Operation Wasp 7

## [Source]

Operation Wasp 7 takes place during the naval assault on the 13th of August 2019 by the 382nd Naval Infantry Battalion.

## Situation

After successfully destroying crucial Turkish air assets and weakened the enemy's defenses, the invasion can commence. With the help of the Hellenic Navy and the Russian Navy, additional Turkish troops can not be sent to defend the island.

The invasion was set to take place a few hours after the 388th Maritime Recon Point returned from their sabotage mission, but due to reported bad weather becoming stronger, the invasion was postponed 22 hours from the 12th of August to the 13th of August to let the storm pass. This gives the invading forces some much needed air support from Russian jets stationed in Turkey, but this also gave the Turkish defenders further time to bolster their defenses on the already heavily defended island.

Brought along with the Black Sea navy is he 382nd Naval Infantry Battalion, which will be the main Russian ground force fighting on Tembelan Island. The task was originally given to the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, but due to heavy Turkish resistance on the Turkish mainland it had to be passed to the 382nd.

Before heavier equipment can arrive on the beachhead, Russian forces have to take control of the southern island which houses several Turkish dug-in positions. To make the invasion easier to understand, it will be in two phases. The first one being the initial landing and clearing of the southern island.

For the second phase to succeed, it is important that the 382nd capture the southern airbase. Along with the capture of the nearby town of Kumuh Perseg, further troops and equipment could be flown in by the Hellenic Air Force. Furthermore, overlooking Kumuh and the airbase from the north is the Bukit communications base. Bukit is heavily defended by Turkish marines and aerial footage shows that a smaller FOB is overlooking Bukit from the west. The capture of these two bases would deny the enemy radio connections to the Turkish mainland, and is of upmost importance to be secured.

The landing will be done through a Zubr-class LCAC (Large Craft Air Cushion) south of the airbase. Tagging along providing air support will be a Ka-52 attack helicopter that will serve as CAS for the infantry. Infantry will be provided with the now combat proven GAZ-3937 Vodnik to keep the attack momentum up.

## Tasking

Before further assets can be brought to the island, these objectives have to be reached:

1. Secure the southern airbase.
	* Neutralize the airbase garrison
2. Secure the nearby town of Kumuh Perseg.
3. Destroy the Bukit communications base north of Kumuh Perseg.
	* Neutralize surrounding enemy positions.

## ORBAT

* Zero (Platoon command) (Motorized)
* Reaper 1-1 (Infantry) (Motorized)
* Reaper 1-2 (Infantry) (Motorized)
* Viper-1 (Rotary CAS)
* Ugly-1 (Rotary Transport)

## Result

The beach assault on the 13th of August 2019 turned out to be a massacre for the first wave of troops. The 388th Maritime Recon Point and Naval commanders had underestimated the defense capability of the landing point. This mistake led to the loss of 80% of the first wave infantry.

Eventually, those surviving managed to push and clear the western defensive position, making it clear for further troops to be brought in by helicopters.

Once replenished, the 382nd continued the offensive north to capture Kumuh Perseg, with little resistance from troops stationed there.

After fighting off a few counter-attacks by Turkish reaction forces, the Russians pushed north to capture the Bukit communications base, with moderate resistance.

For their bravery in combat, the 382nd Naval Infantry Battalion was awarded the Medal For Distinction in Combat.