Strykers' mobility surprises enemy in Polk's urban battle
by Spc. Lorie Jewell, Pfc. Andrew Hillegass and Spc. Marc Loi
FORT POLK, La. (Army News Service, May 27, 2003) - An explosive battle for control of the village of Shughart-Gordon capped the 10-day exercise "Arrowhead Lightning II," the final operational certification for the Army's first Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Elements of the SBCT (3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division) swiftly enveloped the town of Shughart-Gordon just before evening chow May 24, and flushed out all enemy troops long before breakfast the next morning.
Joint Readiness Training Center observer/controllers reported that the SBCT reconnaissance unit had the town under surveillance by mid-Saturday afternoon, and indicated that the SBCT assault could begin at any time, according to Lt. Col. Joseph Piek, Fort Lewis Transformation Public Affairs Officer. Only the Opposing Force didn't know that.
The SBCT's main assault task force, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, surprised planners of the mock battle by reaching the town about 5 p.m., roughly 10 hours ahead of schedule, said site supervisor Cayln Rayburn.
"Most units I've seen at the city don't make contact at Shughart-Gordon until around midnight,'' Rayburn said. "The speed in which the SBCT arrived is amazing."
"They're a lot more mobile," Spc. Michael Williams, an Opposing Force soldier, said about the Strykers. "They can come in quicker and the soldiers can dismount a lot quicker."
Williams said that he and other OPFOR soldiers anticipated a good battle, having prepared several days for the SBCT. What they didn't expect, however, is how soon the attack would took place.
"The Americans are invading!" one woman screamed at about 5:30 p.m. As citizens scrambled into their homes, OPFOR soldiers scrambled into different buildings, including the local elementary school and hospital.
The reason for this is the OPFOR hopes to give units on rotation the most realistic scenario possible. In a real-world situation, an enemy may just occupy a school or hospital, even though it is against the laws of war, Williams said.
The town, built to resemble a city in a third-world country, offers training for urban combat tactics. Commanders can use their own strategies and timetables for capturing the town, Rayburn added.
Fighting started when soldiers from Company A's second platoon dismounted from their Strykers to look for a tunnel, said observer controller Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence Pousard.
"They took some small arms fire from opposition forces inside the town, returned fire, and it just escalated from there," Pousard said.
About three hours after the first shot was fired, the first Stryker made its way into Shughart-Gordon after an Engineer Squad Vehicle breached the concertina wires placed around the city.
Just before 1 a.m., Stryker brigade troops had cleared and secured half of the town's buildings. Around the same time and a few miles away, several opposition soldiers riding in the backs of three pick-up trucks tried to ambush the regiment's headquarters company. Soldiers maintaining a security perimeter returned fire, engaging firefight that ended after about five minutes when the trucks sped off toward Shughart-Gordon.
By 5 a.m., opposition forces were fleeing the city, leaving Stryker Brigade soldiers to clear the remaining buildings and take control of the town. A few hours later, SBCT soldiers regrouped to assume defensive positions throughout the town.
The Stryker's mobility and agility. These characteristics also allow the Blue Force soldiers to partake in some unconventional warfare tactics of their own, such as parking the Stryker right next to a building and climbing through the window for access, Williams said.
"We learned a lot on both sides," said Staff Sgt. Michael J. Gateley, mortar section leader.
The one thing soldiers from both sides readily remarked about, as it's been demonstrated over and over again during the past week, is the
(Editor's note: Spc. Lorie Jewell and Pfc. Andrew Hillegass are members of the 107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. agility and versatility the Stryker brings to the fight. Spc. Marc Loi is a member of the 13th Public Affairs Detachment.)
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