When General Dempsey’s voice came again, it was filled with resolve. “It’s a bold idea, Colonel Mack, but if you can pull it off, it may just work. You have twenty-four hours to put together a team. You’re heading to Oak Ridge.”
“Understood, General,” John said. “Oh, and one more thing.”
“What is it, John?”
“You might want to start building some Faraday cages.”
Appendix
A reader and Army veteran contacted me after reading Last Stand: Surviving America’s Collapse to express his enjoyment of the book. He also took that time to inform me—much to our mutual amazement—that his own life has mirrored the character John Mack’s in several eerie ways. Since both Johns served with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq, I decided to ask him how, given the task, he would organize Oneida’s defense against an invading army. Although by no means definitive, I thought others might find it interesting to see it for themselves. It certainly helped me as I made my way through the third book in the series.
Defense of Oneida.
OPORDER
1. SITUATION:
a. Enemy Forces: A large force of Russian and Chinese Armor are advancing through the State of Tennessee in order to secure transportation routes and to destroy America’s ability to fight. They recently destroyed the main bodies of the 101st Airborne and the 278th ACR; however, they also suffered heavy losses and are down to Brigade strength. They still have Armor and Infantry, but their air capability and artillery has been decimated. They will likely approach Oneida from the West or the South.
b. Friendly Forces: Surviving remnants of the 101st and the 278th will be consolidated as 3rd Squadron, 278th ACR with two Troops, L Troop and K Troop, for the duration of this mission. L Troop will consist of the remaining wheeled vehicles and the crews. K Troop will consist of the remaining 3 M198 Artillery guns, crews and their support equipment. Nearest friendly forces are the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC.
c. Attachments and Detachments: None
2. MISSION: 3rd Squadron will secure the town of Oneida, TN NLT 11SEP2014 in order to secure the eastern route to the Cumberland Gap to deny enemy forces from breaking through to the Shenandoah Valley and assaulting Washington DC.
3. EXECUTION:
a. 3rd Squadron will establish a defensive perimeter around the town of Oneida to secure Highway 27, State Route 63, and State Route 297. The Squadron will establish 3 Fire Points for artillery, LP/OP’s, and will make ambush points along Route 27 and 297. All bridges will be mined.
b. Commander’s Intent: To destroy enemy forces as they try to cross bridges and enter through the valleys in order to force them further south towards the main US Forces.
c. Tasks to Subordinate Units:
1. L Troop:
a. Establish ambush location at the bridge on Highway 27, mine the bridge, place an LP/OP (Forward Observer) on the spur on the NW side of the bridge (Ridge Road). Place explosive charges on the E and West Ridges approximately 600m east of the bridge. Place additional charges on the ridge just NW of the bridge. Create an Abatis approximately 600m E of the bridge. As the vehicles approach the Abatis, detonate the explosives on the E and W ridges in order to collapse them onto the lead vehicles. Blow the charges on the west side of the bridge to trap the enemy on the bridge. Direct artillery fire and crew served fire onto the enemy until the threat has been eliminated. Blow the bridge as a last resort.
b. Establish MK19 and M2 fighting position at the junction of Carson Rd and Highway 27 to cover the southern approach to Oneida.
c. Place additional ambush location at the bridge on Highway 297 (Leatherwood Rd). Establish LP/OP on the spur located to the NE of the 297 switchback. Place explosive charges on the ridge above the switchback on the west side of the bridge. Mine the bridge. Place additional explosives along the ridge to the N and S of 297 on the E side of the bridge. Create an Abatis on the road just NE of the major switchback on the East side of the bridge. Allow enemy forces to cross the bridge and enter into the valley on the East side. As the vehicles approach the Abatis, detonate the explosives on the N and S ridges in order to collapse them onto the lead vehicles. Blow the charges on the west side of the bridge to trap the enemy on the bridge. Direct artillery fire and crew-served fire onto the enemy until the threat has been eliminated. Blow the bridge as a last resort.
d. Establish MK19 and M2 fighting position at the junction of Station Camp Rd and Highway 297 to cover the western approach to Oneida.
e. Establish MK19 and LP/OP on the peak north of Ditney Trail and Wright Lane to cover the eastern approach to Oneida
f. Prepare individual fighting positions along the outskirts of Oneida, focus on the western and southern approaches but do not completely ignore the north or east.
2. K Troop:
a. Provide Forward Observers to L Troop for the LP/OP operations
b. Establish a M198 Fire Point on the mountain top east of Howard Baker Lake (Eli Lane)
c. Establish a M198 Fire Point on the mountain top south of Paint Rock Rd at the end of Walnut Lane
d. Establish a M198 Fire Point on the Ridge above the airport (Pistol Lane)
4. SERVICE AND SUPPORT: None
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL:
a) Signal.
1) Frequencies and Call Signs. 147.255MHz SC,
Commander - Peacemaker 6
XO - Peacemaker 5
L Troop Commander - Longbow 6
K Troop Commander - Kiowa 6
2) Pyrotechnics and Signals.
Red Flare - Enemy Breakthrough
Green Flare - Mission Complete
3) Challenge and Password.
Challenge: Overmountain
Password: Men
4) Command.
1) Command Leader Location. Oneida Mayor’s Office
2) Chain of Command. 3rd Squadron Commander, XO, L Troop Commander, K Troop Commander
Thank you!
Thank you for reading Last Stand: Warlords!
I hope you enjoyed the story. I’m always grateful for a review. For thoughts, comments or feedback feel free to send me an emaiclass="underline" williamhweberauthor@gmail.com
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Copyright
Copyright © 2014 William H. Weber
Cover design by Keri Knutson
Edited by RJ Locksley
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.