Northern Airfield Raid December 27th, 2014

This scenario is the fourth of four scenarios wherein a Chernarus naval spetnaz strike team takes an airfield away from the enemy.  The one immediately preceding this one takes place at the airfield in Krasnostav, while this one takes place at the main airport near Kabanino.

The following is the briefing:

Major, naval intelligence has located a group of civilians the Chedakis kidnapped two weeks ago, at a small Russian manned airbase in extreme northern Chernarus.

The civilians have been identified as the mayor of Krasnoyarsk, Arsen Katukov his deputy Igor Ivanov, their wives respectively, Olga Bolodova and Larissa Mashunova, and four unidentified female relatives; six women and two men in all. Intelligence thinks they are being held at a small detention facility at the airport. Intelligence thinks the prisoners are being abused and are scheduled be transported into Russia by the morning.  We do not have much time.

The Admiral has approved your plan.  Your team and another team will insert into the airport from the south aboard MI-17 transport birds escorted by two more MI-17 gunships.  Your "B" team will insert at the southern end of the runway, dismount and attack the six aircraft on the ground, eliminating any sentries in the area and destroying the aircraft  with explosives.

Simultaneously, your "A" team will insert in the middle of the runway, and make for the detention facility, eliminating all resistance, collecting intelligence documents from any dead officers, and freeing the prisoners.  Your team medic will provide first aid to any injured civilians, and then a team member will escort the hostages to the transport bird.

Once the hostages are safe, you will head to the control tower, and download all data from their computer systems. Your team will then destroy any remaining enemy aircraft, along with fuel trucks, then board everybody aboard your transport bird.  By then, your "B" team will should have their task complete and will be leaving as well.

The airport is lightly guarded, and the Chedakis and Russians are not expecting this kind of action this deep in Chedaki territory.  A single Chedaki  rifle squad set as a quick reaction force is housed in Kabanino, but they are not expected to arrive in time to help their comrades. The entire operation should take no more than about 30 minutes.

All the best, Major.

This scenario did not quite work out as planned, as will be seen:

For some reason the wrong init file is being read.  The scenario is supposed to start at 2000 hrs and the weather is supposed to be random.  This started at 2300 hrs, which is close enough to the original start time.

The transport bird and the escort bird spin up and take off for the moonlit ride to the airport.  "B" team will board their bird and take off just a minute later, and we'll rendezvous about three kilometers south of the airport.

After a few minutes the bird makes landfall south of Chernogorsk.  Both birds are flying treetop level with the transport bird flying at 40 meters above the deck while the escort bird about 20 meters higher, lights on and normal speed.   40 meters at night is about as low as an AI pilot can go at normal speed without crashing into trees.

Lights off after reaching the rendezvous point, the "A" team waits for the second strike team birds to arrive.

The plan calls for the "A" team to insert once "B" is on the ground, and so it is time to go.

The "A" team bird approaches from the southwest.  The "B" team bird is already on the ground, and the team is heading for the enemy aircraft.

The lead from the escort birds is really flying now, as "A" team bird lands, and the team exits.  The "A" team objective is to the left about 200 meters away from the insertion point.

"A" team starts taking fire from enemy sentries.  The "A" team second in command  is dead and the medic is hit.  The commander kills the rifleman firing, and notices another inside the guard house.

The threat is suppressed, the medic gives himself first aid, so the commander starts for his objective, the detention facility.

Approaching the objective.  One dead enemy rifleman, and the enemy transport bird can be seen, along with the fuel trucks to the right.  Both are targets.

Targeting laser on!  An enemy rifleman is seen at the side door of the guard house and is quickly dispatched.  An officer is prone to the right as the commander approaches the detention facility.

A team member eliminates the officer while the commander kills everyone else in the guard house.

A sentry standing his post at the end of the hallway of the detention facility is eliminated by the commander.

An unarmed enemy officer and a civilian are caught in the shower room and eliminated by the commander.

Chedaki Counteroffensive, Variant 1

This is a new mission template that is an extension of the CDF Northern Recon mission template.  New forces apply now with four BTR rifle squads supported by two ZU-23/2 AAA trucks.  Support options include two separate airstrikes, one heliborne air support mission (originally tasked as an air extraction unit used by Chernarusian naval and army Spetsnaz), a resupply mission, and a truck borne support mission (also originally tasked as a ground extraction unit used by Chernarusian naval and army Spetsnaz).

This time the field of operations are much wider than before (about three kilometers), and the start time and weather are randomized.

The mission is that a large Chedaki force comprising two light infantry squads, one BRDM infantry section and a technicals section are driving into Kabanino, with a similar but heavier unit advancing on Novi Sobor.  The mission for the enemy is to drive into the two towns and hold them, but from time to time the AI gets frisky and decides on its own to advance much further south than the line Kabanino-Stary Sobor-Novi Sobor.

Chedakis leave Stary Sobor alone because its mayor and staff are friendly to the Chedakis.

The CDF force is an advanced party of the Chernarusian 41st Recon Battalion, newly deployed to south Zagoria in response to intelligence of a Chedaki buildup of forces in the north.  Strong drug sales and aid from rogue Russian Army commanders are aiding the buildup.  Chernarusian Army intelligence does not have a reliable estimate of available forces for the Chedakis owing to restrictions on overflights by the Chernarusian political leadership.

So, the army must rely on local residents to phone in reports of Chedaki troop movements south, enough so that a small armored infantry group can deploy and stop enemy movement further south than the line Kabanino-Stary Sobor-Novi Sobor.



The time is 0655 hrs and the weather is party cloudy, but dry.

The commander wants to deploy his three rifle squads as follows:

1st Squad: On the road at Grid 045076 near the large rock.
2nd Squad:  East of the woods near Grid 049079, just below a ridge crest
3rd Squad: West of the woods at 054082, over looking the crossroads at Grid 056080.
1st AAA Section, Deployed west of the woods at Grid 047078
2nd AAA Section: Deployed southeast of the woods at 052080, also overwatching the crossroads at Grid 056080, in support of 3rd Squad.
Commander's Unit: Deployed north of the woods at Grid 052078.

The commander's deployment leaves his unit overwatching the main road west of Kabanino, which runs south through the position of 1st  Squad, a large field of view north, and part of the crossroads at Grid 056080.

Once the orders are cut, the long 4.7 kilometer road march begins.

Chernarus Independent Reconnaissance Battalion

Headquarters is located near the capital.

Headquarters platoon:  4 BTR Rifle Squads, 40 effectives total

3 BTR Rifle Companies
  Each with 10 BTR Rifle Squads, 10 effectives per squad, 100 Effectives

1 Antitank Platoon: 3 BRDM2/AT5s
1 BRDM Scout Car Platoon: 3 BRDM2s
1 Antiaircraft Battery: 6 ZU-23/2 Urals

Total personnel: 370

Independent Reconnaissance Battalions are detached on a task required basis.

The 41st Independent Reconnaissence Battalion "Berezino" is currently on deployment in South Zagoria, assisting in combat operations in the north.

The 10th Independent Reconnaissance Battalion  is currently on deployment near Podagorsk, assisting combat operations in the north.

The 11th Independent Reconnaissance Battalion  is currently on deployment north of Miroslavl, assisting combat operations in the north.

The 13th Independent Reconnaissance Battalion  is currently undergoing rest and refit near Miroslavl.

CDF Northern Recon 6

I have constructed what may be considered a mission template, this time using CDF (army) forces.  With the latest pronouncement from the MoD, CDF forces are forced to deal with Chedaki military buildups north of Novi Sobor along a line between there and Kabanino.

The enemy force deployment is random:  four infantry squads plus three technicals columns are deployed at seven spots on the map within 750 meters, anywhere within 750 meters. The force deployment had a 50 percent chance of happening.  The only thing a CDF site commander has to go by is the approximate area where enemy forces may be.

The other two random elements of the enemy deployment is the start time and weather.  The constant is the date.  I just change the date and save the game as a new game, but I must also copy an init.sqf for those parameters.

The main force is a CDF BTR recon infantry platoon, four BTR infantry squads which are commanded through Arma's command system.  If need be, I can also add a BRDM platoon.

The CDF commander has a number of support elements available.

1) Two each ground interdiction flights, consisting of two each MiG-21 loaded out for close air support.  Those air craft are deployed out of the airfield in Miroslavl, which means that once the ground commander requests air support, it will take a minimum of 10 minutes for the air strike element to get on station.

2) One air helo air support group consisting of two each Mi-17 transport birds.  They deploy out of Balota airfield and are immediately available to provide additional machine gun fire.

3) A support group consisting of two BRDM scout cars, one transport Ural truck and a medical van.

4)  In Novi Sobor, Vyshnoye and Rogovo, a smal militia squad guards prepositioned equipment.  Two Czech military offroad vehicles and two UAZs with a mounted SPG-9 recoiless rifle.

5) A naval gunfire support element, which do not impact operations in the north but could in future missions along the coast.

Additionally, the ambient combat system is in effect, which means that at any location on the map an enemy unit may appear.

The missions in this template are simple.  Move forces north to get eyes on, deploy air trikes and then retreat.

Sounds easy, but really not so with the ACM in effect.

I have run this system with different parameters, but until this game, none of the random elements.

Chernarus 19th Naval Recon Battalion

Chernarus 19th Naval Recon Battalion

Battalion Headquarters is currently located at the Chizhov Naval Base.

Group Akula  (1st Company) 130 Effectives
Group Skorpion (2nd Company) 130 Effectives
Training Group (3rd Company) 30 Effectives, all cadre and officers

The Chernarus 19th Naval Recon Battalion is directly attached to the Chernarus Naval Forces (CNF) Naval Headquarters in Miroslavl.
All personnel in Group Skorpion are Tier One operators, and are routinely assigned to duties/missions with the Chernarus Intelligence Service.  (ChIS)

Detachments:
10 Effectives at Balota Flotilla Naval Base
20 Effectives at Solnichni Detachment Naval Base
20 Effectives deployed to Lingor

Chernarus Ministry of Defense Announcement: August 26th, 2014

Chernarusian Ministry of Defense has announced troop deployments in eastern Chernarus.

A new CDF formation is being deployed at the CDF base in Zhelenogorsk, the Chernarusian 41st Independent Recon Battalion.

The 41st Independent Recon Battalion "Berezino"  is one of only three such units in the CDF.  It is the first deployment in eastern Chernarus of heavy infantry since 2012.  The unit itself comprises 35 BTRs, three BRDM scout cars and three BRDM-AT antitank vehicles.  The unit will be expected to counter recent reinforcements and operations by Chedaki insurgents in the north central and northwestern  sectors of Chernarus.

The first units arrived in Zhelenogorsk last Sunday by road march from near Miroslavl.

The cadre of the 41st Independent Recon Battalion earned its honorific "Berezino" in the civil war for it valiant defense of the city against Russian paratroopers.

Elements of the Chernarusian 4th Light Infantry battalion will remain based near Zhelenogorsk and will continue their critical work in countering drug trafficking in northern Chernarus, as will their several support and combat units.

Rating Klurs Island

CDF Marine evening patrol in Aldea

Klurs island is a possession for the former Soviet republic of Chernarus formerly used as a prison island for enemies of the government.  It is arctic in climate and almost totally unsuitable for farming.  The prison is closed and reduced to rubble and disuse by residents scavenging for building materials.

Two settlements are in Klurs, both in the south.  Residences are scattered about the island, but most of the population are in the two main hamlets in the south, Desa and Aldea.  The total population is Klurs is less than 50 residents.

As for its strategic importance, according to the Chernarus Ministry of Defense, it has very little to offer an invading army.  It has no port and no airstrip to service aircraft.  Because of that, the only transport available is by ATV, motorcycle and bicycle.  The only pack animals available to residents of Klurs are the few cattle which graze on sparse grassland.

Only seaplanes and helicopters can land at Klurs.  Helo landing spots are at a premium in Klurs. Most of them are in the south.

Chernarusian Naval Forces (CNF) are said to have a contingent of about 20  marines which are deployed near the Old Mine in the north.  Resupply and other transport activities are done by light seaplane, by boat, and sometimes by helicopter.  A Klurs naval infantry assignment is considered the worst in the CNF.

Chernarus Ministry of Defense Announcement: August 14th, 2014

Enemy insurgent forces have recently begun attacking Chernarus civilian villages in northern Chernarus using rocket artillery in an attempt to gain their sympathy and help in their own nefarious narcotics operations.

The Ministry of Defense deplore the actions of these hooligans and will take every measure to stop these senseless and brutal attacks.

In other news, the Chernarus Naval Forces (ChMS) Naval Weather Service (MPU) has announced that severe storms are expected all across eastern Chernarus over the weekend.  Normal fishing and sailing activities should be halted until storms have passed. The storms are expected to end late Sunday night.

Chernarus Naval Forces and Naval Aviation (ChMAS) will be out on patrol on the east coast to provide assistance.

Chernarus 1st Naval Aviation Regiment

Chernarus 1st Naval Aviation Regiment

1st Naval Aviation Regiment regimental headquarters is located at the Chizhov Naval Base in western Chernarus.

3 Squadrons Each with 13 SU-25s
1st Naval Airlift Regiment with 20 MI17s transport helicopters
1 transport squadron each with 5 each C1A or C-47 aircraft

The 2nd Squadron is currently deployed at the airfield in Balota to serve as a patrol element, and to support marine operations on the eastern coast and further inland.  One lift squadron from the regiment ( 5 birds) and two aircraft from the transport squadron are also deployed at Balota.  The Chernarus Eastern Naval Zone is responsible for supplies, logistics and munitions to the detached air units.

Chernarus 2nd Naval Infantry Brigade

Chernarus 2nd Naval Infantry Brigade

Brigade Headquarters is currently located at the Chizhov Naval Base.

1st Battalion (Light) (360 Effectives)
2nd Battalion (Light)
3nd Battalion (Airmobile) (360 Effectives)
4th Battalion (BTR) (290 Effectives, 32 BTR-60s)
5th Battalion (BTR)

2nd Naval Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion 12 Each 82mm Mortars
2nd Battalion 18 Each 122mm D30s
3rd Battalion 18 Each 122mm D30s

Antitank Battalion
16 BRDM (AT13)

Recon Battalion
36 BTR-60s

Naval Air Regiment
10 MI-24 Attack Helicopters
10 MI17 Transport Helicopters

Currently a large number of Marines from the 1st Battalion are detached to Admiral Gorshkov's headquarters,  assigned to the various naval units in eastern Chernarus and the Eastern Chernarus Naval Zone

Arms interdiction in northeastern Chernarus

The Chernarus Naval Forces naval detachment at Solnichni has been alerted that Chedaki smugglers are moving ammunition from a ship anchored about  one kilometer offshore, and moving it and shooters from other Chedaki operations overseas into Chernarus.

The CNF commander dispatches a six man strike team via Zodiac boat and one naval detachment consisting of two assault ships.  The commander has orders to destroy the cargo ship bringing the supplies and shooters in, and then destroy the supplies and shooters already on shore.

The plan is for the CNF strike team to detonate a bomb aboard the cargo ship, and then redeploy to an area south of the marshaling point for the supplies and shooters, engage, and destroy them.  At the same time the strike team hits the shooters, the naval detachment is to provide gunfire support.

This is a night operation.

The long voyage begins as the CNF strike team and the naval detachment leaves the naval base in Solnichni.

Chernarus Ministry of Defense Announcement: July 10th, 2014

Chernarus naval and ground forces have located and have been fighting insurgent forces around the area of Mogilevka, Vyshnoye and areas south of Novi Sobor since July 4th.

Chernarus Naval Forces (CNF) have liberated the town of Mogilevka and have entered Vyshnoye, and are inflicting heavy losses on insurgent forces.  CNF forces are expected to end this phase of operation by July 13th.

Chernarus forces have killed or wounded 150 enemy insurgents while losing three during these operations.

Meanwhile on the eastern coast of Chernarus, CNF forces continue to mount multiple anti-smuggling operations in an effort to stop the flow of guns and munitions into northern Chernarus, and to stop the flow of drugs and slaves out of country.

Also, Chernarusian Defense Forces have been conducting routine crime and drug interdiction operations in north central and northwestern Chernarus.

Vyshnoye Evening Battle

Chedaki infantry were directed to attack CNF positions in Vyshnoye.  Between the time the strike team entered the town and the start of the attack the CNF commander brought up ammunition resupply and the SPG antiarmor group.  A rifle squad was positioned just north of Mogilevka to act as a quick reaction force, and to defend any enemy attempt at reoccupying Mogilevka.

The enemy struck at around 0710 hrs from the east and from the south complicating defense efforts. The CNF strike team's position was nearly overrun while defending from attacks from the east and the CNF commander was wounded. A counterattack by the vehicle element escorting the supply vehicles  restored the situation to  Chernarusia's favor.

Aerial recon suggest the Chedakis are planning two more attacks on Vyshnoye.

CNF probes to Vyshnoye

The tiny contingent of Chernarusian troops in Mogilevka have held against a second counterattack starting at 1000 hrs by Chedaki troops, this time twice as many as before, and again those attacks were stopped.

CNF headquarters ordered the CNF strike team on a patrol north.  Intelligence received by aerial recon suggested Chedaki troops were using Vyshnoye as a staging point for their attacks, and to be used as a forward logistic base for those attacks.  As with the operations all day long, a number of enemy and friendly patrols  were taking place in the area as the team advanced.

Recon also suggested that a rifle squad had occupied an abandoned hostel about a kilometer south probably used as a trip wire for forces heading to Vishnoye.

Relief at Mogilevka 2

As with the first attack, the enemy sent two separate infantry groups into the town.

The CNF commander managed to recover two of the original CDF infantry group, the commander and a machine gunner, deployng them to the northwest of town with the SPG UAZ to defend that axis.

The CNF commander took his group and deployed at a residence in the northeast of town.  Another reinforcing group, a motorized infantry squad was redeployed from Elektrovodask to Mogilevka, which arrived too late to start fighting.

The enemy struck at around 0705 hrs, successfully eliminating the northwest group.  However, the northwest group managed to take a large chunk out of the northwest enemy group.

The northeast group was immolated by the CNF strike team, which then moved to the town center to eliminate any remaining enemy resistance.

Owing to its unique supply profile, the CNF group is running extremely low on ammunition.  Another enemy counterattack is being readied. The CNF commander expects this next one to hit at 1000 hrs.

Relief in Mogilevka

Chedaki forces have infiltrated into an area just north of Mogilevka, and are conducting operations against friendly forces in the area.  A small probe is aimed at the town, which is held by a CDF squad.

Chernarusian Naval Forces command has dispatched a six man Naval Spetsnaz strike team to reinforce the town.  The team recently captured a UAZ with a SPG-9 recoiless rifle.  What follows is the briefing:

A Chedaki rifle unit has infiltrated down to Mogilevka and in in striking distance of the town.  Chances are very good additional enemy as well as friendly units will be in the area.  You must avoid those units at all costs and focus on relieving forces.

Holding the town is a CDF rifle squad.

Your orders are to approach the town from the southwest, assess the situation and attempt to enter the town and relieve friendly forces.  If those forces have retreated, or have been wiped out, your orders are to enter and clear the town of enemy and await relief.

Changing Situation in Chernarus

The Chernarusian Defense ministry since last fall has committed several contingents of regular and special forces to an ever expanding campaign overseas where forces find themselves in remote locations such as Takistan, Lingor Island, Reshmaan province and in Tora Bora.

Additionally, several regular army units once based in Chernogorsk have been reassigned to western Chernarusian to guard against enemy advances in those regions and to protect the capital.

The Chernarusian Naval Forces stationed in eastern Chernarus have been spared much of the retasking that army units have seen in the last six months, enough so that the Balota Flotilla, the Naval Air Base at Balota and the naval task force in Solnichni are essentially the same strength as before.

Indeed with the successful defense last fall against the Chedaki offensives along the northeastern coast of Chernarus, the CDF expressed confidence that existing forces could handle new enemy initiatives in the region.

Along with the successes near Berezino have come additional pressure for Naval Spetsnaz and Chernarusian marine units, with small strike teams taking on tasks meant for much larger units.  In the latter days of June, Chernarusian Naval Spetsnaz strike teams have undertaken no fewer than eight major operations against local drug gangs as well as Chedaki units operating as far south as Elektrovodosk, all of them successful.

The Chedaki high command has also adjusted their forces denuding those forces along the coast and reinforcing central regions between Polana and Stari Sabor with forces including heavy armor and air units.  Rogue Russian military units have been increasing their presence in the region taking advantage of the relative lack of forces to claim territory for their narcotics operations.

Now anytime the Chedacki attempt to move into an area a Naval Spetsnaz units has to move to counter those forces, sometimes three and four times their size.

Raid on Barro

Counternarcotics Mission Two
November 21st, 2013

The second mission for the Chernarusian Naval Forces (CNF) detachment in Lingor was a raid on a tiny village in western Lingor named Barro.

The mission briefing:

 Major, our intelligence operatives tell us that from time to time a Chedaki transport unit billets in Barro for the night when it is too dark to move their goods.  We have an opening to attack a small unit of narcos and to gain intelligence.

Your team will insert by sea at Landing Zone 1 then travel by foot inland to the village of Barro.  We are told that by the time your team gets in place, the enemy will completely drunk and unable to fight.  Barro has a population of about 20 people. In addition the Cheadkis keep women in the village in case they are stuck there for the night.

Your mission is to wipe out all enemy opposition, avoiding civilian casualties wherever possible, destroy all enemy vehicles including the supply trucks, and exfiltrate back to the landing zone.

A stealthy, low key approach to the western shore of Lingor.  Two four man teams in two Zodiac boats.  All teams have suppressed rifles with sighting lasers.  The group commander has two satchel charges to destroy enemy supplies and logistics.

5 Sniper rifles available to CNFiL

The CDF/CNF have four sniper rifles, and one varient available to the commanders.

The main sniper rifle is the Cheyenne Tactical M-200 Intervention rifle, a .408 caliber weapon meant for long range shooting by the CNF and CDF special forces.  CheyTac riflemen are often the first CDF/CNF special forces on the scene of an operation. The rifle is so well equipped for long range shooting, CDF/CNF commanders regard the Cheytac sniper as a force multiplier.

The Arma 2 addons CheyTac M-200 Intervention and AK74M pack are used in this demonstration.

The targets are at 160, 350, 500 and 600 meters.  The Cheytac, SVD and the KSVK rifles are all used to engage all four groups.  The last two groups are beyond the range of the AK-74M rifles.

First the Cheytac M-200 Intervention.

New situation at Gatoro

The following is an intelligence dispatch to the commander of Chernarusian Naval Forces, Lingor (CNFiL):

A few weeks ago unknown persons had placed ads in Chernarusian media touting humanitarian tourism of area in north Lingor where participants could help the poor.  Only a week ago naval intelligence found it those ads had been placed by drug rebels in Lingor with the intent of luring workers to Lingor where they could be captured and put to work helping in drug labs and other aspects of the Lingor drug trade.

Night before last, a number of them, about 20, escaped and went to Gatoro and requested and were granted sanctuary by the Gatoro municipal president, Miguel Lopez Mota.  Lingor rebels tracked the escapees to Gatoro and launched a massive assault into the area, capturing both Gatoro and Medicolin.  Apparently rebels killed nearly everyone they could find including several municipal government workers, and they have captured about half of the escapees, holding them in the abandoned church in Gatoro. The other half are under the protection of the municipal president and are staying at the president's palace, a move the rebels seem to have accepted.

However, Chernarus naval intelligence and Lingor Army intelligence has found that the Lingor rebels have invited several international press representatives to Gatoro to showcase how well residents are being treated.  The move is in fact intended to showcase mass executions that are planned before the rebels withdraw south.

CNFiL: Rescue Mission Near Zanjeer

A Chernarusian special forces strike team is tasked with finding and rescuing a Chernarusian tour group in western Lingor after the tourist plane they were on was forced down near the village of Zanjeer.  The time is January 4th, 2014, at 0500 hrs.

The following is the scenario briefing:

Major, A Chernarusian civilian tourist flight went down in northwestern Lingor yesterday afternoon.  The seven survivors have been captured and are being held at a residence compound near Location 1579 for ransom.

Our operatives tell us that the rebels are expecting the Lingor government to mount a rescue attempt from the south.  Your strike team is ordered to mount the rescue from the north.

The Lingor rebels have reinforced the ares with about 40 fighters in four locations. Another 20 are in  Zanjeer.  We don't know if they will join in the fighting. About 10 are holding the hostages.  The remainder are concentrated in three fortresses, all of which your team must seize before attempting the rescue.  A Lingor Police patrol boat will be carrying your ammo resupply.

Your strike team will insert by  sea about two kilometers from its first area of operation and then fight its way to the location of the hostages.  Once all three fortresses are cleared and you have the hostages, send a radio signal and the Lingor Army will send two transport birds to your location to transport the hostages to safety.

All the best, Major

This after action report begins with a seaborne insertion: