AAR Operation Jingle Bell Express 08DEC24

[Mueller.H]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT
Name of Combat Mission: Operation Jingle Bell Express
Game: Hell Let Loose
Server Hosted on: Training Server 1
Date of Combat Mission: 08DEC24
Time of Combat Mission (Zulu): 2000Z​

Mission OIC: Sergeant First Class Mueller.H
Mission Controller: Sergeant First Class Mueller.H
Number of Attendees: 37
7th Cavalry Personnel Involved in Action:
Major Mix.C
Captain Anderson.P
Sergeant First Class Mueller.H
Staff Sergeant Rasmus.M
Sergeant Mulholland.J
Sergeant White.C
Sergeant Wisniewski.A
Corporal Flanagan.L
Corporal Noriega.D
Corporal Sanchez.R
Corporal Slagg.J
Specialist Blade.B
Specialist Dirt.E
Specialist Eckert.B
Specialist Ellison.C
Specialist Feathers.A
Specialist Gimson.M
Specialist Hansel.R
Specialist Jay.JH
Specialist Lahti.R
Specialist Leaf.J
Specialist Lemon.D
Specialist Loup.N
Specialist Mess.L
Specialist Narayanaswamy.A
Specialist Palmer.N
Specialist Quake.B
Specialist Schultz.M
Private First Class Barzon.J
Private First Class Heinz.B
Private First Class Moff.N
Private First Class Pollock.R
Private First Class Shred.C
Private First Class Warfield.G
Private Perez.T
Recruit Mendoza.H
Recruit Payne.J

 

[Mueller.H]

Element Callsign: MC
Element Leader: Sergeant First Class Mueller.H
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Sergeant First Class Mueller.H

Pros:

• Lot of explosions and body parts flying around
• People made excellent strategic decision by creating supply truck tanks
• tbc.....

Cons:

• The AO was too big for the number of players. It was limited for trucks, but should have been limited for troops as well. Also, it should only be fought for the center point as a map objective, but that requires a few map flips.
• Map favored allies
• This type of operation requires pre-planning. Next time, the commanders will be announced a week before the operation so that they can draw up a plan.
• tbc.....

Idea about OP design:

• Restrict drivers to driving only or only use non lethal weapons like smokes. Supply truck driver with rocket launcher is to strong when spotting enemy trucks on their way to the objective.

 

[Wisniewski.A]

Element Callsign: Axis - Baker Squad
Element Leader:Sergeant Wisniewski.A
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Corporal Feathers.A
Corporal Slagg.J
Specialist Quake.B
Private First Class Barzon.J
Recruit Payne.J

Pros:

• Very fun OP, this was a cool and unique concept that I haven't seen before
• Extremely hard-fought battle at Bizroy Foy Road.

Cons:

• The ruleset took a bit to figure out, but issues didn't seem to affect the outcome of the game and were ironed out quickly

 

[Rasmus.M]

Element Callsign: Axis - Charlie Squad
Element Leader: Staff Sergeant Rasmus.M
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Ellison.C
Specialist Gimson.M
Private First Class Shred.C
Private Perez.T

Pros :

• Unique and funny concept, repeat it ! It will be interesting to study strategy for that.
• Great squad teamwork, everyone took their role seriously and it was hella fun. Nice to play with these guys.
• Squad communication and buddy teams worked perfectly.
• We held our ground at N30 and permitted our team to place deep garrisons and outpost easily.

Cons :

• AO was a little too large horizontally for our numbers, maybe restrict it to D to G column, or middle strongpoint.
• We were assigned to control N30 Highway / West Bend and we felt out of the core game (supply truck delivery) at times.
• Did not have any supply truck strategy layed out or tried at match start on our side.
• We could have separated in smaller squads and have more AT rockets + mines going out.

Suggestion :

• How about limited AT role numbers ?
• Choose similar HQ environment on both sides.
• Could try it using other vehicles offering more gunfire protection but still 1 rocket hit kill (recon tank, halftrack, light tank).

 

[Noriega.D]

Element Callsign: Axis - Alpha Squad
Element Leader: Sergeant Noriega.D
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Dirt.E
Specialist Hansel.R
Private First Class Warfield.G


Pros :

• Unique and fun concept
• Great squad teamwork and comms

Cons :

• Command was non existent except for spawning supply trucks
• No coordination
• AO too large

 

[Anderson.P]

Element Callsign: Allied Commander
Element Leader: Captain Anderson.P
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:


Pros:

• Super unique idea
• Has some decent training topics within it i.e. evasive driving
• Team worked pretty well together despite lower turnout

Cons:

• AO and Map didn't feel properly vetted
• Low numbers made two objectives difficult to play at the same time
• Commander should be asked for 24 hours ahead of time rather than right before the operation

 

[Mix.C]

Element Callsign: Axis Driver
Element Leader: Major Mix.C
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element: NA


Pros:

• Excellent concept. I actually disagree with the statements that support limiting the AO or limiting the strongpoint contest to the center. Having a strategic tradeoff between capturing ground vs advancing trucks is interesting and inspires creative thinking and gameplay.
• Had some truly exciting moments.
• good balance of action vs fun for end of year op!

Cons:

• Choice of map heavily favored one side. Future iterations should take driving conditions into consideration. Using other points on a given map for placement of supplies could mitigate the fundamental imbalance of certain maps and let us find a balance on most of the maps I suspect.
• Second the point about pre placing commanders. Particularly with operations with non standard objectives.

 

[Mulholland.J]

Element Callsign: Allied Squad Leader
Element Leader: Sergeant Mulholland.J
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Leaf.J
Specialist Eckert.B
Specialist Palmer.N

Pros:

• The Operation was great overall. Good concept, great holiday theme while integrating that into what makes HLL fun.
• This type of gameplay requires very good communication and our squad excelled at that. Constant pings, info on trucks and where we are taking fire from.
• Anderson did a great job stepping up as commander.
• I seen some of the coolest moments in HLL in years.

Cons:

• Since we only had 40 or so players, the play area seemed excessive but I think it worked. It also helps since the objective is the end of the map so you can't go any farther. Changing that would effect the gameplay more than you would want. Not really a con I suppose.

 

[Lemon.D]

Element Callsign: Allied Squad Leader - Alpha
Element Leader: Specialist Lemon.D
7th Cavalry personnel within Element:
Specialist Jay.JH
Corporal Flanagan.L
Private First Class Pollock.R
Recruit Mendoza.H
Specialist Shultz.M

Pros:

• Overall great Op. Creative and traditional at the same time meant the Recruit felt comfortable and amazed.
• Good Squad Communication: Squad was comfortable with situational awareness and their role within the team
• Amazing and intense firefights: This whole Squad will get written up for medals thanks to a stunning defensive hold of a small ruined house on the western side of the AO. We held it from three sides against attacks and it will go down as one of those incredible gaming memories.

Cons:
- More players would have helped it feel more 'alive', as we were the only Squad, at times, playing the traditional objective.

 

[Blade.B]

Element Callsign: Fox - Allied Squad Leader
Element Leader: Spc.Blade.B
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Spc.Loup.N
Pfc.Mess.L

Pros:

• My squad enjoyed the match.
• It was different from all other operations.

Cons:

• More people would have been nice.