1/A-CO, 1-2IN - Alpha Company, First Platoon

After action report

Objectives:

Assault GSIM compound at OBJ Red Hare, capture HVT Mokhtar Belmokhtar alive, and hold enemy base until extracted.

Accidents:

Blue-on-Blue incident (Danger Close CAS) resulting in 1x KIA; and multiple KIA during the assault on OBJ Red Hare.

Areas of Strength:

Movement: Squads/Sections moved from their LZs to RP/PL expeditiously; Widowmakers continued this forward momentum throughout the mission, closing with, engaging, and destroying the enemy; and Soldiers utilized time available, completing the primary objective and subobjectives. React to Contact: Squad Leaders managed contacts effectively, leading their elements to fire and maneuver against them; Widowmakers maintained good radio comms throughout the mission, assisting one another through the chaos on OBJ Red Hare. Platoon Assault: First Platoon attacked the GSIM strongpoint very effectively, with superior suppressing fires and hasty movement into the objective; Squads coordinated the assault very well with Platoon HQ and each other; and Widowmakers secured the heavily fortified base with light casualties. 360° security: With few exceptions, First Platoon complemented their offense with good defense; and Squads scanned their sectors, detecting and engaging targets decisively.

Areas of Weakness:

Formations: Soldiers must employ proper positioning and spacing from each other to ensure good fields of fire and minimal casualties; always maintain 20m intervals when contact is likely and when moving through a minefield; and utilize DUI Squad Radar to track spacing on the move! Lasing/Firing over friendlies; Do not lase or fire at targets in between your element and other friendly force or at targets immediately behind a friendly force; this causes confusion, and errant rounds/richochets may end up wounding your buddies; always use radios to communicate contacts, and call up any Squads that are in the vicinity of a hostile force; the Squad closest to the contacts should be the only one to engage unless a larger attack is coordinated over the net! Air Assault: Someone on the air assault chopper cut the fast ropes during deployment; use the ACE Interaction menu to use fast ropes; and use the menu carefully and deliberately, avoiding clicking the wrong option.

Suggested Improvements:

First Platoon will continue to train on air insert and extract, practicing disembarking and reembarkating, LZ security, and comms with pilots/air crew. In addition, Widowmakers will also continue to practice various Battle Drills to ensure timely and effective elimination of all enemy threats likely in our new AO.

Overall Outcome:

Positive

Summary:

First Platoon deployed via helicopter from FOB Silver Shield. The platoon split into an Air Assault section and an Air Mobile section for insertion west of of the GSIM strongpoint. On the ground, the Air Assault section swept east-southeast, providing security against an enemy fortification for the Air Mobile section to the north. En route to OBJ Red Hare, sections made several enemy contacts and navigated through two minefields. The trailing Squad also suffered a suicide drone strike, which resulting in several WIA.

On the objective, First, Second, and Fourth Squads assaulted the strongpoint, with Third Squad in overwatch. Widowmakers quickly cleared the compound, eliminating numerous enemies and stopping several counterattacks from the south and north. Soldiers discovered the entrance to a cave system, which led east to a secondary enemy strongpoint. MAJ LaFlash led the first Squad through, making contact with a large GSIM force. The rest of the Platoon collapse on Red Hare and traveled through the caves.

From there, First Platoon took positions on high ground and conducted a second assault. Soldiers again eliminated a large GSIM force supported by HMG and technicals. Here, we also capture HVT Mokhtar Belmokhtar, several of his lieutenants, and the kidnapped civilian doctor. Widowmakers secured these personnel and escorted them to the rear to extract.

Widowmakers were tasked with moving to and clearing any remaining contacts at the GSIM fortification southwest of OBJ Red Hare. The Platoon marched to this target, with Third Squad providing overwatch and mortar support. We quickly secured the area and demolished an enemy weapons/ammo/fuel depot. Soldiers also located a number of dead civilians in the compound, apparently killed by CAS earlier in the mission. Soldiers then mounted several CH-47s and extracted to FOB Silver Shield for debrief. The mission started at 1500 and ended at 1745. Mission was COMPLETED.

Annex A.1