Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront

Location: Tanoa, Horizon Islands, South Pacific Sea

Written by Captain A.Jansen

AO Situation

Horizon Islands Defence Force - BLUFOR

Syndikat - OPFOR

AO Background

The Horizon Islands consists of archipelagos divided up into four main "divisions": the Northern, Central, Eastern, and Southern regions. The capital city of the nation, La Roche, is located in the country's Central division. All of the landmasses consist largely of dense jungles and lush tropical flora surrounded by steep mountainous cliffs. It is located near the commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand. 

The Horizon islands military is the Horizon Islands Defence Forces (HIDF) and the HIDF Gendarmerie who are responsible for the law enforcement and military protection of the Islands.

The Tanoa Province (located in the nation's Northern division) covers a total landmass of 100 square kilometres:

Tanoa is the central island where the Northern division's capital of Georgetown is located. It is the most densely populated out of the five islands, and also serves as the economic hub of the nation.

Besides the capital, other notable locations include the main international airport (Aéroport de Tanoa) in the south, the Blue Pearl industrial shipping port in the north-east, the Red Spring strip mine, as well as the (inactive) volcano located directly in the centre of the island.

A road bridge connects Tanoa to the smaller island of Moddergat to the south-east.

Mainland (Tanoa)

The mainland of the Northern Division is referred to as Tanoa. A majority of the population of the ND is centered here and as such so is the majority of the fighting between the HIDF and Syndikat.

Moddergat

The second largest (though more sparsely populated) island in the archipelago, Moddergat is linked to the Tanoan mainland via the aforementioned road bridge. Most citizens reside in the town of Lijnhaven, which serves as the island's biggest settlement.

HIDF intel suggests that there is a decent sized Syndikat presence in the Western division of Moddergat which often range out to the east and kidnap people from Lijnhaven for ransom. As of yet the HIDF has made no attempt to quell the Syndikat presence here.

Balavu & Katkoula

The third most-populated island, Balavu has three smaller ports for cargo shipping and domestic ferries. Many citizens reside in the villages and towns scattered throughout the island, with a road bridge connecting Balavu to Katkoula island to the south-east.

Located directly south-east of Balavu, Katkoula is the fourth island in the archipelago. Unlike Balavu, most of its residents reside in the larger towns rather than in the smaller villages.

Katkoula island is also home to an airstrip, called Bala Airstrip. Initially it was constructed by the Tanoan Enthusiast Pilots Club however according to HIDF Intelligence, it is now used for flying drugs, weapons and other illegal materials in and out of the island.

Katkoula is considered to be a heavy Syndikat stronghold and is considered one of the most strategically important locations in the Syndikats smuggling operations. Frequent attempts by the HIDF have been made to attack the island but all naval and air assaults have been repelled with anti-air weapon systems and a large presence of paramilitaries and bandits occupying the island. Additional attempts have been made to attack from the NE and cross the bridge connecting Katkoula and Balavu however all attempts have failed and the bridge has since been fortified by Syndikat forces. Frequent long range duels take place between HIDF forces present on Belavu and Syndikat on Katkoula across the water.

Tuvanaka

The smallest and least populated of the five islands, Tuvanaka mostly serves as a giant military base with only two towns, Belfort, and Tuvanka, being inhabited by civilians. Tuvanaka is the only island in the archipelago that does not have a bridge connecting it to any other landmass. This island is under complete HIDF control and would be the most suitable location for a ground based FOB should one be required, with its only disadvantage being the inability to deploy ground based vehicles from this location. 

Climate

The climate in the Horizon Islands is tropical marine and warm all-year round, with particularly hot and humid summers. Rainfall is variable, though the archipelago typically experiences heavy thunderstorms on a regular basis. Occasional earthquakes and tremors have become frequent in the area, displacing locals regularly and forcing them to frequently rebuild or leave the island. 

Additionally, Tanoa experiences periods of monsoon weather. Typically around August and September.

Mission Overview

AO Strategic Intelligence

Tanoa and the entire Northern Division of the Horizon islands is a warzone with no defined front lines. The conflict rages on all sides and all directions, making it difficult to determine what is friend and what is foe. In conjunction with HIDF and Australian Intelligence several "heat maps" have been created to help establish a picture of where Syndikat activity is focused throughout the islands.

Areas have been marked out in four different colors signifying different things:

Red square: Heavy enemy presence. Camps, fortifications and patrols are to be expected.

Orange Square: Medium/Light Enemy Presence. Patrols and ambushes are to be expected but not guaranteed. However they prepared positions with fortifications etc are unlikely. 

Yellow Square: In contest. This means that HIDF and Syndikat are actively engaged with each other in frequent firefights. Other zones may have HIDF and Syndikat occasionally clashing with each other, however the yellow zones are to signify an ongoing struggle of power in a certain area.

Blue Square: Signifys friendly held areas with little enemy activity.

Red Circles/Ovals: These signify specific hotspots of enemy in any type of zone.

Mainland

As stated in the AO Background, the mainland is home to a majority of the Northern Divisions fighting. The HIDF are actively focused on rooting out all Syndikat presence within the mainland before shifting focus to the lesser islands. However, based on our analysis - this is likely a poor choice, due to the fact that the lesser islands allow free movement for the Syndikat around the exterior of the mainland for troops and supplies.

As you can see, the Westernmost and Easternmost sides of the mainland are held by HIDF Forces, with Blue Pearl Industrial port and Georgetown - the two biggest economically important locations on the island - being the focus of their forces to hold. HIDF are in the process of conducting a push through the area's north of Loganville and West of Blue Pearl. Syndikat forces are reportedly putting up fierce resistance, with a sizable force of Paramilitaries and Bandits fighting in those areas.

The Syndikat hold all the area through the center of the mainland all the way up through the coral reef. A large Syndikat presence is active through their and likely have a number of bases present in these areas. The HIDF report that they have lost six birds to anti-air presence in the central areas. The HIDF also believe Mignard Timoci and Tomoy Kingi are present in this area and are commanding the Western and Eastern actions of the Syndikat. 

Lami and Lilou are relatively peaceful but occasional gangs of criminals will roam these areas and kidnap people, plant improved explosives and ambush Gendarmerie (Police) patrols. The Syndikat have been attempting to push to the direct North of this area, and to the straight East of Georgetown. Likely attempting to establish positions within range of Georgetown.

The coral reef to the North of the mainland is believed to be one of the locations used by the Syndikat to launch boats towards Australia. The Syndikat smuggle people from the south, through the center of the mainland, through to the coral reef and on to Australia from there.

Moddergat

ModdergatModdergatis is thehe second island of the Northern Division. HIDF intel suggests that there is a decent sized Syndikat presence in the Westernmost area of Moddergat, centered around the town of Moddergat - which often range out to the east and kidnap people from Lijnhaven for ransom. As of yet the HIDF has made no attempt to quell the Syndikat presence here. Mostly bandits and petty criminals appear to be present here, with reports of two possible Paramilitary camps at Bleric and Tuadua Island (SW).

Balavu & Katkoula

Katkoula is one of the Syndikats most important strategic positions. Intel suggests that the Syndikat smuggling trade is centered on this island due to its easy access by sea, and the airstrip present on the island. According to reports compiled by the HIDF, some civilians who have fled the area claim that the island is run like a prison. What few civilians left on the island are not allowed to leave their homes, and strict curfews are enforced by parties of bandits and paramilitaries - reportedly personally commanded by Ganilau Wehilani. 

The HIDF report a heavy anti-air presence covering the Yanukka bay.

The bridge connecting Katkoula and Balavu is heavily fortified and manned following numerous attempts by the HIDF to cross it. Balavu itself is subject to frequent HIDF airborne operations launched from Tuvanaka, however none have succeeded so far. No one side currently controls Balavu right now, with it constantly changing hands.

Tuvanaka

Tuvanaka is considered the safest area in the entire Northern Division. Belfort and the entire Eastern side of the island is not occupied by any side and has not seen any fighting in quite some time. Tuvanaka airbase is the main HQ of the Horizon Islands Defence Force right now and as such it is well defended. Despite this however, the small town of Nani is occupied by a small force of bandits who have managed to hold out for some time.

Civilian Presence

Civilian population centres are signified by the black boxes marked on the map. Civilians may be present in other areas however, HIDF intelligence states these marked locations are where the biggest concentrations of civilians are.

Phase 1 - TBD

Phase 1 is yet to be decided. It will be up to the commanders of CTRG-1 to discuss where they would like to begin their operations based on the information provided in the strategic overview. Further intelligence may be available as to pinpoint enemy locations and presence. Once ground command has determined their starting point, Kingfisher will compile relevevant intelligence to the specific area in which the phase will focus on.

Administration & Logistics

Infantry Equipment
M81 Uniform
All NATO standard munitions and weapons.
Esoteric calibers allowed.
Armor piercing NATO (M995, M993) munitions removed.
Eastern Weaponry removed.

Aviation Assets
4x AH-6M
4x MH-6M 
2x AH-64 Apache
2x Transport HC4 Merlins
1x Logistics HC4 Merlin
3x MAV-85's VTOL
2x UH-1Y MG
2x MH-60M Insertion

Ground Assets
TBD by ground commanders. Sufficient room for 25 vehicles onboard LHD.

Naval Assets
2x LCVP Vehicle Transport
1x LCVP Infantry Transport
6x Offshore Raiding Craft


Artillery Assets
1x 155mm Naval Cannon (By Request)
20x Cruise Missiles (By Request)

Autonomous Assets
By request of ground commanderscommanders. Budget allocated for four autonomous assets.

Command & Signals