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11th ACR OPORD, DEFENSE OF FULDA GAP
1.Situation
Enemy Forces
Warsaw Pact (WP) forces have crossed the Inter German Border in force and are advancing on the Fulda Gap. Enemy forces are believed to consist of the heavily mechanized 8th Guards Army (SU) and 3rd Armee (DDR). These forces constitute a portion of the WP’s highest trained and motivated formations. It is believed their objective is to force a breakthrough against NATO forces, on to Frankfurt, then the river Rhine.
Friendly forces
V Corps’ mission is to blunt WP forces for 7 days, in order to allow for the arrival of REFORGER units from CONUS and their meet up with prepositioned equipment. In order to give REFORGER units operational depth it is imperative to surrender as little FRG territory as possible. Frankfurt is to be held at all costs.
8th Infantry Division is located south of 11th ACR’s present position and establishing a defensive line near 32 Northing, taking up positions along key terrain long WP forces likely axis of advance. 197th Infantry Brigade will take up position in the Hohe Buche in order to secure V Corps’ left flank. 3rd Armored Division and 194th Armored Brigade will serve as V Corps reserve. 4th Infantry Division will arrive on the battle field within 36 hours.
41st and 42nd Field Artillery Brigades are available to provide general support fires. V Corps’ commander may authorized these units to provide direct support to 11th ACR to cover our withdrawal. Should an FA brigade be allocated to direct support, FA battalions will provide over watch, provide area saturation on key roadways, and lay mine field at vital intersections and crossings. NATO air assets should be able to sortie to counter the enemy’s mobility to guard against vertical envelopment and attack helicopters, and provide CAS at choke points along the rail line.
2.Mission
11th ACR will provide initial screening for V Corps and conduct a fighting withdrawal to NATO lines. 11th ACR will force WP to deploy from march formation, and prematurely commit themselves to attack, heightening their vulnerability and buying time for the remainder of the Corps to deploy. 11th ACR will be the first V Corps’ formation to make direct contact with WP forces, near Breitenbach. Our withdrawal will generally follow the motorway running from Breitenbach pass Blankenheim. It is imperative to keep the Fulda River between the 11th ACR and the expect main axis advance along the rail line.
Should the enemy pass through Blankenheim before 11th ACR, the withdrawl will pivot straight to the west and the 11th ACR will take positions in the Hohe Buche
3.Execution
Our withdrawal will be conducted in echelon, with each ground squadron only pulling back once contact is made with the enemies forward elements. The contacted echelon will engage and then withdrawal under the cover of organic artillery and smoke. 4th Squadron will be held in reserve to help the ground elements disengage if needed. The ground elements FIST team should mark preplanned fires along the route of march, and be ready to call for fire as needed. The withdrawal will be completed upon crossing the 8th ID’s lines near the main line of resistance. Upon passing through the MLR, 11th will pass to the west and screen the 8th ID’s immediate left flank. Resupply from higher will take place at this time.
1st Squadron will be the forward most element at the beginning of the engagement, followed by 2nd Squadron, then 3rd Squadron. Squadron commanders should hold their tank companies in local reserve, allowing the Cavalry troops to from the front. Should the cavalry troops be overwhelmingly engaged, the tank company should assist is extracting those forces will artillery is brought to bear. Engagement should take place at maximum possible ranges to preserve forces.
Each successive defensive line should be established 1 km past the previous line, so that enemy forces are under continuous, direct contact and to provide a degree of mutual support. Defensive lines should be oriented generally in a line running NW to SE, taking allowance for local terrain.
4th Squadron’s assets will take shelter in the terrain to the east of the expected main axis of advance, and be on call to support any engaged element. They will arm and refuel at a forward operating base established by the squadron’s support elements near Mecklar.
4.Service Support
All elements are supplied and ready for combat. Resupply will be conducted by the support squadron once the regiment passes through the MLR. Because of high likelihood of employment of chemical weapons by WP forces, all 11th ACR personnel will be at MOPP 2. Upon indication of chemical weapon usage all forces should adopt MOPP 4 posture. Capture material should be destroyed in place, or otherwise render inoperative. There will be little chance to recover disabled or combat ineffective friendly vehicles and they should be destroyed in place. UH-60s from 4th squadron will be available for medical evacuation if conditions permit, otherwise CASEVAC should be handled by individual squadrons. These elements should designate personnel from non-line troops and companies to conduct CASEVAC. It may not be possible to withdrawal all wounds personnel. EPW’s will to transferred to HQ 8th ID for debriefing. In not convenient, EPWs are to be disarmed and left behind.
5.Command and signal
Signals will be per SOP. CMDR, 11th ACR will be located at the middle combat echelon at any given time. XO, 11th ACR will be with an alternate CP located with the rear echelon.
CMDR, 11th ACR
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