which opened into the brush field. We began pressing through the trees on the right while keeping the launch site engaged to our front. It would end with the rocket being launched, and a victory for our team.

I had a great time on this last mission. good force balance, lots of cover, and we worked well together. I also appreciate that we did not need to wear the red team sling-markers. While wearing a bright color that can be easily identified does make for ease in team identification, I felt that I had lost most of my ability to utilize the cover in this woodland AO. Without it, I was again able to get within very close range of my opponent and make use of skill. I understand the necessity of having some means of identifying 'ours' from 'theirs', however I like to do it by uniform color/pattern, or headgear. So far I have not found the 'perfect' solution at events where operators are likely to arrived similarly dressed.

Thanks again to Allgood, and Keven, for hosting this event! Hope to see more from you in the future. (And I hear we will).

[Northman]

It was a fun Op, 

 

Great recap Komissar

[David Allgood]

Loads of fun. Great review of the games. I can't believe I remembered everything but forgot to charge my gun. In game 2, my gun went silent, and I took over camera man. Oh well, it was still a grea time.  All charged and ready for the next game.

[David Allgood]

Here is a link to resized photos. Send me a message to get high res

http://ubuntuone.com/2Btc3MGHm9FIESSNavF17d

75mb

[Phoenix]

in the last mission, 7, another operator and myself took the scenic route and arrived just in time to help clear the path and push our team to victory.

[Komissar]

HERE is a link to the pictures posted on our site.