Tactical Decision Game #95-6 Solution A


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Tactical Decision Game Solution #95-6 A June 1995

In a Hard Place

by Nadir A. El-Farra

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Reports Made

To Battalion Headquarters: "Early Retirist battalion (-) attacking Spojnian forces vicinity of Pihad. Expect we will be in contact with Retirist forces in 30 minutes. Retirists have threatened to take town if it is not surrendered. Positioning 2d Platoon to protect itself and prevent Retirists from entering Pihad per ROE. Recommend that you dispatch relief column or send attack aircraft. A CNN crew wouldn't hurt either."

To Spojnian Commander: "My platoon is staying in the town. Our primary position is on Hill 118, and we are positioning an antiarmor team near the bridge. We are constructing roadblock on the bridge and will try to discourage rebel entry into the town. Please hold our fire unless the rebels make an attempt to actually enter the town."

Platoon Commander's Frag Order

"Commander's Intent: It is my intent to make the Retirists aware of our presence in Pihad and our intention to stay in the town. We do this in hopes of making the prospect of attacking unattractive to the rebels. Should the rebels attack we can support and be supported by Spojnian Government troops. Hold your fire until the rebels actually cross the stream and attempt to enter the town. Under the current circumstances, I equate rebel attacks on this town as attacks on us, and thus per ROE, we can defend ourselves.

"Drivers: Come with me to the bridge with all of the U.N.-marked trucks. We will use the trucks to create roadblocks on both sides of the bridge. Find some cans of spray-paint and write in Spojnian "U.N. Forces occupying town - Do not enter" on the sides of the trucks facing south. Once that is complete, go to the aid station and assist the medical team there.

"1st Squad with 1st HMG Squad attached: Recover you OP from Hill 114. Take all four of the AT4s and set up on the southern edge of town, covering the bridge. Prominently hand a U.N. flag from one of the trucks or buildings somewhere near your position. As the first unit the rebels are likely to encounter, you are the platoon's main effort. Do not fire on rebel armored vehicles unless they get across the stream. If the rebels attack in strength, fall back to you strong point on Hill 118. I will join you once the roadblock is complete and marked. If the rebels approach under a flag of truce, I will parley with them at the bridge.

"2d and 3d Squads with 2d HMG Squad attached: The Platoon Sergeant is in command. Move to the OP on Hill 118 and establish a platoon strong point there. Be prepared to cover rebel attempts to cross the stream near the bridge as well as any movements to the west of your position should Retirists make a dismounted approach against the town's flank."

Explanation

While merely standing aside and letting the rebels and government forces fight might have been an option earlier in the conflict, we cannot expect that the rebels will leave us unmolested any longer. Their willingness to take UNProFor soldiers hostage and our orders not to become hostages create a situation ripe for conflict. Attempting to evade the battle by leaving Pihad is also unlikely to be successful because of the close proximity of rebel forces on either route out of town - going overland in unfamiliar territory would likely prove equally unsuccessful. In addition, the terrain around Pihad favors a defender, and in leaving it, we may only put ourselves on worse ground. One aspect of the problem that is in our favor is that up to now the rebels have not actually engaged U.N. forces in combat, and they may yet prove reluctant to do so for fear of provoking an escalation of U.N. involvement. Trying to make the most of the is fact, I have tried to make it very clear that U.N. troops are in the town and are unwilling to leave or surrender. Should the rebels choose to attack anyway, I've deployed the platoon into positions that afford us good fields of fire on likely avenues of approach. These positions also allow us to support and be supported by Spojnian Government troops in the surrounding hills.

For more detailed information on the structure of Marine Corps units, Marine Corps equipment, and symbols used in Tactical Decision Game sketches, see Marine Corps Gazette, October 1994, pp. 53-56 and the modification reported in the January, 1995, edition on page 5.