Tactical Decision Game #97-4 Solution A
Tactical Decision Game Solution #97-4 A April 1997
Battle of Sanna's Post
by Capt Douglas J. MacIntyre
View a map of the solution
Company Commander's Order
"Company: Enemy logistics site located 3.5K southwest. Two tanks and BTR-60 platoon are resupplying and providing security. CAAT has eyes on and has not been discovered. Our mission is to prevent enemy reinforcements from the west while battalion engages a motorized rifle battalion. On order, we will establish a support by fire position to engage enemy forces at Sanna's Post, driving them toward the Koornspruit River. The main effort will attack withdrawing forces and prevent follow-on forces from using the Koornspruit Bridge. Intent is to destroy enemy forces between the rivers and secure the bridge/fording sites to prevent enemy influence on the battalion's flank.
"Fire Support Team: We move with main effort. 81s/artillery to initiate attack by supporting effort then priority to main effort once engaged. Request air ASAP! Refocus west on consolidation.
"1st Platoon: Link up with CAAT to our south. Provide security for supporting element as they engage. Deny enemy use of fording site. On order, displace to Sanna's Post.
"2d Platoon: You are the main effort. Move S/SW through the fording site, orient S/SE to engage with drawing enemy forces. Be prepared to attack eastward if enemy counter attacks supporting element.
"3d Platoon: Follow main effort. Continue S/SW to secure Koornspruit Bridge, deny enemy use to withdraw from, or reinforce toward, Sanna's Post.
"Weapons: Move with 1st, link up and establish support by fire position vicinity CAAT. Focus 60mm mortars and machineguns on Sanna's Post. Use assault section to support 1st Platoon's mission.
"CAAT: 1st and Weapons will link up with you as supporting element. On order, engage enemy with 81s/artillery support to initiate at tack. Priority of targets: TOWs concentrate on tanks; machineguns concentrate on BTRs and fuel trucks.
"AAVs: Support platoon's movements. Use heavy machineguns to engage enemy as part of supporting and main efforts."
Message to Battalion
"Encountered enemy logistics site with tank and motorized rifle platoon at Sanna's Post. Support by fire element will drive them west toward the main effort's attack, as Koornspruit Bridge is secured. Final Result Desired: clear all enemy units east of Koornspruit River in order to secure battalion flank. Need air/artillery support ASAP. Will advise..."
Explanation
I believe this enemy force to be a supply point for forces to the east and follow-on forces west of Koornspruit Bridge. Shock and speed will catch him off balance and push him into a trap between my two forces. By securing Koornspruit Bridge and the southern fording site, he is cut off and the area is secured.
Historical Perspective
The scenario for TDG #97-4 is based on action in the Anglo-Boer War. A column of 1,600 Boer Commandos executed a similar maneuver against a British force of 2,000 cavalry and infantry at the Battle of Sanna's Post. The supporting element was 350 men, while the main effort moved toward the Koornspruit River to engage the British as they withdrew. It was a rout for the BritishÑ 159 killed, 421 captured, 83 wagons with stores taken. Boer losses were 3 killed, 5 wounded.
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.
