This is a hybrid after action report (“AAR”) using two entirely different simulators, Combat Mission Shock Force 2 (“CMSF2”) to depict the tactical ground combat, and Command: Modern Air Naval Operations (“CMANO”) to depict the naval and aerial combat. This scenario features a conflict at a US and Canadian consulate in the fictional Middle Eastern/North African city and country of Al Mout, Abbudin.

By: IICptMillerII,

The CMSF2 map was built by LongLeftFlank and then modified by MOS:96B2P for his scenario “The Coup”, and is being used with his permission. All credit goes to LongLeftFlank for designing this excellent map and to MOS:96B2P for designing the scenario. I have modified both BluFor and OpFor forces, as well as their respective objectives, and added in some relevant battle damage. Otherwise, the map remains in its original layout.

Carrier Strike Group 12 is a historically accurate recreation of the USS Enterprise cruise to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf from June to December of 2007. The USS Enterprise carrier air wing, and all supporting ships are accurate to the 2007 cruise.

This scenario is not designed to be balanced. BluFor is significantly stronger and more capable than OpFor in nearly every way. This is more a showcase of a hybrid AAR between two sims carrying out an operation that fully incorporates both sims strengths (CMSF2 for ground warfare, CMANO for naval/air warfare) and weaving them together to tell a story. It is also a proof of concept to see how viable creating hybrid AARs like this is. My advice is to treat this like a superhero movie; there is no doubt about the ending, but you still enjoy the journey.

This AAR features several mods. Chief among them are:

Vein’s Smoke and Effects mod

Drakenlord’s Fire mod

Regime Forces by myself playing the OpFor.

SITUATION:

Over the past few months the Abbudin Regime has been increasingly belligerent. On numerous occasions they have used their large air force to intercept commercial aircraft and shipping in international territory. In response to this, the UN passed a resolution enforcing economic sanctions against Abbudin. The Abbudin Regime responded by increasing their interceptions, in a few notable cases forcing commercial aircraft to land at Abbudin airports and be subject to “inspections.” The so-called inspections were largely just the Regime seizing commercial property for their own. In response to the Regimes increasingly belligerent actions, the United States deployed the USS Enterprise carrier strike group (CSG) and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (2nd MEU) aboard the USS Wasp to the Mediterranean. Additional military assets in the Mediterranean have been put on high alert.

Two days ago, large numbers of Regime military units were seen moving into the city of Al Mout, the location of the US and Canadian consulates. They began heavily patrolling the city in what appeared to be a martial law posture. Last night, the Canadian consulate was surrounded by the Regime’s military forces. The Regime has demanded an end to the economic sanctions and for the US to recall the USS Enterprise away from Abbudin waters. A tense standoff ensued, with the Regime changing their ultimatum deadline seemingly at random. Finally, at 0200 local this morning the Regime’s military forces stormed the Canadian consulate. There have been reports of gunshots being fired inside the consulate and the fate of the consulate personnel is unknown.

Two hours later, US naval and Marine forces were given the green light to initiate combat operations in the city of Al Mout in order to evacuate the US consulate and rescue any surviving Canadian consulate personnel.

MISSION:

The primary objectives are: (i) to evacuate US and Canadian consulate personnel from Al Mout; (ii) recover/destroy any sensitive material at both consulates; and (iii) withdraw from the city.

Mission Specific Tasks:

Carrier Strike Group 12 (USS Enterprise):

Establish local air superiority over friendly naval assets, the city of Al Mout and surrounding area

Strike strategic targets in and around Al Mout

Strike Al Mout International Airport in order to prevent Abbudin Regime air force from being able to sortie

Conduct Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD/DEAD)

Provide close air support (CAS) to US forces in Al Mout

Task Force Wasp:

Transport and deploy 2 nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (2 nd MEU) amphibiously to the shore of Al Mout

Marine Expeditionary Unit (2 MEU) amphibiously to the shore of Al Mout Provide naval and close air support to 2 nd MEU

MEU Receive US and Canadian evacuees

Provide emergency medical care to casualties

2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit:

Conduct amphibious infiltration of Al Mout

Secure both US and Canadian consulates

Evacuate US and Canadian consulate personnel to USS Wasp

Desired End State:

All US/Canadian consulate personnel recovered

All sensitive materials recovered/destroyed

All US ground forces withdrawn from city

ENEMY/OPFOR:

Regime Military Forces:

The Abbudin military is typical of many Middle Eastern/North African dictatorships. It has a large arsenal of older Soviet-era equipment, such as the T-72 and T-62 tanks, and BMPs for infantry fighting vehicles (“IFV”). The military is made up of roughly 6 divisions and a number of independent brigades, including special forces units that are primarily tasked with guarding key regime assets.

Enemy Air Forces:

The Regime has a large air force, mostly made up of old Soviet-era aircraft. These include the Mig-21, 23, and 25, along with a small fleet of Mi-25D gunship helicopters and Mi-8 helicopters for troop transport and logistics. Additionally, they have several SU-22M attack aircraft. These are capable of carrying the AS-9 anti-radiation missile with a range of 65nm, which can potentially threaten friendly ships. They have roughly a regiments’ worth of each fixed wing aircraft variant (20-25 aircraft per regiment) and about a squadron of each helicopter variant (10-18 helicopters per squadron) in range of the area of operations (“AO”). The Abbudin air force is not known to have any airborne AEW or EW aircraft, though they likely have some conventional reconnaissance aircraft equipped with cameras and ELINT equipment.

Al Mout International Airport is just outside the city and has a significant number of air force assets, including at least one full squadron of Mi-25D gunship helicopters and another full squadron of Mi-8 helicopters. Both the Mig-21 and Mig-23 can be outfitted in ground attack roles. The SU-22M is a ground attack aircraft, though they are expected to be tasked in an anti-surface warfare (“ASuW”) role. The Mig-25 variant operated by the Abbudin air force is an interceptor only.

Enemy Naval Forces:

The Abbudin navy is essentially non-existent. They do not operate any craft larger than small patrol boats armed with small arms which are not expected to be a factor.

Enemy Air Defense Network (“ADN”):

Abbudin’s air defense network is extensive, though dated. In the vicinity of Al Mout, there are at least two groups of SA-6 Gainful surface to air missile (“SAM”) sites (roughly 10-14 launchers per group) and at least one battalion of SA-2 Guideline SAM launchers (roughly 3-6 launchers per battalion). These SAM sites pose the most direct threat to our forces, as they actively cover both the city of Al Mout and Al Mout International Airport.

Further, there are a number of SA-5 Gammon SAM groups. The SA-5 has a range of 150nm, meaning these sites will be a close second priority for SEAD/DEAD missions. There are multiple SA-5 sites that cover Al Mout airspace, one to the North of the city and another to the West.

There are also several radar sites, including the P-14 Tall King, P-18 Spoon Rest, P-40 Long Track, and P-80 Back Net air search radars. All these radars have sensor ranges in excess of 100nm with overlapping coverage areas. Many of the radar sites are located near SAM sites and thus will have some form of protection against air strikes.

Enemy Ground Forces in Al Mout:

Regular Regime military forces wear a uniform that is part olive drab, part knockoff DPM camouflage in an arid configuration. Their helmets are tan colored with red triangles on the front.

The exact number and composition of enemy ground forces present in the city is not fully known at this time. From what intelligence there is, it is expected that the Regime has at least one company of mechanized infantry in the city, mounted in BMP-1’s. There have also been confirmed reports of both T-72M1 and T-62 tanks, though their exact number and location is not currently known.

Additionally, the Regime is operating a large military police (“MP”) force in the city right now. These are essentially dismounted infantry operating on foot or out of light vehicles such as the Russian made UAZ car and URAL trucks. MPs can be identified by their white helmets, red armbands and plain olive drab uniforms. There are likely two companies worth of MPs operating in the region of the city that the consulates are in, though an exact estimate is not possible at this time.

It is expected that once hostilities commence and the Regime determines our objectives to be centered in Al Mout, they will attempt to reinforce the city from outside. There is at least a battalion’s worth of mechanized infantry that can be road marched to the city within a matter of hours. Other units are present, but will take longer to reach the city.

Irregular Forces:

The Abbudin military is largely a conventional force. They are not expected to have paramilitary or irregular forces in any significant numbers.

TERRAIN AND WEATHER:

The city of Al Mout is located on the coast and is surrounded by desert. Temperatures during the day are expected to reach a high of 90° F. The weather is forecast to be a mix of clear and partly cloudy over the course of the next three days and should not hinder aerial or amphibious operations.

Allied Assets/OOB:

Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG 12):

USS Enterprise CVN VFA-211 12x F/A-18F VMFA-251 12x F/A-18C VFA-136 12x F/A-18C VFA-86 12x F/A-18C VAQ-137 4x EA-6B VAW-123 4x E-2C 2000 VS-32 8x S-3B HS-11 6x SH-60F 2x HH-60H

USS Gettysburg CG

USS Arleigh Burke DDG

USS Forrest Sherman DDG

USS James E Williams DDG

USS Stout DDG

USS Philadelphia SSN

USNS Supply T-AOE

CSG 12 is the main aerial and naval effort of this operation. The USS Enterprise is equipped with its entire carrier air wing. She has 36 F/A-18C Hornet multirole fighters, 12 of the new F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole fighters, and a full complement of support aircraft including the E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning (“AEW”) and EA-6 Prowler Electronic Warfare (“EW”) aircraft. A carrier air wing carries an immense amount of firepower for both enemy air and ground targets.

Supporting the Enterprise is her primary air defender, the guided missile cruiser (“CG”) USS Gettysburg. The Gettysburg carries a suite of anti-air missiles that can shoot down both incoming aircraft and missiles at ranges out to 150nm. The extremely powerful AEGIS radar greatly enhances her ability by allowing her to simultaneously scan, track and engage multiple targets from multiple bearings, as well as hand off targeting information to coordinate air defense with other ships. Four guided missile destroyers (“DDGs”) provide additional air defense, as well as an overwhelming land strike capability. There are 224 Tomahawk missiles (112x RGM-109C, 112x RGM-109E) between these four destroyers.

Also in support is the USS Philadelphia, a Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine (“SSN”) which brings with her an additional 8 Tomahawk missiles (4x UGM-109C, 4x UGM-109E). She is primarily assigned to Signals Intelligence (“SIGINT”) and is not expected to play a major role in this operation.

Task Force Wasp:

USS Wasp 4x AH-1W 4x CH-53E 4x MV-22B 6x AV-8B 2x CH-46E 4x UH-1N 2x HH-60H 4x SH-60F

USS Ticonderoga CG

USS Bainbridge DDG

USS Oak Hill LSD

Task Force Wasp is an amphibious assault group that carries the 2nd MEU and all assets required to support the MEU during amphibious operations. She is equipped with her own suite of aircraft, though these are primarily to support the MEU while engaged or perform logistical functions. The four AH-1W Super Cobra’s and AV-8B Harriers can provide the Marines with on call CAS, while the CH-53s, MV-22s and CH-46s all provide a heavy lift capability.

The Wasp is escorted by a CG and a DDG with the same roles as the CG and DDGs assigned to the Enterprise; defend the air space and strike land-based targets.

2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit:

A Marine Expeditionary Unit is a reinforced battalion capable of quickly responding to flashpoints around the world and conducting sustained amphibious operations. Due to the nature of this operation, no heavy lift amphibious craft are available, meaning the Marines will have to leave their tanks and Humvee’s behind. Two companies of Marines will secure the consulates and will be supported by the battalion headquarters, an engineer platoon, scout sniper platoon, reconnaissance platoon and the AAV platoon that will transport all personnel to and from the beach. This consolidated force is called the Marine Landing Party. C Company, the third rifle company of the MEU, will stay on USS Wasp as a Quick Reaction Force (“QRF”), responding if needed.

Marine Landing Party:

Battalion Headquarters

Scout Sniper Platoon

Engineer Platoon

Reconnaissance Platoon

AAV Platoon

A Company

B Company

Quick Reaction Force:

C Company

Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay:

1x U-2S

1x RQ-4B

1x EC-130H

3x KC-135R

2x E-3C

A number of supporting assets are located at the NATO naval base at Souda Bay on the island of Crete. All of these are support assets. A U-2 spy plane and RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV will provide constant on-station reconnaissance of Al Mout and the surrounding area. The EC-130 Compass Call will provide offensive electronic warfare capabilities such as jamming specific enemy radar and SAM sites. KC-135s will provide aerial refueling capability allowing station aircraft to remain in the air longer, and E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Command System (“AWACS”) will provide additional AEW support if needed.

Due to the rapid escalation in Al Mout, some assets at NSA Souda Bay are still being prepared and will not be ready for at least a few hours, namely the AWACS and refueling aircraft. The U-2 is already airborne and flying a racetrack pattern waiting for the enemy ADN to be reduced, and the Global Hawk is ready to be launched.

TIME:

The date is 5 May. The time is currently 0500 Zulu, 0600 Local. Amphibious operations are templated to begin by 1000 Zulu, though this is subject to the reduction of enemy air and air defense assets.

CIVILIAN/COLLATERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Al Mout is a populated city full of civilians. Efforts to reduce civilian casualties are being taken primarily in the form of weapon use restrictions. Only precision guided munitions are authorized for use within city limits. These weapons include JDAMs and Tomahawks, but exclude weapons such as unguided bombs (ex. Mk82 without JDAM conversion, CBU cluster bombs) or naval gunfire support from 127mm deck guns.

Once troops are in direct contact, the use of unguided weapons for CAS is authorized (such as unguided rockets fired from Super Cobra gunships), but only against positively identified enemy targets. All other use of unguided munitions within city limits remains restricted.

Personnel not in uniform registering weapons cannot be engaged unless they engage friendly units first. All uniformed enemy combatants are free to be engaged at will.

INITIAL TASKING :

CSG 12:

CSG 12 is initially the main effort. It is tasked with both establishing and maintaining air superiority, as well as carrying out strikes against enemy radar, air defense, and strategic targets.

USS Enterprise CVN is the flagship and will support naval aviation, as well as being the primary command and control center for this operation

USS Gettysburg CG will provide comprehensive air defense to the carrier and ships of CSG 12

USS Arleigh Burke will strike targets designated in Strike Package North

USS Forrest Sherman will strike targets designated in Strike Package West

USS James E Williams will strike targets designated in Strike Package Airport

USS Stout will strike targets designated in Strike Package Al Mout

USS Philadelphia SSN will provide electronic intelligence (ELINT) and maritime surveillance, and pilot recovery

USNS Supply T-AOE will provide on-station replenishment if necessary and aid in pilot recovery if needed

Naval Aviation:

The primary conventional striking power of the US Navy, the entire carrier air wing will be tasked with establishing air superiority and striking enemy military and strategic targets in order to allow the Marines to conduct their amphibious infiltration and evacuate the consulates.

VFA-211 (F/A-18F) will establish and maintain a combat air patrol (“CAP”) over CSG 12 and Task Force Wasp in order to maintain air superiority over all friendly naval assets

VMFA-251 (F/A-18C) will remain on standby, ready to perform CAS for the Marine landing party once it has been deployed

VFA-136 (F/A-18C) will perform SEAD/DEAD strikes in cooperation with Tomahawk strikes from CSG 12 ships

VFA-86 (F/A-18C) will conduct an alpha strike (entire squadron sorties) against Al Mout International Airport with the goal of destroying enemy aircraft on the ground and eliminating the ability of the airport to support flight operations

VAQ-137 (EA-6B) will provide EW support in the form of ELINT and directed jamming

VAW-123 (S-3B) will provide aerial support, such as aerial refueling, as well as maritime surveillance

HS-11 (HH/SH-60) will provide anti-surface warfare (ASW), maritime surveillance and pilot recovery

Task Force Wasp:

Task Force Wasp will transport the 2nd MEU close enough to the shores of Al Mout to conduct the amphibious infiltration, will support the Marines during their infiltration, and then will receive and care for all consulate personnel and any casualties sustained during land operations.

USS Wasp will support both aerial operations and Marine amphibious operations, and will receive all evacuated consulate personnel and casualties suffered during land operations 4x AH-1W will provide Marines with CAS while embarked on amphibious operations 4x CH-53E can provide heavy lift support of both land and naval operations 4x MV-22B can provide heavy lift support of both land and naval operations 6x AV-8B will provide Marines with CAS while embarked on amphibious operations 2x CH-46E can provide heavy lift support of both land and naval operations as well as pilot recovery and humanitarian assistance 4x UH-1N can provide logistical support to both naval and land operations as well as pilot recovery 2x HH-60H can provide logistical support to both naval and land operations as well as pilot recovery 4x SH-60F will provide ASW and maritime surveillance to Task Force Wasp

USS Ticonderoga CG will provide comprehensive air defense to the carrier and ships of Task Force Wasp

USS Bainbridge DDG will provide air defense and maritime surveillance, and is capable (though not initially tasked with) conducting land strikes with Tomahawks

USS Oak Hill LSD will provide amphibious support to Marines and can receive Marines, consulate personnel and casualties as an alternative to USS Wasp

2nd MEU:

Upon arriving on station off the coast of Al Mout, the 2nd MEU will conduct an amphibious infiltration of the city. Using amphibious vehicles and supported by CAS, they will make landfall and proceed into the city to the US and Canadian consulates. They will evacuate all personnel and human remains (if/where applicable) and remove or destroy any sensitive materials before withdrawing from the city and returning to Task Force Wasp. A detailed landing plan and tasking follows in the next section titled “Amphibious Plan.”

Special Assets:

Special assets are designated as units not operating directly from either CSG 12 or Task Force Wasp. They are primarily reconnaissance and support units, providing constant direct intelligence gathering capabilities and EW support as well as aerial refueling and AEW

1x U-2S is tasked with providing direct imaging and intelligence gathering of Al Mout and the surrounding area to give commanders a better idea of the situation on the ground and to provide early warning and tracking to new threats, such as enemy reinforcements to the city

1x RQ-4B is tasked with providing direct imaging and intelligence gathering of Al Mout and the surrounding area to give commanders a better idea of the situation on the ground and to provide early warning and tracking to new threats, such as enemy reinforcements to the city

1x EC-130H is tasked with providing comprehensive EW support in the form of direct jamming of specific enemy radar and air defense assets as well as providing additional ELINT support

3x KC-135R is tasked with providing aerial refueling

2x E-3C is tasked with providing additional AEW

Emissions Control (EMCON):

EMCON BRAVO

All ships will restrict radiation emissions (radars are off), but can still communicate and data transfer.

All aircraft are EMCON DELTA – unrestricted emissions

AMPHIBIOUS PLAN :

The engineers will land first and perform a quick sweep of the beach for mines and obstacles. Imagery shows that the beach should be clear and free of mines and obstacles, so the sweep should be quick. A and B Companies along with the scout sniper and recon platoon and battalion headquarters element will land when cleared by the engineers.

The engineers will make breaches large enough for AAV’s to pass through at breach points Elmer and Fudd.

A Company will proceed through breach point Elmer onto MSR Wiley to MSR Market. At the intersection of MSR Market and Wiley, blocking position Bugs will be established. Then the company will continue down MSR Liberty to the US consulate. Similarly, B Company will proceed through breach point Fudd onto MSR Coyote to MSR Market. At the intersection of MSR Market and Maple, blocking position Bunny will be established. Then the company will continue down MSR Maple to the Canadian consulate.

Upon reaching the consulates, the Marines will secure the compounds and establish a security perimeter. Scout snipers will establish overwatch points on the roofs of the consulates. The Marines will first evacuate consulate personnel to the AAVs, then secure/destroy any sensitive materials on site.

Once the consulates are secured and policed, each company will withdraw to their respective blocking positions, recover the Marines manning those positions, and then withdraw to the beach. From there everyone will amphibiously embark and return to the ships of Task Force Wasp.

Taskings:

A Company: Establish blocking position Elmer on MSR Market, move to and secure US consulate via MSR Liberty

B Company: Establish blocking position Fudd on MSR Market, move to and secure Canadian consulate via MSR Maple

Engineer Platoon: Provide initial beach screening and breach points at point Bugs (for A Co) and Bunny (for B Co) to allow immediate road access to MSR

Scout Sniper Platoon: Will provide rooftop security at both consulates once they have been secured

Recon Platoon: Reinforce blocking positions

C Company: QRF

Landing Plan:

A MEU comes with 12 AAV-7s organic to the formation. Due to the size of the Marine Landing Party and the lack of use of other amphibious landing craft, there are not enough AAVs to land the entire landing party at the same time. The landing party will infil and exfil in waves, designated below:

Infil:

Engineers, Scout Snipers, Recon platoon A Company, Battalion Headquarters B Company

Exfil:

Engineers, Scout Snipers, Recon platoon, all consulate personnel and casualties not already evacuated A Company B Company, Battalion Headquarters

Supporting Fires:

Once ashore, and as long as the airspace remains clear, the Marines will have overwhelming air support. Both the USS Wasp and USS Enterprise will have on call CAS dedicated to supporting the Marines.

Wasp:

4x AH-1W Super Cobra’s

6x AV-8B Harrier’s

Enterprise:

12x F/A-18C Hornet’s VMFA-251 (Marine aviation)

Due to the restrictions on unguided weapons use inside city limits, the Marines will not have access to mortars or naval gunfire support. However, the Cobra’s will still be allowed to engage positively identified enemy targets with unguided rockets.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this exciting multi-part AAR!

DISCLAIMER:

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this AAR are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

CMANO DISCLAIMER:

CMANO is designed to accurately portray military hardware from real world nations, from the years of 1980-2020+ and 1920-1979 (not used in this scenario). It simulates the planet Earth using open source terrain data. While fictional factions can be created and named so, the globe itself cannot be edited. The real-world location of this scenario is located in Libya, however the above disclaimer still applies. This scenario is not meant to portray Libya in any way. It is entirely fictional.

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