AAR Fox Puzzle 08.21.10

[Komissar]

Welcome troops,
The AAR below was posted by Cimmerian OPCOM.
I thought you might enjoy reading it until I have a chance to post an AAR from our perspective.

Cimmerian OPCOM After Action Report  for date August 21st 2010

 

Thank you all for coming to Operation Fox Puzzle, what a fantastic day in the Sierras. We wanted to take a brief look back at this operation, share the accomplishments of the day and call for photo contributions.

Our day started out at the base camp established by the CAA advance recon team led by Chief Denebeim just to the east of our previous base camp Dusty. Upon arrival the weather was absolutely perfect: about 70 degrees with a mild breeze. As operators were getting their gear secured the operational setup team moved out to establish the objective markers. This operation was special: 400+ elevation change while operating through massive formations of granite, fortunately we were able to come from the north side to establish the peak objective Lima.

After the safety and operation briefing both units moved out via HMMWV column to the first advance FOB. As the operation got underway, it was met with quick and furious combat. The Pakistani force was charged with holding a fire-base while the Indian forces attempted to remove. Thanks to the hard work and flanking maneuvers of the IFOR the fire base was quickly overrun. PFOR immediately began to move the artillery placements back to objective Lima, aka Tiger Hill. This was the climb, in some places, almost straight up.

During the first stage of the climb the two teams were engaged in heavy battle, but as the movement continued upward it waned as the operators needed to focus on oxygen and movement. The first team to arrive at the objective was led by Chief Cobleigh, and 5 operators hit the flag in a ceremonious arrival at almost 7600 feet elevation. Due to the harsh terrain and physical nature of this operation, combat was suspended to rally the remaining units into a central location with some of the most dramatic views the Sierra National forest has to offer. While encamped at the summit we were treated to both rain and hail, what an afternoon.

These operations are not easy, and it was quickly realized that several operators were not accounted for, thereby immediately activating the Cimmerian Search and Rescue unit. Now there were multiple fronts the battle was waging on: pushing the IFOR back across the Line of Control to continue the operation and a recovery effort for the lost combat troops.

The Search and Rescue team was able to identify, locate and transport one injured player back to base camp, while there positively identifying the remaining missing operators and confirming they had arrived safely to camp and had to exfil early back to civilization. Both operations concluded at 1630 hours.

I have to say that I was personally impressed by the level of effort and dedication every operator made to Fox Puzzle. The camp was abuzz with war stories as we wound down for a few minutes in camp before moving out and back to civilization. Those Cimmerians members who participated and made it to Tiger Hill will have the coveted Mountain Tab requisitioned ASAP.

Special recognition to Jens L. and Chris A. for stepping forward to lead the two forces. Their efforts with IFOR and PFOR made the operation what it was, but they were quick to say how any success was from the teams as a whole, and I couldn't agree more.

During this operation with my brothers and sisters in the field we raised over $200 for military families in need. Every operation, every month, rain or shine we continue to do what we can to help.

On behalf of the CAA I want to thank you all for joining us. I hope to see you all at Operation Ephemeral Spectre September 17-20, until then A Hearty Ooftah!

 

[Tank]

this was a really enjoyable op I was able to run with a great group of operators (thank you) there were a few interesting times such as the confusion with the lima spot and the rain and the massive hill but still an enjoyable day lots of kills great combat tactics I loved the tactical withdrawal that was fun and riddled with pakistani (indian or whoever our enemy were) bodies.... Oorah and Ooftah to the cimmerians for putting on another fun day.

[Kirk Erickson]

This was my first Cimmerian and my first mil sim game. I had a blast with you guys. Im really looking forward to playing with all of you again. The Diamond Corps guys were also really great to play with. I have to say it was my best airsoft experience yet. Looking forward to lots more with everyone!!

[Komissar]

Operators Report 08.21.10

Cimmerian OP Fox Puzzle was held near Cisco Grove, Calif.
Diamond Corps was represented by the following operators: Phoenix, Tank, Ken, Ferge, Kattiana, Blazed and Komissar.
Both missions were search and destroy, in the great vast National forest.

This was a largely attended, yet fairly simple OP for Cimmerian standards. The weather was a cool 70 degrees in the AM, clear and with no breeze. The terrain at this AO is some of my favorite. Heavy, dark woods; meadows, and large granite outcroppings. The ground was still green and the creeks were flowing.
On late arrival we were quick to gear up and shake hands with the other operators who had shown up. OPCOM was finishing with some last minute objectives.
Jens was to take control of the Pakistan forces, who had set up artillery in the nearby mountains, and had been shelling our convoys moving up the Mogonigal Road.
Komissar was 'nominated' to lead the India troops. We had the honor of locating and destroying the enemy Forward Observation Base, the Fire-base, and any enemy forces found nearby, pushing them past an established Line of Control (LoC) to protect the road.
The Corps detachment was split into two teams. Ferge was to lead the point element including Blazed, and Ken. My team included Kattiana, Phoenix, and Tank. We were also given another four man team under Joe Laderoute, call sign 'Viking'.
We left camp in Humvee and truck transport to the mountain base, parked and unloaded. Ferge's team took point and moved off into the woods with my team on his right, and Viking on the left. We had expected to move nearer to map position Delta (Delta was the suspected FOB) without being engaged; however not a few hundred meters into the woods we started taking fire. Team Viking was enthusiastic and took this opportunity to pursue the enemy skirmishers. Ferge led our forces North toward high ground, while my team fired and maneuvered to protect the flank of our force. The enemy were sufficiently occupied by team Viking in the woods that Ferge had moved us another 300 meters up the granite mountain toward objective Delta. From our elevated positions on the rock we could suppress the enemy's movement and keep them from advancing out of the woods. As we approached the top, we came under fire by another troops of enemy who had been guarding this lower peak. The Pakistani forces were very aggressive and in good cover making us fight for every step of ground. As we took this lower peak, we identified a nearby higher peak as our Delta objective.
Ken, Tank, and Kattiana moved to take the next peak as Joe and team Viking held the lower point and southern perimeter.
Blazed, and Phoenix held the West and made contact for further orders. We consolidated and set a perimeter in the high peak, having taken the enemy FOB.and we noticed that it became very quiet. The enemy had pulled back.

Orders came over the radio; Get off the mountain! Enemy artillery inbound on your location!
All teams moved quickly to get to cover in the woods to the West. Running, jumping, diving to get to cover away from the exposed rock peak. Enemy artillery struck the peak.
Specialist Phoenix was injured in the attack, requiring immediate evac. He suffered a fractured vertebrae T-12 and will be recommended for the purple heart for his service in the line of duty. Take care brother and get well soon.

In our retreat, the enemy retook the destroyed position. We moved west into the heavy woods to regroup.

NOTE: At this point we moved our force West, into position at the base of a steep hill. The enemy artillery was on top of this position at map location Lima. Kattiana, and Blazed escorted Phoenix back down the hill to his vehicle,and then returned to the team.Team Viking split, and the missing members could not be found.
I want to use this opportunity to make this point: Two operators left the AO without letting anyone, including their own fiends know they were leaving. They told no one. Didn't radio. Didn't leave a note at the vehicles. When OPCOM went down with those escorting Phoenix they went to see if their vehicle had left. That was the only indicator that they had made it off the mountain and out of the national forest. We looked for them for over an hour on that mountain. It stopped the game, and several people were reasonably concerned. Point made.

After regrouping the team, Blazed led them up the hill where he met Komissar and our Command. (OPCOM) The view from the top was great, and it had drizzled on us while we climbed. The weather was cool, and the wind was gusty at the top. Great AO. OPCOM decided that the Pakistani forces would now be on the offense. Our troops would beat a fire and retreat all the way back down the mountain to the vehicles. Just to make it challenging, the two remaining Viking troops would fight on the Pakistani side.

This is where the Corps team excels! The remaining six, working in team of two, performed fire and retreat, cover and fallback leapfrog all the way back to the vehicles. I can give credit to those who performed flawlessly. When the enemy attempted to flank, we moved against, and put pressure on them not allowing them to get by. We held the center with the long rifles covering the carbines and assault troops as they retreated to take new positions behind them. We laid down covering fire against the attackers, and made them pay for ever step. We did well.

In the end, it had been a good day, with the exception of Phoenix's injury. OPCOM ran things well. We had done well attacking the FOB. The mountain we were supposed to take by force under fire, we ended up searching. And at that point, we were glad that we didn't have to assault it to take the artillery base. The fire and retreat maneuver was our triumph for the day. Good team work, and some more lessons learned. Well done.
And team Viking, . . . we look forward to working with you in the future.

[Phoenix]

Gentlemen, I just wanted to check in with everyone and let you know that I am finally home and well. I will be out of action for the remainder of the year it appears and my family has requested, rightfully, that I hold off on Cimmerian OPs. I was really lucky my injuries were not worse than what they were.

I know I will be missing people who were standing around trying to help, and I thank you as a group now and if you stand up I will thank you personally. However for their direct action and the fact I know they were there by voice alone or by presence i must thank the following people: Komissar: Thank you for holding my legs and help keeping me immobilized while it was determined if my injuries were severe enough for a med-evac. Tank, thank you for your inspection of my back. While there was a spinal injury you knew what to look for that would have kept me on the ground waiting for a helicopter. Blazed: thank you for the ibuprofen ad the escort. I couldn't have made it down the hill. Kattiana: Thank you for your escort, before Blazed and I got lost. Again, everyone thank you very much.

Looking forward to an OP in October at DRAEX so I can show up and take pictures. I may not be able to pick up my gubn and join you, but I will try to be there with you all.

See you soon,

Sean (Phoenix)

[Joe Laderoute]

the cimmerians put on great milsims we hope to make their next op in september, we all had a great time and i am deeply sorry my friends who got lost did not tell anyone that they left, i would like to reinforce the fact that you should never change radio channels during any milsim or airsoft game for that matter due to the fact that we play in tough terrain and it can be very easy to get lost for a night in the sierras with a broken leg. any ways kirk and i will be attending your missions day at draex sept 11 see you guys soon