3 Commando Brigade

BACKGROUND
Takistan, May 2013

Almost a year after the events of 'Operation Arrowhead', Takistan is still in turmoil. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are using their strongholds in the north to spread insurgency throughout the region, while the Takistan National Army (TNA) and Police Force, few in number and with poor training, are left to keep what peace they can in the south.

British Troops under the NATO banner have been deployed to Airbase Manara to support the TNA in the south, then gradually push north driving the Taliban out of the area. However, from experience with a similar conflict on-going in Afghanistan, it is clear from the start that this will be a different kind of war - a battle for Hearts & Minds.


NATO SITREP
1. DATE/TIME: 10th May 2013, 0700
2. UNIT: 3 Commando Brigade, 40 Commando
3. REFERENCE: Hearts & Minds
4. ORIGINATOR: Lt. Apollo
5. REPORTED UNIT: A Company
6. HOME LOCATION: Norton Manor Camp, UK
7. CURRENT LOCATION: Airbase Manara, Takistan
8. ACTIVITY: Establishing security, logistical supply and operational capability at Airbase Manara
9. EFFECTIVE: 'A' Company 3CB fully effective. Additional, <100 TNA, head-quartered 1km north of Chak Chak on the MSR through the Sar-e Sang Pass, authorised for patrols south of the 50th parallel 
10. OWN STATUS (changes): Support force of 1xFA-18 (USAF) and 1xHarrier (RN) now operational
11. LOCATION: 082021
12. SITUATION OVERVIEW: The TNA are stretched thinly patrolling in the south below the 50th parallel, while at the same time Taliban activity in the north has significantly increased. The local civilian population are being coerced to join the insurgency, with an increase seen in incidences of roadside IED's, vehicle-borne IED's and suicide bombers. 
13. OPERATIONS: Commence patrols supporting TNA south of 50th parallel. Win over the hearts and minds of the civilian populace. Gather intel on possible Taliban activity. Clear buildings in areas suspected of harbouring insurgents.
14. INTELLIGENCE: Enemy forces consist of Taliban fighters, with main strongholds in the northern towns of Nagara, Bastam, Rasman and Zavarak. Weaponry is mostly Russian assault rifles, some static guns, few improvised armed cars. No armoured vehicles or artillery pieces are expected. Enemy air power is non-existent. Tactics employed are typical of insurgency - hit & run, ambush, improvised explosive devices (roadside, vehicle) and suicide bombers. However, where the Taliban perceives numerical supremacy on weakened Blufor, full-on assaults may also be expected.
15. LOGISTICS: Sufficient inventory is present, along with transport means, to fulfil this mission. A supply dump of building materials is available for creation of FOB's as required.
16. COMMUNICATIONS: All equipment operational. Mountainous regions cause degradation of range and quality to radio comms. Only village elders or those in positions of responsibility among the civilian populace should be questioned for Intel.
17. PERSONNEL: Brigade Patrol Troop suffered an unfortunate loss on the previous deployment. Only the Sniper/Spotter element have been transferred. All marines are expected to do full duty in the Close Combat Sections under appropriate Troop Command.


MISSION
1. Support the Takistan National Army and Police force in the south
2. Regularly patrol 'friendly' villages and towns
3. Search and kill insurgents found inside buildings in the red hashed areas
4. Remove or destroy IED's
5. Gather intel on insurgency hotspots through observation or questioning
6. Find and destroy the Taliban installations
7. Engage the Taliban in their strongholds in the north


GAME MODE
We are using @Alive's Asymmetric Warfare mode for the first time (in conjunction with conventional Occupation mode for supporting Blufor).

From the Alive Wiki:
"Asymmetric Warfare is a command style for the Military AI Commander and differs from Occupation and Invasion in important ways. Insurgency commanders have different objectives, tactics and weapons. Their goal is to disrupt their enemy, destabilise the security situation and generally create havoc without becoming decisively engaged with security forces. They will employ tactics such as sabotage, hit and run attacks, roadblocks and IEDs. They will attempt to blend in with the civilian population in order to move weapons, explosives and suicide bombers to strategic locations. Thorough searching and monitoring of civilian activity can help reduce the threat.
An insurgency will typically start in a high threat or 'hot zone' (loosely equivalent to a military TAOR) and seek to spread out from there to conduct operations across the AO. The location of the AI Commander module will be the the centre of the insurgency zone and they will initially prefer secure unguarded installations nearby."

Initially on mission start the Taliban have very few fighters. They will get to work on establishing recruitment HQ's and persuading or coercing the civilian population to join them. How successful they are is determined by how you have treated the civilians, whether you have won their hearts and minds.

As the insurgency grows they will build IED factories, place roadblocks and manufacture more weapons.

As it spreads further south, it gains numbers and momentum, making it more and more difficult for NATO forces to eradicate it. 


MAP MARKINGS
Blue - TNA controlled
Yellow - Taliban activity
Red Hashed - Buildings with possible insurgents hiding
Green Hashed - Areas with buildings cleared of insurgents
Red Symbols - Taliban installations (Recruitment HQ's, IED Factories, Roadblocks etc)

Maps are updated roughly every minute through satellite comms links.
Intelligence gathered from the local population will be placed on the map as it is pointed out by the informant, but fades away quickly, so make manual notes on locations and other information ASAP.


IED's
1. Roadside IED's: be on the look-out for unusual objects that appear out of place. To disarm you either need to be an Explosives Expert, or an infantry man carrying a mine detector. Approach low and slow. Scroll wheel action.
2. Vehicle Borne IED's (VBIED's): civilian vehicles that approach at high speed should be disabled by shooting out the tyres
3. Suicide bombers: civilians may don suicide vests; if they get close enough you may hear a warning yell or perhaps the trigger being prepared for an explosion


WHAT TO DO?
This is a bit different to our usual 'Army v Army' scenario. It is asymmetric warfare against a cunning opponent who does not always want to be seen. We need to win the Hearts and Minds of the locals in order to succeed.

Here are some things you can do:
- set out on patrols through villages and towns, protect the civilians, remove IED's. Even if you find nothing you will be making the local population feel safer and less likely to join the insurgency
- gather intelligence on Taliban installations by questioning important characters (scroll wheel action)
- go searching house to house for insurgents through areas shaded red-hashed on the map. If an area is cleared it turns green (requires one marine on foot)
- meet up with the TNA and support them as they patrol
- move further north into the yellow suspect areas, observe the local civilians for suspicious behaviour (entering a house, later on coming out with a gun!)
- find the Taliban installations and destroy them (with explosives usually); doing so will reduce their chances to spread the insurgency
- arrest/disarm insurgents and bring them back to Airbase Manara's detention centre
- head far north and try to drive out the Taliban completely

Small groups of players will be most successful in the south, where contacts, at least initially will be less frequent.
Larger groups looking for a big fight should head north, taking on the Taliban in their strongholds.


WHAT NOT TO DO?
- do not permanently detain or kill innocent civilians; this will lead to them turning against NATO and more likely to join the insurgency
- do not steal civilian property; as above
- do not cause unnecessary collateral damage to buildings; especially caution to pilots of CAS or armoured vehicle crews
- do not kill TNA units