Event: Northern Thunder
Host: CanaOps
AO: The Compound
Unit: The Milibois
Date: April 17th, 2025
Submitted by: Chefman / RAK-01
Arrival & Conditions
The Milibois rolled into the AO on Friday under the roar of Northern Thunder – a fitting name, as torrential rain and thunder cracked the skies above. The elements transformed the AO into a mix of mud and slush, with patches of snow still clinging to the ground. Despite the miserable weather, morale was high and the team was eager to get after it.
Saturday Operations
As dawn broke Saturday morning, the team was tasked with taking the town from OPFOR control. After departing from CP and pushing up to the church, we encountered two OPFOR Technicals parked in the heart of the town – ready and waiting.
Initial attempts to disable the vehicles were unsuccessful. RAK-01 chalked himself early on, but the Milibois regrouped and pushed forward. What followed was a gritty, back-and-forth battle that lasted the better part of the day. Under direct orders from Commander Mike Hagan, we were to hold our ground and deny OPFOR further advancement.
Despite heavy resistance, the team’s cohesion held strong. Communication improved as the day wore on, and our tactics began to pay off. By early evening, we successfully captured the entire town. MG nests were established and lanes of fire secured, giving us the upper hand in defense.
A major engagement occurred shortly after, where RAK-02 was able to eliminate Lazy Sue, one of OPFOR’s most problematic Technicals. However, this victory came at the cost of nearly all our ammunition. With depleted resources, the Milibois fell back to the center of town, handing off control to fresh reinforcements.
Night Raid
As darkness fell, the team switched over to night assets. Equipped with NODs and suppressors, the Milibois conducted a raid on the enemy CP. A well-placed gunner’s nest laid down suppressive fire, disrupting enemy lines and lowering their morale. During the raid, a substantial cache of supplies was captured and exfiltrated back to our CP – securing crucial points.
Outcome
The game concluded with Commander Mike Hagan securing victory. The Milibois proved themselves effective in urban combat, demonstrated improved communication, and executed multiple objectives, including neutralizing Technicals and setting up effective machine gun positions
Lessons Learned
Technical Neutralization: Engaging and disabling enemy vehicles is a priority in urban engagements. Coordinated assaults and better anti-vehicle tactics need to be refined.
Communication: Internal comms saw noticeable improvement over the course of the weekend. Continued practice is encouraged.
Fire Discipline & Lane Setup: Our MG teams showed strong capability in securing sectors of fire. More pre-planning and coordination during setup will increase effectiveness.
Final Notes
Mud, snow, and steel – Northern Thunder lived up to its name. The Milibois held strong, adapted fast, and punched hard. This was a win for the team, not just on the scoreboard, but in experience gained and camaraderie built.