NationStates Jolt Archive

The bright sun shone down upon the vehicles. They had been driving for just under an hour. They had snaked through the busy city streets, keeping an eye out for any sign of enemies. Their unit had been tasked with replacing some front line soldiers further north.

The lead vehicle, an M443-07 Troop Truck halted, coming to a stop at a sign. Behind it, the M443-07 supply truck halted. The third truck, an M443-07 weapons platform didn't have to stop, the convoy had continued forward, no sign of traffic, only children playing in the street.

''Bloody heat.''

A sweaty, smelly hot soldier rolled over onto his back, wiping his brow. He had begun to become uncomfortable having spent almost an hour laying on the bottom of the truck bed.''

''Just thank god we don't have to walk,'' laughed a nearby soldier on a machine gun mount.''

The convoy turned left, the road they were on having ended , forcing them to either go right or left. The soldiers could see signs of battle. Buildings were bullet riddled or crumbling, likely from some explosion. The convoy sped up, continuing down the road....

Boom!

An explosion issued from under the supply trucks front right wheel. The explosion ripped through the entire cab sending huge pieces of metal flying. Civilians screamed and ran. A mother and child lay motionless, bleeding on the side of the road.

''What the fuck was that.''

''Jesus Christ.''

''Someone get on the god damn radio.''

The soldiers in the troop truck were shaken but unhurt. The radio operator did as he was told.

''Command this is Alpha Zero Niner, we have an IED strike at grid 031, 045. Supply truck has been hit, over.''

''Alpha Zero Niner, secure your position and begin treating injured, give us a sitrep in 5, will advise then, out.''

Most of the soldiers jumped from the troop truck, fanning out into the streets and taking up positions. The soldiers on the weapons platform waited, providing cover. Several soldiers ran over to the supply truck. The driver door opened and a charred soldier fell out, screaming in pain. The soldiers came, some trying to calm him down while others checked the cabin. The passenger was dead for sure most of his body was in the backseat. The gunners legs were wet with blood, pieces of metal embedded in them. His top half, sticking up through the roof ring mount was burnt, though not as bad as the driver. He had been knocked unconcious and lay across the roof of the truck..



OOC: M443-07 Truck - Product of Cross Trucking

M443-07 Military Transport is the next generation in military transport. It comes in a number of variants (troop carrier, crane, wrecker, component bed ((for missile, rocket, or radar systems) pictured here in the troop carrier role). It comes with the RiLiable Super Power Steering, Suspension, and Wheel Kit standard which give it the maneuverability (computer compensated) and traction (wider tires with deeper treads) necessary in uncompromising terrain. There is a roof ringmount for weapons systems on the cab, and the body is protected by AR500 steel armor. This armor can defeat .50 caliber projectiles at any point on the vehicle. The cab is fitted with a scrambled communications array making it easier to communicate during operations. The cab houses a driver, mechanic, gunner and has plenty of room for extra ammunition. There are four storage bins: three on the left side for tools and equipment, the right side locker can hold approximately 5 assault rifles and 20 clips of ammunition. The M443-07 is the universally interchangeable combat support vehicle of the future.

Our versions are different. They feature better armor, as well as slat armor and run flat tires. The troop truck and weapons platform both have a widened truck bed and the cover is removed. Sandbags are placed around the sides of the truck bed and soldiers lay down, in the prone position, facing outwards. In the troops truck, there is two weapons mounts on each side of the truck bed and one on the back. On the weapons platform there are three on the sides and two on the back.

The soldiers in the convoy had made a fatal mistake, they didn't move out of the kill zone. The secondary IED nearly disintegrated the third truck, thats what happens when you take a 500 gallon propane tank and bury it under the dirt roads and line the outsides with shrapnel. The first one was always a decoy.

The buildings on either side of the street lit up with gunfire.

((OOC: Trust me, this happens all the time, and an IED that big will disintegrate a Buffalo, and they are designed to take blasts like that.))

The explosion tore through the asphalt of the street, only a few feet in front of the weapons platform. The blast tore apart the rear of the supply truck. The weapons platform was hit bad. The explosion had completely destroyed the cab, its pieces strewn about the road. The soldiers in the back were also hit. Bodies were tossed out of the truck and landed awkwardly on the road. Those near the back hadn't been tossed from the truck. They instead suffered various injuries, most had metal embedded somewhere, however, one unlucky soldier had been pinned by a couple sandbags that had been tossed across the truck.

''Fuck!''

The soldiers treating the injured from the first truck had been knocked off their feet. Luckily, the explosion had gone off farther back, just after the supply truck, Because of the trucks position, it had protected them. The soldiers rose to their feet. The sound of gunfire erupted. Two soldiers gripped the tactical vest of the burnt soldier, dragging him behind a car for cover.

The infantry soldiers had mostly been far enough away from the truck to go undamaged. Two unlucky soldiers using a car for cover had been tossed over the the other side, lay bloody a motionless of the sidewalk. A third soldiers who had been nearby the weapons platform found himself laying in the street, screaming in pain, a piece of metal embedded deep in his shin. Then gunfire erupted. From the surrounding buildings, shadows appeared in the window, illuminated by the muzzle flashes of their weapons. The soldiers returned fire, M-16s firing accurate shots at windows while gunners lay down suppressive fire.
The unit commander got back on the radio.

''Command, this is Alpha Zero Niner, we have been hit by a secondary IED. Weapons platform has been destroyed...''

The unit commander ducked to avoid rifle fire.

''Estimated ten injured, likely more. Taking light arms fire from surrounding buildings, pleas advise.''

''Alpha Zero Niner, can you turn back?''

The radioman turned to look down the street. the weapons platform had been turned just enough that there was no room between it and a nearby parked car to get through.

''Negative command, WP and car block our path.''

''Can you head further?''

''We've got numerous injured and are taking heavy fire. In order to get the injured into the truck we'd have to run through a god damn shooting gallery.''

''Understood. Are there any nearby buildings?''

The radioman looked around. He searched for one close by that would provide the soldiers some protection.

''I've spotted one. about 200 meters away. Enemy presence inside though.''

''Roger that, I'd recommend taking cover their until help can arrive. It's you call though.''

''Understood command,out.''

He popped his head over the car, aiming a spray of bullets at an enemies head in a window....

The sound of burning rubber filled the air as a blue car pulled up to the intersection. The doors opened, and were carefully shut after four men with AK's piled out, they randomly sprayed at soldiers, and quickly went down to their accurate popshots. One of the windows that had been previously empty, was now filled with that of an RPG, he spotted the radioman due to the large antenna. Communication is always the best thing to take out.

A distinctive gunshot was heard from a lengthwise axis of the street, then another. It was a sniper, maybe two of them? Regardless they had been trained well enough to shoot through a hole the size of a fist.

The car did not go unnoticed and before it even stopped it was sprayed with assault rifle fire. The return fire caused the Orbathain troops to duck. Several of them had taken cover behind a car while others behind crates, stalls and posts. Several troops pulled the pin on grenades, lobbing them towards the car.

The RPG streaked by one soldiers head. It went past him, missed the radioman by inches and impacted against a nearby lamp post. The radioman was thrown by the force of the explosion, his skin burnt by the fire and torn by the shrapnel. He hadn't even had a chance to relay the new orders.

The distinctive crack of a Draganov caused the soldiers to get down. A sniper was spotted in a window but there was another somewhere.

The soldiers began popping smoke at each end of the street, obstructing themselves form view by enemy soldiers. They had 21 dead and several injured. Only 22 of them remained. They could not save or treat the soldiers, there was just too many. The Section 21C ordered them to lay down fire on a nearby building. Machine gun fire peppered it with bullets. Several soldiers ran for it, dodging bullets. One was hit. They tossed flashbangs inside and kicked in the door, weapons raised.


OOC: Am I allowed reinforcements, artillery or air support?

((OOC: You are allowed reinforcements, but the stipulation is that they will take at the very least a half hour to get here. So for IC time has been about three minutes. Artillery, no, it causes too much collateral damage. Airstrikes, are allowed, but keep in mind, they would have to be precision, and with all your casualties that is not recommended because it's too hard to keep track of all the casualties.))

The flashbangs blew all the glass out of the room, spraying glass everywhere. The men inside were peppered with glass, blind, and nearly deaf for a couple of minutes. Regardless, the PKM that was placed at the end of the hallway opened up. The hallway channelized them perfectly, it was nearly impossible to avoid the spray of 7.62 bullets. The belt broke when one of the blind terrorists flailed and smacked it, they couldn't see to fix the problem. In one of the rooms past them lay some stairs.

The bullets downed two solders as they rushed into the building. Four more soldiers rushed in after them, seeing that the hail of bullets had stopped. One soldier fired a grenade from his M203 grenade launcher while a gunner fired rounds from his M-249.

On the street the soldiers continued to take cover as best they could. One radioman had been hit already, leaving the job to the other.

''Command this is Alpha Zero Niner, we have multiple IED explosions, two vehicles hit, over 10 likely KIA, more injured, over.''

''Alpha Zero Niner, we've heard this already.''

The radioman was stumped but he decided to continue on.

''We are requesting support at this location.''

''Understood, we've just got the green light, Strike Two Five will be there in roughly 30 minutes, try to take cover in a building if possible.''

''We are moving to one as you speak, over.''

''Roger, out.''

In nearby field, 12 soldiers from the Orbathain Air Calvary loaded into a AC1-31 helicopeter and prepared for hell.

OOC: ACI-31 Bellicus http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13108809&postcount=200

The two confused, blind, and almost deaf terrorists fell to the grenades might. Unfortunately, the close quarters of the situation killed the four Orbathian soldiers in the room, but not before the SAW gunner managed a negligent discharge into his teamleaders back.

On the streets the snipers were going to town, they had cross coverage, meaning that if you were concealed from one, the other had full view of you. They watched as the soldiers went down under their rounds. Suddenly, one of them noticed a second RTO. He got sight alignment, sight picture. He was aimed at the forehead of the radioman.

((OOC: Think about it, was lobbing a grenade in a room, that your troops are in, a very good idea. Also, I stated it was a hallway, hence it's narrow. A fully automatic weapon is horrible for this situation. I mean it sounds cool and all, but think logically.

OH Yes, I almost forgot. Your helicopter isn't going to have anywhere to land. Due to the situation, fast roping them in would be suicide. The helicopter is exposed for far too long, especially with the RPG threat. Looks like trucks are your only option.))

The helicopter was forced to turn around. Before it had even made it close, it had been ambushed by RPGs and needed to be repaired. Another platoon of soldiers were sent, though they wouldn't arrive for another half hour.

At the battle, the terrorists were doing damage. The sniper was taking out solider after soldier and they couldn't hold on much longer. After consulting a map, it was decided that they would try to run. It was their last chance.

From everywhere, smoke grenades were popped. In the confusion, gunners fired upon the buildings while the other soldiers rushed for the troop trucking, leaving the wounded and dead behind. One soldier made it behind the wheel and started the truck up. Other soldiers piled into the cabin and through themselves into the bed. Using the truck for cover and operating the two .50 machine guns attached to the front a rear of the truck, soldiers suppressed the enemy as best they could while the gunners ran for the truck, jumping into the bed. It had likely been a suicide mission. As the truck lurched forward, soldier looked around to see if their buddies had made it. The only problem was the blue car in the intersection, the truck turned left, trying to fit between the car and the light post on the side of the road.

A man sat up in the back seat, and the blue car exploded, as 500 pounds of C-4 have a tendency of doing.

The fight was clearly a victory for the terrorists.

In the streets several of the terrorists started going through the bodies. They found one who was too wounded to leave, but not fatally injured, and they abducted him. Soon propaganda would be spread through the media, and hopefully a search for the missing soldier would be conducted. With their prey captured they cleared themselves of the area, because they knew reinforcements were on their way. On their way away from the battleground they snagged an Orbathian radio, and numerous weapons.

((OOC: Debrief to follow, get one more post, then I'll debrief you, kinda strapped for time at the moment.))

The reinforcements arrived to a scene of horror. The area appeared as a ghost town. The civilians and enemy had all left long before reinforcements had arrived. Looking around the soldiers could see that each truck had suffered some sort of blast damage characterized by each trucks twisted, blackened frame. Bodies lined the streets, either riddled with bullet holes, charred from fire, or resembling a pin cushion, shrapnel sticking out from much of their bodies. There was evidence they had fought back though. The walls of the buildings had been riddled with bullet holes. The reinforcements collected the bodies, placing them in their trucks and heading back to base.

(OOC: Lots of points to hit on here. Oh and just so you know, I'm not just some yahoo, who doesn't know what he's doing. I'm a US Marine. My MOS is Infantry, so I defiantly know what I'm doing.

The trucks.

They aren't too bad, major suggestions include losing the extra turrets. Unless these trucks are really huge, having multiple turrets cuts off sectors of fire for your other turrets. Also, having the turret in the back only makes it more difficult for your soldiers to get off in times when they need to get off fast. Not to mention the fact that turrets make the trucks top heavy. Ditch the sandbags. They really have little application here that can't be done better by steel plating. If they are put there to lay down on, they would only make it more awkward, and take up too much weight. A lot of space is wasted in this vehicle. Having bins for weapons is useless, unless you are transporting them. As a Marine, I keep my weapon at hand at all times. Taking the extra time to run to a bin to grab it just might get me killed. In the Humvee's, they added a clip to clip your M16 into. I still don't use it cause it takes too much fumbling, that and I carry a SAW.

Your soldiers, aka you, need a lot of work on knowledge about, well everything. I can't quite give you all the knowledge I have, especially cause the infantry is a a huge never ending class on how to handle the situation. The major thing I looked for was if you were evaluating each possible threat. The situation in the house doesn't really count here, cause that was a no win situation. The best way to handle that was to lob a frag in there. Oh yeah, flashbangs have little application in a war environment. These men were looking to kill you, straight up merc your ass. They had blown you up several times already, keeping them alive would be at the bottom of your list of things to do, not only that but it's foolish to play around with your own life like that.

The IED was a major threat. One of the huge deals with that is you know there was something there, whats to say there isn't more. Always get away from the killzone, and unless there is no other option stay away from it. In reality, everyone that got off of the third truck would have been dead from that blast. The fact that BEFORE I blocked off the street, you planned on going back through the killzone baffled me. What is there to say that it doesn't happen again? The car was a major threat that should have been dealt with sooner. It was blocking your advance, and a high presence of car bombs makes that a huge threat.

The sniper, the best way to deal with that situation was to go inside a building, which you attempted, but abandoned when your guys blew themselves up. It's actually what I was trying to hint at when I wrote about there being no cover from them on the streets.

Weapons handling, and knowledge is a big issue in your army. NEVER EVER SHOULD A 203 BE FIRED INSIDE A BUILDING FRIENDLY TROOPS ARE IN!!!!!!!!!!! Even though the 203 round probably wouldn't even go off in such close quarters. They have a spin counter, and if the shell doesn't spin a certain number of times the round won't explode. Despite this, I still had to RP that it blew up to get a point across. This is all not to mention that the 203 is an indirect fire weapon. Besides, the 203's biggest advantage is used for signaling. It has colored star clusters and star parachutes for a reason.

The use of a SAW in CQB was probable, the only issues I had with it was that the SAW is too much of an asset to throw in as an early position when doing a hit on a house. You would take a huge loss in firepower if they went down. The other issue was that from a standing firing position, you don't have enough control of the weapon to fire with someone standing right next to you. Think about it. It shoots close to 1000 rounds a minute, it weighs almost 25 pounds with ammo, and the weapon itself is awkward. More than likely if you fire standing up with someone standing just in front of you off to the side ,(it was a hallway, remember) they will get shot.

Thats pretty much all I have to say about it, oh wait, the missing weapons and radios, especially the radios, should rise a pretty big concern. The use of your own weapons against you makes it harder to tell where the enemy is, M16's and AK's sound like two different worlds. The radios, you should have crypto loaded into them so people can't just listen your radio chatter. Now that they have your radio's, they have your crypto.

Are there any questions?

Now, do you wanna do an RP about trying to recover the hostage my terrorists took?))

The trucks.

They aren't too bad, major suggestions include losing the extra turrets. Unless these trucks are really huge, having multiple turrets cuts off sectors of fire for your other turrets.


I considered that, and your right, they are not very huge trucks so this would be a problem. Should that be cut down to only one turret? Also would you recommend any weapons additions such as smoke grenade launchers?


Also, having the turret in the back only makes it more difficult for your soldiers to get off in times when they need to get off fast. Not to mention the fact that turrets make the trucks top heavy.


For the turret, would it be possible to make it fold back into a box at the back of the truck or should I just abandon it altogether.


Ditch the sandbags. They really have little application here that can't be done better by steel plating. If they are put there to lay down on, they would only make it more awkward, and take up too much weight.

The sandbags were there for protection as well as comfort. My idea was based on a picture which I will link too. My idea was than rather sitting and leaving much of themselves exposed, I could have them lay down and use the sides of the truck bed and the sandbags for cover. If I get rid of the sandbags in favor of more armor, is there any way I can have my troops sit or lay so they are not as exposed? Should I look into a covered vehicle instead?

A lot of space is wasted in this vehicle. Having bins for weapons is useless, unless you are transporting them. As a Marine, I keep my weapon at hand at all times. Taking the extra time to run to a bin to grab it just might get me killed. In the Humvee's, they added a clip to clip your M16 into. I still don't use it cause it takes too much fumbling, that and I carry a SAW.

The bins weren't my idea, they were there from the start. Should I remove them or is there something else that could be placed inside of them, maybe extra rations or something? Truth be told, If I was a soldier, I wouldn't want to clip my weapon in, I'd want to have it at the ready?


Your soldiers, aka you, need a lot of work on knowledge about, well everything. I can't quite give you all the knowledge I have, especially cause the infantry is a a huge never ending class on how to handle the situation. The major thing I looked for was if you were evaluating each possible threat. The situation in the house doesn't really count here, cause that was a no win situation. The best way to handle that was to lob a frag in there. Oh yeah, flashbangs have little application in a war environment. These men were looking to kill you, straight up merc your ass. They had blown you up several times already, keeping them alive would be at the bottom of your list of things to do, not only that but it's foolish to play around with your own life like that.

I'll remember that, the flashbangs are mainly because my doctrine is very against killing or injuring civilians or even doing damage to their houses. Yeah, it seems stupid but my military always looks to win the hearts of the people, to make occupation of the nation easier.


The IED was a major threat. One of the huge deals with that is you know there was something there, whats to say there isn't more. Always get away from the killzone, and unless there is no other option stay away from it. In reality, everyone that got off of the third truck would have been dead from that blast. The fact that BEFORE I blocked off the street, you planned on going back through the killzone baffled me. What is there to say that it doesn't happen again?

This I'll keep in mind also.


The car was a major threat that should have been dealt with sooner. It was blocking your advance, and a high presence of car bombs makes that a huge threat.

I'll remember this.

The sniper, the best way to deal with that situation was to go inside a building, which you attempted, but abandoned when your guys blew themselves up. It's actually what I was trying to hint at when I wrote about there being no cover from them on the streets.

That was my thought also, are smoke grenades effective at all?

Weapons handling, and knowledge is a big issue in your army. NEVER EVER SHOULD A 203 BE FIRED INSIDE A BUILDING FRIENDLY TROOPS ARE IN!!!!!!!!!!! Even though the 203 round probably wouldn't even go off in such close quarters. They have a spin counter, and if the shell doesn't spin a certain number of times the round won't explode. Despite this, I still had to RP that it blew up to get a point across. This is all not to mention that the 203 is an indirect fire weapon. Besides, the 203's biggest advantage is used for signaling. It has colored star clusters and star parachutes for a reason.

I actually completely forgot about the fact that an M203 won't go off if it doesn't have time.

The use of a SAW in CQB was probable, the only issues I had with it was that the SAW is too much of an asset to throw in as an early position when doing a hit on a house. You would take a huge loss in firepower if they went down. The other issue was that from a standing firing position, you don't have enough control of the weapon to fire with someone standing right next to you. Think about it. It shoots close to 1000 rounds a minute, it weighs almost 25 pounds with ammo, and the weapon itself is awkward. More than likely if you fire standing up with someone standing just in front of you off to the side ,(it was a hallway, remember) they will get shot.

Could I utilize a different weapon weapon is this sort of situation?


Thats pretty much all I have to say about it, oh wait, the missing weapons and radios, especially the radios, should rise a pretty big concern. The use of your own weapons against you makes it harder to tell where the enemy is, M16's and AK's sound like two different worlds. The radios, you should have crypto loaded into them so people can't just listen your radio chatter. Now that they have your radio's, they have your crypto.

Your right, radios would be a big concern?

Now, do you wanna do an RP about trying to recover the hostage my terrorists took?

That would be cool, sure.

I'd like to thank you for your help, you have quite a bit of knowledge .

OOC: Bump

I considered that, and your right, they are not very huge trucks so this would be a problem. Should that be cut down to only one turret? Also would you recommend any weapons additions such as smoke grenade launchers?
yes, smoke grenade launchers would work charms




For the turret, would it be possible to make it fold back into a box at the back of the truck or should I just abandon it altogether.
Just abandon the idea, one that folds wouldn't have enough armor to protect a turret gunner.


The sandbags were there for protection as well as comfort. My idea was based on a picture which I will link too. My idea was than rather sitting and leaving much of themselves exposed, I could have them lay down and use the sides of the truck bed and the sandbags for cover. If I get rid of the sandbags in favor of more armor, is there any way I can have my troops sit or lay so they are not as exposed? Should I look into a covered vehicle instead?
There is armor plating designed to cover troops in troop transport vehicles.
.

The bins weren't my idea, they were there from the start. Should I remove them or is there something else that could be placed inside of them, maybe extra rations or something? Truth be told, If I was a soldier, I wouldn't want to clip my weapon in, I'd want to have it at the ready?
You can place other things in them, it's just the clips required to clip a weapon in makes it so it's hard to put anything else in there


I'll remember that, the flashbangs are mainly because my doctrine is very against killing or injuring civilians or even doing damage to their houses. Yeah, it seems stupid but my military always looks to win the hearts of the people, to make occupation of the nation easier.
Hearts and minds wouldn't apply in this situation. The civilians know whats going on, and they know that if they are in a building with combatants accidents will happen, thats why they scatter when combatants appear.

Could I utilize a different weapon weapon is this sort of situation?
Yes, a semi automatic assault rifle, such as the M-16.



That would be cool, sure.

I'd like to thank you for your help, you have quite a bit of knowledge .
My apologies, due to my situation here in Iraq, I will be unable to start this. We are switching to a secure monitored internet, if I let out "Sensitive" information I could get courts-martialed. While it's not real, I'd rather not risk it. If you want, when I get back stateside in July, I have plans for a similar RP on a semi larger scale. The base unit would still be the squad sized unit. Just it would be several nations occupying a city with a hostile insurgency.

Also, I wanted to hit on some more things that I forgot about last time. The trucks you are using are mainly large transports, they would be escorted by smaller assault vehicles. According to USMC regulations, a 7-ton truck is not allowed to leave the wire without at least two smaller assault vehicles, such as Humvees.

If I'm still around in July, which I hope to be, I'd be glad to do it then. Until then, good luck in Iraq.