Operation Honeybadger (2001) XXXVIII
Night Fighters II
Sun 1 Feb 2026
Ended
Operation Honeybadger (2001) XXXVIII
After a few weeks of struggling to infiltrate the nearby entrenched Taliban mountains, Alpha platoon is under heavy assault.
However, with a US Air Force AC-130 stationed and available for tasking nearby, the platoon plan to withstand the enemy attack until support can reach them and they can conduct an all out push deep into the Taliban strongholds...
Additionally, a special forces detachment has been tasked on a separate side of the AO to infiltrate and destroy enemy Anti-air defenses deeper inside the mountains, before they regroup with the main force.
(SF will be equipped with night vision but standard infantry will have to rely on handheld flares and mortar illumination rounds from zulu)
Operation order
Situation
Background Information
After a few weeks of struggling to infiltrate the nearby entrenched Taliban mountains, Alpha platoon is under heavy assault.
However, with a US Air Force AC-130 stationed and available for tasking nearby, the platoon plan to withstand the enemy attack until support can reach them and they can conduct an all out push deep into the Taliban strongholds...
Additionally, a special forces detachment has been tasked on a separate side of the AO to infiltrate and destroy enemy Anti-air defenses deeper inside the mountains, before they regroup with the main force.
(SF will be equipped with night vision but standard infantry will have to rely on handheld flares and mortar illumination rounds from zulu)
Five-Star Rating Expectations
Combat Intensity: ☆☆☆ Roleplay Emphasis: ☆☆ Difficulty: ☆☆☆☆
Execution
Commander's Intent
The purpose of this mission is to first identify, then investigate and eliminate suspected Taliban holdouts in towns and tunnels, shoring up the coalition territories enveloping this hostile pocket. Seek and destroy all anti-air defences enabling air supremacy.
Tasks and Sequencing
OVERVIEW
ALPHA CALLSIGNS prepare for an assault on foot out of COP DAISY, aided by motorised logistics elements for transport and resupply as required via ZULU.
SPIRIT establishes an initial high orbit around COP DAISY on stand-by. See section Close Air Support for details.
ALPHA orientates south towards objectives SIERRA, TANGO, ROMEO.
DELTA had split from camp during night to pursue objectives APOLLO, HERMES, ARES from a forward hide in the hills.
Alpha
Delta
Alpha
OBJ SIERRA
Purpose: INVESTIGATE and CLEAR the town of Rafi'ah. Threat: SUSPECTED HIGH Considerations: Rafi'ah is long and narrow, well suited to squads bounding either side of it while sweeping. Maintain cohesion and LOS. Consider civilian presence. Consider guerrilla tactics. Taliban use tunnels to great effect. ALPHA stages the assault via AP-1 NNW of town. ALPHA 1 enters first, establishing the foothold on the near side of the road. ALPHA 2 bounds in second, past A1 to the far side of the road. Both squads bound SW along the road to sweep Rafi'ah. Investigate and report all suspected Taliban positions, caches and collaborators.OBJ TANGO
Purpose:-
- Secure (flanks of) the MSR to minimise rearward contact later
- Pincer and secure Y-intersection in 133-146
OBJ ROMEO
Purpose: INVESTIGATE and CLEAR the town of Bushra. Threat: SUSPECTED HIGH Considerations: Bushra is in a valley. Watch out for surrounding threats from higher ground. Look out for tunnels. PREFERRED ROUTE: WP-2 through WP-5 SECONDARY ROUTE BRAVO: WP-2B through WP-4B Unless intel dictates otherwise, Alpha navigates as one platoon via WP-2 to the NW of OBJ ROMEO. Spirit provides cover from the overhead particularly observing east of the MSR, ROUTE BRAVO.Delta
OBJ HERMES
Purpose: INVESTIGATE and SEARCH the town of Ghazal.-
- Verify enemy presence
- Identify and relay intel to Alpha
- Orientate for OBJ Ares re: enemy positions, AA, mortars
OBJ APOLLO
Purpose: INVESTIGATE and SEARCH the marked intersection.-
- Verify enemy presence
- Identify and relay intel to Alpha
- Search and secure
OBJ ARES
Purpose: SEEK AND DESTROY TALIBAN HOLD-OUTS- Eliminate AA
- Eliminate mortars
- Search and clear Taliban camps, tunnels
Administration/Logistics
Resupply
Resupply and reinforcements are handled via Zulu.
Provision LOGPAK for
- RV GREEN in 137 152
- RV BLUE in 134 146
Provision LOGPAK for
- RV GREEN in 137 152
- RV BLUE in 134 146
Close Air Support
ROE: PID armed personnel outside of towns assumed hostile. Weapons Orange. Terminal control from the overhead only.
Considerations:
- OBJ ARES: stand-off orbit until AA threat communicated cleared
- OBJ SIERRA, TANGO, ROMEO: valley may block weapon LOS, high-angle orbit required; consider stand-off distance to OBJ ARES in engagements
- AA presence briefed suspected as AAA guns, scattered MANPADS