Hit Hard at Hill 233

Situation

You are the executive officer (XO) of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marines. Bravo Company crossed the line of departure 1 hour ago and is moving 7 kilometers to its tentative assault position. The battalion’s two– company attack (Bravo and Charlie Companies) is scheduled to go at 0400. The battalion commander’s goal is to move two companies around the flank of the enemy and attack them from the rear, as well as cut their only line of communications.

Bravo Company is moving in a column formation. One kilometer (about 1 hour) behind you is the battalion forward command post and Charlie Company. The terrain is rough, several ridges and hills covered with thick vegetation lie across your route. Visibility in most areas is no more than 50-75 meters. Enemy presence in this area has not yet been detected by the battalion’s surveillance and target acquisition teams. As a result your company commander is really “stepping it out” in an effort to reach the assault position on time (1000).

You’re located in the rear of the company with the company gunny and the training noncommissioned officer who is carrying the radio. At 1700, the company is climbing one of the many steep ridges in your path. Ist Platoon has crossed the ridge and is descending the opposite side down a narrow finger. In the middle of the column, the company headquarters element and weapons platoon are at the top of the ridge. 2d and 3d Platoon are yet to begin their ascent. Suddenly, near the top of the ridge, an enormous amount of small arms fire erupts. Several machineguns are in action, and several explosions go off as well.

The gunfire dies down a bit and you attempt to raise the commanding officer (CO) on the radio. Unfortunately, you can’t raise him or the mortar section for that matter. 1st Platoon commander comes on the hook and reports that the CO and weapons platoon got hit hard. There was a large ambush on top of the hill. He believes that some of weapons platoon is still pinned down, but they’ve suffered a lot of casualties. He also reports his rear squad is engaged with a platoon-size element.

2d Platoon reports numerous casualties from weapons platoon and that he’s exchanging fire with the enemy.

At that moment, 2d and 3d Platoons begin receiving mortar fire. Both platoons, as well as yourself, quickly hit the deck.

What now XO?

Requirement

Within 2 minutes issue orders to your platoons. Provide your plan of attack with a sketch and a brief explanation of your plan. Submit your solution with rationale to Marine Corps Gazette. TDG #01-3, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 or fax 703-630-9147.

For more detailed information on the structure of Marine Corps units, Marine Corps equipment, and symbols used in TDG sketches, see MCG, Oct94, pp. 53-56 and the modification reported in Jan95, p. 5.

The Commander’s Intent

Situation

You are the commanding officer of Company B, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/2. Your company’s mission is to secure the bridge crossing the Minse River. The enemy is reported to be a reinforced rifle platoon holding the key terrain surrounding the bridge. They are well organized and possess some automatic weapons but have no indirect fire capabilities. A section of 81mm mortars is directly attached to your company and is embarked on your assault amphibious vehicles (AAVs). You have direct support from the Marine expeditionary unit’s artillery battery. Charlie Company is in reserve approximately 15 km south of your position.

According to your concept of operations and the company’s scheme of maneuver, Ist Platoon, with machineguns attached, will envelop the enemy and establish a support-by-fire position in the vicinity of company Objective B. The company’s 60mm and attached 81 mm mortars will provide both suppression and obscuration on the enemy position southeast of the bridge (company Objective C). 3d Platoon will assault this enemy position. 2d Platoon will assault the enemy position north of the bridge (company Objective A). 2d Platoon is the main effort. You intend to utilize both indirect and direct fires to support 2d Platoon’s maneuver to company Objective A.

You have begun your attack, and your fires upon Objective C have been effective. You then receive this report from Ist Platoon: “Contact with enemy. Squad-sized unit has immobilized one of our AAVs. The platoon commander and the first squad leader are seriously wounded. The enemy squad has withdrawn now that we have returned fire.” This report from the Ist Platoon platoon sergeant continues: “We are about 700 meters from our river crossing point and about 4 to 5 clicks from company Objective B.”

3d Platoon has reached Objective C and has begun their consolidation. Your 60s have ceased fire. 81s have shifted to provide obscuration for 2d Platoon, and artillery suppression of company Objective A is about to cease. Your original commander’s intent was “to isolate and destroy the enemy in order to secure the bridge for the BLT’s movement north.”

Requirement

In a time limit of 3 minutes, issue your orders to your team leaders. Provide a brief rationale for your actions and a sketch of your plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #01-7, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail <[email protected]>.

For more detailed information on the structure of Marine Corps units, Marine Corps equipment, and symbols used in TDG sketches, see MCG, Oct94, pp. 53-56 and the modification reported in jan95, p. 5.

Culminating Point

Situation

You are the company commander for Bravo Company, Ist Battalion, Ist Marines operating in the province of Aceh, Indonesia. Your battalion is operating as part of a special purpose Marine air-ground task force with a general mission of conducting operations to clear the area of ex-government units involved in a rebellion against a newly elected civilian government. Enemy units have generally been operating in squad- to platoon-sized elements with only small arms and medium machineguns, primarily during daylight hours. Prior to today, no contact with the enemy forces had been reported by any elements of your battalion, despite 2 days of extensive patrolling. There are no friendly foreign national units in your battalion or company zone of operations.

Your company mission is to dear in zone in order to deny the enemy a safe haven from which to conduct operations against the civilian government. Your battalion commander’s desired end state is no cohesive enemy units in the area of greater than squad size. Once that criterion has been met, the sector can be considered cleared and loyal government units can move in and complete the “pacification” process. Alpha Company was assigned the zone considered most likely to produce enemy activity based on prior reports and has been designated the main effort.

Bravo Company is a standard table of organization rifle company, with an attached host-nation interrogator-translator team (ITT). You task organized for this mission into patrolling/clearing elements consisting of Ist and 3d Platoons (generally eastern and western portions of the zone respectively), and a reserve/reaction force consisting of 2d Platoon following in trace of the two clearing platoons in the center of the company zone. The machinegun section from weapons platoon moves with 2d Platoon to provide supporting fires should you encounter enemy forces. The mortar section moves in trace of 2d Platoon with security provided by the SMAW (shoulder launched multipurpose assault weapon) section. You have attached the host-nation ITT to the company headquarters element under the watchful eye of your company gunnery sergeant. No artillery or close air support assets are available, although the battalion 81mm mortar platoon can range the majority of your sector.

Today, at 0700, you advanced into a previously untouched sector. The terrain is hilly, single canopy jungle, interspersed with large clearings and cultivated areas. 3d Squad, Ist Platoon, after 2 hours of exhausting movement, reported signs of enemy activity on a lightly wooded ridgeline 200 meters to their north. You immediately ordered 2d Platoon to move forward to 3d Squad’s position, which the 3d Squad would secure for use as an assault position for 2d Platoon’s attack. You moved forward along with the ITT to the attack position, and after a quick visual reconnaissance and conference with 3d Squad leader and 2d Platoon commander, confirmed the personnel were in fact an enemy unit. You then emplaced the machinegun section at a 70-degree offset to provide a base of fire. You ordered 2d Platoon to prepare to attack the enemy position and radioed the battalion commander to inform him of your situation. After a quick discussion, you were given permission to begin the attack.

2d Platoon conducted their attack in a professional manner, and after an exhausting uphill climb under heavy enemy fire, reported the enemy reinforced squad’s surrender. Friendly casualties were two men killed and three wounded. The enemy casualties were four dead and three wounded enemy prisoners of war. At least two enemy soldiers had escaped. They had, however, used up half of their ammunition in the process. A quick situation report from 3d Platoon revealed that they still had no enemy sightings. As you moved up to the ridgeline to inspect the results of the fight, the 2d Platoon commander reported enemy in at least two-squad strength moving into assault formation and at least two machineguns being set up on the next hill over.

At this time, your machinegun section is still moving onto the ridgeline, lst Platoon is still consolidating with two squads at the old attack position, and one squad is still on the move. 3d Platoon continues to patrol in sector to the west. What do you do?

Requirement

In a time limit of 5 minutes, issue your orders to your team leaders. Provide a brief rationale for your actions and a sketch of your plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #01-8, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail <[email protected]>.

The Debrief

Situation

You have been assigned as an advisor/liaison with the host-nation forces. Last night one of the host-nation companies conducted a night ambush of an insurgent convoy. The host-nation forces have a small arms capability similar to a Marine rifle company; however, their communications and night vision equipment are limited. You are attending the company commander’s debrief to his battalion commander and members of his staff.

Following are the company commander’s comments:

“My rifle company, with two medium machinegun teams and two assault teams attached (rocket propelled grenade style), was ordered to conduct a night ambush on a known enemy supply route. As the company commander, I had a night vision monocular. We did bring trip flares and six antitank mines along with several antipersonnel pressure mines. Our communications net enabled me to speak with my battalion headquarters and locally to each platoon leader.

“Intelligence reports indicated that enemy supplies are transported by trucks with the occasional armed jeep or light armored car acting as an escort. The trucks generally have an infantry platoon minus as local security as well. Convoys are six to eight vehicles long.

“The company was dropped off by helicopters at landing zone (LZ) Bravo at 0135, some 5 kilometers from the ambush site. The terrain was mountainous, with rocky outcroppings and low scrub. Nighttime temperatures were near or below freezing. The unit marched in column, keeping to a contour level below the crest, to the ambush site. Once there, a platoon conducted a reconnaissance and then we assumed the fighting positions as outlined on this map. We kept radio talk to a minimum using runners or chemical light signals when able. When it was still dark, the enemy convoy approached from the village as anticipated. No jeeps or armored cars were visible from my position.

“The convoy entered the kill zone, and the company opened fire with the headquarters initiating the ambush. The enemy was hard pressed to react, but some of the infantry managed to return fire aided by a heavy machinegun (HMG) from a jeep in the middle of the convoy, but then they were overwhelmed. We suffered only four lightly wounded, one seriously, and one killed in action.

“While medical attention was given to the wounded, we conducted a quick sweep of the enemy in search of items of intelligence value. We found none but did notice we destroyed a jeep with HMG. Following this search, we marched via a different route to LZ Bravo for extraction. We left the mines in place in the hopes the enemy might set them off later when picking up their dead.

“The mission was clearly a success, don’t you agree, Capt Smith?” Requirement In a time of 2 minutes, critique the mission. Being sure to justify your observations-both the good and the bad. Provide a brief rationale for your comments and a sketch to support your concept of operations for this ambush. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #01-9, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail <[email protected]>.

Evacuate the Embassy! Friction on the stage

You are the company commander of Echo Company, 2d Battalion, 6th Marines. Your company is at its table of organization strength, and it is part of a Marine expeditionary unit (MEU).

As a consequence of recent terrorist attacks against the United States, U.S. forces are being deployed to the theater of operations. An initial attempt to evacuate U.S. Embassy personnel ended in failure when paramilitary forces with ties to several terrorist organizations were able to attack the airfield. They destroyed three commercial aircraft, destroyed the control tower, and damaged several adjacent hangers. During their attack four embassy personnel were seriously wounded. One Marine from the security guard detachment was killed and two were slightly wounded. All personnel were able to get back to the embassy compound.

The MEU has been diverted and instructed to evacuate embassy personnel. The MEU commander’s initial guidance stressed the neutralization of existing enemy antiair assets. Damage to civilian property is to be kept to a minimum.

From intelligence reports you know that:

* While enemy antiair assets have been diminished, he still possesses some antiair capability and can take advantage of the good observation and fields of fire that the higher buildings provide over the embassy.

* The enemy deployed at least two more heavy machineguns (HMGs) into the area.

* The enemy is supposed to have an undetermined number of antiair missile launchers. These are fireand-forget systems.

* Enemy forces have been seen deploying east of the embassy.

* There’s been strong sniper activity. Two more embassy Marines were slightly injured.

* A big demonstration is taking place at the Embassy’s north gate.

* There are 36 people in the embassy including the survivors of the first raid.

Your company is part of the security element and along with Fox and Golf Companies began the helilift at 0445. You are now nearing the objective. It’s 0500 and the 500-year-old city lays in front of you totally obscured. The embassy is located in the city center. The wavy street pattern reminds you of a spider’s web. The tallest buildings are three- to four-stories high, and they appear to emerge from a sea of small mud houses and green spaces.

At 0530 your company lands and secures the objective with minor enemy resistance and no casualties. Platoon commanders report the destruction of two HMGs and the capture of some prisoners and weapons-six soldiers, a sniper, and one Stinger antiair missile launcher. Suddenly, you hear small arms fighting about 200 meters south.

Suddenly, the Fox Company commander reports that heavy enemy resistance has forced him to land in his alternate landing zone. You can see muzzle flashes and tracers from enemy HMGs being fired from sectors 50 and 60 toward the area where Fox Company is deployed.

The Golf Company commander reports having secured his objective with no casualties but is now receiving heavy enemy fire from the southeast and sniper fire from the west. He says he has seen enemy soldiers jumping from trucks and rushing into the small houses and moving toward Fox Company.

You stop a minute and think. Fox Company reports he is decisively engaged and “mission accomplishment impossible at this time.” Civilians that were standing at the Embassy’s north gate start running to the north and northwest, trying to escape from the fighting. At the same time you hear your commander’s voice on the radio saying that he’ll arrive with the evacuation element 4 minutes later than scheduled. That leaves the security element 14 minutes to accomplish its mission.

Now what, Commander?

Requirement

In a time limit of 2 minutes, describe the actions you will take and the instructions you will give to your subordinates. Provide an overlay and give a brief explanation of the rationale behind your plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #01-12, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail <gazette @mca-marines.org>.

The War on Drugs–Floating on the River

Tactical Decision Game #02-2 General A special purpose Marine airground task force (SPMAGTF) has been deployed to the coastal region of Southlandia to take an active role in America’s war on drugs. The coastal plain of Southlandia is tropical with thick vegetation. Rivers are the major means of transportation and communication. On these rivers narcotic traffickers transport their products from inland camps, where the drugs are manufactured, to the coast where they are exported by sea and air.

The narcotic traffickers in Southlandia have been growing more and more technical in their means of producing and exporting. Manufacturing locations are small, widely dispersed camps that are moved frequently and apparently randomly. While some drugs are driven and some flown from the inland, most are transported via river to the coastal area where ocean and air transportation is more available. There are even rumors that submarines may be incorporated to ship drugs.

The SPMAGTF is based at a small airbase near the third largest village in the province. The command element is augmented with several provincial police, a liaison officer from the U.S. Coast Guard, and a detachment from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The SPMAGTF is part of a Marine Corps led joint task force located in Southlandia’s capital. The MAGTF is composed of an aviation combat element built around four CH-53Es. The ground combat element (GCE) consists of a lightly equipped infantry battalion and a detachment from the division’s small craft company (two riverine assault craft and six rigid raider craft (RRCs)). Companies conduct operations along the Pacora and Chepo Rivers. The combat service support element (CSSE) provides general support to the MAGTF and provides direct support to the GCE in the form of one forward logistics base supporting riverine operations along the Chepo. Situation

You are an infantry company commander (Hawk 6) conducting counterdrug operations along the coastal plain of Soud-flandia. Your company currently has duty along the Chepo River; you relieved a sister company 3 days ago. You operate from a base camp where a CSSE and a small craft detachment support you. To facilitate operations you have organized your company into four homogeneous platoons. Your company has seen nothing of the volume of river traffic that they had last week. It looks as if the drug traffickers have taken their business elsewhere.

Currently, you have one platoon at the base camp resting and conducting maintenance after returning from a lengthy patrol to the north. A second platoon is patrolling to the east of the Chepo. You are with the third platoon south of the base camp conducting some insertion and extraction drills with three RRCs. The fourth platoon is working with the remaining small craft to patrol the Chepo.

Over the company tactical net you hear the CSS officer in charge calling for help. He says that the base camp is under attack. He reports many wounded and is uncertain they can hold on.

You are near the bow in the river, maybe 15 minutes away. You depart to reinforce the base camp with three RRCs and as much of one platoon as will fit. That leaves you with about a squad and a half of Marines at the river bend.

Nearing the base camp, you hear gunfire and see a lot of smoke. You radio to the camp to coordinate your arrival but get no answer. Then the platoon sergeant leading the Marines left at the bow in the river (remnants of 3d Platoon) reports that they just saw two small boats and what looked like a submarine heading toward the coast. When they attempted to halt the craft the two boats opened fire, and they continued down the river. What now?

Requirement

In a time limit of 2 minutes, issue your orders to your company. Provide the rationale for your actions and a sketch of your plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #02-2, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail <[email protected]>.

Give No Quarter?

Situation

You are an infantry company commander for Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) operating in the country of Oriole, a known haven for the Al Bimi terrorist group. Your company has been tasked to conduct a heliborne raid to destroy an Al Bimi command and control cell located in makeshift huts at a camp in the foothills of a mountain range. Part of the MEU(SOC) commander’s intent calls for gathering as much intelligence as possible from the site. Al Bimi forces in the vicinity of the camp have been declared hostile. The S-2 (intelligence) reports that approximately 20 to 25 terrorists equipped with former Soviet bloc small arms are on the site.

Other U.S. forces have conducted raids on other Al Bimi camps and have reported that Al Bimi morale is low and that significant numbers have surrendered rather than fight. Of those who chose to fight, however, resistance has been stiff.

On one of the raids a group of three terrorists feigned surrender and then shot at the U.S. forces trying to capture them. The MEU(SOC) commander has emphasized strict adherence to the law of war, specifically that no Marine will intentionally shoot any Al Bimi member who surrenders. He has further emphasized the intelligence value of captured Al Bimi and that he wants every effort made to minimize the likelihood of unintentionally injuring those who surrender.

Following tried and true raid tactics, you put together a basic scheme of maneuver involving a helicopter insert at a landing zone 10 kilometers away and a foot movement to the objective. You task Ist Platoon as a security element to isolate the objective and block enemy ingress and egress. You task 2d Platoon, reinforced with an M2AOG machinegun section from weapons platoon, as a support element to move to a position to provide supporting fires for the assault force, 3d Platoon. After giving your platoon commanders this general guidance, you tell them to develop a detailed plan and to back brief you.

A short while later the 3d Platoon commander comes to you with a troubled look on his face. “Sir, what are we supposed to do when pockets of the enemy are surrendering on different parts of the objective and other pockets are still firing at us? We know that they’ve faked surrender in the past. They’ve been declared hostile. Can’t we just light up a base of fire and sweep across the objective, even if we shoot terrorists who surrender?”

Requirement

In a time limit of 5 minutes, what guidance do you give your platoon commander? Can you rationalize not shooting the surrendering terrorists and potentially putting Marines at risk, or do you concede that sometimes you can intentionally shoot enemy who surrender? Can you make any suggestions regarding tactics? Provide a brief rationale for your guidance and, if it aids in description, a sketch of any tactical suggestions. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #02-9, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e– mail <[email protected]>.

Encounter on the Coast

Situation

Four days ago, the country of Green invaded its southern neighbor, Orange. The army of Orange had little notice of the attack and was quickly overrun. Due to treaty obligations the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (11th MEU(SOC)) was introduced into the country of Orange yesterday in order to stabilize the situation.

You are the company commander of Company B, the light armored reconnaissance company attached to the battalion landing team. Your orders were to push north along the coastal road, establish a screen line north of the capital of Orange, and provide the MEU with time so that it can offload without interference. In the S-2’s last briefing before you came ashore you were told that the enemy does not want to fight U.S. forces and will likely halt their attack and use the territory they have gained to this point as a bargaining chip.

You have pushed your company about 50 kilometers (km) north of the capital and established a screen line. Highway 1 is a four-lane, hardsurfaced road that runs along a flat, broad coastal plain. There is another road, Route 16, that runs toward the capital to your west. It is also a hard-surfaced road, but this valley is narrower and off-road movement is more difficult than on the coastal plain. There is only one road that runs between the coastal plain and this valley between your position and the capital. It is about 5km to your left rear.

You take these things into consideration and deploy your company. You direct 2d and 3d Platoon to screen along Highway I and the coastal plain and send your lst Platoon to screen along Route 16. You place your mortar section behind the two platoons on the coast. As you take stock of your fire support assets, you discount the possibility of artillery support. They won’t be off the ship until the morning. You will have a section of AH-1Ws on 10-minute alert off the deck of the USS Peleliu if you need them.

After 2 uneventful hours on the screen line, you see and hear your 3d Platoon engage an enemy force. The platoon commander quickly reports that two enemy reconnaissance vehicles fired on his vehicles and that the enemy had been destroyed. Shortly afterward the 1st Platoon commander sends a similar report. His platoon has also engaged an enemy reconnaissance element, but he has taken three casualties, none lifethreatening. As you report the situation to higher and request that the Cobras get airborne, the Ist Platoon commander comes over the net and tells you that he can see a sizable force of BMP-1s moving south toward his position about 6km away. He estimates the size of the enemy force at a company minus. This information is troubling enough, but more bad news comes when he sends an update and tells you that he can see two or three T-55s as well!

What are your orders?

Requirement

In a time limit of 3 minutes issue your orders to your platoon commanders. Provide a fragmentary order, overlay of your scheme of maneuver, and the rationale for your actions. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #02-12, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail <gazette@ mca-marines.org>.

Platoon Lost, Position Unknown, Situation–We Are Winning

Situation

You are the commanding officer of Bravo Company, Ist Battalion, 2d Marines (1/2). The Marines have landed in the country of New Sherman in order to assist the host nation’s military in defeating an invading conventional force consisting of two mechanized rifle divisions (MRDs). Marine forces have been conducting offensive operations in order to secure the Sheridan Airport and allow unimpeded fly-in of reinforcements. The bulk of the MRD is at least 48 hours away to the north and being interdicted by the bulk of the air assets with poor results due to weather.

While the Marines have made substantial ground gains, the advance has halted south of Chamberlain Ridge. Highway 1 is only one usable route for our tanks due to road width and bridge capacity. It was thought that airpower would make quick work of enemy resistance, but the weather turned extremely foul 6 days ago to include “buckets” of rain, sleet, fog, and an ever-present cloud cover. Additionally, intelligence collection has been severely restricted. Infantry and division reconnaissance (recon) units have become your primary information sources. The Marines have paid in blood waiting for external feeds on enemy dispositions.

Situation: Cumberland Pass is defended by a motorized rifle battalion (MRB). The MRB is estimated at approximately 70 percent strength with questionable morale due to casualties and the weather. The S-2 (intelligence) believes that the enemy will defend as long as he has a strong combined arms capability.

2d Marines’ mission: At D+9, 2d Marines secures Sheridan Airport in order to allow the fly-in of reinforcements.

Regimental commander’s (CO’s) intent: “We must introduce more forces into the area of operations in order to deal with the remainder of this MRD. I intend to open Highway 1 by attacking the enemy from the rear with a light force aimed at his artillery-his backbone-and moving rapidly through Cumberland Pass before he can react. A rapid attack to the airport, that I believe to be lightly held by ground forces, is essential. My desired end state is control of the airport.”

Task to 1/2: “You are the supporting effort. No later than 0400 on D+9, attack to destroy the enemy’s indirect fire support assets in order to allow the remainder of the regiment to move through Cumberland Pass. Your company has been tasked with conducting an infiltration and attacking the objective. The remainder of the battalion is in trace of the regiment as a reserve.”

Situation update: Your company’s movement along infiltration lane “Bluegray” began on D+7, and you have made no contact along the way. Your company links up at the objective rally point (ORP) at 2100, D+8. You confirm the assault plan (depicted as a dashed line on the map) with your platoon commanders. You move out at midnight (D+9) from the ORP with lst Platoon in the lead. The rain begins … again. It is the hardest rain yet. Visibility is reduced to the man in front of you. At 0230, Ist Platoon checks in on the net and says he’s disoriented. He just passed Checkpoint 5 (CP 5). (There’s no CP 5 on any map.) You strain to look at your map in the dark and decide to personally walk up and find them. When you reach the rear of Ist Platoon, the trail squad leader says that they halted about 1 hour ago, stood up to continue, and the rest of the platoon was gone! Upon returning to your command post, you discover that you have no communications with Ist Platoon or regiment. You do hear the following conversation between your executive officer (X0) and a recon team:

XO: “Station calling. Say again about that artillery battery.”

Recon Team 2: “SA-9 and towed artillery battery located at grid 736 987 with no troops visible. Over.”

You look at your map. That puts the enemy battery less than a click away with Ist Platoon somewhere to your front-lost! You grab the handset.

CO: “Recon 2, are you sure about that position? Over.”

Recon Team 2: “Almost positive. The global positioning system is down, but I matched up the terrain. I can call for fire right now!”

All of this terrain looks the same. As you begin to tell the recon team to adjust fire on the enemy position, the XO grabs your arm and asks, “Shouldn’t we locate Ist Platoon before we call that mission, Sir?”

What do you do?

Requirement

In a time limit of 10 minutes, issue your orders to your company. Provide a brief rationale for your actions and a sketch of your plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #03-2, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail <[email protected]>.

Battling Terror

Situation

You are the commander of Company B. Your battalion is prosecuting the war on terrorism in the Philippines. The battalion has been conducting company-sized raids from amphibious shipping. You have met with some success, especially since you joined forces with local military and police forces that are sympathetic to your mission. These successes consist of arms seizures and the apprehension of several alleged terrorist leaders.

Today, your company will link up with a squad of local military forces to raid a suspected terrorist training camp on a remote island. The objective is a barracks compound near a small coastal village bordered by vegetation that thickens as you move inland.

Your mission is to seize the objective in order to apprehend potential terrorist personnel and destroy weapons. Your scheme of maneuver is as follows: your 1st Platoon will helicopter into a landing zone (LZ) about 1 mile northeast of the objective. This platoon will link up with a squad of local forces at a nearby cemetery and move along two routes to isolate the objective. One squad will parallel a road to the objective. The remaining members of the reinforced platoon will approach the objective from the east.

You will arrive in a second helicopter wave consisting of 2d Platoon to assault the objective. A third wave consists of one squad from your company reinforced with engineers who will destroy weapons if found. This wave is oncall and will arrive within 20 minutes of your call.

When you are 15 minutes from the LZ, your 1st Platoon commander reports successful linkup with the local squad. Meanwhile, your CH-46 pilot informs you that one of the flight’s four helicopters had to return to the ship. While passing word about the reduced size of your flight, your radio/telephone operator informs you that a squad from 1st Platoon encountered a minefield and has casualties.

Unable to get the 1st Platoon commander on the radio, your flight arrives at the LZ. As the helicopters depart over the coast, you reestablish communications with 1st Platoon to receive the following report. “Six, this is One. 2d Squad has three wounded in action in a minefield near the road. Break. We have taken fire from the objective. One local killed, one wounded. Break. 1st Squad reports three captured; one is wounded and claims to be American. Break. I am currently between my two forces. Over.”

Requirement

In a time limit of 5 minutes, explain how you intend to react to this situation. Provide a sketch of your actions and the rationale behind them. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #03-4, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-6309147, or e-mail <[email protected]>.

Operation Extract

Situation

You are the rifle company commander for Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. Your battalion has been operating in this area for the last 30 days with great success. The enemy has been reduced to operating as elements smaller than platoon size. Currently your battalion is attempting to conduct a helicopterborne extract and plans to secure two landing zones within its area of operation (AO).

The AO is heavily forested with clearly defined trails overlooked by steep mountainous terrain. The enemy is foot mobile and is armed with AK-47 rifles and medium machineguns. There is an unknown enemy force that is consolidating to the northwest and looks to be in a recovery mode. You are currently moving south to north en route to an open area large enough for 1.5 CH-53Es.

Mission: Charlie Company (Rein), 1st Battalion, 6th Marines conducts a foot movement to secure and prepare a landing zone to accommodate two CH-53Es in order to facilitate the expeditious extract of the battalion.

Table of organization and equipment:

* Three rifle platoons (75 percent strength). (Each fire team has one AT-4.)

* One weapons platoon (75 percent strength).

* One Javelin squad (100 percent). (Each team has a demo kit with C4 (Composition 4) and detonation chord.)

* One section of 81mm mortars is in general support from the south.

Requirement

In a time limit of 10 minutes, identify your specified and implied tasks and develop your scheme of maneuver and fire support plan. Submit your solution to Marine Corps Gazette, TDG #03-12, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, fax 703-630-9147, or e-mail to <[email protected]>.