Tactical Decision Game #06–3
The Toca Hotel: Bravo Into the Fray
by Rittmester Patrik Schaathun,
Norwegian Army
Situation
Your battalion is part of a naval task force in tropical waters off of the coast of Webasto. The distance from your position to the capital, Zuma, is 5 nautical miles. A civil war is raging in this poor Third World country. Fighting is ongoing outside the capital where government troops are trying to hold the insurgents at bay. Law and order has broken down. Gangs have taken to the streets to loot and plunder. It is 0540 hours. Sunup is at 0600.
At the Toca Hotel there are approximately 400 refugees, 52 of whom are U.S. citizens, and 35 are United Nations peacekeepers, 5 of whom are wounded. A 2-meter-high concrete wall surrounds the hotel that is located in an upper class residential area. Twenty-two U.S. citizens are hiding in one of the buildings on Beach Boulevard southwest of the park. Two of them are severely wounded. You have no communications with them.
The battalion mission is to rescue the foreign nationals. Your battalion commander’s intent is to evacuate the foreign nationals to the task force. The method is assault and evacuation by helicopter. The desired end state is to have the foreign nationals safely onboard the task force. The battalion commander’s plan is to seize the Toca with one rifle company by heliborne assault with two AH–1W Cobras in support. Subsequently, a second rifle company will assault by helicopter in order to find and rescue the U.S. citizens on Beach Boulevard. Once the Toca is secure, CH–46 Sea Knights will evacuate the foreign nationals. The third rifle company will be in reserve. Finally, both companies will return to the task force by helicopter.
Company A (Co A) has inserted by helicopter and is securing the hotel. They have already beaten off several attacks by armed gangs. Civilians trying to reach the safety of the hotel have been mown down by a heavy machinegun located somewhere inside the hospital. Armed personnel under the influence have thrown civilians off of the hospital roof. Sniper fire from the hospital has caused two Marine fatalities. Co A has also received sporadic small arms fire from the following buildings: A2, A3, A5, B1, B2, D3, D4, and D5. Cobras have neutralized an enemy mortar in Zuma Park. Enemy fire has downed one Cobra that crashed on Lady Street. Three other helicopters are damaged. You have no air cover. Evacuation by helicopter is no longer an option.
You are the Commanding Officer, Co B and have now been designated the main effort. In direct support are 12 assault amphibious vehicles (each can carry 21 troops). Co B will evacuate the foreign nationals at the hotel and the U.S. citizens on Beach Boulevard to the beach where friendly vessels will provide security and pick them up. Co B will specify to which beach. You have priority of battalion assets. Rules of engagement allow for elimination of any threat, but collateral damage must be kept to a minimum. Thanks to the warning order you issued earlier, your unit is acquainted with the situation. Now get this mess sorted out!
Requirement
Within a time limit of 15 minutes, write down your orders and messages, and depict your plan on the map. Provide a rationale for your actions.
