TDG Tuesday: Convoy Ambush

I started this series, TDG (Tactical Decision Game) Tuesdays, to get you more in the mindset of how you could potentially handle a given tactical scenario with a limited amount of resources and manpower. My goal is to get you to read these scenarios and think about what resources you have available, what sort of scenarios you might encounter, and what gaps you need to fill in your equipment/training.
I will use the basic 5-paragraph operations order format, or SMEAC, to present the scenario as follows;
Situation: Disposition of all friendly, hostile, and adjacent forces.
Mission: What we are trying to do.
Execution: How we are going to do it.
Admin & Logistics: Who/what is getting where and how.
Command & Signal: Who is in charge and how they are communicating.

TDG 5: Convoy Ambush

Situation: Guerrilla Warfare Scenario. You lead a small band of guerrillas fighting against the PLA.

• OPFOR Situation: Your AO is a PLA “rear area” with only minimal forces for security, as the bulk of their units are about a hundred miles Northeast at the front. Reconnaissance has determined that the PLA routinely sends supply convoys through your area carrying fuel, munitions, rations, and medical equipment in unarmored trucks. Normal composition of enemy convoys are 6-10 supply trucks with armored security vehicles at the front, middle, and rear of the convoy. The troops you will be fighting likely do not have combat experience. However, their ROEs are not very restrictive, and are more designed to prevent friendly fire than collateral damage.

  • Reinforcements: there is a QRF located at the logistics depot approximately 10 miles south of the location pictured on the map. They use the same armored vehicles as the convoy escorts. They do not have rotary wing support this far in the rear, but they do have an ISR drone available to launch upon the QRF getting triggered. They do not have constant drone coverage available for force protection.

  • Supporting units: There is a supply battalion at the depot 10 miles to the south where the convoys originate, co-located with an engineering company.

PLA Armored Car, the most likely Escort Vehicle for this exercise

• BLUFOR Situation: You lead a squad plus of 17 guerrillas, consisting of four 4-man fire teams and yourself. You all live in the area and have trained/operated together previously, but you do not have any heavy weaponry. One of your fire teams has just returned from spending a week in an observation post overlooking the road, so you have the convoy schedule and you know that the next one will drive through in three hours.

• Independents Situation: There are no houses in the map, and civilians are unlikely to be in your operating area. The populace is not in favor of the occupation and is sympathetic to the guerrillas, so it is unlikely that they will report your group if they see you. There are no adjacent friendly militias that you are aware of.

Mission: Ambush the next convoy and destroy as much of the supplies and vehicles as possible in order to bleed the enemy and pull some pressure off of the front.

Execution:  The current time is 0300, your people are assembled and ready to go.  The convoy will be at the bridge in the bottom of the map at 0600 local time, traveling the highlighted route in the direction indicated by the arrow at about 50mph.  Sunrise is at 0630.  Everything else is up to you.

Admin & Logistics: You have the following resources available:

• every man’s personal AR-15 with 600 rounds/man.

• 5x 2-seat Four-wheelers

• 2x pickup trucks

• 4x FRS walkie-talkies

• whatever you happen to have in your house/barn/workshop in the way of tools, building supplies, chemicals, etc.

Note: Just because I list something here doesn’t mean you need to use it.

Command & Signal: You are the Squad Leader. You can delegate to your four Team Leaders if you so choose. Your comm plan is up to you, remember to use a PACE plan.

I want you guys to get creative here. Don’t get hung up on how little you have to work with, think outside the box and find a way to accomplish your mission.

Feel free to post your answers in the comments and discuss (or don’t, if it compromises OPSEC).