OP2409-13-2 After Action Report

OP2409-13-2

Transcript:

OP2409-13-2

Intelligence staff for 2nd Battalion, 33rd Separate Mountain Motorized Rifle Brigade, uncovered an enemy plan to capture the village of Ast in Cham from the march. Reports coming from local agents and from electronic means indicated that the separatists would likely send a mixed armored force to use for the attack.

Operations staff for 2nd Battalion dispatched a BTR rifle task force, two tanks, three BTR rifle squads, and two BRDM scout cars. The orders for the task force were to stop the separatists from capturing the village and if possible, drive them back.

After a 15 minute road march, the task force was deployed with the two T-72 tanks in the east performing overwatch, augmented by one BRDM Scout car. In the woods to the West, task force commander ordered all three BTR rifle squads to deploy, with Command Squad east and 2nd Squad and 3rd Squad in the center and the west.

Initial attacks by enemy infantry came from the northwest. 2nd Squad and 3rd Squad had been delayed after an encounter with enemy armor, and arrived late at their deployment points, allowing the enemy to close in quickly. During the start of the battle, battlefield reports indicated the enemy had deployed a very large tank-strong force to include T-62 tanks, T-55 tanks, and T-34 tanks.

At the deployment point of Command Squad, an enemy BMP had penetrated to Command Squad's position. When commander attempted to fire on the enemy vehicle with an RPG-18, he found that the RPG-18 was defective. The enemy BMP continued to fire on and destroy Command Squad, as Commander was unable to find a working RPG-18.

Enemy armor continued to pour in from the north and effectively engaged tanks, destroying both of them. In concert with attacks by enemy infantry, the enemy destroyed Command Squad and finally, 2nd Squad and 3rd Squad. There were so much enemy armor present, remnants of the task force were unable to retreat.

Casualties were catastrophic. Only Scout 1 BRDM survived.

Field counts of enemy losses included two technicals, one UAV, one T-34 tank, and one BMP.

Operations staff for 2nd Battalion reviewed radio logs and other data. The task force was scheduled to receive two desant rifle squads with T-34s, which could have helped the situation, had they not been stopped two km south of the area of operation.

Operations staff also said that the defective RPG-18s were a game changer for the enemy, enabling enemy armor to run roughshod over the entire deployment. Had the RPGs not been defective, they may not have been enough to change the outcome, but they would have at least caused more damage to the enemy.

This engagement stands in stark contrast to the previous two operations in Cham, where enemy forces were poorly deployed, and easily destroyed.

Operations staff reported that the task force will be reinforced for another operation, but Brigade commander ordered 2nd Battalion to stand down. Cham will have to wait.