Operation Condor Eagle

[MostGloriousLeader]

[quote][font="Courier New"][b][i]DIPLOMATIC CABLE[/i]
TO: THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA
FROM: THE AMERICAN COMMONWEALTH STATE DEPARTMENT
TOPIC: MILITARY COOPERATION/EXERCISE
[/b]

GIVEN BOTH OUR NATION'S RECENT EFFORTS AT MUTUAL COOPERATION ON VARIOUS MATTERS, OUR GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO INQUIRE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOUR GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY FORCES WOULD BE INTERESTED PARTICIPATING WITH OUR OWN MILITARY IN A JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE TO BE HELD IN EITHER OF OUR RESPECTIVE NATIONS. OUR HOPE IS TO INCLUDE ELEMENTS FROM ALL MILITARY BRANCHES IN THESE OPERATIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR GOVERNMENT'S REPLY TO OUR PROPOSAL.


[/font][/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Secure Diplomatic Cable[/b]

[quote][b]To: The American Commonwealth State Department
From: Office of the Chief of Defense Staff, C. JIMENEZ, GEN
CC: Office of the President; Office of the Minister of Defense; Office of the Prime Minister; Office of the Minister of the Interior

TOPIC: RE:MILITARY COOPERATION/EXERCISE[/b]

Thank you for contacting our Government over increasing interoperability between our two respective states, we are glad to see your willingness to partake in such exercises with us.

It would be our pleasure to host a contingent of the American Commonwealth in Colombia for a series of exercises on the Northeastern Colombian Plains, we would suggest that these operations be limited to a reinforced divisional-sized force by the American Commonwealth. We can provide Oppositional Forces (OPFOR), as well as "allied" units for your division to work with during ground exercises. If you would like your Navy and Air Force to participate in the exercises, this could certainly be arranged with our own air force and navy to provide basing during the series of exercises, where your fleet and air force could be part of the oppositional force, or part of the "Allied" force.

Either way, these details can be hashed out when your units begin arriving here, we suggest utilizing the port of Barranquila for offloading any ground vehicle and supply assets, and berths can be made available upon your request. Basing for your ground units will be provided at Fort Morelos, and air basing will be provided at a number of Air Force Bases around Northern Colombia and Venezuela. Your naval combat vessels are welcome to find berths at Cartagena, Colombia, were space will be provided to them upon request. We look forward to hearing back from you on this proposal.

[i]Signed,

C. JIMENEZ, GEN[/i]
[b]Chief of Defense Staff
Military Forces of Greater Colombia[/b][/quote]

[MostGloriousLeader]

[quote][b]RESPONSE
To: Office of the Chief of Defense Staff, C. JIMENEZ, GEN
From: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General A. Morgan
TOPIC: RE:MILITARY COOPERATION/EXERCISE[/b]

General Jimenez we are glad that you are willing to participate in the joint military exercises put forth and would be happy to accept your invitation to host the exercises in your own nation, hopefully we can reciprocate this generous offer in the future. We find the troop limits on a reinforced division to be more than acceptable and we will begin selecting units for the exercises immediately. Participating units will arrive over the course of a week. We would like to take up your offer of joint operation of our forces in addition to the OPFOR in order to promote a larger sense of military cooperation between our nations. Likewise we will also take your offer and dispatch naval and air assets to participate in these military exercises with details coming soon.[/quote]
Overseeing the American Commonwealth forces for the exercise was General Quentin Badcock who arrived ahead of time with his staff to smooth out the details of the exercise and begin planning with their Colombian counterparts. The list of units and arriving equipment would be given to the Colombian military and transportation arrangements made to get them to Colombia. Army units selected for the exercise were the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Vehicles and equipment were loaded onto high capacity Ro/Ro cargo ships to be transported down to Colombia with the troops arriving by plane a little bit before the ships arrived. The process went more smoothly than anticipated and most units had their equipment and were operational within three days. The air-force's contribution would be three F-22 squadrons, two F-16 squadrons and one F-15 squadron and two E-3G Sentry AWACS, all with the proper support personnel and equipment. The Navy contribution was a task force centered around the battleship ACNS Pennsylvania and included the Wasp class amphibious assault ship ACNS Boxer which had been converted to sea control configuration with a complement of 20 fighters, two destroyers, two frigates, two corvettes and a underway replenishment vessel.

Edited September 11, 2012 by MostGloriousLeader

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Semi-Classified[/b]

A quick response would be sent to the American Commonwealth to thank them once again for agreeing to participate in joint military exercises, as well as acknowledging the receipt of their last message and the arrival of the Commonwealth's military forces. The American Commonwealth's air force would be sent a secure cable to designate various air bases it could operate from for the exercise, while the Colombian Chiefs of Defense Staff would develop a workable operational exercise to work from. The terrain selected would be the large expansive training grounds of Fort Morelos, between the Northeastern Colombian cities of Sabanalarga and Calamar, which was rolling countryside with lots of clumps of woods and broken ground. The terrain could curtail to mechanized warfare, provided it was executed correctly, but it could also be a perfect setting for light infantry style warfare.

Providing an Oppositional Force (OPFOR) for the Colombian military's forces, would be the 2nd "Honored Lancers" Armored Cavalry Division, which was known as "The Death", a commemorative honor to a unit that served with Simon Bolivar at the Battle of Carabobo. The 2nd Armored Cavalry would also be attached with additional artillery, combat engineer, attack helicopter flights, and two infantry brigades, which would raise its strength up to a formidable combined-arms unit of around twenty-four thousand men. The 2nd Armored Cavalry would be reinforced in the air by the 3rd and 5th Fighter Wings, flying a mix of F-1 [i]Halcon[/i] Air Superiority Fighters, F-15 [i]Silent Eagle[/i] Reduced-Visibility Fighter Bombers, and FB-102 [i]Javelina[/i] Close Air Support Aircraft. The OPFOR would be assigned to a defensive posture, whereas the American Commonwealth and Colombian additions to the Commonwealth's force, would be assigned to an offensive posture for the exercise.

The 4th Armored Cavalry Division would reinforce the American Commonwealth's forces, the 4th was also known as the "Polish Legion", generally due to its' large concentration of Polish immigrant descendants, and the pride they took in their homeland. The 4th Armored Cavalry were combat veterans of the short but vicious Peruvian Crisis, and were well respected for their exploits during that conflict throughout the Colombian National Army. To beef up the 4th Armored Cavalry and their American counterparts, additional artillery, attack helicopters, combat engineer, an infantry brigade, and a company of Airborne Rangers would round off the attached contingents. Serving air cover for the 4th Armored Cav and to work in conjunction with the American Commonwealth's air units, was the 1st Fighter Wing, with a mix of [i]Halcons[/i] and [i]Silent Eagles[/i], as well the Colombian Navy's aviation forces flying from the carrier [i]Boyaca[/i], which added its carrier battle group to the order of battle.

Preparations for the exercise at the training grounds would be made over the next week, as the American Commonwealth's forces arrived and Colombian National Army assembled its own forces in Northeastern Colombia in preparation as well.

Edited September 29, 2012 by TheShammySocialist

[TheShammySocialist]

Upon arrival to Colombia, the commanders of the American Commonwealth forces would receive briefing packets that outlined the battle plan against the Oppositional Force, which include a map of ground force dispositions.

[center][IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/CondorEagleExercise_zps3b0f7e4e.png[/IMG][/center]

The operation that was being simulated was to simulate an attempted breakout from an expanded beachhead against an armored force (indicated by red dots and lines) that had arrived to stall or even completely bottle up the military forces on the invasion beaches. The aim of the operation for the American Commonwealth (indicated by green lines) and allied Colombian forces (indicated by blue line) was to break out to the city of Calamar, utilizing [i]whatever means necessary[/i] to push through the lines. The oppositional forces had already set up multiple blocking detachments (indicated by the red dots), and had had time to prepare a defensive plan that would utilize mobile battle groups along with strong artillery and missile forces (including a few mobile tactical ballistic missile detachments) to hold up the advance.

The OPFOR would also have a very capable array of aircraft available to assist in aerial support and air-to-air operations, while the allied forces had their own allotment of aerial support and air-to-air forces, as well as access to naval gunfire and missile support.

[b][OOC: To access the area of the map I'm looking at, pull up Google Maps and simply search for "Sabanalarga, Atlantico, Colombia". ][/b]

Edited September 29, 2012 by TheShammySocialist

[MostGloriousLeader]

General Quentin Badcock was overseeing the exercise from the BLUEFOR command post just southeast of the town of Sabanalarga where he was coordinating with his subordinates and his Colombian allies. The 4th Infantry Division and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, along with the Colombian 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment were in their initial starting positions and he had a rough estimate of the OPFOR's positions as well. His ultimate objective was to reach the city of Calamar to simulate a breakout of an amphibious beachhead. Last minute arrivals for the exercise had made it just in time, namely the ACNS Commonwealth and the ACNS Norfolk (an aircraft carrier and nuclear cruiser respectively). Naval and air support were available when needed as long as they stayed alive. Preparations were complete and Operation Condor Eagle was commencing.

The Commonwealth's troops had brought along their MILES gear which was compatible with the Colombians gear which helped simplified things. Mounted on pretty much everything from the average foot soldier to a tank or helicopter, the MILES gear allowed for very realistic training. When fired, weapons would discharge a laser that simulated the characteristics of that weapon and would, if accurate, 'hit' its target's sensor receivers. Weapons used blanks and the availability of ammunition was required to operate the system. Hits on an individual soldier would either 'kill' him or make him a casualty based on where he was hit. Vehicles were also outfitted the same way and were equipped with 'Battle Damage Simulation Systems, which consisted of harmless smoke and flash charges that would simulate a hit in certain areas. The system also allowed for the realistic usage of artillery and air support in the exercises.

The majority of the Commonwealth forces were at their marshaling points where they were dispersed and ordered to begin concealment and detection countermeasures while anti-aircraft units began setting up their equipment to provide wide area air-defense. While that was occurring the reconnaissance units of the BLUEFOR were active and hard at work. An observation post was created on the heights overlooking the city of Repelon which was the highest point on the exercise field and should provide good observation and spotting capabilities. Several recon companies were ordered to begin a broad probe along the length of the enemy lines but not to engage the enemy unless necessary, their objective was to see what was arrayed before them and report back. Another recon company moved across the Magdalena River using their vehicle's amphibious capabilities where they would move until they reached the OPFOR's positions on the east side of the river where they did their best to find positions to remain out sight and out of range of the enemy's and begin observation of their positions.

Shortly after the departure of the scout units, a light mechanized company would cross the river and set up a defensive position south of the small town of Guaimaro while engineers began the construction of several pontoon bridges a little bit upriver. Meanwhile, an idea suggested by an enterprising intelligence officer was attempted. Cooperating with their Colombian allies, an effort was made to requisition medium to large local river craft along with their crews and some civilian volunteers which would transport some special forces units and a ranger battalion down river. Before the main force moved, a boat with a special forces team was sent downriver to scout out possible enemy defenses or interdiction efforts. Using a local ferry boat, the team hid itself from view while traveling, maintaining radio silence which would only be broken if they ran into trouble. The destination was the town of Suan where followup forces would arrive if nothing went wrong.

[TheShammySocialist]

The 2nd Armored Cavalry Division had been on the exercise field for a good twenty-four hours before the first American Commonwealth and BLUEFOR Colombian Forces had arrived, and had been given time to conceal their bivouac areas well. Arranging themselves into the woods and fields, the units had arrayed their support forces into small detachments spread wide across their operational area. Tactical ballistic missile detachments had set up far to the rear, while air defense units had arranged themselves with clear lines of fire while remaining camouflaged utilizing nets and wooded areas to hide their launchers, and were networked in with widespread tactical radar systems. Artillery detachments could be found in similar arrangements, thinly sprinkled around the rear of the combat area, and mobile armor and mechanized infantry battle groups had been arranged for fast elastic defense movements to counter attacks against the main line of thinly-spread infantry squads.

One of the 2ACR's attached infantry brigades had been split into ad hoc company-sized battle groups to form the division's main skirmish line, well armed with MANPADS and shoulder-launched anti-tank weaponry. Forces along the flanks of the OPFOR were well dug in, including a force of mechanized infantry and light infantry at Salamina and a similar force at San Cristobal, which would counter incursions along the Magdelena River. Reconnaissance assets including vehicle and hand-launched aerial drones, which could sweep wide areas of terrain in relative silence at low altitude, almost virtually undetectable, and had multiple high-resolution camera modes, including standard and infrared views. Further reconnaissance assets would include ground-based spotters and observation posts, along with small ground-based observation drones, which were being trialed in combat for the first time. A loose combat air patrol of twenty-four F-1 [i]Halcon[/i] Air Superiority Fighters loitered close to Calamar, ready to attack tactical aircraft that would try to support the BLUEFOR's movement, and further to the rear would be combat support aircraft and helicopter gunship support.

As the American Commonwealth forces began making their first moves, some of which would be picked up by the OPFOR's reconnaissance assets, attempts to cross the Magdelena River would not be countered, although any river traffic would be closely observed from both banks, and if deemed hostile, would be engaged at will from both sides of the river. Any reconnaissance assets that would close with the well-concealed skirmish line of light infantry would be engaged if the opportunity presented itself, although the firefights would be short and relatively quick, before the skirmish line would move back to prepared secondary fallback positions.

The "Polish Legion", once immediately released to begin movements, would begin establishing loose tactical formations, breaking itself down into battalion-sized combat team elements, and moving into the field, utilizing its attached infantry and mechanized infantry as light infantry forces. Armed with similar reconnaissance assets as the 2ACR, the Legion still had to first locate the main positions of its' foe first, and would begin probing forward with small infantry patrols and sniper/spotter teams. The Legion would keep its armored forces well guarded by anti-air assets, whilst some units would move to prepare to directly support their American Commonwealth allies. The early morning had dawned foggy, and would help conceal the main advances of the BLUEFOR for awhile against standard visual observation equipment, but as soon as the sun got high enough, the seasoned soldiers knew the fog would dissipate rapidly and if caught in the open, the 2ACR would not be afraid to make its' presence known.

Offshore, the vessels of the [i]Boyaca[/i] carrier battlegroup were in a protective escort ring surrounding their super carrier, and a naval combat air patrol had already been established to protect both the Colombian, as well as the Commonwealth vessels against immediate aerial threats. The naval forces were also awaiting any calls for naval gunfire or missile support, which would be unleashed should the battle on land warrant it. Over land, elements of the 1st Fighter Wing had established a similar aerial cordon of their own, electing to not actively engage the OPFOR's fighters just yet, they would loiter in groups of two to four craft over the city of Sabanalarga, keeping a protective watch over their own charges as the opening probes to the battle slowly unfolded...

[MostGloriousLeader]

After some light probing the reconaissance units were ordered to dismount and begin a more aggressive push along the front line in order to expose enemy forward positions with the goal of eliminating the enemy's recon screen. Standing orders were to disengage from any heavy action that would likely cause high casualties. This time the probes would be supported by RAH-66 Comanches flying extremely low to detection by enemy air defenses. Armed with a combination of Hellfire ATGMs and stinger missiles they would move as needed to eliminate resistance found by the recon squadrons. In addition to this UAVs would be dispatched to seek out the OPFOR's artillery and C2 units with network support and artillery fire finder units working in support of these efforts as well.

Meanwhile the special operations units moving into Suan were proceeding, although care was taken to disperse the units over multiple boats so not to loose too many men at once if they were discovered. Doing their best to keep un-noticed, they made an adhoc command post in one of the buildings in town and had small teams of scouts push outward into the surrounding area, doing their best not to be noticed by enemy scouts.

While the the new recon push was occurring progress on the pontoon bridges were going well with two almost completed. In the meantime the division's armored brigade was ready to move across the bridges as soon as they were completed. The division's other combat units were ordered to move to their dispersed jump off points and maintain a low presence until their orders were changed. Support units like air defense and artillery, were set up at their predesignated positions to provide coverage over most of the battlefield.

In the air One E-3 Sentry was aloft with a squadron of F-22 Raptors to provide immediate air defense. EMCON was in place and the E-3 was the only aircraft with an active radar while the Raptors silently patrolled the skies. One of the other Raptor squadrons had another mission while the third remained at base on ready alert with half the squadron able to be in the air in less than ten minutes.

At sea, the Commonwealth naval task force was cruising off the coast in anticipation of both naval combat and providing naval support for the fighting on land. Strict EMCOM was enforced, with only the E-2 Hawkeyes going active to provide AWACS capabilities. The two corvettes were positioned further away from the main force, but near the coast, to provide alternative picket duties if necessary. A combat air patrol of Super Tomcat 21s was kept up with more fighters on the catapaults and more on ready five status. Several S-3 Viking's modified with an upgraded AESA surface search radar were actively scouting for the enemy fleet.