Tactical Decision Game #97-4 Solution B
Tactical Decision Game Solution #97-4 B April 1997
Battle of Sanna's Post
by Capt Andrew Milburn
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Company Commander's Frag Order
"CAAT: As soon as you are in position, open fire. Priority of fire: T-72s, BTRs, and then the fuel trucks. We are going to cross the Modder at the north ford and will attack Sanna's Post from the northwest. If comm fails, cease fire when you see us open fire. When you hear that we have taken Sanna's Post, send one of your squads to link up with us.
"FO: Hit Sanna's Post with whatever you can get. I want mass confusion and destruction before we attack.
"Platoon Commanders: We are going to cross the river and attack Sanna's Post from the northwest. My intent is to destroy the enemy logistics site, capture the ville and set up a defense that will block reinforcements from the west. We will be disembarking the AAVs about 500m short of the ville.
"1st Platoon: You will take the buildings west of the trail that bisects the town. Set up your defense facing west.
"2d Platoon: You will assault the buildings east of the trail. Set up your defense oriented east.
"3d Platoon: You will be in reserve for the assault. Stay with the AAVs.
"Weapons, mortars, and machine guns will stay with the AAVs. They will set up and fire during the initial assault. Weapons Platoon Commander, you are in overall command of the AAVs, reserve, and weapons as sets. In absence of comm with me, deploy the reserve as you see fit. (SMAWs have already been attached to the platoons.) Have AAVs cover our assault with their .50 cals. Cease fire as per SOP.
"XO and FO: Come with me. We will be going with 2d Platoon."
After issuing the FragO, I contact battalion to inform them of my intentions.
Rationale
Although I have limited assets, I have a great opportunity to influence the outcome of the larger battle. The enemy is vulnerable in two critical areas which I intend to exploit: He is restricted to crossing the rivers at the fording sites, and his logistics site provides a relatively soft target. By taking Sanna's Post, not only am I damaging the enemy's logistics capability, but I am also placing myself in an ideal position to prevent enemy reinforcements from the west. My company is broken down into armor killer teams, and the buildings of Sanna's Post provide a strong anchor for our defensive positions. I intend to leave the CAAT in their positions on the high ground to the east of the Modder. From this vantage point they can provide early warning of the enemy's approach from both the east and west and can control the ford. They can also cover the company's withdrawal from the ville, should this become necessary. I will use the one CAAT squad that I have requested as a mobile observation post covering the Koornspruit bridge. They will have orders to hit the lead vehicle should the enemy try to cross the bridge. I am aware that Sanna's Post is situated on the enemy's most likely route of egress should he be driven back from his attack on Fontein. In this event, I see my mission as being to hold up his retreat long enough to allow our forces to exploit their victory.
I am also aware of the risks that I am taking by attacking across open ground against an enemy position guarded by two T-72s (the BTRs don't concern me) and by positioning my company across the river from friendly forces. Balanced against the first of these concerns is the fact that I have TOW missiles targeting the tanks, and I am attacking in the dark, from an unexpected direction while the enemy is in a state of confusion. The .second risk is, I believe, justified on the basis of the potential damage that I can cause to the enemy by remaining in Sanna's Post.
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.
