OP2406-28-2: After Action Report

OP2406-28-2
In the Werferlingen region, intelligence staff of 3rd Battalion, Chernarus 13th Separate Mountain Motorized Rifle Brigade received reports from agents in the village of Ribbensdorf, that separatist agents were in town, going door to door and inquiring about requisitions of supplies including food and water, as well as recruits.

Intelligence staff determined that the separatists were preparing to move in to the village and take over. Operations staff for 3rd Battalion put together a task force consisting of three BTR rifle squads, two T-72 tanks, and one BRDM scout car. The task force was dispatched by road to Ribbensdorf with strict orders to prevent separatist forces from entering the town.

The task force commander deployed his BTR Infantry in a straight line facing north, with 3rd squad on the east side and 2nd Squad on the west. The two tanks were similarly deployed, with Tank 1 on the west side and Tank 2 on the east side.

Enemy infantry attacks started first on the east side with Tank 2 and 3rd Squad fighting off infiltrating and probing attacks from Russian militia and from Spanish militia. Wagner Group operators attempted to close on the position of Command Squad, but were driven back by a combination of rifle fire and artillery fire.

2nd Squad and Tank 1 bore the brunt of enemy vehicle attacks, including two T-72 tanks, which destroyed Tank 1 and 2nd Squad's BTR. Reinforcements arrived at this point which included one T-72 tank and one BTR rifle Squad. Originally, they were deployed to the south of the village in a reserve position but were suddenly needed when enemy vehicle and infantry attacks intensified.

One enemy tank was destroyed, the other was disabled mostly by RPG fire. Commander attempted to destroy the T-72 with artillery fire, ordering a total of 96 each 122mm high explosive rounds on top of the tank, but failing to destroy it. Commander ordered an artillery smoke mission, to cover the advance of Reinforcing Tank 1, which eventually destroyed the enemy T-72. An enemy BMP also was destroyed by the tank.

3rd Battalion operations staff deemed the operation complete, and ordered the task force to retreat. 3rd Battalion command staff ordered 2nd Squad to remain in town as a rear guard as the remainder of the task force retreated.

Losses were heavy. Tank 2, Scout 1 BRDM, AA one truck, and 2nd Squad's and 3rd Squad's BTRs were destroyed. Infantry losses were surprisingly light with 2nd Squad and 3rd Squad each losing one.

Field counts of enemy losses included two drones, two T-72 tanks, two BTR-80A, one BMP, one T-34, one BRDM, and one Mi-8 gunship.

Although 3rd Battalion intelligence staff was unable to tap into the separatists comms, local agents suggested by observing enemy movements, that the separatists were damaged, but were not heavily damaged enough to stop their offensive operations. Intelligence staff also suggested, based on data supplied through drone overflights and reports from local agents, that the separatists were planning to shift operations to the western side of Werferlingen region, and would commence offensive operations in about a week.