Warno

Operation Iron destroyed the maritime logistics node (OBJ IRON). Vympel 322 is withdrawing eastward in mixed convoys along Route Jason. Leadership elements and critical paperwork are attempting exfil to the border. Enemy morale fractured; movement is hurried but still dangerous — convoys are armed and may employ IEDs and decoys.

High presence on secondary roads; HUMINT may be unreliable under pressure.

17th Ranger Battalion will close and interdict eastbound withdrawal corridors along Route Jason to destroy enemy combat power, seize logistics and documents, and capture alive Leonid Karpin and Jari Vainio; eliminate remaining hostile forces and deny exfiltration to the border.

• HVTs are moving east after the logistics strike; convoys will attempt night movement to evade detection.
• NVG and IR assets will be used for friendly movement.
• Border crossing will terminate interdiction efforts if political constraints prevent action after crossing.

• Deny escape — interdict Route Jason before the border.
• Fix and destroy convoys; apply overwhelming, coordinated force.
• Prioritize capture of HVTs using dedicated Ranger capture teams drawn from Alpha and Echo.
• Minimize civilian casualties and preserve chain-of-custody for captured materials.
• Concept of Operations — Phases
• Infiltration & Positioning
  • Ranger elements insert under cover to pre-position blocking ambushes on key chokepoints and cut-off routes along Route Jason.
• Detection & Fix
  • Organic ISR and visual scouts provide contact reports. Rapid reaction teams establish roadblocks; suppression elements stand ready. Use non-kinetic stopping measures where feasible (spike strips, controlled roadblocks).
• Assault / Interdiction
  • When convoy is fixed or stalled, assault teams execute simultaneous multi-axis strikes to dismount escorts, disable vehicles, and secure HVT candidates. Capture teams attempt immediate detention of HVTs. Other hostile elements are to be engaged and neutralized.
• Exploitation & Extraction
  • Exploitation teams collect documents and electronic media. Captured HVTs and high-value materials are exfil via secured routes to a Battalion holding facility; detained personnel processed per EPW procedures.

• Capture Teams
  • Two dedicated Ranger capture teams (drawn from Alpha/Echo) with language capability as available. Priority: capture Red Joker and Black Joker alive. Use non-lethal containment and binding gear where possible. If HVTs resist with lethal force, lethal force is authorized.
• Fires & Close Air Support
  • Indirect fires and air assets available by coordination through Battalion JTAC. Fires will be controlled to avoid unnecessary collateral damage and to preserve HVT opportunities.
• RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE)
  • HVTs: Capture alive preferred. Attempt non-lethal capture methods first. If HVTs employ lethal force or escape attempts jeopardize mission success, lethal force is authorized.
  • All other armed insurgents: Engage and neutralize.
  • Civilians: Positive ID required before engagement. Minimize collateral damage.
  • Suspected IEDs/booby traps: Do not tamper with or move. Mark, cordon, and report for specialist disposal via higher echelons.
• ADMIN & LOGISTICS
  • Sustain/Resupply: Companies carry resupply for the operation; emergency resupply via designated LZs to be coordinated with TOC.
  • Medical: MEDEVAC on-call; establish casualty collection point (CCP) at Battalion Aid Station (BAS). Treat HVT injuries as priority casualties.
  • Prisoners: EPW processing at temporary holding (secure structure). Photograph and tag captured materials; maintain chain-of-custody.
  • Extraction: Captured HVTs and priority materials moved to Battalion holding facility by secure convoy.
• COMMAND & SIGNAL
  • Operational Control: CO, 17th Ranger Battalion
  • TF Comms Plan: Battalion command net and subordinate company nets per SOP. Dedicated medevac/logistics nets as required.
  • Authentication: Call signs and two-piece authentication on initial contact.
• INTELLIGENCE DIRECTIVES & TARGET HANDLING
  • Priority Intel: Manifests, ledger books, shipping records, radios, and electronic devices. Forensics to image devices on site where safe and practical.
  • HVT Handling: If captured alive — blindfold, bind, segregate from other detainees, and remove from contact. Notify Battalion CO for exploitation and processing.
• CONTINGENCIES
  • If HVT escapes across the border: Pursuit may be terminated if crossing prohibited boundaries; document and report.
  • If heavy enemy reinforcements arrive: Execute phased withdrawal to designated secondary blocking positions; request fires or aerial support.
  • If civilians mass at engagement: Move to containment; prioritize de-escalation and separation via PSYOPS/HUMINT where available.
• INTEL ESTIMATE / EXPECTED OUTCOMES
  • Expect deception (decoy convoys) and rapid, small-unit movement. Prioritize human reports and confirmed visual identification. Successful interdiction should significantly degrade Vympel 322’s sustainment and enable follow-on actions to collapse their network.
• TASK ORGANIZATION (Summary)
  • 17th Ranger Battalion HQ — CO/TOC, ISR liaison
  • Alpha Company (Main Effort) — Route Jason intercept & assault
  • Echo Company (Support) — Containment, screening, capture detachments
  • Reserve Elements — Hot pursuit, mop-up, reinforcement
  • MEDEVAC / BAS — Battalion aid & casualty reception
• SQUAD BRIEF NOTES
  • Uniform/equipment: Night kit, NVGs, suppressors where available, non-lethal kit for capture teams (flex cuffs, binding gear, tasers if available), breaching tools for vehicle access, comms on assigned nets.
  • Movement: Noise and light discipline enforced. Use IR recognition per SOP.
  • Civilians: Expect panicked movement; separate civilians from combatants after engagements.
  • Evidence: Photograph captured documents/gear before movement; tag items and record witness statements when safe.

• Task: Close secondary approaches, establish containment, screen retreating vehicles to funnel toward Alpha, and provide dedicated capture detachments as required.
  

Changes can be requested from Units leads and HHC.