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Event Debrief: Completed events sponsored by the NWHA. |
After Action Report
Sponsored By: 3rd Armored Division, NWHA
Date: July 20th & 21st, 2002
Location: Salem, Oregon
By: Chuck A., T4 3rd Armored
OpCobra
To understand the idea behind this event, we need to go back to June of last year. The GPS held a national event in Nebraska based on Operation Cobra. Some of us attended and came back with varied stories and opinions as to its merits. In my opinion, it was an outstanding event. They introduced a wound packet system that gave the medics a real job to do. They tried to employ other specialized troops with appropriate duties, such as MPs and engineers. They tried to crack down on authenticity and issued rations. They had a check-in system where once you had checked in, you knew it was "game on". They put an emphasis on the field experience not just another battle experience. They separated the opposing forces to help create the atmosphere of uncertainty that soldiers feels. You didn't know whom you were up against, how many of them there were, or where they were. They kept us going from sun up to sun down.
While I witnessed some problems at OpCobra I still believe that what the GPS did overall was amazing. The logistics of putting on an event of that type with 400 participants is fantastic. It inspired me to try to replicate that sort of event on a smaller scale within the NWHA. But, could we pull off such an event and was the NWHA desirous of such an event?Could we handle a more realistic field experience?
At our events, we generally are heavily engaged over a cross roads, or the MOUT site, or a particular patch of ground. There is more focus placed on the battles than the whole WWII picture. We don't regularly operate from a fixed position with a CP, or run commo, or dig in. We don't withdraw to resupply or regroup. An event that sought to replicate a real field experience would involve digging in, recon, sleeping, eating, boredom, unpopular details, and fighting. It would involve communications, and checking paperwork. It would involve objectives that were clear and some that were vague.
In nearly any military reenactment club, there are two of several elements that can hold a club back in its development. The first of the two are the "paintball reenactors". These people are here for the trigger time. They are willing to tolerate wearing the funny old uniforms as long as they get to go through a couple hundred blanks during the weekend. They tend to do the absolute minimum to get on the field and consider an event a bust if there was a lull in the firefight.
The second group is the "barracks commandos". They show up to strut around in their uniform, but won't show up if there isn't a hotel with a Denny's within direct line-of-sight. Roughing it to them means there isn't a refrigerator in the barracks. There is no way they would consider living out of a dirty foxhole, especially overnight.
I wondered how many of these people make up our organization and are they set in their ways, or are they willing to try something new? If we tried one of these "field experience" events in the NWHA, would the club step up or not show up?Event Goals
Once we (3AD planners) decided that we should proceed, we aimed for some tangible goals as well as a less tangible one. The tangible ones are as follows:
1. Provide the club with an event that would "raise the bar" in regards to event authenticity while still being fun.
2. Focus the scenario around a static defensive line at a site that was unfamiliar to club members.
3. Provide orders, transport, ammo resupply, and rations to both battalions from a hidden Control Command Post (CCP).
4. Utilize the OpCobra wound card and check-in system.
5. Try out a new POW system.
As for the less tangible one:
1. Create in club members a desire for more of these types of events.
Preparation
Planning for this event started in October 2001, nine full months before the actual event dates. We had several meetings in preparation for the event, which was not easy. Even when you have a group of people that are excited about the event, getting them together in the same room at the same time is like pulling teeth. Multiply the difficulty for our unit due to the fact that we had planners in Bremerton, Salem, Hillsboro, Vancouver, and Troutdale.
Once the basic plan was laid out, each planner was given specific tasks to complete, or oversee. These are some of the things we needed to take care of: registration, passes, flyers, information, getting vehicles to the event, making correct period rations and chow, permits, "blue bunkers" (port-o-pots, required by the state to use their land), having enough water, following fire prevention guidelines, signage, fuel drums, tentage, medical evac plans, map making, battle plans, and finally budget. For some of us, the event started last October and didn't end until the week after July 21. By the cutoff date, we had 30 Allies and 21 Germans signed up, not counting 9 of the 3AD acting as Event Control. Those numbers were pretty good considering the new terrain, different style of event, time of year, and mandatory pre-registration. Sixty members represent almost 50% of the NWHA. Not too shabby for a "guinea pig" event.Execution
The event officially began at 10:00 hours on 20 July. First on the agenda was an all out engagement so as to get that out of everyone's system. The order was for each battalion to move forward and test the enemy's line. However, due to the size of area between lines and the attack formations of units, that battle didn't happen. Units passed each other in the dense forest. Each unit was ordered to return to their CP by 12:00 hrs for ration distribution. On my way to the Allied camp to distribute rations, I observed a large SS force near the junction of Forstweg and Hakenweg (halfway between the lines). Upon arrival at the Allied CP at 12:00, Lieutenant S. informed me the Canadians were still in the field. At that point the Canadians and SS engaged. Our timetable was flexible for the purpose of dealing with problems or situations that arose, so we decided to roll with it. After all, "No plan survives initial contact".
At 12:00, rations were issued to both sides. Next on the agenda (13:30) was a German ammo resupply in the form of a parachute drop. The idea was to have the drop overshoot the DZ and end up behind enemy lines. The German commander would have to send a force of his discretion to recover it. A patrol of Americans discovered the German drop behind their own lines first, so Control had to hide it again. This time it was "dropped" just off of Park Strasse, just south of Klein Weg. The Germans sent a squad from the 11.Panzer to find the ammo, without luck. While making a security pass to the parking area, Control picked up two Panzergrenadiers at the intersection of Sud Strasse and Forstweg, which is at the very south end of the playing area. Control gave these troops a lift back to their lines and ended up assisting them in their search for the ammo.
Meanwhile, the Allies had the same task far behind German lines. An American squad was sent northbound on Forstweg to find their ammo drop. Even though the parachute was just off the road by 3 feet, they missed it and returned empty handed.
This form of resupply was intended to keep troops occupied and provide opportunity for engagement. Once again troops passed right by each other unnoticed. We had two more of this type of scenario planned, but scrapped them after the failure of the first. Besides, since all the planned engagements had been unintentionally avoided, resupply wasn't a problem for either side.
At 15:30, the Germans received several fuel drums for the purpose of establishing a fuel dump. The location of the dump was a natural circular rock formation with one end open facing west toward Park Strasse. There was enough room in the middle for a vehicle. The new fuel dump wasn't lost on Allied Intelligence and an attack was ordered. The Allies were issued several blocks of TNT and ordered to attack north along Park Strasse at 16:00 hrs. Just north of the Allied line was a clearing that had been mined. The minefield would have to be cleared or bypassed. During the fight, we sustained the first two of our three injuries for the weekend. The first was a Canadian Bren gunner that stumbled into a bee's nest. Naturally, he was allergic to bee stings. He needed to be evaced to the parking area for medicine. The second was a gashed finger sustained by a SS trooper. He and his father were headed out that evening anyway, so they left at that time.
During the day, we had several occasions of captured soldiers. The procedure was to blindfold the POW and have Control take him back to his own lines. The Allied command would forward his unopened wound packet to the CCP. Each wound packet had a number written on the back, 1 through 10. At the CCP, we had a, "Interrogation Key" that would decide what the POW divulged, if anything. The number corresponded to a number on the key and the information was, or wasn't given to the captors. Meanwhile, the POW was returned and on the field again right away. At one point, Sgt. P. turned in a wound packet of a captured Soldat and the key was conferred. The number was "2", which according to the key meant the POW talked, but lied about his battalion strength. Sgt. P was then informed that the German Battalion strength was 35. In reality, it was only 21. It was then up to Allied Command whether to act on or ignore this information. I found out after the event that Allied Command had a conference and decided to discount this information.
By 18:00, the German fuel dump had been taken out and it was time for hot chow, which was provided to both sides. The Allies were given an order to take the whole battalion north along Forstweg at 20:00 to find their elusive ammo drop. This time Controllers camped out nearby to make sure it was found. A small squad of Commonwealth troops ran up the long hill, found the drop and secured a defensive position for the expected German attack. The attack came at 20:35. This was the only battle of the weekend where the German battalion was fighting uphill. The engagement was lively but came to a sudden halt when we incurred the third of the three injuries of the weekend. A Brit Para fell on a log and injured his back. We had a jeep and stretcher on the scene within minutes ready to take him to the hospital. Among the soldiers present were a RN and a Neurosurgeon and they looked him over. The injured Para insisted that he waned to walk it off and proceeded to do so. By that time, dusk had set in and everyone returned to the camps.
Although we had intended for the action to continue throughout the night, there were a couple factors that changed our minds. We had never planned any sort of night battle, as that is too dangerous. Weapon discipline can be a problem in broad daylight let alone sneaking up on somebody in the pitch dark. The plan for the dark hours had involved recon patrols, taking POWS, and harassing the enemy. However, everyone was wiped out from going up and down the hill all day in the 85 degree heat. Many soldiers were asleep as soon as they hit their foxholes. Also, the terrain had been the main cause of the injuries incurred throughout the day. The dense undergrowth was hard enough to maneuver through when you can see it. Tough terrain combined with overall fatigue was enough to clear any thoughts of going all night long. After discussing it, Control split into two squads to make noise and harass each line. This happened at 23:30. Most troops I talked to the next morning were already asleep and didn't even hear all the shooting and yelling. Some did though and wanted to know what was going on.
By 06:00 on 21 July, Control was delivering Allied fuel drums for a fuel dump to be established. Also, the minefield along Park Strasse had been cleared during the night. At 07:00 the Germans received their morning rations along with orders to attack south along Park Stasse and destroy the Allied fuel dump. If they succeeded in their objective, they were to then assault the Allied CP just north of Lachenweg. This battle lasted until 12:00 hrs, which marked the end of the event.Aftermath
Things went pretty well overall. I was amazed at how difficult it was to get these two battalions to engage. It sure wasn't for lack of trying on Control's part. The unexpected occurred, which was to be expected. We kept the schedule flexible for that reason. If some event of interest cropped up, we were free to run with it if we desired.
The injuries weren't too bad, and we responded well to each as they occurred. The food was good and there was plenty of it. We also had enough water and transport for the weekend. Everyone had a really good attitude and went along with the game. There were only one or two that refused to be captured. Even the criticisms were measured. When you put nine months of work into an event, the positive demeanor of the critics is greatly appreciated!Credits
Although the 3rd hosted the event, there are many from other units that provided a necessary and often unpopular service for the good of the event. Here's a list of some of the ways people helped out at the event (for a list of names and full credit please see your printed version of the newsletter).Planning; Control & Coordination; Drivers; Arranging for Permits; Providing for Sanitation; Assisting with Registration; Building a Website; Providing Gear & Equipment; Providing Vehicles; Cooking Hot Food; Making Period Rations; Making Road Signs; Acting as an MP or Feldgendarme; Acting as a Medic; Acting as Allied/Axis Commanders
You can see there was a lot of manpower and borrowed gear to put on an event like this. If we as a club are to try events like this in the future, we will need as many people to get involved as possible. It has to be an entire club effort.The Next Level
It would seem that in the course of our organization, we have passed through two plateaus.
The first was getting the club started, sorted out, and putting troops on the field in authentic uniforms. Our first event had thirteen and now we average seventy-five.
The second was an arms and equipment race. Many took steps to get automatic weapons, crew served weapons, or vehicles. Nowadays it's not unusual to see multiple MGs, halftracks, and jeeps/kubels on the field.
I believe the next level is one of EVENT AUTHENTICITY. We are always getting better on an individual or unit basis in regards to authenticity (uniforms, equipment, vehicles, paperwork, etc.). The next thing we have to do is create an authentic atmosphere to operate in. The organizations that are able to put on these kinds of events will attract the more serious reenactor.
