OPERATIONS ORDER
Operation Honeybadger (2001), Orthrus

--- OPERATIONS ORDER ---

Situation

Background Information
HUMINT has led us to identify some of the Taliban military command. We have been able to narrow the possible locations of these HVTs to two locations in the region. Following a credible threat to our base perimeter, 2 Platoons with Apache are being readied to attempt a snatch and grab on Taliban Military Commander, Mahfuz Waleed, and his two Lieutenants Abdus Smad and Khadem Naser. Our Window of opportunity is small, and closing by the minute.

Friendly Forces
2x Airborne Light Infantry Platoon 2x AH-64 Apache 2x UH-60 1x UH-60 MERT

Supporting Assets
Northern Alliance Forces are present north of the riverbed, we have notified them of our presence for this operation.

Enemy Forces
A large number of Taliban allied fighters live in the area of operations, intelligence estimates up to 300. Only 1/10 of this strength is estimated to be at high readiness, concentrated around known camps and strongholds. Our targets identified by intelligence are COMPOUND 1, a suspected Taliban Military Stronghold in western Sirika, and COMPOUND 2, the suspected residence of Mahfuz Waleed, in eastern Sirika. Intelligence recently located Mahfuz's wife at COMPOUND 2 and surveillance shows he spends most of his waking hours between these two locations. While he has not been seen since US Forces began operations from FOB Leatherneck, probability of his presence at either Compound 1 or Compound 2 is estimated at 90 percent certainty. We expect some patrols and nests to be manned, but most of the enemy force will be idle until the alarm is raised, those positions in which we suspect responses from have been marked on tactical maps based on known Taliban presence.

Mission

Tasking
Capture alive Mahfuz Waleed, Taliban Tottah District Military Commander.

End-state
Return all deployed forces safely to Forward Operating Base Leatherback with the high value target alive.

Execution

Commander's Intent
The purpose of this mission is to snatch high value target Mahfuz Waleed alive by night raiding two compounds in eastern Tottah province, COMPOUND 1 and COMPOUND 2. Objectives must be upturned for intelligence and all occupants searched and detained during our occupation. The end state is the safe delivery of the HVT package and intelligence to FOB Leatherneck with minimum friendly or civilian casualties and collateral damage.

Tasks and Sequencing
Before step off at approximately 0430hrs local, DELTA and ECHO platoons form up in assigned buildings to be briefed by PltCo's on the movement plans, the Company Commander callsign PAPA will hold a briefing with Aircrews and Attachments, callsigns LONGBOW, GUARDIAN and BLACKSMITH on rules of engagement and maneuver plans. Miniature models of COMPOUND 1 and COMPOUND 2 have been constructed and can be utilized by DELTA and ECHO platoon to plan execution, pictures of high value targets have been distributed and recent aerial images have been prepared. SECTOR A DELTA platoon mount GUARDIAN and BLACKSMITH in UH-60 transport configuration to LZ Blue, escorted by Apaches LONGBOW 5-0 and LONGBOW 5-1, Apache LONGBOW 5-0 departs the flight and continues to escort DELTA platoon as the establish perimeters around LZ Blue, LONGBOW 5-1 escorts GUARDIAN and BLACKSMITH fight back to FOB Leatherback. ECHO platoon mount GUARDIAN and BLACKSMITH to LZ Blue, escorted by Apache LONGBOW 5-1. On insert LONGBOW 5-1 escorts GUARDIAN and BLACKSMITH back to FOB Leatherback, on safe return, LONGBOW 5-1 returns to LZ Blue to escort ECHO platoon. SECTOR B DELTA platoon and ECHO platoon move north through the Urugal Valley floor 1km to reach target area. If enemy presence is detected, or civilian presence which may hinder the mission, units will take appropriate action in order to protect the mission objective, care must be taken to avoid alerting enemy forces until HVT is secured. LONGBOW callsigns will scan ahead for threats and alert DELTA and ECHO platoons of movements in the AO. SECTOR C - Phase 1 DELTA and ECHO platoons establish their planned OPs as identified during base planning and execute synchronized raids on COMPOUND 1 (ECHO PLATOON) and COMPOUND 2 (DELTA PLATOON), these exact movement plans will be briefed verbally by the respective ECHO and DELTA platoon leaders. SECTOR C - Phase 2 Once both target compounds are secure, DELTA and ECHO platoons, supported by Apaches LONGBOW 5-0 and LONGBOW 5-1 will go-firm, securing perimeters in order to permit the search for intelligence and the processing of CPERS, weapons found are to be confiscated and destroyed. We expect civilian and Taliban to approach compounds once we go loud, so care must be taken to warn civilians off-site and to deny access to any Taliban response. The longer we remain in situ the more dangerous we expect the response to be. Once the target is secure, extraction in-situ will be planned by forward air controllers by establishing a tactical landing zone (TLZ) between COMPOUND 1 and COMPOUND 2 to extract the HVT, under escort of LONGBOW. SECTOR C - Phase 3 DELTA and ECHO platoons break contact back to SECTOR ALPHA for ex-filtration. Complications / actions-on - Contact prior to authorization: expedite movement to the primary objective and LONGBOW call-signs shift tasking to prioritize monitoring of escapees. - Target killed: body to be recovered - Secondary targets captured: extract in the same manner as the primary target - Loss of air-frame: primary tasking of at least one platoon will shift to search and rescue operations, crash site to be destroyed

Administration/Logistics

Resupply
Basic load must be sufficient for execution of the mission, logistics will be provided by airborne team callsign BLACKSMITH 5-3 as either airdrops or insertions, depending on contact. LONGBOW, GUARDIAN and BLACKSMITH callsigns can be serviced at FOB Leatherbacks service area.

Medical
The primary means of MEDEVAC is by air, callsign GUARDIAN 5-2 will deploy medics where required through authorization of the Commander and using tactical landing zones setup by the Company's Forward Air Controllers. Where required, casualties will be airlifted.

Rules of Engagement
EPWs should be searched, questioned and treated medically. At the earliest opportunity extracted safely to FOB Leatherneck. Those CPERS interned only for the safety of operations should be searched, questioned and released when suitable to do so.

Fire Support Plan
In accordance with SOP

Close Air Support
Where required, close air support will be provided by AH-64 Apaches, LONGBOW 5-0 and LONGBOW 5-1.

Command/Signal

Communications Plan

Callsign	Primary Frequency	Superior Frequency	ACTUAL
PAPA 9	45mHz	37mHz	Maj James Company Commander
DELTA 9	40mHz	37mHz	1Lt WhiteWolf Platoon Leader
DELTA 1	250mHz	40mHz	SP3 Shahid-e-Gomnam Squad Leader
DELTA 2	260mHz	40mHz	SP2 LegacyStetson Squad Leader
ECHO 9	361mHz	37mHz	SP1 Hotspur (Ret.) Platoon Leader
ECHO 1	362mHz	361mHz	SFC SkullCollector Squad Leader
ECHO 2	290mHz	361mHz	SPC Johannes (Ret.) Squad Leader
GUARDIAN 5-2	82mHz	80mHz	SSG Jenkins Rotary Crew Chief (General)
BLACKSMITH 5-3	83mHz	80mHz	SPC Aynzerwulv Logistics Support Chief
HOTEL H	87mHz	37mHz	2Lt Zuka Senior Game Master

Considerations
The Company Commander, callsign PAPA will coordinate the efforts of platoons DELTA and ECHO and authorize the use of attachments as required. All air-frames should maintain an air-to-air frequency for situational awareness. DELTA and ECHO forward air controllers will have dedicated frequencies and LONGBOW callsigns will be assigned to a DELTA or ECHO Forward Air Controller when in the area of operations, other air-frames will be directed to contact DELTA or ECHO forward air controllers as required by their mission and taskings.