OPERATIONS ORDER
Operation Giantsbane (1944), La Pointe du Hoc

--- OPERATIONS ORDER ---

Situation

Background Information
1944, Pointe du Hoc, 4.0 mi west of Omaha Beach. The location of a series of German bunkers, machine gun posts and artillery that could slow down nearby beach attacks. The 1st Armoured Division of the British Expeditionary Force reaches stalemate with a platoon of tanks detracked in a minefield and the majority of it's supporting infantry wiped out. More forces are despatched to rescue them before German forces reach their position and ultimately to ensure that this vital part of Operation Overlord does not result in failure.

Friendly Forces
British Expeditionary Forces comprised of members of 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment as line Infantry and the 5th Royal Tank Regiment, 22 Armoured Brigade. Roughly 16 tanks and 160 Infantry have already landed, suffering near 70?sualties, we form part of a second wave of reinforcements. A platoon of tanks from 5-22 are still holding out having breached enemy defences but without infantry support from the first wave, cut off from their logistics support which is holding out on the southern beach, comprised of medical and engineering attachments. We'll provide line infantry support to regroup and reorg into a fighting unit.

Supporting Assets
The US Marines and Canadian Forces are north of our position taking the brunt of the enemy fortified positions, with the British line having made it through the first line of enemy defenses, we have the opportunity to help our allies by doubling down and bringing a second line of attack onto the enemy position.

Enemy Forces
The Wehrmacht are well dug in but this is not the most well defended of positions encounter so far during the invasion. Our recon units have provided so far accurate information on enemy positions including a vast number of machinegun positions, pillboxes and artillery and AT gun positions. For some reason, the Wehrmacht have yet not brought forward tank platoons and seem to be relying on their fortified positions. Reports from further north seem to indicate that the enemy forces are digging in further inland rather than trying to take back lost ground. The Luftwaffe relentlessly harass allied advances up the beaches, but the arrival of the Royal Air Force, combined with the capture of ground based AA guns is beginning to turn the tide against them.

Mission

Tasking
Primary Objective OBJ ECHO - Capture Colville Strip from the Luftwaffe Secondary Objectives OBJ ALPHA - Rescue the stranded Platoon of the 5th Royal Tank Regiment OBJ CHARLIE - Wipe out the Wehrmacht Garrison and it's fortifications to support the allied advance Tertiary Objectives (Aircraft) - Seek and destroy enemy fortified positions pillboxes and engage Luftwaffe squadrons

End-state
Secure Colville Strip and go-firm.

Execution

Commander's Intent
The purpose of this mission is to break through Wehrmacht defense lines south of Normandy, cut through a lesser defended beachhead and provide flanking support to American and Canadian Forces by linking up with first-wave armoured, medical and engineering support units and progressing further inland towards Colville strip, before capturing it from Luftwaffe forces.

Tasks and Sequencing
CALLSIGN ABLE Deploying from a small Royal Air Force strip, ABLE will land via landing craft of the Royal Navy as a second wave of the Essex Regiment in the purple sector, linking up with callsigns DOG and VIXEN, who are already stationed at the beach head. ABLE must initially rescue a stranded tank platoon of the 5th Royal Tank Regiment (Callsign BAKER) OBJ ALPHA while also contending with Wehrmacht AA guns, artillery and pillbox positions, before moving west up the beach head to support American and Canadian forces. CALLSIGN BAKER Left over from the first wave, callsign BAKER must hold out to preserve their damaged tanks until support arrives, with Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe forces closing in, it's only a matter of time before they are over-run. They must hold out and await infantry support to allow engineers to move in and free them from a minefield before they can support ABLE in Phase 2. CALLSIGN SKYLARK No. 601 Squadron RAFs P-39's flight of 4 are supporting the BEF advance, equipped with HMG, LMG and 500lbs bombs, their mission is to provide CAP support to prevent Luftwaffe air superiority over the beaches and later inland. Coordination of bombing key fortified positions, bunkers and pillboxes will allow allied forces to advance safely toward their objective. CALLSIGN DOG Surviving support units from the first wave are deployed on the beachhead between BAKER and ABLE and must survive until ABLE arrives. DOG units are equipped with the versatile Universal Carrier tracked vehicle, with fuel, ammunition and supplies to assist ABLE and BAKER as they push inland. Once linked up with ABLE, DOG must focus on supporting BAKER to enable them to continue their mission. CALLSIGN VIXEN Finally the last remaining first wave medical teams are equipped with each 2 American made jeep platform medical evacuation vehicles, tasked with the rapid extraction and treatment of battlefield casualties, VIXEN must ensure that no man is left behind.

Administration/Logistics

Resupply
LOGPAKs will be provided by DOG using Universal Carriers, which will also provide vehicle ammo, fuel and repair as required.

Medical
MEDEVAC will be provided by VIXEN using modified American jeeps, they will construct active CCPs behind the front line and rapidly extract, treat and insert casualties as required.

Rules of Engagement
EPWs should be turned over to the ABLE Command position for processing.

Fire Support Plan
In accordance with SOP

Close Air Support
Close Air Support provided by No. 601 Squadron RAF coordinated through the Company Forward Air Controller, they must not use 500lbs bombs without authorisation from the FAC, but may engage with machineguns as required.

Command/Signal

Communications Plan

Callsign	Primary Frequency	Superior Frequency	ACTUAL
ABLE 9	40mHz	37mHz	SSG Kevin Platoon Leader
ABLE 1	250mHz	40mHz	SP1 Tony Squad Leader
ABLE 2	260mHz	40mHz	SSG Johnson Fireteam Leader
ABLE 3	270mHz	40mHz	PFC ryyszla Fireteam Leader
BAKER 9	361mHz	37mHz	MSP Mattjamco MBT Section Commander
BAKER 1	362mHz	361mHz	MBT Crewman (Commander)
BAKER 2	290mHz	361mHz	SP3 Jeb Saur MBT Crewman (Commander)
BAKER 3	300mHz	361mHz	SP3 Pete MBT Crewman (Commander)
DOG 4	70mHz	43mHz	SP2 Chelmy (Ret.) Logistics Support Chief
WATCHMAN H	87mHz	37mHz	Maj James Senior Game Master

Considerations
2 radios per infantry squad, one for the Squad Leader and one for the Radio Operator but the Radio Operator is the primary communicator.