Combat Summary, April 2nd, 2021
2021-04-03
Posted by: badanov
From: Chernarus Coastal Operations Group
Subject: Weekly Summary of Combat Operations, from March 26th to April 1st Inclusive.
Message begins:
The tempo of combat operations continued at a steady pace.
Chernarus Defense, Naval and air forces have engaged in five operations in four regions.
1) Brigade recon staff Friday night issued a warning order that another armor heavy separatist force was making its way to Hanstedt in Rosche to take the town from the march.
A task force from 4th Bn Chernasrus 10th Separate Tank Brigade was assembled and was road marched to Hanstedt to intercept enemy forces.
Separatists attempted to take Hanstedt from the march two weeks ago.
After deploying in a line running east to west, separatist attacks began, first with three BRDMs and supporting infantry attacking from the northeast. Most of the work destroying the BRDMs was done by Tank 2.
More separatist armor closed in on the location, including two T-55s which attacked overland from the north and two T-34/85s from the west. Attacks from the west were the most damaging.
Meanwhile near Schlieckau, a separatist covering party destroyed a fuel and a repair truck staged there. Follow on reinforcements eventually found the enemy forces, consisting one technical and one other unidentified vehicle.
When the order came down to retreat to base a dangerous situation developed where separatist armor were closing from the north and the west. The commander could hear at least one BMP in the distance.
After the task force remaining BRDM retreated, 2nd squad, which lost its BTR, was ordered to retreat east. Half of the squad commandeered a vehicle, while the other half evacuated with one of the reinforcing BTR squads.
Casualties were heavy. Command squad lost two and 2nd squad lost three including its BTR. One of the task force's BRDMs was destroyed, and Tank 1 suffered a mobility and fire control hit. The crew bailed and evacuated with 2nd squad.
A supporting SU-25 was shot down with the loss of its pilot.
Enemy losses were heavy as well. Two T-55s, two T-34/85Ms, three BRDMs and one BMPs were destroyed.
2) Chernarus 13th Separate Mountain Motorized Rifle Brigade recon staff received word a separatist force had seized the town of Schwanefeld in Wereferlingen Saturday morning.
Brigade commander ordered 3rd Bn to attack and retake the town, now an urgent task since the separatist force, led by operatives Enver Hoxha and Lyudmilla Griegorievka, had brought an AA battery with them for deployment.
Schwanefeld is very close to the forward zone of 3rd Bn, so the road march was very quick, less than 15 mins.
The tactical plan was for 2nd and 3rd squads, accompanied by two tanks would attack from the east, while command squad with one BRDM scout car would attack from the southwest via the bridge.
Commander planned the attack to coincide with an artillery mission atop the suspected location of the AA battery. When the artillery landed, all maneuver forces would begin their attack.
In the plan, 2nd squad would sweep the northern area of the town with the support of tank 2, and 3rd squad would sweep the middle area with the support of tank 1.
Command squad crossed the bridge and dismounted immediately. Pressing forward, the commander destroyed a heavy machine gun technical with a grenade attack.
When the commander got to the hideout of the two operatives, he found that Hoxha and his security detail were already dead. A cursory search of the building initially failed to turn up Griegorievka.
When the order to withdraw came down, the commander searched to building again, found Griegorievka and eliminated her. Documents were found on her person and seized.
The task force withdrew from town in good order. Losses were light. Only 2nd squad lost effectives, one.
3) On Saturday evening, 2nd Bn, Chernarus 13th Separate Mountain Motorized Rifle Brigade launched an operation to recover a tank abandoned a week ago in Werferlingen.
In tank recovery operations, it is necessary for the task force to bring a fuel as well as a repair truck to the operation. Another truck with tank crewmen also is brought to the site.
The tactical plan was for the two tanks to press forward in line about 500 meters apart to take any antitank hits, while the rifle squads followed closely behind. Command squad's mission was to secure the tank.
The command sent his dismounted squad forward about 300 meters to cover the tank, as he awaited the repair and refueling trucks. When refueling and repair were complete, a tank crew took over and drove the tank back.
The task force withdraw from the area in good order once the repaired tank was secured. There were no losses.
4) 1st Bn Chernarus 17th Separate Light Rifle Brigade was ordered to attack and clear west Armanikha in Beketov Tuesday night.
Separatist forces, led by operatives Simeon Piscevic and Tijana Latinovic, deployed a mortar battery north of the town. Brigade recon staff concluded the deployment was part of a plan of attack across the Treshka River.
Covering forces across the river first were two BRDM scout cars and two BRDM-AT5 At vehicles. All three rifle squads cross the river by truck and proceeded northeast.
The tactical plan was for 2nd squad to attack north on the west side of town, while command squad attacked on the east. 3rd squad would provide a backstop for command squad.
Early on, command squad encountered heavy resistance to include a heavy machine gun technical and infantry on both sides of the road. When the BRDM was ordered to place enemy units under fire, it was destroyed by an RPG shot.
Commander destroyed the RPG gunner with grenades before continuing north. 2nd squad proceeded ahead of command squad eventually reaching the enemy operatives' command post. Both Piscevic and Latinovic were killed.
When the command got to the command post, he could find no sign of either Piscevic, or Latinovic. The commander was unable to locate documents recon staff said Latinovic was known to be carrying.
The command immediately after was killed trying to lead an assault on an enemy heavy machine gun technical. The operation's second in command ordered a retreat back to base.
Losses were moderate. Command squad lost two, while 2nd squad lost three. 3rd squad lost none. One BRDM scout car was destroyed. A river patrol lost two.
Field reports were that the separatists lost two heavy machine gun technicals and a third unidentified vehicle.
5) A tactical group formed from 1st Bn Chernarus 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade was ordered to a location near Granichack in Leskovets Thursday morning.
Brigade recon staff issued a warning order that separatist forces would take over the area in advance of more offensive actions in western Leskovets.
After a 45 minute road march, units began to deploy. The tactical plan was for 3rd squad to cover western approaches to the crossroads, with command squad in front, and 2nd squad in a nameless hamlet nearby.
One BRDM scout car provided heavy machine gun fire support for 3rd squad, while the second BRDM stood overwatch on the eastern approach.
The enemy attacked first with a pair of BRDM scout cars coming from the east, followed by a rifle attack coming from the north. A second wave of armor vehicles arrived and were destroyed as the first wave was. One of the scout cars was destroyed by tank gunfire.
When separatist heavy armor arrived, Tank 1 of the task force suffered a mobility hit from a T-34/85. A BMP also arrived near the crossroads, then a second. Both were disabled by a combination of RPG and tank gunfire.
During the road march to the area of operation, the task force commander decided to leave the logistical tail staged at Diva Slatina. Then the repair truck was called forward to the area of operation. When it arrived, it came under enemy fire, the driver killed.
2nd squad also came under enemy fire and was ordered to retreat to the northwest. Command squad launched a counterattack to force the enemy forces back, but itself came under intense rifle fire.
During the counterattack, word was received to withdraw back to base. By that time 2nd squad was whittle down to just two, so it was folded into 3rd squad.
Commander formed a column with the remaining BRDM scout car to retreat to rally 1, where a relief tank was staged. The crew of the disabled tank was ordered to bail out and join into command squad.
Enemy fire commenced anew, so command squad dismounted and counterattacked once again, and again silenced the enemy force. This time the column began its movement with command squad bringing up the rear.
Once near rally 1, command squad awaited to arrival of the last man out, the T-72 tank. Suddenly a separatist T-55 tank appeared, driving for the crossroads, and fired on the BRDM. Commander ordered to BRDM to retreat closer to rally 1.
Command squad dismounted, as the T-55, apparently unaware of command squad's presence drove by and ran into the last retreating T-72. The T-55 was destroyed. At that moment command received word one of the SU-25s providing air cover was down and a pilot stranded.
A new mission began. 2nd squad and the relief tank were ordered to retreat to Diva Slatina, while a second battle group, consisting of command squad, one BRDM and one tank moved off the retrieve the pilot.
The pilot was safely taken aboard the BRDM, and it and the tank were ordered to Diva Slatina, while command squad returned to base.
Casualties were heavy. One BRDM was destroyed, and one tank was disabled and abandoned. 2nd squad was wiped out and its BTR, having overturned was abandoned as well. Command squad lost one while 3nd squad lost none.
The enemy suffered in vehicle losses. Field counts say 4 BRDMs, two BMPs, one T-34/85, one BTR-80A and one T-55 were destroyed.
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