Tactical Decision Game #4

You are a lieutenant commanding a platoon of Marines with a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) operating in the Central Asian republic of Dobhabhistan. Your unit has been in the region for one month training your Dobhabhistani allies in support of continuing international anti-terrorism operations.

While conducting field operations, you receive word from your battalion commander that a terrorist cell has overrun an abandoned Soviet ballistic missile site held by the Dobhabhistani Territorial Guard. You are approximately five kilometers from the installation, and the Dobhabhistani government has formally requested American assistance. Because of your proximity, your platoon has been tasked with retaking the installation.

Satellite imagery indicates approximately thirty terrorists in and around the installation. Reports from two Territorial Guardsmen who witnessed the incident and were able to escape indicate that the terrorist cell is armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Their report also indicates that the terrorists may have several sharpshooters, possibly armed with old Mosin Nagant rifles. The battalion intelligence officer has transmitted satellite imagery to your position.

You are commanding a standard infantry platoon of forty Marines. Your platoon is composed of three squads, each of which is composed of three fire teams. Your men are armed with M-16A4 assault rifles; each fire team and squad leader also has an M203 grenade launcher. Each fire team (nine of them) also has an M249 light machine gun. You also have an attached sniper team (two snipers and two spotters) and a weapons detachment of two M60 machine guns (two gunners and two assistants). A small detachment from the Dobhabhistani company you have been training with will also accompany you and observe the operation from a safe distance. Due to your distance from headquarters and the sensitivity of the installation, you will not have outside fire support.

Your objective is to detain or neutralize the terrorists and secure the missile complex. Intelligence indicates that the two areas of enemy concentration are in the control station on the southwest corner of the facility, and the barracks in the southeast corner. The ballistic missiles and their warheads should be secure, but you're advised to practice extreme caution when sweeping the silos.

What now, Lieutenant? Submit a solution containing a scheme of maneuver, orders for subordinates, placement directions for sniper and machine gun teams, and any other relevant instructions/rationales. For more information about tactical decision games, visit the The Marine Corps Gazette; for more information about the weapon systems involved, visit Global Security.