OPERATIONS ORDER
Operation Giantsbane (1940s), Battle for Chef du Pont

--- OPERATIONS ORDER ---

Situation

Background Information
The Merderet Crossing at Chef du Pont is the lifeline for German reinforcements heading toward Utah Beach. Without it, their armor and infantry cannot strike at the heart of the invasion. Taking that crossing is now our job and the success of the entire operation depends on it and by extension, us. Scattered by heavy flak, we’ve landed across fields in enemy-controlled ground. Regrouping will be your first challenge, find your men, secure your position, gather what supplies you can and be ready to move. Before we can push on Chef du Pont, we need to deal with the German guns hammering the beaches. Their anti-aircraft and artillery positions are well-defended, but they need to go. Scout the area, identify their positions, and take them out however you can, quietly if possible. Once those guns are silenced, it’s a straight shot into the heart of Chef du Pont. Expect heavy resistance. The village is quite literally on fire and covered in rubble, fortified positions and well-placed machine guns. The Germans know how vital this crossing is, and they’ll fight tooth and nail to keep it. Once the crossing is secured, you’ll hold it against inevitable counterattacks until reinforcements from the landings arrive. The Germans won’t make it easy, but victory here could change the tide of the invasion. Make every shot count, failure is not an option.

Friendly Forces
ABLE, BAKER, and CHARLIE Platoons, 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne, each approximately 40 men, consisting of rifle squads, fire support elements, and a 60mm mortar section. Armored reinforcements from VII Corps, Western Task Force, including Sherman tanks, M8 Greyhounds, and mechanized infantry from the 4th Infantry Division, expected within 24 hours.

Supporting Assets
Scattered elements of the 505th and 507th PIR, 82nd Airborne, are present in the area, regrouping after the drop. Additional paratrooper stragglers from the 101st Airborne may be encountered. DAGGER 3 provides 60mm mortar fire support for ABLE Platoon. No direct armored or air support until reinforcements arrive from Utah Beach.

Enemy Forces
Primary opposition consists of Wehrmacht infantry from the 91st Luftlande Division and Fallschirmjäger of the 6th Parachute Regiment, reinforced by machine gun teams, mortars, Pak 40 anti-tank guns, and entrenched artillery positions. Defenses include sandbag emplacements, MG42 nests, fortified buildings, light field entrenchments, and barbed wire obstacles. Enemy artillery and anti-aircraft batteries are positioned outside Chef du Pont, targeting both the beaches and airborne forces. These include 105mm howitzers, 88mm Flak guns, and 20mm AA positions, which must be neutralized before advancing on the bridge.

Mission

End-state
ABLE Platoon is tasked with securing the Merderet Crossing at Chef du Pont to prevent German forces from reinforcing Utah Beach. This requires neutralizing enemy artillery and anti-air positions, clearing fortified defenses in the village, and holding the crossing to deny German movement until Allied forces arrive.

Execution

Commander's Intent
The primary intent of this operation is to capture a bridge crossing located in Chef-du-Pont, so that the Wehrmacht cannot reinforce their positions further North-West which will affect allied landing operations The secondary tasks of this operation are to neutralize anti-air positions and artillery sites located outside the town in order to relieve pressure off the allied landing forces These tasks have been deemed critical to the operation, failure will put the allied landing operations in jeopardy.

Tasks and Sequencing
PHASE 0: (Preparation) All callsigns shall organize their gear and rendezvous at RP-0 for operational briefing. Upon conclusion of briefing, squad leaders shall assign each member of their squad with a number from 1 through 15, with themselves being 16 as acting jump master. Once that has been done, squad members will be moved into a C-47 Skytrain on route to the drop zone, where the mission will enter into phase one. PHASE 1: Upon reaching the drop zone, all callsigns shall static line drop over the DZ, then regroup with their respective element leaders after successfully landing. All callsigns shall then move to regroup at Rally Point Alpha to the North East (Grid 014,970). Once all callsigns have reached the rally point, the objective area will be reconnoitered for points of interest so that leaders can conduct assault planning in the field. After all secondary objectives have been successfully completed, the operation will move into phase two. PHASE 2: Able platoon shall receive a logistical resupply package via airdrop before commencing an assault on the town of Chef-du-Pont. Able platoon shall aim to flank enemy strongpoints and clear out fortified positions within the town, where they shall then aim to capture and hold the bridge crossing near the town center, both from garrison defenders and reinforcing units attempting to counter-attack. All callsigns should aim to hold the bridge until the following day, when allied landing forces are expected to link up and relieve Able platoon from their positions, thus successfully completing the mission.

Administration/Logistics

Resupply
Logistical resupply packages will be delivered by C-47 Skytrain aircraft upon completion of operational phases. Until enemy anti-air artillery located in the region are neutralized however, the possibility of receiving logistical support will be extremely unlikely.

Medical
Casualties are to be handled by the medical staff assigned to each ABLE element. In the event of a Mass Casualty Incident, the platoon headquarters medical staff shall provide assistance and will coordinate a casualty collection point in the field

Rules of Engagement
In accordance with SOP

Fire Support Plan
60mm mortar support to be provided by DAGGER which will be coordinated by ABLE 7

Close Air Support
None available. Friendly fighter aircraft are providing support to the allied landing operations further North as well as keeping the Luftwaffe occupied during the operation

Command/Signal

Communications Plan

Callsign	Primary Frequency	Superior Frequency	ACTUAL
ABLE 9	40mHz	37mHz	SSG Jenkins Platoon Leader
ABLE 1	250mHz	40mHz	Capt WhiteWolf Squad Leader
ABLE 1-1	251mHz	250mHz	SP2 Melon Fireteam Leader
ABLE 1-2	252mHz	250mHz	Pvt Oki Junior Team Leader
ABLE 2	260mHz	40mHz	SP3 Jeb Saur Squad Leader
ABLE 2-1	261mHz	260mHz	2Lt Aiedail Fireteam Leader
ABLE 2-2	262mHz	260mHz	Pvt nicogrim Junior Team Leader
DAGGER 3	270mHz	40mHz	SFC Kevin Fire Support Chief
CROSSROAD H	87mHz	37mHz	LtCol James Senior Game Master

Considerations
STATIC LINE JUMP: ABLE squad leaders are to act as jump masters for their aircraft and will be the last person to leave the aircraft. Upon approach to the Drop Zone, all paratroopers must do the following: 1) Wait for red signal light to turn on 2) On red signal light, paratroopers must: Scroll wheel -> "Stand up" 3) On green signal light, paratroopers must Scroll wheel -> "Static line drop" Once they hear their number called out by the jump master 4) Upon landing, pack the parachute and move in the flight direction of the aircraft until you regroup with your squad leader Jump Masters Only: - You MUST be positioned in the Jump Master seat inside the aircraft - The interior light must be on and the bay door open for passengers to use the static line paradrop function! SMOKE SIGNALS: WHITE - Concealment RED - Enemy Position BLUE - Friendly Position PURPLE - Mass Casualty Site YELLOW - Supply Drop