Your light infantry company is preparing to complete an air assault and secure a key intersection necessary for your division’s counterattack. The enemy’s airborne forces defeated the Atropian Army units, forcing them to withdraw and consolidate. You haven’t encountered the enemy, but expect your base ammunition load to be at 90% after maneuvering to your objective. You are responsible for completing a fire support plan for the company attack and follow-on operations to secure the intersection. Your company will need to secure the intersection for at least 48 hours until the counterattack forces reach your position.
Situation
You are the Company Fire Support Officer for A Company, 2-87 IN. Your brigade deployed to the Bundar Region of Atropia to stop the Arianan aggression and protect Atropia’s sovereignty. After being forward deployed to ISB Rome, in southern Atropia, to deter Arianan aggression, your unit completed RSOI and assumed a defensive posture near the Atropian city of Watertown.
Two days ago, the Arianan forces conducted an airborne assault–with the 961st Airborne Brigade–to secure key infrastructure northeast of Watertown. This includes the Northern Atropian Airfield (NAF). Your brigade is the division’s main effort to secure the key Atropian infrastructure from the 961st. Your company will conduct an air assault IVO 18TVP 560 999 and will move southeast to your objective.
The terrain leading to your objective is heavily forested and movement will be restricted. Expect observation and the ability to observe targets to be limited. Satellite imagery depicts key terrain that may serve as observation posts or support by fire positions to the southwest of the objective.
Enemy
One company from the 9611 ABN IFV BN secured Riva Village–Atropia and the surrounding area. Their mission is to secure key intersections until the main elements of the 12th DTG can arrive from Ariana to conduct their attack. There is one Arianan infantry platoon with 3x BMD-3 IFVs securing a small village near 18TVP 570 997. The platoon has a dismounted squad conducting a TCP at the intersection located at 18TVP 5735 9922.
The remainder of the enemy company is located 1.5KM south in Riva Village where the rest of 2-87 IN will conduct their attack. The enemy company has 2x S29 (120mm SP mortar) DS but their position has not yet been identified. S2 believes that they will utilize the open area north of Riva Village near 18TVP 572 004 to establish a mortar firing point (MFP).
Task Org
Your light infantry company fire support element (FSE) consists of your HQ element and three Fire Support Teams (FiST). The FiSTs are distributed to the infantry platoons and each are equipped with a Vector 21 and PF-D. Your CO FSE has the same capability and is able to call for fire digitally through the BN FSE. The company 60mm mortars will be located in a MFP to support the attack with 60 rounds of HE and 25 rounds of White Phosphorous (WP) smoke. Additionally, your CO has 1 x 81mm w/ team attached with 14 rounds of HE. 120mm mortars will arrive into the AO at a later time and will be unavailable during the execution of this phase of the operation.
The company is first in priority of fires (POF) for DS FA and has 1x priority target with C/2-15 FA (M777). 2-15 FA is located in PAA 3A at 18TVP 528 950. The brigade has 1x battery of HIMARS GSR (A/3-197 FA) for the duration of the operation. For this operation, the BDE FSE has apportioned 1x POD of M31A1 GMLRS-Unitary for your company over the next 72 hours for planning. Any additional HIMARS missions will be approved on an individual basis. They are located in PAA 1B at 18TVP 318 814.
You do not have AH-64 support as they are dedicated to an out of contact attack in the division’s deep area. Your company has a Raven UAS capable of daytime and nighttime observation. Your battalion will utilize their Shadow UAS.
Mission
A/2-87 attacks to seize OBJ SHERIDAN located at 18TVP 570 997 NLT 102200OCT2019 and secure the intersection at 18TVP 5735 9922 in order to deny the Arianan forces from controlling the key land LOC to NAF.
Commander’s Guidance for Fires
We need to destroy the 3x BMD-3s on the objective. This is to support our infantry company as we attack the enemy platoon securing OBJ SHERIDAN (Mountain Village). Suppress the BMD-3s and dismounts with our FA priority target to get our M3 MAAWS in position to destroy the BMDs. We will use our mortars to neutralize any enemy squads or platoons maneuvering from or to the intersection to reinforce the enemy platoon.
Position your MFPs where they can best provide fires on the route to and from the intersection. Include a Censor Zone (CZ) over planned MFPs. I’m concerned about the 2S9s firing on our support by fire position before we can assault the objective. Develop a plan for counter-fire to suppress the 2S9s when they present themselves. Consider including a Critical Friendly Zone (CFZ) over this position and recommend any other locations that should have a CFZ.
I also want to see a fires plan that will support us as we secure the intersection and village after we destroy the enemy platoon. Lastly, we need to minimize collateral damage within the village. This is to ensure that we can utilize it as a company CP for follow-on operations.
Output Required
You have 45 minutes to prepare a fires plan for your commander. Using the supporting supporting documents below, develop your plan. This should include an initial Fire Support Execution Matrix (FSEM), FS Overlay, and Target List Worksheet (TLWS). Include observers, triggers, firing assets and mortar firing points in your brief to your commander.
- CO CDR OPORD Primer
- Fire Support Execution Matrix (FSEM)
- Target List Worksheet (TLW)–Fillable DA Form 4655-R
- Imagery Supplement
- S2 OOB
This TDG was created and submitted by the 10th MTN DIVARTY Team. They regularly use TDGs to develop their leaders. You can reach out to them on Twitter: COL Jason Williams // @jtw_ngc98 MAJ Jason Mazzella // @jasonmazzella1 MAJ Kurt Wasilewski // @kurtwasilewski
Subscribe to The Company Leader!
Complete archive of The Company Leader Posts