{I'll edit this post and gin up the Joint Battle Staff report for Commander's Call later - gotta duck out
for a bit}

We've got FOUR E-2s on our Nimitz. And I would have to say negetive to having it doing Recon on Isenguard. That task is better suited to faster aircraft. It's radar systems aren't really suited to that kind of monitoring. It's better used scanning for surface targets of significant size or radio reflectivity. (Tanks, or 'Corsairs') And I wouldn't want to risk something that slow and unmanuverable over such a heavily fortified position.

*Incidently, we've got ~80 aircraft on the Nimitz; ranging from four E-2Cs, to S-3 Vikings, F-18s, SH-60 Seahawks,

- I'll mobilize the SF unit immediately and have them touch down about a mile out from the activity point.

Recon has no reports of unusual activity at this point.

And F-18s are on sortie from nimitz with an S-3 tanker set to escort them back. They'll flatten the target position with FAEs as I suggested. The blast will incinerate the central area, and knock down anything near by... we can use that to construct some minor hut shelters. We can have a dirt airfield suitable for at least the C-130 within six days. Then we can fly in some better equipment and get the airfield fully operational in another two. Maybe less if the weather cooperates. Wasp has just sent in a call that it picked up some storm activity to the northwest. I'm thinking that weather activity is going to be similar to western Oregon around this area. That may slow construction down. I'd slap an extra week on it. We don't have satellite imagery to give us any accurate forecasting.

I said I wanted the base done in a month, and I want it done in a month. The infantry battalion can handle a shovel, I'm sure, and lacking any ground conflict we need something to keep them busy. Have the Arctic bring over the other battalion; they'll swap helping prep the depot and training every week.

Well, if we've got four AWACS, I don't see any reason not to use 'em. One for storm watch in the NW, one on the fleet in the SE, and let's put the other two to checking for anything interesting anyplace else we aren't looking.

While we're on the subject of AWACS and ground forces; okay, so radar's not going to give us much useful imagery at Isengard- but radar bounces off metal, and a force that big is going to have a lot of metal, yeah? I figure some high-flying sweeps of the continent should garner us some intel on major forces that could contest the forces at Isengard. Let's detail one AWACS to that, and another to checking the sea to the SW- and make sure there aren't any fleets sneaking up on our home base, yeah?

Next operation's focus is going to depend on what we find with all this intel I'm trying to gather.

Consider the Air Units there.

If we're devoting every able hand, we could have a dirt airstrip in two days.

I'll get on the line and have the AC-130 stripped and set up for cargo runs.

[Damn, I have to make this short, so I'm going to miss some key factors

"In broad outline:

* Intelligence assesses the naval forces at Umbar to be preparing to sortie. They do not as yet appear to be reacting to our presence, so we have tentatively ruled out an attempt to interfere with our operations at this time. No consensus on their likely objective, although we cannot rule out possible resupply, or interdiction of resupply, of the garrison at Isengard by river. We also cannot rule out the possibility of a possible terrorist attack on the Noncombatant Evacuation Operations. It is our opinion that close surveillance should be maintained by the Seawolf on this force, with the intent of developing further data on their intentions, and standing ready to engage and destroy them. Although the MEU's attached Recon assets have the technical capability (SCUBA-qualified, submarine insertion-qualified, etc), a clandestine swimmer operation to observe this force more closely better fits Naval Special Warfare's mission profile than Force Reconnaissance's due to experience, training, and orientation. We have no SEAL element embarked, and such a mission would pose significant risk of loss of an irreplaceable Recon team, with little likelihood of additional benefit

* We concur in insertion of the SF Team with aid supplies for humanitarian relief / initial communication with locals. We recommend maintaining a company-sized quick reaction force, this duty alternating between the Marine rifle company previously mentioned, and the Army air assault company attached to the task force. We further recommend that, for the present, the remaining Marines of the MEU stand by to fight as mechanized infantry (AAV-7 "AmTrac" mounted). We further recommmend closer training between the MEU ground combat element and the Army light infantry battalion and armored cavalry troop. (OOC: "typical" MEU = infantry bn + 1 arty batt, 1 AmTrac company, 2-4 x four man Force Recon teams, 1 tank platoon and/or 1-2 LAV platoons, plus the composite squadron, plus the Logistics bn, w/ all the maintenance, medical, transpo, and engineering support for what amounts to a pony combined-arms regiment)
* We recommend avoiding the use of combat personnel in construction operations for extended periods. A month of swinging pickaxes will significantly degrade the combat readiness of the infantry battalion by taking away from combat training time. Additionally, events appear to be accelerating on the mainland; using combat assets in combat service support roles increases our reaction time in assembly, briefing, embarcation, movement, and deployment to the point that we cannot guraantee we would be able to respond effectively in the remaining time available, once we recognize and develop the threat. We recommend use of service and support personnel in conjunction with available engineeer assets, in innovative ways. (OOC: Dammit, next time, I'm insisting on a detachment of SeaBees to augment the amphibious ready group!)

* The Hawkeyes are designed for management of the air battle. Their radars are not designed for ground targets, and cannot be readily modified, short of depot-level overhaul. The ground-attack radars and electronic sensing suites of the Prowlers may provide a marginal capability, but we cannot gurantee any great degree of accuracy (OOC: BTW, if memory serves 3-4 squadrons of 12 F-18s ; 1 squadron of 12 S-3; 1 detachment of 4 EA-6 Prowlers, plus 2 C-2 Greyhound CODs, and a couple of H-60 Seahawks for utility and plane guard)

Hm. Right, ship the second Bn over and have them play with the CAV and the air assault, and throw the MEU into the mix. Maintaining combat readiness is a high priority. I want them training hard, getting a nice keen edge, getting used to local conditions. Not too hard, mind you- let's rest 'em on Sunday- but I want 'em to chew nails and spit bullets. Marines to take the lead in kicking ass and demonstrating the level to which the infantry should aspire.

With no definitive data on the Umbar fleet, we'll shadow it and observe its actions until we can determine its allegiances. My air assets aren't doing shit for intel right now. Let's try the Prowler at Isengard, see what it can do, and put all the AWACS to work as weather detectors until we can find a better use for them.

I really want to know if I can blow up either of the major forces we've found. Suggestions that don't involve sacrificing our forces welcome.

1: We hit Isenguard will a full scale airstrike with our hornets. But judging from the recon photos brought in, it looks like most of the fortification is built into the rock walls or below ground. FAEs will certainly kill a good number, but won't demolish it. Likewise for cluster bombs. Bunker Busters certainly will, be I don't think we're fully weaponized for launching an attack on something as large scale as this fortification.

At least not until we get our airbase up.

However, the natural structure of this fortification would make an excelent theatre HQ.

The landscape around the fortification is enclosed in a valley. and the fortification itself, the bounding ring is a mile across. Our army units could set up an airfield here outside to the east of the fortification, and we can defend the mouth of the valley with artillery. Long range observation could be made from the tower without having to use air assets. Not to mention communications arrays could be rigged up. The valley itself would allow us room to move our armored forces, and give plenty of clearance for aircraft in case of emergencies.

We would do well to capture the fortification and use it to our full advantage down the road. So a demolitons bombardment at this point, I would place as inadvisable.

Also, I suggest we not be too liberal with air coverage just yet. The S-3s consume more fuel than the E-2s, which could hurt us if we need to do something. E-2s have less capability with air oriented radar, but they have better loiter for their fuel consumption. Also, while I understand you are worried about forces at Umbar, be reminded that we have a superior force speed advantage. Even at their best speed, it would take months for the Umbar fleet to come to forlindon. And even if we limited recon patrols to one flight every two days, we'd still have warning far in advance. Not to mention, anything of considerable force sticks out like a sore thumb.

I say, let's be cautious until we can get the airbase operational and get those KC-10s acting as fuel couriers.

BUT, if any targets of oppertunity present themselves, I'll have a quick strike unit loaded with cluster bombs airborn in ten minutes. You can count on that.

I appreciate your gusto, but I meant suggestions for intel, not suggestions for how to blow up the forces- though I do like the idea of using it as another forward base, especially with artillery. If we do take them on, I agree we should avoid bunker-busters. We'll have our airbase in a week and I doubt that force can move far in that time- if it's hostile. A stratofortress loaded with napalm will do wonderful things to the enemy, don't you think?

As for my being too cautious by half about the fleet at Umbar, there is no such thing as too much caution, as long as it's not costing us elsewhere; the Seawolf has nothing else to do, and pointedly does not stick out like a sore thumb; our cruiser/destroyer pair is out of sight of sealanes, so nobody can see it, either. There's no sore thumb there. As I said, that fleet is the only thing that can threaten our ability to bottle-up and out-maneuver enemy forces, if it's on the wrong side. I want it watched.

So. Ideas for intel- or intel reports from ground forces?

INTEL BRIEFING: http://www.muyo.org/atc/MorgansShadow.mp3

I've sortied two E-2s on weather monitoring. And I sortied the E-3 at the main base to fly north and monitor weather conditions and give us a few days notice before any storm systems reach our AOO.

One of our S-3 Sorties checked out something odd on the Isenguard Recon... It was an extremely massive flock of BIRDS... I would have dismissed it, except for the fact that they were flying pretty high for their size, and the number... my god, the S-3 picked them up on radar as two B-52s from the radar cross section. They seemed to try and trial it too.

I think someone's trying to hunt us down. Probably a supernatural force...

For the moment, I've suspended direct rout flyovers of Isenguard in favor of more complex routs that bring our aircraft in from the north or south.

Huh. Well, we knew Isengard knew we were here. It's possible this isn't a bad thing- as I said, they may be allies. Still, let's plan for the worst. How do we get rid of a big flock of-

oh.
Well, we've got any number of craft capable of Mach 5, and they don't have to hit it close enough to the birds to put their engines in danger. Let's stay below Mach for the time being, shall we? I don't want them learning about our capabilities if we don't have to show them.

I need more intel!

(GM/ATC, a question; are you going to report any in-game intel I get besides air recon, or what?)

{If somebody who's got Photoshop and mil-spec map icons can post a revised map with current troop dispositions, I'd be grateful (hint, hint!)}

I don't have a lot to add - I need status on the SF Team's Humanitarian Assistance / First Contact operation and a better feel for the situation from looking at maprefs with dispositions before I can make recommendations. BTW, how much time has passed since we started? And, if anybody else with military experience and/or education and/or training wants to weigh in, go for it.

BTW and Off-Topic Tangential, not too bad a BGM theme, TC. Freebie AMV idea for military otaku: an Armored Cavalry Regiment lays waste to their objective, to the tune of Sammy Hagar's track from heavy Metal - I'm sure somebody thought of it before, but I haven't seen it, and I expectthat if it were done with skill, it'd be frawsome.

Tangential, but a little closer to On-Topic: Check out a coupte of pages: that might be considered relevant to OpsPlanning:
New Military Doctrinal Terms and
You Know It's Going tom Be a Bad day at JRTC When... (note: "JRTC" is the Army's Joint Readiness Training Center - the "roadshow" version of the full-tilt boogie wargames at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA, and the corresponding Marine Corps Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) variation at MCAGCC Twentynine Pams, CA. I had one CAX on the Air side and one on the Ground side - either way, it's a cast-iron bitch...)}

BATTLE MAP ONE
(Right click, save as, use an extensive amount of a zoom function.)

We're awaiting the results of intel.


BATTLEMAP information:

- I've marked key locations with a star symbol. Red symbols indicate areas of critical interest. Yellow, areas of refference, but aren't important at this time... Blue indicates contact of possible friendlies, and Green indicates a field base. Currently there are only one of the blue and green.

- The blue shaded areas are our Naval Air Wing Force Projection Radius. (OR if you prefer the short version, how far out our aircraft can fly from the carriers and blow shit up.)
- The marked "E-2 Coverage Area" line is the area 2-C Hawkeye radar can cover if we employ round the clock surveylance and inflight refueling.

- I marked the movements of our most important naval assets, and the recon flights over Isenguard/Rohan, and Gondor.

- Other info marked on the map.

((And Toze... OOC just so you know...

No, we've got NOTHING capable of MACH 3+, let alone mach five. And I'm the Joint AirWing commander, I'm trying only to tell you what the Air Units give me. We still need a ground intel person.. but I guess I'm stuck as GM too..... I'll come up with something later. Review the map for now.))

Can we drop a heli with some ground forces at the Shire? See if we can make contact, say hello, or blow something the hell up.

And hell, mach 1 is all we need to knock birds out of the sky. Wall of sound and all. Mach 3 will do just fine.

(Nice map - and you're right, we do need a ground intel report)

UPDATE BRIEF: "Feast Your Eyes"

The current sitrep will be explained by OIC at CIC...

CLICK TO BEGIN INTEL BRIEFING

Dropping in from SB.com forum...

What's the range of our B-52 and B-1 from Westreach base, with in-flight refueling? It would be nice to know how far we can launch an airstrike, if necessary.

As our mission objective is to render aid to the local kingdom of Gondor, I would recommend deploying a naval detachment to the Gondor coast, where it can attempt to land contact teams via helicopter at major settlements. Further, as all local shipping seems to have wooden hulls, a single cruiser or destroyer could interdict sea traffic using nothing but its deck gun, if necessary.

I would recommend establishing a forward position in the Bay of Belfalas. It's close enough to our prospective allies to support them in almost any operation, as well as being within airstrike distance of the nation of Mordor, identified as our primary enemies. A Belfalas position would be relatively near the front, but should still be defensible. We should at least get reconnaissance of the area.

Let's concentrate on what the JTF commander's current orders are.

(Hmmm... If' I'm interpreting the mapscale correctly, Isengard is ca. 300 miles inland? Umbar is just about 150 miles outside the normal strike radius of the Nimitz Carrier Air Wing?)

(OOC: Fair warning - this is going to be a long one)

J-3 OPERATIONS:

"Good brief, thank you. (OOC: the mission planning theme from the Rogue Spear series was a nice touch, too)

"Gentlemen, we have several interesting possibilities presented here. We will review them in serial order.

"Operations in the north: We have achieved an initial success with the SF A-team's contact mission. A critical issue with the success or failure of humanitarian relief operations has always been meeting expectations. If we make promises for support that we are unable to keep, the loss of credibility poisons all future relations. Our J-5 (Civil Affairs / Psychological Warfare) section is coordinating with our J-4 (Logistics) section to verify the extent of humanitarian assistance we can provide without either making the evacuees excessively dependent upon the Task Force or compromising the Task Force's ability to conduct future operations; and will advise our prople on the ground in Forlindor of those levels, so that the local population's expectations are not unduly raised. We will further need to consider security requirements for the evacuees, safeguarding them against hostile raids.

"In this connection, augmentaion of the Task Force's Joint Ground Combat Forces with recruits from the Elvish population is an opportunity that we should not squander. This fits the SF A-Team's mission profile very well - one "A" detachment is capable of acting as cadre for a light battalion of indigenous forces, if not directly engaged in Special Operations. However, we have only one A-Team available, and it will be needed elsewhere in the very near future. We are limited in our ability to pull combat personnel from our other units for training cadre, as that will rob the maneuver battalions of key Staff NCOs and Officers. The Assistant J-3 for Training is working with the various Adjutants to find personnel who can be spared as cadre without degrading combat effectiveness. If matters go well, we anticipate being able to field four to six Elvish Scout platoons within a month. they already have expertise in fieldcraft - we need the extra time to get them proficiency with modern weaponry and support equipment, and to teach them to operate with our forces (and, vice versa, to teach our forces to operate with them !) It is, however, problematic whether a) we have sufficient additional small arms, equipment, munitions, and supplies to fully equip them; and b) whether events will allow us that much time to complete training.

"A raid on the hostile forces operating in the Shire will present challenges. The principal issue is distance. The Shire is twice as far as normal max combat radius for heliborne insertion. A work-around might be achieved if we detail one of the KC-135s for tanker support of heliborne operations; but, realistically, fuel consumption for the B-52 and B-1 will require one StratoTanker for each bomber until the airstrip at Base Alpha is completed next week. This leaves airborne insertion via the AC-130, reconfigured to allow for parachute drop, either conventional or HALO at the SOF commander's discretion. This will require stripping out much of the Spectre's armament to allow the payload capacity to insert the raiding team, and extraction of the team will be problematic. At the request of the SOF commander, we have requested augmentation by an MC-130 Combat Talon. This would allow extended range for insertion and extraction of of Special Operations Forces, plus improve our in-theater airlift capability overall - including the "airlift" delivery of 15,000-lb Daisycutter bombs to where they can be best appreciated. [chuckles] However, given National Command Authority's worldwide commitments, we are not sanguine about the prospects of being given use of this asset.

Operations in the center: The enemy forces at Isengard present a center of gravity. If they can be broken, this removes a major enemy stronghold from play. They are clearly aware of our presence and are reacting; however, they do not appear to be fully aware of our capabilities. This will soon change as they think through the the presence of supersonic fighter/attack aircraft and what that capability will mean in terms of our naval and land capabilities. We believe the Task Force should strike quickly, and strike hard, before they smarten up.

Ground attack is problematic due to time considerations. It will take three to four days to recall the MEU's Battalion Landing Team and the Army Light Infantry Bn and Armored Cav Troop and embark them. The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group is currently five days steaming time from the Isen River delta. It will take one to two days to land all elements of the force and form them for the march upriver, and, even with no opposition along the way, it will take at least four to five days for them to get within striking distance of the Isengard fortress, for a total of, at best, two weeks before we could assault. Further, we would be assaulting a prepared position, where the enemy greatly outnumbers us. Even with the difference in capabilities of the respective forces, an assault will be drawn-out and costly - and we consider it likely that Isengard's fortifications will be destroyed anyway. Besides, firepower is only our second-greatest asset. Our prime asset is mobility - our ability to maneuver and project combat power faster than any indigenous force on the continent. While Isengard will be invaluable as a Forward Operating Base for future operations, we believe the existing fortifications are neither necessary nor desireable, and would unduly encourage a bunker mentality that negates our mobility advantage.

This leaves air and missile bombardment. Our strategic bombers would be best suited; but they are the only forces capable of reaching to the south. We believe that sortieing the Carrier Air Wings entire component of F/A-18s (less aircraft needed for Combat Air Patrol and other force protection missions) augmented by cruise missile attack would produce similar effect, and the bombers can be retasked to finish the job, if necessary.

Operations to the south: The enemy fleet concentrating in the Port of Umbar represents an ideal target at present. They're tied up at the pier and/or at anchor in the harbor. If they sortie, a strike will give many of them an opportunity to scatter and escape. They will learn from this, and disperse in the future (as will land forces, for that matter), concentrating only as they reach their targets. We consider this opportunity to eliminate a "fleet-in-being" to be too good to pass up

Recommended Actions:

1) We recommend continuing humanitarian relief efforts for the Elves' Noncombatant Evacuation Operations and begin organizing, equipping, and training an "Elvish Scouts" company, provided we do so with due regard for the concerns outlined above. This opportunity should not be squandered

2) We recommend approval of the proposed Special Operation in the Shire. Although this must be considered an "economy-of-force" effort, the potential long-term benefits are incalculable in terms of PsyOps. (IC: And, if I may be forgiven for expressing a personal opinion, I personally believe it goes to the moral heart of what we are trying to accomplish in our operations here.)

3) We recommend preparations for strategic bombardment of the naval forces at the Port of Umbar, as well as the port facilities themselves. We further recommend an "ArcLight" style mission - saturation bombing of the harbor with the BUFF and the Lancer carrying max loads, with the Seawolf providing Bomb Damage Assessment, and picking off surviving vessels as necessary.

4) We recommend preparations for an Alpha Strike of F/A-18s and Tomahawk cruise missiles on the fortress at Isengard. We specifically recommend against a direct assault on the ground to attempt to take the fortress intact, as we consider the costs to be too high for the benefits. When the bombers have rearmed, consideration should be given to using them to sustain the bombardment.

5) We recommend that the ground forces be placed on alert for embarcation and movement to the continent. A balance must be achieved between training time and readiness to move. We expect the enemy to begin countermoves very quickly he recovers his composure after the strikes - we must be ready to capitalize on the brief timeframe where he will still be stunned - and the key word is "brief time".

6) As the enemy has already begun countermoves in response to our presence, we recommend the contemplated strikes take place as quickly as practicable, with follow-up moves readied and implemented as fast as we can reasonably do so.

7) We emphasize that, when we initiate strikes, we must hit hard, fast, and repeatedly, never giving the enemy a breather.

We await your orders"

(NOTE: I didn't use Rogue Spear... that's Briefing version two from "Ace Combat Five: The Unsung War")

[Ah. Strikingly... similar. I guess they steal from the best ]

Hmmm. Excellent, excellent. Now we see the violence inherent in the system, and the payoff from allocating forces carefully where they'll do the most damage.

OPERATION JACK IN THE BOX

The Seawolf comes into play now. They're loading their land forces, giving us an excellent opportunity for a twofer. I want the cruiser/destroyer pair to move in, out of sight but in striking distance if possible. When the Umbar fleet sorties, I want the Seawolf to blow ships in the harbour mouth and signal the Tico/Burke pair to move in, then coordinate fire. Fish, barrel, done; southern naval and land forces eliminated in one stroke.

OPERATION THOR'S HANGOVER

Now that we've got confirmation Isengard is hostile, I want the AWACS watching the area for those bird clusters. I want one F-18 loaded with nothing but fuel and making mach sweeps to eliminate those birds in advance of our bomber strike; deny the enemy as much intel as possible. As for Isengard; we'll burn then pillage. I want concentrated fire on that valley- and I do mean fire. I want napalm ready to "discourage" any commander smart enough to try and leave. I want to pave that valley, and I agree with ground command that the tower is not as important as destroying the enemy's ability to make war. Fuel-air bombs, cluster, maybe some airfield-killers fired at the base of the tower to give it a push. In fact, since command and intelligence is likely in that tower, let's start things off with a bang, right there.

In the north, propose to the elves two things;

OPERATION INFREQUENT WIND
aka "The Fall of Saigon sucked"

We've got this really really big boat. It'll be back shortly with supplies, and we wouldn't mind giving them a lift, since it'd be empty anyway. In fact, since they're going to be hanging around the West, if they want to materially assist us in that area we'd be delighted for any help they could offer- but we'll give the lift whether or not they need help. Getting civvies out of harm's way and all that. In the meantime, perhaps they wouldn't mind our posting an infantry battalion in the area to cover their backs and protect potential emergency evac, and maybe learn some of the local language and culture? In fact, when it comes down to it, we've got this other infantry battalion, and armoured cavalry, and some artillery, and...

Anyway. We don't expect the position to be overrun, but let's not make the same mistake twice, all right?

OPERATION MALAYAN EMERGENCY

Any elves that want to stay now but leave when this is over, we'd be happy to give them a lift, too. In the meantime, we'd like to use local resources to extend our forces. If they're on friendly terms with these Halflings, let's use the liberation of the Shire as a test run of how to mesh local resources with our own. I'm thinking, if these elves are as good as woodcraft as they say, they might make a feasible local extension of our SF teams. I'm thinking, you know, Malaysia, SAS, hearts and minds and not incidentally indigenous skills and local area knowledge. Yes, we should train the elves to use our weapons, they're a sound investment- but we're not the only ones with something to offer, as the operation name suggests.



Planning for OPERATION MOP-UP

If/when Isengard is empty, I want troops there. Suggestions?

Planning for OPERATION SIERRA HORSE INDIGO TANGO

I want plans ready for each of these operations failing; what can we do to recover if Isengard escapes troops, if Umbar sorties their fleet, and the elves reject our assistance?

Roger: The F-18s are prepared to sortie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMPL8lcTq40


While that's underway, I'm prepping the rest of the Nimitz Air Wing for a three prong attack.

1 - Direct Attack with guided penetraitor munitions on the tower. We'll use the E-2s to 'mark' the tower for missile strikes. I'm going to be odd with munitions, and use Harpoon antiship missiles on the tower. Something tells me it's going to take more than conventional ground munitions to topple it.
2 - Napalm barrage along the mouth of the valley.
3 - Clusterbombs, FAE, and More Napalm for the actual attack on the remainder of Isenguard.

The ships will sortie shortly, I'll have a report back on them later.

Right.

JACK IN THE BOX: The Tico and the Burkes can make a speed run and be on station within 24 hours. I want to deploy one Burke north, to escort convoys of noncombatants in INFREQUENT WINDS. We may want to open the party on JACK IN THE BOX with a volley of cruise missiles, then Harpoons, Mark-48s, and naval gunfire to clean up. Caution: if we commit both Burkes, the Nimitz will be uncovered. Otherwise, it appears to be fairly straightforward.

THOR'S HANGOVER: Recommend you mix in AGM-123 Skippers with the Harpoons. Further recommend the B1-B with additional stand-off weapons on the tower; BUFF to ArcLight the garrison. I recommend the MEU, reinforced by the Cav Troop, to amphibious assault the Isen River delta, then assault up the valley to Isengard. If the Wasp makes a speed run south, she can be on station two days after embarking the MEU and the Cav, viz the five days originally estimated; however we are still looking at at least ten to twelve days at best to get boots on the ground at Isengard. Warning orders have been sent, and they are beginning embarcation now.

INFREQUENT WINDS: The Motor Light Bn, reinforced by the Air Assault company, wil deploy to the vicinity of Forlond. Their mission will be threefold: A) To provide local security for the Noncombatants as they board ship. B) To conduct joint training exercises with the Elvish Scouts in support of MALAYAN EMERGENCY. C) To support the upcoming SF raid in the Shire. (If nobody's come up with a code name for that one, call it OPERATION EAGLE SWOOP). One Burke will escort convoys of evacuees to LogBase Alpha, where they will await the return of the Arctic for further evacuation westward. Warning orders have been issued, and they are embarking now.

CONTINGENCY PLANNING is in progress. We will report our results later

The Nimitz still has air cover, which has been entirely sufficient thus far. Proposals on JITB accepted and implemented. Go on JACK IN THE BOX, at the Seawolf's discretion.

Skippers sound lovely (changes implemented), and boots at Isengard more so. I want the artillery ready to move as well, when Isengard is secured; that valley is just begging for artillery defenses. I'd like to be able to put some infantry down at a later date; suggestions? I'd like to put two companies there at all times, with the artillery, and make it a second depot. Suggestions for how to most safely and securely do this are invited.

OPERATION FREYA'S BASKET
Mop-up after the air assault and possession of the fortress is the responsibility of ground command; MEU and Cavalry to embark ASAP and land at Isengard when THOR'S HAMMER is complete; I want an air strike on the bank before they land, to make sure they've got no surprises. MEU and Cav are to secure the valley and the fortress using any means at their disposal; elimination of remaining enemy forces is secondary to possession of the fortress, unless they endanger that possession.

In the meantime, go on THOR'S HAMMER and implement FREYA'S BASKET, go on completion of TH.

Air Assault's ideal for the Shire op; they're good for IW and ME until we start EAGLE SWOOP. Light Motor's go for IW and ME, and if the elves can give us intel on roads we can use to head deeper in I'd appreciate it. Go on INFREQUENT WINDS. Go on MALAYAN EMERGENCY.

Invitation extended to ground forces commander for proposal on EAGLE SWOOP.

Rgr. Operation Thor's hammer is go. We've got green light on supplies and munitions.

(I'm going to assume that the time we spent in the last three or four posts was enough to get WASP on station.)

-----------------------------------

FIRST ACTION REPORT:

OPERATION THOR'S HAMMER

"I.L.-DAY"


"Landing operations on schedule, clear weather and light winds helped with the LCAC's landing routine early in the evening with the sun at our backs. Despite that, landing was held up for fifteen minutes due to a warning light on the F-18 that was to deliver the landing attack. A secondary had to be armed while the first aircraft was wheeled back to maintanance.
The FAE strike on the landing position revealed that there were indeed surprises waiting. Two WARG RIDERS were found, burnt to a crisp.

The birds had our attention so much we never noticed small ground movement like that. Units are briefed to be on the lookout.

Once we're onshore, we're not stopping to admire the scenery... The men have 350 miles to cover before the dawn airstrike on Isenguard. We should be able to keep a steady 45 MPH pace thanks to the E-2 terrain mapping, which puts us in position to strike in about eight hours.
Given that we should be in gear at 2000 hours, the official arrival on station time is 0400. The E-2s will be up at this time, and the F-18s will begin to sortie right afterwards."

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0100 hours

"Bradleys encountered a group of WARG RIDERS attempting to rush our position, they were cut down by autocannon fire before they even became a threat. Our Nightvision gave us a quarter mile sight advantage on them. Ressistance expected to intensify."

0330 hours

"We arrived early, bradleys and Abrams moved up front, HE rounds ready for anything bigger than two Orks."

0430 hours

"I heard prop engines just now, the E-2s are moving into position."

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