OPERATIONS ORDER
Operation Panther (1969), Monday Monday

--- OPERATIONS ORDER ---

Situation

Background Information
US Forces are to set out on a patrol across the river, using PBRs, past civilian towns and scout out for any Vietcong (VC). If villages look suspicious for holding VC investigate and engage if necessary. The route also includes a known prisoner of war camp which is to be cleared of any VC. Once secured a Huey will be available for picking the PoWs up. Once PoWs are secured continue on the route up to FOB Tampa and FOB Dallas, both are likely be overrun by VC.

Friendly Forces
1x Squad of US infantry 3x Mk II PBR (Patrol Boat Riverine)

Supporting Assets
No independent forces will be present.

Enemy Forces
Vietcong have access to light arms, mostly WW2 weaponry.

Mission

Tasking
Patrol the river. Secure the PoWs and scout and and possibly retake FOB Tampa and FOB Dallas.

End-state
Once patrol route has ended, PoWs are safe and FOBs are secured the mission will be success. Any failures of objectives may result in a failure.

Execution

Commander's Intent
UNITAF teams will conduct a presence patrol along the river connecting the PBR Camp Papaye and FOB Dallas to the North-West. The POW Camp will be cleared and searched for POWs along the way. Any VC contact along the route to be neutralised with extreme prejudice. No VC are to be allowed to remain operating along the route to FOB Dallas.

Tasks and Sequencing
PBR Convoy Order: Papa 2-3 - Foxtrot 1-2 [Assault Fire Team] Papa 2-2 - Foxtrot 9 [Platoon Command] Papa 2-1 - Foxtrot 1-1 [Support Fire Team] + Foxtrot 1 Actual Due to the enemy we are facing and the route taken, we will be expecting VC ambushes. Particularly dangerous areas are marked with red exclamation marks on the plan below. Actions on upon receiving contact in the PBRs will be to overwhelm the enemy with fire superiority- this should be easy to achieve with the number and calibre of weapons at our disposal. Entrenched enemy positions will be heavily suppressed and flanked by a ground team if the opportunity presents. Phase 1 Once loaded in convoy order, Papa will proceed along the river route towards first planned contact. Once we reach the lagoon leading up to the POW Camp we will deploy Foxtrot along the shore to our North. Foxtrot will proceed along the shore, avoiding in-land jungle, to assault the POW camp. Meanwhile the PBRs will push along the lagoon just behind the infantry, providing fire support into the Camp whilst taking care not to kill any POWs within. Once the Camp is secured and the platoon is regrouped and rearmed, we will continue the patrol. Phase 2 Continuing the patrol towards FOB Tampa, reacting to any contact as per actions-on. Potentially hostile settlement on the Northern bank may require dismount of Foxtrot and assault. FOB Tampa may have been overrun by VC- if this is the case, Foxtrot will deploy and assault from the South-West and South supported by the PBRs along the river. Phase 3 Patrol continues toward FOB Dallas. Suo Gan considered to be a potential VC hideout and to be scanned thoroughly. Any suspicious activity will be cause for investigation. Patrol end at FOB Dallas and endex.

Administration/Logistics

Resupply
In accordance with SOP

Medical
In accordance with SOP

Rules of Engagement
In accordance with SOP

Fire Support Plan
In accordance with SOP

Close Air Support
- 2x A-1 Skyraider CAS on request - 1x Huey extract on request - 1x OV-12 Bronco FAC scout request

Command/Signal

Communications Plan

Callsign	Primary Frequency	Superior Frequency	ACTUAL
FOXTROT 9	40mHz	37mHz	MSP Mattjamco Platoon Leader
FOXTROT 1	250mHz	40mHz	SPC Deksterus (Ret.) Squad Leader
ALPHA 1-1	251mHz	250mHz	PFC Trifle (Ret.) Fireteam Leader
FOXTROT 1-2	252mHz	250mHz	MSP Jari (Ret.) Fireteam Leader
PAPA 2	260mHz	40mHz	PFC BigRed (Ret.) Light Vehicle Section Commander

Considerations
Only leaders and radio operators will have access to radios during this mission.