The pre-recorded messages were the first warning that the drills are on. Starting with the Qamdo, Nagcu and Nyingchi districts, the reservists of National Defense Corps started receiving their alert messages on their telephones and mobile phones. The alert caught almost all of the people in surprise as nobody expected an alert call like this to happen at this peculiar hour, 2:30 in the afternoon.
However the vestiges of training in Royal Cochin Defense Forces and the refresher training in the annual reservist duties ensured that an orderly transition from civilians to militia was achieved. The first task for these reservists were to get to their assigned Reserve Arsenals. The same alert message that called up these reservists also gave warning to the local police officials to prepare for emergency duties, among which priority was to facilitate this movement.
At their Reserve Arsenals the National Defense Corps reservists drew the arms and ammunition for their duty and maintain station according to preplanned Local Area Attrition Doctrine protocol. However by this time additional orders had come up indicating that this was to be a live fire drill.
An armored assault is coming towards the Kingdom and their provinces would have to bear the brunt of the assault while the Royal Cochin Army sent its forces to throw out the invaders. Jomda County, in Qamdo District is expected to have a full Brigade sized armored force coming through it. All around the town of Banggaidoi, the principal town of Jomda County, the reservists are setting up static defenses against the approaching invaders. There had been barely any intelligence warning, no time for stronger defenses to be readied, only the training of their reservist soldiers and Police forces to dare to stop an armored assault. The roads were blocked off my cars and trucks, hastily assembled explosives were placed as Improvised Explosive Devices to further delay the tanks and all the ad-hoc pill boxes were manned.
Underground telephone lines started conveying scattered indications that the Border Guard Brigade East of their County has suffered heavy attrition in the first two hours of assault and is now picking its way towards the rear. Scout units among the militia, those ex-soldiers who had service in Royal Cochin Special Forces or those who had excellent knowledge of the terrain, like local herders were scattered around the roads to detect the advance.
The dust plumes of a group of BRDMs driving at full speed down the road and countryside were the first thing the scouts saw. Seeing the distinctive coded flags brandished by these APCs the National Defense Corps soldiers realized that these are the retreating soldiers from the Border Guards Brigade, withdrawing at the imminent collapse of the Border defenses. These border guard soldiers replaced the reservists manning the defensive weaponry and re-established communications with the rear, orchestrating further support.
The presence of these hardened soldiers of Border Guards, doing one of the toughest jobs in the whole Royal Cochin Defense Forces bolstered the confidence of the part time soldiers who went about in preparing the defenses with greater vigor.
The first Artillery rounds that fell on the road leading to the town changed the gravity of the mood. The hulking turrets of the enemy tanks soon started showing up, their presence heralded by the tongue of flames upon which heavy shells landed upon the defenses to the town. As they watched the trucks and cars placed as impromptu defense blown away, the defenders hunkered down. The sober confidence of the regular soldiers calmed the tenseness amongst the reservists some who were about to start firing their weapons in panic at the first sight of the enemy.
As the enemy tanks started approaching a town that is obviously hostile to the so called "liberation" the camouflaged IEDs were detonated to cause as much attrition as possible. A determined enemy assault would then encounter a wave of TKM2 ATGMs that would sail in from various buildings and secure pill boxes around the town. The enemy infantry who attempt to clear these pillboxes would be engaged by the many machine gun nests and sniper teams stationed at strategic points. The reservists also started pouring mortar rounds to the enemy locations from mobile mortar stations inside the town. As and when helicopter gunships and low level attack bombers start to appear, these would be engaged by the MPS shoulder borne SAMs and the SD2 and SD2R batteries now released by the Reserve Arsenal. However in a few hours the defenders found themselves unable to slow down the attacking force considerably, when the invaders decided to go around the town rather than through the town. The knowledge of all the populated areas along their advance being on a similar war footing could give them a pause, but depending on the brutishness of the enemy, it is most possible that they would choose to wipe out the town and its population for expedition.
As the fortress town started to girdle up its assets to continue oppose further advances, however help would start arriving in the form of barrages of artillery from the District Artillery Reserve Battalion. The DARB which had by now positioned itself to support the defense of Banggaidoi started pouring in volumes of fire upon the enemy positions using targeting information received from the satellite recon and forward Border Guard soldiers. However after their initial volley the DARB would start receiving country battery fire from the enemy which would cause attrition if they did not maintain mobility. They should also take care to ensure that they do not get outflanked by enemy units who may race closer to take them down. One such platoon of tanks is reported to be racing to their position by the scouts near the roads. As the reserve gunners of the District Artillery Reserve Battalion started readying their guns to move them fast, tracer rounds started falling around them from the lead tank of enemy platoon. A subsequent tracer HE round would seemingly wipe out the entire crew of one 155mm Field Gun. However this very same tank would then find itself blown apart as the armored forces of Royal Cochin Army have arrived in strength to repulse the invaders.
Units from the 9th Armored Cavalry Regiment from Nyima have just arrived on the scene. Racing past the jubilant reserve artillery gunners the T150s and BMP3s of the battalion would race towards Banggaidoi to counter attack the enemy forces. With the full regiment coming close on the heels of this scout force, the Royal Madras Hussars have finally arrived with their tanks, SPGs and helicopter gunships. A few hours later and a full blown armored battle later, the straggling elements of the invader "liberation" forces would find themselves racing to the simulated border positions to escape from the fury of Royal Cochin Army.
With the last of the "enemy" remotely operated T100s destroyed, the massive LAAD training exercise had concluded. The entire enemy force was composed of remotely operated T100 tanks and Mig29s and Piranhas of Training Command firing blank ammunition with selected vehicles firing live ammunition for a realistic feel of war while the defenders were issued live ammunition. The actual Border Guard Brigade stationed at Jomda County were not involved, however Training Command units simulated the retreating Border Guard Brigade personnel. The NDC personnel in all the exercise region of Tibet were not informed that this would be just a drill.
The assault at Banggaidoi in Jamdo County was one among several concerted armored and infantry assaults around the whole of exercise region, ie the Qamdo, Nagqu and Nyingchi Districts. The First and Third Brigades of the the 9ACR were deployed to the Nagqu district as Second Brigade was deployed to Qamdo district and Fourth Brigade to Nyingchi.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Airborne Deployment Exercise
HAMI, XINJIANG
The Third Airborne is deploying for its Divisional Combat exercises. The Regimental Headquarters of the Marakkar's Airborne at Hami is seeing a flurry of activity with the troops and equipment being driven towards Auxiliary Air Base Hami.
Mission Objective : Secure and occupy NTC Achalpur against Division size infantry force through airborne assault.
SCOUT
The first phase of the mission started with an RCAF Merat being boarded by a platoon of 16 RCSF trained Special Forces scouts. The Merat marked as a transport aircraft lifts off for the long flight towards Maharashtra. The Air Defense aspect of the exercise is not however being tested now.
At 75000 ft altitude above NTC Achalpur, the red warning lights suddenly turned green and the jump master helped each of the 16 commandos to jump out into the inky black night. Assisted by their radium lit altimeter and wrist held GPS the 16 paratroopers maintained their controlled free fall making adjustments to their horizontal vectors by changing their body postures. The webbed jump suits also helped gain a greater degree in control over their flight. Wearing NVG/Thermal/Optical goggles they maintained formation watching and correcting flight as a team. With their Submachine guns safed and strapped tight across their chest, the paratroopers opened their parachutes at 3000 ft above the estimated ground level. Now was their most vulnerable part of operation. They hoped they would not be seen by any hostiles on the ground.
Trusting to their luck that there be safe ground, the 16 commandos landed. The scout leader landed first and his thermal signature on ground enabled the rest of the platoon to make terminal corrections to their descent. One soldier landed on a large rock and fractured his legs. Holding back a scream, the agonized soldier squawked over the encrypted radio asking for assistance. The Captain commanding the platoon and the platoon medic rushed to him and gave him temporary palliative while mending the legs as best as possible using splits. The rest of the platoon spread around the small jungle clearing where they had landed.
Divisional Intelligence and Reconnaissance had plotted this clearing as most apt for the assault. The scout force had to gather tactical intelligence for the next wave of soldiers who would be waiting for the go order at Hami.
Leaving their stricken colleague to be the radio man, the platoon spread out. They had to scour the territory and make sure that any hostile activity is detected and plan for neutralizing them readied.
Two hours later, they detected a jungle patrol post manned by a team of 5 hostiles with possible radio connectivity. Leaving the scout teams to monitor patterns and gain any tactical intelligence, the team reported back to the Division.
FIRST WAVE
The 4th Assault Brigade of the Third Airborne Division is boarding the HALOBs at the AAB Hami. The 3000 strong Brigade force is currently deployed on a massive airborne assault. With dual mission of parajumping and air cavalry, the assault brigades of the Royal Cochin Ary's Airborne Divisions are trained in both. Each of the 10000 combat soldiers in an Airborne Division has to be para qualified.
Airborne deployment of an entire brigade along with its equipment is no slight matter. Fully 2 regiments (100 Nos) of HALOBs are tasked to this operation. Each HALOB can carry 100 fully equipped parajumpers, thus 30 HALOBs are devoted to the paratroopers alone, with the remaining 70 tasked to airdrop the heavy equipment needed by the Brigade to hold the ground and prepare the way for the next stage in deployment.
Meanwhile back at NTC Achalpur, 4 commandos have staked out the jungle patrol post, 4 have maintained stationed around likely points of assault and the remaining soldiers have readied remote controlled thermal flares and radio beacons along the clearing with special IR markers denoting hard ground, bad for landing. Soon their combat radio chirped to life and the GO signal was received.
There was no point in subtlety at this point, the roar of scores of HALOBs is unmistakable for any peaceful purposes. As soon as the GO signal was received the jungle patrol post was attacked and its personnel neutralized. As each Halob passed through a certain designated corridor at 30,000 ft altitude, the parajumpers ran out trusting to the Static Lines to deploy the parachutes. Each Halob would take a semi circular track for the airborne delivery starting from 30,000 ft and ending at 35,000 ft thus ensuring the the flights following them would not be disturbed. The course lasting for a total of 120 seconds would see all 100 parajumpers exiting the aircraft, followed two minutes later by the next HALOB on the same course. Thus in two hours a force of 3000 heavily armed Airborne troops landed in the jungle clearing, immediately setting out to improve their perimeter to make way for the successive brigades. However at this time this brigade is still infantry in nature and its full potency can only be delivered by the heavy equipment now being air dropped by the remaining HALOBs on the course.
With a Company sized force remaining to oversee the airdrop and prepare a logistics base, the brigade would be assisted by the scout commmandos to expand the defensive perimeter. Until their heavy equipment arrived in a few hours, they would not be able to do any assault but could defend from an attack in limited manner.
Meanwhile 35,000 ft up, the rear bay doors are opening up for the first squadron of 15 HALOBs as their palletized cargo are being dropped by the jumpmasters. The leading parachutes pull the pallets, 5 to a HALOB from the cavernous hold of the transport aircraft. Altitude activated lines open the parachutes automatically and special air drop specialists on the ground guide the remote controlled control station of the parachutes by timely adjustments. The pallets dropping on the ground are carefully recovered by the logistics company, who proceed to deploy out the field mortars, field guns, ammunition, food and water in these pallets. The engineer company meanwhile use the clearing equipment from a few of these pallets to expand the jungle clearing.
PHASE THREE
Phase three of the assault involves the landing of heavy equipment and remaining brigades. The jungle strip which is now widened and cleared by the engineer company now sees the first of Metacs and GH44s landing, bringing the BMP3s, BTR90s, BRDMS and the Piranha and Blackhawk helicopters. Another day would see the clearing made still larger and HALOBs bringing more heavy weaponry and MH53s.
GH44 Aerial Artillery Platform would soon join the assault which would be launched by the Airborne Division.
From the first scout landing to full Divisional formation would take a total of 14 days in combat conditions.
The Third Airborne is deploying for its Divisional Combat exercises. The Regimental Headquarters of the Marakkar's Airborne at Hami is seeing a flurry of activity with the troops and equipment being driven towards Auxiliary Air Base Hami.
Mission Objective : Secure and occupy NTC Achalpur against Division size infantry force through airborne assault.
SCOUT
The first phase of the mission started with an RCAF Merat being boarded by a platoon of 16 RCSF trained Special Forces scouts. The Merat marked as a transport aircraft lifts off for the long flight towards Maharashtra. The Air Defense aspect of the exercise is not however being tested now.
At 75000 ft altitude above NTC Achalpur, the red warning lights suddenly turned green and the jump master helped each of the 16 commandos to jump out into the inky black night. Assisted by their radium lit altimeter and wrist held GPS the 16 paratroopers maintained their controlled free fall making adjustments to their horizontal vectors by changing their body postures. The webbed jump suits also helped gain a greater degree in control over their flight. Wearing NVG/Thermal/Optical goggles they maintained formation watching and correcting flight as a team. With their Submachine guns safed and strapped tight across their chest, the paratroopers opened their parachutes at 3000 ft above the estimated ground level. Now was their most vulnerable part of operation. They hoped they would not be seen by any hostiles on the ground.
Trusting to their luck that there be safe ground, the 16 commandos landed. The scout leader landed first and his thermal signature on ground enabled the rest of the platoon to make terminal corrections to their descent. One soldier landed on a large rock and fractured his legs. Holding back a scream, the agonized soldier squawked over the encrypted radio asking for assistance. The Captain commanding the platoon and the platoon medic rushed to him and gave him temporary palliative while mending the legs as best as possible using splits. The rest of the platoon spread around the small jungle clearing where they had landed.
Divisional Intelligence and Reconnaissance had plotted this clearing as most apt for the assault. The scout force had to gather tactical intelligence for the next wave of soldiers who would be waiting for the go order at Hami.
Leaving their stricken colleague to be the radio man, the platoon spread out. They had to scour the territory and make sure that any hostile activity is detected and plan for neutralizing them readied.
Two hours later, they detected a jungle patrol post manned by a team of 5 hostiles with possible radio connectivity. Leaving the scout teams to monitor patterns and gain any tactical intelligence, the team reported back to the Division.
FIRST WAVE
The 4th Assault Brigade of the Third Airborne Division is boarding the HALOBs at the AAB Hami. The 3000 strong Brigade force is currently deployed on a massive airborne assault. With dual mission of parajumping and air cavalry, the assault brigades of the Royal Cochin Ary's Airborne Divisions are trained in both. Each of the 10000 combat soldiers in an Airborne Division has to be para qualified.
Airborne deployment of an entire brigade along with its equipment is no slight matter. Fully 2 regiments (100 Nos) of HALOBs are tasked to this operation. Each HALOB can carry 100 fully equipped parajumpers, thus 30 HALOBs are devoted to the paratroopers alone, with the remaining 70 tasked to airdrop the heavy equipment needed by the Brigade to hold the ground and prepare the way for the next stage in deployment.
Meanwhile back at NTC Achalpur, 4 commandos have staked out the jungle patrol post, 4 have maintained stationed around likely points of assault and the remaining soldiers have readied remote controlled thermal flares and radio beacons along the clearing with special IR markers denoting hard ground, bad for landing. Soon their combat radio chirped to life and the GO signal was received.
There was no point in subtlety at this point, the roar of scores of HALOBs is unmistakable for any peaceful purposes. As soon as the GO signal was received the jungle patrol post was attacked and its personnel neutralized. As each Halob passed through a certain designated corridor at 30,000 ft altitude, the parajumpers ran out trusting to the Static Lines to deploy the parachutes. Each Halob would take a semi circular track for the airborne delivery starting from 30,000 ft and ending at 35,000 ft thus ensuring the the flights following them would not be disturbed. The course lasting for a total of 120 seconds would see all 100 parajumpers exiting the aircraft, followed two minutes later by the next HALOB on the same course. Thus in two hours a force of 3000 heavily armed Airborne troops landed in the jungle clearing, immediately setting out to improve their perimeter to make way for the successive brigades. However at this time this brigade is still infantry in nature and its full potency can only be delivered by the heavy equipment now being air dropped by the remaining HALOBs on the course.
With a Company sized force remaining to oversee the airdrop and prepare a logistics base, the brigade would be assisted by the scout commmandos to expand the defensive perimeter. Until their heavy equipment arrived in a few hours, they would not be able to do any assault but could defend from an attack in limited manner.
Meanwhile 35,000 ft up, the rear bay doors are opening up for the first squadron of 15 HALOBs as their palletized cargo are being dropped by the jumpmasters. The leading parachutes pull the pallets, 5 to a HALOB from the cavernous hold of the transport aircraft. Altitude activated lines open the parachutes automatically and special air drop specialists on the ground guide the remote controlled control station of the parachutes by timely adjustments. The pallets dropping on the ground are carefully recovered by the logistics company, who proceed to deploy out the field mortars, field guns, ammunition, food and water in these pallets. The engineer company meanwhile use the clearing equipment from a few of these pallets to expand the jungle clearing.
PHASE THREE
Phase three of the assault involves the landing of heavy equipment and remaining brigades. The jungle strip which is now widened and cleared by the engineer company now sees the first of Metacs and GH44s landing, bringing the BMP3s, BTR90s, BRDMS and the Piranha and Blackhawk helicopters. Another day would see the clearing made still larger and HALOBs bringing more heavy weaponry and MH53s.
GH44 Aerial Artillery Platform would soon join the assault which would be launched by the Airborne Division.
From the first scout landing to full Divisional formation would take a total of 14 days in combat conditions.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Armored Exercises
National Training Center Jaisalmer
The blistering heat and shimmering mirages are not deterring the steady advance of the T100 Main Battle Tank as it wound its way through the sand dunes and sand traps used as static defenses by the X ACR, which is defending this landscape. The S-RECO that was launched a while ago had revealed some enemy opposition 5 kilometers ahead before it was shot down by some SAM. As the leader of the scout platoon of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment's 1st Brigade, Echo 256 would have to blast a way through the enemy force. The reconnaissance battle is over for now, both sides have a reasonable disposition about the others' forces.
The 1 Brigade is at the front of this assault and his Battalion is stretched behind him. This was a do or die moment. He had to render a hole in the enemy forces' against marked superiority. The Brigade's artillery and MRLS had been wiped out by the enemy's helicopter gunships in a dare devil strike which was compensated by the entire helicopter battalion sized force being wiped out by his Air Defense IFVs. The loss of artillery would be compensated by the Regiment rushing 2nd Brigade's artillery Battalion to the 1Br front but that would take some hours. Meanwhile 1BR has to shoot its way through against an artillery barrage becoming more and more accurate every minute. Despite the frantic maneuvering the platoon is doing, one of the T100s and two BMP3s have already been destroyed.
"Sir, I have a target."
The gunner yelled out at his commander.
"Load HEAT."
"Loaded in chamber."
"Fire."
"Target. Cease fire. Next."
The pillar of flame that shot out of the T100 4 kilometers away was topped by the blown turret. But before he could savor the joy of the kill, he heard frantic communications from the remaining tanker to his left, which ceased abruptly.
"Brigade, this is Command. Charge at will, we need to get a breakthrough here," the Brigade's Colonel's voice sounded through the battlefield intercom. As on cue the commander of the tank watched his entire Battalion racing up towards the enemy positions firing while on full speed burst. This charge was the only way to outmaneuver the artillery and armor detachment that is holding the front ahead.
As he felt the tank jostling in all directions due to the high speed charge, the Inter Vehicular Information System, showed several tanks of his platoon sending out hit reports.
An hour later the young Lieutenant finished off the last enemy tank with a Sabot round at close range. As he watched the pillar of fire again, he did not feel remorse or regret of having killed a bunch of fellow tankers. No, these targets did not elicit that sort of regret.
All in all it was a good day, a day that really gave him confidence that the strenuous and tough training he and his fellow tankers had undertaken had been validated against a very highly skilled opponent indeed, in fact the most skilled opponent that he can think of, a thinking intelligent Cochin tanker. That too against X ACR, the resident Armored Cavalry Regiment at the NTC Jaisalmer.
"Okay, soldiers, let us pack up," the Lieutenant ordered as he opened the hatch. Blinking against harsh lights emanating from the bright sky upwards, the soldier walked to the Barracks a bare 300 yards away. He was sure the tankers whom he had "killed" during the day's exercise would already be there. Time to get a little payback for all the hazing they did when his Regiment came to the NTC.
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The National Training Center uses decommissioned T100s and T90s of Royal Cochin Army now in Reserve status as live fire dummies for these battle field exercises. Simulation pods in kazernes at the base are used to provide live control to simulate entire Regiments at a time. All the elements of a regiment including its logistics units, vehicles, aircraft and infantry are all simulated in such live fire exercises. The pods control real equipment in the vast Training Range, readied by NTC staff, which are remotely controlled to mimic the actions and commands simulated in the pods.
Since real equipment are used, real combat attrition can be simulated and live weaponry can be used to give a greater training edge to the soldiers. NTC in short simulates real combat, with real material casualties, without any human casualty. It is the most realistic armored combat training school in the world.
X ACR consists of a dedicated facility stationed at NTC to impart Op For capability to the Royal Cochin Army fighting units. Highly skilled educators and decorated soldiers, these instructors study up on every possible military tactic likely to be used in a battlefield so that the Royal Cochin Army soldier is the most well trained soldier on the planet.
Since the vast inventory of National Defense Reserves Stockpile have to be routinely expended to keep the active duty equipment and reserve equipment up to date, such expenditure of equipment is also a cost effective training method.
The blistering heat and shimmering mirages are not deterring the steady advance of the T100 Main Battle Tank as it wound its way through the sand dunes and sand traps used as static defenses by the X ACR, which is defending this landscape. The S-RECO that was launched a while ago had revealed some enemy opposition 5 kilometers ahead before it was shot down by some SAM. As the leader of the scout platoon of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment's 1st Brigade, Echo 256 would have to blast a way through the enemy force. The reconnaissance battle is over for now, both sides have a reasonable disposition about the others' forces.
The 1 Brigade is at the front of this assault and his Battalion is stretched behind him. This was a do or die moment. He had to render a hole in the enemy forces' against marked superiority. The Brigade's artillery and MRLS had been wiped out by the enemy's helicopter gunships in a dare devil strike which was compensated by the entire helicopter battalion sized force being wiped out by his Air Defense IFVs. The loss of artillery would be compensated by the Regiment rushing 2nd Brigade's artillery Battalion to the 1Br front but that would take some hours. Meanwhile 1BR has to shoot its way through against an artillery barrage becoming more and more accurate every minute. Despite the frantic maneuvering the platoon is doing, one of the T100s and two BMP3s have already been destroyed.
"Sir, I have a target."
The gunner yelled out at his commander.
"Load HEAT."
"Loaded in chamber."
"Fire."
"Target. Cease fire. Next."
The pillar of flame that shot out of the T100 4 kilometers away was topped by the blown turret. But before he could savor the joy of the kill, he heard frantic communications from the remaining tanker to his left, which ceased abruptly.
"Brigade, this is Command. Charge at will, we need to get a breakthrough here," the Brigade's Colonel's voice sounded through the battlefield intercom. As on cue the commander of the tank watched his entire Battalion racing up towards the enemy positions firing while on full speed burst. This charge was the only way to outmaneuver the artillery and armor detachment that is holding the front ahead.
As he felt the tank jostling in all directions due to the high speed charge, the Inter Vehicular Information System, showed several tanks of his platoon sending out hit reports.
An hour later the young Lieutenant finished off the last enemy tank with a Sabot round at close range. As he watched the pillar of fire again, he did not feel remorse or regret of having killed a bunch of fellow tankers. No, these targets did not elicit that sort of regret.
All in all it was a good day, a day that really gave him confidence that the strenuous and tough training he and his fellow tankers had undertaken had been validated against a very highly skilled opponent indeed, in fact the most skilled opponent that he can think of, a thinking intelligent Cochin tanker. That too against X ACR, the resident Armored Cavalry Regiment at the NTC Jaisalmer.
"Okay, soldiers, let us pack up," the Lieutenant ordered as he opened the hatch. Blinking against harsh lights emanating from the bright sky upwards, the soldier walked to the Barracks a bare 300 yards away. He was sure the tankers whom he had "killed" during the day's exercise would already be there. Time to get a little payback for all the hazing they did when his Regiment came to the NTC.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The National Training Center uses decommissioned T100s and T90s of Royal Cochin Army now in Reserve status as live fire dummies for these battle field exercises. Simulation pods in kazernes at the base are used to provide live control to simulate entire Regiments at a time. All the elements of a regiment including its logistics units, vehicles, aircraft and infantry are all simulated in such live fire exercises. The pods control real equipment in the vast Training Range, readied by NTC staff, which are remotely controlled to mimic the actions and commands simulated in the pods.
Since real equipment are used, real combat attrition can be simulated and live weaponry can be used to give a greater training edge to the soldiers. NTC in short simulates real combat, with real material casualties, without any human casualty. It is the most realistic armored combat training school in the world.
X ACR consists of a dedicated facility stationed at NTC to impart Op For capability to the Royal Cochin Army fighting units. Highly skilled educators and decorated soldiers, these instructors study up on every possible military tactic likely to be used in a battlefield so that the Royal Cochin Army soldier is the most well trained soldier on the planet.
Since the vast inventory of National Defense Reserves Stockpile have to be routinely expended to keep the active duty equipment and reserve equipment up to date, such expenditure of equipment is also a cost effective training method.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Operation Blistering Sands
Operation Blistering Sands
In one of the largest live fire Air Defense Exercise ever to be conducted in the Kingdom of Cochin, National Training Center Jaisalmer would be conducting the Operation Blistering Sands. Operation Blistering Sands would simulate a massive debilitating first strike on a target rich border region using conventional weapons particularly cruise missiles, Surface to Surface Missiles, railguns and the accompanying Air Superiority Attack by an enemy fighter force of 200 fighters supported by 4 AWACS. The 4 day exercise would see the combat validation of the 5 Tier CIWS system that is the backbone of Cochin's Anti Air Defense Network. For such a massive field exercise, the entire Block I stockpile of KUB cruise missiles would be expended along with the Block I stockpile of GG10 Short Range Ballistic Missiles, 1000 SHARM Anti Radiation Missiles along with the support of 5 Astra rail gun batteries.
The defender force would consist of the existing Anti Air Defense Network in the border region between the Kingdom and former Marscurian Pakistan which had not been dismantled for the purpose. A target rich environment would be stimulated with 4 divisional formations, 2 Forward Air Bases, 3 Auxiliary Air Bases, 3 Strategic Reserve Armories, 2 Power Generation Centers, 7 vital logistical checkpoints and three large population centers. The target rich environment would be completely of the simulated nature. The defender force would also have a battery of 50 GG10 Strategic Offense Program missiles for support, as per the Border Guard inventory doctrine. The 5 Tier CIWS system consists of
Tier I : Surface to Air Missiles
Tier II: JWAL Point Defense Laser System
Tier III: MetalStorm Rocket System
Tier IV: MetalStorm CIWS Gun System
Tier V: 25mm CIWS Guns, STHAL Artillery Interdiction Device
The offense would be mounted by the X ACR of the NTC Jaisalmer would be operating from the NTC Jaisalmer Annexe Zone in the Sindh Province. The defenders would be the routine staff of AADN network in Rajasthan Province. Tactical surprise would be given to the aggressors.
Phase I
The first attack started with a massive volley fire of 500 KUB cruise missiles against the 24 principal targets. Due to the complete tactical surprise won by the aggressors, the Anti Air Defense Network could not activate its Tier I defenses in time from its existing DEFCON FOUR condition. The Tier II JWAL CIWS were powered up within 30 seconds and started to engage the missiles tracked by the ground and Aerostat borne radars of the AADN, neutralizing 25% of incoming missiles. By this time the Tier III, the MetalStorm Rocket Systems had started the volleyfire of the MS-RIM heatseeking rockets fired in MetalStorm's electrically triggered system. These heatseeking rockets successfully neutralized fully 35% of the missiles and by this time the Tier IV, MetalStorm Guns started firing volleys of rounds at the incoming rockets guided by their own millimeter wave tracking radars. After suffering 15% attrition from them another 5% of missiles were intercepted by the Tier V, 25mm Gatling cannons and the STHAL AIDs stationed around the target regions.
Fully 20% of missiles initially fired made their way through the CIWS network and 15% found successful hits on the targets, ie 75 KUB cruise missiles successfully impacted on targets.
Tier I - 0% (0/500 - 0%)
Tier II - 25% (125/500 - 25%)
Tier III - 35% (175/375 - 46.7%)
Tier IV - 15% (75/200 - 37.5%)
Tier V - 5% (25/125 - 20%)
Phase II
The second attack was through 200 GG10 SRBMs fired towards the radar stations and the principal targets. The ballistic vehicles were immediately detected by the Anti Air Defense Network radars and Strategic Air Defense Network satellites. The Defense network started engaging them with the secondary and tertiary batteries taking over as the primary batteries fired earlier are being combat reloaded. The interdiction percentages are as follows:
Tier I - 25% (50/200 - 25%)
Tier II - 20% (40/150 - 26.7%)
Tier III - 30% (60/110 - 54.5%)
Tier IV - 10% (20/50 - 40%)
Tier V - 10% (20/30 - 66.7%)
Five percent of the GG10s made their way through the CIWS network and of that 80% were successful in hitting their targets. Thus 8 GG10s caused massive damages at the principal targets and major radar stations. The backup radar towers were already switched to and thus there was no window of vulnerability.
Phase III
After the first two attacks, the third attack would now be an air attack mounted by four squadrons (50) of Jadayu Mk.2 armed with 300 SHARM - Anti Radiadtion Missiles against the AADN radar network in the region. Engaging the supersonic stealth fighters flying nap of the earth is the Tier I Surface to Air Missile batteries which gain 15% attrition. The Tier II JWAL PDLS are unable to engage the fast moving aircrafts however the Tier III, Tier IV and Tier V defenses have greater success ratio.
Tier I - 15% (7/50 - 15%)
Tier II - 0%
Tier III - 30% (90/255 - 35.3%)
Tier IV - 20% (60/165 - 36.4%)
Tier V - 25% (75/105 - 71.4%)
Of the 10% of SHARMs that successfully penetrated the CIWS network only 2% could successfully find their target due to active radar masking through dummy radars to change the radar pattern centroid for the SHARM target seekers.
Phase IV
By now with such interdiction of attacks by defendes the aggressors start firing their railgun batteries at the Air Defense Sites. The long range Rail Gun Artillery find themselves invincible to the Tiers I, II, III and IV of the AADN but 15% of the projectiles are intercepted by the STHAL Artillery Interdiction Devices of Stage V CIWS. Of the 85% of rounds 75% successfully found targets destroying further Radar sites and CIWS batteries. The backup towers were switched to instantaneously and through the tracking information from the Artillery Tracking Radars, the location of the 5 railgun batteries had been determined. A counter attack was launched towards these railguns using the GG10 SOP missiles, with 5 GG10s targetted per railgun battery for maximum impact with the varied ammunition packages. Two of the railgun batteries of the aggressor have been determined to be out of commission in this counter attack.
Tier I - 0%
Tier II - 0%
Tier III - 0%
Tier IV - 0%
Tier V - 15%
Phase V
As a precursor to a massive final attack the aggressors launch its largest missile volley, a whopping 2500 KUB cruise missile and 200 GG10 SRBMs are launched at the 24 principal targets and Secondary Air Defense Targets. These find them interdicted in this pattern by the AADN.
Tier I - 30% (810/2700 - 30%)
Tier II - 20% (540/1890 - 28.6%)
Tier III - 10% (270/1350 - 20%)
Tier IV - 15% (405/1080 - 37.5%)
Tier V - 20% (540/675 - 80%)
Of the 5% missiles which make their way through 3% find target successfully.
Phase VI
The last phase in the assault is a combined attack by the air, missile and railgun units. The four regiments of fighter aircrafts armed with 700 SHARM follow 1000 KUB missiles and 100 GG10 SRBMs. They would be followed by the remaining three railguns firing its own volleys at the targets. Against this final onslaught the success percentages were:
Tier I - 35% (665/1900 - 35%)
Tier II - 20% (380/1235 - 30.8%)
Tier III - 15% (285/855 - 33.4%)
Tier IV - 20% (380/570 - 66.7%)
Tier V - 5% (95/190 - 50%)
5% of the attacking munitions successfully impacted on the targets.
Overall interdiction efficiency for various Tiers of the Anti Air Defense Network.
Tier I - 1532/5350 - 28.6%
Tier II - 1085/3775 - 28.7%
Tier III - 880/2945 - 29.9%
Tier IV - 940/2065 - 45.5%
Tier V - 755/1125 - 67.1 +15%(PHIV) = 56.68%
With the Operation Blistering Sands successfully completed several valuable lessons had been learned and experience hard won about how to defend against a massive missile attack as a debilitating first strike against a region.
In one of the largest live fire Air Defense Exercise ever to be conducted in the Kingdom of Cochin, National Training Center Jaisalmer would be conducting the Operation Blistering Sands. Operation Blistering Sands would simulate a massive debilitating first strike on a target rich border region using conventional weapons particularly cruise missiles, Surface to Surface Missiles, railguns and the accompanying Air Superiority Attack by an enemy fighter force of 200 fighters supported by 4 AWACS. The 4 day exercise would see the combat validation of the 5 Tier CIWS system that is the backbone of Cochin's Anti Air Defense Network. For such a massive field exercise, the entire Block I stockpile of KUB cruise missiles would be expended along with the Block I stockpile of GG10 Short Range Ballistic Missiles, 1000 SHARM Anti Radiation Missiles along with the support of 5 Astra rail gun batteries.
The defender force would consist of the existing Anti Air Defense Network in the border region between the Kingdom and former Marscurian Pakistan which had not been dismantled for the purpose. A target rich environment would be stimulated with 4 divisional formations, 2 Forward Air Bases, 3 Auxiliary Air Bases, 3 Strategic Reserve Armories, 2 Power Generation Centers, 7 vital logistical checkpoints and three large population centers. The target rich environment would be completely of the simulated nature. The defender force would also have a battery of 50 GG10 Strategic Offense Program missiles for support, as per the Border Guard inventory doctrine. The 5 Tier CIWS system consists of
Tier I : Surface to Air Missiles
Tier II: JWAL Point Defense Laser System
Tier III: MetalStorm Rocket System
Tier IV: MetalStorm CIWS Gun System
Tier V: 25mm CIWS Guns, STHAL Artillery Interdiction Device
The offense would be mounted by the X ACR of the NTC Jaisalmer would be operating from the NTC Jaisalmer Annexe Zone in the Sindh Province. The defenders would be the routine staff of AADN network in Rajasthan Province. Tactical surprise would be given to the aggressors.
Phase I
The first attack started with a massive volley fire of 500 KUB cruise missiles against the 24 principal targets. Due to the complete tactical surprise won by the aggressors, the Anti Air Defense Network could not activate its Tier I defenses in time from its existing DEFCON FOUR condition. The Tier II JWAL CIWS were powered up within 30 seconds and started to engage the missiles tracked by the ground and Aerostat borne radars of the AADN, neutralizing 25% of incoming missiles. By this time the Tier III, the MetalStorm Rocket Systems had started the volleyfire of the MS-RIM heatseeking rockets fired in MetalStorm's electrically triggered system. These heatseeking rockets successfully neutralized fully 35% of the missiles and by this time the Tier IV, MetalStorm Guns started firing volleys of rounds at the incoming rockets guided by their own millimeter wave tracking radars. After suffering 15% attrition from them another 5% of missiles were intercepted by the Tier V, 25mm Gatling cannons and the STHAL AIDs stationed around the target regions.
Fully 20% of missiles initially fired made their way through the CIWS network and 15% found successful hits on the targets, ie 75 KUB cruise missiles successfully impacted on targets.
Tier I - 0% (0/500 - 0%)
Tier II - 25% (125/500 - 25%)
Tier III - 35% (175/375 - 46.7%)
Tier IV - 15% (75/200 - 37.5%)
Tier V - 5% (25/125 - 20%)
Phase II
The second attack was through 200 GG10 SRBMs fired towards the radar stations and the principal targets. The ballistic vehicles were immediately detected by the Anti Air Defense Network radars and Strategic Air Defense Network satellites. The Defense network started engaging them with the secondary and tertiary batteries taking over as the primary batteries fired earlier are being combat reloaded. The interdiction percentages are as follows:
Tier I - 25% (50/200 - 25%)
Tier II - 20% (40/150 - 26.7%)
Tier III - 30% (60/110 - 54.5%)
Tier IV - 10% (20/50 - 40%)
Tier V - 10% (20/30 - 66.7%)
Five percent of the GG10s made their way through the CIWS network and of that 80% were successful in hitting their targets. Thus 8 GG10s caused massive damages at the principal targets and major radar stations. The backup radar towers were already switched to and thus there was no window of vulnerability.
Phase III
After the first two attacks, the third attack would now be an air attack mounted by four squadrons (50) of Jadayu Mk.2 armed with 300 SHARM - Anti Radiadtion Missiles against the AADN radar network in the region. Engaging the supersonic stealth fighters flying nap of the earth is the Tier I Surface to Air Missile batteries which gain 15% attrition. The Tier II JWAL PDLS are unable to engage the fast moving aircrafts however the Tier III, Tier IV and Tier V defenses have greater success ratio.
Tier I - 15% (7/50 - 15%)
Tier II - 0%
Tier III - 30% (90/255 - 35.3%)
Tier IV - 20% (60/165 - 36.4%)
Tier V - 25% (75/105 - 71.4%)
Of the 10% of SHARMs that successfully penetrated the CIWS network only 2% could successfully find their target due to active radar masking through dummy radars to change the radar pattern centroid for the SHARM target seekers.
Phase IV
By now with such interdiction of attacks by defendes the aggressors start firing their railgun batteries at the Air Defense Sites. The long range Rail Gun Artillery find themselves invincible to the Tiers I, II, III and IV of the AADN but 15% of the projectiles are intercepted by the STHAL Artillery Interdiction Devices of Stage V CIWS. Of the 85% of rounds 75% successfully found targets destroying further Radar sites and CIWS batteries. The backup towers were switched to instantaneously and through the tracking information from the Artillery Tracking Radars, the location of the 5 railgun batteries had been determined. A counter attack was launched towards these railguns using the GG10 SOP missiles, with 5 GG10s targetted per railgun battery for maximum impact with the varied ammunition packages. Two of the railgun batteries of the aggressor have been determined to be out of commission in this counter attack.
Tier I - 0%
Tier II - 0%
Tier III - 0%
Tier IV - 0%
Tier V - 15%
Phase V
As a precursor to a massive final attack the aggressors launch its largest missile volley, a whopping 2500 KUB cruise missile and 200 GG10 SRBMs are launched at the 24 principal targets and Secondary Air Defense Targets. These find them interdicted in this pattern by the AADN.
Tier I - 30% (810/2700 - 30%)
Tier II - 20% (540/1890 - 28.6%)
Tier III - 10% (270/1350 - 20%)
Tier IV - 15% (405/1080 - 37.5%)
Tier V - 20% (540/675 - 80%)
Of the 5% missiles which make their way through 3% find target successfully.
Phase VI
The last phase in the assault is a combined attack by the air, missile and railgun units. The four regiments of fighter aircrafts armed with 700 SHARM follow 1000 KUB missiles and 100 GG10 SRBMs. They would be followed by the remaining three railguns firing its own volleys at the targets. Against this final onslaught the success percentages were:
Tier I - 35% (665/1900 - 35%)
Tier II - 20% (380/1235 - 30.8%)
Tier III - 15% (285/855 - 33.4%)
Tier IV - 20% (380/570 - 66.7%)
Tier V - 5% (95/190 - 50%)
5% of the attacking munitions successfully impacted on the targets.
Overall interdiction efficiency for various Tiers of the Anti Air Defense Network.
Tier I - 1532/5350 - 28.6%
Tier II - 1085/3775 - 28.7%
Tier III - 880/2945 - 29.9%
Tier IV - 940/2065 - 45.5%
Tier V - 755/1125 - 67.1 +15%(PHIV) = 56.68%
With the Operation Blistering Sands successfully completed several valuable lessons had been learned and experience hard won about how to defend against a massive missile attack as a debilitating first strike against a region.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Border Guards
Tashkurgan , Xinjiang
"So, Major Chen, how long would the Number Two Battery be out of commission? Will it be up and running for the inspection coming next month," Col. Sidharth Somnath, Commanding Officer of the 17th Border Guards Brigade asked his Strategic Command Liaison. The 17th Border Guards Brigade is tasked within defending the Tashkurgan sector in Xinjiang Province on the borders with Kriegsland. With a doctrine to defend 200 km of terrestrial borders, the Brigade's commanders are now conferring in the Brigade HQ at Tashkurgan town.
"Sir, the magnetizing coils of the Number One Gun has to be replaced. We are awaiting the supplies to be sent from Quarter Master Command, which is expected to reach this week. Once it arrives, we need two weeks for replacement and recalibration, so we may not be able to make the inspection." Maj. Chen replied.
"Hmm, well I guess there is nothing we can do about that. Now Capt. Ashfaq, why is there the delay in completion of BADS maintenance? What is the status now?"
"Sir, 89 Bali ADS in the entire Sector have to be replaced. The Company discovered the faulty ones through the remote diagnosis we conducted last week. Due to some terrain difficulties, we have been unable to access all of them soon enough," Capt. Ashfaq, the acting Commander of the Engineers Company answered.
"Terrain? You are a sapper aren't you? Captain, this is my last warning, I give you 10 days, to get the BADS system working. Didn't you receive the consignment from QMC? Then why the delay. No more excuses about terrain. If you want get some Mountain trained soldiers from the Assault Brigade and just complete the damn work. Now what is next? Yes, Artillery. So Peter, when are you leaving for the Fire Ex?" Col. Somnath asked.
"Day after tomorrow. By that time the II Battalion would return. It is really been a long time since I got the grime into my tunic, Sir," Lt. Col. Peter Samuel, Commander of the III Artillery Battalion answered.
"Grime, dont make stupid jokes like that , Peter. You Arti guys never get any grime on your neat and tidy uniforms. That is for assault grunts like us. Anyway best of luck. Now, Admin. Yes." The Colonel said wearily wiping a mock perspeiration off his brow.
"Colonel Sir, you can't escape it, part of your job description to take care of Admin matters." Maj. Raman Naik, the Personnel and Admin Officer said.
"Dont remind me, Naik. So let us get to it."
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The swift breeze of the Pamirs ruffled the Tundra Uniforms of Capt. KK Menon as he surveyed his horizons with a high powered binoculars. The 2/3/1/17 Platoon of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is deployed at this particular border check post as per routine deployments. Capt. Menon's platoon arrived at this sector 2 days earlier for a 7 day force patrol in this particular section, where the Engineers Company were maintaining the Bali ADS systems deployed. A buffer of 300 meters is maintained from the International borders, with every inch of the area levelled and sighted for delivering massive firepower. Now that in this area the electronic and automated defenses are temporarily blinded the platoon has been deployed to assume the job normally undertaken by units much insensitive to the weather.
"Sergeant, how are the men doing?" Capt. Menon asked.
"Sir, they are cold but alert. I had brought extra caffeine candies and Toblerone bars for the men from Pantry." Sgt. Biswas Sinha answered.
"Excellent, Biswas. Do you have a spare with you now?"
"Always Sir," the Sergeant grinned and reached inside his BDU pockets to retrieve a bar of Dark Chocolate Toblerone bar.
"Ummm. Thank you, Sergeant," the Captain said enjoying the chocolate and viewing the wide vistas abundant before him. One never knew if these mountains would some day teem with enemy soldiers intent upon invading his Motherland, but if they ever came, he would be the first line of defense. It was his and his comrades' jobs to gain the valuable slowing time so that the more stronger Army forces can be assembled to beat back the enemy. Well trained in Mountain Warfare at Tok's Mountain Warfare School, Capt. KK. Menon is looking to be soon promoted to he ranks of Major.
The Border Guards is no job for the faint hearted or the weak. Posted in the most bleakst outposts of the Kingdom, Border Guards had to brave all elements and guard the nation 24x7x365. The 1st Assault Infantry Battalion of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is composed of 1000 combat soldiers who are often separated into various platoons and companies spread all over their sector. They come together only for the rare Bada Khaanas and during times of war. The motto of Border Guards is "You have to fight, you dont have to return alive."
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"Hand me that 13/14" spanner," the Private yelled, from the front of the truck.
"Here, Chou. And stop yelling, I am the Sergeant here, not you," the Sergeant replied handing over the spanner after ferreting through the toolbox kep open beside the road.
Straightening up momentarily, the Private said, "Yo Sarge, if you want you can pull rank with me, but unless you noticed I am the only one here who knows how to fix a truck. So either help me out here, or we can all have a jolly time waiting for a tow truck. He he he, now get me a smoke, Sarge," the Private said grinning before bending over the truck engine.
"That kid, I am going to kill him, as soon as this bloody truck gets going," the Sergeant muttered softly while searching his pockets for his pack of Kings.
"Give him a break, Sarge. Loud mouth he is, but a damn fine soldier too. Though I wonder where he learned to fix vehicles so well," a Corporal chimed in.
"Knowing him, he may have studied it by stealing trucks, the cheeky fellow," the Sergeant laughed.
"Hoy, Sarge, come here for a second. Just check if the pin is fixed right?"
The Tatra 4x4 truck is stranded on a road in the Tashkurgan Sector. Part of the I Artillery Battalion, the Royal Cochin Army truck is towing a 155mm Field Gun to its new deployment position. Having just returned after the half yearly Live Fire Exercise at the National Training Center at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, the Battalion is now proceeding to its fresh three week deployment position. However on the way, one of the trucks, towing one of the 40 155mm Field Guns broke down and now is being repaired. This time was also taken by the gunnery crew to replace the firing on their cannon. Comprising of 40 155mm Field Guns, 15 155mm Self Propelled Guns and 5 MRLS, the three Artillery Battalions are the main power of the Border Guards Brigade which are essentially Field Artillery Brigades with beefed up infantry and engineering battalions.
Now with the truck almost fixed this gunnery crew can rejoin their Battalion in their preplanned launch position where there are hardened shelters and sizable ammunition stores waiting for them. There are scores of such preplanned artillery centers between which the Battalions would cycle at the time of war.
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"Movement in Sector 15789/17."
"Yeah, that is Lt. Shilpa Stanley and her team, repairing those Balis."
"No, this is something different. This is at the forward edge of the minefield. I sense multiple seismic anomalies, looks like human plus animal transients."
"Oh? Okay, let us call them up. Corporal, raise Lt. Stanley." "Lt. Stanley, this is Sgt. Sisupal. Sir, we need you to activate the cameras of the leading edge of Sector 15789/17. We sense foot movements over there. Over."
"Read you loud and clear, Over."
"Looks like another of those shepherds have crossed over onto the minefields. Isn't that the last Bali pod?"
"Yes,Sir."
"Then let us contact that shepherd and tell him to get to the Border Check post. No reason why he or his sheeps should ge blown off for no reason."
The last of the Bali ADS pods, mines, automated weapon mounts and sensory devices in the Sector had been repaired by this detachment. The sensors are all monitored by the Engineer Battalion technicians in locations in the rear. Now that the Sector has been serviced the detachment is moving to another sector.
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"Wheeeeeeeeeee"
Capt. Rasul Sheikh could not help himself from screaming in delight even though he had done it many times earlier. Speeding up at several feet per second, Capt. Sheikh could feel the awesome pull of the electric motor upon his waist as he was pulled up the tethered cable ladder.
After seemingly a long time Capt. Rasul Sheikh felt an arm grabbing hold of his shoulder.
"So Lieutenant, how is the radar coming along?"
"Working rather well now, Captain. Now come on up, I could hear you screaming all the way up."
"Well these aerostats bring out the child in me," Capt. Sheikh said laughingly as he followed Lt. Naresh Singhal into the gondola.
"Here is a cup of coffee for you, fresh ground from original Courg beans," the Lieutenant said grinning.
"You definitely know how to entertain, any chance for something stronger?" The Captain asked in the same spirit.
"Captain, isn't that Haraam for you? Well some days when the Aerostat is automated I bring out a bottle of the finest and most aged. It is awesome sitting on top of the the balloon or on the Gondola cage and enjoying a drink. Too bad we dont have time for that now."
"True, so how are the radar systems and optical systems coming along?"
"The passive receivers are proving themselves to be very effective. The entire body of the aerostat is configured as a massive antenna so we are receiving a wide spectrum of intercepted transmissions including Short Wave, Medium Wave and milli meter wave signals. The telescopes and the optical targeting system is also working perfectly, though the occasioanal cloud cover makes optics useless and I have to depend on the TerraScan radar to get vision."
"So how often do you have to come up here, Naresh?"
"Hardly sir, most of my time is spent sitting either at the Recon station or in the ground support vehicle. The Aerostat is pretty much a standalone automated system. It can even navigate itself through ground controls if the tethers break. Besides you know how easy it is to get up and down. The electric winch makes things very easy. It too is controlled from the support vehicle. So Capt. Sheikh do you judge the systems as ready?"
"Yes, Lt. Singhal, now let me try and get that drink from you."
Equipped with Aerostats and S-RECOs the 6th Aerial Surveillance Company is the long range eyes and ears of the Brigade.
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"Target coordinates?"
"Acquired."
"Battery elevation?"
"Set."
"Battery Azimuth?"
"Set."
"Power throughput?"
"Set on Guns 1,2 and 3."
"Magnetisation status?"
"89%."
"Very well, load projectile."
"Projectile readied, Sir."
"Fire."
At this last command the tungsten-graphite projectile would be injected in between the magnetizing coils of Gun 1, followed by Gun 2 and then followed by Gun 3. As soon as the first projectile cleared the final vacuum lock of the barrel of Gun 1, the second projectile is being fed to it. Within a minute, the Battery would have fired 9 warheads.
"Okay, so the battery is now fully functional. Inform Col. Somnath that the Number One Battery has been verified as fully functional."
Located fully 100 kilometers from the borders, the Number Two Battery of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is located ideally to strike along a large sector of the border providing redundacy to myultiple Sectors.
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"Now that is what I call a nasty weather to fly."
"Nasty? I thoroughly loved it, the winds were simply superb."
"Yeah, right. And you are the one who enjoys those rides of death at the Cochin Disney Land so much. Speak for yourself I am only glad that I did not puke inside my seat."
"Mate, this is why you are the gunner and I am the pilot. Come on, learn to enjoy the flight of the Daredevil."
"Say Devil and I will accept, silly berk."
The aviators are part of the 8th Helicopter Company, part of the 17th Border Guards Brigade. With a TOE of 10 Blackhwks, 5 MH53, 5 Bell 212, and 10 Piranha attack helicopters , the Company provides air mobility to the Brigade. An RCAF Metac AAP is also usually attached with the company, though that unit is currently undergoing routine maintenance.
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"PEDAL ON THE METAL, YOU FOOL. THINK YOU ARE DRIVING IN A FUNERAL? DRIVE FASTER OR THIS IS GONNA BE YOUR FUNERAL, CORP," the swears of the Sergeant ringing in his ears caused the sergeant to floor his BRDM as plumes of fire, dust and shrapnel are rising all around them from the massive artillery barrage. Finally after painstakingly long time of dodging and erratic driving, the BRDM screached to a halt near a bunker from which a platoon of soldiers ran out. Barely had they strapped in that the BRDM raced off to the next pick up point. They could see some smoking BRDMs littered around them and thanked heavens that they are still running.
After 15 more minutes of driving through barrage, the BRDM finally stopped at a flag.
"Well done Sergeant Palak, excellent timing. Also congrats Corp. Thangavelu, excellent driving. Now go on, there s chow waiting for you at the camp."
At the Regimental Training Grounds of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment outside Cochin City, elements from the 9th Armored Scouts Company of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is training for Combat evacuation of Infantry and Artillery personnel. With a TOE of 25 BMP3s and 30 BRDMs the Company's principal role is in evacuating the beleaguered soldiers of the Brigade in case of a determined assault on their positions by an enemy. Hence the hours of high intensity training these Scouts do.
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With an area of 6,355,201.85 sq.km and a total border perimeter of 14,303.93 km, fully 9,500 km of it are terrestrial borders bordering nations, friendly, neutral and occasionally hostile. Defending them during times of peace and war is the job of Border Guards Directorate, which is comprised of 48 Brigades, with each brigade responsible for secuding 200 km of the border. With a combined assault infantry strength of just 48000 soldiers, Border Guards is a principally Heavy Artillery Brigade with additional Infantry and Engineer Battalions. The job of these Brigades is not to prevent a determined enemy attack, but to gain valuable time for the Royal Cochin Defense Forces to organize a truly weighted and measured counter attack.
"So, Major Chen, how long would the Number Two Battery be out of commission? Will it be up and running for the inspection coming next month," Col. Sidharth Somnath, Commanding Officer of the 17th Border Guards Brigade asked his Strategic Command Liaison. The 17th Border Guards Brigade is tasked within defending the Tashkurgan sector in Xinjiang Province on the borders with Kriegsland. With a doctrine to defend 200 km of terrestrial borders, the Brigade's commanders are now conferring in the Brigade HQ at Tashkurgan town.
"Sir, the magnetizing coils of the Number One Gun has to be replaced. We are awaiting the supplies to be sent from Quarter Master Command, which is expected to reach this week. Once it arrives, we need two weeks for replacement and recalibration, so we may not be able to make the inspection." Maj. Chen replied.
"Hmm, well I guess there is nothing we can do about that. Now Capt. Ashfaq, why is there the delay in completion of BADS maintenance? What is the status now?"
"Sir, 89 Bali ADS in the entire Sector have to be replaced. The Company discovered the faulty ones through the remote diagnosis we conducted last week. Due to some terrain difficulties, we have been unable to access all of them soon enough," Capt. Ashfaq, the acting Commander of the Engineers Company answered.
"Terrain? You are a sapper aren't you? Captain, this is my last warning, I give you 10 days, to get the BADS system working. Didn't you receive the consignment from QMC? Then why the delay. No more excuses about terrain. If you want get some Mountain trained soldiers from the Assault Brigade and just complete the damn work. Now what is next? Yes, Artillery. So Peter, when are you leaving for the Fire Ex?" Col. Somnath asked.
"Day after tomorrow. By that time the II Battalion would return. It is really been a long time since I got the grime into my tunic, Sir," Lt. Col. Peter Samuel, Commander of the III Artillery Battalion answered.
"Grime, dont make stupid jokes like that , Peter. You Arti guys never get any grime on your neat and tidy uniforms. That is for assault grunts like us. Anyway best of luck. Now, Admin. Yes." The Colonel said wearily wiping a mock perspeiration off his brow.
"Colonel Sir, you can't escape it, part of your job description to take care of Admin matters." Maj. Raman Naik, the Personnel and Admin Officer said.
"Dont remind me, Naik. So let us get to it."
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The swift breeze of the Pamirs ruffled the Tundra Uniforms of Capt. KK Menon as he surveyed his horizons with a high powered binoculars. The 2/3/1/17 Platoon of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is deployed at this particular border check post as per routine deployments. Capt. Menon's platoon arrived at this sector 2 days earlier for a 7 day force patrol in this particular section, where the Engineers Company were maintaining the Bali ADS systems deployed. A buffer of 300 meters is maintained from the International borders, with every inch of the area levelled and sighted for delivering massive firepower. Now that in this area the electronic and automated defenses are temporarily blinded the platoon has been deployed to assume the job normally undertaken by units much insensitive to the weather.
"Sergeant, how are the men doing?" Capt. Menon asked.
"Sir, they are cold but alert. I had brought extra caffeine candies and Toblerone bars for the men from Pantry." Sgt. Biswas Sinha answered.
"Excellent, Biswas. Do you have a spare with you now?"
"Always Sir," the Sergeant grinned and reached inside his BDU pockets to retrieve a bar of Dark Chocolate Toblerone bar.
"Ummm. Thank you, Sergeant," the Captain said enjoying the chocolate and viewing the wide vistas abundant before him. One never knew if these mountains would some day teem with enemy soldiers intent upon invading his Motherland, but if they ever came, he would be the first line of defense. It was his and his comrades' jobs to gain the valuable slowing time so that the more stronger Army forces can be assembled to beat back the enemy. Well trained in Mountain Warfare at Tok's Mountain Warfare School, Capt. KK. Menon is looking to be soon promoted to he ranks of Major.
The Border Guards is no job for the faint hearted or the weak. Posted in the most bleakst outposts of the Kingdom, Border Guards had to brave all elements and guard the nation 24x7x365. The 1st Assault Infantry Battalion of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is composed of 1000 combat soldiers who are often separated into various platoons and companies spread all over their sector. They come together only for the rare Bada Khaanas and during times of war. The motto of Border Guards is "You have to fight, you dont have to return alive."
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"Hand me that 13/14" spanner," the Private yelled, from the front of the truck.
"Here, Chou. And stop yelling, I am the Sergeant here, not you," the Sergeant replied handing over the spanner after ferreting through the toolbox kep open beside the road.
Straightening up momentarily, the Private said, "Yo Sarge, if you want you can pull rank with me, but unless you noticed I am the only one here who knows how to fix a truck. So either help me out here, or we can all have a jolly time waiting for a tow truck. He he he, now get me a smoke, Sarge," the Private said grinning before bending over the truck engine.
"That kid, I am going to kill him, as soon as this bloody truck gets going," the Sergeant muttered softly while searching his pockets for his pack of Kings.
"Give him a break, Sarge. Loud mouth he is, but a damn fine soldier too. Though I wonder where he learned to fix vehicles so well," a Corporal chimed in.
"Knowing him, he may have studied it by stealing trucks, the cheeky fellow," the Sergeant laughed.
"Hoy, Sarge, come here for a second. Just check if the pin is fixed right?"
The Tatra 4x4 truck is stranded on a road in the Tashkurgan Sector. Part of the I Artillery Battalion, the Royal Cochin Army truck is towing a 155mm Field Gun to its new deployment position. Having just returned after the half yearly Live Fire Exercise at the National Training Center at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, the Battalion is now proceeding to its fresh three week deployment position. However on the way, one of the trucks, towing one of the 40 155mm Field Guns broke down and now is being repaired. This time was also taken by the gunnery crew to replace the firing on their cannon. Comprising of 40 155mm Field Guns, 15 155mm Self Propelled Guns and 5 MRLS, the three Artillery Battalions are the main power of the Border Guards Brigade which are essentially Field Artillery Brigades with beefed up infantry and engineering battalions.
Now with the truck almost fixed this gunnery crew can rejoin their Battalion in their preplanned launch position where there are hardened shelters and sizable ammunition stores waiting for them. There are scores of such preplanned artillery centers between which the Battalions would cycle at the time of war.
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"Movement in Sector 15789/17."
"Yeah, that is Lt. Shilpa Stanley and her team, repairing those Balis."
"No, this is something different. This is at the forward edge of the minefield. I sense multiple seismic anomalies, looks like human plus animal transients."
"Oh? Okay, let us call them up. Corporal, raise Lt. Stanley." "Lt. Stanley, this is Sgt. Sisupal. Sir, we need you to activate the cameras of the leading edge of Sector 15789/17. We sense foot movements over there. Over."
"Read you loud and clear, Over."
"Looks like another of those shepherds have crossed over onto the minefields. Isn't that the last Bali pod?"
"Yes,Sir."
"Then let us contact that shepherd and tell him to get to the Border Check post. No reason why he or his sheeps should ge blown off for no reason."
The last of the Bali ADS pods, mines, automated weapon mounts and sensory devices in the Sector had been repaired by this detachment. The sensors are all monitored by the Engineer Battalion technicians in locations in the rear. Now that the Sector has been serviced the detachment is moving to another sector.
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"Wheeeeeeeeeee"
Capt. Rasul Sheikh could not help himself from screaming in delight even though he had done it many times earlier. Speeding up at several feet per second, Capt. Sheikh could feel the awesome pull of the electric motor upon his waist as he was pulled up the tethered cable ladder.
After seemingly a long time Capt. Rasul Sheikh felt an arm grabbing hold of his shoulder.
"So Lieutenant, how is the radar coming along?"
"Working rather well now, Captain. Now come on up, I could hear you screaming all the way up."
"Well these aerostats bring out the child in me," Capt. Sheikh said laughingly as he followed Lt. Naresh Singhal into the gondola.
"Here is a cup of coffee for you, fresh ground from original Courg beans," the Lieutenant said grinning.
"You definitely know how to entertain, any chance for something stronger?" The Captain asked in the same spirit.
"Captain, isn't that Haraam for you? Well some days when the Aerostat is automated I bring out a bottle of the finest and most aged. It is awesome sitting on top of the the balloon or on the Gondola cage and enjoying a drink. Too bad we dont have time for that now."
"True, so how are the radar systems and optical systems coming along?"
"The passive receivers are proving themselves to be very effective. The entire body of the aerostat is configured as a massive antenna so we are receiving a wide spectrum of intercepted transmissions including Short Wave, Medium Wave and milli meter wave signals. The telescopes and the optical targeting system is also working perfectly, though the occasioanal cloud cover makes optics useless and I have to depend on the TerraScan radar to get vision."
"So how often do you have to come up here, Naresh?"
"Hardly sir, most of my time is spent sitting either at the Recon station or in the ground support vehicle. The Aerostat is pretty much a standalone automated system. It can even navigate itself through ground controls if the tethers break. Besides you know how easy it is to get up and down. The electric winch makes things very easy. It too is controlled from the support vehicle. So Capt. Sheikh do you judge the systems as ready?"
"Yes, Lt. Singhal, now let me try and get that drink from you."
Equipped with Aerostats and S-RECOs the 6th Aerial Surveillance Company is the long range eyes and ears of the Brigade.
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"Target coordinates?"
"Acquired."
"Battery elevation?"
"Set."
"Battery Azimuth?"
"Set."
"Power throughput?"
"Set on Guns 1,2 and 3."
"Magnetisation status?"
"89%."
"Very well, load projectile."
"Projectile readied, Sir."
"Fire."
At this last command the tungsten-graphite projectile would be injected in between the magnetizing coils of Gun 1, followed by Gun 2 and then followed by Gun 3. As soon as the first projectile cleared the final vacuum lock of the barrel of Gun 1, the second projectile is being fed to it. Within a minute, the Battery would have fired 9 warheads.
"Okay, so the battery is now fully functional. Inform Col. Somnath that the Number One Battery has been verified as fully functional."
Located fully 100 kilometers from the borders, the Number Two Battery of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is located ideally to strike along a large sector of the border providing redundacy to myultiple Sectors.
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"Now that is what I call a nasty weather to fly."
"Nasty? I thoroughly loved it, the winds were simply superb."
"Yeah, right. And you are the one who enjoys those rides of death at the Cochin Disney Land so much. Speak for yourself I am only glad that I did not puke inside my seat."
"Mate, this is why you are the gunner and I am the pilot. Come on, learn to enjoy the flight of the Daredevil."
"Say Devil and I will accept, silly berk."
The aviators are part of the 8th Helicopter Company, part of the 17th Border Guards Brigade. With a TOE of 10 Blackhwks, 5 MH53, 5 Bell 212, and 10 Piranha attack helicopters , the Company provides air mobility to the Brigade. An RCAF Metac AAP is also usually attached with the company, though that unit is currently undergoing routine maintenance.
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"PEDAL ON THE METAL, YOU FOOL. THINK YOU ARE DRIVING IN A FUNERAL? DRIVE FASTER OR THIS IS GONNA BE YOUR FUNERAL, CORP," the swears of the Sergeant ringing in his ears caused the sergeant to floor his BRDM as plumes of fire, dust and shrapnel are rising all around them from the massive artillery barrage. Finally after painstakingly long time of dodging and erratic driving, the BRDM screached to a halt near a bunker from which a platoon of soldiers ran out. Barely had they strapped in that the BRDM raced off to the next pick up point. They could see some smoking BRDMs littered around them and thanked heavens that they are still running.
After 15 more minutes of driving through barrage, the BRDM finally stopped at a flag.
"Well done Sergeant Palak, excellent timing. Also congrats Corp. Thangavelu, excellent driving. Now go on, there s chow waiting for you at the camp."
At the Regimental Training Grounds of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment outside Cochin City, elements from the 9th Armored Scouts Company of the 17th Border Guards Brigade is training for Combat evacuation of Infantry and Artillery personnel. With a TOE of 25 BMP3s and 30 BRDMs the Company's principal role is in evacuating the beleaguered soldiers of the Brigade in case of a determined assault on their positions by an enemy. Hence the hours of high intensity training these Scouts do.
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With an area of 6,355,201.85 sq.km and a total border perimeter of 14,303.93 km, fully 9,500 km of it are terrestrial borders bordering nations, friendly, neutral and occasionally hostile. Defending them during times of peace and war is the job of Border Guards Directorate, which is comprised of 48 Brigades, with each brigade responsible for secuding 200 km of the border. With a combined assault infantry strength of just 48000 soldiers, Border Guards is a principally Heavy Artillery Brigade with additional Infantry and Engineer Battalions. The job of these Brigades is not to prevent a determined enemy attack, but to gain valuable time for the Royal Cochin Defense Forces to organize a truly weighted and measured counter attack.
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