[OPORD] Invasion of Crete 08072017

[Heinrich]

UNCLASSIFIED

THE EAST PRUSSIAN INFANTRY
1. INFANTERIE-DIVISION
08 JUL 2017

OPERATION ORDER 0708-17 (Invasion of Crete)


Time Zone Used Throughout the Order: QUEBEC
(Eastern Standard Time)


TASK ORGANIZATION
Elements from 1.Gruppe and 2. Gruppe of Erste Zug, Erste Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1

I. SITUATION

a. Area of Interest: The Grecian Island of Crete

b. Area of Operations: Area encompassing grid coordinates 0400-0401, Including the central Farm land, supporting villages, and lakes on the south-center of the island.

     (1) Terrain

• Observation and Fields of Fire:
  The AO Consists of mostly flat, tree farms with think vegetation and many wooded areas on both flanks. Roadways are easily accessible to both friendly and enemy troops to allow for quick movement of QRF within the AO. Visibility will be incredibly limited <100m in some areas often interupted by trees.  While easy to cover and conceal friendly movement, the enemy can also exploit this advantage. Expect a possible ambush by hostile forces.


• Avenues of Approach:
  From the insertion point, friendly forces will need to initiate movement directly south through the farmland toward the objective, clearing enemy presence as encountered.  The enemy expects friendly forces to attack from this direction. Plan to encounter established defenses
  
• Key and Decisive Terrain:
  Located on a small hilltop, the lighthouse serving as the objective provides a strong point for enemy forces in the area.
  
• Obstacles:
  Obstacles will include man-made structures and debris, Narrow roadways, think farmland, and a few lakes will provide obstacles that may impede friendly movement in the area
• Cover and Concealment:
  Cover available includes rocks, thick trees, as well as any man-made structures and buildings which can be re-purposed. Enemy forces have more established cover and concealment from their defensive positions, which will be encountered.

c. Enemy forces: Enemy forces are mixed contingents of both British and Grecian Armies, along with civilian militia .

• Recent Activities
  Enemy forces have been mounting a defense of their island home. Civilians have been known to be uncooperative with friendly forces, and trained enemies are in some cases resorting to guerrilla-style warfare.
  
• Strength
  We are securing our control of the Grecian island of Crete. The capitol city has fallen, and at this point, we are just mopping up small packs of resistance. The threat comes from guerrilla-style combat which can be difficult to pin-point. We have learned of a few areas where the enemy is still basing its strength.  Upon securing the lighthouse, everything eastward on the island will be under friendly control.
  
  
• Composition/Disposition
  Enemy forces are composed to no-more than conventional land forces, and mostly small-arms. They do not have naval or air support. Enemy soldiers generally operate in small squad sized elements in attempts to easily conceal their movements from us.  Keep in mind the civilian populace. We are becoming an occupation force, and unnecessary civilian casualties will not be tolerated.
  

II. MISSION

Elements from Erste Zug, Erste Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1, 1. Infanterie-Division will conduct operations in the central region of the Island of Crete encompassing the regions of grid coordinates 0400-0401 to destroy and disrupt resistance activity.

Tasks: To move southward from the capitol tough the region clearing enemy activity along the way, until reaching the objective of the lighthouse on the central-southern tip of the island. This objective must be secured and the eastern half of the island made safe before pushing any further west. Upon the capture of the objective, the platoon will relocate, rearm, and regroup in the nearby village of Minospol.

Purpose: To destroy enemy moral and solidify our control of the area.

III. EXECUTION

a. Commanders Intent:  Operations are executed and objectives fulfilled in accordance with direction from higher. Soldiers know and complete individual soldier tasks safely, and mission is completed with minimal casualties.

b. Concept of Operations:

The Decisive point will be when the Zug successfully captures the enemy occupied lighthouse on the central-southern tip of the island. Upon completion of the objective the Zug will regroup with friendly forces in the village of Minospol awaiting further instruction

The Operation will begin with the Zug being inserted at 1730 to the south of the City of Heraklion, with equipment and ammunition.  The platoon will be organized and leadership designated.

The Platoon will then proceed, under the leadership of the Zug Fuhrer from the insertion point toward the Objective, clearing the area of enemy presence along the route.

The Operation will conclude with the Zug securing the lighthouse and surrounding defensive positions and regrouping in Minospol

c. Tasks to Subordinate Units and Staff:

(General) Ensure all soldiers are properly equipped for extended time in the field. Double check Weapons, Grenades, and Ammunition

• Medical Personnel - Attached medical personnel will provide on-site care to soldiers of 1.Zug. Ensure medical personnel are properly equiped with enough supplies to sustain prolonged conflict in the field without resupply


• Demolitions Expert - A rifleman in each Gruppe of 1. Zug will be designated as the Explosives expert, and should be equiped, in addition to their standard load as a rifleman, with enough explosives to destroy enemy weapons emplacements


• Grenadier - A rifleman in each Gruppe 1. Zug will be designated as the grenadier, and should be equiped, in addition to their standard load asa rifleman, with enough grenades to operate effectively as the grenadier on behalf of their Gruppe


• Staff personnel -  Any Unit Staff personnel attached to the 1. Zug for the operation on Crete should provide proper documentation and administration for the unit, prior to the start of their Operation. Attendance should be taken and recorded.

IV. SUSTAINMENT

a. Logistics and Resupply: 
Resupply on ammunition and expendable equipment will be provided on request from the Zug Fuhrer by friendly logistics forces using supply trucks. Consider the roads available and the terrain, which may impede the speed at which 1. Zug can be resupplied.  Consider also the security of the area which requires resupply.   Soldiers should assume that re-supply is unavailable, and should be prepared for prolonged combat without resupply

b. Support:
Limited support will be provided by adjacent friendly forces.  Air Support will be available in the form of JU-87, and can be utilized sparingly by the Zug Fuhrer per the mission needs.  Consider Indirect Fire support unavailable for this operation

V. COMMAND AND SIGNAL

a. Command

(1) Location of the Commander:
For the duration of the operation beginning at 1730, the commander will be on post, coordinating mission efforts with friendly forces. The Zug Fuhrer, in the grade of Leutnant will lead the Zug on the ground.

b. Signal:
The Zug Fuhrer should be equipped with a Radio to communicate with command, and support elements. Members of 1.Zug will not have radio equipment, and will have to rely on vocal guidance from their first line-leadership in order to accomplish the mission.

[Heinrich]