Operation Redline
Standard Operation
Operation Redline
1. SITUATION
Enemy Forces:
Insurgent elements have entrenched in and around Lashgar Kuh, using the village as a storage and transshipment node for weapons and contraband. An IDAP outpost to the northeast has lost contact and its personnel are presumed taken hostage. Fort Kelati, a fortified hilltop compound overlooking Lashgar Kuh, will host a closed-door meeting of the warlord’s lieutenants. Capturing the lieutenants will yield actionable intelligence on smuggling routes and planned regional attacks.
S.A.L.U.T.E. (Lashgar Kuh / Fort Kelati AO)
- S — Size: Estimated 200–300 insurgents in the AO.
- A — Activity: Storage and trade operations in Lashgar Kuh; periodic security meetings at Fort Kelati; IDAP outpost silent—hostage event suspected; possible IEDs on approaches.
- L — Location: OBJ ALPHA: Lashgar Kuh village (storage compounds); OBJ BRAVO: IDAP outpost NE of the village; OBJ CHARLIE: Fort Kelati (hilltop overlooking Lashgar Kuh). QRFs and technicals staged on town outskirts.
- U — Unit / Uniform: Irregular insurgent cells mixed civilian/camouflage; lieutenant cadre better equipped (plate/helmets). Identification via chest rigs, standard AK-pattern weapons.
- T — Time: H-Hour 1200H (noon). Expect increased meeting activity at Fort Kelati H-Hour ±1. Mortar and technical movement expected post-engagement within 5–20 minutes.
- E — Equipment: AK-family rifles, PKM/RPK, DShK/NSV on technicals, RPG-7 teams, IEDs, possible light armored pickups & technicals, limited mortar teams.
Friendly Forces:
- Main Effort: Legion, ACP, ESPER, CAT.
- Support: ACE, Warhammer.
- FOB Aries: Staging and resupply point north of Lashgar Kuh.
2. MISSION
At 1200H, PJSF (operating as U.S. Marines) will simultaneously:
- Assault OBJ ALPHA (Lashgar Kuh) to destroy insurgent storage and assets;
- Assault OBJ BRAVO (IDAP outpost) to locate and rescue detained personnel;
- Seize OBJ CHARLIE (Fort Kelati) to capture eight warlord lieutenants ALIVE and deliver them to FOB Aries for interrogation.
Warlord: Warlord Ghulam Azar — regional sponsor of smuggling, attacks, and anti-coalition operations.
3. EXECUTION
Commander’s Intent:
Deny the enemy logistics and leadership: destroy storage and caches at Lashgar Kuh, rescue IDAP hostages, and capture all eight lieutenants at Fort Kelati to cripple the warlord’s operational network; minimize civilian casualties and return forces to FOB Aries.
Concept of Operations:
- Mounted approach/convoy movement from FOB Aries to insertion points.
- Air assets provide insertion, overwatch, CAS, and CASEVAC support.
Execution Details:
- ROE: Capture HVTs alive where feasible; lethal force to neutralize imminent threats. Positive ID required before heavy ordnance in populated areas. Protect non-combatants.
- Scheme of Maneuver: Coordinated convoy → dismount clearing/capture operations with rotary overwatch and CAS. Stryker MGS / MRAP direct fires to suppress hardened positions.
- Fire Support Plan: Harrier & AH-1Z preplanned fires on hardened storage if cleared of hostages; AHs and Little Birds on-call for dynamic CAS; CH-53E / Osprey for heavy lift/extraction as needed.
4. ADMINISTRATION & LOGISTICS (4B’s)
- Beans: No need for rations and water
- Bullets: Full combat load issued; demolition charges available for cache denial; RRR logistics vehicles available for rearm/refuel.
- Band-Aids: Embedded medics
- Bad Guys: Insurgent fighters with small arms, RPGs, mortar support, IEDs, technicals, and the lieutenant cadre.
Exact Assets (counts):
- Ground Assets: 8× MRAPs (5× with M2 HMG, 2× with Mk19, 2× unarmed), 2× LAV-C2, 1× M1296 Stryker MGS, 2× M1239 Stryker variants (3× AIO, 1× Cargo), 3x M252 Mortar.
- Air Assets: 2× UH-1Y (1× MG-armed, 1× utility), 1× CH-53E (heavy lift/CASEVAC), 1× AH-1Z (attack), 1× V-22 Osprey (medium lift), 2× Harrier (fixed-wing CAS).
5. COMMAND & SIGNAL
- Comms Plan: Standard PJSF nets
- Mandatory Check-ins: Every 30 minutes after operation start
- Extraction: All detained lieutenants and rescued IDAP personnel transferred to FOB Aries for processing/interrogation
7. SAFETY & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
- Expect IED threat on approach routes
- Civilian presence possible on approaches—positive ID required before engaging.
- Prisoner handling: Detained lieutenants to be restrained, and transported immediately to FOB Aries under escort.
- Minimize collateral damage to preserve IDAP facilities and evidence for interrogation.