TDG Tuesday: Alamo! Alamo! Alamo!
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 4: Alamo! Alamo! Alamo!
Situation: “ALAMO! ALAMO! ALAMO! NOT A DRILL!” reads the 2am encrypted chat message from Kevin, your friend and teammate. Alamo, the code word for one of you coming under siege in your own home, has never been used outside of training before. Thankfully, you knew this day would eventually come and you all trained accordingly. You pass on the message to the other members of your team, grab your minuteman kit off its ready rack, and head off to the predetermined ORP for Kevin’s house.
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OPFOR Situation: A well-armed, trained, and organized “cartel” has surrounded Kevin’s home and attempted a no-knock raid, which failed and has now turned into a standoff. They have an armored MRAP and about 20 men on scene, most of whom are common enforcers armed only with handguns, but with a highly trained 10-man assault team armed with assault rifles and body armor. Known enemy positions are indicated on the map, but only represent what Kevin knows about and can tell you over the radio. In addition, you can expect them to have roadblocks set up on avenues of approach. Hostiles can be easily PID’d via their black uniforms and body armor, and distinct markings on vehicles.
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BLUFOR Situation: Kevin and his wife, alerted by their dogs, managed to ambush and repel the initial attempt to storm their home and are now barricaded inside. Kevin has concealed CCTV cameras around his house running off a reserve battery that the cartel don’t know about, which is how he is able to spot and report enemy positions to you. You, the team leader, meet up with the remaining 4 members of your fire team plus at ORP Kevin, shown on the map above.
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Independents Situation: There are multiple civilians in the houses surrounding Kevin’s, and the cartel has made no attempt to evacuate them. There is no external support or adjacent friendlies, it’s up to you.
Mission: Extract Kevin and his wife in order to get them out of harm’s way.
Execution: (Up to you. Remember what the mission is and don’t get sidetracked.)
Admin & Logistics: You have the following resources:
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5 shooters, including yourself, the 2 remaining members of your fire team, and a 2-man AMR team
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4 AKMs with 180 rounds each (6 mags)
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1 .50 cal AMR with 30 rounds of API
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1 small quad-copter drone with remote camera
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4 handheld VHF/UHF radios
Command & Signal: You are the team leader. Your AMR team has trained to work semi-independently in the past and can be detached from the rest of the group if you choose. Your comm plan was set ahead of time, and is as follows:
P: Alamo1: 450.25MHz, for talking to Kevin
Valkyrie1: 447.70MHz, for talking within the team
A: Alamo2: 138.33MHz
Valkyrie2: 133.85MHz
C: Signal whistle
E: Orange reflective panels inside everyone’s hats
While you consider your plan, think about how much harder this would be to organize and how much slower your response time would be if you hadn’t prepared like the team in this TDG. Then consider how this could potentially work out for you and your friends/teammates. Do you know how you would respond to a call for help from your best friends? Do they know how to respond to you should you need it? Have you practiced responding to each others’ homes? Failing to plan is planning to fail.
And if you don’t know how to train your teammates to work together, I have a class for that.
Feel free to post your answers in the comments and discuss.
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Part of me wants to move through the woods, slit the throats of the guys at the back of the house, lay cover fire and have him make a run to the woods.
I’d send the AMR crew to the south end of the lake as a base of fire on the MRAP and entry team. The remaining shooters would assault from the east of Kevin’s house out of the woods, extract his wife and him back into the woods. Move south through the woods and link up with the AMR team and get to the vehicles and get out of the area ASAP.
I’m pretty sure .50 API would be totally useless on an MRAP. Now, on a couple soldiers in body armor, that’s a totally different story.
Not totally useless…
It’ll definitely punch through the turret, as well as right through the CAT motor.
Roger that. Never tested it. I was always told all the MRAPS are rated for .50 cal rounds of any type because that’s the largest caliber an American citizen can have. I suppose that’s mostly advertising, and dependant on the test performed. Such as angle of incidence to the target and distance. Those API rounds are like $100 a piece.
Also, on the topic, don’t think you’re down and out because you don’t have a heavy weapon system.
A well placed 5.56 does a rather mean job on the DVE camera.
If you shop around you can find .50 API for around $4-$5 a round, for now. I’m sure that’ll probably change though. You can also get APIT for about the same, although tracers would be counterproductive lol
Damn. WWES is right. I must have been looking at ammo on pricegougers.com because I just found API for $6 a round. THAT’S AWESOME! I need a .50 caliber right now.
I can believe that someone is selling it for that, I saw a local store trying to sell surplus Turkish 8mm Mauser ammo for $2 a round recently. Some places are just flat out insane.
Check out sgammo.com, they still have a pretty good selection of 50 BMG, and they’re really good folks to do business with. They have API for $4-$5 a round right now.
I got my API in bulk for $2.89/rd back in December. It’s actually cheaper than FMJ because most people get fifties for long range accuracy, and machine gun ammo isn’t good at that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2s_2HOI_nc
Fast forward to 2:30. It would appear you are correct. On this truck, which isn’t the MRAPs that the police are getting, the armor appears to be similar to that which would protect the turret or the armor slates on the front and sides of the engine. I’m impressed.
I know what a DshK does to one, first hand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2s_2HOI_nc&t=137s
Here’s a video of a guy testing different rounds on an MRAP. At about 2:38 you can see that 50 BMG API goes right through it.
You bring up a good point, I just wanted to use the 50 to suppress the MRAP and entry team with enfilade fire so the recovery team could get in and out. While the damage the API rounds would do is in question, I seriously doubt anyone is going to want to stick around when big bullets are ripping through the air and showering everything around in hot molten metal. Considering they will probably be taking cover from Kevin’s house behind their precious MRAP, it puts them in a really bad spot to be engaged with such a powerful rifle from the flank. Hit one guy and you’ll probably hit three. If that sight doesn’t sound the retreat and open up the back yard for an easier extract these guys are definitely more disciplined than most.
Split off the AMR Team, since they have a semi-autonomous capability, moving down south along the wood line from OPR Kevin, then cut west into the bottom of the clearing and set up a position from which they could engage the MRAP at distance while also minimizing the risk of damage to civilian dwellings in the background (shooting north through Terrace Dr).
Assaulters pre-stage at final cover and concealment west of Kevin’s house in tree-line, and will set to engage hostile forces posted in the rear of Kevin’s House to facilitate extract of Kevin and Family.
Team Leader coordinates movement plans for AMR, Assault Team, and Kevin (exploiting information hen can provide from his CCTV system) and get on comms with residents of neighborhood to try and evacuate As many as possible prior to the fight. Getting residents around Kevin’s house, and likely lanes of fire, out are critical… killing a handful or more civilians but getting Kevin and Family out is ultimately self defeating. And unless there is an imminent risk of Kevin and Family being killed, as much time as is needed should be taken to get surrounding residents out using pre-established comm channels… ultimately a call will have to be made, and it may be forced by the bad guys.
If / When the decision is made to go hot, the AMR Team will initiate fire on the MRAP, drawing enemy attention and fire (relying upon the superior reach of the AMR vs their 10 man squad with smaller .30 caliber rifles). The assault team will engage the two hostile locations in rear of Kevin’s House. Kevin and Family will exfil to West with assaulters covering their movement as needed. Hopefully the AMR Teams 30 rounds of API keeps the majority of the enemy force with the MRAP busy long enough, relying upon speed surprise and violence of action, so that Kevin and Family can exfil and get out of there without the OPFOR realizing what’s happened until it’s done.
After the primary objective has been achieved, it’ll be command decision as to whether or not to press an assault, or retreat and live to fight another day. Keeping everyone alive, and likely giving the OPFOR a bloody nose is a big win. If the enemy forces are getting clobbered, are in disarray, seem not to be particularly capable, and the window of opportunity exists to press the attack, inflict more casualties, and potentially capture enemy personnel to exploit for intel and material, that should be considered, but as a secondary objective to the primary.
^^^^^ This plan. Except to deploy the available drone to find placement of other OPFOR in the area, bringing in the drone from the North to observe. The only wrinkle I can see is if that field is planted in corn, AMR likely wouldn’t have a line of sight to the MRAP.
Completely unqualified to make such a plan, but I’ll give it my best armchair attempt…
Once at ORP KEVIN, deploy drone to first verify the two potential roadblocks, second verify the MRAP, third the position and composition on the OPFOR paying specific attention to the south and east of KEVINS HOUSE. Drone verifies roadblocks are in place using civilian pickup trucks, each manned by five local enforcers.
With locations verified, I’d ground the drone behind one of the two southern most houses Terrace Dr for later use. Entire BLUFOR would TAB north by northwest, crossing Terrace Dr north of the roadblock (RB#1). AMI would establish a firing position providing a firing lane on both RB#1 and the MRAP. Remaining 3 man fire team would TAB west and than south to establish a firing position on RB#1 from west-to-east along 11th Street.
On a coordinated signal, AMI team opens up on RB#1, disabling the vehicle. As the five man OPFOR element takes cover, the BLUFOR fire team advances while firing, taking them in the left flank and overrunning the position. BLUFOR fireteam establishes cover around RB#1. AMI team shifts fire on the MRAP and the fire team provides fire on OPFOR element. Drone is re-activated to provide real time surveillance on OPFOR around the MRAP and the western roadblock (RB#2). OPFOR elements take cover around the MRAP and neighboring houses.
OPFOR elements re-orient on the BLUFOR attack and start returning fire. Kevin radios that the east side of his house is now clear. Kevin and Wife (K&W) exit house and establishes a position just inside the tree line. RB#2 vehicle and five man element respond to BLUFOR attack by advancing west towards the MRAP position and than north up Terrace Dr. MRAP is attempting to re-orient to face north. AMI team shifts to the RB#2 vehicle while BLUFOR fire team continues to pin down OPFOR in front of KEVINS HOUSE. RB#2 vehicle is disabled and the five man element takes cover around it and closest house.
BLUFOR fire team cuts the fuel line of RB#1 vehicle, draining the gas on the ground. Fire team ignites the gas and vehicle, withdraws north under cover fire from AMI, and establishes a new firing position. Fire team provides covering fire for AMI team as they withdraw north. Both elements then break east into the wood. K&W maintain their position, reporting that MRAP and surviving OPFOR have rallied and are advancing north along Terrace Dr in leap and bound. All BLUFOR elements and K&W rally back to ORP KEVIN and exfil the area.
Too many moving parts, complexity and time. K.I.S.S. Gonna get your own folks killed.
A good plan for assaulting the enemy force. However, that wasn’t the mission assigned, and has a higher risk of you suffering a casualty that you cannot afford to take. Take no unnecessary risks, think about what you are actually trying to accomplish (i.e. re-read the mission statement), and plan in such a way that has the highest likelihood of you and your friends coming home alive.
Also, good on you for being to only one to use the drone in your plan. It’s a huge asset, and I’m surprised nobody else included it in their plan yet.
I considered the drone as a distraction, but I was worried about losing it and it being traceable. I’m paranoid about the EM, because drones are a huge bugbear right now, and I expect that stingray-like devices are going to become common for SWAT teams.
I think drones are fantastic for intel. This wasn’t a “gather intel and assault” mission. This was straight up E&E. The drone just expands your detection footprint, while likely not getting us anything Kevin hadn’t already relayed from Mark 1 Eyeball. Hell, if I thought that we were going to have to use the AMR, I wouldn’t have detached it to the south because of the risk of capture.
The drone will be WAY more useful when we respond this action by OPFOR, on our own terms, our own timing, based on good intel that we gathered at least partially with the drone.
Ultimately it depends on the model of drone as to how detectable it is. I seriously doubt OPFOR in this scenario would expect any external support, let alone UAS, so they wouldn’t be looking for it. Even if they did spot it, they’d assume it was just some nosy neighbor and not an incoming rescue force, unless this wasn’t the first time they’d been attacked during a raid. And unless you use a cell phone app to control it, it can’t be traced back to you outside standard forensic procedures (i.e. fingerprints).
5
KISS plan:
AMR team goes to the south side of the water body, and finds a concealed position that allows them to deny Terrace Dr to OPFOR. That is their mission.
We establish a rally point as close to Kevin’s house in the east woods. I split off north, and the other two men start a careful infil to put fire on the two hostiles to the east.
While they are getting in position and noting all OPFOR positions they can see, I go and start a major structure fire at the corner of Terrace and N 11th.
This is going to disrupt the roadblocks (fire trucks have to get through), provide distraction and disruption, and likely, even without a formal order, the OPFOR will begin to reposition themselves to orient on the fire, not Kevin.
I meet back up with my team. Kevin is signaled to prepare to exit east with wife. At an opportune time, hopefully when the fire sirens are as loud as possible, we use regulated cover fire to force the eastern OPFOR to the ground, AMR team shifts its attention to being ready to cover the east side of the house. K&W leg it to us, and we all hotfoot to the east and the vehicles we came in on there on Riverview Park Rd. AMR team stays in position until we are in our vehicles, to (1) observe and (2) engage and drive away any helicopters that arrive on scene. Once we are there, we grab the AMR team’s vehicle, drive it south, and pick them up at the south end of the woods and drive away calmly.
If possible, Kevin also sets a structure fire in his home on the way out.
The structure fire idea (while brilliant) likely won’t do you any favors regarding public opinion and support. I get it, it gives you a higher chance of success, but if you play your cards right this can be a propaganda win for you and your team because other people get to see that the cartel is not invincible and that good men can stand up to them, hopefully inspiring more acts of resistance. You throw all that away if you commit actual arson, in my opinion.
I thought about that, and it’s a secondary reason to torch Kevin’s house on the way out. We’ll blame OPFOR for the fires. There will already be lies going out from them (calling Kevin a pedo, etc). If we can avoid catching any bodies on either side, then it makes it easier to pin the entire mess on OPFOR. Dropping four or five martyrs for OPFOR (consider what the feds did with just one random death on Jan 6) is way worse than a little collateral arson.
I see your angle now, makes more sense when you put it that way.
I’m guessing these guys will lose interest in hanging around if a few of them are torn in half by a 50 cal from distance. Target the guys in a body armor with the 50 and drop a few. Similarly, shoot and scoot fire on the roadblocks with the AKs.
Make them staying untenable.
Friggin’ Kevin!
I thought that was a field to the south, not a lake. AMR team posting up somewhere down there poised to take out MRAP and the other cartel vehicles there.
Team is coming in from the East through woods with one team member heading farther north to try to set a tire fire in one of back yards north of the cartel security forces as an attempted diversion.
In order from TL:
1. Tire fire
2. AMR team opens up. Shift fire pre-assault.
3. Assault on Kevin’s house. East security should be taken, put heads down with suppressive fire or something non-lethal (not a WROL situation) to neutralize without killing. Pop smoke, Kev and his bride exfil.
4.Comms to AMR team to resume fire for 1 minute. Team leaves by vehicle and grabs AMR team, hoping no helicopters are in the sky.
Your guys don’t have suppressed weapons for removing the two at the rear, pairs minding each side of the house from cover in the woods as Kevin and wife exit out the back, AMR looking up Terrace Drive from the souf, only lighting up the stack if they get wise? Bummer.
Accomplish the mission with what you have, not what you would like to have.
That’s fair. A little noise to drop those two (or more – that’s what magazines are for) after the team verifies how many cartel members are in the rear – MAYBE deploying a drone first to check on roadblocks, though I feel that time is of the essence – and scoot.
That said, my primary concern is – OK – this has wrapped up. Where do you go now? ORP Kevin is on Riverview Park Road. Getting in there will tell you if there are assets staged beyond the immediate neighborhood. As the situation evolves, however, other “cartel” organizations are likely to deploy to the area, and if this is the local cartel, their members who drive through the area on a regular basis as part of their job will figure out pretty quickly that your team used Riverview Park Road – so you have mere minutes to get off beyond any chokepoints. Then you have to consider which intersections have cameras – in the local suburbs, cameras are everywhere, and can be used to track movement slowly & eventually over the next few days. It would be pretty bitchin’ if someone had a Rigid Inflatable Boat for that river, but that’s beyond the scope of this effort for now.
I talk to all of my guys about wargaming these types of scenarios and considering how many on-foot options they have in their area, especially if they can get to another team member’s place this way. Coveralls, zip-in boots and a bye-bye-forever pack in the closet next to the rifle(s) and rig(s) for all family members never goes out of style.
Solid point. As a matter of fact, as I was drawing up the map for this one I was thinking “man, a boat in this situation would be freaking awesome!” However, I don’t want to give you guys scenarios that are too ideal because that’s unrealistic, and takes away the chance for y’all to get creative. We should be in the mindset of solving problems while under-manned, under-equipped, and with incomplete intel because that’s reality.
100%. Thank you very much for presenting the scenarios you share with us – the limited information is absolutely poignant, and it feeds the noggin for preparing in advance to understand one’s AO. If we don’t think about these types of scenarios in advance, we certainly won’t have time to gather and assess this information when seconds matter.
Food for thought – it might be interesting to develop “find your vulnerabilities and determine what you can do to mitigate them” scenarios for, say, a 9 to 5 downtown officeworker who is targeted by antifa, or an upper middle class suburban business owner. I’m winking evocatively as I type this.
Time is of the essence here. Since the original raid was stopped, the “cartel” is more than likely going to be reinforcing the area. With the original raid in mind, that means there are probably dead and wounded door kickers so that 10 man team may not be at 100%. They are more than likely not expecting Kevin to have backup coming either, so they probably aren’t going to have their heads on a swivel.
Generally, I would approach through the wooded area to the east of Kevin’s home. That area doesn’t seem as defended from the info gathered. On the map, it appears that the line of sight between the front of the property where the MRAP is and where the “cartelmen” at the rear is quite poor. Since we have radio comms with Kevin, we would need to coordinate the breakout and not delay before the “cartel” brings even more manpower and air assets such as helicopters.
If the rear is as lightly guarded as it seems, immediate fire on them and eliminate them while coordinating Kevin and SO running out the back/shooting their way out and immediately booking through the woods to the getaway vehicle. The MRAP can’t go through trees. This has to be done fast, fast, fast. I’m not so sure the MRAP is our biggest concern in this scenario due to it’s large size and lack of mobility in that tight area. I don’t think I would detach the AMR team in this.
When I punched in the distances in a distance calculator, from ORP Kevin to the treeline is about 150 yards give or take. From the treeline to the real “cartelmen” it’s about 50 to the one to the north, and about 20 or so to the one to the south. Upper triangle shots are priority, especially in a proactive shoot. I bring up the distances, because if you can’t do a quick run between 100 and 200 yards, time to put the sneakers on and push it!
On this, absolutely no cell phones whatsoever. No cell from Kevin and the SO, no cells on our team.
I don’t know if this was an intended lesson of this TDG or not, but having a never coming home bag with key supplies ready to go in an instant is essential. Not one of the bloated “bug out bags” but more along the lines of ammo, money, a change of clothes, etc.
Kevin and SO can never go home after this counter attack, and that’s something that I think may be missing in some of the comments.
Congratulations, you nailed it. Everybody else gets hung up on the biggest threat and doesn’t stop to think that you don’t need to engage the enemy’s strength to accomplish the mission. Minimal signature for maximum speed and chance of success is the ticket here. Additionally, unmasking the fact that you have a rare asset, the 50 cal, could potentially help the cartel to identify you and your team, so best not to use it if you don’t need to.
Mike, you don’t think taking out their showpiece in front of witnesses(and the cartel) is worth revealing the AMR? It’s a big psychological win, sort of like taking the fangs out of the snow beast a la Rudolph. I’d couple it with trying to zap as many of the door kicker team, just to drive the point home that they too, are mortal.
I didn’t necessarily say that you shouldn’t use it, just that you had to consider the possibility that unmasking such a unique weapon system could help them identify you later. Essentially, if you just assault the back without the AMR, the cartel will be looking for a small group that trains together and probably knows Kevin, not much to go on. But if you use the AMR, they have a somewhat unique piece of gear that can at least earn you an interrogation if they know that your AMR gunner owns such a weapon. Yet another reason not to brag about your assets, online or otherwise.
I totally see the psychological and propaganda value of neutralizing what was previously seen as OPFOR’s invincible toy, I’m just saying that it’d be something for the group to consider when planning the mission. At the end of the day, it’s their call.
So my response was based on stated mission. IRL in a non-WROL situation I’m not killing anyone because that likely means the whole team goes to the gulag, not just friggin’ Kevin. There’s no escaping that shit.
My team and I might also have an agreement that we keep a low profile and that eggregious violations of policy do not warrant a violent response from the rest of the tesmnof you violate said standards.
I might show up and help you ex-fil, but expecting me to kill “cartel” in a non-wrol scenario is likely a non-starter. Even that gets me a collar for aiding and abetting a fugitive unless we have an isolated and presumed safe place to go.
The only alternative is to do nothing and allow the cartel to target each of you one at a time, which is an unacceptable outcome in my book.
Um, I’m sure most people have noticed what the “cartel” seems to actually be, I understand why nobody’s gonna mention it, but I feel like that could rather drastically alter potential plans.
Um, like, what’s your point?
Plan in 4 steps. Coordination, stealth, speed, and radio brevity required.
Deploy:
ARM team deploys to the far edge of the field to the south of field at the end of Terrace Dr. preferably in good concealment with a good vantage point.
Fireteams move to the edge of the clearing behind Kevin’s house, making an effort to remaining concealed, may use quad copter to double check for extra sentries behind Kevin’s house. Establishing overlapping fields of fire.
Kevin and Wife station at the back of their house, ready to move tactically.
All teams call “Indigo Papa” when in position. After IP x3 move onto next step.
Initiate:
The ARM team engages “Cartel” and targets of opportunity. Distance and Darkness are their friend, as even at night the streets of the neighborhood as high class as Kevin’s would be well lit. Their concerns are keeping the heads of those out front down, and the attentions of the elite portions of the “Cartel” down. Disabling and/or Mission kill of the MRAP. As Terrace Dr. makes a turn, two possibly three houses in the backstop of their fire, due care must be taken with engaging the larger element of the “Cartel”.
After 3 rounds or 6 seconds from initial engagement move to next step.
Evacuate:
The Fireteams eliminate the sentries behind Kevin’s house, and call clear for Kevin and his Wife to extricate their building, and RV with the Fireteams.
When Kevin and wife are with Fireteam call “Romeo Victor” move to next step.
Exfiltrate:
ARM team disengages, and moves to the road moving north south in the woods used to access ORP Kevin and call “Oscar Papa”. Fireteam escorts Kevin and Wife to ORP Kevin, and travels back down the road to RV with ARM team. Mount up and head out before the confusion fades and the Cartel are able to respond/pursue.
Shit goes sideways-
Failure Call:
“X-ray X-ray” disengage and scatter, on foot or by vehicle if possible.
Note for everyone reading more into the “Cartel” than what is said here: Regardless of whatever you may or may not believe, and how you were raised with respect for legitimate authority. The “Cartel” may wear the trappings of that legitimacy, but their actions here are anything but, and they should be treated as such.
Yup. Title 18 USC Section 242 makes “deprivation of rights under color of law” a federal crime, keep that in mind.
I realize this is a tactical game by Vets and I’m just a civilian, but in the Current Society, Strategic is senior to Tactical, imo. If the Cartel response to 1/6/21 is any indicator, this counter attack will end with everyone dead or sitting in a cell for life.
If this is occurring in a WROL situation, then Go for It, you’ll get some auxiliary help. I have always thought that deer hunter tactics would be best in discouraging current Cartel adventurism. Kevin and wife are probably not going to get away currently, just make the price become unacceptable for future ferals, hunters slip away to hunt another day.
The idea behind them is for you to think through resolving the scenario.
Nothing you have said even comes close.
1) we’re not all vets
2) There’s a huge spectrum between 1/6 and WROL. I think that a lot of the answers have taken that spectrum into account, including mine. The givens (just like mathematical givens) are that, for whatever reasons, you have decided that this time, they aren’t capturing Kevin, and you’re getting him out.
FROM THAT, work out the rest.
Interesting scenario and responses to consider. Let’s not forget the follow-through: find out where the cartel is headquartered or rallying by following them “home”. Dispatch a team or teams to destroy them and all they hold dear, seize their weapons and other assets for the good guys. Do the same thing to all of their allies. Send the message: “Did you really think we were just going to let you do this to us and let you go without a response?” Got to cut off the head of the snake and not get tunnel vision on the grunts.
4.5
Being non military I’ll take a stab at it. 2 man teams hit the road blocks while drone guy watches Kevin’s house. Thinking the men in black say screw Kevin and go help the others, Kevin slips out back when drone guy says go go go. Then everyone runs like hell. Hopefully you have friendlies in the hood to either stash you or your gear.
This is what I would do
1. I would sent the AMR team to the south to set up LP / OP position with at least two alternate positions, they would also have the drone if they needed to get a better view.
2. Everybody else would be the Assault team; I would do a security halt at ORP Kevin and Radio info with the AMR team and Kevin in the house. Then slowly proceed closer to Kevin’s house while still inside the tree line.
3. I would then have the AMR team start taking shots at the MRAP and other targets of opportunities, they would go change positions after a few shots to keep the enemy guessing about our size and location.
4. At the same time, my Assault group would attack the hostiles on east side of Kevin’s house, once the area has been cleared. Assault group will provide security, while Kevin and his household link up.
5. After the Linkup, exfil to the east then south staying in the Wood. Once we are out a few clicks Radio AMR team to exfil.
I see some good plans here. But I would say, Kevin’s house has to burn.
1) it is a yuge distraction, and will bring a fire department response that will fuck up the works a bit more for the cartel. Cartel has to let them in, or they will face a PR nightmare when the fire jumps to the neighbors homes.
2) denying the OpFor equipment and intel. I got money that Kevin has at least one thing on his computer or printed out that will be of use to the cartel.
Kevin Chuck’s a fusee into a pile of papers covered in cooking oil in the upstairs bedroom right before he runs out the back.
Just a thought.
“Kevin Chuck’s a fusee into a pile of papers covered in cooking oil in the upstairs bedroom right before he runs out the back.”
Good move, but better to do it in the lowest room, after opening all the windows and doors and soaking the carpets in the hallways in gasoline or charcoal lighter fluid.
So if all the varsity team cartel guys are busy at Kevins, wonder what they would do if their operating base came under attack. Assuming higher ups and the JV would get on the horn fairly quickly calling the big toy and the varsity team back. One or two Moltovs and a few rounds through windows can be awful scary for non-combatant types. Your force might not be on par with theirs, but they dont know that yet. They only know they went to do a hit and now they’re getting hit back. The assumption of what kind of organization Kevin is part of goes up and their minds run wild with thoughts of your capabilities. Audacity, ferocity, and (seemingly) unbreakable will are scary in opponents you thought you had the upper hand on.
Sorry to be late to this dance. It appears that everyone else’s comments cover assaulting the cartel forces and extracting Kevin quite well and I can adf mothing to the conversation there.
However, as Kutz has pointed out one can address the option of assaulting the cartel’s HQ in order to pull enough forces away from Kevin’s house allowing Kevin to escape.
I’ll add another option that no one will like but it IS an option. These cartel members likely live in the area. Not all of them but many of them. One should have a few of them already surveilled and their homes known. If our loved ones are targets to them then reciprocity should be considered. Take enough wives, girlfriends, parents or children and you might be able to negotiate a release for Kevin.
At least a few assaults on such homes while the cartel is set up on Kevin could result in frightened families calling cartel hubby in a panic. They might just pull forces away in that kind of situation.
Unpleasant to be sure and perhaps best mot to pursue but I mention it to point out that the residences of these folks should be known. What you choose to do with that knowledge is up to you.