03MAR3050 - Smoke Jaguar OPORD 15-015
REFERENCES
- Clan Common Defense in accordance with OPN CLAN UNITY (
http://mwomercs.com/...ion-clan-unity/)
- The Original Base Order [a five paragraph OPORD (
http://en.m.wikipedi...aragraph_order] can be found at:
http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4123966
- Current Fragmentary Order [standard FRAGO (
http://www.armystudy...der-frago.shtml)] can be found at:
http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4135087
- Clan Smoke Jaguar Command and Control resource:
http://www.SmokeAlliance.com
- Community Warfare Situational Awareness Tool:
https://mrbcleague.com/cw/index.html - MRBC's Reddit Data Resources for Community Warfare
- Community Warfare Planetary Control Awareness Tool:
http://thesilentseventh.enjin.com/CW
- PGI MWO Clock:
https://mwomercs.com/clock
SITUATION: House Kurita's Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS) and associated Combine Allied Mercenary Corps Units (CAMCU) constitute the principle threat to Clan Smoke Jaguar (CSJ.) It is assessed that the DCMS is between surges of Elite Inner Sphere Mercenary Corps Units (ISMA.) The previous surge was led by BWC, ACES, Seraphim, CI, Templars as well as other Small Unit Mercenary Corps Units, who chose predominantly 7-day contracts with which to unilaterally defend and support the Combine. This next surge of Mercenaries Corps Units to House Kurita (HK) is assessed to be the first of two triggered surges by the Inner Sphere Mercenary Alliance (ISMA.) The first such surge may be timed for this weekend's expected Battle for the HK Military District Command world of Benjamin. The second (and largest of all) surges is expected to occur as either Clan Ghost Bear (CGB) or CSJ reach a point midway between the current Frontline trace and Terra.
It is assessed that ALL ISMA combat power will be brought bare upon whichever Clan is in the lead during the final battles for the worlds in and around Terra herself. It is because of this that Many have LONG MAINTAINED that no single Clan alone could reach Terra, ISMA forces would soon saturate ALL defenses along its path as well as launch ALL manner of counterattack against world within the leading Clan's Invasion Salient.
It remains a Stone Cold Lock that two or more Clans working in tandem with the 3 and 4th Clans to receive their DEDICATED Clan Common Defensive contributions under OPN CLAN UNITY (
http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4114431) presents a viable and much more likely to succeed alternative to a single Clan going it alone.
It is estimated that the Combine has prioritized all CGB Offensive efforts first, followed closely by Defensive efforts against CSJ as well as Defensive efforts against Marik, with Davion offensives along the border recognized and relegated as inconsequential to the Defense of Terra and thus rarely if ever contested.
ASSESSMENT: By tracking DCMS operations against other inner Sphere opponents, it will be possible to assess the probability of a successful CSJ transition to LIBERATE a Kurita world. I understand this is NOT necessarily the primary focus for all CSJ Units, but recognition of an opportunity may present operational option-sets worthy of at least a moments consideration. Please consider that while it is ALWAYS a useful distraction (with 12-man Teams ready to lift and shift to the Primary Target once Kurita 12-mans and Inner Sphere Solos begin to feed into the resulting furball.)
It is assessed that the DCMS High Command is decisively engaged against CGB at the moment, and for whatever reason refuses to adequately reinforce the target of CSJ liberation efforts, senior CSJ Leaders can #CallAnAudible and look to speed drop a vulnerable (due to DCMS and allied Mercenary Corps Unit focus on distant CGB targets) planet upwards of 80% in just over an hours time with three 12-man Teams dropping in rapid succession... at this time it is assessed that three 12-man Teams is the optimal choice to #SpeedDrop, as while two are always #OnTheClock, the remaining 12-man is flying #TopCover to absorb that first Enemy Response. As Teams One and Two come out of Ghost Drops they in-turn can assume Hold Missions to minimally maintain a three Sector "Planetfall Bastion" from which to possibly exploit further liberation efforts on the planet later in the Ceasefire-Cycle.
Since the inception of Community Warfare, Clan Smoke Jaguar (CSJ) has successfully liberated 71 (
http://www.reddit.co..._battle_report/) Kurita and Rasalhague planets from Inner Sphere deprivation.
Special CSJ.emphasis needs to be placed on distilling Unit Lessons Learned from case studies of the five large scale Counterattacks performed against CSJ Interests. The more Units, having better situational awareness of the hallmarks of a Major Counterattack from the telltale signs of a minor diversionary Enemy effort to disrupt a peaceful and needed CSJ finite combat resources.
The five large-scale Counterattacks against CSJ interests that remain of particular note include:
1. on 27JAN3050 at 2349hrsEST - During the last 90-minutes of the NA-cycle, Inner Sphere Mercenary Alliance (ISMA) four 12-man teams (MERCSTAR, MS(Clan Kodiak), ACES) speed dropped on the Smoke Jaguar world of Polcenigo, Ghost Dropping their way to a very quick 43% (
http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4142650). this link provides a summary of the entire ISMA duplicitous attack on Polcenigo.
2. The Kurita attack on the Smoke Jaguar planet of Chatham was particularly effective (
http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4130839).
3. Equally impressive was an attempt by a 12-man from Liao (APOC) and a 12-man Marik Faction Drop to counterattack in defense of the Kurite world of Tarazed (SECURED after action report available at:
http://smokealliance.com)
4. On 27JAN3050, House Kurita spearheaded an immensely successful Inner Sphere Common Defense Counterattack effort on the Kurita planet of MacAlister. After completing a second consecutive match against a 10-man REX team from House Steiner, our Faction Dropping band of Jaguars saw that the Ceasefire had already fallen and was at the 36-minute mark. CSJ was winning the effort against the Combine at this point with a 9 of 15 sectors liberated thus 60%. However just minutes later the final tally fell to just 3 sectors in CSJ control thus 20%. It is estimated that at least 2 to 3 of the sectors lost to the final stage of this Counterattack was due to Ghost Drops. This performance by Kurita was by far (IMO) the most successful counterattack of any Inner Sphere Faction against a CSJ liberation objective.
5. A fifth Counterattack occurred yesterday (01FEB) as robust and resurgent DCMS BOTH defended Keisen AND led a dangerous and vigorous attack on the Clan Smoke Jaguar world of Kilmarnock. Through fate, lucky timing and a robust Clan Common Defense contribution, CSJ was able to just barely fend off both multiple Kurita 12-man spearheads. Many an exciting and highly enjoyable match was shared with HK Units yesterday. I thank all those who gamed and all those who would have gamed if time (and the American Football Suoerbowl would have permitted!)
Much respect and honor to House Kurita's DCMS for leading a Inner Sphere Common Defence force in relief of besieged Combine forces on the Kurita planets... but we learn from our setbacks, unlike the Smoke Jaguars of Lore and will be ready for future such Counterattacks.
MISSION: Smoke Jaguar (inclusive of Smoke Jaguar-contracted Mercenary Corps Units and Clan defensive contributions) continues to FIRST DEFEND only those CSJ worlds in the vanguard of the CSJ Invasion Salient from Inner Sphere predation AND ONLY THEN prioritizing appropriate resources toward attacks along the CSJ axis of advance toward Terra, IN ORDER TO BEST POSITION Clan Smoke Jaguar to be the Clan that liberates Terra (though not necessarily the Clan that first reaches Terra - an important distinct exists here. Reaching Terra but having lost so many worlds in the rear areas as to have been cut off from your Inner Sphere Base of Supply (Richmond for CSJ) should sufficiently weaken a Clan so as to make it well-nigh impossible to capture Terra. Unfortunately it is unknown at this time if PGI "Logistics" MWO CW game mechanisms will have impact on a Clan's ability to liberate Terra or if there will be any CW Event that would constitute a "Battle of Terra" a series of 100, First-in-First-out 12 v 12's of Solos and Units for example, would be one possible mechanism to put the fate of Terra in the hands of MWO CW gamers. Some measure of both: a logistics impact and a #FinalBattle would greatly enhance the CW experience.) An excellent though more complicated way to achieve a CW Event would be just as Russ described during the recent PGI townhall - a 100 Sector Conflict complete with Attack/Defense and Hold/CounterAttack missions.
Special care would need to be emphasized here in that Inner Sphere forces would of a reality ALWAYS hold a numeric advantage and a Clan INCLUSIVE Attack would soon bog down into interminable Hold Actions once the maximum number of CLAN TEAMS is determined and their Sector combats soon sketch out the maximum Clan Span of Operational Control on a planet. Of a necessity twenty-nine 12-man Teams dropping successively one-minute apart into the first 29-Sectors will constitute the MAXIMUM "Planetfall Bastion" that the Clans WILL EVER achieve in a 100-Sector Competition IF as I suspect a Community Warfare Climactic Battle is engineered in the most likely fashion. I would suggest that a new wrinkle be added to the mix... it should be possible for the Clans to "Seize the Initiative" (i.e. Go over to Attack Missions regardless of Inner Sphere numeric advantage) in at least one of two ways: an "event-driven" choice represented in just a few "Clan Trump Cards" to be played at one maybe three times to gain and hour's "Surge" to break Inner Sphere Defensive Lines. Alternately it could be a time-based event where in the 24 or 48-hour span of time set aside for the Climatic Event by PGI there are maybe 2 or 3, one or two hour blocks where "Clan Naval Assets" gain the Clans an opportunity to transition to "Attack Missions" regardless of Clan numeric inferiority.
ASSESSMENT - The pace of CSJ progress (if trading Stars with House Kurita can be called progress) has increased dramatically with the arrival of the CSJ-remunerated VRGD, 228 and Antares Scorpions. One or more large and proficient Mercenary Corps Units does indeed serve to transition CSJ Loyalist and Loyal Mercenary Corps Units to an effective/successful string of liberation operation. This is a unique opportunity at this point of the Liberation of the Inner Sphere and one that should be fully explored.
RECOMMENDATION - As remaining Mercenary Corps Units currently in the employ of FRR complete their contracts and return to Marik/Steiner/Davion/Kurita, there will be an "Golden" opportunity for all four (possibly three) Clans to focus/eliminate all FRR outside of Rasalhague. The Liberation of the remaining six FRR planets outside of Rasalhague will GREATLY decrease the attractiveness of the FRR to potential new Mercenary hires as there would be but one Attack option to Clan Wolf and one Attack option to Clan Ghost Bear and BOTH CW and CGB worlds-imperiled could in-turn be supported by OPN CLAN UNITY (
http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4114431) making any FRR Breakout attempt from Rasalhague extremely difficult. Yes, as soon as the Mercenary-fueled SHIELDWALL OF RASALHAGUE further falters ALL Clans are advised to quickly eliminate this enormously significant waypoint and source of spoiling attacks against the Clans' Liberation of Terra.
EXECUTION: Enemy Center of Gravity REMAINS HK Front Line Units, (NS, 36th, AVGR, 11th and 9th). Priorities of effort are the liberation of new Kurita worlds from Inner Sphere tyranny, then the defenses of CSJ worlds directly in the vanguard of CSJ's advance to liberate Terra, followed by DEFENSE OF ALL OTHER CSJ worlds with CSJ "Priorities of Effort" complete once an CSJ "all-hands" transition in support of Clan Common Defense to Clan Wolf (CW), Clan Jade Falcon (CJF) and CGB defensive efforts.
TASKS TO SUBORDINATE UNITS: 228 - 228 is immediately released from all contractual obligations effective 0020hrsEST, 04MAR3050.
During the two period of time 228 has been under contract with CSJ, it is estimated that 228 liberated more than 25-planets in addition to providing the competition needed to compel the best performances from CSJ's larger LOYALIST UNITS as well as Loyal Mercenary Corps Units. It became well known while 228 was under CSJ contract that if ANY CSJ Unit wanted to TAG a planet in any of the three Ceasefire-cycles, they would need to bring their "A" game in order to get past the bulk of production 228 was capable of dishing out continuously.
Kudos to 228 during their period of contractual obligation with CSJ, a job well done ladies and gentlemen, a job well done indeed.
Current CSJ Priorities of Effort (PoE) are the defenses of CSJ worlds directly in the vanguard of CSJ's advance to liberate Terra, followed immediately by the Kurita planet selected for liberation for each Ceasefire-cycle. These would be followed by defense of all other CSJ worlds; then liberation of any FRR world available with CSJ "PoE" complete once an CSJ "all-hands" transition in support of Clan Common Defense to Clan Wolf, Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Ghost Bear defensive efforts.
ADMINISTRATION/LOGISTICS: Clan Smoke Jaguar efforts at coordination are best represented by the Clan Smoke Jaguar Invasion Corridor website at
http://www.SmokeAlliance.com . Smoke Jaguar units and affiliated (or soon-to-be-affiliated) Mercenary Units should have their Leaders and designated representatives apply for access to this resource. Additionally, this thread will remain active until tonight's Ceasefire to provide UNSECURED assessment and battle tracking. SECURED assessments are available at the website/forum, link provided above. As a side note, and in anticipation of PGI's Logistics element for CW Phase Three, I have earmarked 100m C-bills for personal donation to a potential "Faction Reserve Bank" that in turn could be managed by the Faction (mechanics to be recommended later) to lend C-bills to financially-challenged Faction (inclusive of Mercenary) Units in order to ensure ALL Clan Smoke Jaguar Units remain solvent and can maintain offensive capabilities. It must be remembered that as of now, PGI has not yet indicated if a function like a "Faction Reserve Bank"will even be considered as a capability under CW Phase 3. However it does follow that once Units are required to pay for drops in CW, a mechanism like a "Faction Reserve" could be a very useful follow-on economic enhancement in order to maximize gamer/Unit access to CW.)
COMAND AND CONTROL: An excellent resource to foster and maintain MWO CW Situational Awareness is:
https://mrbcleague.com/cw/index.html - MRBC's Reddit resource "Data Resources for Community Warfare" takes available API data and provides running graphic depictions of each day's results as well as a bar chart by Unit of which Unit has tagged the most planets. Much historical research and derivative intelligence and assessment is possible with the depth and variety of data provided at this MRBC Reddit site. The following link has also proven to provide exceptionally accurate and timely information, when it has come to tracking planetary control:
http://thesilentseventh.enjin.com/CW .
This thread provides a point-from-which-to-deviate, with all current Unit orders remaining in effect. In-game chat as well as common TeamSpeak servers may be used to lift and shift combat focus throughout the day as required.
http://www.smokealliance.com and Smoke Jaguar Leadership CW coordination forum threads and message chains will continue and are expected to take this base plan for what it is worth -
my contribution to generate a common narrative to inform CSJ MWO forum readers of a general intent and purpose to the day's CW activity. It is expected that this product will be refined to take best advantage of evolving combat opportunities across Clan Space.
BRANCH PLAN ONE - CANCELLED
BRANCH PLAN TWO - CANCELLED
- All constructive comments are welcome as I intend to continue with this effort and would like for this thread to be of value to the developing Smoke Jaguar Narrative within the greater context of the MWO CW Beta effort by PGI.
Edited by Prussian Havoc, 25 March 2015 - 09:02 PM.