1LT J. Kauffman Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 WARNING ORDER Operation Comanche 001 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SITUATION TIME 7APR18 @ 1900 EST (1730 IGT) WEATHER: 80F (27C); Clear; Wind 0kn NNE; Dawn 0500 IGT; Dusk 1900 IGT We are being deployed to Quang Tri Province, the most Northern Province of South Vietnam, which borders the Demilitarized Zone with North Vietnam. This province has seen incredibly fierce fighting. Our main concern is with locals who've taken up arms against the RVN, however over the Years the Quang Tri Province has been the site where large PAVN forces cross the DMZ, surround small American encampments, and destroy them with superior numbers to gain a quick victory, then retreat back across the DMZ. We will not only be taking part in the Strategic Hamlet Program, by protecting the Village of Ta Lieng, but we will also be acting as a Listening Post for Camp Airborne, for any sizable PAVN Force that might sweep through the area looking to overrun an American Airbase. The Strategic Hamlet of Ta Lieng is an artificial village. To boost the legitimacy of the Republic of Vietnam & to protect its people in the countryside from the Viet Cong, the RVN forced the peasants in the valley to move to a single fortified and concentrated village that they constructed, named Ta Lieng; where they could be guarded and watched over by a small garrison of ARVN Militia, known as the Popular Force, (Called "Rough Puffs" by U.S. GI's), and by a Platoon of American GI's. This is how the United States conducted its counter insurgency in Vietnam. By watching the villagers in these hamlets for suspicious activity, by frequently paroling to disrupt enemy movements, and by constantly diffusing mines/traps set along major highways. Due to this valley's close proximity to the North Vietnamese Border, it is often the site of Air Engagements. MiGs are frequently scrambled to intercept American Bombers, which fly out from Camp Airborne, who are attempting to interdict North Vietnamese Airspace. This campaign is based off of the book, "Platoon Leader" by James McDonough. Due to the nature of this assignment, Real Infantry platoons protecting strategic hamlets often ran under half capacity. Constantly taking attrition from tripwires, infantry platoons of 40 men, were often running from somewhere between 15-20. Along with this, these Infantry platoons were miles away from any other U.S. Force, and due to the ineffectiveness of the Rough Puffs and their refusal to patrol, Infantry platoons with this assignment often found themselves out numbered tremendously, being only able to rely on themselves and a few helicopters. a. Enemy Disposition Local Guerrilla band operating out of their homes and villages. The Da Krong Valley sits on along the North/South DMZ. Possible PAVN incursions into the Valley. VC Guerrilla's mine the trails and roads multiple times a day. Incredibly high concentration of Traps in this valley. Except actual minefields as well. Substantial light AA presence to the southwest of the map. b. Friendly Forces 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 148th Battalion Popular Force "Rough Puffs" Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment c. 1970s - Rules of Engagement On order from your commander, enemy military and paramilitary forces are declared hostile and may be attacked subject to the following instructions: Positive Identification (PID) is required prior to engagement. PID is a reasonable certainty that the proposed target is a legitimate military target. If no PID, contact your next highest commander for decision. Do not engage anyone who has surrendered, or is unarmed or wounded. Any requests for fire support or close air support within 600 Meters of a civilian center must first get authorization from commanding officer. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MISSION 1st Platoon is tasked with setting up at OP Hawk, which overlooks the strategic Hamlet of Ta Lieng. The Ultimate goal and objective of our platoon is to protect the village, and keep it from either being destroyed or falling completely under communist control. 1st Platoon will then alternate sections and send out frequent foot patrols in an effort to clear the town and countryside of traps/mines and to engage the enemy before they engage us on their terms. We will be transitioning back into a conventional platoon by the end of this campaign. Op Ords will be written by Platoon Lead, however tactical decisions will be left to the NCO IC, on the ground. SSG C. Mandingo is current the Non-Commissioned Officer In-Command (NCO IC). Maps of the AO: Map of the Da Krong Valley: Map of 1st Platoon, A Co., 1/7th Cav AO: 1st Platoon, 71st A.H.C. AO: Photo's of Village Officials: ARVN Militia Platoon Leader & Platoon Sergeant Village Mayor Catholic Missionary & Village Teacher Notes from Commander: All requests for Close Air Support/Medevac/Resupply/Insertion are to go to Mako 1-6 on FREQ 40.0. Mako 1-6 will contact Rattler 1-6 on FREQ 50.0 to request an asset to assist 1st Platoon as necessary. Once the asset is in the area of Operation for Mako 1-6, Infantry can contact the bird via CAS Net FREQ 45.0 to guide in the bird/direct close air support. If an infantry element is in threat of being overrun and requires immediate assistance, they may declare a "Tactical Emergency" to Mako 1-6, who will then have Rattler 1-6 redirect all available air assets to Mako 1-6's Area of Operation to prevent the unit from being overrun. You will be operating in a civilian populated area, any calls for fire within 600 Meters of a Village will need special authorization from Commanding Officer. Conduct multiple quick and short patrols. We're trying to have each section conduct several, so do not waste time. While on patrol if you come under fire radio back to the OP and request support. On Map, Foot Trails are marked in Black, Main Supply Route Marked in Blue, Secondary Roads marked in Green. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTION 1st Platoon, A. Company, 1/7th Cavalry 1st Section 1st Section will be flown into an Observation Post Hawk. Once there 1-1 Actual will designate to 1-2 Actual where mines/tripflares are to be placed around the perimeter. After that 1-1 will conduct a foot patrol to acquaint themselves with the Village by visiting a few key locations. PRIMARY TASKING: Acquaint themselves with the Village of Ta Lieng, by conducting a foot patrol through the village, stopping at the ARVN Barracks, Mayor's House, & School. SECONDARY TASKING: Set up defenses/mines around OP Hawk. TERTIARY TASKING: Standby as a Quick Reaction Force for the section which is actively patrolling. 2nd Section 2nd Section will be will be flown into Observation Post Hawk with 1-1. Once there they will set up trip flares and mines around the Op according to the NCO IC's directions. From there 1-2 will man the OP while 1-1 conducts a patrol. Once 1-1 returns, 1-2 will conduct another patrol. PRIMARY TASKING: Man the Observation Post, while 1-1 patrols the village. SECONDARY TASKING: Conduct another patrol along a different route after 1-1 completes their orientation with the Village. TERTIARY TASKING: Standby as a Quick Reaction Force for the section which is actively patrolling. 71st Assault Helicopter Company Aviation will be stationed at Camp Airborne. 71st AHC is to run logistics for 1st Platoon, as well as Camp Sarge/Radio Relay Vandergrift, as well as conducting light reconnaissance by special request. PRIMARY TASKING: Inserting Mako 1-1 & Mako 1-2 into the AO. SECONDARY TASKING: Emergency Close Air Support, Resupply, and Medevac for 1st Platoon. TERTIARY TASKING: Await Further Tasking. Reconnaissance Team Alaska RT 'Alaska' is to assist 71st AHC. PRIMARY TASKING: Assist Mako 1-2 SECONDARY TASKING: N/A TERTIARY TASKING: N/A ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SUPPORT 71st Assault Helicopter Company Vehicle Pool for Campaign: Rotary Wing: 3 x UH-1D 'Huey' 2 x UH-1C 'Hog' 1 x UH-1C 'Heavy Hog' 1 x CH-47 'Chinook' 1 x CH-47 'Guns-A-Gogo' Fixed Wing: 1 x A-7D 'Corsair' 1 x F-4E 'Phantom II' 1 x O-2A 'Skymaster' Repairing: Destroyed: 1st Platoon Vehicle Pool for Campaign: Motorized: 2 x M151 'M2 Jeep' 1 x M151 'M60 Jeep' Mechanized 1 x M113A1 'M2 & M60' Repairing: Destroyed: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMAND & SIGNAL Succession of Command: 1st Platoon HQ: 2LT J. Kauffman > 1LT J. Hart 1st Section: SSG C. Mandingo > CPL J. Chardi 2nd Section: SGT G. Parker > CPL T. Thompson 3nd Section: TBD > TBD 71st A.H.C: 1LT J. Hart > WO1 K. Grorud MACV-SOG RT-Alaska: SGT K. McCahill > SGT B. Snurka Call Signs "Mako 1-6", 1LT J. Kauffman "Mako 1-6 R", SPC J. Chardi "Mako 1-1", SSG C. Mandingo "Mako 1-2", SGT G. Parker "Mako 1-3", TBD "Rattler 1-6", N/A "Rattler 1-1", WO1 K. Grorud "Rattler 1-2", WOC R. Hepker "Rattler 1-3", WOC L. Savoy "Alaska 1", SGT K. McCahill Hand Signals Control + Num 5 = Rally/Set//Affirmative Control + Num 2 = Halt/Hold/Stop/Negative Control + Num 6 = Engage Control + Num 4 = Go/Move/ Smoke Signals Green = Friendly/Affirmative Red = Enemy/Negative Purple = Mass Casualty/Medic Required Orange = Lost/Marking Current Position Radio Frequencies Infantry Platoon Net ~ 40.0 CAS Net ~ 45.0 Aviation Platoon Net ~ 50.0 Link to comment
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