Tactical Decision Game #97-3 Solution A


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Tactical Decision Game Solution #97-3 A March 1997

Meeting at 'The Mounds'

by Maj John F. Schmitt, USMCR

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Squad Leader's Orders

"Guns: Get up there with 2d Fire Team.

"2d Fire Team: Stay put and keep the enemy under fire. 1st Fire Team will be over there (pointing) on your left. If the lieutenant shows up, tell him I'm taking 3d Fire Team to see if we can envelop around the left side (pointing). A star cluster means we need help.

"3d Fire Team: Follow me! Let's go."

Passing behind 1st Fire Team: "Continue to engage. I'm taking 3d Fire Team to scout out around the left side for a possible envelopment; be ready to support us by fire. Tell the lieutenant what we're doing. A star cluster means we need help."

Explanation

It appears that we have found the sizable enemy force the company commander is looking for. My job now is to try to develop the situation to our advantage. I'm not going to launch any attacks myself, but I can try to create some possibilities for the platoon or company. The map doesn't show much to the west, but the terrain seems fairly open. The best opportunity for decisive maneuver seems to be to the east. The combination of woods and mounds may offer a concealed, if circuitous, avenue of approach into the enemy's flank. The same terrain also appears to be the most likely axis the enemy might use in trying to get at us. Either way, I want to check things outÑto see what opportunities the situation might hold for us and to make sure we don't get surprised.

I don't know yet how far I'll move. That depends on what I find. I'm thinking initially I'll move to the northeast mound, control of which protects the company's left flank against surprise. If the coast is still clear, I'll move south one more mound, control of which puts the company in a good position to try to take the enemy in flank. From there I'll get word back to the company to follow on the double. If I spot sizable enemy force any where along the way, I'll get word back to the company.

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.