Widowmaker
First Post
March 12, 1943 – Location Unknown – 0312 hours
As you sit looking over the barrel of your weapon, the thick white snow continues to come down, you can feel your clothes being soaked by the snow. As you slowly exhale you can see your breath. Looking down to the small camp you observe three sentries patrolling around the perimeter of your target. Daydreaming to just a few short months ago . . .
July 15, 1942 – Chicago, Illinois – 0747 hours
It was just a few weeks ago you saw a poster on the wall. “Vigorous Training! Hazardous Duty! For those who measure get into the War quick!” Many soldiers talked about the opportunity to get into the War, others talked about the additional pay for having Jump Wings, and some just wanted a chance to get into a new and different type of unit.
The next thing you knew you were being tested, poked, prodded, and anything else they could do to you. First they had everyone conduct a physical fitness test, then using your firearm, and finally map reading. You were then set through a medical examination that you still don’t like to think about. The ushered you into a room and sat you down and talked to a doctor. He asked you silly questions about you mom and dad, other family members, what your goals were, and worse from there. Next they sat you down in a room and had you take a test that stressed your mind that many of the men stood up and walked out. And of this went on into the first night. By the time you were allowed to go to bed less than half of the men that volunteered were still there. This type of activity continued for the next two days. By the time you got on the train there were just over 1150 soldiers and just over 100 officers.
As you stepped onto platform in the rail station the first thing you noticed were that there were no civilians anywhere to be found, then you noticed the Military Police all over the place. Finally you entered boarded the train, all the windows, including the ones on the doors, were blacked out. You took your seat as did the others. The train was quickly full, the MP’s took position throughout the train. One soldier asked an MP where they were going. The MP told him to “Shut up and sit down.” Later on another attempted to challenge an MP. He was swiftly and quickly knocked unconscious and placed back in his seat. You quickly realized this was no joke.
For the next 26 hours you ride on the train. By the time you stop you have no idea where are you are located. You step of the train and it is mid-morning. To the west you can see steep pine forest covered mountains, to north and south forest covered foothills, and to the east slow rolling yellow plains. The air is dry and the clouds are high in the sky. A slight breeze blows. A First Sergeant yells at the top of his lungs. “Listen up! Officers if you can go to the back of the train please. The rest of you maggots form up.” He lets the rumbling settle down. Finally he yells “Atten-tion, Right … Face, Forw-ard March.” And the next thing you know you are marching out of the train station.
You march for the next 3-4 miles to an almost deserted Army base. As you march under the entrance you see a sign ‘Welcome to Fort Harrison, Montana’. Where the hell is that you wonder. You are marched onto a large parade field. “Left … Face, at ease!” You take a deep breath and relax. You see the officers pulling up in jeeps and trucks as you rest. The officers quickly get out there vehicles and form up behind you.
As you stand there a Lieutenant Colonel walks over to a raised dais. The First Sergeant yells “Regiment . . . Attention! The men are assembled and ready, Sir.” He turns and salutes the Colonel during the last bit, he then turns and stands behind the Colonel. The dark haired officer appears to be in his mid-30’s and has a mustache
“At Ease, Gentleman, Welcome to Fort Harrison. I am Lieutenant Colonel Frederick. This will be your home for next few months. We are the only unit here. So take care of your home.” He walks to the front and jumps down. “You are to be congratulated. You have been selected for the finest unit in the US military. You are special men and you have a special mission! Your training starts tomorrow. You will go to hell and I will bring you back. Officers are not excluded, you will be training with the enlisted soldiers, and you will be living with your soldiers. Everyone gets treated the same. There are no privileges here. If you want to be treated special, you are in the wrong place. If you can not hack it you will be sent back to your original unit.”
“Now, I expect your best. In a few weeks we will be joined be our counterparts in the Canadian Army. They are to be treated no different. There is no US Army versus Canadian Army. We are one unit do you under stand? We are the First Special Service Force. Very well. First Sergeant, the men are yours.”
From there you are assigned to your various units. You are assigned to the 3rd Platoon, 4th Company (Dog Company), 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment. You are assigned to Lieutenant Evers and Platoon Sergeant Jefferson. Your section leader is Staff Sergeant Munroe
You are dismissed and sent to your various barracks. The barracks are two story buildings. They are painted an off white, with a black roof. In the middle of each floor is the bathroom. They are rough and of new construction, but lack many of the amenities. The bunks are three high, you are given a wall and foot locker. Your barracks sergeant is Platoon Sergeant Jefferson. He is the smallest man you have ever seen. He must only be 5 foot if that. It a miracle you don’t stumble on him when he walks around. He tells in between training you will be completing the construction of the barracks. He gets you situated and within a few hours you feel more at home.
The next day at 0600 hours you are awakened to sounds of First Sergeant Judd yelling “Get up, Get up, Get up! Be on the field in 5 minutes with your PT gear on.” He then goes the next barracks yelling the same thing. Someone “Mumbles, if I wanted to be in basic again, I have asked.” After PT and breakfast, which is quite good, you form up on the parade field again. Your physical training continues for the 4 days.
July 23, 1942 – Fort Harrison, Montana – 0810 hours
It’s the sixth day of training, just after breakfast you form up on the parade field. There a Staff Sergeant meets you. “Gentleman I am Staff Sergeant Rudner. I am here to teach how to do that.” He points to the sky, as he says the last bit, a plane flies over head. Men jump out of the plane and white parachutes open. “By the end of the day you will you will be making your first jump. Do you understand? If there is any hesitation on the plane or in the door you will be out of here!”
Later that day you make your first jump from a plane, the next day you have already made your second jump. Within a fortnight all of the men are jump qualified.
August 6, 1942 – Fort Harrison, Montana – 0915 hours
For the last 18 days your routine has been the same. You wake up at 0600 hours for the next hour you PT, you then change and eat breakfast, by 0800 hours you are formed up and conduct various training for the day. You eat lunch at 1200 hours and are training again by 1300 hours. You finish training at 1700 hours and eat dinner. From there you are in classes from 1800 hours to 2000 hours.
But today is different. You have formed up on the parade field in your dress uniform. As you stand in formation you can hear the distant sound of bagpipes. A little while later you can see a large formation of soldiers walking down the road. A bagpipe player marches at the front of the formation. They slowly make there way to the parade grounds. The column stops in front of full Colonel Frederick.
In a thick accent “2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion reporting to Fort William Harrison as ordered, Sir!” The Major standing in front of Colonel Frederick salutes in British fashion. “Welcome to Fort Harrison, Major”. Colonel Frederick returns the salute. Colonel Frederick then stands on the dais once again “Canadian soldiers, Welcome to Fort Harrison. I want one thing to be clear. You are no longer Canadians” He then turns to the Americans. “You are no longer Americans. We are the First Special Service Force. It is imperative you understand this. We are here to complete a mission. We will complete that mission.” He then jumps down. “Any order from a Canadian officer is the same as from an American Officer and vice versa. Anyone who has a problem with this had better pack there bags. “
The group is then dismissed. They make there way to the barracks. They are housed in the same barracks as you. Half the barracks are American and half Canadian. The Canadians are then divided up. Half the force is American and half Canadian. The 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment is Canadian.
Over the next few weeks training continued the Canadians become jump qualified. There are some initial problems between the troops. Before the end of September between training and discipline two officers and 450 soldiers are sent back to there original units. Many of the Americans sent were trouble makers and criminals those that continued there ways were sent packing.
Training facilities and equipment were initially lacking, but as the mission of the FSSF was to adapt and necessity is the mother of all invention the FSSF found a way to succeed. From the months of August through September the FSSF trained in the area of physical fitness, parachute qualification, weapons training, demolitions training, and small unit tactics.
From the months October through November you were taught skills in hand-to-hand combat, specifically savate which was taught by the Canadians. At first most of the Americans thought the fighting style was ridiculous. But after being beaten black and blue by the Canadians day after day most of the Americans came around. After gaining proficiency with hand to hand combat, you were introduced to the V42 Combat Knife. A large knife designed for the quick incapacitation of enemies. You learned that the knife could be used either is a slashing or stabbing fashion. You were taught classes on human anatomy and vital points on the human body. You were taught how to bleed a man or quickly kill.
During the same months you were also taught how to operate as a large unit. After master you were taught how to break up into squads and complete the mission. Multiple squads would often have the same mission and be see who complete the mission to quickest, quietest, and without loss of men. At the same time problem solving skills were taught and emphasized. As necessity is the mother of all invention, you were taught to adapt and overcome. Often times you would be required to complete a field exercise without the necessary equipment or with the loss of men or other challenges.
During the same time you are introduced to foreign weapons. Captured German and Italian firearms have been sent to FSSF. You become familiar with all available weapons. Everyone shoots, disassembles, and assembles the weapons many times. While familiar with the captured weapons, you are not as proficient as with your weapons.
As winter started to approach you activities outdoors became more intense. Classes indoors became less common and actual field skills were taught. From the months of December until February you were taught skiing, both downhill and cross-country. Norwegian instructors taught you the skills within three weeks 85% of the men were outperforming there instructors. At the same time you were taught rock climbing and ice climbing. Two men were killed when they fell during one of the ice climbs. To make sure the men were even more proficient at ice climbing you went up and down the ice twice a day. Soon to understand the effect of the cold and mountainous climate you would spend weeks in the field, returning to camp to for only a day and then back out in the field. Towards the end it was not uncommon to get up before dawn board a plane, parachute into the mountains, ski for twenty miles, climb a mountain, and then march back to Fort Harrison long after dark.
You also learn how to use the M29 Weasel, a lightweight tracked utility carrier. It is an open cabbed vehicle operated by one driver. It is primarily designed to carry equipment. It has a mount for .30 caliber machinegun. It is air droppable and light enough to be used on snow.
During the month of March rumors started to spread that Operation Plough, your mission had been cancelled. While nothing official came down from Colonel Frederick you saw little of him. Training continued though, during this time you were giving training on map reading, geography, and culture lessons.
March 10, 1943 – Fort Harrison, Montana – 0800 hours
After morning physical training and breakfast you form up on the parade field. As the morning assignments and training are assigned. You listen up as your squad is mentioned Platoon Sergeant Jefferson yells out “Sergeant Munroe gather Hoffman, Harrison, Harris, Nuemiller, and Jakobsen. Head over to Operations and meet Major Liverpool.
As half the squad heads over to the Operations Hut you wonder what they have up there sleeves now. As you walk into the Ops Hut you see it busy with the day to day operations and going-ons of the FSSF, as well as Fort Harrison. A private directs you to the briefing room. You have been in the briefing room about a hundred times for classes. As you walk in this time though the windows are blacked out. On the stage in the room is a covered chalkboard and covered table. As you make your way to the front Major Liverpool walks in.
You know Major Michael Liverpool, FSSF Operations Officer (S-3), to be an excellent officer. He was your Company Commander for about half of your training before he was promoted and sent to operations. He stands about six feet tall, athletic, and very personable. The one thing the men loved about was the fact that he cared about the men and knew how to do his job. It was a sad day he left and went to Headquarters. Many of the men still miss him. You also know he is very informal and comfortable with the men.
“Sit down men.” Major Liverpool says. He walks to the stage. Followed behind the Major is a 1st Lieutenant (Kerensky) from Headquarters. You have seen him around and completed the training but never with your platoon. Major Liverpool starts “Congratulations men you have almost completed your training. You are being briefed for your final evaluation. Tomorrow night at 1900 hours you will take off from the airfield in a C-47 transport. You will be inserted into unknown territory by parachute. You will make your way to the target and destroy it you will then make your way out and meet up for a debrief.”
He then walks over to the chalk board and removes the cover, the same with the table. On the chalkboard are pictures of the target and surrounding area. On the table is a sand table description of the area.
“Men just like the real thing, your briefing will be as detailed as possible but plan to know all the information we have available. Lieutenant Kerensky from Headquarters will be accompanying you on the mission. He will be evaluating your performance and judging if you are qualified. He will be a combat asset not just an observer.” Major Liverpool continues.
“Also understand men this is a simulation you will not being using real bullets and there is to be no killing. They will be fellow soldiers and civilians. Also know this you are being dropped into a somewhat populated area. The civilian population are participants in this mission. If they see you they will call troops into the area. Don’t hurt them if possible. If you sneak up and kill a participant they have been ordered to play dead.”
“Sergeant Munroe you are in charge of the squad, plan the mission, assemble your men on the airfield at 1800 hours for a final check. You have access to all resources on base. Supply knows you are coming so there should be know problems there.”
“The target information is all on these boards. I will be back in a ½ hour to answer your questions.” With that he makes for the door.
Your Landing Zone (LZ) is just off the southeast edge of the map in a mountain clearing. Your target is an older brick structure on the south edge of a lake. (Located just south/below the 1092 elevation marker on the map. You are set 10 large satchel charges (10 lbs of plastic compound explosive each). Intelligence indicates that there is a platoon of troops guarding the structure. Intel knows they armed with squad based weapons and possible support weapons, vehicles are limited to light trucks and cars. No armor or half-tracks are known to be in the area. Pictures indicate that there are three machine gun nests around the target. One near the lake on the north side of the structure, one on the southeast side of the structure and one in the middle of the structure near the road. (Imagine the black line on the north/east side of the lake is a road. Yes I know it is an elevation line.) The nearest civilian population is on the north side of the lake about 10 miles away.
As you sit looking over the barrel of your weapon, the thick white snow continues to come down, you can feel your clothes being soaked by the snow. As you slowly exhale you can see your breath. Looking down to the small camp you observe three sentries patrolling around the perimeter of your target. Daydreaming to just a few short months ago . . .
July 15, 1942 – Chicago, Illinois – 0747 hours
It was just a few weeks ago you saw a poster on the wall. “Vigorous Training! Hazardous Duty! For those who measure get into the War quick!” Many soldiers talked about the opportunity to get into the War, others talked about the additional pay for having Jump Wings, and some just wanted a chance to get into a new and different type of unit.
The next thing you knew you were being tested, poked, prodded, and anything else they could do to you. First they had everyone conduct a physical fitness test, then using your firearm, and finally map reading. You were then set through a medical examination that you still don’t like to think about. The ushered you into a room and sat you down and talked to a doctor. He asked you silly questions about you mom and dad, other family members, what your goals were, and worse from there. Next they sat you down in a room and had you take a test that stressed your mind that many of the men stood up and walked out. And of this went on into the first night. By the time you were allowed to go to bed less than half of the men that volunteered were still there. This type of activity continued for the next two days. By the time you got on the train there were just over 1150 soldiers and just over 100 officers.
As you stepped onto platform in the rail station the first thing you noticed were that there were no civilians anywhere to be found, then you noticed the Military Police all over the place. Finally you entered boarded the train, all the windows, including the ones on the doors, were blacked out. You took your seat as did the others. The train was quickly full, the MP’s took position throughout the train. One soldier asked an MP where they were going. The MP told him to “Shut up and sit down.” Later on another attempted to challenge an MP. He was swiftly and quickly knocked unconscious and placed back in his seat. You quickly realized this was no joke.
For the next 26 hours you ride on the train. By the time you stop you have no idea where are you are located. You step of the train and it is mid-morning. To the west you can see steep pine forest covered mountains, to north and south forest covered foothills, and to the east slow rolling yellow plains. The air is dry and the clouds are high in the sky. A slight breeze blows. A First Sergeant yells at the top of his lungs. “Listen up! Officers if you can go to the back of the train please. The rest of you maggots form up.” He lets the rumbling settle down. Finally he yells “Atten-tion, Right … Face, Forw-ard March.” And the next thing you know you are marching out of the train station.
You march for the next 3-4 miles to an almost deserted Army base. As you march under the entrance you see a sign ‘Welcome to Fort Harrison, Montana’. Where the hell is that you wonder. You are marched onto a large parade field. “Left … Face, at ease!” You take a deep breath and relax. You see the officers pulling up in jeeps and trucks as you rest. The officers quickly get out there vehicles and form up behind you.
As you stand there a Lieutenant Colonel walks over to a raised dais. The First Sergeant yells “Regiment . . . Attention! The men are assembled and ready, Sir.” He turns and salutes the Colonel during the last bit, he then turns and stands behind the Colonel. The dark haired officer appears to be in his mid-30’s and has a mustache
“At Ease, Gentleman, Welcome to Fort Harrison. I am Lieutenant Colonel Frederick. This will be your home for next few months. We are the only unit here. So take care of your home.” He walks to the front and jumps down. “You are to be congratulated. You have been selected for the finest unit in the US military. You are special men and you have a special mission! Your training starts tomorrow. You will go to hell and I will bring you back. Officers are not excluded, you will be training with the enlisted soldiers, and you will be living with your soldiers. Everyone gets treated the same. There are no privileges here. If you want to be treated special, you are in the wrong place. If you can not hack it you will be sent back to your original unit.”
“Now, I expect your best. In a few weeks we will be joined be our counterparts in the Canadian Army. They are to be treated no different. There is no US Army versus Canadian Army. We are one unit do you under stand? We are the First Special Service Force. Very well. First Sergeant, the men are yours.”
From there you are assigned to your various units. You are assigned to the 3rd Platoon, 4th Company (Dog Company), 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment. You are assigned to Lieutenant Evers and Platoon Sergeant Jefferson. Your section leader is Staff Sergeant Munroe
You are dismissed and sent to your various barracks. The barracks are two story buildings. They are painted an off white, with a black roof. In the middle of each floor is the bathroom. They are rough and of new construction, but lack many of the amenities. The bunks are three high, you are given a wall and foot locker. Your barracks sergeant is Platoon Sergeant Jefferson. He is the smallest man you have ever seen. He must only be 5 foot if that. It a miracle you don’t stumble on him when he walks around. He tells in between training you will be completing the construction of the barracks. He gets you situated and within a few hours you feel more at home.
The next day at 0600 hours you are awakened to sounds of First Sergeant Judd yelling “Get up, Get up, Get up! Be on the field in 5 minutes with your PT gear on.” He then goes the next barracks yelling the same thing. Someone “Mumbles, if I wanted to be in basic again, I have asked.” After PT and breakfast, which is quite good, you form up on the parade field again. Your physical training continues for the 4 days.
July 23, 1942 – Fort Harrison, Montana – 0810 hours
It’s the sixth day of training, just after breakfast you form up on the parade field. There a Staff Sergeant meets you. “Gentleman I am Staff Sergeant Rudner. I am here to teach how to do that.” He points to the sky, as he says the last bit, a plane flies over head. Men jump out of the plane and white parachutes open. “By the end of the day you will you will be making your first jump. Do you understand? If there is any hesitation on the plane or in the door you will be out of here!”
Later that day you make your first jump from a plane, the next day you have already made your second jump. Within a fortnight all of the men are jump qualified.
August 6, 1942 – Fort Harrison, Montana – 0915 hours
For the last 18 days your routine has been the same. You wake up at 0600 hours for the next hour you PT, you then change and eat breakfast, by 0800 hours you are formed up and conduct various training for the day. You eat lunch at 1200 hours and are training again by 1300 hours. You finish training at 1700 hours and eat dinner. From there you are in classes from 1800 hours to 2000 hours.
But today is different. You have formed up on the parade field in your dress uniform. As you stand in formation you can hear the distant sound of bagpipes. A little while later you can see a large formation of soldiers walking down the road. A bagpipe player marches at the front of the formation. They slowly make there way to the parade grounds. The column stops in front of full Colonel Frederick.
In a thick accent “2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion reporting to Fort William Harrison as ordered, Sir!” The Major standing in front of Colonel Frederick salutes in British fashion. “Welcome to Fort Harrison, Major”. Colonel Frederick returns the salute. Colonel Frederick then stands on the dais once again “Canadian soldiers, Welcome to Fort Harrison. I want one thing to be clear. You are no longer Canadians” He then turns to the Americans. “You are no longer Americans. We are the First Special Service Force. It is imperative you understand this. We are here to complete a mission. We will complete that mission.” He then jumps down. “Any order from a Canadian officer is the same as from an American Officer and vice versa. Anyone who has a problem with this had better pack there bags. “
The group is then dismissed. They make there way to the barracks. They are housed in the same barracks as you. Half the barracks are American and half Canadian. The Canadians are then divided up. Half the force is American and half Canadian. The 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment is Canadian.
Over the next few weeks training continued the Canadians become jump qualified. There are some initial problems between the troops. Before the end of September between training and discipline two officers and 450 soldiers are sent back to there original units. Many of the Americans sent were trouble makers and criminals those that continued there ways were sent packing.
Training facilities and equipment were initially lacking, but as the mission of the FSSF was to adapt and necessity is the mother of all invention the FSSF found a way to succeed. From the months of August through September the FSSF trained in the area of physical fitness, parachute qualification, weapons training, demolitions training, and small unit tactics.
From the months October through November you were taught skills in hand-to-hand combat, specifically savate which was taught by the Canadians. At first most of the Americans thought the fighting style was ridiculous. But after being beaten black and blue by the Canadians day after day most of the Americans came around. After gaining proficiency with hand to hand combat, you were introduced to the V42 Combat Knife. A large knife designed for the quick incapacitation of enemies. You learned that the knife could be used either is a slashing or stabbing fashion. You were taught classes on human anatomy and vital points on the human body. You were taught how to bleed a man or quickly kill.
During the same months you were also taught how to operate as a large unit. After master you were taught how to break up into squads and complete the mission. Multiple squads would often have the same mission and be see who complete the mission to quickest, quietest, and without loss of men. At the same time problem solving skills were taught and emphasized. As necessity is the mother of all invention, you were taught to adapt and overcome. Often times you would be required to complete a field exercise without the necessary equipment or with the loss of men or other challenges.
During the same time you are introduced to foreign weapons. Captured German and Italian firearms have been sent to FSSF. You become familiar with all available weapons. Everyone shoots, disassembles, and assembles the weapons many times. While familiar with the captured weapons, you are not as proficient as with your weapons.
As winter started to approach you activities outdoors became more intense. Classes indoors became less common and actual field skills were taught. From the months of December until February you were taught skiing, both downhill and cross-country. Norwegian instructors taught you the skills within three weeks 85% of the men were outperforming there instructors. At the same time you were taught rock climbing and ice climbing. Two men were killed when they fell during one of the ice climbs. To make sure the men were even more proficient at ice climbing you went up and down the ice twice a day. Soon to understand the effect of the cold and mountainous climate you would spend weeks in the field, returning to camp to for only a day and then back out in the field. Towards the end it was not uncommon to get up before dawn board a plane, parachute into the mountains, ski for twenty miles, climb a mountain, and then march back to Fort Harrison long after dark.
You also learn how to use the M29 Weasel, a lightweight tracked utility carrier. It is an open cabbed vehicle operated by one driver. It is primarily designed to carry equipment. It has a mount for .30 caliber machinegun. It is air droppable and light enough to be used on snow.
During the month of March rumors started to spread that Operation Plough, your mission had been cancelled. While nothing official came down from Colonel Frederick you saw little of him. Training continued though, during this time you were giving training on map reading, geography, and culture lessons.
March 10, 1943 – Fort Harrison, Montana – 0800 hours
After morning physical training and breakfast you form up on the parade field. As the morning assignments and training are assigned. You listen up as your squad is mentioned Platoon Sergeant Jefferson yells out “Sergeant Munroe gather Hoffman, Harrison, Harris, Nuemiller, and Jakobsen. Head over to Operations and meet Major Liverpool.
As half the squad heads over to the Operations Hut you wonder what they have up there sleeves now. As you walk into the Ops Hut you see it busy with the day to day operations and going-ons of the FSSF, as well as Fort Harrison. A private directs you to the briefing room. You have been in the briefing room about a hundred times for classes. As you walk in this time though the windows are blacked out. On the stage in the room is a covered chalkboard and covered table. As you make your way to the front Major Liverpool walks in.
You know Major Michael Liverpool, FSSF Operations Officer (S-3), to be an excellent officer. He was your Company Commander for about half of your training before he was promoted and sent to operations. He stands about six feet tall, athletic, and very personable. The one thing the men loved about was the fact that he cared about the men and knew how to do his job. It was a sad day he left and went to Headquarters. Many of the men still miss him. You also know he is very informal and comfortable with the men.
“Sit down men.” Major Liverpool says. He walks to the stage. Followed behind the Major is a 1st Lieutenant (Kerensky) from Headquarters. You have seen him around and completed the training but never with your platoon. Major Liverpool starts “Congratulations men you have almost completed your training. You are being briefed for your final evaluation. Tomorrow night at 1900 hours you will take off from the airfield in a C-47 transport. You will be inserted into unknown territory by parachute. You will make your way to the target and destroy it you will then make your way out and meet up for a debrief.”
He then walks over to the chalk board and removes the cover, the same with the table. On the chalkboard are pictures of the target and surrounding area. On the table is a sand table description of the area.
“Men just like the real thing, your briefing will be as detailed as possible but plan to know all the information we have available. Lieutenant Kerensky from Headquarters will be accompanying you on the mission. He will be evaluating your performance and judging if you are qualified. He will be a combat asset not just an observer.” Major Liverpool continues.
“Also understand men this is a simulation you will not being using real bullets and there is to be no killing. They will be fellow soldiers and civilians. Also know this you are being dropped into a somewhat populated area. The civilian population are participants in this mission. If they see you they will call troops into the area. Don’t hurt them if possible. If you sneak up and kill a participant they have been ordered to play dead.”
“Sergeant Munroe you are in charge of the squad, plan the mission, assemble your men on the airfield at 1800 hours for a final check. You have access to all resources on base. Supply knows you are coming so there should be know problems there.”
“The target information is all on these boards. I will be back in a ½ hour to answer your questions.” With that he makes for the door.
Your Landing Zone (LZ) is just off the southeast edge of the map in a mountain clearing. Your target is an older brick structure on the south edge of a lake. (Located just south/below the 1092 elevation marker on the map. You are set 10 large satchel charges (10 lbs of plastic compound explosive each). Intelligence indicates that there is a platoon of troops guarding the structure. Intel knows they armed with squad based weapons and possible support weapons, vehicles are limited to light trucks and cars. No armor or half-tracks are known to be in the area. Pictures indicate that there are three machine gun nests around the target. One near the lake on the north side of the structure, one on the southeast side of the structure and one in the middle of the structure near the road. (Imagine the black line on the north/east side of the lake is a road. Yes I know it is an elevation line.) The nearest civilian population is on the north side of the lake about 10 miles away.
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