NationStates Jolt Archive

EXERCISE: SUNDERED STRAITS

This is an wargamed exercise, conducted seperately from other RPs. Forces appear here that may also appear in other theatres.
Mutual allies, don't panic. This is for mutual amusement and practice, no actual hostilities are being entered into.

SCENARIO:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. Several years later, followers of Clodam RATSIRAKA, backed by a resurgent monarchist Malagasy Loyalist Front declared the RAVALOMANANA government to be corrupt, and announced a change of government. Forces loyal to the RAVALOMANANA government have dug in, and order has rapidly collapsed throughout the country.
Lyran units have landed in the north, at the request of the MLF, and The People's Freedom has pledged its support to the southern-based forces of President RAVALOMANANA.
The population is assessed as being remarkably indifferent, but are sensitive to the presence of foreign forces.

GEOGRAPHY:
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E

Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m


FORCES:
Both sides may field up to and including 8 combatant divisions, and 8 squadrons of fixed wing aircraft. No naval forces or influence of any kind is permitted. Supply routes are considered secure from naval interdiction. ORBAT is required as soon as possible. Initial deployment for Lyras and TPF will be no further than 100km from Mahajanga and Tulear respectively, and where possible is to be indicated on the map provided.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/2821090/MapofMadagascar-TacticalOverlay.jpg

Okay, I assume you don't want logistics?

x6 Armored Calvary Divisions

Trooper:
1x BDU clothing [Desert, Forest, Urban, Winter, and etc.]
1x BDY Level III armored vest, Level IV with ceramic inserts
1x M-11 Communications Helmet Level II protection
1x Weapon
1x Dual filter gas mask
1x rubber and steel reinforced combat boots
1x K-bar combat knife, 8 inches, also bayonet
1x M-1 Entrenching Tool
4x-8x Grenades
1x Poncho
1x Compass
12-24 magazines of ammo for assault weapons, 4-10 missiles for other weapons
x1 Pistol [Normally for NCO but lower ranks can request them from armory, and they usually get them if they are in stock.]
Some troopers are also equipped with the Kreigzimmer Samson armored suit.

Squad
1x NCO Squad leader [DR-83, DR-87 Carbine]
6x Assault [DR-83, DR-87, Shotguns]
1x Machine Gunner [DMG-83]
2x Grenadiers [DMG-83 w/LGFM underbarel system or SAGL]
1x Designated Marksmen [DRS-83 or M-18]
1x Anti-tank trooper [ ACER MANPAD, LAC-5, Corona ATGM, FLIDOR]

TPFian Weapons Squad [12 men]
1x NCO [DR-83 or DR-87]
2x Heavy Weapons Troopers [MG-6]
2x Heavy Weapons Troopers [MG-6]
4x Anti-tank Troopers [ LAC-5, ACER, Corona ATGM, FLIDOR
2x Heavy Weapons Troopers [ 12.7mm, or 15.5mm machine guns]
1x Medic

TPFian Platoon [48 men]
x3 Squads
1x Weapons squad
3x Medics
1x UAV

TPFian Company [192 men]
x3 Platoons
1x Heavy Weapons Platoon
3x Leopard 120mm mortar AFV
16x Leopard IFV or APC or 16x VAE armored cars or Six-ton trucks [ One company]
4x Leopard MGS systems
2x UAV

TPFian Battalion [768 men]
3x Companies
2x Companies of Engineers, air defense, etc. aka modular
3x Companies of Leopard AFV
1x Battery of 155mm Lion SPG units, or equivalent towed artillery, or leopard support. [16]
1x Company of Panther II Main battle tanks [16]
1x Scout-Sniper Platoon [40 men, R-1 Marksmen Rifles, 15.5mm anti-material rifles]

TPFian Brigade
3x Battalions
1x Modular Battalion
1x Reconnaissance Battalion
3x Artillery Batteries
1x Medical staff [ 25 medics, 16 doctors, 8 surgeons]
1x Transport Battalion [Separate from logistics units, includes VAE armored cars, 6 ton trucks and the like.]
2x Companies on Panther II

TPF Division
2x Brigades
1x Divisional Artillery Unit [Includes 155mm as well as MLRS units and others] [ up to 100 actual pieces]
1x Kampfgruppe Battalion [AKA, the firefighting battalion designed to reinforce positions.]
3x Modular Battalions [Usually medical, air defense, and engineer.]

2x Air Assault
Trooper:
1x BDU clothing [Desert, Forest, Urban, Winter, and etc.]
1x BDY Level III armored vest, Level IV with ceramic inserts
1x M-11 Communications Helmet Level II protection
1x Weapon
1x Dual filter gas mask
1x rubber and steel reinforced combat boots
1x K-bar combat knife, 8 inches, also bayonet
1x M-1 Entrenching Tool
4x-8x Grenades
1x Poncho
1x Compass
12-24 magazines of ammo for assault weapons, 4-10 missiles for other weapons
x1 Pistol [Normally for NCO but lower ranks can request them from armory, and they usually get them if they are in stock.]
Some troopers are also equipped with the Kreigzimmer Samson armored suit.

Squad
1x NCO Squad leader [DR-83, DR-87 Carbine]
6x Assault [DR-83, DR-87, Shotguns]
1x Machine Gunner [DMG-83]
2x Grenadiers [DMG-83 w/LGFM underbarel system or SAGL]
1x Designated Marksmen [DRS-83 or M-18]
1x Anti-tank trooper [ ACER MANPAD, LAC-5, Corona ATGM, FLIDOR]
TPFian Weapons Squad
1x NCO [DR-83 or DR-87]
2x Heavy Weapons Troopers [MG-6]
2x Heavy Weapons Troopers [MG-6]
4x Anti-tank Troopers [ LAC-5, ACER, Corona ATGM, FLIDOR
2x Heavy Weapons Troopers [ 12.7mm, or 15.5mm machine guns]
1x Medic

TPFian Platoon
x3 Squads
1x Weapons squad
3x Medics
1x UAV

TPFian Company
x3 Platoons
13x Bellicus Armored Helicopters
4x Eiko Reconnaissance Choppers

TPFian Battalion
3x Companies
1x Attack Helicopters [Gekco]
2x Atlas Transports

TPFian Brigade
3x Battalions
1x Modular Battalion
1x Medical staff [ 25 medics, 16 doctors, 8 surgeons]


TPF Division
2x Brigades
3x Modular Battalions [Engineer, Medical, Air Defense, MP, etc.]

4x Squadrons, Air superiority Fighters [ASF-70, 14]
2x Fighter-bomber Squadrons [Cardinal, 14]
1x Support Squadron [ 3x Red Robin AWACS, 3x Blue Robin JSTARS, 2x Safeguard EW aircraft, 4x Atlas transports]
1x Gunship Squadron [Atlas gunships, 14]

does this work for ya, mate?

ORBAT – EXERCISE SUNDERED STRAITS

Warmarshall's Own 67th Armoured

201st Brigade, 67th Armoured Division
804th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
805th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
806th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
807th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
202nd Brigade, 67th Armoured Division
809th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
810th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
811th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
812th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
203rd Brigade, 67th Armoured Division
813th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
814th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
815th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
204th Brigade, 67th Armored Division
816th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
817th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
818th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
205th (Aviation) Brigade, 67th Armored Division
819th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
820th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
821st Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
822nd Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
67th Armored Division Support Command
808th Support Battalion [DS 201st Brigade]
823rd Support Battalion [DS 202nd Brigade]
824th Support Battalion (Main)
825th Support Battalion [DS 203rd Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
826th Engineer Battalion
827th Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
828th Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company



98th Castlegate Heavy Horse (Armoured)

294th Brigade, 98th Armoured Division
1176th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1177th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1178th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1179th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
295th Brigade, 98th Armoured Division
1180th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1181st Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1182nd Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1188th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
296th Brigade, 98th Armoured Division
1183rd Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1184th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1185th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
297th Brigade, 98th Armored Division
1186th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1187th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1189th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
298th (Aviation) Brigade, 98th Armored Division
1190th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
1191st Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
1192nd Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
1199th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
98th Armored Division Support Command
1193rd Support Battalion [DS 294th Brigade]
1194th Support Battalion [DS 295th Brigade]
1196th Support Battalion (Main)
1195th Support Battalion [DS 296th Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
1197th Engineer Battalion
1198th Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
1199th Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company





8th (Wolfspiders) Mechanised

24th Brigade, 8th Mechanised Division
96th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
97th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
98th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
99th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
25th Brigade, 8th Mechanised Division
100th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
101st Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
102nd Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
103rd Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
26th Brigade, 8th Mechanised Division
104th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
105th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
106th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
27th Brigade, 8th Mechanised Division
107th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
108th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
109th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
28th (Aviation) Brigade, 8th Mechanised Division
110th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
111th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
112th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
113th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
8th Mechanised Division Support Command
118th Support Battalion [DS 24th Brigade]
114th Support Battalion [DS 25th Brigade]
115th Support Battalion (Main)
116th Support Battalion [DS 26th Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
117th Engineer Battalion
119th Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
120th Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company




112th Mechanised

336th Brigade, 112th Mechanised Division
1344th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1345th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1346th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1347th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
337th Brigade, 112th Mechanised Division
1348th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1349th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1350th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1351st Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
338th Brigade, 112th Mechanised Division
1352nd Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1353rd Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1354th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
339th Brigade, 112th Mechanised Division
1355th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1356th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1357th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
340th (Aviation) Brigade, 112th Mechanised Division
1358th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
1359th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
1360th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
1361st Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
112th Mechanised Division Support Command
1362nd Support Battalion [DS 336th Brigade]
1363rd Support Battalion [DS 337th Brigade]
1364th Support Battalion (Main)
1365th Support Battalion [DS 338th Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
1366th Engineer Battalion
1367th Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
1368th Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company




512th Mechanised

1536th Brigade, 512th Mechanised Division
6144th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
6145th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
6146th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
6147th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1537th Brigade, 512th Mechanised Division
6148th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
6149th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
6150th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
6151st Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1538th Brigade, 512th Mechanised Division
6152nd Armoured Battalion (LY4)
6153rd Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
6154th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1539th Brigade, 512th Mechanised Division
6155th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6156th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6157th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1540th (Aviation) Brigade, 512th Mechanised Division
6158th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
6159th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
6160th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
6161st Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
512th Mechanised Division Support Command
6166th Support Battalion [DS 1536th Brigade]
6162nd Support Battalion [DS 1537th Brigade]
6163rd Support Battalion (Main)
6164th Support Battalion [DS 1538th Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
6165th Engineer Battalion
6167th Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
6168th Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company






1157th Mechanised

3471st Brigade, 1157th Mechanised Division
13884th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
13885th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
13886th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
13887th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
3472nd Brigade, 1157th Mechanised Division
13888th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
13889th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
13890th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
13891st Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
3473rd Brigade, 1157th Mechanised Division
13892nd Armoured Battalion (LY4)
13893rd Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
13894th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
3474th Brigade, 1157th Mechanised Division
13895th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
13896th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
13897th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
3475th (Aviation) Brigade, 1157th Mechanised Division
13898th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
13899th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
13900th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
13901st Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
1157th Mechanised Division Support Command
13906th Support Battalion [DS 3471st Brigade]
13902nd Support Battalion [DS 3472nd Brigade]
13903rd Support Battalion (Main)
13904th Support Battalion [DS 3473rd Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
13905th Engineer Battalion
13907th Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
13908th Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company





2388th Mechanised

7164th Brigade, 2388th Mechanised Division
28654th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
28655th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
28656th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
28657th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
7165th Brigade, 2388th Mechanised Division
28658th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
28659th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
28660th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
28661st Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
7166th Brigade, 2388th Mechanised Division
28662nd Armoured Battalion (LY4)
28663rd Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
28664th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
7167th Brigade, 2388th Mechanised Division
28665th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
28666th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
28667th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
7168th (Aviation) Brigade, 2388th Mechanised Division
28668th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
28669th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
28670th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
28671st Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
2388th Mechanised Division Support Command
28676th Support Battalion [DS 7164th Brigade]
28672nd Support Battalion [DS 7165th Brigade]
28673rd Support Battalion (Main)
28674th Support Battalion [DS 7166th Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
28675th Engineer Battalion
28677th Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
28678th Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company




514th Artillery Division

1542nd Brigade, 514th Artillery Division
6168th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6169th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
6170th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6171st Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1545th Brigade, 514th Artillery Division
6172nd Armoured Battalion (LY4)
6173rd Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6174th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6175th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
1544th Brigade, 514th Artillery Division
6176th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6177th Artillery Battalion (LY516/219, LY300)
6178th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
1543rd Brigade, 514th Artillery Division
6179th Mechanised Battalion (LY219)
6180th Armoured Battalion (LY4)
6181st Armoured Battalion (LY4)
1546th (Aviation) Brigade, 514th Artillery Division
6182nd Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
6183rd Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
6184th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
6185th Battalion (20 x TRA-92)
514th Artillery Division Support Command
6186th Support Battalion [DS 1542nd Brigade]
6187th Support Battalion [DS 1545th Brigade]
6188th Support Battalion (Main)
6189th Support Battalion [DS 1543rd Brigade]
Air Defence Battery (LY471)
NBCD Company
6190th Engineer Battalion
6191st Military Intelligence Battalion
Military Police Company
6192nd Signal Battalion
Personnel Administration Company


4 Squadrons TSF-624 “Shukusei” Advanced Air Superiority Fighters
2 Squadrons of AC130G “Spectre” Gunships
1 Squadron of EF-18G “Growler”
1 AEWACS Squadron (E3 Sentry, “Keep” radar retrofitted)



Lyran Mechanised Infantry Soldier (Doctrinal)
Multi-spectral camouflage (woodland variant, in this theatre)
Main weapon
Secondary weapon (one of a number of high-caliber pistols)
12 magazines (AR44) OR 6 collapsible magazines (LY19)
LY33 LSRAAW (except anti-armour personnel, who have something bigger as primary)
Cromwell II-datalinked Helmet
“Bat's Eye” autofocusing lowlight visibility system (integral to helmet)
Ballistic armour (Tungsten Disulfide/synthetic anciniform silksteel)
Metal-studded combat gloves
“Mamba” tactical boots
Modular chest webbing (integral to personal armour)
6 x HEDP grenades
“Lycos” acid-edged combatant machete OR “Badger” Multi-use Entrenching Tool
Compress quick-release backpack
Low-weight sleeping bag
Type 2 self-diagnostic and trauma kit
Spare batteries
1 day's rations

Armoured Platoon
3 x LY4

Armoured Company
4 x Tank platoons
Company command section (2 x LY4, 1 x Armd Rcvry)

Armoured Support Company
Air defence platoon (3 x LY220/219 Shepherd)
Engineer platoon (Armd Rcvry, Mine warfare and EW)
Medical platoon (3 x LY219 Ambulance, Mobile Level 2 treatment facility)
Recon, Surveillance and Target Acquisition RSTA) platoon (1 sect ATVs, GSR sect, UAV sect)
Signals platoon (2 x LY219 Cmd variant, 1 x Armd Rcvry)

Armoured Battalion
BHQ (1 x LY219 Cmd Variant, 2 x LY4)
3 Armoured companies
1 Armoured support company
1 Mechanised infantry company

Lyran Mechanised Section (Doctrinal)
Number 1 Scout (ER AR44)
Number 2 Scout (AR44)
Section Commander (CPL) (AR44)
Section 2IC (LCPL) (AR44)
Gun (LY19 LMG)
Number 2 gun (AR44)
Number 1 Assault (AR44)
Assault gunner (LY19 LMG)
Number 3 Assault (AR44)
Number 4 Assault (AR44)
LY219 Ironheart (Light IFV variant)

Mechanised Infantry Heavy Weapons Section
Section Commander (CPL) (AR44)
Section 2IC (LCPL) (AR44)
First MG (LY60 14.7mm HMG)
First MG assistant (AR44, Spare LY60 Ammo, tripod, C2 sight)
Second MG (LY60 14.7mm HMG)
Second MG assistant (AR44, Spare LY60 Ammo, tripod, C2 sight)
AT Missileer (Javelin III, 4 missiles)
AT Missileer (Javelin III, 4 missiles)
AT Missileer (Javelin III, 4 missiles)
AT Missileer (Javelin III, 4 missiles)
Ironheart (APC variant)

Lyran Mechanised Infantry Platoon
3 Sections
Heavy Weapons Section

Mechanised Infantry Company
3 Mechanised platoons
CHQ (2 x LY219 Command variants)
Mortar platoon (3 x LY516/219 Stormdrake, 1x LY219 IFV)
DFS platoon (3 x LY219 MGS, 1 x LY219 IFV)

Mechanised Infantry Support Company
Engineer platoon (LY219 Armd Rcvry, Mine warfare and EW)
Air defence platoon (3 x LY220/219 Shepherd)
Anti-armour platoon (2 x LY219 ATGM variant, 1 x APC + 12 pers AT section)
Medical platoon (3 x LY219 Ambulance, Mobile Level 2 treatment facility)
Recon, Surveillance and Target Acquisition RSTA) platoon (1 sect ATVs, GSR sect, UAV sect)
Signals platoon (2 x LY219 Cmd variant, 1 x Armd Rcvry)

Mechanised Battalion
BHQ (2 x LY219 Command Variant)
3 Mechanised infantry companies
1 Mechanised infantry support company
1 Armoured company

Artillery “Gun”
1 artillery piece (either LY300 or LY516/219)
1 LY219 ammunition carrier/loader
6 personnel

Artillery “Gun platoon”
HQ “Gun” (not actually a weapon... LY219 IFV)
3 Guns

Artillery “Gun Battery”
3 Gun platoons
1 Mechanised infantry platoon

Artillery Support Battery
Engineer platoon (LY219 Armd Rcvry, Mine warfare and EW)
Air defence platoon (3 x LY220/219 Shepherd)
Anti-armour platoon (2 x LY219 ATGM variant, 1 x LY219 APC + 12 pers AT section)
Medical platoon (3 x LY219 Ambulance, Mobile Level 2 treatment facility)
Recon, Surveillance and Target Acquisition RSTA) platoon (1 sect ATVs, GSR sect, UAV sect)
Signals platoon (2 x LY219 Cmd variant, 1 x Armd Rcvry)

Artillery Battalion
3 Gun batteries (1 x LY516/219, 2 x LY300)
1 Artillery support battery

Your ORBAT looks ok to me... any thoughts on mine before we start deployment?

OOC: Looks good, but I don't see any aircraft. Care to post the opening? That way I know what your looking for in the posts.

4 Squadrons TSF-624 “Shukusei” Advanced Air Superiority Fighters
2 Squadrons of AC130G “Spectre” Gunships
1 Squadron of EF-18G “Growler”
1 AEWACS Squadron (E3 Sentry, “Keep” radar retrofitted)


Just below the artillery division...

Give me an hour or so to post my deployment.

It'll also show how to use the map... I hope...

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/2821090/MapofMadagascar-TacticalOverlay-Lyr.jpg

D Day+3

All eight divisions of the Lyran taskgroup were ashore, and were beginning to push inland. Field Marshal Blomberg, the Commander in Chief, was headquartered in Mahajanga, although headquartered was a lofty word for a mobile command vehicle.

The Skyguard systems were operational, and were operating in a leapfrog fashion, although over an area of many hundreds of kilometres.

His plan was simple, but fairly predictable, he thought. His force dispositions made subtlety unlikely, and even less so given the topography.

A flight of jets roared overhead, heard through his command vehicle's armour. Shukuseis, by the pitch.

His first punch was ready, although he doubted that his opposition would be aware of it.

He looked at his map, and smiled.

It had been a long time since Lyras had fought on anything like even terms, as the idea of "even" or "fair" was anathema to military commonsense. Nevertheless, here they were, and the chance for memorable victory, the concept itself an icon of Lyran history and cultural tradition, was very much present.

OOC: What program are you using for the map? Paint is not working too well for me...

Just plain paint... using a whole bunch of Google Map printscreens.

D-Day + 3
Lord-Militant General Guderian reviewed his plan. His army would need to advance rapidly to the capital city, his orders were to secure the city and dig in against any Lyrasian counter-attack. That, however, was easier said than done. Since both armies were of roughly equal distance to the capital, either formation could make it there first. Thus, Guderian had to be aggressive. He ordered both of his Air Assault Division to move quickly and establish forward defense position approximately one hundred kilometers from the capital. This would keep them a safe distance away but would also allow them to prepare forward bases for the aircraft and secure supplies such as fuel, in order to cut down on the distance the trucks had to drive. Once the main force had arrived, they would proceed to the capital city while elements of the air assault divisions struck at the enemy's logistical routes. Using this plan, it was likely Guderian would get there first. His main force would be moving at the rate of 150 kilometers per day, thanks to the heavily mechanized units and zero enemy opposition.

OOC: I really suck at paint so if you need to adjust the distance feel free. Sorry.

OOC: Dude...

100km from Tulear, not Antananarivo...

Talk about giving me a shock, lol...

OOC:

No, no, you misunderstand. I'm sure you're within 100km of the capital, Antananarivo... but your embarkation point is the city at the end of the main road in the south west... Tulear. Which puts us both about equi-distant from the capital.

Revised TPF deployment...

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/2821090/MapofMadagascar-TacticalOverlay-Cor.jpg

OOC: Ohhh. Lulz. I see what I did. Let me edit the previous post.

The Lyran advance on Antananarivo continued, with the two armoured divisions leading the advance on either side of Madagascar's primary north-south accessway. The 514th advanced more conservatively, edging east behind the 8th Mechanised, while the 512th and 1157th pushed south west, down and towards the western coastline.

Most importantly, however, the 112th and 2388th were approaching Mount Marimokotro, the highest point on the island. Blomberg expected them to reach the position within the day.

Combat air patrols continued to fly around the clock, and AEWACS flew shifts to maintain coverage.

It wouldn't be long before Blomberg made his first move.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/2821090/Madagascar-TacticalOverlay-2ndLyran.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/bobiscool33/lol44.jpg
D-Day +4

The whirling of the helicopter blades could be heard by the local inhabits as they saw dozens of Bellicus transport choppers fly over the small villages and slums that lay around Antanosfy. The helicopters were heavily armed, fully loaded with troopers and armaments. They landed at the outskirts of the city, the locals ran away in fear, as combat engineers dismounted and moved towards the tree infested fields. Once there, they used explosives to clear out more landing zones for the Atlas and Bellicus choppers. As the helicopters landed, men jumped out in combat fashion as the blades pressed the grass to the ground.

Within a few hours the combat engineers had successfully created a small dirt landing strip along with a small supply depot and fortified positions where the bulk of the artillery would likely be located. A Blue Robins JSTARS began to take radar photos of the area and began to map out the surrounding terrain. Atlas transports continued to fly in supplies and additional troops and light artillery pieces, however their payload did not allow them to bring in heavier vehicles.

ASF-70 fighters continued to patrol the surrounding areas and several times Red Robin AWACS aircraft caught ghost returns, possible enemy ASF-70's. The enemy used the same fighter as TPF did.

Now, TPF waited for Lyras to make their moves.

D-Day + 5

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The stage was set, and the curtain was about to rise on the second act of the campaign.

In the north, the 112th Mechanised Infantry Division detached the 336th Armoured Brigade, and the 112th Division's organic LY471 Skyguard battery. The 336th Bde and 112th Div AD Bty headed north, and, within 12 hours of seperating from the rest of the 112th had established themselves on the southern slopes of Mount Maromokotro, the highest point of Madagascar.

As the last of the 112th Div AD Bty's PAMVs connected up to the battery's net, the battery commander notified Field Marshal Blomberg that they were ready, and the Skyguard-net's Cromwell II uplink was secure in stand-down mode.

At 1100h, Blomberg gave the go-ahead.

At 1102h, the 112th Div AD Bty activated its tripartite radar array. High-powered radar waves scoured the skies, enveloping the whole island in blanket coverage.

The enemies AWACS aircraft had been located a while ago, their own radar giving away their locations clearly. But the screen lit up with contacts other than AWACS, the Skyguard's powerful phased arrays designed as they were to illuminate low-observability contacts at ranges up to 5200km.

The contacts were instantly displayed on the Cromwell datalinks of every air defence system of every Lyran formation. Only one battery had its radars up, but the Cromwell uplink ensured that every battery could see what 112th Div AD Bty could. And, given the target rich environment that had suddenly presented itself, there were an awful lot of missiles that now found themselves within range of hostile aircraft.

"All systems, weapons free. I say again, we are weapons free."

The missile operator toggle the release switch, and the 112th Div AD Bty's uplink showed missile launches from 98th Armoured, 67th Armoured, and 1157th Mech's AD elements. LY4030s and LY4031s, according to the display, with the larger and longer ranged LY4030s being directed at the more-distant AWACS aircraft.

112th Div AD Bty had a specific task though. As determined by its AN/FPS-66 and AN/MPQ-71 systems, it was tasked to eliminate TPF's satellite coverage of the theatre, using LY4032 missiles in their anti-satellite capacity.

The radar could find them. The missiles could hit them. Release would follow target lock. (OOC: that means I'm letting you determine if your satellites are above the visible horizon, and therefore targettable, or below it, and therefore untargettable, but also unusable...)

Further to the south, the 112th division, minus 336th Armoured Brigade and its AD Bty, pressed further south, moving to link up with the 2388th. 98th and 67th Armoured continued to advance down the Mahajanga-Antananarivo road, with 8th Mechanised in depth.

514th would form the lynchpin of phase three, and an air of expectation was starting to pervade the ranks.

Lyran aircraft continued to loiter well behind the lines, secure in the knowledge that Skyguard was providing theatre coverage, but ready to respond if needed.

They doubted they would have to. Given the salvo the Skyguards had just released, it was far more likely that opposing fast-air would have other things on their minds.

As the Lyran missiles reached the halfway point of their flightpaths, the Lyran Spectre gunships pressed ahead, cruising above MANPAD range (ie, greater than 5000m) and guided to their targets by Lyran satellite reconaissance, activated pre-programmed engagement patterns, liberally spraying the positions of the two TPF air assault brigades with howitzer and vulcan cannon fire (OOC: in modern terms a AC130 can put a 20mm shell into every square foot of a football field every 15 seconds... the Lyran variant is roughly equivalent...).

514th was standing by, anticipating the response to the AC130s.

D-Day +5
The enemy SAM launch had come at somewhat of a surprise, but luckily TPF had been prepared for it. The ASF-70's were ultra stealthy and flew low to the ground, the enemy radar could not pick up more than mere faints of them, even so several missiles were able to lock on to the fighters. They quickly activated their afterburners and dove towards the jungle floor, dispensing chaff as they went and using their ultra maneuverability to survive the assault. Despite this six aircraft were hit, and they spiraled down towards the jungle floor, exploding in a brilliant light.

One Red Robin AWACS was on duty at the time, normally two were on station but commanders had found that one would be perfectly capable of handling combat on the island especially when supplemented by a Blue Robin. Also flying was a Safeguard EW aircraft, when the enemy SAM's launched they quickly received heavy jamming signals that would be hard to burn through, possibly even frying their seeker heads while the Safeguard also worked to identify the launch zones. The Red Robin also quickly dropped altitude and hard-banked left, turning off the huge radar dish as to make it harder to find...

The Peoples Freedom had after all been customers of Lyras and thus also had their own LY471 battery's deployed on the island. In fact they likely had more than Lyras had deployed, and while several of these had not set up, at least two had and were also covering the island. They soon detected the enemy missiles that had targeted the orbitals and launched their own Rampart missiles to intercept these.

Importantly the enemy gunships had not taken into account that the air assault brigades had more than just MANPADS for an anti air role. Rather the Atlas transport aircraft had also brought in Lynx air-defense units in addition to the LY471 SAM sites protecting the island. The Lynx was armed with two gast 30mm autocannons but more importantly it would use Archer missiles, which have a 8000m ceiling and had a rocket booster for high initial speeds and altitudes, once at terminal area the seeker would then use IR to home in on the target.

A squadron of Cardinal fighters took of from the airfield, covered by a squadron of ASF-70's. This squadron was equipped with a mixture of HARM and cluster bombs for use against the SAM sites. They flew as low as possible, below radar range and looped over the water on the right side of the island so that they would not be visibly seen, before arcing back onto the mainland for an attack against the SAM sites on the top of the mountain and other targets.

Hundreds of personnel across the country watched as Cromwell identified a myriad of air defence radars lighting up, tracking the gunships in the air. Skyguard radar fed data about the location of TPF Skyguard batteries, their positions revealed by Rampart launch, and their own radar emissions.
More than a few missiles had been fired at the gunships directly as well, from embedded air defence units that had been unexpected. No matter. Their location had now also been plotted, their missile launch giving away their location to within metres.

Smiles were exchanged. The enemy appeared to have taken the bait. Doctrine was spot on in anticipating how an enemy would react. Blomberg relayed his instructions via the Cromwell to the 514th.

"Shelldrake Actual, this is Sunray Major. Icy print, icy print, icy print. Acknowledge, over."

The senior gunner of the 514th Artillery Division grinned from ear to ear when his orders came through, a grin which held, as he jabbed the 'automatic-engagement' button on his console, transferring firing authority (until rescinded) to Cromwell. He was still smiling as his divisional commander passed on the acknowledged signal.
~~~~~~~~~

The 514th Artillery Division included, amongst its 8 artillery battalions, 144 LY300 Manticore multiple rocket systems. Each Manticore was, at that moment, loaded with 14 LY589 "Hellion" advanced cruise missiles, providing for an opening salvo of 2016 cruise missiles. The second salvo would follow within five minutes, putting 4032 Hellions in the air at the same time. First used in the Mokan Civil War, the Hellion is based on the LY4045 missile, which was itself a derivative of the BGM-109 Tomahawk. Hellion has a range of 2,800km (OOC: 300km more than Tomahawk).

Hellion features one of the most advanced artificial intelligence software packages of any combat munition in existance. Utilising EMP-resistant GaAs (Gallium Arsenide) circuitry and an uplink to the Cromwell II battlespace information system, Hellion represents a significant step up in networked precision high-lethality firepower delivery.

The centrepiece of Hellion as a weapons system is its artifical intelligence, networking and sensory sophistication. Hellion features the most adaptive and responsive artifical intelligence system Lyran Arms has devised or encountered, and offers the firing platform many unique and versatile means of achieving target destruction, and a whole host of other combat effects.

The command-linked automatic inputs to Hellion's AI enable the missile itself to plan, recalculate, analyse, abort, re-target, evade and engage autonomously. Continual uplinks from the Cromwell II allow the on-board computer system to remain completely aware of the battlespace situation, including known and estimated enemy force concentrations or positions, anticipated rates of advance, combat air patrols, detection equipment and so forth. The missile then, while enroute, and cogniscent of entered rules of engagement and theatre target priorities, can adjust its course in-flight to avoid located enemy positions, respond to a more urgent or alternate target request, or, upon detection of a more crucial target, autonomously engage it.

Hellion's integral sensory suite enables the missile itself to perform IR, passive radar, EM, EW and thermal information reconnaissance itself, often precluding the use of further assets for co-ordination of ensuing strikes.

The system, at any point during its pre-flight or mid-flight engagement sequence, can be over-ruled, altered, aborted or otherwise directed by the firing vehicle, although such input is not required to maintain targetting feasibility.
The constant information stream and computational sophistication serves to maximise the Hellion's probability of successful engagement, and, together with a veritable host of direct sensory input on the missile itself, allows each individial Hellion to, in conjunction with its peers, determine how it may best serve the interests of its firer, by assessing the available range of targets, on a millisecond-by-millisecond basis.

In this instance, the Hellions were launched not just at the air defence systems that had so obligingly illuminated themselves by turning on their high-powered air search and tracking radars, but also at the force elements they were protecting.

Cromwell had, by use of the Keep radar of the LY471, plotted the location of the TPF Skyguards that had fired, and differentiated the flightpaths of the Ramparts with those of the Archer missiles fired by the Lynxes, the latter due to the obvious intercept courses being tracked towards the AC130 gunships. The Lynxes, known as they were to be direct-support, thus identified the likely approximate locations of TPF concentrations of manoeuver forces. Cromwell thus began marking them in relative and absolute terms, and initiated courses for the Hellions that would minimise the chance of successful intercept. They hugged the the ground, flying down valleys and through canyons, avoiding known and likely positions for observation points and built up areas, before beginning their attack sequences.

Of the 4032 missiles released, 250 were runway-cratering munitions, the targets selected by satellite. Hiding airfields was a difficult thing at the best of times. 300 were area-denial weapons, designed to spray large numbers of movement-triggered submunitions over a wide area. 150 of those were targetted at runways and airfields to hamper repair efforts, and also prevent aircraft already in the air from landing at those airfields, while the remaining 150 were aimed at the Antanarivo-Tulear main road, a means of slowing the TPF advance and inhibiting resupply of the air assault brigades. The submunitions would self-destruct within five days, to prevent long term contamination, but a lot could happen in five days.
300 Hellions were anti-radiation weapons, fired at the locations that Cromwell had tracked radar emissions from. 1000 were cluster munitions, designed to distribute HEDP bomblets in carefully calculated patterns to ensure that there was no gaps between blasts. These weapons were targetted at the two air assault brigades roving ahead of the main body of the TPF advance. 2000 missiles were wide-area, guided anti-vehicle warheads. WAGAVs are a relatively newly developed Lyran warhead, based upon the long-known SADARM concept. Generally equipped with 30 HEAT submunitions WAGAV-equipped Hellions are targetted from launch as normal, but these submunitions, while still onboard the Hellion, are assigned targets as located by either the Hellion's own integral sensory systems, which include radar, IR, thermal imaging and visual recognition programs, or by designator from friendly forces by laser, satellite, GPS or Cromwell. Upon arriving at the appropriate target area, Hellion triggers the release of the submunitions. Once fired, they independently track, close, correct and engage their targets from above. These warheads have been specifically designed to destroy hostile armoured units, or dispersed high-value targets such as anti-aircraft batteries, emplaced command and control facilities or ammuntion and fuel resupply areas. (OOC: A conceptual illustration of how WAGAV warheads would operate in the field is given below)

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The remaining 182 weapons were targetted at Tulear itself, specifically the port, attempting to reduce as much of the city's cargo unloading and distribution capacity as possible. Transport hubs, bridges, the electricity grid, and so on, were all on the Hellion target list .

In the air, however, things weren't so rosy. As was expected, the AC130 gunships bore the brunt of the TPF attack. The gunships were not designed to be agile, nor to dodge missiles. Countermeasures helped, but rarely enough. The squadron was mauled, with 8 of the 14 aircraft being brought down by ground-based air defence.

" Well fuck me sideways." Guderian said as the screen lit up with thousands upon thousands of missiles launched from the manticore systems. " Of course with this kind of firepower these aren't exactly good. Oh well."

4032 missiles was a huge number of enemy missiles that were "Spamming" TPFian forces. TPF had after all, had a distinct dislike of spamming and hadn't thought that the Lyrsian's would have to rely on such a "tactic". Of course a Battlespace Management System was hardly special to just Lyras, and within moments the spam was being related to Lynx and SAM sites.

1,600 missiles soon left the tubes from the Skyguards and concentrated on destroying the most lethal of the cruise missile spam. The anti-radiation missiles were targeted firstly, followed by the cruise missile spam and then the runway-catering missiles. They effectiveness of these weapons systems would ensure that nearly all of the cruise missiles were destroyed.

The other missiles, however, could not be engaged by the Skyguard systems and the highly lethal warheads would unfortunately be allowed to detonate for the most part. Lynx systems destroyed as many as possible with missiles and autocannons as they close in, but the destruction wrecked on the two air assault divisions was immense. Their helicopter support was annihilated, although the use of HEAT warheads meant that the infantry was intact. They began to fall back towards the primary line of Guderian. He now ordered the main line to fall back thirty kilometers and establish a defensive position along the highway. Once this was established, men and combat engineers went to work cutting down large amounts of jungle. Once this was done they began to move in the MLRS units and SPG which were stationed around three kilometers deep into the jungle. The engineers then equipped these vehicles with IR nets and "Jungla" nets and covered the cut down paths, which had been made narrow enough to easily cover up. The remaining artillery pulled back far behind the new defensive line where they would likely be out of range for counter-battery fire. Infantry then penetrated the jungle and began to set up kill zones starting at ten kilometers along the defensive line. These kill zones usually consisted of a squads of infantry dug into a slit trench and camouflaged. They were armed with automatic grenade launchers, machine guns, and ATGM's. These teams were also spaced far enough to at least suppress the ability of the enemy to kill them with artillery, rockets, or bombs. The enemy would have a near impossible time rooting out these roughly one thousand men without suffering casualties that would likely be five times their number. Finally, the SPG began to launch the DMX.10 and DMX.12 artillery shells along the main root of advance. The DMX.10 carried six AT mines that could likely destroy an enemy tank and even if this failed it could likely blow the tracks off of the tank. Also the DMX.12 carried twelve anti-personal mines designed to kill enemy infantry. One thousands of each were fired from various cannons, most from the one's re-positioned as to not give away the position of the camouflaged one's. These would stop the Lyrsian advance, but they would not be able to stop it.

The Lyran offensives were far from over, and the unexpectedly high expenditure of air defence missiles by TPFian forces was a double edged sword.

With the air superiority squadrons and AWACS units scattered in an attempt to avoid the sudden deluge of Archer, LY4030 and LY4031 missiles launched by Lynx and Skyguard, and TPFian Skyguard systems now extremely low (OOC: by my calculations) on their own missiles, Lyran Army Aviation pounced.

240 TRA-92 attack helicopters, from the 67th, 98th and 1157th divisions, swarmed south over the Madagascan countryside, sensory systems straining for any sign of the enemy.

It quickly became apparent that TI, FLIR and Mk1 Eyeball were coming up with nothing, and it was appearing that the satellite information that had passed on the approximate position of the entrenching formations was wrong.

Shortly before the attack was called off, the 12 battalions of helicopters committed got lucky. An Eiko from the 821st Battalion (67th Armoured Division) picked up a contact on the magnetic anomaly detector, and the contact was passed up on the Cromwell.

Within the minute, all the aircraft had switched their targetting systems over to the MAD, and pressed home the attack, against the two retreating air assault divisions as a matter of course, but also against the armoured cavalry elements that were preparing to defend their positions against Lyran ground forces.

TPF air force was still very much in the air. However, its AWACS had scattered, their radars off, and squadrons were out of formation and position, to say nothing of the six aircraft calculated as being shot down. But Lyran ASFs were also up and, full of a confidence born of awareness of opposing ammunition expenditure, were out in force. The outnumbered TPF air superiority units could attempt to engage the helicopters, covering their ground forces, and thus open themselves to attack by their Lyran counterparts. Or, they could regroup, and attempt to contest the Lyran aerial forces by engaging the numerically superior Lyran fighters, leaving the ground forces below to their fate.

~~~~~~

At the 514th Artillery Division, morale was high. It would be two days before the next two salvos of Hellions would arrive, but until then, they loaded up their LY4072 pods with 220mm thermobaric rockets, and prepared to support the next phase of operations.

OOC: Lyras, still waiting for that map.

OOC: Don't think it's needed yet, and, given my current diligent and studious attempt to master Biblical Greek, is unlikely to come unless we really need it...

The Island
Guderian had long since written off the two air assualt divisions as dead. It was upsetting and a punch in the stomach to loose so many men and mobility, but the Manticore cruise missile system had come as a deadly and unfourtante surprise. It wasn't the firepower of the Manticores that made them so deadly, but rather the long range of them, well beyond any counter-attacks save aircraft. There was also a glaring hole in the entire strategy of TPF. They relied on large areas of manavuer of which was not on Madagascar. After the war-gamers were over Guderian intended to point out this definicy to High Command.

In the mean time the ASF-70's soon regrouped and spread out in squadron or flight formations across the sky, and the AWACS turned their radar back on. It soon detected at least some of the enemy ASF-70's that were traveling faster, and a flight of ASF-70's engaged these aircraft with long range Thunderbolt missiles. They intended to use and protect the AWACS for as long as possible before they resorted to their own radars. The other squadrons flew well above radar level so they could "pop-up" and engaged. Technically the Skyguard radars could see the enemy fighters, but they did not have as good command and coordination ability as the AWACS. However the battlespace management system did allow for the ASF-70's to see what the SAM's did.

The battle in the air was heating up, with the ASF70s of both forces engaged in a melee. The Lyran squadrons fielded the air-launched variant of the LY4031 as their primary air to air missile, possessed as it was of a longer range than most competitors.

For the first time, the Lyran AWACS turned their own radars on, illuminating themselves as they did their opponents.

The TPF squadrons, having just had the advantage in radar coverage, however slight, had pushed into the envelope of their Thunderbolt missiles, a factor which negated the range advantage that Lyran units would otherwise have enjoyed.

Individual units were evenly matched. The same aircraft. Almost identical training of pilots. Near-identical firing solutions. Comparable weapon systems.

The difference would be made up in numbers. Here, Lyras had a firmer advantage, with notably more planes in the air than their opponents.

Either way, the engagement would be bloody. But Field Marshal Blomberg had anticipated this. He'd rather lose a few dozen pilots than sacrifice hundreds of their surface-mobile brethren.

The TPFian air assault forces had completely disintegrated. The effect had been anticipated, but had nevertheless come as a surprise to the TRA-92 Eiko-equipped aviation brigades that had prowled the airspace where the two divisions had been. Not to lose an opportunity like that which presented itself, they advanced further south, Cromwell uplinks providing details on last known whereabouts of the nearest TPFian armoured cavalry formations, as provided by the elements that had been seeking those units.

Despite the destruction wrought against the TPFian forces so far, and the disruption of the primary supply route that they'd use by means of bomblet dispersal, uninterrupted by hostile anti-air as those Hellions had been, the current lack of missiles within enemy forward echelons could not be expected to last long. Army Aviation intended to make the most of it, pushing the helicopter assault against the armoured cavalry.
Once more, TPF air superiority units would have a difficult choice. Defend their charges, by attempting to engage the attack helicopters, or attempt to defend themselves against their hostile Lyran counterparts.

Meanwhile, the main Lyran ground advance continued towards Antananarivo, with the 98th and 67th still in the van, and the 8th Mechanised in depth. 514th Artillery pushed forward, its Hellions exhausted for now, to close the distance to allow it to provide indirect support for the next offensive phase, while support elements strained to push forward the resupply of Hellions to the Manticore batteries.

There would be casualties. TPF units were well trained, and well equipped, to say nothing of internationally known for their dedication. But momentum, one of the ten principles of war taught by most developed world militaries, was now beginning to shift firmly in Lyras' favour.