Operation Snakepit - Scenarios

These scenarios allow you to play out actual engagements from late 2007 in Afghanistan. In most cases I have scaled down the scenarios to match my modest collection and for playability purposes.

I have used Stephen Grey's book Operation Snakebite / Into the Viper's Nest as my main source – doubtless you shall find inaccuracies and mistakes below; they are all mine.
The main effort to retake Musa Qala was undertaken by Task Force 1 Fury (comprising 1st Battalion of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment). The scenarios below represent the preparatory and peripheral missions of the operation.

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In time I will update this document with scenarios representing those core missions – but also updating the campaign outcomes affecting TF1 Fury's engagements.

Diversion

Sangin has been pummelled in the first major Taliban offensive in ages, though they slipped away at nightfall, intelligence suggests they’ll be back in the morning. A Company of the Royal Gurkha Rifles is sweeping in between the river and the canal to cut off them off when the Taliban spring a surprise of their own…

The Taliban occupy the outskirts of Sangin



The Gurkha patrol approaches the sturdy-looking compound on this side of the irrigation ditch



Taliban engage the Gurkhas as they cross the open ground to take control of the compound



The leading fire team takes fire as it enters the building from the courtyard - the sniper team look on helplessly, they can't draw a bead on the Taliban inside



Stiff resistance continues in the compound - two Taliban die hard



With the compound secured, the Gurkhas cross the irrigation ditch on the right flank



With control of the compound, a sniper team is on overwatch backed up by a fireteam on the roof



An IED goes off inside, despite the quick-reacting sniper team. The rooftop team scarpered, dragging their wounded man with them



Across the way, the leading section pushes through and clears the market

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Another IED trigger man catches up with the rear party - platoon HQ is organising the evacuation of the seriously wounded. The vigilant fire team on security see off the trigger man's efforts to hit a lucrative concentration



Back at the compound the sniper team takes on the goatherd - but thinks better of just shooting him, they take him prisoner instead



Evacuating the casualties



The lead section clears the green zone across the ditch - shutting down avenues for Taliban reinforcements to reach the area safely



A Soviet legacy mine takes out the remaining Taliban on the battlefield



A clear-cut victory for the British - after seeing the debacle the previous day this was a very disciplined approach by the British player.

We played this again (but no photos) with two complete novices, who showed some good nous and aggression. This time the Taliban came out on top (their player shows an unerring ability to get Fog of War cards!)

I'll post the scenarios here in a few days. Thanks for reading.

Battle for the Wadi

As 1 Fury sweep round Musa Qala, taking the high ground in advance of the attack on the town itself, a Troop of the Scots Guards crosses the wadi to prevent any retreat southwards into the Green Zone…

Across the Wadi, Taliban wait guarding the crossing into Musa Qala



The Scot Guards exit the wadi to approach the village



Around the corner, a Taliban group stands and fights, taking losses but standing its ground to knock out the Warrior's cannon with a well-placed RPG round



The section from the lead Warrior has dismounted and climbed up the wadi's banks overlooking the village. The first fireteam descends into the fields. A Taliban group further up the wadi fires everything they have at it and the entire team goes down

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Their backup on the wadi bank couldn't see those Taliban and follows their mates down, suppressing them when they reach the fields. They hunker down alongside the first fireteam to provide medical attention. A second group of Taliban in the nearby orchard charges out into close assault



The British fail to put down any final defensive fire and are completely overrun!



Things go from bad to worse as the second Warrior intervenes in the struggle and is knocked out - the fireteam and GPMG team bail out



A motorbike RPG team rounds the corner and survives a hail of fire to put a round into the remaining warrior - knocking it out as well!



This scratch section is left occupying a house but isn't going anywhere.



Wow! This one went from pedestrian to nightmarish in a flash. While splitting up the Warriors (with one carrying half the squaddies) from the infantry section seemed risky; it was to take advantage of the infantry's ability to climb the wadi's bank (which the vehicles could not). The Taliban's fire into the first fireteam was highly unlikely to bring them all down, and then the wildly successful assault was a completely surprise.

The Battle of 9/11

A Company has been patrolling out of FOB Inkerman all day in response to intelligence reports. Simultaneously all over Helmand ISAF troops have been making heavy contacts with the Taliban. A mile and a half out of the FOB the marines begin to notice strange activity – there’s a small pause as both sides go for cover and then all hell breaks loose…

The Taliban lie in wait along the British route British move towards landing zone Firing at Taliban compound ahead - a Taliban DShK is behind the compound wall, supported by a rooftop sniper The Taliban threat is wiped out in short order, this fire team moves in to clear the compound On the other flank, the Taliban who stood and fought are outgunned and this lone survivor takes point blank fire as the British shut down the rat run A suspicious civilian approaches a fireteam on the right flank - they see IED wiring under the clothes and shoot to kill The last Taliban group on this side of the Landing Zone is forced into the fields British fire team begin closing the net around the LZ - their counterparts are clearing the market on the other side Taking refuge in large tomb - this overlooks the LZ and will provide a good base of fire for the final sweep A huge group of Taliban arrives just beside the LZ! Firing on British in tomb - which turns out to be a death-trap. Walls made of polystyrene it seems The Landing Zone is still hotly contested, and some careful manoeuvring is required for the British to ferret out the Taliban A victory for the British - one KIA, but their methodical closing down of the hotspots won them the day

The Patrol to Khevalabad

C Company of 40 Commando infiltrates along the Chinah Wadi during darkness. While the Afghan National Army clears Chinah they patrol into Khevalabad, where the forward line of enemy troops (FLET) is reckoned to be. As they move from compound to compound under the brightening sky all they find is empty buildings. Just as they think there will be no engagement, the Taliban open fire from the north and the west…

British patrol enters Khevalabad

Advance through poppy fields is tense, as there has been no contact with Taliban forces as yet

Taliban at top of Wadi rise up to strike at the British, but a fierce sandstorm blows up, preventing all long-range fire

Taliban group lurking in alleyway - they are hidden from the view of the British in the fields, but have struck an early blow by seriously wounding one of the roof-top soldiers
 
Reinforcements arrive from across open ground - they are shielded by the low-visibility and begin to make their way towards the action
 
A costly exchange of fire - while numerous Taliban are brought down, three British soldiers are shot
 
The British clear the large buidling, preventing any interference with the slow extraction of the wounded
 
The second fireteam up are caught in a crossfire by Taliban reinforcements
 
A Taliban machine gun team suppresses the British advance group

With the British going firm at the Taliban forward line, a previously unseen civilian sets off a large IED in an alleyway
 
The cost to the British is high, while some success was had in withdrawing early casualties, the effort to reach the Forward Line of Enemy Troops led to overstretch. Not helped by the sandstorm, the British are bloodied by the Taliban ambush.