Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 14 - S-2 Briefing

[1LT (Ret) Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 14 - TASK FORCE CHARLIE

S-2 Intelligence Brief//11FEB2023
//SECRET//

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0600 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current Temp: 32F | Today's High: 42F | Tonight's Low: 23F | Current Humidity: 71% | Wind out of the WNW at 6-8 mph, with occasional gusts up to 10 mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Sunny and clear skies forecasted for today | Visibility greater than or equal to 10NM (nautical miles) | Sunset tonight is 1827 & sunrise tomorrow is 0745.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- Strikes on NWRC air defense missile batteries via coordinated SEAD sorties have effectively eliminated all but a few isolated groups across the NWRC-controlled city of Mary. The remainder of air defense systems in play amount to short-range tracked infrared SAM systems, MANPADS, and tracked & wheeled anti-air guns.

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

- Increased signal activity across the eastern Mary Province has been detected, the strength and periodicity of which indicate both tactical and high-powered jamming antennae distributed as clusters across the province. Air Force is ramping up flights aimed at triangulating the locations of these systems that will hopefully turn into targeting data for the nearest element, so as that data is made available, elements may be tasked to support that mission.

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

- Yesterday, an Air Force MQ-1C Grey Eagle drone was declared down approximately 4 miles north of our AO here in Sultanbent. Preliminary analysis links to a connection failure between the drone and its relay. Earlier this week, a recon team operating to our direct north lost two RQ-11 Raven UAVs, both to connection failures. This all but confirms a high concentration of electronic warfare systems in the AO, though it remains unclear if this is exactly what resulted in the loss of each of these aircraft.

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- The recovery of the downed UAVs is someone else's game- the op today is to patrol south of OP SMITH along the western bank of the Murghab river in search of caches and storehouses for materials used in IED construction. Originally, this was intended to be tasked to 3rd BTN, Charlie Company, but they have instead been tasked to provide containment for the recovery elements tasked for the drones. Charlie Company will insert south of OP SMITH, and patrol south to seize two key positions, COP GRAY, and OP CONNOR, as well as any buildings and compounds in proximity to. Ops has outlined the village of Daw as the southernmost limit for this patrol today to prevent any one element from being cut off this far north.

[1LT (Ret) Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 14 - TASK FORCE BRAVO

S-2 Intelligence Brief//11FEB2023
//SECRET//

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0700 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current Temp: 33F | Today's High: 46F | Tonight's Low: 24F | Current Humidity: 69% | Wind out of the WNW at 6-8 mph, with occasional gusts up to 10 mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Sunny and clear skies forecasted for today | Visibility greater than or equal to 10NM (nautical miles) | Sunset tonight is 1827 & sunrise tomorrow is 0745.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- AO Threats have been curtailed to tracked and stationary short-range SAM & AAA platforms, as well as MANPADS and stationary crew-served weapons.

- A NOTAM update is currently being formalized to advise all aircraft to refrain from low-altitude flights over suspected NWRC positions, instead limiting flight patterns to either high-altitude flights (a minimal altitude over NWRC positions, still undetermined at present time) or only flying approved flight corridors which have been cleared and verified safe by ground forces. For now, this is only a recommendation, as no formal NOTAM or TFR- or Temporary Flight Restriction has been made. 

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

- S-2 has confirmed the presence of both tactical and high-energy electronic warfare jammers within the Sultanbent area, most specifically throughout the northern and central highlands of our immediate AO- their impact on our capabilities is now believed to include more than just comms degradation, though this is unconfirmed at present time.

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

- 3rd PLT & TFC elements suffered what has been reported as a helicopter crash approximately 45 minutes ago- current SITREP reports no significant casualties, as the aircrew was able to engage a successful autorotation and land with minimal impact. Details are forthcoming, but until we know more, expect aviation operations to be impacted until the full nature of the crash can be determined.

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- With that, 2nd PLT will continue on the planned patrol on the east side of the Murghab river, with the hope that the movement of a second platoon will divert some of the pressure from TFC's already compromised air assault on the west side of the river. 2nd PLT has also been designated the QRF in the event 3rd PLT & TFC cannot continue their patrol and are required to disengage; meaning that close air support will be prioritized in order to facilitate their withdrawal. However, the plan is for TFC and TFB to complete their patrols and assaults on COPs GARY and DIAZ, respectively- and neutralize the defenses at each nearby OP, along with any material support indicated in the surrounding villages and hamlets- specifically, any bomb-making materials or deployed EW platforms.