3 Commando Brigade

Operation: Ukrainian Escalation 2018
Author: Sánta
Zeus: Sánta


SITUATION:
The war in Donbass, which has been going on for four years now, has slowly been forgotten as it got out of the mainstream media’s focus. The front lines haven’t moved for months, despite numerous ceasefire agreements smaller firefights ensure every day. Both sides: the Ukrainian government and the leadership of the confederation of Novorossiya (consisting out of the de-facto states Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)) are trying to keep the land they control. The Ukrainian parliament has put Ukraine on a path towards NATO membership and NATO officials vowed support for Ukraine and are working to downplay tensions between the bloc and Russia. NATO forces are stationing in the country since 2015 providing training, some special forces units acting as observers are directly embedded in front line units.

After months without major maneuvers the area the Russian presidential elections held in March 2018, where incumbent president Vladimir Putin has won the overwhelming majority of the votes, has stirred up tensions again. In late April 2018 the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya have launched a full-scale assault (preceded by heavy artillery bombardment) along the front-line in an official motive of cleansing the border region of LPR and DPR to gain full independence from Ukraine and to finally join the Russian Federation. The attack has caught the Ukrainian Armed Forces off-guard and all units in the area of operations were forced to retreat as the separatist forces are pushing deeper into the territory of Ukraine. NATO officials stated that such well-organized and well-executed attack couldn’t have been possible without the direct help and assistance of the Russian Armed Forces and its General Staff, Russia is denying any involvement.

Despite the general withdrawal order to all NATO observers, certain units in the Luhansk Region have already been engaged by the heavily mechanized separatist forces. 1 Troop of Alpha Coy from 42 Commando stationing in the village of Rovenky has been forced to retreat to the village of Shchastya, taking heavy casualties in the process. The British and Ukrainian forces in the village of Shchastya are being pinned down by accurate separatist artillery, they are preparing for the next wave of attacks through the villages of Torez and Vesela Hora. 2 Troop of Alpha Coy is being rapidly redeployed from the right side of the Donets River with the help of forward-deployed US Army Air Cavalry in a bold but desperate attempt to relieve pressure on the friendly platoon...


MISSION:
2 Troop, Alpha Coy is being airlifted from FARP Echo on the right side of the Donets River to LZ Whitehall next to the village of Shchastya with the help of US Army Air Cavalry.

2 Troop’s task is to relieve pressure on friendly units and hold the area until reinforcements arrive. In case of a successful defence 2 Troop is to begin a counterattack with the help of the Ukrainian forces to eliminate separatist rocket artillery, threatening all friendly units in the AO, between the villages of Torez and Rovenky.

A successful push against the separatists would give sufficient time for 1 Troop and US Army Air Cavalry to reorganize and to create a swift evacuation plan for the whole Coy so NATO forces could finally disengage before the situation further escalates on the ground. 


Objectives:

1. Dig in and repel the attack on the village of Shchastya (Ukrainian forces have deployed a platoon in the village of Vesela Hora to meet the separatist attack in advance – you are to assist them first and fall back to Shchastya later if needed!)
2. Clear out the village of Torez
3. Search and destroy separatist rocket artillery in the AO (approx. location is marked on the map)
4. Fall back and evacuate

Execution:

1. 2 Troop will head out from FARP Echo to LZ Whitehall to prepare defences in and around the villages of Shchastya and Vesela Hora.
2. 2 Troop is to fully cooperate with the Ukrainian forces in the AO if they want to survive the OP. Limited amount of vehicles and resupplies can be asked from the local Ukrainian commander.
3. Conservation of ammunition and medical supplies will be crucial because resupplies are going to be scarce.

Time:
0900 hrs local (0600 hrs ZULU)

Weather:
Overcast, 67% chance of rain.

ENEMY FORCES:

United Armed Forces of Novorossiya
Numerous units from the local militias of the DPR and LPR including armored and mechanized battalions.

Units in the AO that could be identified by NATO sources: Vostok Brigade (Donbass People's Militia - SF), 1st Separate Mechanized Brigade "August" (LPR People's Militia), Zarya Battalion (LPR People's Militia)


Strength, composition, disposition

• The majority of the separatist units are spread out in the AO with each company garrisoning in different villages for mutual support.
• About a company sized element has been brought together with armour support to assault he village of Vesela Hora and Shchastya. They will be using the village of Torez as an FOB.
• It is believed that the separatist company garrisoning in the village of Torez is also responsible for protecting the rocket artillery in the area so their platoons are expected to be spread out between Torez and the rocket artillery’s position. 
• The front-line itself is expected to be patrolled by an unknown number of enemy units.
• NATO SIGINT / HUMINT believes that unknown number of Russian forces might be in the area as well, most likely acting as observers and advisers.

Equipment

• Various Soviet-era weapons and vehicles mostly confiscated from the Ukrainian Armed Forces
• Heaviest assets are believed to be T-72B MBTs and BMP-2 IFVs
• High number of fortified positions with entrenched HMGs and ATGMs
• More modern Russian weapons of unknown origin are believed to be in the area as well
• No heavy air assets in the area but commercial drones might be used for observation and guidance

Enemy Intent:

• To clear the AO of any hostile forces, establish a foothold and gain control in the region.

FRIENDLY FORCES:

2 Troop, Alpha Coy, 42 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade:

• One troop sized element under the leadership of 1-0-A, standard MTP gear.

Vehicles:

• No vehicles, limited supplies both at FARP Echo and in the AO itself.

Various units from 53rd Mechanized Brigade, Operational Command East, Ukrainian Ground Forces:

• Elements of different mechanized, motorized and tank battalions in the AO with the addition of a Brigade Artillery Group in Sievierodonetsk. 
• Only limited artillery support is available due to effective counter-battery fire (believed to be organized by the Russians).

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

• Weapon Control Order: Only fire unless fired upon, self-defence only
• Hard posture, helmets on
• You may enter any buildings or compounds within the AO
• Civilian casualties are to be avoided
• Captured enemies are to be detained

CIVILIAN POPULATION

• Most of the civilians have fled the area but there are still a few around in the villages, mostly elders who don’t want to leave their homes, thus civilian presence outside of the villages is highly unlikely.

INTEL

Figure 1. Map of the northern Donbass region - current frontline is marked with red.

Figure 2. Map of the AO.


Figure 3. Mechanized forces of the Donbass People's Militia near Donetsk, April 2018.


ADMINISTRATION
Respawn
Unlimited - Respawn via CTP

Medical Settings
ACE 3 advanced
Use of PAKs require the patient to first be stabilized
 

Map
Bystrica


Server Info
Server: Public
IP: game.3commandobrigade.com Port: 2362
Modset: Public Modset


REQUIREMENTS
The server will be bikey'd. You will only be able to run the mods downloaded using the Arma3Sync [3CB] Public Modset.

Please double check you have all of the mods in the Public Modset installed and updated:
Arma 3 Standard 3CB Prerequisites


SOPs
Note: Before taking a role, please read the relevant SOP and check whether 
you have the required skills and knowledge to perform this role 
properly. If you read it and feel you are unsuited for the role, please 
do not take it.

Infantry/Commanders
FAC
Air
Armour
MFC
Recce
Medic


PRIORITY PLACEMENTS
(Restricted to 3CB members only)

1 Coy HQ
0-A: Company Commander - Zeus

1 Troop HQ
1-0-A: Troop Commander - Philip2324
1-0-60mm - Winsbot

1 Troop / 1 Section
1-1-C: Section Leader - Lifetap
1-1-D: Section 2iC - Tim

1 Troop / 2 Section
1-2-C: Section Leader - Hemeroids
1-2-D: Section 2iC - 

1 Troop / 3 Section
1-3-C: Section Leader - 
1-3-D: Section 2iC - 

1 Troop / 4 Section
1-4-C: Section Leader -