The wait for Combat Mission Shock Force 2 was long, but it has finally crossed the breach.  Now, fans of the series can fight it out over deadly Syrian sands with the benefit of all enhancements from Battlefront’s latest version of the Combat Mission engine.  There may not be any Russians lurking out there this time around, but with a coalition of American, British, German, Canadian and Dutch forces taking on a mixed group of Syrian and unconventional foreign Arabic fighters, there is sure to be plenty of chaos.  It’s going to take some time to push out a thorough Grog-worthy review, but in the meantime, here is an After Action Report to tide you over.  Covering the initial American drive across the Iraqi border and into the Syrian maelstrom, join Task Force Thunder and climb over the top with Grogheads!

stryker – Image may be subject to copyright

Craig H. Handler,

Task Force Thunder is the campaign from the initial release of Combat Mission Shock Force. It follows the U.S. Army in its drive across the Iraqi-Syrian border westward along Route Lightning toward Homs.  Tasked with the most critical objective of the campaign, the brigade-sized force of American Strykers, supported by heavy BCT elements, artillery and air support, will seek to slice Syria in half, seizing key urban centers in the area of the ancient city of Homs, some 160km North of Damascus.

Combat Mission Shock Force 2 Screenshot 2018.12.15 17.00.37.96

The first phase of the operation, Breakthrough at the Berm, initially places two (2) platoons of Strykers, with Mobile Gun System (“MGS”) support and a platoon of Abrams main battle tanks under our command.  An additional platoon of infantry and Strykers will arrive as reinforcements shortly after the assault commences.  Indirect fire support is generous and will include 120mm mortar batteries, as well as 155mm howitzers.

U.S. forces will assault west over the border berm, and surge across the relatively flat open terrain. We will use night to cover our approach and to accomplish the commander’s intent of destroying the enemy units manning the line suffering as few friendly casualties as possible.  Our secondary objective includes seizing key barracks buildings inside of a local fort complex, which serves as a linchpin for the defensive line.  Intel advises us that we will be facing at least a battalion of Syrian Border troops dug in along defensive trenches, and supported by static T-55 tanks in hull-down positions. These obsolete tanks may not be much of a threat to the Abrams, but they can still be deadly to the Strykers, so we will prioritize the destruction of these units. We are not expecting mobile armored or mechanized enemy combatants.  By all appearances, we should have overwhelming fire superiority in this mission, but be prepared for anything!

Combat Mission Shock Force 2 Screenshot 2018.12.15 17.01.31.65

The main highway bisects the border berm and is the only gap that will facilitate the movement of our mechanized forces across the border. We must navigate it cautiously, as it has certainly been mined.  To cover the advance across the open highway, our Abrams tanks of 1st Platoon, Bravo, will take positions along the berm and begin to destroy observable defensive positions along the Syrian front line.  Targets include a series of bunkers, and of course, the initial force of static T-55s.

Opening salvo from 1 Plt B Co Armor

The silence of the night is shattered by the 120mm guns of our supporting armor. They have seized positions on the berm and are making short work of the exposed Syrian positions.  Within moments of the initial attack, several Syrian bunkers and tanks are in flames.

Destroyed T-55

Burning bunker and knocked out T-55s

Under the protection of the accurate fire of the Abrams tanks, the Stryker platoons carefully cross the border and begin deploying infantry for the assault of the Syrian trenches. The plan is to focus the attack on the relatively short line of resistance on the left flank of our approach.  Once occupied, we will use the Syrian defenses to roll up the line and, ultimately to support the main objective of assaulting into the fortress.

Infantry leads the way!

Covering fire from Strykers, as the infantry prepares to get into the fight

The counter-battery mission of our supporting artillery is complete, and as such, our units now have priority tasking. Leading elements call in anti-personnel rounds to shred the Syrian troops manning the trenches.

Artillery…still king of the battlefield

The anti-personnel air bursts rain burning shrapnel over the trenches killing the Syrian border guards and shattering the morale of those who survive. The Stryker platoons spread out and disgorge their infantry who form up in preparation for storming the trench line.

The infantry prepares to storm the trench

With all of the immediate action focused on the left flank, there is still a battle raging across the entirety of the defensive line. A platoon of Strykers and a Section of Abrams tanks continue to trade fire with enemy infantry positioned within the fortress, as well as infantry, bunkers and remaining stationary T-55s on the right flank of the enemy position.  An MQ-1 Predator drone spots heavy movement on the enemies’ far right flank, a platoon of mobile T-55s are displacing and moving to support the crumbling left flank of the Syrian defense.  Fortunately, they are quickly targeted and eliminated by a section of Abrams that remain in overwatch on the berm.

Intelligence didn’t brief us on a mobile armored enemy presence, but Task Force Thunder is equipped to handle anything

Back on the left, infantry from 3rd Platoon commences the assault on the enemy trench line. Suppressive fire from their Stryker IAVs keep the Syrians’ heads down, pinning them in their trenches.

Suppressive fire from the Stryker IAVs was very effective

The infantry assault is in full swing, with several squads of grunts from 3rd Platoon leading the charge. Despite all the action, allied forces have still not sustained a single loss!

3rd Platoon bears the brunt of the heavy fighting on the left

The Syrian defense crumbles rapidly, with several of the defending units retreating out of the safety of the trench. The panicing border guards either surrender, or are eliminated as they flee.

Syrian units surrender to an Abrams

The left flank is now in American hands. The enemy trench and bunker have been abandoned

The left flank of the Syrian defensive line has collapsed, while 3rd Platoon occupies the enemy trench. The next phase of the plan commences, with U.S. infantry regrouping and marshaling on the South side of Route Lightning.

While 3rd Platoon prepares to assault the fortress headquarters from the South, 1st Platoon, A Company prepares to attack from the East. The HQ complex is shelled heavily with 155mm rounds  to soften up the defenders. Taking the fortress is very challenging and dangerous, as it is walled in and substantial enemy forces occupy elevated buildings on all sides of the compound.

The compound is under heavy artillery fire

1st and 3rd Platoon are in position and a Section of M1s move in to support the assault.

The attack on the HQ complex is underway

3rd Platoon prepares to cross the highway

3rd Platoon assaults across Route Lightning

Heavy fire is exchanged with Syrian forces fighting to hold onto the HQ complex

U.S. infantry prepares to storm the barracks entrance

Engaging Syrians in close quarters

The lead elements of the infantry assault force their way into the compound. 1st Squad is met with a hail of enemy fire, the green tracers ricocheting throughout the parade deck. The fire is so heavy that the Task Force unavoidably suffers casualties, the first of the U.S. campaign.  With a foothold gained at the entrance of the compound, additional infantry and armored units are rushed in to flush the enemy out. Heavy fire is directed into the Fort Headquarters building and into the large barracks. In conjunction with 3rd Platoon’s assault from the South, 1st Platoon heads in from East, preparing to breach the fortress walls with charges handled by a team of engineers.

Infantry supported by Strykers move into the compound as the engineers prepare to blast down the walls

The wall is blown

Engineers successfully blast a gap into the fortress wall. However, some of them are caught in the open and the team sustains two men down.

U.S. forces press in from the South and East

Main Stryker elements are now in the compound and 3rd Platoon methodically clears the Fort HQ building. With the enemy leadership elements eliminated, the balance of the Syrian defense withers and melts away. The remaining forces panic and break, abandoning their positions en masse and leaving the entire position under U.S. control. Task Force Thunder has kicked in the Syrian door and achieved total victory.

Final AAR

With only six men killed and eight wounded, with no vehicles taken out of action, the losses sustained by Task Force Thunder are unexpectedly light.  Syrian losses exceed 350 men together with the destruction of 15 tanks.  Although this battle was very one-sided, Task Force Thunder faced only poorly trained border guards. The interior of the countryside will be held by much more well-equipped and trained main force military units, supported by unconventional ideological fanatics. We will enjoy the hard fought victory today, but must prepare for a much tougher campaign ahead.

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