General Major Dmitri Mishenko commander of the 53rd Mechanized Brigade issued his Brigade’s operations order to battalion commanders of his brigade. The operations order was presented by Major Anton Grigorievich, the operations order, but it was approved by the commander. Present in the briefing room were the battalion commanders, their battalion’s operations officer and executive officers as well as liaison officers, drivers and additional assistants from each battalion and the brigade. “Gentlemen, it is important that you attack these positions with violence of effort. You must not allow the enemy one second of respite. Insure you coordinate with the units on your left and right in order to maintain a cohesive front. Colonel Timoshenko, assign someone on your staff to coordinate with the 54th Brigade attacking into Taras Shevshenko Railyard to your north. We do not need to commit fratricide on our brothers attacking into the heart of the city. My staff is preparing a contingency operation in case we have to attack further north; if the 54th does not succeed. Are there any questions?” [hider=OPORD 53BDE] Operations Order 53rd Brigade - Smila Ukraine General Major Dmitri Mishenko commands the 53rd Mechanized Brigade [u][b]Task Organization[/b][/u] I./34th Motorized Infantry (-) No. 1 Company No. 2 Company No. 3 Company II./34th Motorized Infantry No. 1 Company No. 2 Company No. 3 Company No. 4 Company (Tank) I./37th Tank (+) No. 1 Company (Tank) No. 2 Company (Tank) No. 3 Company (Tank) No. 4 Company (Infantry) Sokol Group Motorized Infantry No. 1 Company No. 2 Company No. 3 Company No. 5 Company, I./34th Motorized Infantry (Tank) 1st AT platoon, I./34th Infantry Bde Control No. 4 Company, I./34th Motorized Infantry (Czech Mercenaries) 2nd AT platoon, I./34th Infantry (Attached to 4/I./34th Infantry) 1st Battalion, 198th FA Battalion (152mm D30 Towed Howitzers) 15th Aviation Battalion, Mi-24D & Mi-8 Gunships will be operating in our area on both sides of the operation. [b]I. SITUATION.[/b] Enemy Forces. The 24th Mechanized Brigade, 3rd Ukrainian Division (ORANGE) is defending the primary rail hub at Smila, Ukraine. They are aware of the importance of their rail line at this city, which connects with their primary army headquarters to the Northwest. The Brigade consists of three mechanized infantry battalions (BMP-2), a tank battalion and an artillery battalion containing 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm SP Howitzers. 1. SALUTE. In our sector of the city, the 3rd Battalion, 274th Mechanized Infantry (Orange) is defending west and north of the Tiasmyn River. The battalion consists of three mechanized infantry companies deployed in the built-up areas near the river and two tank companies: one to the north near the outskirts of Smila and one to the west. Expect the enemy to employ obstacles on the near side of the river in an attempt to canalize our movement. 2. DRAW-D Defend, Reinforce, Attack, Withdraw - Delay. The enemy will defend the southern approaches into Smila in order to prevent Blue forces from reaching the heart of the city. If we place substantial pressure upon the enemy, they may withdraw to the southern reaches of the city and could possibly be reinforces from the Brigade Reserves, three tank companies (T72) currently located in the western end of the city. We anticipate enemy Mi-24 and Mi-8 gunships in our area of operations. A. Friendly Forces. Operational Command East, commanded by Colonel General Yurij Chernenko commands three division sized organizations, each with four or five brigade sized units. The 1st Division operates in the northern sector east of Kiev. The 5th Division operates in the southern sector west of Kirovohrad Oblast. The 3rd Division operates in the center, east and south of Smila. The 3rd Division is composed of five brigades including the 17th tank Brigade, 53rd motorized brigade, 54th mechanized brigade, 92nd Mechanized brigade, and the 93rd Mechanized brigade. The 17th Tank is composed of three tank battalions, a mech battalion and a motorized battalion, Each of the remaining four brigades consists of a variety of mechanized and motorized infantry battalions and at least one tank battalion. The 55th Artillery brigade is composed of three battalions of towed 152mm howitzers and a battalion of 100mm towed howitzers. 1. Higher Unit Mission. The 3rd Infantry Division (BLUE) attacks Smila in order to seize the Taras Shevshenko Railyard which will enable the Division for follow on missions along the rail line to the north west. 2. Adjacent Unit Missions. North: The 54th Infantry Brigade (Division Main Effort) attacks in the center along the rail line across the Tiasmyn River in order to seize the Taras Shevshenko Railyard. 3. West: The 17th Tank Brigade crosses the Tiasmyn River south of our Assembly areas and attacks north along a parallel attack route in order to deny the enemy from reinforcing their Brigade from the west and to prevent enemy forces from escaping to the west. 4. Supporting Unit Missions. 15th Aviation Battalion will provide Close Air Support in the Smila sector. Calls for Attack helicopters in our sector must be approved by the Brigade Commander. 5. The 55th Artillery Brigade will provide a preparatory fire on the built up area in front of the division. The Brigade artillery battalions, including the the division has four battalions of artillery in its independent artillery brigade along with another five battalions, one in each of the five maneuver brigades making a combined total of nine artillery battalions. The Division will mass its artillery to fire a massive artillery preparatory fire along the western edge of the Tiasmyn River for 20 minute prior to the attacks by the 53rd Mech in the south and the 92nd Brigade in the north. They will continue their concentrated barrage in and around the 54th brigade’s objective, the rail yard in the center of the city for an additional 20 minutes. Once the three leading infantry brigades commence their attack along the eastern edge of Smila, the 55th Artillery brigade will cease fire and provide opportunity fire to the 17th tank brigade as it encircles the city. Units of the 55th Artillery are also on call to the 54th brigade as it advances into the city. 6. Attachments and Detachments. None [b]II. MISSION.[/b] At 0600 29 August 2004, the Ukrainian 53rd Infantry Brigade (Blue), attacks Objective WHITE (Cherkasy Oblast in southern Smila) in order to support the 54th Brigade’s attack on the railyard to the north. [b]III. EXECUTION.[/b] A. Commander’s Intent. The Commander intends to attack the entrenched enemy in southern Smila along a broad front. The Armor battalion will assault through initially in order to attack the tank company defending along the high ground to the north. Two infantry battalions will attack left and right of the tank battalion and a third battalion will follow the tank battalion along their attack route. B. Concept of the Operation. 1. Scheme of Maneuver. The Sokol Group will attack along the secondary road in western Mal Smelyanka in order to clear the bridge area of enemy units and support the Brigade main Effort. 1st Battalion, 37th Tank (Main Effort) attacks along the primary road west of Mal Yablonovka in order to create a breach and attack successive objective at Hill 140 south of Smila. 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry attacks along secondary road through Mal Yablonovka in order to clear the built up area around the river of enemy units and support the Brigade main effort in its attack toward Smila. 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry follows Brigade main effort along primary road west of Mal Yablonovka in order to clear enemy units from the built up area in the vicinity of the river and to support the Brigade’s main effort as it attacks north toward the city. 2. Fire Support Plan. Following the preparatory fire, the brigade will advance in line adjacent to the 17th Brigade on the west side of the river. Priority of fires will be to 1st Battalion, 37th Tank; then 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry; Sokol Group and finally, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry. Once the Main 1st tank has seized Hill 140, priority of fires is to 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry. C. Tasks. 1. I./37th Tank. a. Main Effort. Advance along route ZELENYY (Green) to seize Objective SABLYA at Hill 140. b. Bypass platoon sized elements when possible. c. Fight through Company-sized elements. d. Establish company ambush to the west of Hill 140 once Objective SABLYA is taken. e. Establish Company (+) ambush north of Hill 140 once Objective SABLYA is taken. 2. II./34th Infantry. a. Reduce enemy obstacles along route KRASNYY (RED) and attack into built up area at Mal Yablonovka. b. Eliminate any enemy units in your Area of Responsibility (AOR) and continue to push towards HILL 140. c. Stop prior to HILL 140 d. Establish a defensive line oriented to the north and west. e. Be prepared to attack HILL 140 f. Be prepared for follow-on missions. 3. Sokol Group (I. & II. Battalions) a. Advance along route ZHELTYY (Yellow) and attack into built up are in western Mal Yablonovka. b. Eliminate any enemy units in your Area of Responsibility (AOR) and continue to push towards HILL 140. c. At 1000 meters south of HILL 140 turn to the northwest and move to Phase Line IVAN the diagonal road north and west of HILL 140. d. Establish a defensive line oriented to the north and west. e. Be prepared to continue with the attack. 4. I./34th Infantry. a. Be prepared to assume the mission of I./37th Tank b. Be prepared to assume the mission of II./34th Infantry c. Be prepared to assume the mission of Sokol Group d. Assuming success along all three routes, advance along route ZELENYY (Green) to assist I. tank battalion seize Objective SABLYA at Hill 140. e. Once Objective SABLYA (HILL 140) is secure, establish a defensive line north and west of the objective f. Coordinate with Sokol Group on the left and II./34th Infantry on your right g. Be prepared for follow on mission. 5. No. 4 Company, I./34th Infantry a. Attack objective KINZHAL ten minutes prior to the Brigade in order to destroy enemy Anti-Tank weapons in this area. b. Once Objective KINZHAL is secure, 2nd AT platoon, attached to No. 4 company establishes Anti-Armor ambushes north of Ternovka oriented to the north. [hider=Ops Graphics][url=https://i.imgur.com/JPBkKEU.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/CfJK0F7.jpg?1[/img][/url] Click on map for larger crisper image.[/hider] [hider=Enemy Situation] [url=https://i.imgur.com/nlxKQUC.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/vgfh3j7.jpg?1[/img][/url] Click on map for larger crisper image.[/hider] [/hider]