Operation "Overkill" was a three pronged attack on eight enemy bases, oil fields and abandoned missile silos that started on the 7th May. Over 2.000 insurgents were killed in the operation.
Involved on the 7th May were:
* 1x Mobile Medical Company
* 3x divisions of the 10th, 2nd and 5th Mountain Wolves (Beta Teams)
* 2x divisions of the 1st and 2nd Mechanized Marine Wolves of the (Alpha Team)
* 1x Mortar Platoon
* 1x Sustainment Platoon
* 2x Black Ops together with Joint Fire Support Teams
* 1x Rear Guard Protection Group
* 1x U.T.T. Air Strike Group (1st A10 Attack Squadron)
The battle near Alcabideche on May 7th 2011
The plan was simple. The 2nd, 5th and 10th Mountain Wolves would move in the center, thrust itself and expose its flanks on purpose, while 2 miles on either side the 1st and 2nd Division of Marine Wolves would spear itself on the flanks ready to react to expected enemy attack in the center and close in on the enemies attack. Black Ops Wolves (B.O.W.) along with Joint Fire Support Teams would hold the rear and step in to sweep up the remnants of the enemy. The newly recruited 2nd and 5th Mountain Wolves would be mixed with the veteran of the 10th. Casualties were expected to be high within the newly formed Divisions.
That day the Mountain Wolves acted as follows:
The night before, A-Platoon had been deployed to the Alcabideche Police Station Outpost and was supposed to conduct a day/night patrol, after which it would return to the Station by noon. B-Platoon was tasked with checking a road to the NW of the outpost for roadside bombs, cooperating closely with a recon team from the Mountain Recon Company (part of the 10th Mountain Wolves) which operated farther north. C-Platoon would act as a tactical reserve in the Police Station.
Just about 04:13PM the recon team was struck by a suicide bomber and consequently took fire from hostile forces about 3,500 m NE of the vicinity of Lisbon. The team was able to break through the ambush and received orders to regroup at crossroads J-79 so hostile force charging southbound could be intercepted. Simultaneously, B-Platoon was ordered to unite with the recon team or to relieve it and prepare a counter attack along the road between J-79 and Lisbon.
The intention was to intercept and wipe out the enemy at a good opportunity in the course of the road.
Even before B-Platoon could move into position North of Alcabideche, new fighting erupted at about 04:30PM and this time both the recon team - as well as B-Platoon - took small arms and RPG fire. B-Platoon broke through the hostile lines and regrouped with the recon team.
While firing at B-Platoon, the enemy jeopardized the security of the civilian population and even fired over and through a group of children. Luckily none of the children were hit. Even as the leader of the leading group reached the recon team's counterpart, the enemy charged a frontal assault in two waves. B-Platoon and the attached recon team took up defensive positions in several compounds in the outskirts of Alcabideche and successfully fought back a great number of insurgents which charged assaults from several directions and tried to flank the platoon several times.
The enemy came as close as 25 yards. The recon team leader narrowly evaded certain death when his rifle and his boots were struck by paint. B-Platoon's leading group leader saved him by killing at least one of the attackers. His charge to the aid of the recon team was praised as "daring" and it is agreed that he saved the recon team from annihilation.
It was described as a "miracle" that no soldiers were wounded or killed that day. The behaviour of hostile forces was described as "fanatical" and "fearless".
Some soldiers suggested afterwards that the insurgents might have been stoned.
Two A-10 arrived over Alcabideche for close air support at 05:15PM. Another battle erupted and lasted till the arrival of reinforcements at 06:18AM. Then the enemy - obviously surprised about the strong resistance - retreated in westward direction after having suffered great casualties.
At the same time, a large number of unarmed civilians left their homes. It seems reasonable to assume that they were supposed to shield the enemy's retreat. It was not verifiable if these civilians volunteered to do so or acted under duress.
The plan to chase the enemy was dropped due to the local population, pending nightfall and high-density urbanization within the area, the more so as the dismounted insurgents were more maneuverable and had substantial knowledge of the terrain and environment.
Many soldiers saw civilians lining the streets and waving at them. It cannot be excluded that the civilian population expressed joy over the defeat of the insurgents. Close to Cascais, B-Platoon reported that the local population was avoiding contact again and supposed another encounter to be imminent. The radio message had not even been finished when the leading vehicle of the column was struck by 5 RPGs and small arms fire.
B-Platoon returned fire and broke through the ambush as no cover to disembark was available there. Having successfully broken through the ambush, B-Platoon dismounted South of Cascais. The following engagement lasted for 30 minutes. Four A-10 Thunderbolts were deployed to gather intelligence and conduct close-air-support using show-of-force. The battle ended after five hours at about 09:21PM.
LUNA UAV’s were used during the battle for aerial intelligence and close air support via show-of-force. No U.T.T. troops were harmed. The enemy was able to recover their casualties and bodies despite heavy losses.
Operation Overkill (Day2)
7th May 2011
First hand report from Mountain Wolves Commanding Officer:
On the second day, the actual start of Operation Overkill, all three groups of the central assault were plunged head first into the woods three miles north of Alcabideche. With mechanized infantry on our flanks, out of site but within earshot, from both Marine Wolf detachments the short discomfort of having so many raw recruits within my ranks helped ease the tension.
Our job was simple:
Let the enemy find us. Fight a holding action until both flanks of Mechanized infantry closed in to wipe out the enemy attack and then hold back while the Black Ops flew in on Blackhawks, Chinooks and Huey helicopters, drop behind enemy lines and mop up the remnants of the fleeing enemy troops.
Within an hour of our departure, enemy artillery hammered into the forest we had just entered, right next to an enemy held city. “Dutch”, who was leading the 2nd on point, radioed heavy resistance shortly after. I ordered the 5th to join in the fight as I held the 10th in reserve. After two minutes of artillery shells exploding around us the enemy stopped firing, fearing that they’d hit their own troops. The radio screamed orders and counter orders. The Mechanized Marines on our flanks were already closing in for the kill, which would reach us in ten minutes while B.O.W. where already on their way and would fly by in twenty. All we had to do now is hold.
“Pariah. Pariah. This is Fenrir do you read over?” The radio shouted my name as I snatched the receiver off the radio man.
“Roger that Fenrir. Pariah here go ahead.”
“Pariah. The left flank is closing in on your position. The right flank is a no go. Enemy has set up ambush and is giving us heavy resistance. Suggest you hold for 2nd Marines to close in. 1st Marine is a no go for now. I repeat. 1st Marine is a no go.”
“Roger that Fenrir. Pariah out.” I threw the receiver at the radio man who caught it in mid air and stared at the enemy ahead of me. Paint was sprayed in all directions. RPGs exploded as troops flew almost exaggeratingly into the air. An enemy grenade exploded two feet away without any damage, but it was enough to bring me back to reality.
“Get me B.O.W on the line” I pointed to the radio man.
“Heretic. This is Pariah. Enemy has engaged. 2nd Marines will be moving from the west. 1st Marines pinned 2 miles from the east. We have met up with heavy resistance. Suggest you relocate north-east of our position. As soon as 2nd Marines arrive the battle should turn in that general direction. Over.” The radio crackled heavily and whistled before going dead.
“Do you think they got the message, sir?” Private Fabio asked as he approached with his M107 Sniper rifle.
“Get to high ground with that thing.” Pariah pointed at his rifle, ignoring his question. “Pick off officers and radio men. Anything you can do to disrupt the enemy.”
Within minutes of Fabios departure, 1st Mechanized Marine Division had broken the enemy on the right flank and were in pursuit. They had reached an old abandoned missile silo which the enemy had fortified and now pounded the enemy within their entrenchment.
With 1.300 casualties already mounting and our medical depot steadily filling the enemy continued to thread its way through our lines. Grenades where flying in every direction, the constant bang from their explosive charge rattled my ear drums. An RPG hit the half track behind me. The explosion sent the doors in different directions and flames burst out instantly. Unfortunately Liam had just switched on the engine after dropping off ammunition. He leapt into the air along with the driver’s seat and disappeared into the clouds. The rear guard finally caught up and the Mortar teams set up quickly to respond to the enemies advance. Both 2nd and 5th Mountain Division were heavily engaged while the 10th was had now joined the fight. Heavy machine gun fire burst through the tree as the enemy ploughed their lines of death. More and more troops fell as sprays of fluorescent paint flew in every direction. The mortar team opened up the enemy lines as the mortar shells whistled before they impacted. Great clouds of smoke and paint flew in the air and ricocheted off the trees as they enemy slowly started to take heavy a casualties.
"Did you miss us?" Was the only sarcastic message from Black Ops, over the radio as the B.O.W. helicopters flew low overhead, firing their main guns and blazing a trail of death.
Three RPGs fly past the Blackhawks, one narrowly missing a tail rotor, the mortars continue to fire, every gun is in action and finally the 2nd Mechanized Marine Division fly into action, crashing through the tree line and firing the 80mm cannons into the enemies packed ranks. It’s frenzied chaos as we move forward shouting and screaming. The enemy retreat as fast as they can to the north east as predicted.
End trail…
Pariah calls the Mountain Divisions to a halt as the 2nd Mechanized Divisions make chase. Pariah steps back and smiles. He’s splattered with ricocheted paint as he lights a cigar. His jobs done, the bait taken and he smiles as he blows a trail of tobacco smoke from his mouth.
“I love my job…”
