[War] Russia/Japan: "Fun and Games"

[Michael Downey]

"Fun and Games"
Lieutenant Suborev, Russian Army
Lieutenant Kaifu, JGSDF
02 August 2014
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<Abkhazia>

Lieutenant Suborev of the 131st Motor Rifle Brigade fumbled with the
chin strap on his helmet. Derived from the US Army's Advanced Combat
Helmet, the new protective headgear being introduced to all Russian
troops was supposedly more effective at protecting one's head from
injury but more ergonomic and comfortable. While Suborev did find this
to be mostly true, he and only he seemed to find the chin strap
maddeningly itchy.

"Comrade Lieutenant," whispered Senior Sergeant Gulensky. Though
'comrade' was slowly falling out of favor among Russian civilians the
term was still widely employed among the armed forces. The light of
the sun was beginning to fade and bent low in the high grass of the
softly rolling hills in this small farmstead outside of Gali it was
hard for Suborev to see Gulensky's face. Soon they would need NVG.
"Our forward scouts report that the farming complex shows no sign of
activity. No lights or movement observable from their sniping
position. However the complex is quite large, with three barns, a
automotive shop and two storage silos plus cattle pens. It could hide
a large number of men if they were to remain still."

"Accursed Vozdushno-Desantnye," muttered Suborev. Those damn VDV had
Suborev's scout platoon run ragged, having chased them for almost two
whole days now. They'd gotten intermitant contact up until five hours
ago. The area beyond this old abandoned farming complex was more flat
and open terrain and would not be desirable for foot infantry VDV to
stand against Suborev's platoon and their three BTR-90 support
vehicles. They must have fallen back here. It was an excellent spot
for an ambush and the armored vehicles would be vulnerable to RPG
attacks from the buildings. "Do you have any idea where Kaifu's men
are?"

"If they followed the plan of movement they should be opposite us on
the other side of the complex," answered Gulensky. Suborev tapped on
his small personal radio.

"Suborev to Kaifu," the Lieutenant spoke in English.  "Please come in, over."

Lieutenant Kaifu was in position, however his second vehicle the Type
87 RCV had quit on them about a mile back. They had functionally
disabled it and moved on with their still working Type 96 APC.
Positioning was important in war, Kaifu's instructors had told him
time and time again and he wasn't about to embarrass his country and
the JSDF by screwing this operation in front of the Russians.

He slid his GPS mapping unit out of his belt and checked the screen.
They were a half click from a farming complex and the road ahead was a
wide swath of open terrain which would be hell to cross when you were
chasing a non-standard unit like these Russkie VDV bastards.

His radio clicked on in his ear and he heard Suborev's call.

"Kaifu here," he said putting back his GPS device and directing his
men with hand signals, to scout ahead.

"We believe we have the targets in an abandoned farming complex of
some sort. There's nowhere else they could have run to but we have no
visual contact. Have you encountered any signs of targets near your
location? Over."

The Japanese troops hadn't had any contact with the targets for over
an hour. "Negative, just arrived, over." He looked for any sign from
his scouts. There wasn't.

"Roger," came Suborev's reply. "Advise you approach the complex from
you direction with extreme caution. Once you are in position we will
reconnoiter target buildings and your unit can provided overwatch
support."

"Roger," replied Kaifu. "Be advised the eight-seven is out of commission."

"Traxatvsja," cursed Suborev under his breath. Vehicles were a
decicive advantage against infantry and having the JSDF slowed down in
their approach gave the VDV more time to spot Suborev and his men.
"Roger that, we will hold position here until you arrive and proceed
with the plan."

Kaifu nodded and beckoned his Platoon Sergeant forward as he pulled
out the GPS unit. Platoon Sergeant Anzai crouched down an peered at
the screen with a perfunctory but respectful, "Sir."

"The Russians believe our targets are here," he said pointing to the
image of the farm complex. "We're going to move in and provide cover
while they go in and perform a recce of the complex."

"How long do you think they've been there?" Sgt. Anzai asked.

"Long enough to set up traps, we're going to take this one slowly, I
want you to take first patrol and join our scouts, we'll follow up
behind, and set up positions along the tree line."

"And if we have contact with the enemy?"

"Fire and disengage, we'll link back up and proceed from there."

The Sergeant nodded. "Yes, sir."

Kaifu nodded searching the Sergeant's face for any sign of disaproval
of the plan. He didn't find any and besides he could go back on what
he'd just ordered anyhow. "Alright, lets go."

With that the Japanese platoon got organized to move out.

Meanwhile Suborev and his men were planning their plan of action to
recon the complex. If the VDV were hiding they would spot the BTRs in
a second if they approached so the three vehicles would remain behind
with a squad of men to act as quick response backup while Suborev
would lead two squads into the complex. One squad, led by Suborev,
would circle around and approach from the East while the other would
move in from the West after two minutes. Suborev's plan was that the
VDV would blow their cover and pounces the first squad and expose
themselves to an attack by the second squad and the Japanese.

"Then that's it," said Suborev to his squad sergeants once they'd gone
over a crude map drawing he'd done up. "Kaifu," he said again over the
radio, "Are you in position yet?"

Kaifu was concealed in the woods near the farming complex as he
replied. "Roger we're in position. No sign of enemy at this time."

"Move out," Suborev ordered to his men once the two squads were in position.
---

Actions:
1) The Russian Army and JGSDF contingents of the PKF in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia conduct training exercises together