Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 7 - S-2 Briefing

[1LT (Ret) Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 07-22 - TASK FORCE ALPHA

S-2 Intelligence Brief//16OCT2022
//SECRET//

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0400 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current Temp: 49F | Today's High: 82F | Current Humidity: 32%, dropping to 23% by 1430 Local | Wind out of the NNW at 10-12 mph, with occasional gusts up to 16 mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Clear skies | Visibility greater than or equal to 9NM (nautical miles) | Sunset tonight is 1845 & sunrise tomorrow is 0630.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- Severkuldzha's elevated position on the Southern Inhabited Shelf of Mary Province provides optimal radar signals detection and line of sight from the surrounding airspace in nearly all directions. Airbases identified to the north of our current position have been identified as the point of origin for most of the airborne NWRC threats that engaged coalition forces throughout Mary province. MANPADS threats continue to pose the most critical threat against airframes at this stage in the Kirov-Southern Mary area, given the marked drop in encounters with larger & more capable air defense systems.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- Coalition forces apart of Task Force WHITE, including the Marines with II MEF (just say 2nd Marine Expeditionary) began their assault of northern Ashgabat earlier this week, having seized the airport at the beginning of the month and completed preparations for clearing and occupying the capital.

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- With nearly all NWRC-sponsored resistance routed in and throughout Kirov, the BCT has shifted 1st BTN to the southeast, in proximity to Severkuldzha. Beyond small patrols throughout the southern part of the AO which we now occupy, there is limited intel on the area, so any anomalies or differences in local behavior, pattern of life, or NWRC tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) need to be reported and detailed so the rest of the battalion can be updated.

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- Intel on the Severkuldzha is still fluid regarding local activity of both civilians and militants & NWRC. S-2 is also still backlogged with the level of documents and materials recovered from Objective WALLACE & held positions within Zor-Khalata, but has prioritized an area summary which will be put out later this week.

[1LT (Ret) Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 07-22 - TASK FORCE CHARLIE

S-2 Intelligence Brief//22OCT2022
//SECRET//

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0700 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current Temp: 51F | Today's High: 67F | Current Humidity: 53%, dropping to 38% by 1445 Local | Wind out of the NE at 6-9 mph, with occasional gusts up to 15 mph. Winter is coming - plan for continued drops in temperature, but continue to sustain hydration routines.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Partly cloudy | Visibility greater than or equal to 7NM (nautical miles) | Sunset tonight is 1805 & sunrise tomorrow is 0708.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- Severkuldzha's elevated position on the Southern Inhabited Shelf of Mary Province provides optimal radar signals detection and line of sight from the surrounding airspace in nearly all directions. Airbases identified to the north of our current position have been identified as the point of origin for most of the airborne NWRC threats that engaged coalition forces throughout Mary province. MANPADS remain a significant threat against airframes Kirov-Southern Mary area, however, it has not been assessed yet the degree to which these systems exist in the Severkuldzha area has, given the employment of much more capable SAM batteries and mobile AA.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- No theater-level updates are available at present time.

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- For those not yet made aware, a UH-60M Blackhawk from Delta Company, 5th Btn was lost due to hostile MANPADS fire during operations to assault Objective WALLACE southeast of Kirov. Minor injuries were sustained by the aircrew, but otherwise, all members were able to successfully regroup with ground forces.

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- Alpha Company has been tasked with paving the way for a coordinated assault against the two strategically important airbases in the central plains of Severkuldzha, hence the rapid deployment of your platoon to the northern limit of advance from first platoon's actions to secure positions southwest of AMBAR. Third platoon's assault of COP LEE will put the task force within striking distance of the airbase immediately west, designated OBJECTIVE NIMBUS, and follow on tasking regarding the assault of the airbase will undoubtedly depend on 3rd PLT's efforts today.

- Lastly, exercise extreme caution for any quick reaction forces which may originate from the airbase, as the task force is not in a position to support an immediate follow-on assault of the position. Once secured, dig in at LEE and await resupply.

Struckthrough parts of this prepared brief are not applicable, as this brief was prepared for a mission which TFC ultimately scrubbed due to battlespace demands.

[1LT (Ret) Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 07-22 - TASK FORCE BRAVO

S-2 Intelligence Brief//23OCT2022
//SECRET//

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 1000 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current Temp: 64F | Today's High: 70F | Current Humidity: 51%, dropping to 34% by 1515 Local | Wind out of the NE at 7-9 mph, with occasional gusts up to 12 mph. Winter is coming - plan for continued drops in temperature, but continue to sustain hydration routines.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Partly cloudy | Visibility greater than or equal to 6NM (nautical miles) | Sunset tonight is 1808 & sunrise tomorrow is 0704.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- Severkuldzha's elevated position on the Southern Inhabited Shelf of Mary Province provides optimal radar signals detection and line of sight from the surrounding airspace in nearly all directions- airspace marked with projected coverage areas are confirmed critical threat flight areas to aircraft. MANPADS remain a significant threat against airframes Kirov-Southern Mary area, however, it has not been assessed yet the degree to which these systems exist in the Severkuldzha area has, given the employment of much more capable SAM batteries and mobile air defense platforms.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- Three airbases have been identified across the SIS, two of which reside in the central plains of Severkuldzha, identified as Objectives NIMBUS and ALTUS, which have been deemed as the point of origin for most of the airborne NWRC threats that engaged coalition forces throughout Mary Province thus far.

- News broadcasting officially confirmed the dissolution of the remnant Turkmen Armed Forces last week, citing a revolt two weeks ago in the western town of Balkanbat. Unfortunately, it is estimated that this has been used to offset and even bolster morale among New World supporters in the capital of Ashgabat, despite our recent success here across Mary Province. 

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- For those not yet made aware, a UH-60M Blackhawk from Delta Company, 5th Btn was lost due to hostile MANPADS fire during operations to assault Objective WALLACE southeast of Kirov. Minor injuries were sustained by the aircrew, but otherwise, all members were able to successfully regroup with ground forces.

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- Several small hamlets along the planned route of patrol have been identified as waystations for fighters to rest and regroup as they transit south to bypass coalition forces. While the road enables the faster transit of vehicles and supplies to support operations further north, the terrain this route divides is unforgiving and deeply favors anything outside the base of its valleys. We know that the loss of Kirov and their northern supply routes have stirred up a lot of New World and militant activity across the many camps dotting the south of Severkuldzha, so expect increasing contact as the patrol progresses and more fighters in the area make their way towards the sounds of fighting.