AAR Operation Hammer and Stone - 15APR23

[Cameron.J]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT​

Name of Combat Mission: Operation Hammer and Stone
Game: Hell Let Loose
Server Hosted on: Training Server 1
Date of Combat Mission: 15APR23
Time of Combat Mission (Zulu): 0000z (8pm est)
Mission Controller: First Lieutenant Cameron.J

Lieutenant Colonel Rob.Y
First Lieutenant Cameron.J
Second Lieutenant Sotelo.R
Second Lieutenant Smith.V
Sergeant First Class Zimm.L
Staff Sergeant Hermes.S
Sergeant Ackelson.K
Sergeant Thrawn.N
Sergeant Marinelli.M
Sergeant Robertson.S
Sergeant Narramoor.A
Corporal Jinto.H
Corporal Cantrell.J
Corporal Rhodes.R
Corporal Anderson.P
Corporal Bizutto.A
Corporal Cooper.N
Corporal Mueller.H
Corporal Hellious.T
Specialist Winter.A
Specialist Willis.B
Specialist Maca.D
Specialist OCulien.M
Specialist Rousseau.A
Specialist Kiing.T
Specialist Berkowski.C
Specialist Chhari.A
Specialist Balazova.S
Specialist Knapp.D
Specialist Choi.S
Specialist Fields.M
Specialist James.M
Specialist Blade.B
Specialist Slagg.J
Specialist Travis.W
Specialist Coutu.M
Specialist Zulu.P
Specialist Warren.G
Specialist Hampton.D
Private First Class Rasmus.M
Private First Class Joshothy.J
Private First Class Scarselli.T
Private First Class Moreau.M
Private First Class Callum.C
Private First Class McCall.M
Private Bas.D
Private Rivera.A
Private Scott.C
Private Brown.O
Private Walker.S
Private White.N
Recruit Haseltine.J

Corporal Smith.N (retired)
RET.Gibbs.B
Reservist Kilo.M

 

[Rob.Y]

Element Callsign: Allied Recon SL1
Element Leader: Lieutenant Colonel Rob.Y
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Lieutenant Colonel Rob.Y
Recruit Scott.C

Pros

1. Took over 15 outposts as a unit
2. Only lost one outpost
3. Great time with Scott
4. Cool map overall

Cons

• Command could make more direct orders at time would be helpful
• Some confusion with rules. Just gotta follow OPORD

 

[Thrawn.N]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT​

Element Callsign: Tank Commander Axis
Element Leader: SGT.Thrawn.N
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
SGT.Thrawn.N
CPL.Jinto.H
SPC.Winter.A

Pros:

• Great defenses created by Allies!
• Excellent combat for first 45 minutes really felt immersive and tense!
• Axis Victory!
• Some excellent combat situations seen and executed!
• Infantry Elastic defensive effort was superb and one helluva thing to see!

Cons:

• First 45 minutes of OP was fun then the last 45 minutes was a useless slog
• Unclear and Contradictory limitations on Armor assets
• OP Victory terms were not clear
• Felt like a normal HLL match with extra steps on defensive
• Map area was poor for Armor combat conditions way too many chokepoints to limit our movements.

Note: I understand this is Whitefish's first Full Operation, I cheer on more to come! I did have fun but only for the first 45 minutes of it then it became just not great.

 

[Balazova.S]

S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT​

Element Callsign: Axis Tank
Element Leader: Specialist Balazova.S
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Balazova.S
Private First Class Scarselli.T
Private Bas.D

Pros:

• Initial push was effective with combined tank and infantry operations
• Communications were good for coordination of units and support

Cons:

• Point selected was especially difficult for tanks
• Infantry was incentivized to hold inside buildings which prevented them from screening for friendly tanks

 

[Rhodes.R]

Element Callsign: Allied Recon SL2
Element Leader: Corporal Rhodes.R
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Corporal Rhodes.R
RET.Gibbs.B

Pros

1. Comms system is effective, fight me.
2. FLARE MACHINE
3. Gibbs was like 50 and 0
4. Mueller's team rocked the north.
5. Kilo's was lethal on church.

Cons

1. No MC meant clarifications on OPORD could not occur. Our commander ended up MC and Commanding. Talk about a nightmare.

 

[Zimm.L]

Element Callsign: Axis SL Comms 1
Element Leader: Sergeant First Class Zimm.L
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Sergeant First Class Zimm.L
Recruit McCall.M


Pros

• great infantry and changing positions and listening to orders
• tanks when were able to to get to fight were great

Cons

• Defensive comms were terrible I think SL not communicated what were doing or trying to do
• Tanks were being taking out before they were able to get to the point to help defend

 

[Anderson.P]

Element Callsign: Axis Alpha Squad
Element Leader: Corporal Anderson.P
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Knapp.D
Specialist Fields.M
Recruit Haseltine.J
Pros:

• Great team work all around, communication was top notch.
• Request/response times were effective
• New recruits/privates turn out was fantastic!

Cons:

• Allowed tanks to be harrassed too much
• Garrison protection was lacking
• Opord was clear but execution could have used clarity

Overall this was a really fun idea and operation, hope to see more of these in the future

 

[James.M]

Element Callsign: Allied ABLE Squad
Element Leader: Specialist James.M
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist James.M
Specialist Blade.B
Corporal Bizutto.A
Private First Class Rasmus.M

Pros

• Always fun to play with the guys
• On paper, a fun, competitive looking OP

Cons

• Comms were a little disorganized
• Details for the OPORD could have been understood

 

[Warren.G]

Element Callsign: Allied Baker Squad
Element Leader: Specialist Warren.G
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Sergeant Marinelli.M
Sergeant Robertson.S
Specialist OCulien.M
Specialist Rousseau.A
Specialist Chhari.A

Pros

1. Flanked around enemy multiple times and took out supporting garrisons and OP's catching enemy by surprise multiple times
2. Overall squad worked well and executed what was asked of us

Cons

• Communication system with tanks and infantry needs work. Relying on us to instinctually know what
• Confusion with the ROE and AO scuffed things early on. We can do better.

 

[Scott.C]

Element Callsign: Allied Recon SL1
Element Leader: Lieutenant Colonel Rob.Y
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Recruit Scott.C
Lieutenant Colonel Rob.Y

Pros
1. Learned the ability to scan flanks and locate enemy spawn positions
2. I thought It was a pretty solid 2nd time recon sniper ever
3. Communication with SL was great, I think we where both on the same page
4. Wiped quite a few enemy spawns


Cons
1. I don't think anyone else from my squad was at this event/ the people I practice with..
2. I was not prepared to be recon sniper class

 

[Hellious.T]

Element Callsign: Axis FTL 2-1
Element Leader: Corporal Hellious.T
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Corporal Smith.N (retired)
Corporal Cantrell.J
Specialist Willis.B
Specialist Maca.D
Private First Class Joshothy.J


Pros

• troopers executed the initial assault efficiently - clearing defenses and enemy troop columns to take st. marie
• after taking the first objective element held the north side for an extended period of time to only be pushed off eventually
• on defense element held the point solo for extended periods of time under repeated satchels and tank offensives

Cons

• mission controller fell off the map (weather) caused some issues with vision for the op but the cav rolled with it
• tanks were cutoff - trooper elements were not able to assist in reinforced tank movement

 

[Smith.V]

Element Callsign: Axis Commander
Element Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Smith.V
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
2nd Lieutenant Smith.V

Pros

• Great match overall!
• Axis as a whole enjoyed the match.
• The turnout was fantastic.
• Exceptional use of satchels on both teams.
• Solid team coordination between infantry squads.

Cons

• Communications error with the ruleset -- I'll take the HEAT round on that one.
• Raiders were constantly harassing our backline (great work boys).
• Tough hardpoint for armor.
• Coordination between armor and infantry could use work.
• Mission controller not being present manifested quite a few problems.

 

[Cameron.J]

Element Callsign: Allies Commander
Element Leader: First Lieutenant Cameron.J
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
First Lieutenant Cameron.J

Pros

• Troopers and SLs performed exceptionally, even when at a disadvantage
• Allies as a whole enjoyed the match.
• The turnout was fantastic.

Cons

• Communication break down at all levels
• Axis initial miscommunications changed the outcome of every phase
• Op rules were a little too one sided, even when intended
• Tough hard-point for armor.
• Coordination between armor and infantry could use work.
• Mission controller not being present due to uncontrollable circumstances
• Having to command and mission control hurt my team but I could have handled/delegated more effectively

 

[Hermes.S]

Element Callsign: Axis FTL 1
Element Leader: Staff Sergeant Hermes.S
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Quake.B
Specialist Kiing.T
Specialist Slagg.J
Specialist Zulu.P
Private First Class Corsino.D

Pros

• Extreme aggression and fire superiority with the initial assault.
• The initial assault was within the AO as presented on the axis op ord; As evidenced by reviewing my footage; 95% of the action was at or below the 5 line which was the boundary.
• Initial assault, breach and capture only took 8 minutes.
• Outstanding use of satchels in the initial assault on defensive structures allowed a quick push into St Mere, clearing the way for firing lanes and troop maneuvers.
• Strong Defensive stance just slightly north of St mere (within the OPORD AO) against some heavy enemy attacks.
• Excellent mobility as QRF responding to enemy hot spots.
• A very challenging defense of an area that was constantly under heavy fire.
• Defensively held for 77 minutes.

Cons

• The incorrect call to flip the second hard cap for the axis from Rue to Route had little to no effect on the outcome of the game as the stage to push into it was never reached; still, it was the incorrect call and the OPORD should've been followed.
• The garrison placed north was OOB - despite being rarely used.
• The Mission controller being absent would've likely prevented any miscommunications, boundary breaches, and other complaints.
• Vague mission parameters set regarding the transition from one phase to the next.
• Axis was in the understanding that once St Mere was captured, it opened up Columns G/H to hunt garrisons, IE Stage 3. Were told that it was OOB for the entire game?
• Need to improve my FTL to SL communications in effort to communicate maneuvers and tactical operations.

 

[Ackelson.K]

S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT​

Element Callsign: Allied Tank
Element Leader: Sergeant Ackelson.K
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Sergeant Ackelson.K
Specialist Choi.S
Specialist Coutu.M

Pros:

• Tank crew performed well under fire with a difficult AO
• Communications were good for coordination of units and support

Cons:

• Point selected was especially difficult for tanks and the AO restricted tank movement into enemy killzones
• More training is needed for effective use of armor alongside infantry

 

[Rivera.A]

Element Callsign: Axis SL 2

Element Leader: PVT.Rivera.A

7th Cavalry personnel within element:
SPC. Hampton
RCT.White

Pros:

• Allied Defenses held together and slowed the two squads pushing from the southern/Middle road.
• Axis SL2 squad was undermanned and forced us to constantly stay together which often times gave us the element of surprise.

Cons:

• Communication felt staggered and often times created confusion for me as a squad lead.
• Enjoyed the match but wish Allies utilized their defenses earlier, we easily swept through unhinged and destroyed the first few barricades. We only had to fight 2-3 Allies.
• I think assigning specific QRF teams would go extremely well, my small team that originally had three but ended with two were constantly called to the church to defend. Two extra men in a fight make a difference but in our case we couldn't even get to the church because of fire superiority.

 

[Xinos.T]

LOCKED

 

[Xinos.T]

S1 Operations Processed