OPERATION BALKAN HAMMER
October 26, 27, 28 2007
Camp Navajo, Arizona
The first thing I need to say is that I want to thank the staff of this great event. Mark, Chad, Chris and the rest of the staff. This was ONE of the truly greatest OP’s I have attended. It was run with very few Hiccups, and you guys took the time and effort to make sure the game ran all the time with little down time. When there was a real world incident, you guys shuttled the proper personal to the incident site, but kept the game moving so others can continue their missions.
AAR Serb Forces.
27 Oct 2007 0430
Units Tasked:
Saguaro 1(S1), Coyote Tactical 1 (CT1)(QRF)
Upon hitting the SERB FOB, S1 and CT ASOV formed a 360 perimeter; While CT1 was on a reconnaissance mission across the border. After securing the FOB, S1 went on patrol looking for any signs of USFOR presence across the border. CT1 observed the IFOR move across the border and walk within a few feet of his teams hide, he gathered the Intel that was needed and called for extraction. At 0700 CT QRF drove the ASOV to recover CT1 and returned back to the FOB.
27 Oct 2007 0630
The rest of the Serbian force arrived at the FOB, with them was their Commander and the track vehicle. Upon arrival, the Commander sent the rest of his remaining force to patrol the area of operation. No contact was made on these patrols.
27 Oct 2007 0900
Call came over the net that a IFOR Reconnaissance plane went down in the Serbian territory, and that a pilot had ejected over the crash site. Upon receiving the call, The Serb commander quickly sent out all his elements for a recovering mission. S1 was in the wood line searching for the Pilot and CT1 was patrolling the outskirts for enemy contact. Serb Special Forces(SSF) dismounted the command track and patrolled the ridge where the plane went down. S1 came over the radio and confirmed finding a pilot and debris from the aircraft. Serb Commander(SC) quickly brought the command track for immediate extraction of the pilot. Due to the injury of the pilot, S1 had to provide medical treatment. The Medic for S1 “Pete†started treating the pilot for his injuries. The injuries were so severe that S1 had to pull some more people off of his 360 security and help with the treating of the wounds. After about 10 minutes of Pete and the others working on the pilot, CT1, S1’s remaining elements and the SSF were deeply engaged with USFOR and the Commandos. On the hill top IFOR were starting their decent down to our location, while the Commandos were flanking from the sides. The Command track was taking fire and there was casualties everywhere, S1 and Medic Pete finally stabilized the pilot and came up with a carpet as a stretcher (Great job CT2) with a couple of seconds to spare they loaded the pilot in the back of the command track and drove off the X and back to the FOB. CT1 and the rest of the Serb forces were mowed down from every side. The Commando’s then blew the remaining parts of the plane and parachute before heading back to their FOB to refit.
Advisor Critique:
Well what can I say, I gave the PL’s a hard time trying to deal with the pilots, it doesn’t help when I am coming up with stuff to make you guys think. Plus the fact Admin wanted you guys to extract while under fire, which is a task in it self, also when you add the fact that I would fire blanks over your heads didn’t help the situation.
Serb forces the only thing you forgot to do is make the area sterile, meaning removing any articles that was left on site. IE Parachute, clothing, Ejection seat, other then that you completed your objective.
Commandos and IFOR, Great job on pushing through the defense, you guys were about a minute to late.
Movements from both sides were outstanding; everyone was getting in the fight, whether it was a line push or an Australian peal or a flat out frontal assault, it looked great with BB’s flying everywhere.
27 Oct 2007 1015
Call over the net came into the FOB, the Serbs were tasked to Locate reconnaissance pod and debris. Upon Deployment S1 and SSF deployed into their respective sectors to look for the Pod. I was attached to CT1 and the QRF. After patrolling the sector, they saw movement of Commandos to their flank. CT1 advised his men to push on the element. Using the ASOV they dropped part of their element to take them on head on, while the rest of the element put the ASOV on an over watch position. The vehicle was put not more then 15 feet from the ORP that the Commandos where in, when they Opened up on the ASOV, at that time the rest of the element came in from the flank and the remaining members of the ASOV crew took the rest of the commandos out.
Over the radio I was advised that all the Serbs were in heavy firefights all along the area of operation.
After hours looking for the Pods and debris the Serbs were unable to find the Pods and the Debris.
Advisor Critique:
CT1 and Commandos, The fight you guys had was one of the best I have witnessed. Through out this evolution both sides were just bringing the pain and plastic death to each other, Whether it was Commandos setting up an L ambush or CT using the ASOV to block in the Commandos. OUTSTANDING!
27 Oct 2007 1100-1200
This was a scheduled Lunch in place period, with units maintaining a 360 security.
27 Oct 2007 1200
All units resumed the search for the Pod. There were several fire fights in this area of operation. Both sides were bringing their A game . The result of this evolution was that the commandos had stumbled upon the POD during and earlier recon mission and moved the POD to safety and finally extracted it out of the Area.
Advisors Critique:
Good job on the Recce, for finding the POD on their Recon. That is what your supposed to do, mark the site with GPS grids and move the object in case it is important for later missions.
27 Oct 1300
Intel came over the net for a new mission. All available Serb units were to capture or assassinate the personnel of a UN vehicle.
Serb commander issued his FRAGO to his men and deployed his units. I once again was attached to CT1, Their job was to attack the IFOR FOB. Upon leaving the Serb FOB, they stumbled upon the UN Vehicle down the road and immediately made contact. The UN driver took off running into the wood line. The reporters that were with him were detained. One of the females was shot in the pelvis and had major traumatic injuries. So CT1 had to perform medical aid on the patient. CT1 called in reinforcements from S1. Upon S1’s arrival, the IFOR vehicles were making gun runs on the Serb forces. The command had to exfil out their wounded along with the UN patient. At this time the UN driver took off running to avoid being questioned, but CT1 PL chased him down, and proceeded to take him down. The medics were still working on the UN reporter with no avail. The USFOR were still hitting them hard with the gun runs and the Serbs were taking HEAVY casualties. After Finally extracting the Reporter and their wounded to their FOB, all Serb forces then proceeded to try and hit the IFOR FOB, but the IFOR defense was too strong.
Advisor Critique:
Movement to contact was great, the only thing is PL’s need to move a little faster and get into the wood line so the IFOR could not continue to do the gun runs that mowed your guys down. Keep in mind that no matter what the situation is, you need to think of your men before the anything. Other then that I have to give credit to the gun trucks, for inflicting so much damage to the Serb forces.
1530 Game ENDEX Day one evolution is over and all units returned to base camp.
The day was tiring especially for the ones who were up at 0330 to prep for their up coming deployment. The first day evolution was now complete and the unit commanders were making their adjustments for the following days events.
28 Oct 2007 0830
The Serb commander issued out his FRAGOS, The mission was to find the IFOR Commandos that were cut off from their main body. The SC sent out his patrols to find the Recce team that was hiding within the Serb territory. After patrolling the area, the S1 element spotted the Recce team and radioed for support. CT1 proceeded to support S1 and cut the recce off from their FOB from one side, the SC and SSF team came in from the back side and surrounded the recce team. After a bit off a gun battle almost all of the Commandos were KIA with only a few on the run. The rest of IFOR was trying to move in to recover but were outnumbered and could not rescue the cut off team. During this evolution CT1 had the task to ambush a IFOR vehicle, so the LT decided to make road blocks from down trees to slow down the IFOR vehicles and spring the ambush. While waiting for the vehicles to come down the road, CT1 was informed that S1 had captured one vehicle. After regrouping with the command element, all units had a new objective to attack the IFOR FOB. CT1 and the Command track with SSF onboard were on one side and S1 was on the other and we did a full assault. The Command vehicle was taken out by a rocket shot. ( Longshanks) The personnel were taken out on the ASOV. S1 continued their push on the FOB but was not able to get any further and game was Endexed.
Advisor Critique:
The radio communication was the key to the surrounding of the Recce team. Great job to everyone for getting their.
IFOR you guys did a hell of a job even though you were outnumbered, you guys never gave up and kept getting into the fight no matter the odds.
My biggest gripe on Sunday was that why did most of the IFOR team leave so early? This was a two day event and by leaving Sunday you threw off the game dynamics for the rest of us. Look in the future if you are not able to stay the whole entire time, then do not bother showing up. I understand if the were family issues, but other then that there should be no excuses for you to not stay the entire time.
All an all this was a great event, this brings the level up of the airsoft community. Staff once again thank you putting on a great event, Thanks to all who participated and helped before, during and after the game. Mercy and Doc thanks for being there and advising the IFOR and keeping the game moving.
Until the next one KILO 42 OUT!