Operation Broadsword was a "cordon & seizure" operation on the island of Utesto hold and stop the Chernarussian Red Star advance and investigate and destroy weapon trafficking routes throughout the region.
A US Marine Rifle Company, with two SOF teams comprised of US Navy EOD and US Marine Force Recon as well as several LAV-25s and AAVP-7/A1s assaulted the island of Utes at 0700 local to eliminate all hostile combatants and regain control of the island. After primary mission was completed, search of weapon caches and enemy combatants was tasked and cordoned. Alpha Company, 1st Infantry Battalion eliminated 90% of combatants in the AO and destroyed all ammo and weapons caches in possession of the traffickers. The island was deemed captured and secure by 0935 local. US Marines are now coordinating with the Chernarussian Defense Force and Russian Peacekeeping Forces on destroying the entirety of the Chernarussian Movement of the Red Star.
Among those who served there, the men from Punisher 1-1 were the highest performing squad and successfully completed all of their objectives without any casualties.
Two men from Punisher 1-1 have been recommended for commendations for their brave and wise actions under the course of enemy fire.
In addition, each service member of Punisher 1-1 have been awarded Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat.
Punisher 1-1 has also been awarded the "Navy Unit Commendation" for their effective teamwork and skills under duress in combat.
*Concerning notes*: Department of Defense Intelligence Agency is coordinating with the 11th Marine Division over a possible friendly fire incident that occurred at 10:00 local on the island of Utes between a Defense Intelligence Team and Punisher 1-1. Division Command has resolved the incident.
"We believe that the remaining Chedaki forces engaged and ambushed the DIA Team and fell back to a remaining garrison on the island. US Marines were sent in to secure the barracks and wiped out all remaining resistance." - Colonel Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division
OPERATION Monolith Prelude (11MD) (06/28/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + No Casualties
Operation Monolith follows the United States invasion of Chernarussia of June 25th, 2018. The U.S. is supported initially by a coalition of over 40 countries, including all ISTO members. The aim of the war is to destroy the Ultranationalist Red Star Movement and to deny it a safe base of operations in Chernarussia.
Following the April 12th Camp Delta Massacre in 2018 on the U.S., which the United States blamed Malykhin Yakovich who formed the Red Star Movement. The United States demanded that Yakovich and his Red Star Movement surrenders to security forces or would face consequences; Yakovich had already been wanted by the U.S. since 2014. The Red Star Movement declared war on the United States. On June 25th, 2018 the United States launched Operation Monolith.
Prior to the US-led invasion of the South Zagoria region within Chernarussia, members of the Fighting Eleventh launched an assault on a small airfield near the coast known as the Balota Airfield, near the town of Balota. At 0345, members of the Fighting Eleventh under the callsign of Punisher 1-1 inserted via air approximately 3 kilometers away from the Balota Airfield, on the Western-most side of the region. Punisher 1-1 was engaged by a small patrol just 300 meters from the landing site but were not furtherly engaged. Prior to the assault, Punisher 1-1 encountered and passed numerous Red Star patrols and fighting vehicles. At 0530, the assault was initiated by Punisher 1-1 while 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment provided security to prevent Red Star forces from sending reinforcements on a main supply route, as well as assisted in the assault. Only 50 hostile combatants were present as well as empty numerous fighting vehicles. By 0600, the 11th Marine Division and the 10th Mountain Division, including Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, and a small communications team consisting of personnel from the 269th Signal Company, 11th Signal Brigade secured the took over the airfield as the invasion started. The Invasion forces consisted of over 47 Divisions and units from member states of the International Security Treaty Organization. As of mid-August 2018 more than 400,000 US troops were in the country.
Following defeat in the initial invasion, the Red Star was reorganized by Yakovich, and launched an insurgency against the government and the ISTO. Though outgunned and outnumbered, insurgents from Red Star Movement and various other groups have waged asymmetric warfare with guerrilla raids and ambushes in the countryside, suicide attacks against urban targets and turncoat killings against coalition forces. The Red Star Movement exploited weaknesses in the Chernarussian Republic government, which nearly became among the most corrupt in the world, to reassert influence across rural areas of southern and eastern Chernarussia. Since the start of the war, the Red Star Movement made significant gains and showed an increased willingness to commit atrocities against civilians. The ISTO responds by increasing troops for counterinsurgency operations to "clear and hold" villages and "nation building" projects to "win hearts and minds".
OPERATION SILVER SHARK (11MD) (08/08/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + No Casualties
Operation Silver Shark was a seizure operation conducted in the South Zagoria region of the Republic of Chernarussia in support of Operation Monolith to establish contact with local friendly guerillasand eliminate an Ultranationalist Red Star airfield.
A mixed MARSOC & Force Recon team under the handle of Stalker 2-3 infiltrated the South Zagoria region via underwater submersible diving vehicle, under the eastern side of the country at 0330 local to establish contact with friendly forces, known as the Red October Brigade, within the village of Olga. They met up successfully and pushed north to an overwatch position overlooking Krasnostav Airfield in order to gain intelligence on the strength of enemy forces.
After establishing an overwatch position, Stalker 2-3 managed to recon the entire airfield and report at least a company size Red Star infantry element supported by two armed helicopters and several light armored vehicles, a headquarters element was also spotted in an air control tower. By 0545 local, Stalker 2-3 requested a tactical airstrike to neutralize enemy forces approximately three hours prior to Punisher's landing and assault.
After the airstrike request was approved, two stealth fighter-attack aircraft launched from the USS William Halsey and dropped 1000lbs of ordnance on laser designated targets. Stalker 2-3 made contact with a hostile patrol after initiating the close air support request and then successfully exfiltrated the area.
Approximately three hours later, at 0830 local, a US Marine Rifle Platoon under the callsign of Punisher initiated the assault on the airfield with the intent of capturing it. Punisher assaulted from Southern, Eastern & Northern positions in hidden treelines. Ultranationalist Red Star forces repositioned forces from Krasnostav to the airfield and engaged U.S. forces immediately. The primary callsign, Punisher 1-1 set up a defensive position near a radio tower close to Olga to requisition artillery and close air support on selected hostile encampments. Over 130 Ultranationalist Red Star forces and twelve vehicles in total were neutralized by 1130 local. No friendly KIA casualties were sustained. U.S. troops secured the airfield and found & destroyed numerous weapon caches within the area.
After the capture of the airfield, members of Punisher 1-1 found a 5th Generation Russian stealth multi-role aircraft, known colloquially by it's name as the To-201 Shikra. Members of Punisher 1-1 also captured a Ultranationalist Red Star prisoner and found several dead Ultranationalist troops with Russian Federation & Spetsnaz flag patches. At 1215, a Russian Federation Mi-24V Mk. IV Superhind deposited a GRU Spetsnaz team to coordinate with Punisher 1-1 on their findings. Russian Federation troops concluded that a Russian Spetsnaz battalion went rogue during the events of the Second Chernarussian Civil War and sided with the Ultranationalist Red Star Movement as well as supplied them with expensive Russian-based equipment.
OPERATION Last JUDGMENT (11MD) (08/19/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + No Casualties
Operation Last Judgment was launched with the intention of capturing the large north-western airfield in the South Zagoria region of Chernarussia, dubbed Warwitch and was handled by elements of the United States Marine Corps and Chernarussian Defense Forces. Consisting of nearly 300 coalition personnel (three Marine rifle platoons, two Chernarussian Army platoons) under the command of Maj. Kozlovsky Urvan tasked with neutralizing the airfield. The main force approached from the western-most end of the airport at approximately 1300, shortly before the initial combat operations started. Several smaller direct action teams were hidden on the northern & eastern-most side of the airfield to cut off enemy movements. The primary assault element was Punisher 1-1, led by Sgt. Alejandro Cortinas, which assaulted from the north-eastern sector of the airfield. Prior to the assault, Punisher 1-1 was deposited via air insertion approximately 5km away from the airfield, near a large castle structure. Once Punisher landed, Sgt. Cortinas and his squad pushed towards the rendezvous point, receiving limited contact along the way. At this time, Sgt. Cortinas, passed on information that a United States Army armored column was destroyed in action attempting to secure a foothold near the airfield. Punisher 1-1 also found several U.S. rotary-wing aircraft was to be disabled with “minimal damage” rather than destroyed. This became a point of controversy during the operation, as the Ultranationalist Red Star troops were believed to bolster high-end equipment and vehicles capable of dealing massive damage to coalition forces. This belief forced the assaulting forces to change their tactics at the last minute and approach the airfield more carefully than anticipated. The three Marine platoons then began advancing towards the airfield, with the two Chernarussian Army platoons initiating the assault approximately ten minutes ahead of schedule while Punisher was taking up final assaulting positions outside the most north-eastern hangar at roughly 1535. At this point, Sgt. Cortinas and his squad received heavy contact, while being caught in a crossfire between friendly and hostile forces. To counter the threat, the squad identified themselves as friendly to coalition forces across the airfield and pushed slowly to eliminate enemy anti-aircraft presence. As the platoons pushed across from the west, the Ultranationalist soldiers stationed in the airfield immediately retaliated with armored vehicles, killing approximately thirteen coalition troops before U.S. Marine LAV-25s and Abrams tanks as well as several Chernarussian Army armored fighting vehicles eliminated them. The five platoons moved to reinforce Punisher, and within an hour, had secured the majority of the hangers with seven wounded coalition troops. Ultranationalist troops attempted to reinforce the airfield with heavy armored vehicles via air assault but were destroyed by U.S. Navy stealth fighter aircraft. The battle lasted throughout the night and coalition troops held the entirety of the airfield by dawn. Shortly after, a MEDEVAC helicopter arrived and transported the injured troops to the U.S. Forces Staging Area on Utes Island while coalition aircraft flew in troops via rotary-wing aircraft insertion. The assaulting elements were then replaced by a company from the 75th Ranger Regiment. Throughout the battle, Punisher elements neutralized six armored fighting vehicles, four anti-aircraft vehicles and seven anti-aircraft weapon emplacements and were responsible for 738 kills. Punisher elements also secured eight prisoners, including one rogue Spetsnaz unit leader. By the battles end, over 1,000 Ultranationalist troops and twenty-three armored fighting vehicles were eliminated.
During the operation, a Navy SEAL group from SEAL Team FOURTEEN, consisting of eight operators were assigned to conduct a high value target raid and sabotage a armored column carrying high value individuals. The plan called for the operators to assault a small village containing the HVI's and the operators arrived via light strike vehicles to an insertion point located in a forest roughly two hundred meters away from the target. The operators entered the area and approached the targets in separate pairs, with one team covering and the other team assault. As they started the assault, several Inner Circle highly trained guards began dropping grenades and retaliating, while evacuating the HVI's, forcing the SEALs to retreat. Due to this diversion, one HVI vehicle was still in the area during the engagement, allowing the SEALs to disable and later were able to confirm that the HVI was captured. As the SEALs fell back to the rendezvous point, they were engaged by a BMP-2 armored fighting vehicle, and were forced to leave a SEAL behind after sustaining multiple non-ambulatory wounds and was later deemed killed in action. The original objective was to capture four high value individuals but unfortunately managed to capture only one, and sustaining a casualty. Both pairs were later picked up by a rotatory-wing aircraft, and were transported back to the U.S. Forces Staging Area in Utes. This mission was considered extremely controversal due false intel and ill-weather, negating possible threats within the target area.
Due to the high level of enemy casualties sustained and near perfect planning and command and control prior and during the battle, Operation Last Judgment is considered one of the most successful operations within Operation MONOLITH from the US military perspective.
Among those who served there, the men from Punisher 1-1 were the highest performing squad and successfully completed all of their objectives without any casualties.
One man from Punisher 1-1 has been recommended for commendations for his brave and wise actions under the course of enemy fire.
In addition, each service member of Punisher 1-1 have been awarded Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat.
*Concerning notes*: United States and Russian Federation intelligence agencies are coordinating over an engagement prior to the Operation where U.S. forces, including one company from the 3rd Armored Division, one platoon from the 75th Ranger Regiment, two AH-1Z Vipers from the 66th Aviation Regiment, and one MH-47E Chinook from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment attempted to advance near the airfield to secure a strongpoint prior to the assault but were effectively engaged & destroy by a Ultranationalist Red Star armored fighting element made up of twenty Russian T-90A tanks and one T-14 Armada, a high-tech futuristic-based armored fighting vehicle. Investigation sources confirm that 330 U.S. troops were killed during that engagement.
Both intelligence communities concluded that a rogue Russian Army Spetsnaz battalion known as the "Bozalosc Brigade" is responsible for assisting and supplying Ultranationalist Movement of the Red Star troops with high-end Russian military equipment and have previously been confirmed to supply To-201 Shikra stealth fighter aircraft.
"Coalition troops are focusing efforts to capture and stop these suppliers from providing hostile troops with effective warfighting equipment. We will eliminate and effectively destroy all opposing forces and will make sure to liberate the Republic of Chernarussia, no matter what the enemy wants to throw at us. So long as our country fields such ferocious warriors, America has nothing to fear from tyrants. For we serve with no institutional confusion about our purpose: Any Time, Any Mission, Any Place" - Col. Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division
Additionally, U.S. & Chernarussian military police elements are investigating a friendly fire incident during Operation Last Judgement where one U.S. Marine was seen jumping on top of a friendly Chernarussian T-72 main battle tank and throwing a fragmentation grenade down the commanders hatch, effectively killing all crew inside before the vehicle was destroyed by a hostile tank. All members who participated in the Operation are currently undergoing investigation to determine the cause and reasoning of the engagement, and the suspected Marine will face trial by court martial.
"For us, there's an urgent need to be the good guys, to immediately vex the issue and save lives. Such response may sometimes create unanticipated second-order effects and even more problems for us. Regardless of intention, there is no room for members of the military community to harm allied troops, prisoners of war, or the innocent populace. It's not an easy life, it's not designed to be. It should never come to the circumstance where people create more enemies than they take out by some immoral act. In regards to the tank crew that was killed by friendly fire, my condolences goes out to their loved ones and families. Myself will personally pay full compensation for their losses." - Col. Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division
Because of the highly controversial engagement prior to Operation Last Judgment and casualties sustained due to friendly fire during the battle, the Chernarussian Defense Force considers these as the most controversial events within the war and relations between the United States and Chernarussia have degraded.
OPERATION Mako (11MD) (09/09/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + Casualties
Operation Mako was a United States Armed Forces operation in support of Operation Monolith in the South Zagoria region of Chernarussia to attempt to secure the local town of Petrovka and it's surrounding nuclear power plant. This is currently considered the most controversial operation in Monolith to date due to the excessive amount of casualties that were caused throughout the operation.
The operation encountered many obstacles and was almost considered a failure. Early in the operation, a small contingent of U.S. Marines were sent to the town of Petrovka but were caught in an ambush, and killed in action. During planning it was decided that the mission would be failed if, during the securing of the Nuclear Power Plant, any radioactive contamination was expelled into neighbouring towns.
The ground force consisted of 16 U.S. Marines, dubbed as Punisher 1-1, from the 11th Marine Division to secure the Nuclear Power Plant, a 2-man Russian special forces sniper team from Detachment "A", to provide cover to the U.S. Marines and 20 Rangers forming a QRF. It was clear that the Nuclear Power Plant was reported to have radioactive spillage and contamination within the area. A CCT established a landing zone north of the power plant and requested helicopters to deposit troops for easier deployment. One MH-60S Seahawk deposited all sixteen Marines and then returned to base to allow to prepare for any medical evacuation operations.
Once the delivery of Punisher 1-1 and equipment by the MH-60S aircraft was established. The transport helicopter took off from their staging base at the North-West Airfield and flew to the secured landing site. The MH-60S, callsign "Gunfighter 1-1" landed at 12:45 local time. The landing was made under low-sky intensity conditions. Gunfighter 1-1 off-loaded Punisher 1-1, a U.S. Marine Infantry Squad commanded by Capt. Hogan.
Soon after the squad landed and pushed to secure the Nuclear Power Plant, dubbed Mastodon, several hidden explosive devices were detonated within the plant by an undetermined cause. Throughout these individual detonations wounded and punctured the MOPP4 suits of the wounded Marines, but they managed to evacuate and were later transported back into the plant. As the Nuclear Power Plant was evaluated to not contain any hostile troops, the Marines focused on defusing and neutralizing any hidden explosives within the Plant. The Marines from Punisher 1-1 determined that, if any explosives were detonated near any of the cooling plants or any radioactive material, it would be considered an extreme security threat to the mission.
While en-mission, Punisher 1-1 found a large explosive device within one of the factories and briefly lost communications due to a possible jammer or signal disruptor. It was explained that when Punisher communications were jammed, they were able to make contact with Viper-2, a Ranger Recon Platoon and a recieved radio transmission that Viper was heavily engaged by an unknown entity approximately eight kilometers north-east of Punisher's position.
With clearing the Nuclear Power Plant, Punisher 1-1 encountered only explosive devices and an abandoned armored fighting vehicles, as well as several bodies. As the men made the decision to leave the power plant, a series of high powered explosive devices simultaneously detonated, destroying multiple buildings within the power plant and forced Punisher 1-1 to hastly evacuate out of the area. Gunfighter 1-1 evacuated the men and equipment back to the base, as this point it was considered was the mission's abort threshold. Various team leaders and commanders reached a stalemate on what exactly happened in the Nuclear Power Plant. Personnel from Punisher 1-1 rearmed and rested briefly prior to moving to secure the Petrovka town. Gunfighter 1-1's Helicopter pilot Gunnery Sergeant Amadeo Rugama was grounded for the the mission, while Capt. Hogan and his squad took up-armored HMMWVs to the town, which was just about 2km away from the base. Capt. Hogan and his squad anticipated possibly losing troops at this stages, especially as they were notorious for leading the majority of the assaults on major Ultranationalist Red Star fortifications and locations as well as almost causing the the Nuclear Power Plant to explode and release toxic amounts of radiation, which would've resulted in failure.
As Punisher 1-1 arrived into the town of Petrovka, it was perceived to be empty. U.S. troops engaged two hostile troops in a two-story building and founded several bodies of both allied and hostile personnel. Two civilians were found in the town but one was badly wounded and later died from shock. A secondary civilian was found and stabilized by medical personnel. As Punisher 1-1 almost completed their mission, a Ultranationalist Red Star spotter radioed in an artillery barrage on the town which contained both servicemen and civilians as well as an medical evacuation helicopter for both the civilians and troops. The resulting fire destroyed the helicopter, killed seven servicemen and mortally wounded one U.S. Navy Sailor. Meanwhile, an AC-130U Spooky II Gunship was dispatched to neutralize the enemy artillery battery.
A secondary helicopter was instructed to evacuate the remaining troops but the area was considered too dangerous to land due to the artillery barrage. All remaining personnel returned to the armored HMMWVs and rushed back to base, with one of their members on the brink of death. By the time they arrived, the U.S. Navy Sailor was considered dead on arrival. Division Command Staff and members of Task Force Metal looked over the operation the following day. The explosives at the Nuclear Power Plant were subsequently scattered across to make a full secure attempt extremely difficult. U.S. Marine Corps & Navy investigators found twelve bodies, seven American service personnel, two Chernanrussian civilians and three Ultranationalist Red Star personnel within the town and five Ultranationalist Red Star personnel within the Power Plant.
Eight US service members from the 11th Marine Division died during the mission. A memorial honoring them is located at the North-West Airfield.
*Concerning notes*: Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer Alexander Stirling and Colonel Matthew Radzikowski led the official investigation into the causes of the operation's near failure on behalf of the mission execution itself. The report primarily cited deficiencies in mission planning, vigilance, spacing, command & control, communication, and lack of equipment necessary to deter the provided threats, as well as combat operability, and provided a catalyst to reorganize the way operations are conducted. Operation Mako is the first mission within Operation Monolith cited with a near failure status. The operation took on a legendary aspect in the Chernarussian Red Star, with the Red Star's leader, Malykhin Yakovich, describing the firestorm and casualties of the mission as "God's Punishment".
"Some people feel affronted when something they thought to be true doesn't happen. If that's the case, then your sense of risk is much higher, and that leads to risk aversion. You need to be able to be comfortable in uncertainty. No matter how bad any situation, cynicism has no positive impact. Watching the news, you might notice that cynicism and victim hood often seem to go hand-in-hand, but not for us veterans. Death in war is something that is inevitable and undeniable, I believe that because of the sacrifice each member makes, many of my young guys lived because they didn't waste their lives on worthless ideals but because they chose to go and bring the ultimate sacrifice to bear and because they know that evil lingers around ever corner. As leaders, we need to have the vision in mind of how to destroy the enemy with at least cost to our guys and to the innocents on the battlefields. To those who we lost in Operation Mako, we thank you for your sacrifice. May your souls rest peacefully in Valhalla. We will be paying full compensation to the families of the brave service members we lost on the dreadful day. To us and to those like us, Damn Few. " - Colonel Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division
OPERATION IRONCLAW (11MD) (09/23/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + No Casualties
Operation Ironclaw on 23 September 2018 was a successful operation launched in support of Operation Monolith by the U.S. 11th Marine Division to secure two villages of Stary and Novy Sobor in northern Chernarussia. During the operation, it was demonstrated how lethal and crucial training can be in determining the outcome of a battle. U.S. Marines faced mechanized-air assault force of Ultranationalist Red Star infantry and armored fighting vehicles. The numerically inferior US Marine force was able to defeat the Red Star mechanized infantry & tank forces with superior maneuvering, engagement techniques and the use of acquired enemy shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon systems.
11th Marine Division's premier infantry unit, known as Punisher 1-1, was divided into two teams; Red and Blue, were equipped with M4A6s, M249s, SAMRs and grenade launchers. During the operation, it was decided that Punisher 1-1 moved to secure Kabanino and clear out a nearby church. They then moved to Stary Sobor and Noby Sobor. It was at this point the two teams divided and was sent to the two different towns, with the Blue Team securing Stary Sobor and the Red Team observing Novy Sobor.
As of 0300 local time on the 23rd of September 2018, the Marines were given the task to capture two strategically towns. Were it captured, it would sever & impede Ultranationalist Red Star movement in the north, as well as provide a springboard to eventually drive on and capture the important southern towns. They were to seize the towns until relieved by the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Company.
When the troops arrived at Kabanino, they found it to be mostly clear, then pushing to the church surrounded by a swamp where they were engaged by Red Star and rogue Russian special forces. The US Marines moved in for the attack and killed all troops in the area. They encountered a Red Star Spetsnaz operative holding a hostage in the church, with a bomb set on the floor of the church. The Marines successfully secured the hostage without incident and swept away from the Red Star operative. The Marines were then authorized to neutralize the threat but the operative was reported to have escaped the area and later attacked the Marines in a forest. The battle began with several ambushes from Red Star and rogue Russian special operatives with the Marines repelling the attacks and pushing towards their objectives. The Blue Team advanced towards Star Sobor and the Red Team would provide fire support and observation on Novy Sobor and to their immediate north and northwest, one platoon from the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Company and the remaining Punisher squad acting as quick reaction forces.
When the Marines initially reached their respective objectives; they ran into token resistance and they seized their sector of the ridgeline. The Blue Team pushed into town and found a makeshift combat hospital from recent engagements. Blue Team found dozens of deceased enemy and friendly troops and found the town to be nearly empty with Red Team identifying the same result. The Blue Team secured a small factory building and found destroyed Russian armored fighting vehicles and several dead troops, with the bodies identified as Red Star and US special operations troops. Blue Team also found a crashed U.S. Army UH-60M helicopter on the main road in the town.
During the investigation, Red Team observed several Ultranationalist Red Star troops operating within the town, and identified three high value targets. One of which was in a black suburban vehicle escorted by Yakovich's Inner Circle heading to Stary Sobor. Blue Team ambushed and engaged the vehicle as it arrived in the town, suppressing and killing the defenders of the high value target. The high value target ran off and nearly escaped but was found and captured by the Marines. After the ambush, a Red Star quick reaction force was dispatched via air assault to attempt to rescue the high value target. The Marines apart of Blue Team were heavily engaged by the hostile quick reaction force. During the engagement, the team was spread out over the town and was not able to effectively stop the attack until an LAV-25 from the 2nd LAR was able to assist. As the enemy assault commenced, two U.S. Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Amadeo Rugama and Sergeant Alejandro Cortinas managed to secure the high value target in an abandoned house and attempted to fend off the attackers. In the fighting, GySgt. Rugama was knocked unconscious and Sgt. Cortinas was forced to defend the target as hostile troops pushed into the home. The Marines' position was overrun and the target was killed during the fighting. An LAV-25 from the 2nd LAR managed to reinforce the Blue Team and nearly eliminated all troops but was destroyed by an enemy anti-armor weapons system. Red Team managed to push to Stary Sobor and assisted in eliminating the troops. After the town was deemed fully clear by both the Red Team and Blue Team, additional hostile troops mounted an assault from the Novy Sobor fields with infantry and light armored support. It was during this time, the Marines picked up littered hostile anti-tank weapon systems and effectively stopped the assault.
To the East, both teams pushed into the town of Novy Sobor and ran into minimal contact. A second high value target was reported to be leaving the town as soon as the Marine arrived. The target escaped towards the east but the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 160th SOAR persecuted and captured the target. As the team secured most of the town, they encountered improvised explosives and was engaged by a sniper in a prepared position but the sniper was eliminated and the injured troops set up a temporary casualty collection point at the town's church. A Red Star supporter spotted the troops and a small element of Red Star troops supported by a BRDM-2 surrounded the entrance and shot at the church. After the BRDM ran out of ammunition, the Marines neutralized the BRDM and remaining hostile forces. Some 35 minutes later, they awaited friendly troops to secure both towns before pushing north of the Novy Sobor for a helicopter medical evacuation and returned to base for debriefing.
*Concerning notes*: After the success of the operation, security forces identified and reported the deceased allied and hostile personnel in Stary Sobor. Allied troops were identified as a Central Intelligence Agency paramilitary task force and Russian Federation counter-terrorist troops. Security forces also found one Russian T-14 Armata main battle tank, one German Wiesel Armored Weapons Carrier and one U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk. Investigations concluded that a joint-task force was sent to eliminate the suspected armor pieces and hostile encampments but may have been under heavy fire and possibly shot down due to the evidence of a crashed UH-60. The task force suffered six reported casualties but completed their mission and extracted out of the battle area. The hostile forces were identified as "The Sons of Yakovich", an elite Red Star special operations group with high-tech weaponry and elite training, they have been reported to been killed by a sniper team prior to the attack.
"Operation Ironclaw has shown that we don't worry about stress. We create it. I can't tell you the number of times I looked down at what was going on on the ground, at my Division being engaged in a fight somewhere, and I knew within a couple of seconds how they were going to screw up the enemy. The Marines have landed, and we now own a piece of Chernarussia. Our warfighters have put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for the opportunity of defeating the enemy.
We have demonstrated to the world, there is 'No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy' than a U.S. Marine." - Colonel Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division
OPERATION Sledgehammer (11MD) (10/28/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + No Casualties
The Battle of Zelenogorsk, also known as the Fall of Zelenogorsk, was a military invasion of Zelenogorsk that took place on October 28th, 2018, as part of the invasion of Chernarussia, in the South Zagoria region.
Six months into the invasion of Chernarussia, Coalition Forces of the International Security Treaty Organization elements, led by the U.S. Marine Corps' 11th Marine Division moved to attack Zelenogorsk. The United States declared victory on October 31st.
Prior to the oncoming battle, Zelenogorsk suffered serious damage to its civilian infrastructure, economy, and cultural inheritance from previous fighting, as well as looting and arson. During the first battle between the Chernarussian Defense Force and Ultranationalist opposing forces, the hospitals in south Zelenogorsk saw a steady rate of about 100 new patients an hour.
Several hundred Ultranationist soldiers as well as a small number of coalition forces were killed in the battle. After the fall of Zelenogorsk, Coalition forces secured the surrounding regions.
Limited bombing began near the outskirts of Zelenogorsk on October 19th, 2018 as United States forces unsuccessfully attempted to kill Major Arkadiy Borisyuk, who commanded Ultranationalist troops in Zelenogorsk. Attacks continued against a small number of targets until October 26th, 2018, when, at 1700Q, the main bombing campaign of the US and their allies began. Its forces launched approximately 500 air sorties (25 using cruise missiles). The invasion of the city commenced four days after Allied forces led by Captain David Moore and the 11th Marine Division, supported by two main battle tanks from the U.S. Army's 2nd Armored Division, had secured the northern Zelenogorsk neighborhoods.
U.S. officials said that their forces fought skirmishes there with opposing armored vehicles as well as special forces teams, with two task forces going south towards the city from the southern outskirts of the city. Captain Moore said the intention was to indicate to the Ultranationist leader that coalition forces could move in and out of Zelenogorsk whenever they wished. AAN reported that U.S. forces occupied the entire Zelenogorsk. Coalition forces also surrounded key government installations for a while.
On October 27th, U.S. Marine Colonel Matthew Radzikowski told AAN: "If the enemy actually wants to fight, it's going to be brutal, dangerous work and we could take, bluntly, a couple hundred casualties. But regardless, we'll put an end to their occupation".
The invasion of Zelenogorsk was led by the United States Marine Corps' 11th Marine Division and the United States Army 2nd Armored Division, equipped with M1 Abrams tanks. These forces, supported by American and British aircraft including AH-64D Apaches, Harrier GR7 attack jets and A-10 Warthogs, confronted several hostile companies of the Ultranationalist Red Star troops armed with tanks and heavy artillery.
At the time of invasion, coalition aircraft were making bombing runs on the outskirts of Zelenogorsk on a about 10 to 50 sorties a day, most of them aimed at the armored fighting vehicles to the far south. U.S. planes also dropped about 200,000 leaflets warning civilians to evacuate if they have not already. Chernarussian Air Force SU-34's attacked defense systems protecting Zelenogorsk, but lost a plane on October 26th along with the pilot and navigator (Flight Captain Yefim Mishutin and Flight Lieutenant Dmitriy Oprinchuk), shot down by an Ultranationist missile as they returned to their airbase in northern South Zagoria. On October 27th, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a United States Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down near Koslovka.
At 04:20Q, on October 28th members of the 11th Marine Division had a stiff fight with Ultranationist forces at Green Mountain near the outskirts of Zelenogorsk. By the end of the day, the Green Mountain was considered rendered "combat-ineffective", but two unidentified U.S. personnel were killed in the fighting. Later that day, the U.S. Army reported that two supporting Abrams tanks were destroyed battling large groups of Ultranationalist armored fighting vehicles, with the latter attempting to use anti-aircraft guns in the ground role.
At 04:30Q U.S. forces advanced on Zelenogorsk. This location turned out to be the best defended position of the entirety of the war up to that point and several troops were killed by fire early in the fighting. After several hours of combat, Alpha Company, of 1st Infantry Battalion, 11th Marine Division, succeeded in taking control of Zelenogorsk's key chokepoints, which would become the hub of logistics in the region. Before sunrise on October 28th, American troops were subjected to a fierce counter-attack by Ultranationist troops. The 1st Infantry Battalion began receiving small arms and mortar fire. Under the cover of battle, a number of T-72 tanks managed to get within several hundred meters of the town. According to one source: It was not until a U.S. Army M1 Abrams was fired on, and was actually hit by a T-72 main gun round, that the battalion became aware of its peril.
Fortunately for the crew, the hit was only a glancing one, and they were able to drive their vehicle to safety. A fireteam with a Javelin ATGM destroyed two of the Ultranationalist tanks, while the rest were destroyed by one of the U.S. Army's M1 Abrams tank, known as "Can Opener", which was assigned to close off a road to prevent enemy reinforcements from the south. As dawn approached, the attack on the city intensified, and Ultranationalist troops infantry flooded into defensive positions on foot. During the fighting, Sergeant First Class Alan Burnette was killed by enemy fire while fighting off an attack on his team in an action that resulted in the posthumous awarding of the Medal of Honor. During the battle, an Abrams under the handle of "Widowmaker", mistakenly attacked a large hospital during the fighting, which resulted in the deaths of seven civilians, three wounded Chernarussian Army troops, and killing Sergeant Timothy Robbins and Sergeants Jacob Todd and Michael Brisling. Five other Marines from the unit were injured in the attack. Sergeant First Class Timothy Robbins is also reported to have been killed along with journalist Emil Balescu after coming under fire, during operations to secure the town.
During the battle, outside of Zelenogorsk, a platoon of U.S. Marine Abrams from the 11th Marine Division's 7th Armored Regiment, executed a Thunder Run, to test Ultranationalist reinforcements. The operation began north of Zelenogorsk and went through several unpaved paths to a respected reinforcement point. Enemy resistance was disorganized, and the unit sustained few casualties. The unit was forced to abandon one tank due to an RPG strike in the rear that penetrated a fuel cell and set the engine on fire. The crew was unharmed. Later, the Ultranationalists attempted to capture it but claimed credit for destroying it.
Several days later, the platoon from the 7th Armored Division was ordered to conduct another Thunder Run, following a similar route as before. This route had been fortified in the intervening period, and senior leaders feared much more substantial resistance than during the prior encounter. Captain Marco Morgan, the platoon's commander, followed the original route south, but then veered east instead of west towards the original path. The armored column easily took control of what is known as the "Dead Zone" in one hour, dramatically speeding up the end of conventional ground combat in Zelenogorsk. It was noted that during the battle, the platoon was overrun by numerous hostile fighting vehicles in a counter-attack attempt and most were destroyed in the fighting, with their crews perishing.
Throughout the battle, intense fighting took place at three locations known as objectives John, Dutch and Morgan (named after the characters from the infamous Van der Linde outlaw gang). Each objective was a cloverleaf where east-west roads intersected with the main north-south route being used for the primary fighting routes. Successfully holding these interchanges was essential to keep the town open thus allowing US forces to remain in the city center following the takeover of the town. Objective John was at the junction of southern expressway, Dutch at the northern street leading to Green Mountain, and Morgan in the middle, at a former U.S. evacuation camp known as Camp Oscar. At the middle most location, Objective Morgan, a long firefight by members of 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company resulted in the deaths of seven U.S. Marines killed by RPG and armor-piercing rounds and about 40 wounded with 250 to 300 Ultranationalist casualties. U.S. Infantry units nearly ran out of ammunition and were almost overrun until reinforcements broke through and were able to resupply Objective Morgan. Toward the end of the fighting, an Ultranationalist FROG-7 rocket missile exploded among the headquarters of 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, killing two Marines (Private 1st Class Michael Miller and First Sergeant Colm Rhodes) and two embedded journalists (Javier Escalera and Martin MacFarlane), wounding 15 others and destroying 4 military vehicles.
On October 29th, U.S. troops took control of a major base complex along the Zelenogorsk line. It had been hoped that leaders of the Zelenogorsk garrison would be found in the complex. American commanders on the ground said that they would remain in the city center rather than return to the outskirts as they had done previously.
Within hours of the seizure and with television coverage of this spreading through Chernarussia, U.S. forces ordered Ultranationalist forces within Zelenogorsk to surrender, or the city would face a full-scale assault. Ultranationalist government officials had either disappeared or had conceded defeat.
On October 30th, 2018, some 500 Ultranationalist troops mounted a fierce counterattack on the town, forcing part of the U.S. forces on the western side to initially retreat, but the Ultranationalists reportedly lost 150 killed in the fighting that included the use of A-10 Warthogs on the part of the US forces. An A-10 attack plane was shot down in combating the counterattack by an Ultranationalist surface-to-air missile.
As the American forces secured control of the city, civilians immediately began looting the remains of the city, as well as government offices. At the Hospital, not only all beds, but all medical equipment was stolen. One other hospital managed to keep on functioning in a manner by organizing local civilians as armed guards. Serious looting was described at the town square, and city center, the University of Zelenogorsk, several hotels, state-owned supermarkets, and state-owned factories.
As the U.S. forces were occupying the city and other central landmarks and ministries on October 31st, it was reported that Yakovich had emerged from hiding in the town, and greeted excited collaborators of the local public before escaping to his northern bunker in the landmark of Altar. He was accompanied by bodyguards and other loyal supporters including at least one of his sons and his family.
By November 1st, 2018, Zelenogorsk was officially occupied by Coalition forces. Much of the town remained unsecured however, and fighting continued within the city and its outskirts well into the period of occupation. Yakovich, certain members of his family and close subordinates had vanished, and his whereabouts were unknown.
The Americans had meanwhile started receiving rumors that Yakovich was in Zelenogorsk and at dawn at November 1st, they dispatched three companies of U.S. Marines to capture him. The Marines fought a fierce four-hour battle at a base camp where senior Ultranationalist leaders had been thought to be holed up, as American warplanes attacked areas of the city under the control of Red Star fighters. Marines came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and rifles. Two Marines were killed and more than 25 were wounded, but neither Yakovich nor any of his aides were found.
Prior to the invasion, the US policy was that journalists reporting from the ground should be "embedded", that is, be stationed within military units. Such reporters were required to sign contracts with the military and agree to rules that restricted what they could report on. Journalists found breaking those rules risked losing their embedded accreditation and being expelled from Chernarussia.
Chernarussia, initially issued a statement contradicting western reporters' accounts of the invasion. Kiril Koptsev, head of the Ministry of Public Documentation, told a press conference that there were no U.S. troops in Zelenogorsk, saying: "The communists are being slaughtered by the hundreds and are at the gates of Hell because of us. Be assured, we are safe, protected. Chernarussians are the true heroes." *Concerning notes*: After the success of the operation, three U.S. Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Amadeo Rugama, Corporal Nicholas Boyer, and Staff Sergeant Gloria located and reported two deceased U.S. service personnel but were unable to be identified in Green Mountain. On their return to base, they've encountered another unidentified U.S. combatant who claimed to have threatened them. The three Marines were later shot at during the night by a suppressed long rifle, suggesting that they were being engaged by U.S. troops. Investigations have currently been ongoing to confirm the validity of the reports.
"The enemy will sleep at night knowing that their mistakes will have cost them their existence. Our allies will sleep at night knowing that their fortitude and strength will have regained them their country. We never sleep at night, because we're always out hunting the enemy, behind each blade of grass and with the anger of ten thousand men, the enemy will and has suffered a tremendous, irreversible loss. Hell Hath No Fury." - Colonel Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division.
OPERATION SPEED DEMON (11MD) (11/11/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + No Casualties
Operation Speed Demon, also known as the Battle of Krasnostav, was a pivotal battle in the Second Chernarussian Civil War in support of Operation Monolith within the South Zagoria region in Chernarussia. The battle, which began on the 11th of November, was fought by the Chernarussian Defense Force, supported by the Chernarussian Freedom and Independence, the National Armed Party of Chernarussia and the United States Marine Corps against the Ultranationalist Red Star forces in the city of Krasnostav.
The culmination of a three-month siege by coalition forces, the battle lasted about three hours. After the capture of the city, coalition troops commanded by Major Volodymyr Danylyuk successfully resisted the advance of Ultranationalist troops under Captain Pyotr Georgiy, employing new tactics that proved extremely effective against standard military formations used in most large European conflicts. Both officers were mortally wounded during the battle; Danylyuk received three gunshot wounds that ended his life within minutes of the beginning of the engagement and Georgiy died the next morning after receiving a wound just below his ribs. In the wake of the battle, the Ultranationalist troops evacuated the city; their remaining military forces in South Zagoria came under increasing pressure from coalition forces.
The decisive success of the coalition forces and the subsequent capture of Krasnostav formed part of what became known as "Hell Hath No Fury" in Chernarussia.
As the war entered its later stages, Ultranationalist forces in Chernarussia came under renewed attacks from coalition armies. After the Ultranationalist defeat in August at the Battle of the Northwest Airfield, coalition forces took the airfield, causing Ultranationalist forces to lose fixed-wing air support in the hands of coalition force, and opening major routes to attack Chernogorsk. Petrovka, Stary Sobor, Novy Sobor and Zelenogorsk fell to the coalition in the following months, costing the Ultranationalist supplies for the campaign. When some of the supporters of the Red Star traded intel with coalition forces for war-pardons, the Red Star was forced to draw its troops back. Ultranationalist leadership were unsettled by the coalition successes. However, Krasnostav was still able to protect itself as the coalition prepared a three-pronged attack on November 11th, 2018.
After considering and rejecting a number of plans for battles on the eastern theater, a decision was made in late October by Radzikowski to attack Krasnostav. If successful, such an attack would force Ultranationalists to retreat, as coalition forces would cut off supply lines to Krasnostav. Intelligence concerns altered Ultranationalist deployments, with a column of approximately 500 extremist troops, 10 armored fighting vehicles, and a group of loyalist militia—some 100 men in all—to monitor Krasnostav. The Ultranationalists further strengthened their defenses of the town following the capture of Zelenogorsk, which was regarded as preparations for a descent on Krasnostav was made.
On the morning of November 11th, coalition forces formed a line towards the town, then spread out across the open plains with its right anchored by a mountain and its left by thick wood. While the coalition forces were approaching, the Ultranationalist militia engaged the coalition flanks, attempting to push back the assault.
Had the defenders been more skilled, coalition forces might have been unable to deploy or even been pushed back. Georgiy was taken aback to learn of the coalition deployment, and his response has been regarded as precipitate. Though he might have awaited reinforcements, which would allow simultaneous frontal and rear attacks on the coalition forces, or avoided battle while he concentrated his forces, or even yielded the city to Danylyuk, he instead elected to confront Danylyuk's force directly. Had he waited, the coalition forces would have been entirely cut off—they had nowhere to go but back down open plains, and would have been under fire the entire way.
In total, Georgiy had approximately 500 troops, and militia available in Krasnostav as well as 10 armored fighting vehicles. Many of the defenders were inexperienced and were more used to guerilla warfare. By contrast, coalition troops numbered to 300 mixed forced, with almost all of them experienced in previous warfighting.
The coalition troops formed a main fighting line being roughly 500 meters long. Two groups were deployed to the flanks, one group of NAPA guerilla fighters facing west, to cover the right flank and one facing east, ran by members of the Chernarussian Freedom and Independence Army with the remaining forces fighting from the middle. In order to cover the entire plain, Danylyuk was forced to array his groups 100 meters wide. On the right wing, U.S. Marines led by Sergeant Alejandro Cortinas pushed on the western edge of the town, exchanged fire with the Ultranationalists in the scrub and captured a small collection of houses to anchor the line. The defenders held the eastern flank of the town but were eventually repelled and fully surrounded, unable to escape. In their dying defense, Ultranationalist troops laced several houses with proximity explosives to keep them out of enemy hands. The defenses wound up killing 74 coalition troops. As the coalition forces pushed in towards the defenders, the engagement became intense enough that Danylyuk ordered his contingent to fight defensively.
As the assault was progressing, it was decided that a swift assault by the Ultranationalists against the coalition forces was the only way to dislodge the oncoming attack. Accordingly, he deployed the forces immediately available in and near Krasnostav and prepared an immediate counter-attack, without waiting for further reinforcements from Berezino. He arrayed his troops into place, his best troops deep, and his poorest in the exterior.
As an untrained military leader, Georgiy's instinct was for large, set-piece battles in which his troops moved in conventional order. Such actions required disciplined and trained troops, which he did not have at his disposal. His original professional troops in the course of the campaign had their ranks replenished by less professional militiamen, whose talents at forest warfare emphasized the individual: they tended to fire too early and then retreat, thus reducing the effect of effective fire.
As the Ultranationalists attempted to counter-attack, the attackers maintained their lines held in the city. Danylyuk had devised a method for stopping counter-attacks that called for the center—in this case, the Chernarussian Defense Force—to hold fire and conceal while waiting for the advancing force to approach then open fire at close range with rockets and rifles.
Danylyuk had ordered his troops to overload their webbings with captured ammunition from enemy weapons in preparation for the engagement. After securing the eastern and western quadrants of the city, the coalition forces pushed to the center towards the shocked remaining Ultranationalist forces and shattered the attackers.
Danylyuk, positioned with his troops in the town, had pushed forward to lead; he had been struck in the wrist early in the fight, but had wrapped the injury and continued on. Captain Radoslav Chkalov with the Chernarussian Defense Force, had been tasked with holding the town, and reported afterwards that within moments of the command to continue to attack, Danylyuk was struck with two shots, one low in the stomach and the second, a mortal wound in the chest. Chkalov wrote that one of the soldiers near Danylyuk shouted "He's dead!". Danylyuk, on the ground, opened his eyes and told his troops to continue fighting. Upon being told that the enemy had broken, he gave several orders, then died.
With Danylyuk dead and several other key officers injured, coalition troops fell into a disorganized pursuit of Ultranationalist troops. It was during this time that members of the National Armed Party of Chernarussia were suspected to deliberately engage members of the Freedom and Independence Army, as well as the United States Marine Corps and Chernarussian Defense Force, resulting in coalition forces to return fire and engage NAPA forces in self-defense. Marines with the 11th Marine Division were appropriating their specific objectives and acquisitioned an enemy BRDM-2 to use against Ultranationalist forces. One Marine, Gunnery Sergeant Amadeo Rugama was mortally wounded after his acquired vehicle caught fire and exploded. Rugama was saved by Private Boerger, and evacuated via helicopter to the main operating base before being transported back into the fight. During the fighting, coalition troops were ordered by Chkalov to pursue remaining Ultranationalist, but were met by a heavy counter-attack from a a Ultranationalist company that approached from the south from Berezino as well as militia that retreated to trees. The Chernarussian Defense Force took the highest number of casualties throughout the battle.
Most of the attacking force, save for some members of the Chernarussian Defense Force and the 11th Marine Division were wounded or killed in action by this point. The Ultranationalist counter-attack pursued them to the very northern end of the outskirts, with armored vehicles. The attacking force, now defenders, returned towards the main body of the town. When the newly established defenders were gathered together, they lay'd on a large defense against a large body of Ultranationalists on the southern flank that were posted on a small hill and a bush of woods. After the enemy counter-attack was stopped by close air support and coalition reinforcements, the majority of the original attackers suffered great loss both in officers and men but drove themselves to continue defending the town.
Coalition forces realized that another column were approaching from the east, having taken some time to arrive. Staff Sergeant Abraham Cullen of the 11th Marine Division, apart of a reserve force, quickly formed up a defensive ambush line and turned his troops to meet the oncoming Ultranationalists, a battle-saving maneuverer; instead of attacking from an open field, Cullen organized a strategic defense from a treeline and concealed positions along the route, which after, many failed attempts to push through, forced the Ultranationalists to retreat.
During the defense, Georgiy was mortally struck while defending his specialized command vehicle by a Nationalist Guerrilla early in the battle. He was able to make it behind cover, but his wounds were mortal and he bled out moments after. The battle resulted in similar numbers of casualties on both sides of the field; the Ultranatioanlists had 625 troops killed or injured, while coalition forces were left with 232 killed or wounded.
In the wake of the battle, a state of confusion spread through the Ultranationalist troops. Malykhin Yakovich, who later wrote to his officers and put the full blame for the rout on the deceased Georgiy who decided to abandon Krasnostav. Aliyev Vitomir, commander of Ultranationalist forces in South Zagoria, ordered most of the remaining forces northeast to support Berezino's defense.
Meanwhile, coalition forces, first under the command of Danylyuk and later with Chkadolv in charge, settled in to hold the city after the success of holding it, with reinforcements and supplies from the 75th Ranger Regiment to assist in the security. Within days, on November 13th, Chkadolv signed the turnover to Chernarussian strategic police forces. The remaining Ultranationalist forces positioned themselves on the Berezino line.
A day after the battle, Georgiy's successor as combatant commander, Robert Starikov, marched troops to Combat Outpost Mace. Starikov's forces met and defeated the United States at the Battle of Kumyrna. This battle proved more devastating than that of the Battle of Krasnostav and the Battle of Kamdesh, with about 225 casualties out of 800 troops on the Ultranationalist side and 54 out of 60 on the U.S. side. The U.S. was defeated in the battle, but the remaining troops were able to withdraw from the outpost. A lack of artillery and ammunition, combined with lack of able improvements to the fortifications for the U.S., meant that the Ultranationalists were able to storm the outpost. Both sides awaited reinforcements but to no avail. This proved a decisive battle for the Ultranationalists. The success of the Ultranationalist offensive against Kumyrna had depended on lack of U.S. troops in the area. *Concerning notes*: During the operation, it was apparent that members of the National Armed Party of Chernarussia purposedly engaged coalition and allied insurgent troops during the battle of Krasnostav for unknown reasons. Coalition forces returned fire and killed all members of the provoking party in self-defense. Investigations have currently been ongoing to determine the cause.
After the success of the operation, U.S. troops at Combat Outpost Mace were overrun and forced to evacuate from the area due to heavy amounts of Ultranationalist troops attempting to takeover the perimeter. U.S. forces have mobilized a counter-attack and had retaken the base.
"Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood. Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory." - Colonel Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division
OPERATION BlOODHOUND (11MD) (11/25/18)
*Commanding Officer: (FMR) Col. Radizkowski*
Successful + Casualties
The Battle of Berezino, or otherwise known as Operation Bloodhound in South Zagoria (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Broken Spirits), was fought during the Second Chernarussian Civil War in support of Operation Monolith on November 25th, 2018 for control of the eastern-most industrial city in South Zagoria, Chernarussia. A combined force of Chernarussian soldiers and U.S. Marines fought insurgents for control of key locations in Berezino, including the Town Square sector dubbed as Objective Gordon, a converted military & residential sector dubbed as Objective Shughart and the Industrial Sector dubbed as Objective Carpenter. Coalition strategy relied on establishing a number of fast, short-duration assaults by troops with anti-infantry capabilities to quickly capture the important sectors throughout the city.
U.S. military officers believe that insurgent actions during after the Battle of Krasnostav led to the formation of new insurgence of freedom fighters. In early November, insurgents executed a local preacher who was encouraging his kinsmen to join the Chernarussian Police and chose to mutilate and hang the body in accordance with Ultranationalist Laws. In response, several Chernarussians banded together to launch attacks against the Ultranationalist troops in southern Chernarussia. On November 23rd, a formation of Chernarussia Freedom Council with an alliance of approximately 50 different freedom fighter groups was established with intent on driving out the Ultranationalists and corrupt government.
U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Aaron Mercer was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the battle. On November 25th, 2018, Mercer threw himself towards a rocket propelled grenade which was fired at a group of evacuating civilians. His body absorbed the blast, killing him on impact but saving the lives of those around him. Mercer had previously been awarded the Silver Star in September for rescuing an injured comrade in the city of Zelenogorsk.
The battle also marked the first use of gas bombs by insurgents during the war. During the battle, insurgents detonated bombs within the upper city that contained nerve agents, killing forty three civilians, fourteen Chernarussian Soldiers, and five U.S. Marines.
Since the fall of Krasnostav, Berezino had been the center of insurgency in eastern Chernarussia. The Red Star Legion, a front group for the Ultranationalist Movement of the Red Star in Chernarussia, had declared the city to be its industrial capital. The city of 50,000, located 8 kilometers east of Chernogorsk, had been under the control of the insurgency. Law and order had broken down, and street battles were common.
At 05:00 local, on November 25th, 2018 the Battle of Berezino began. A complexed and heavy attack was launched by the Chernarussian Defense Force attacking Objective Carpenter, the Industrial Center, simultaneously by forces led by Chernarussian Army Major Zinon Kalagin while elements of the United States Marine Corps was held back in a supporting position. Major Kalagin was then immediately subject to a heavily armed suicide bomber. The suicide bomber ran towards Major Kalagin's position with a set of explosives and detonated it, immediately killing him and the majority of his command staff, leaving only Captain Christov Petayov alive, who later was killed attempting to save the life of his troops. Insurgents with small arms and RPGs then moved in to repel the attackers and a major firefight ensued. Sergeant Cortinas and the Marines of Punisher Squad, 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 1st Marines, eventually moved in and repelled the counterattack, killing dozens of insurgents with limited Marine casualties. Simultaneously, the remnants of the Chernarussian Army attacking forces were defended by the Marines as they had repelled insurgents trying to infiltrate the perimeter and kill the leaders. At nearly 06:00 local, the Marines raided a factory with a destroyed WMD device, bearing the logo of the organization of the Red Star Legion.
At 08:00 local, 1st Battalion and others elements from the 1st Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Division were deployed to the area under a emergency distress call by already pre-deployed Marine forces and respectively began to take on the insurgents in the upper city of Berezino. Word of the offensive already gotten to the citizens of the city who feared another Krasnostav-style attack. But the U.S. commander of 11 MD, Colonel Matthew Radzikowski ordered troops to take it slowly and softly, without using heavy close air support, artillery or tank fire. By 0900, U.S. troops had "cordoned off" the city. Enemy bomb strikes on residential & government areas were escalating, and US troops took to the streets to evacuate the remaining civilians. By this time, the original assaulting force, led by Sergeant Alejandro Cortinas was evacuated, with multiple Marines sustaining extremely life-threatening wounds, and some confirmed to be killed in action.
By 10:30 local, the objective of the operation was to cut off resupply and reinforcements to the insurgents in Berezino by gaining control of the key entry points into the city. U.S. forces also planned to establish new combat outposts (COPs) and patrol bases throughout the city, moving off their forward operating bases in order to engage with the population and establish relationships with local leaders.
Through intelligence tracking, Ultranationalist Public Speaker Damian Marinin was located and killed by US Forces in a precision direct action strike near Berezino along with five other insurgents. By 11:00 local, there were several skirmishes with insurgents which killed two American Marines.
The operation had little initial success but the strategic response effort by the United States Marine Corps layed down the effect that the Coalition wanted to achieve. Very soon the American forces were bogged down in more heavy street fighting throughout the city. Insurgents launched hit and run attacks on the forces, which were sometimes assaulted by as many as 100 insurgents at a time. In the major battle, Government Loyalist forces sustained heavy casualties when they launched complexed attacks on every Insurgent outpost throughout the city.
The main target throughout the battle was the Government Center located in the upper city, known as Objective Gordon, as well the lower city known as Objective Shughart, which were garrisoned by insurgents who had bagged the line, along with four insurgent-held government outposts that the Chernarussian Army thought to be understrengthed in which they could capture the Insurgents and kill all inside. Both objectives were engaged in several hour defensive fight, a barrage of mortars, reinforcements could not reach the upper center and the outposts because the enemy set up ambushes to block reinforcements. Regardless, Marines and Chernarussian Soldiers continued to fight and repulsed the defenders. In an attempt to reduce further attacks, Ultranationalist troops demolished several buildings around the government center in order to deny Coalition Forces closer proximity access and the ease of movement to stage.
Roadside bomb attacks and ambushes of patrols on the streets happened nearly every time Coalition troops were spotted in the vicinity. Sniper attacks were also a constant threat to Coalition troops during the battle. There were also several suicide-bombing attacks on Coalition forces. One insurgent sniper had used the fourth story of a local hotel to kill a number of Marines before he was counter-sniped by a Marine Sniper from 6th Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Division.
At around 15:00 local, a combined Marine, and Chernarussian Army force, supported by the U.S. Air Force, managed to push deep enough into the upper city to reach the General Hospital, and it was captured by the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at 18:41 local. Coalition troops reported through verified evidence that members of Ultranationalist Movement had been using the seven-story building, which was equipped with some 250 beds, to treat their wounded and fire on coalition troops in the area. Coalition troops said there were wounded Chernarussian Police Officers whom had been taken to the hospital and were later found beheaded. Though there was little resistance during the operation, the Marines found about a dozen triggering devices for bombs hidden above the tiled ceiling of one office. They knocked down dozens of locked doors and searched medicine chests and storage closets for additional weapons. At the conclusion of the operation, Coalition Forces took heavy sniper fire from insurgents that slipped away. Hospitals and religious buildings were considered off-limits in traditional warfare (except that it loses protected status when it is used to shoot from, for example). In western Berezino, however, insurgents had repeatedly fired on Coalition troops from the rooftop of a Women and Children's Hospital so often that patients were often fired upon and killed by Coalition troops.
At 19:30 local, the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines ("3/1") relieved the Chernarussia Army in western Berezino. Marines were deployed in companies throughout the city. Alpha Company was deployed to newly established OP Rattlesnake, a combat outpost close to a intact large seven-story building. Bravo Company took up position in the Upper City and Charlie Company was deployed to OP Geneva, the main combat outpost around the lower city.
1st SFOD-D and DEVGRU operators from Task Force Metal mounted takedown operations against strategic Ultranationalist targets based on high-level intelligence.
Previously, in late October, Pentagon officials announced that the troops of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Division would have their tour extended by 50 days. This extension was ordered to give the Marines time to prepare for their deployment on the eastern coast. In mid-November, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment "1/1" conducted its first major city offensive on the eastern seaboard, taking the large city of Krasnostav where they later established the Krasnostav Security Station. This was the first joint Marine-Chernarussian outpost in the city.
During heavy fighting between 20:00 and 22:00 local, Coalition forces were alleged to have killed at least 50 people, including women and children in central Berezino. Interviews by an unnamed correspondent in Berezino supported eyewitness statements that there were civilian deaths during the fighting. Residents said the houses in an old army officers quarters had been assaulted, including one being used as an cafe. News photos showed bodies of civilians allegedly killed by coalition forces.
A Chernarussian spokesman disputed the account, saying that the assault targeted an Insurgent headquarters and there were many insurgent casualties in the attack. He said that Coalition forces killed 16 suspected insurgents, who had been placing IEDs and firing mortars and RPGs, in fighting in three separate incidents in Berezino. At least one U.S. Marine was also killed in the fighting. The spokesman did not respond to inquiries about the number of civilian dead, but admitted that it was often difficult for coalition forces to distinguish between insurgents and civilians and did not confirm or deny that some collateral damage may have occurred. He neither responded to inquiries made by Catalina Times regarding the number of homes destroyed or tank rounds fired in the fighting.
By November 26th, 2018 at least 75 U.S. Marines were killed along with an unknown number of Chernarussian soldiers and police. The U.S. commander, Col. Radzikowski said 750 insurgents had been killed in fighting in Berezino and that his forces had secured 90% of the city. The intense battle of November 25th largely eliminated Ultranationalits from the city, the surviving militants fled, with teams of them turning up in Solnichniy and elsewhere, whilst others melted into the population.
Two years before the battle, then commander of the Chernarussian garrison, MajGen Joseph Vladivostok, stated that, "if Berezino fell, the whole province goes to hell". Two years later, a classified report written by Marine Col. Radzikowski, said South Zagoria had been lost and there was almost nothing that could be done without allied intervention. The report said that not only were Chernarussian military operations facing a stalemate, unable to extend and sustain security beyond the perimeters of their bases, but also local governments in the province had collapsed and the weak central government had almost no presence.
On November 22nd, 2017 another part of the intelligence report was published which said Chernarussian forces could neither crush the insurgency in South Zagoria nor counter the rising popularity of the Ultranationalist terrorist network in the area. According to the report, "the social and political situation has deteriorated to a point that Chernarussian troops are no longer capable of militarily defeating the insurgency in Chernarussia and moved to rely on the United States to establish combat prowess." The report describes the Red Star in Chernarussia as the "dominant organization of influence" in the province, more important than local authorities and the Chernarussian government "in its ability to control the day-to-day life of the average Chernarussian."
Insurgents still remained in the city with coalition forces continuing combat operations throughout November 26th. At 09:00 local on November 26, 2018 six civilians, including five Chernarussian girls, were killed when a Chernarussian Army tank fired into a building from which two insurgents were firing upon U.S. soldiers.
At 11:00 local, six American troops were killed in heavy street fighting. Three of these, two soldiers and a Marine, were killed in an area of western Berezino by local guerrillas. According to Col. Radzikowski, the local guerrillas saw the offensive as a personal attack by Coalition forces against their people and fought against coalition troops for the remainder of the day, by the end of the day, all guerrilla fighters were killed or captured as well as all of the insurgents involved in the attack within the two days. By the end of the operation at 20:00Q, U.S. forces had killed 194 insurgents and captured a further 200 on November 26th alone.
This operation was one of the closing engagements of the eastern seaboard. In the final hours of the Battle, Task Force Harvest Red (1-5), comprising 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment (1/9 Infantry, part of 7MD), with support from Abrams main battle tanks of the 3rd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment (3-70 AR), Navy SEALS, LAV-25 & Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) and dismounted infantry from 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment (1-26 IN), Charlie Company of the 15th Engineer Battalion, Alpha Company of 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment (11th Marines), and infantrymen from the veteran Chernarussian 1st Shock Army, finalized the offensive in Berezino.
The operation was intended to cut off any establishment of proper supply routes in order to drive out the remaining insurgent forces operating with near impunity there. The operation began at 13:53 local when tanks and IFVs from 3-70th Armor and 1-26th Infantry set up a full cordon around Berezino, preventing any movement in or out of the city. Once this was in place, the Marines of the 9th Marine Regiment began conducting clearing operations and targeted raids searching for weapons, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), enemy fighters, and high-level Ultranationalist leadership within the city and the neighboring districts, supported by the aforementioned armored vehicles, Apache helicopters, and long range rockets (GMLRS).
Throughout the remaining hours, there were more than 40 separate engagements with Ultranationalist forces, 8 large weapons caches found, more than 20 IEDs used against Coalition forces, more than 50 IEDs located and safely disposed of, 150 enemy fighters killed in action, 30 known enemy wounded, and 40 enemy fighters captured. Together with the Chernarussian Army, the local police force began to conduct patrols with gradually lessened support from coalition forces.
Operation Bloodhound is widely credited with breaking the back of the insurgency in South Zagoria, as it fed the fire of the New Awakening, which saw almost the entirety of South Zagoria province turn on the insurgency, in favor of Chernarussian Government. Coupled with further gains in recruiting the local leaders and militias in the surrounding areas, South Zagoria required very little assistance during the famous "surge" that took place in the months of September-November. The improvement was so great that it enabled Task Force Harvest Red (1-5) (now operating without the armored and mechanized support it had enjoyed in the early part of the campaign) to send nearly 70% of its strength to assist other units in clearing of other cities and towns within the region.
At 18:00 local, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, on its third tour to Chernarussia assumed responsibility from the 11th Marine Division. Prior to Berezino, on the outskirts of Krasnostav averaged approximately 50 enemy attacks on Coalition forces per day. Following heavy fighting over an two week eastern campaign, which was led by a Task Force commanded by the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit, also known as Task Force Harvest Red, attacks in the area of operations dropped to zero after the capture of Berezino. However, despite the success of the battle, insurgents continue to launch attacks on the surrounding areas of Berezino. At 21:00 local, a group of between 50 and 60 insurgents attempting to infiltrate Berezino were intercepted and destroyed, following a tip from Chernarussian Police officers. The insurgents were intercepted by elements of the 1st Battalion, 70th Armor and were destroyed by elements of Bravo company, 2nd Squad, 1st platoon, 1-9 Infantry Regiment. Berezino now had become a vastly safer city than it had been only a year before and the number of enemy attacks had fallen drastically.
One major shortcoming in the efforts to wrest control of Berezino from the insurgency was the failure of the Chernarussian Police and Army to effectively combat the insurgency. As part of the Local Engagement Strategy, coalition forces developed and implemented a plan to quickly recruit, train, and employ Chernarussian policemen on the streets of Berezino. Col. Radzikowski of the 11th Marine Division and COL Jordan Leacher of the 2nd Infantry Division successfully developed a Chernarussian Police & Army recruiting, training, and employment plan that was implemented by HHC, 2-152 Infantry (Mech), an Army National Guard unit that previously helped develop the Iraqi Police by assisting daily patrols and clearing operations with their counterparts in Ramadi, 2007. HHC, 2-152 Infantry, also known in Ramadi as "the 152nd", or the Police Transition Team (PTT) Company would provide the Chernarussian Police & Army with the leadership and oversight that proved crucial in re-establishing a proper presence in Berezino to ensure insurgent forces did not return to the city that had been secured. Consequently, the success of the Army & Police program in Berezino convinced the populace that their government could effectively provide for their security needs, a critical element of defeating the insurgency. *Concerning notes*: During the operation, U.S. Marines led by Sergeant Cortinas captured a private contractor working for the Ultranationalist Movement of the Red Star who claimed to have intelligence on U.S. citizens held hostage by Ultranationalist troops and a list of private contracting companies working for the Red Star Movement. Sergeant Cortinas and his Marines, who sustained heavy wounds from the fighting, were knocked unconscious from an explosive blast within the city and the contractor escaped from custody. Cortinas then reported the intel to Coalition forces, in which a hostage rescue and intelligence recovery team were sent to the designated sites, however, no such hostages or intelligence was found. The private contractor was reported to have escaped with another Ultranationalist prisoner and blended in with the local populace, with U.S. and Chernarussian troops attempting to find and recapture the escaped prisoners.
Coalition troops also reported to have found two docked warships in the harbor of Berezino, it was reported by the United States Navy's 11th Fleet that the ships attempted to flee the port in midst of the battle but were later boarded and captured by U.S. Navy Sailors. The warships were of Soviet origin and were likely part of the Chernarussian Navy prior to the Soviet Union Dissolution.
"We stand in a time of great violence upon innocent men. Violence is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. We have frequently won battles for Chernarussian independence. But in spite of these victories, we should what great cost violence will bring us. Every warrior must know, before he goes into battle, how the little battle he is to fight fits into the larger picture, and how the success of his fighting will influence the battle as a whole. Humanity is winning its battle against evil. Liberty will soon have another country." - Colonel Radzikowski, 11th Marine Division
Heroics
Defense of the Zargabad EMBASSY (11MD) (01/03/2018)
UAV imagery of the compound prior to being established as a US Embassy. The large building was the main consulate building that housed all dignitaries.
On January 3rd, 2018, the United States was withdrawing from the region of Takistan. Prior to the full effect of withdrawal, a coup has risen within the capital, Zargabad and changed Takistan for the worst. US Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Division were directly responsible for the protection and defense of the US Consulate in Zargabad. 12-men from Alpha Company, 1st Platoon were directly assigned to defend the US embassy and all foreign dignitaries as Zargabad turned into a warzone.
At 1700 local, Zargabad fell to a hostile Islamic terrorist group known as the Rafad Alshayatin, with approximately 1,000 fighters taking over the capital. US Marines were stationed to CONDITION ONE and prepared for incoming attacks. At 1800 local time, US Army elements attempted to recapture the city but sustained extremely high losses. This was the single-most casualty loss in the War on Violence and Aggression and Global War on Terror. US Army elements lost 7 CH-47 Chinooks and 10 M1A2 Abrams tanks, as well as 300+ soldiers.
At 2030 local, the Rafad Alshayatin made an assault on the US embassy. The 12 Marines were facing against a contingent of 600 - 1,000+ fighters, armed with armored fighting vehicles and heavy crew-served weapon systems. The Marines were responsible for protecting the dignitaries until evacuation was available. Throughout the entire night, the Marines were defending the front checkpoint, facing heavy mortar strikes, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and heavy armor in addition to hundreds of fighters.
By 2200 local, the Marines ran out of primary ammunition and sustained several wounds. They acquired hostile AK-47, PKM and RPG weapon systems to continue the fight against the hostile fighters. All Marines were heavily wounded and on the brink of death but continued fighting. At 2400 local, hostile fighters breached the rear of the consulate and attempted to capture the dignitaries and acquire intel. US Marines retreated from the front checkpoint to the main consulate building and defended the high-value personnel from being captured, as well as burning key files.
At 0300 local, the Marines were getting desperate, they were bleeding out from their wounds and they were unable to retrieve any more ammunition from hostile forces. At this point, the embassy was completely surrounded. The Marines continued to hold on, and kept fighting. The fighting was at it's worst point, with Marines engaging hostile fighters in hand-to-hand combat with knives and rocks in order to acquire hostile firearms.
At 0630 local time, evacuation was scrambled for the Marines and high-value personnel. The Marines fought their way out of the consulate to the rear compound and waited for extraction. At 0645, one US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter landed but was immediately hit by an RPG, all hands were lost. The Marines retreated down the hills and and fell back approximately 2km and organized another extraction. A secondary UH-60 was dispatched and picked up the dignitaries and Marines while being engaged by both small arms and anti-aircraft fire, nearly getting shot down. During the intensity of the fighting and pressure, the UH-60 crew hastly extracted all but one servicemember from the battle space. Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Declan Lloyd was wounded heavily and lost consciousness during the retreat and was left behind on the hills and captured. He was taken to the embassy by hostile fighters and interrogated.
The rear of the Embassy, where the first UH-60 landed and attempted to rescue the dignitaries.
At 0800 local, the Marines organized a plan to rescue the Hospital Corpsman. Realizing they could not insert via air, they ran 7 kilometers back to the battle zone after being dropped off via helicopter. The Corpsman was heavily wounded and tortured by Rafad Alshayatin enforcers, his time was running out.
At 1030, the US Marines assaulted the Embassy, facing more than 100 fighters in the process. The Marines cleared the Embassy and rescued the Hospital Corpsman and orchestrated an airstrike on the consulate itself. US Navy F/A-18 fighters dropped 1,000 pound JDAM munitions, effectively wiping out the entirety of the compound while the US Marines were carrying the Hospital Corpsman back to safety.
At 1200, the US Marines organized an extraction approximately 7km away from the battlespace and successfully extracted all Marines. By this time, a large reaction force contingent of US Army and US Marine elements pushed into Zargabad and recaptured it by 1800 local.
Due to the success of the 12 Marines who served and defended the consulate, all dignitaries were successfully evacuated and saved. Due to their determination to succeed and intolerance for failure, those Marines were willing to give their lives in the defense of their nation, their brothers and the dignitaries. These men who served at the consulate are the example of what every true Marine is and should aspire to be.
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears." - James Mattis
For my brothers, I'd give my life. Semper Fidelis.
THE GREAT UKRAINE HILL DEFENSE (11MD) (01/03/2018)
The area which allied troops were stationed. Ultranationalist forces assaulted from the hill, pictured here.
On January 3rd, 2018, members of the Eleventh Marine Division went to Ukraine to assist and advise Ukrainian & Allied troops in combating the communist insurgent threat, known as the Ultranationlist Movement of the Red Star. Allied forces were stationed in an open field, on the eastern flank in order to protect a town from hostile takeover.
At 1900 local, Allied troops were engaged by hostile forces, whom were amassing from a small hill overlooking a town, known as "Red Hill". Ultranationalist forces engaged with small arms and heavy weapon systems and attempted to charge across the field and pour into friendly lines. Attacks continued as Ultranationalist forces began to increase in size.
At 2200 local, Ultranationalist forces heavily outnumbered Allied forces 5-to-1, with attacks being supported by artillery and armored support. Hostile armor columns entered the fields and attempted to pacify friendly lines, only to be defeated by anti-tank weapon systems. Ultranationlist forces were filling the field, with an approximate company-to-battalion size assaulting Allied lines. Enemy artillery suppressed and pinned Allied forces, allowing Ultranationalist troops to get close to the the trenches.
By 0230 local, Ultranationalist troops broke through the trench-line but were repelled and forced to retreat. Only a small amount of Allied troops were still alive and fighting, with all Eleventh Marine Division members still combat effective. Ammunition & medical supplies were running low, allied troops attempted to stockpile and gather enemy equipment. After hostile forces were repelled, the fighting ceased for approximately one hour. Allied troops built up and restocked defenses and weapons.
At 0345, Red Star troops launched a massive final assault on allied troops, with dozens of armored fighting vehicles and artillery strikes. This massive attack took the lives of almost all allied troops stationed there, with only members of the Eleventh Marine Division alive. Nearly 1,000 Ultranationalist troops flooded the field, supported by lightly armored vehicles, and officially within allied lines. Fighting was down to hand to hand and close quarters battle. Allied troops were in a last ditch effort to defeat the enemy...
Nearly two hours later, at around 0530, all Ultranationalist troops were killed in action and more than twenty-five armored vehicles were destroyed or disabled. Allied troops successfully defended the town from hostile takeover. Allied troops were reinforced by a battalion of Ukrainian troops, and the members of the Fighting Eleventh managed to facilitate a helicopter evacuation.
All civilians were successfully saved from the Ultranationalist's iron fist.
"Marines don't know how to spell the word 'defeat". - James Mattis
For my brothers, I'd give my life. Semper Fidelis.
OPERATION BROADSWORD HEROICS (11MD) (01/07/2018)
This section dissects the heroic actions that was undertaken by members of the Fighting Eleventh during Operation Broadsword.
Then Lance Corporal Boyer, Nicholas T. is being recognized for his valorous actions in the day-long Battle of Utes Island. He was advancing with his squad near Kamenyy when his unit met heavy enemy resistance. During the period, his unit stopped to address and stabilize wounded members and were closely ambushed by a platoon of Ultranationalist Red Star insurgents within 50 meters. Boyer, with no regard for his own life, Boyer immediately acted upon the ambush and shielded his fellow wounded Marines from fire while discharging his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon towards enemy troops. Boyer eliminated nearly 30 enemy troops. Boyer waited until the assailants closed in, then tossed a grenade into their midst, then immediately engaged hostile troops with his light machine gun, killing all of them. It was in this engagement, or shortly thereafter, that Boyer sustained serious injuries.
Then Hospital Corpsman Second Class Lloyd, Declan P. is being recognized for his heroic actions in the day-long battle of Utes Island. His detachment came under devastating enemy fire from strong enemy forces and several servicemembers became severely wounded. Lloyd advanced voluntarily and alone towards his fellow wounded brothers-in-arms, and began providing critical immediate care to his fellow members, with no care for his own life. Lloyd, in the heat of battle managed to save his fellow brothers-in-arms and contributed to the success and successfully managed to prevent the death of his fellow members in action. Throughout this engagement, Lloyd suffered limited injuries.
Then Major Falcon, Vladimir is being recognized for his valorous actions in day-long battle of Utes Island. During the battle, he aggressively led his unit in neutralizing multiple enemy strong points and inflicting large numbers of casualties on the enemy. As the attack was almost over, Falcon sustained severe wounds, but did not stop to receive first aid. Falcon continued his exemplary performance until he captured his objective.
Then Captain Hogan, Derek A. is being recognized for his valorous actions while serving as the second in command of the U.S. Marine invasion force in the day-long battle of Utes Island. Hogan's unit was under heavy fire by blistering mortar, machine-gun, and rifle power. Hogan led his troops in an assault over a tree-and-shrub-covered hill, continuously swept by automatic fire. Killing two snipers at ranges of 50 and 75 yards, he disregarded bullets that pierced his back to engage and destroy a machine-gun with rifle grenades, killing its two-man crew. Stunned by an exploding RPG warhead, he continued his relentless advance to knock out a second a machine-gun and captured his respective objectives.
Then Staff Sergeant Rugama, Amadeo is being recognized for his actions on the day-long battle of Utes Island where he is credited with single-handedly breaking up a Red Star counterattack. The enemy launched a violent counterattack preceded by a assaulting barrage. Rugama, flying his MH-60S Knighthawk, flew to the crest of a hill, where he saw a large quantity of enemy troops charging up the slopes employing anti-tank launchers, machineguns, rifles, and hand grenades. Rugama immediately began to engage the enemy, firing several rockets and killing nearly all enemy personnel.
Then Hospital Corpsman Third Class Phillips, Nathaniel R. distinguished himself on the day-long battle of Utes Island by supporting his company as it was ruthlessly attacked by a hostile force. Notably, Philips maneuvered across open ground to successfully provide medical attention to his wounded troops. Wounded during the battle, Philips refused medical attention, instead manning his post and providing medical aide to wounded troops.
Then Sergeant Gloria, Joseph distinguished himself on the day-long battle of Utes Island. Gloria was in the most vulnerable position on his company's exposed right flank after an enemy force was defending a sector with ferocious machinegun fire. He pushed towards the position throughout the engagement, engaging enemy troops with automatic fire and accurately hurling hand grenades at short range when he approached their positions.
OPERATION MONOLITH HEROICS (08/14/2018)
(TO BE DATED)
Photo Collection
Deployment photo albums. Photos from the Eleventh Marine Division. 2017 to 2019