Operation Steel Wind is the campaign that our small group is creating/playing. It is about a fictional civil war occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the independence of the Katanga Province as a sovreign nation, The Peoples Republic of Katanga. There are many factions involved in the conflict:

- Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC

- Joint Task Force Shepherd Phoenix (Slice elements fom all U.S. force components)

- Black Rhino Security Solutions Private Military Company

- United Nations Mission Congo (MONUC)

- Katangan Liberation Army (Consisting of tribal militias, insurgents and FARDC personnel that followed Colonel Motamba.)

- Direct Action Global Private Military Company

- Possible military forces from surroundng nations

Introduction

The civil war raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has grown steadily worse since it began in mid-2008.

After gaining a solid hold of the Katanga region of the DRC, Colonel Matombaís Katangan Liberation Army (KLA) moved to take over the Eastern portion of the DRC. Colonel Matomba declared all of the territory occupied by his forces as part of the new Peopleís Republic of Katanga (PRK).

From these occupied areas, thousands of refugees have fled to other areas of the DRC and into the countries of Angola, Zambia, United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan and the Central African Republic.

From within the refugee camps there have been reports of mass executions and destruction of villages that would not agree to their ìannexationî into the PRK and the leadership of its president, Colonel Matomba.

With the accusations of horrid war crimes and the crimes against humanity being leveled against the KLA and Colonel Matomba, added to the continuing flood of refugees into the surrounding nations, there has been an outcry for external intervention to bring peace and stability to the region.

In response to this outcry, the United Nations increased the scope and the presence of its peace keeping mission (MONUC) in the area. This effort proved to be a failure as the KLA has been able to cause serious casualties to the U.N. forces in both troops and material. These U.N. defeats also provided the KLA with additional equipment and vehicles, bolstering the KLA forces.

As a result of the U.N. ineffectiveness in curbing the violence in the region, a formal request for assistance was sent to the United States from the U.N., the African Union and the DRC government. The request asked for direct and immediate military intervention to restore peace and stability to the region.

The United States, strained by a global economic down-turn and by a two-front war against terrorism being fought, responded by assembling a small joint task force to deploy into the area to render assistance to the DRC government.

Joint Task Force Shepherd Phoenix deployed into the DRC controlled territory with units from all of the U.S. military forces to conduct Operation Steel Wind.

Operation Steel Wind is the U.S. Military mission to the DRC to assist in establishing peace and stability in the area by helping the DRC government, military and their hired force from Black Rhino Security Solutions private military company in stopping Colonel Matombaís Katangan Liberation Army and their hired PMC, Direct Action Global (DAG).
Tensions are high as the situation in the DRC develops into a multi-faceted conflict that could plunge all of central Africa into a long and bloody war.

History of the Conflict

1981
Global Core Mining Corporation (GCM) enters into an agreement with Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire, that gives GCM mining rights for various metals, gems and minerals. Mobutu Sese Seko benefits greatly from this arrangement.

1986
GCM is conducting mining operations throughout Zaire. Mobutu Sese Seko continues to receive a percentage of the profits seen by GCM in their mining operations.

1994
Civil war erupts in Zaire. GCM continues their mining operations even though several facilities are captured by rebel forces. Te situation worsens over the next several years as more territory and more GCM facilities fall under the rebels control.

1997
The Mobutu regime is toppled by the rebel forces led by Laurent Kabila. The countryís name is changed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Kabila becomes the president.

1998
A second insurrection in the DRC occurs, backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervene in support of the Kabila regime.

1999
A cease fire is signed in July by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting continues.

2000
Laurent Kabila suspends GCMís mining operations within the DRC and expels all GCM personnel from the country.

2001
January, Laurent Kabila is assassinated. His son, Joseph Kabila, is named the head of state.

2002
Joseph Kabila successfully negotiates the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern DRC.
GMC approaches the new head of state of the DRC to request that they be allowed to resume their mining operations that Laurent Kabila suspended two years earlier.

2003
A transitional government is established with Joseph Kabila as president and four vice-presidents representing the former government, former rebel groups, the political opposition, and civil society.
The transitional government denies the request of Global-Core Mining to resume itís mining operations in the DRC.

2005
The transitional government holds a successful constitutional referendum.

2006
Joseph Kabila is elected and inaugurated President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

2007
Provincial assemblies are constituted. Governors and national senators are elected.

2008
Colonel Arthur Matomba, A native of the Katanga Province of the DRC becomes a very popular leader of the military forces. When it also becomes public knowledge that the Colonel is sympathetic to the independence movement of Katanga into an independent nation and that he may be involved in an upcoming coup attempt to make that happen, the DRC authorities attempt to arrest him. A firefight occurs between the DRC authorities and the military forces that are fiercely loyal to Colonel Matomba. The DRC authorities lose the fight. The attempted arrest and following battle are the spark that ignites the revolution in the DRC.
Colonel Matomba declares that the Katanga Province of the DRC to now be the sovereign nation of the Peopleís Republic of Katanga (PRK) and takes the city of Lubumbashi as the capital city of the new nation.
Many soldiers from the DRC military desert their posts and pledge their loyalty to Colonel Matomba and the Peopleís Republic of Katanga. This is especially true of those soldiers hailing from the province or has family in the province.
Skirmishes occur throughout the DRC and the new PRK as troops loyal to each faction fight their way to their own friendly forces.
Within three months DRC forces are pushed completely out of the PRK but continue to fight along the borders of the new country. These border clashes continue for several more months. At this same time Colonel Matombaís forces continue to grow as tribal militias in the PRK also rally to the leadership of the Colonel and the ideal of the independent PRK.
In mid-2008 Colonel Matomba issues a warning to the DRC government to cease hostilities along the borders of the PRK or suffer the severe consequences. The DRC continues itís attacks against the PRK borders in spite of the Colonels warning.
The Katanga Liberation Army (KLA) counter-attacks into the DRC. The entire eastern quarter of the DRC is quickly but loosly occupied by the KLA. There are reports of ìforeignî troops being among the KLA troops in what appears to be leadership positions.
By late 2008 it is confirmed that the PRK has somehow contracted the private military company (PMC) Direct Action Global (DAG) to train and advise the KLA troops. It is suspected that the DAG personnel are performing tasks far beyond training and advisement however.

2009
The eastern third of the DRC has a heavy KLA presence. While their occupation and control of the area is not yet solid, refugees are fleeing the area into the surrounding countries of Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, Central African Republic and the Congo. The refugee camps in these countries continue to grow as the war in the DRC becomes more wide spread. In the refugee camps there are stories of mass executions, mass graves, torture, rape, mutilations and total destruction of whole villages that would not join or support the KLA cause.
The strain on the national governments that are hosting the refugee camps is growing day by day. Several of these countries begin to discuss military intervention.
The United Nations mission in the DRC, MONUC, was originally in the DRC to assist with incursions of the Lords Resistance Army terrorist group from Uganda into the north eastern regions of the DRC. In light of the current conflict the U.N. has increased their presence to help combat the expanding KLA forces. Unfortunately this is not having the effect originally hoped for as the KLA is besting the U.N. forces in every engagement. In the process the KLA has captured much U.N. equipment and vehicles and have pressed them into their own service.
The DRC contracts Black Rhino Security Solutions private military company to assist in their efforts to stop the KLA advances into DRC territory and to hopefully help regain the Katanga province.
The United Nations, the African Union, and the government of the DRC all send formal requests to the United States requesting military assistance to bring peace and stability to the region.
The United States, suffering from the global economic downturn and currently dealing with their war on terrorism on two different fronts, sends a small joint task force (JTF Shepherd Phoenix) to assist the DRC government in its efforts. The joint task force has elements from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. There are also some special operations teams present from each one of the services.
Global Core Mining opens up several mining facilities in the Peopleís Republic of Katanga. This fact leads to much speculation on how much of a role the multinational mining has played in the stoking the fires of this war; ìSpeculationî because there is currently no proof to support the theory. However it does seem very coincidental that GCM begins mining operations in the PRK during an especially nasty and bloody war.


BEHIND THE SCENES

The speculation on Global Core Miningís involvement in the DRC conflict is understated if anything. The multinational mining corporation has had everything to do with sparking, fueling and stoking the flames of this conflict. Through bribery, threats and every other means necessary the corporation gained agents in the DRC government and endeared themselves to Colonel Matomba.

GCM approached Colonel Matomba about providing him with financial and material support if he would lead a coup to create an independent nation out of the Katanga Province. In return they would get exclusive mining rights to the area under his control and would also personally receive a percentage of the profits.

It was GCM agents that tipped off the DRC Kabila regime about the potential coup being planned by Colonel Matomba. It was also GCM that tipped the Colonel off to the DRC authorities coming to arrest him, giving him time to prepare a ìwelcomeî for them.

It is GCM that is paying for the Direct Action Global contract to assist the KLA but to also provide security forces at the GCM facilities.

We have played two scenarios so far which I will try to get some reports on an put here.

_________________
Echo5Hotel
aka Jim Hunsinger (Another one of the Jims)
aka Darth Jim Dark Dude of the Sith

Great stuff!

We have some goodies coming out for you soon that will add some punch to your games, I think. Namely: campaign rules! Looks like you guys could get a lot of use out of them!

_________________
Shawn Carpenter
Game Designer, Ambush Alley Games

"I don't wanna be remembered as the guy who died because he underestimated the threat posed by a monkey."

I have to admit that this is most fun gaming I think I have ever had. Now if Jeff Racel could get some time off we could include him as well.

I am the main KLA player and have managed to lose all of our test games I wasn't using good technical tactics. You really have to hit and run with them. I was rolling up and laying down fire but not moving after the fact. From now on I am using my reaction to bug out.

For future games, we will be using a mix of rules from AA and FoF as required by the scenario. We are of course taking liberties with events but most of the locations are real and we've taken current West African goings-on and extrapolated events that "could" happen when a solid dictator is added to the situation.

Sounds like an awesome game! And Jeff needs to get some time off, poor guy!

_________________
Shawn Carpenter
Game Designer, Ambush Alley Games

"I don't wanna be remembered as the guy who died because he underestimated the threat posed by a monkey."

Scenario 1: Rescue Me!

Situation:

An informant, Claude Bondwa, that has been very useful to JTF Shepherd Phoenix has called for help. Colonel Matomba has become aware of the informant and has decided to capture him and destroy his home village in the process as a lesson to those who oppose the KLA.

Most of the population of the village has fled after learning of the approaching KLA force.

Claude Bondwa has stayed behind, hiding in one of the many buildings of the village, awaiting extraction by friendly forces.

JTF Shepherd Phoenix has thrown together a quick reacton force comprised of a U.S. Marine AAVP-7A1 with it's compliment of 22 U.S Marines and two Black Rhino BTR-80s, eah carrying an 8 man squad.

The KLA arrived at about the same time as JTF Shepherd Phoenix forces with Many troops, several technicals and an M48 tank.

JTF Mission

Locate and rescue Claude Bondwa while also preventing the KLA forcesfrom destroying the village.

KLA Mission

Locate and capture Claude Bondwa and raze the village of Majanga to the ground. Buildings, crops, people, everything!

The battle actually was fast and bloody while both sides searched buildings for the informant while engaging each other through the village.

It has been a while since this game was played so the details are no longer fresh in my mind.

The KLA was beaten by the combined Marines/Black Rhino contractors. One of the major contributing factors was an early Javelin ATGM hit on the KLA M48 that took it out. There was much fighting through the village between U.S. Marines and KLA forces and just outside of the village perimeter between KLA and Black Rhino contractors.

Eventually the KLA pulled back after doing some damage to the village but not finding Claude Bondwa.

The Marine / Black Rhino team eventually located Claude Bondwa and secured the village.

I could only find three pics of this engagement unfortunately:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 25de201244

Future AARs will be better documented.

_________________
Echo5Hotel
aka Jim Hunsinger (Another one of the Jims)
aka Darth Jim Dark Dude of the Sith

Nice work mate. Got any notes on how your campaign will roll?

_________________
David
http://www.wardepot.blogspot.com

Awesome!

Thanks for sharing!

_________________
Dave Phipps

Aaah, no. I only give my organs to my real friends. Go get yourself a monkey kidney.

We re kind of developing it as we go along. Basically if the JTFSP/FARDC/U.N./B.R.S.S. side continues to do well it will move from one scenario to the next. If the KLA starts getting the upper hand then surrounding nations militaries may get involved as well as the these countries grow heavily burdened from the refugees and other collateral damages of the conflict.

We may also create some side scenarios that have nothing to do really with th outcome of the campaign but will be played against the backdrop of it.

I have a lot of other scenarios that have nothing to do with this campaign that I also intend to post as I finish converting them from large airsoft events that I have designed and ran over the past years that I think will make great scenarios for AA/FoF.

_________________
Echo5Hotel
aka Jim Hunsinger (Another one of the Jims)
aka Darth Jim Dark Dude of the Sith

Aha! I thought had a familiar ring to it. I design and run combat training scenarios with the Australian Army using laser training aids. IR actually because laser causes too much damage. Take a look at www.milsims.blogspot.com for the "watered down" civi version. Even that has a database of 137 guys and 80% of them are current or ex mil.

My campaign will actually be based on allocated units with AOs and sectors in a google earth satellite download. Pushes will be made into hot areas and then will need to have forces allocated for patrolling from there on. As areas and enemy assets are taken, the good guys get points. Enemy will be controlled by AI. Players will be Company Commanders and will have miltiple tasks to cover. Side units will come in from time to time to assist or can be requested (purchased). Every day or week or whatever the time period will be for a round, a random event card will be drawn. This may include a downed helo, casevac assistance from nearby sector, ammo cache discovered, bomb done off in civi locations, attempted attack on FOBs or outposts, or any number of other things.

Like you said, lots of scenario material going on in the world.

_________________
David
http://www.wardepot.blogspot.com

Scenario 2: Bad Timing!

Situation

There have been reports that the KLA may be using an abandoned gold mine near the town of Kidhu to store weapons. These reports also speak of possible chemical weapons being stored there as well.
The source of these reports are not known for their consistent accuracy so a small U.N inspection force with an additional Black Rhino Security Solutions force as escort is being dispatched to the mine to see if the reports can be confirmed.
The mine is in territory that is not known to have a heavy presence of KLA forces but there are such known areas nearby.
While nearing completion of the inspection of the mining facility with no confirmation of the reports a large KLA patrol happens upon the mine and notices the inspection team and security forces. Calling for reinforcements the KLA patrol assaults the U.N. and Black Rhino troops.

U.N. / Black Rhino Mission

The mission was to check the abandoned gold mine near the town of Kidhu to confirm reports that the mine was being used by the KLA to store conventional and chemical weapons. The reports appear to have been exaggerated as no weapons, chemical or conventional were found in or around the mine. As the inspection was being completed a KLA raiding party assaulted the mining facility. The mission has now changed to evacuating the area and returning to base with no casualties or allowing the KLA to take hostages.

KLA Mission

While out on patrol KLA Captain Kimosa happens upon an abandoned gold mine near the town of Kidhu. He finds a combined U.N. / Black Rhino unit
inspecting the mine and decides to teach the interlopers a lesson. Calling for reinforcements his unit assaults the U.N. / Black Rhino troops with orders to kill the B.R.S.S. mercenary scum but to capture the U.N. personnel if at all possible.

U.N./B.R.S.S. Forces:
1 x U.N. Mowag Piranha (LAV-25) with 6 troops with small arms
2 x Uparmored Chevrolet Suburbans
2 x 7 man Black Rhino contractor squads with small arms and support weapons

KLA Forces:
1 x Panhard AML-90
2 x Tehnicals
3 x Cargo Trucks
3 x 6 man infantry squads with support weapons and RPGs

As the inspection was being completed the KLA forces entered the area from the north and west. At first the U.N. and Black Rhino forces were unaware of their approach and so continued to conclude the inspection of the mining facility.

By the time the U.N./B.R.S.S. forces had detected the approaching KLA forces they had come under fire by a technical. Return fire from the U.N. squad disabled the technical as KLA troops entered the area of the mining facility. The KLA AML-90 moved to a stand off overwatch position outside of the mining facility perimeter while the KLA troops moved through the forest to engage the Black Rhino and U.N. forces.

One KLA squad rounded a corner in the facility and opened fire on a Black Rhino squad caught in the middle of the street. The Black Rhino squad suffered one light casualty and returned fire, eliminating the KLA squad.

At this point the U.N. LAV-25 and Chevy Suburbans began slowly moving forward to pick up the squads and try to make a run for it. Another KLA squad moved down the main lane of the mining facility while another technical blocked the main route of escape for the U.N./B.R. forces. The LAV-25 fired at the technical but did not manage to cause any damage to it. The Black Rhino squad began a slow fighting retreat down the main lane of the mining facility trying to meet the Chevy Suburbans. They egaged the technical, destroying it with a Carl Gustav rocket launcher. The second Black Rhino squad was slowly moving through the forest outside of the facility looking for any other KLA forces.

The U.N. troops moved from a side road to the corner of the main lane. Engaging another KLA squad in a volley of fire. The U.N. force squad suffering 2 casualties with the KLA squad being eliminated but not beofre the RPG gunner got a shot off at the LAV-25 which glanced off of the armor.

As no KLA reinforcements arrived to assist in the fight the final squad of KLA, the AML-90 and the cargo trucks retreated from the area as the remaining U.N. troops and Black Rhino contractors also un-assed the area while their luck was holding out.

Pictures of the scenario:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 523540e249

_________________
Echo5Hotel
aka Jim Hunsinger (Another one of the Jims)
aka Darth Jim Dark Dude of the Sith

Sounds cool. What of my campaign/scenarios sounds familiar to you? It was all original work that I had done for an airsoft event orginally called Operation: Black Rhino with the only real-world data really used being the past struggles of the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo for it's own independence. I like to create fictional yet feasable conflicts to run campaigns and scenarios in so that I am not "bound" by history and already known outcomes.

If ever they de-classify some of the stuff I was part of during my Army career I will have even more stuff to work with!

_________________
Echo5Hotel
aka Jim Hunsinger (Another one of the Jims)
aka Darth Jim Dark Dude of the Sith

Great idea. And it gives you freedom to be creative and design the setting as you envision it.


HAVE FUN!

_________________
Dave Phipps

Aaah, no. I only give my organs to my real friends. Go get yourself a monkey kidney.

You little beauty! (= Aussie for good stuff)

_________________
Walk tall and carry a big stick

Next scenario: "All Aboard!" is scheduled to be played on Sept 17th. This will be a KLA ambush on a Black Rhino PMC protected supply train.

_________________
Echo5Hotel
aka Jim Hunsinger (Another one of the Jims)
aka Darth Jim Dark Dude of the Sith

Change of order. All Aboard will be the next scenario played. This one is "Blackhawk Blues".

Operation: Steel Wind

"Blackhawk Blues"

"Mayday, Mayday this is Whitesnake 55 to base declaring an emergency. Catastrophic engine failure, beginning autorotation. This is Whitesnake 55 going down. Going down in the vicinity of grid 686563 near the village of Kwanta. Mayday."

"Whitesnake 55 to base. Have crash landed in settlement of Kwanta. Three casualties from crash. Forming defensive perimeter around downed helicopter and requesting immediate assistance."

"Whitesnake 55 this is base, assistance has been deployed hng in there until they arrive and good luck."

Whitesnake 55, a UH-60 has just picked up an infantry squad after an uneventful patrol. Not long after picking up the infantry squad Whitesnake 55 experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure and was forced to crash land in the small settlement of Kwanta. Four of the infantry squad wer killed in the crash. All four crew members survived with 8 members of the infantry squad. They have formed a perimeter around the downed helicopter and are awaiting the rescue force.

KLA forces approached the settlement with several small teams of KLA troops, an AML-90 armored Car and a technical.

Turn 1
The KLA forces manuevered into the settlement of Kwanta but no engagement had yet taken place.

Turn 2
U.S. forces opened fire on the approaching KLA units, killing 2 as the AML-90 and technical raced into the center of the settlement to engage the U.S. troops.

Turn 3
The AML-90 fired it's 90mm main gun at the U.S. forces but missed miserably.

Turn 4
The AML-90 fired and once again missed. One of the KLA squads charges one of the U.S. teams and gets gunned down entirely during the charge. The technical moves to get a better LOS of the U.S. targets.

Turn 5
An AH-64 Apache and another UH-60 carrying another infantry squad arrive. RPG and machinegun fire erupt from the jungle as the KLA forces engage the attack helicopter and manage to drive it away from the area. The AML-90 fires once again and going with tradition, misses. U.S. forces fire at the technical and ricochet some rounds off of it but no damage is done to the vehicle. The technical then returns fire but is apparently shaken from the fire it just received and misses.

Turn 6
The AML-90 and the technical fire at the UH-60 as it settles in to allow its infantry to rope into the battlefield and both miss. The American squad ropes in and forms their perimeter in the middle of the settlement. The UH-60 then takes PKM fire from one of the KLA units but manages to shrug it off. KLA units engage the American units resultiong in another KLA squad being obliterated while the U.S. forces suffer two dead, one seriously wounded and one with the wind knockedout of him. The UH-60 opens fire on the KLA troops but the fire is not effective.

Turn 7
AH-64 apache returns to battlefield executing a gun run that kills several KLA troops, pins another unit and then exits the battlefield. U.S. troops from Whitesnake 55 begin retreating to an LZ for extraction while the new infantry squad on the ground begins to move to engage the KLA troops. KLA forces at this time, outnumbered with little to no reinforcements showing up retreat from the battlefield.

Aftermath
With the KLA forces retiring from the battle the U.S. forces are able to retrieve their casualties and load onto the evacuation UH-60s that arrive while the AH-64 Apache flies a loitering orbit around the settlement providing air support in case of any KLA forces returning.

Intelligence indicated that the AML-90 and technical crews were executed due to their impotence while facing the invaders.

Link to album for this scenario:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 47e261666c

_________________
Echo5Hotel
aka Jim Hunsinger (Another one of the Jims)
aka Darth Jim Dark Dude of the Sith