"That'll be good." she responds to Mariusz.



At the rear, Quyen will assist whichever crewman is assigned to getting them ashore. Her heavy pack full of 660 rounds of 7.62 lies off to the side. Resting on top is her AK74. As the crewman operates the crane(?) she guides it by hand into the dark water.

Holding it steady and secure against the side of the Krolowa, Quyen motions quietly for the crewman and the shore party to board. "Careful." she whispers. Quyen will be the last to enter the inflatable.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Wed 09 July 2008.

Tucker gathers with his gear and assembles with the others for Konrad's briefing.  Once it's over, he has no questions and heads off to get a tac radio for the mission.  He reports back on deck and settles next to McCoy.  "I pulled a couple of HEDP's and Flechette rounds as well as some ILLUM's in case we get brave enough to use them.  Just let me know if there's anything you want me to do McCoy!"

Tucker
M-16A2 [27/30]/M-203 [HE]

Jason approaches just before Minh goes over the gunwale.  Quietly, he says, "Be safe, Lady."  He then cracks a smile.  "Otherwise, I'd have to play shuffleboard with Dawid."

Stoner floats with the current, looking like so much flotsam to the casual observer. The water is bitter cold, in spite of the thick layer of grease smothered over almost every square inch of his body. The current is swift, and Stoner doesn't need to do much but try to stay afloat. The snorkel attached to his dive mask proves more useful than the heavy O2 tank strapped to his back. Anyhow, he would be effectively blind under the surface. After what seems like an eternity, the bridge, a dark line silhouetted against a not-quite-as-dark background, looms ahead.

The ambush team makes landfall* and begins heading in the direction of Annapol, paralleling the river and leaving tracks behind them that stand out starkly against the white, tabletop terrain.

It takes a while to find a suitable ambush position. The most obvious is a swollen stream feeding into the Vistula. There is a small footbridge crossing the stream about two hundred meters east of the river. The footbridge is just over 2km from the town, not far from where Stoner remembered seeing one of the bridge garrison's riverside observation posts. The immediate area is fairly unremarkable. There is little cover and concealment in the area. The bright side is that, with night vision, an approaching reaction force will have no place to hide.

Those left on board the Krolowa wait for the ambush team to signal that they are in position before triggering the diversion. With their NVG's, Dawid and Jason can actually track the ambush team visually from the tug. Through the goggles, the ambush team resembles a line of black ants crossing a lime-green picnic blanket.

Dawn is expected in just over an hour.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:20, Thu 10 July 2008.

Bayer lies in the grass a few meters from Quyen and Mariusz. He glances down the the machinegun and then studies the intended kill zone in front of them. Prior to setting up, he pointed out the area he wanted to use as the main target area. He helped gauge the distances and pointed out likely routes of enemy advance and positions of cover.

Looking through his bino's he spots Tucker and McCoy setting themselves up. The other group was at a distance but able to give mutual support to each other. If it worked out as intended, the machinegun would engage targets which were attacking McCoy and Tucker (allowing the enemy to be hit from enfilade fire). Additionally, those two would engage targets advancing on the machinegun det.

Whispering to Quyen he says, "Setup your claymore on our left flank (McCoy and Tucker being on the right flank)." A safety measure in the case of numerically superior attackers trying to swing around against the team's open side.

As Quyen sets up, he toggles the radio, "Starlight, this is Sunray. Phase one complete. Your call sign to start phase two. Over."

Waiting for a reply over the net, he loads an HE round into his grenade launcher.

Quyen gives a friendly wave to Jason as she boards the inflatable, "Back in a minute." she says.

In the ambush position, she lays down a belt of 7.62mm next to the loading side of the M240. She lies prone and scans ahead to get herself accustomed to the engagement area. Quyen then listens closely as Bayer indicates the important areas in the kill zone, and repeats the distances in her head.

Opening her small pack she moves aside the POMZ-2 and takes out the claymore. Crawling out into the darkness she stops a few meters out on the left flank. Selecting a tree and digs the claymore into the ground. The tree will protect the gun crew from any back blast. After ensuring the mine is armed and ready, she backs off the way she came. Uncoiling the command wire she strings it back to her position next to the machinegun.

"Ready." she whispers, glancing back at the tug - expecting the lure to begin.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Thu 10 July 2008.

Dawid yawned as he sat at the Vasilek. He'd napped, but it was never enough for night operations, he found.

He reflected in how the American-style "L" shaped ambush seemed rather elaborate and all-or-nothing. If the enemy came down the expected line of advance they would walk into the short arm of the L, and so there was no chance to avoid contact, you were committed. Whereas when you deployed in a simple ambush line parallel to the line of approach with light machineguns (like RPK-74s) or something heavier (PKM GPMGs or AGS-17s) anchoring each end and thus putting the kill zone in a crossfire, then you had the option of avoiding contact altogether. You could also set up the line further back if you wanted to sacrifice firepower for safety.

Although ambush was a defensive tactic in nature and so went against the Warsaw Pact doctrine of continual advance, they were also a primary source of battlefield intelligence as the target typically took close to 100% casualties, thus leaving you free to capture documents, take the wounded prisoner, etc. However, as only the special reconnaissance troops (razvedchiki) were well-trained in setting ambushes, he wondered if his lack of experience might be blinding him to other factors.

82mm Vasilek (5/5HE plus 5 HE + 5 HEDP)
Waiting for orders

Dave surfaces and looks around to fix his position. He's slightly surprised to be as close to the target as he is, the current must have carried him faster than he'd thought. He studies the shore until he sees soemthing usefull, a downed tree laying mostly in the water. Stoner swims over to it and staying  in the water moves alongside it until the water is about waist deep. He stays crouched so only his head is above the water.

Slowly, so as not to make noise or splashes, he unbuckles his way out of the scuba tanks and belts. On dry land they'd be an encumberance he didn't need to deal with. Once divested of the bulky equipment, he crawls to the bas of the tree still half burried on the bank. He looses the sling on the MP-5 so he can get to it faster if needed and prepares the satchel charges. Then he waits...

"Assist Dawid with the mortar and AGS. You'll need to get it back down from the roof of the bridge though."

Time after time she'd indicated her displeasure at placing the powerful grenade launcher so far from any assigned position. Now, just hours before it had been shifted from the upper deck position it had occupied since before the battle of Tarznoberg. With only two actual combat troops left aboard, not counting the other four of the "security" team who before meeting Adam, had barely touched a weapon, let alone taken part in a firefight.

"Warrant Kasparov, stay with the port DShK. Warrant Milk, I'll need you to move over to the starboard gun."

That was four of "her" severely depleted team. Only herself and the newcomer, the Indian engineer were left unassigned and yet there were dozens of vitally important positions which must be manned.

"Sanjay, you and I will need to go to the barge bunker. Somebody needs to watch the river for real obstacles."

Anneka was far from happy with her decision, but with nobody, absolutely nobody left, the choice had been made for her. All Adam's crew would be required either running the tug or making it look like they were trying to free themselves from the mythical snag.

"Dawid, I want to take one of the AGLs with us. Which one do you want with you?" She half hoped he'd say the heavier Mk-19, but as he was bound to be far more familiar with the AGS....

"Milk, you take one of the spare NVGs from stores and we'll take the other up front. That should mean each position will at least have somebody who can see in the dark."

Along with the second AGL, Anneka had managed, with the help of one or two others, to haul the L86A2 LSW, extra HE grenades^*, and, reluctantly, Milks radio up into the recently constructed heavy bunker.
The launcher was set up to fire over the walls and the L86 and F88/M203 were ready as secondary weapon systems.

Keeping watch on the river through the image intensifiers recently "donated" by Hicks, Anneka reached for the handset to reply.
"Sunray, this is Starlight. Phase two commencing. Out."
And so it began....
"Bridge," she said, having swapped over to the intercom.
"The ambush party is in position. Please begin moving downstream. Sanjay and myself are keeping an eye on the water."
Right about then it hit her. Stoner, a "medic" like her, was well out in front, all alone and risking himself for people he didn't even know a few days before. She hoped she'd get to see him again in one peice - she'd hate to waste medical supplies stitching him up...

^*either a total of 20 40mm HVHEDP and 40 40mm HVHE, OR 2x 29 round 30mm HE depending on Dawid's reply.

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #138):

Once they're on shore, Tucker carefully follows the lead of the much more experienced spec ops trooper McCoy.  Once they get to their ambush position and get set up, Tucker turns to McCoy, "I've got a claymore with me if you think we migh be able to use it!"  Tucker then makes sure he's set up and ready to go when the fireworks begin.

Tucker
M-16A2 [27/30]/M-203 [HE]
Setting up at the ambush point

In reply to Anneka Soleblume (msg #143):

"It seems I am providing long-range firepower."

"Therefore I will use the American weapon. I will help you move the AGS-17 to the bunker posision."

In his position at the portside DShK, Jason's hand slips down to heft the unfamiliar weight of the pistol at his side.  He had finally gotten around to turning in his XM-177 and its magazines, replacing them with additional magazines for the AK-74.  While in the weapons locker, he had seen the handguns there and decided it might be a good idea to carry one for close-quarters work, especially now that he was using the longer Kalashnikov.  Selling his 9mm Beretta had probably been a bad idea.  He'd done it more on impulse than a planned move.  He was tempted to pick out one of the .45s, but instead chose the Makarov.  Ammunition for that pistol would be easier to obtain, so he might as well get used to using the Russian handgun.  Come to think of it, he must have subconsciously realized the same held true for the Beretta.

After fastening the holstered Makarov to his belt and situating the new magazines and clips on his webbing, Jason had helped bring up ammunition for the Dushkas.  OOC:  in our SOP, how many belts for each gun?

He continues to scan the river and the west bank, both up- and downstream from the tug.

Kasparov
Port DShK
AK-74 (slung) [30/30, 6 spares]
Makarov [8/8, 2 spares]
Keeping watch to port
This message was last edited by the player at 03:24, Fri 11 July 2008.

As soon as Mariusz found a good position for the LMG, he set it up on his bipod. Once it was ready, he attached the longer belt of ammunition he carried to what Mihn had called the "contact belt". He laid it on the groung in a way that ensured no tangles and reduced the potential for jams. He took two of his grenades out and kept them handy.

He lay down, made himself comfortable and shouldered the M240. Relaxing, he waited.

Griet helped lug heavy weapons around the tug until everyone was happy they were in the best position. Once she'd finished she spoke to Dawid and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Laying half in the river and half on the bank, Dave works on repressing the shivering. The satchel charges are draped around his neck with cord from the boat and his silenced submachinegun is in his hands. Damnit, he thinks. When the hell are they going to start it off? This is just too freaking cold for a California boy.

Lord, watch over my companions and myself, blind the eyes of our enemies, and ..uhhh..defend the Rightous

He looked around, switching to Polish. "Ah. Let's both be stationed by the Vasilek. That's going to be our primary weapon in this engagement. We might switch to the American Automatic Grenade gun."

"Should it be required, I shall ask you to bring up munitions from the paint locker. For now, just keep close to the intercom."

McCoy will look at Tucker and speak.


"You will fire and throw grenades only until I tell you otherwise. I will shoot single targets with my rifle. Your priority of targets will be crew-served weapons followed by groups of men 4 or more. We will be a combined arms team. I expect your skill to be above average due to you being a member of the Tenth Mountain and being a SFC. So I should not have to tell you more. I will be looking for leaders or RTO's, then weapons, and then what I call "Heroes". Any questions? We have both been doing this for a while so I expect no problems. I don't think we set out mines; Soviet SF are pretty savy guys- they will spot them."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:56, Fri 11 July 2008.

Tucker just nods to McCoy's assessment and selection of targets for each of them.  "Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page McCoy.  Nothing personal, just business.  At least I won't have to worry about losing the mines in case we got to di-di outta here fast."

As soon as the ambush team radios that it's in position*, the tug crew unveils its deception. Gryzyech plays the Krolowa's engines like a concert organist, changing their pitch in a syncopated rythm to create the impression of a vessel in distress. The impressive thing about this concerto of engine sounds is that throughout he and Adam manage to keep a constant, contolled speed. The tug noses out a little further into the channel, and comes to a noisy halt just 100 meters upstream from where the ambush team is lined up. From this position, the tug will both be able to provide overwatch for the shore team as well make itself visible to the Annopol bridge OPs (but still out of sight of the tank on the bridge's east end). The crew continues to simulate the straining of the tug's engines, Gryzyech using the Homar Piec ("lobster cooker") to bleed off the uneeded steam pressure. Each blast creates a faint whistling sound which only adds to the cacophany. Unless the entirety of the bridge garrison is dead drunk, they can't fail but to notice the arrival of the tug.

Roughly 100m south of the foot bridge, the ambush team lies frozen still in the inch-thick layer of snow, awaiting the arrival of the hoped-for Soviet reaction force with as much patience as they can muster. Fingers start to go numb, noses and ears prickle with cold. Although the flurries have subsided somewhat with the approach of dawn, enough snow has fallen since the group got into position that the tracks they made on the way in have been partially covered.

From beneath the bridge, Stoner can faintly hear the Krolowa's engines rev and subside. He's cold. The grease did a fair job as insulation against water but isn't doing much to protect him from the sub-zero air temperature. He's shivering violently, teeth chattering almost uncontrollably. He's well aware that he's in the opening phases of hypothermia. If he doesn't get his core temperature up soon, he's going to be in big trouble.

Above him, prompted by the racket upriver, a spotlight lances out into the darkness, sweeping the river from side to side. After a few seconds, someone starts yelling (in Russian, he thinks) and the light promptly shuts off. In the diffused light at the base of the bridge, Stoner notices a small boat tied up on the muddy bank just a few meters below him. He must have swimmed (swum, swam?) right by it without noticing it. OOC: Wes, I'm going to fast forward a bit for the ambush team, but you're free to investigate the boat this turn if Stoner wishes to.

Nearly an hour passes; the sun will rise in another. McCoy is the first to notice a group of men approaching the foot bridge, almost 500m out. At first it's just movement of dark specks against the white background in his rifle scope. In a few minutes, the specks resolve into shambling humanoid shapes, eleven in total. Those with NVGs can see them quite clearly. The patrol advances in a loose diamond formation, stopping within 100m of the footbridge. The group slowly goes to ground and two men detach from the formation, heading directly but cautiously for the foot bridge.

Those stationed on the Krolowa's superstructure have a different perspective but can see more of less the same thing. Those stationed lower down, on the main deck and on the barge, have a hard time seeing the Annopol patrol. When the patrol goes to ground, they effectively dissappear from view. Of course, the Annopol patrol can undoubtedly see the Krolowa's topsides just as well.

Actions?

*The team is set up approximately 100m from the footbridge. That's about 200m from the where the patrol has gone to ground. The two groups are separated by the stream and the footbridge.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Fri 11 July 2008.

Bayer nudges Mariusz, "Steady... they're coming. Don't fire." he whispers.

Toggling his radio he says quietly, "Tucker, Sunray. Be ready. Tell McCoy he'll initiate the ambush. Let em cross the bridge. Out." He doesn't bother radioing the tug. Soleblume will have no doubt heard the warning of the enemy approach (or have sighted them herself).

Flipping up the butterfly sight of the grenade launcher, he presets the range to 100 meters. With McCoy initiating the ambush, he expects the enemy counter attack  him and Tucker. Assaulting their position will unwittingly put them into enfilade fire. The chance of this will depend on the timing. Fire too quickly and the enemy will not be lined up enough to utilize the machingun's fire characteristics. Fire too late and the enemy may cause casualties.

"No matter what. Don't fire until I say." he whispers again.

Bayer
Machinegun Det
G36/HK69 (HE)
Lying in wait
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Sat 12 July 2008.

Lying on the freezing ground, Quyen begins to go numb. The ground conducts the heat from her body like a sponge. Resting on her elbows and toes, her back strains as she rises and holds her body up off the ground to prevent further heat loss.

"Sucks." she mutters to Mariusz.

Like Anneka, she hasn't had much time in the colder northern climates. Even when she was in the MPs her first posting was Panama. Waiting for the enemy, her mind wanders to the thought of the much colder weeks and months to come.

When the Hauptmann reports the approaching enemy, she looks over at Mariusz and makes sure he's still awake (or alive). Pulling her AK over she rests it into her shoulder. "When the belt gets low, lemme know and I'll attach the next." she whispers to the boy.

Starring at the bridge she waits for the enemy to approach closer and enter their kill zone. Hurry the hell up, she thinks impatiently as the cold bites deeper.

Minh Quyen
AK74 (28 rounds)
Ambush group (MG Det)
Freezing and waiting for the word to fire
This message was last edited by the player at 07:18, Sat 12 July 2008.

Stoner clenches his teeth against the cold, looking at the boat. "How the hell did I miss that? Shit, that's why I always pulled drag, not point. Jesus Christ, if they done't start the ball soon, I'm going to blow that fucking tank just to get warm."

He keeps an eye on the boat, but doesn't make any moves toward it. Movement catches the eye, and he's too close for comfort as it is.

Dawid handed Griet his NVGs. "If you can see the enemy with these, then use the Laser device to range them in."

Quietly and slowly toggling the radio to report back to Bayer that he understood, "Tucker copies, Out!".  He then turns to McCoy and whispers, "You got that over the radio right?"