After action report.
After two days of fierce fighting between US Forces and the Arab Emirate Rebels and Merc forces a crucial cross roads had been reached. In order to contain the rebel up-rising and break it's back, a resupply column had to be halted before breaching the "Camel Ear" pass also known as the choke point. This main objective was given to Capt "Max" Fisher commander of the combined US Forces. Two sub missions were also given to the Marine and Delta recon teams to be completed if the Mission allowed.
1) Stop the convoy. 2) Find two classified documents lost by the rebels. 3) Capture Ali Kamel and his command vehicle and take him to the airfield.
US forces deployed along the "Wadi Swelter", known as the wash, in a blocking force with the 75th Rangers on the left flank 11th MEU Marines on the right and Delta in the middle. Squads from flanking units took to the high ground to act as lookouts and prevent the rebels and mercs from infiltrating our rear.
Immediatly the 75th Ranbers came under heavy armor and infantry attack from the road at map grid D7. Enemy troops were also moving onto the high ground on both our flanks right from the start.
It became obvious that the US left flank would fold if not reinforced. All elements of the 11th MEU and Delta (except recon elements) were ordered to assist the 75th Rangers with the primary mission to hold the convoy. MEU recon would attempt to hold the right flank alone with the help of Delta recon in the Wadi Swelter.
Early on in the mission the first enlvelope was found by an 11th MEU soldier. while retreveing the envelope Delta found the second. At this point other forces were being moved to the road to halt the convoy. Delta's 1st squad under the command of Sgt James Lee focused on the capture of Ali Kamal.
Fierce fighting was taking place througout the Wadi. Attempts to stop the convoy only slowed it down. Delta was just holding on in the Wadi and 11 MEU recon was out numbered around the airfield. Things were looking grim. the amount of dead and wounded was an indication of the rebels resolve. Aproximatly two squads of rebels held the airfield and the rest were moving at a steady pace with the convoy toward their goal.
Then the US forces got a break. Elements of 1st Squad Delta under the command of Sgt Lee along with stragglers from both the MEU and 75th rushed the convoy at a bend in the road at grid G6. heavy fighting and good leadership paid off with the capture of Ali Kamal and his deadly "Ergo".
Kamal was wisked away to a hiding place at Camel Ear Pass at grid H3. Delta decided that going to the airfield was too risky.
Capt Max Fisher was briefed by his sgt's and decided to make a last stand at the Camel Ear Pass. They would hold the convoy there, or die trying. At the same time Delta Sgt's Lee and Broumand were ordered to take Kamal to the airfield. This mission had become PRIORITY.
All delta supported by MEU recon began fighting their way towards the airfield. After some initial resistance the ergo and Kamal were safely at Yellowford Airfield at grid E4.
The extraction of Kamal was only minutes away when the remaining delta troops at the airfield were attacked by a rebel armored unit. A running gun battle ensued. As the ergo and its cargo sped toward the opposite end of the airfield the delta opperators where whittled down to just two. Sgts Broumand and Lee were between a rock and a hard place. Pinned at the end of the runway (grid C6)with the rebels bearing down the two Sgt's were down to a pistol and "last mag Lee!" when the operation ended. Success by the skin of their teeth.
With Max holding the rebels at the Pass and Lee's heroic defence of his prisoner at the airfield this mission was a success!
As a result of this mission Sgt Lee was nominated for MVP by his fellow Sgts and team members. '
-Sgt Alex "Blackjack" Broumand
SFOD DELTA 3rd Squad
'There were so many great moments... I don't know where to start!
***************
My first recollection that stands out was at the very beginning on Saturday. Out in front on point for the convoy, I was manning the .50 cal when the first wave of opposing forces attacked.
I heard the call of 'I'm Hit! I'm Hit' from my right followed by screams of 'Medic!'
Looking down to the road I saw a brave Marine sprawled out on his back and twitching in agony. Then, a blur of red and white as Dave 'Storm' Huffman races in to save him.
Staying low, he began to 'work' on his wounded and successfully revived him all while under constant fire. The scene looked so real! What a rush -the first of many I would have this weekend.
Later in the battle, our convoy had once again been halted. Brave soldiers helped move my vehicle up close to the enemy, but I had no idea how close...
As the blue turbin of Erich Gatejen frustrated me by bobbing up and down in the bush -never letting me get a clear shot off- I noticed the washout to my left formed a sort of trench and I was taking fire from there.
I swung the .50 around as the opfor troops raced down the trench -from in front of me! Apparently I had penetraded their lines and I could see them running by as they withdrew. I held the trigger down as the figures ran by never quite knowing where it came from -except the ones that shot back that is!
Another chill ran down my spine as suddenly a bush on my right side got up, grew legs, and ran away! A sniper all decked out in ghillie suite has been less than 30' from me the whole time.
***************
During the Sunday game, the opfor was trying desperately to capture me and I could tell.
As the convoy approached, a large group of Mercs suddenly appeared and charged for my position! I knew they were coming for me and the sight of a dozen or so heavily armored troops all coming down the road on me was something I'll never forget.
***************
My new machinegunner was doing well. More than once did we set up a road block and stop the enemy convoy cold in its tracks.
Turning the CUCV sideways for a better angle, I watched as Kyle Lenhardt mercilessly cut the foot troops to ribbons. A surprise assault caught the enemy off guard wiping out their attack vehicle and 12 enemy soldiers in one burst!
***************
The opfor was determined to capture me and as my lines collapsed I knew I was surely done for.
Screaming, 'Protect me! Protect me!' to the usforces taking cover behind me, the mercenaries overran my command vehicle and took me prisoner.
How humiliating! Their smugness would not last for long, though. I pulled my vehicle off the road to let their trucks go by. Having nothing to do except what I was told, I sat in the vehicle.
As the moments went on, I thought of escape. No one was really paying attention so I got out and locked the hubs for a quick, 4wd getaway.
Suddenly, a sniper popped up on my right side and startled me. Getting into the car he asked, 'So what do I do with you now?'
'Whatever you want!', I replied, 'I'm your prisoner.'
'What about the rescue?' he asked.
'Rescue? What rescue?' I replied. I didn't understand what he meant with half a dozen or so armed guards standing outside my vehicle.
'Rescue!' he said again.
'Wait a second!' I replied. 'Are you trying to tell me all those guys are dead and you're on my team?'
'YEAH' the sniper said as it finally got through to me. 'I surrendered those guys; they're all dead.'
I had been sitting there the whole time with my rescuer and hadn't know it!
'WELL, LET'S GET THE #@!$% OUTTA HERE!' I yelled and throttled out of there in a cloud of dust.
It was fantastic and I'll never forget. Great job Jeremy! '
Sheik Fatah Jamal Jawanna
aka Dave Dollarhide
To Hell and Back - as seen through the eyes of SGT. Nick Saccomanno, 1st squad (INF), Freelance Operators [MERCs].
Scenario: 3
Objective: To escort the convoy through the entire lenth of the wash.
Added "Impossible Mission": To capture the USFOR leader, Shiek Jawanna (Dave Dollarhide).
Our plan: Mercs would keep the huge field to our left clear and stay far ahead of the convoy to setup an ambush for the Shiek. I wanted his head! At the end of the first game, one of my riflemen and myself managed to walk right up to the immobilized .50 cal and try to get the Shiek to listen to reason. His men were dying for no reason - hire the Mercs and we’d get the job for him. Lots of money and American women for an honest days work. He quickly rejected the notion and seemed as if the hundreds of dead and injured surrounding the vehicle meant nothing! I was speaking to a very stubborn man - a DEAD MAN! I will have my revenge! My rifleman and I ran for our lives and disappeared into the bushes as the trucks engines turned back on and the .50 cal came back to life (thanks Dave, for not shooting me in the ass).
The game began. LT. Andy Catmul and I ordered all of 1st and second squad to clear the field to the left of the convoy. Full-auto fire from a hundred AEG's echoed off the surrounding hills. We engaged the USFOR instantly, the moment we stepped foot into the first clearing. It was expected and no one was caught off-guard.
US personnel were at the foot of every bush and I got accustomed to firing at the shadows before seeing the enemy. We were taking a lot of casualties, but the medics were moving fast and I don't think a single man died from the first hit for a long time. We were moving fast. Nothing could stop us. The convoy speeded ahead.
The field was nothing to worry about. It was filled with Mercenaries and nothing had stopped us yet. I looked toward the road to see the Rebels having a hell of a time - pinned behind the trucks, being shot at from the road and the steep hills to the right. I knew my men could take care of the fields without my help, so I rendezvoused with the convoy after getting blasted.
It took a while, but the USFOR finally caught onto the fact that we were quickly achieving our goal. Our convoy was ambushed by a dozen or more US filling the road. The only thing saving my tired ass was the ditch 4 feet from the path.
I saw a large cluster of US engaging the rebels. They were out of range of most of the rebels hiding behind the last troop transport but well within range of my trusty AUG. I popped out of the ditch and opened fire. In a moment they would all be dead or screaming for medic. I pulled the trigger, and, "WWwwIIIZZzzzzz". DAMN! My Hi-cap is out! I ducked back into the ditch, loaded a new hi-cap, got back on my feet, and, "WWiiiiiizzzzz". DAMN! The hi-cap was not the problem...my AUG broke! DAAAMN! I quickly left my ditch and rested behind the convoy...useless... (All that was caught on tape, I hope it shows up in the video).
I stayed with the convoy. If I couldn't be useful as a killer, I could still motivate the others to do my job.
I hopped into the jeep and asked the driver if I could be his gunner. He agreed, and once again the blood lust overwhelmed me. Never had I gotten so many kills. Never had killing been so easy. With each US soldier that died trying to reach the convoy, I laughed - laughed at their futile attempts. So many died at the wheels of our lead vehicle in the next half hour.
It seemed that this would go on forever and shooting the endless supply of US fish in the Crimson Dunes barrel was becoming tedious. My mind wondered off as I imagined the fun my Merc brothers were having only 100 ft. from my position and the looks of terror on the opposition as they swooped down upon them, when, out of the blue and without warning, the US soldiers made the only successful offensive I'd witness the whole weekend...
A huge mass of USFOR jumped out of the bushes. They had great timing. There were very few rebels left to defend the convoy. I stood atop the jeep, emptying hi-cap after hi-cap. I shot 4-5 guys as they ran, full tilt to our ergo. They all died in the same manner - hands thrown up in the air, lifeless bodies falling to the ground, some walking off the road, some laying there calling for medic. Clever distraction...
I sat back down into the jeep and reloaded, laughing about my mass kills. I didn't notice I had only gotten half or less of the soldiers. I also didn't notice that they were US recon and they had been successful and our Rebel leader - the man I had sworn to protect - was speeding off behind the bend and all hope was lost...I had failed...
Shortly after that, it was obvious something was amiss. I saw a significantly smaller amount of enemies. Being the jeep gunner no longer gave me satisfaction. Something was wrong.
I walked to the back of the convoy and asked for a radio. When I was given one by a rebel, I switched channels and called to LT. Andy Catmul, leader of the Freelance operators/Merc forces. "The Rebel leader has been captured... Nothing is going on at the convoy. We have had no resistance! I think they've diverted their forces. Move the men to the other road and watch out for the ergo. I bet they are taking all of their men to hold the Airstrip!" LT. Catmul took it from there.
At that moment, the Rebel LT. approached me and told me to get up and fight. I was almost offended. I sit down for 5 minutes after doing all the killing for them, my Mercs have cleared the field to our left and not a single US soldier has gotten through, I've been yelling for help up front for over an hour, they don't protect their own leader, and now he's telling me to get up and fight?! AH! "I don't have a gun and I'm talking to the LT. of the Mercs. I can't fight" I finished my statement and realized how much of a panty-waste I sounded like.
"You don't have a gun?" He looked kinda' pissed. "Here! Take my Glock! You only have one mag! Be sure you return it to me!"
Now, the only thing separating me from the enemy is a GBB with one mag! I HATE pistols! I imagined 50 different ways I was about to die because of this crappy turn of events.
Shiek Jawana and his vehicle crew had stuck their asses out more than enough. I was sick of our lead truck getting hit by his 50. Already I had been hit 4 times and killed twice by BB's after they bounced off the windshields of the trucks ahead of me or rolled off the roofs - I sh!t you not. All because of that damned .50 cal. Something had to be done.
Someone screamed, "I'm a sapper" and I knew then, the Sheiks number was up! Pay back time!
It took me a long time to muster up enough rebel troops to assist in the sapper raid. The convoy wasn't close enough and we were running out of time. Nobody would get between our lead vehicle and the Sheiks 50. cal. We needed to get closer. I lay down on my belly on the side of the road and crawled to the cab of the lead truck. "Let's go! Move up!"
The driver couldn't move. "I can't move without somebody in front of me!" Well, no crap! That's why I was there. The enemies' 50 cal. continued to mow down rebel after rebel hiding behind the trucks. BB's flew over me striking their targets. Hmmm...the Shiek hadn't taken a single shot at me. I wasn't seen. I signaled to the driver to take my lead and continued to crawl along side the road - the convoy matching my speed. I continued for about 50 ft. when a group of Mercs appeared ahead and the convoy passed me.
We were making good headway and the sapper was somewhere far ahead. Victory was in sight. I jumped off the road, into the field to assist the capture of Shiek Jawana.
Far off in the distance I heard a huge firefight and lots of yelling. To my horror and delight, the ergo was found, an ambush was set up, and something had gone wrong. A long dispute ensued and I arrived on the scene to help diffuse the situation. The arguing continued and a time-out was called. When the problem seemed to be resolved, I slowly walked off into the bushes.
The ergo was found, but no one else seemed to know. I had already given my radio back and I had no means to tell anyone that they were heading to the airfield unhindered.
One soldier remained on the outside of the ergo, escorting it by foot. They raced passed my position without seeing me. The one soldier left hoofing it was exposed but soon to be out of range. I had to take the shot. I knew I was about to get killed - but I had to take the shot. The first shot was way high. The second and third proved the hop-up on the gun was turned all the way up! They all zinged far above his head. The soldier spun around to engage as the 4th BB struck him in the back. I had dispatched of the only escort the ergo had left by the Glock given to me by the Rebel LT. Holly CRAP! I actually got a kill with a pistol! Not only that, but the twin turret guns where no longer being manned. I was in the clear.
I was running after the ergo, jumping in and out for trees to avoid detection. The ergo rounded a corner and began it's climb to the Airfield. We were screwed. Now, the only thing stopping the indestructible ergo and any crew left inside were me and a GBB with half a clip! It was looking grim.
I ran past a dead US soldier and he yelled out, "Go get 'em Rebel dude!" I jumped into the bushes and started crawling underneath the shrubs. Time was running out. I wasn’t sure, but it felt like the 2.5 hour time limit was just about up.
I got all the way to the airfield and could hear the radio chatter. I was at the base of a hill and over it were 2 or 3 USFOR holding the Rebel leader hostage. It was so quite. I couldn’t move. I knew that getting any closer would get me killed. The Glock in my hand with a half full mag wasn’t making me feel any better. After 30 minutes under the brush, being baked by the sun, I contemplated suicide.
There were only 15 minutes left in the game.
Just then, the unmistakable thundering sound of the convoy boomed across the airfield. I heard one US soldier call out, “Look! The deuce!” The soldiers had already talked about laying traps and started getting in position for a final ambush.
The Rebel troop transport was full. It continued to barrel up the road and was almost within range of the ambush. Several scenarios played out in my mind, all of which ended in a Rebel/Merc bloodbath with only a few USFOR standing atop the deuce…victorious. How could it end this way? I knew I was going to get killed for it, but I stood up from the bushes, frantically waiving my arms in the air, trying to get anyone’s attention in the truck.
I was about 75 ft. off the road and I got almost everyone’s attention. I used hand signs to signal to the transport to stop and that there were several USFOR just around the bend. Mercs and Rebels evacuated the truck and started to sweep the area. I signaled that there was a bomb on the road and they called for an engineer. The OPFOR troops engaged the USFOR and there was a brief and intense battle. The area was secure.
I ran onto the airfield, now joined with part of my 1st squad and LT. Andy Catmul. The ergo was not to be found. DAMN! The US animals holding our leader hostage were a clever bunch. I looked to the end of the runway and saw the ergo at the end of a large dust cloud, unescorted and gunnerless, traveling at full speed to the opposite end. They were trying to buy time and escape the inevitable.
I thought that surely this game was ours when I heard somebody behind me call out, “8 minutes left”
I ran ahead of the truck screaming, “c’mon! Let’s go! 8 minutes left! We gotta' catch up!” The objective was in sight. I continued to run as fast as I could when the transport truck began passing me by. I lunged at the handle that was just within arms reach and pulled myself onto the flat bed Indiana Jones style. There were only 3 or 4 people in the back of the truck with me. Taking control of the ergo was going to be tough.
When the ergo hit the end of the runway, our driver stopped the deuce just outside BB range and we all jumped out. I jumped into the bushes that lined the runway and began crawling on my hands and knees. Mercenaries and rebels began surrounding the vehicle where our Rebel leader was held hostage. The last two US soldiers defended the truck like it was the crash site in “Black Hawk Down”. Grenades were flying. Empty M16 mags littered the floor of ergo. BB’s bounced off the sides. Multiple Mercs and rebels popped out of the bushes trying to get a clean shot. 30 seconds more and my Mercenary brothers and I were going to retire in style, riding into the sunset in the Rebel leaders favorite Mercedes.
The siren indicating “game over” was sounded. At last! We had won!
No, we had not won…they were still alive. The last 2 US troops held the ergo to the end. In the most spectacular ending I have ever witnessed – in the greatest Airsoft game I had ever played – they were still alive. I could not have asked for a better way to wrap up the action at OP:CD. It was amazing.
That really was the best Airsoft game I have ever played. Thank you to all the staff at Combat Enterprises for hosting such an event.
1100 HRS
20AUG02
DELTA SGT. James "ACE" LEE
After action report.
Well The story has been told, and told well by my fellow SGT. Broumand and by my Merc. Conterpart Nick Saccomanno. It was just like they told it. Alex and I fought like tigers to hold off the rebel on-slougt. An like Nick said it looked alot like the Snipers Sughart and Gordan holding the fort till the end. Lucky for us we had the game bell to save us. I was down to the last shot in my pistol when it went off. I remeber fighting to the sound of the hostage yelling 13 seconds. I would like to thank all who fought and helped put USFOR on top. As for my MVP... Thanks to all my team and the guys who voted for me. I could not have done it without you. An to the rebel forces I say great job. Never have I fought so hard for a victory. I find it fitting that my Merc. Conterpart won the OPFOR MVP. Good job Nick. I would go to battle with you any day. It sounds like you really know how to paly the game. I laughed all the way through your report.
To all who served, and are serving. May you shoot strait, be swift on your feet, and have God as your cover. Take care and we will see you at the next big game.
P.S. I found out that it was Jeremy Laudiano my Delta sniper who freed Dave right at the end. Good job Jeremy.
10:00 08-17-02
I had not seen battle in many months, but I needed the money and a Merc buddy of mine recommended me for the job of helping stop the US convoy. I ran off into battle with only a 70 round clip but quickly found a fellow Merc willing to loan me another one. About 45 minutes had gone by and I was well into my 2nd clip. I had broken off from the rest of the Merc’s and worked my way under a bush just along side the main road. I was with in 10 feet of the main road and waited for the convoy to reach me. I slowly started taking US soldiers out as they hide behind the main convey mostly I shot there leg off from under the truck. After 3 kills (1 being there medic) I was out of ammo. I remained there and allowed the US soldiers to approach me as they did I told them to surrender I called out 9 other US Soldiers before the drive of a jeep called me out. Before the next simulation I purchased 2 high cap magazines. I had a wonderful time playing with everyone thanks for a wonderful weekend all. Look forward to joining you again in combat real soon.
-Wild Weasel
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