Bright Star Light: Tankfest 2018

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:38 am

Very well once we pick up the pilots and the CF-14 wreckage the NDA will leave Yer Bouti, And be traveling North to Halifax the capital of the Maritimes Federation in order to help them get there Aircraft carrier MFNS Halifax back in operation.

7.62 · Post by **7.62** » Tue Sep 04, 2018 3:32 am

YB will work to encourage trade and tourism with the NDA.
We need wealthy Canadian sun seekers in the winter and a North American aviation supply source.
We are always on the lookout for spare Bell/Boeing helicopter parts for our extensive traffic helicopter fleet which now includes CH-47's.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Tue Sep 04, 2018 5:42 am

The NDA does locally produce CH-47F Chinook helicopters and its parts from our Bell NA plant in Grande Prairie.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:57 pm

Today the guns continue to bang away, firing smoke missions in all of their many variations. Firefighting equipment is on stand-by in the event that the chem smoke and the white phosphorous start a fire on the range. As it begins to get dark tonight, we will shift to firing illumination. Basic illum missions at first, but then we will fire multi-gun illum missions with range and lateral spread. Finally, we will fire coordinated illum missions with both illum and high explosive rounds.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 8:37 am

The NDA County class Cruiser Saddle Hills has plotted a course to Spain to retrieve the CF-14 pilots, while CH-47s from the Escort Carrier Mallard has taken off to the West Sahara to recover the aircraft wreckage before it gets looted.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:52 pm

We shot coordinated illum missions into the wee hours of the morning, and now that it is light we are transitioning to FASCAM minefield missions and hip shoots. FASCAM is more fire direction intensive, so we will employ a single simulated minefield, and then all of our firing units will conduct hip shoot training.

Hip shoots are when a unit is moving and then it receives a fire mission. The firing unit must quickly stop and establish firing capability â€“ this means putting the gun into firing configuration, establishing radio and/or digital communication with the FDC, establishing accurate location, establishing accurate directional control, and ensuring the proper projectile/fuze/propellant is on hand. Then the unit fires the mission and rapidly begins to move again.

Hip shoots are much easier for units like the Paladin, but can be very stressful affairs for the crews of large towed howitzers, like the back-breaking M198!

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:05 am

This is the last day of range week on the artillery range. This morning we will be firing rockets and missiles, to include RAP (rocket assisted projectiles). This will last for most of the morning, and then after a barbecue we will wrap up artillery range week with the expenditure of all ammunition. Seriously, who wants to turn in live ammo at the end of a live-fire exercise? All 3 fire support teams from 5th Tank Battalion are on the hill to send calls for fire. Observers are standing by!

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:25 am

West Sahara: Public announcement.. there is not to be any foriegn flights by fixed wing and.or variable wing craft, or land excursions into our territory unless approved. If approved for that specific flight plan without deviation. If a commercial airline, it is file electronically and updated, and verified. Evaluation crews are working on the F-14. They are also removing parts of the AA missiles.
.
At Tankfest, the platoons of armor are firing away and finishing, tonight will be the final platoon firing competition utilizing night vision systems. Looking forward to the final tabulation of the results for the platoons.
The AIFVs are planning to work on their night combat operations,& tactics. This will include CAV and Recon units.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:46 am

Redleg,

Your sand camo looks pinkish. Can't tell if that's on purpose, lighting, or some other reason.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:13 am

The NDA wishes to have the CF-14 wreckage transported to the Escort Carrier Mallard for the trip home.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 8:47 am

We appreciate that. The US Navy has sent technical ** CENSORED ** over to evaluate the aircraft.
An museum has requested the remains for a display. Iran has also offered to buy the plane.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Wed Sep 12, 2018 9:44 pm

Announcement from Bright Star: Tankfest 2018:
Despite security of our computer and database operating systems, it was hack several days ago. We have been unable to enter and retrieve data. The Cyber Attacks were traced to NDA servers of their military intel Group. Several Virus attacks occurred, spyware and malware issues continue in the Bright Star Tankfest system.
. "This is of grave concern", said Col Rogera of the Data Team, "it is embarrassing. It is not to be taken lightly. Certainly when we allow the NDA to retrieve their F-14 or most of it. It was missing the crew compartment forward and most of the starboard wing." When he was asked what the response would be by CoC, he replied, "I do not know except to increase our cyber security, anything beyond that would be up to others above my grade level."

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 12:15 am

Let's use this as a training opportunity. We can't rely on technology at the expense of letting our basic combat skills erode.

Orders to the ROD contingent at Tank Fest:

*Leaders down to the squad leader level will use paper maps and protractors for the remainder of the exercise. Now we'll see who is really keeping a manual backup like they are supposed to!

*Staff sections will produce acetate overlays for mission graphics and distribute down to the company level.

*Fire direction centers will use paper maps for clearance of fires. Technical fire direction will be performed with GFT and TFT. Automated fire direction equipment will be stowed until ENDEX.

*Commo sergeants will ensure that crypto has been removed from all radios. Paper SOI / CEOI will be distributed down tot he squad level. Voice communication will be performed in the clear. There will be no digital communication.

*Supply sergeants will draw paper, acetate, alcohol pens, maps, protractors, and SOI booklets from the supply connex ASAP.

It's time to fight old school style!

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:56 am

NOW YER TALKIN', Redleg! Folks run out of batteries, logistics columns get hit by air, Russkis jam signals all over the spectrum, and even toilet paper is a luxury. Gotra live hard sometimes. I made my kids learn to read a map.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:46 am

Tank Fest continues with some force-on-force missions. Pictured here are ROD tanks from C Company, 5th Tank Battalion breaching a minefield. The sappers cleared a lane through the minefield and a tank with a mine plow was proofing the lane when they began to receive indirect fire. A referee arrived (in the HMMWV) and judged that the mine plow tank and a second tank in overwatch were both disabled by artillery fire. A third tank charged ahead through the lane and out of the impact area to carry on fighting.