Key information

Modern Warfare Theatre (2015-Present) XLIV

Operation High Latitude Part 1

Deploying

Tuesday 13 January 2026, 23:30 UTC

Situation

Five-Star Rating System Combat Intensity: ☆☆☆ Roleplay Emphasis: ☆ Difficulty: ☆☆☆ Grand Scheme As tensions climb between NATO and Russian forces in the Arctic and High North, Russia has begun constructing and reinforcing forward sites on remote islands in the Kara Sea. Intelligence indicates these efforts are intended to extend Russian ISR, maritime control, and logistical reach into contested waters. Napf Island has emerged as a key node within this effort. Due to its proximity to major shipping lanes, sheltered coastal approaches, and existing infrastructure, Russian forces have developed the island into a forward logistics hub supporting distributed operations across the region. The island is being used to store ammunition, stage personnel, and provide sustainment to smaller Russian and proxy elements operating throughout nearby maritime and littoral areas. From Napf Island, Russian forces can move supplies by sea and air with minimal warning, while leveraging the island’s terrain and limited accessibility to reduce exposure to large-scale NATO strikes. Control of the island enables Russia to maintain operational momentum in the Kara Sea while complicating NATO planning, response timelines, and freedom of maneuver. These forward positions threaten NATO’s ability to operate freely, particularly in naval and amphibious operations, by allowing Russian forces to monitor and potentially influence shipping and military movements throughout the region. In response, U.S. forces have initiated limited-objective operations, targeting isolated but high-value enemy strongholds to degrade Russian command, control, sustainment, and air-defense capabilities without engaging large conventional formations. The 29th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard LPD-68 USS Takmyr, has been tasked with conducting such objective raids and seizures on Napf Island. The 29th MEU aims to dismantle Russian forward positions, deny the enemy the ability to sustain regional operations, and establish conditions for follow-on actions in the Kara Sea. Mission Specific Recent intelligence shows that Russian-backed insurgents now hold the entirety of Napf Island. They have seized many existing facilities and constructed their own to support this ever-growing logistics network. A historic castle has been converted into a fortified outpost housing a large ammunition stockpile. A nearby airfield provides radar coverage that enables the Russian forces' early warning and denies any friendly aviation assets to the island. As long as these two facilities remain operational, the insurgents and the main Russian force retain the ability to conduct their regional operations and contest the air domain. The 29th MEU has identified the position as isolated, lightly reinforced, and vulnerable to a night assault; thus making it an ideal target to create a NATO foothold on the island. A Marine rifle squad has been tasked to assault the castle, deny the ammunition cache, capture the airfield, and radar. If this mission is successful, it will begin the collapse of the enemy’s forward logistics and surveillance capability on Napf Island. This foothold will allow for further and larger operations on the island. Continue reading