European Federation Defense Force Headquarters, also known as the Triskelion
European Federation Defense Force HQ
Strasbourg
Briefing for Senior Officials
0830, January 28, 2004
“Operation
Barbary, the naval blockade of the Libyan coast and Operation
Scirocco, the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libyan airspace have been superseded by Operation
Barbary Dawn and Operation
Scirocco Dawn, i.e. the complete interdiction of naval and air assets.”
“Meanwhile, Phase One of Operation
New Dawn, the deployment of ground forces into Libya has proceeded according to expectations. At 0000 last night, transport aircraft from
Air Transport Command West, escorted by F-16s and Typhoons have dropped
Battlegroup 31 (Airborne) into Tripoli, to prepare the ground for our invasion. Meanwhile, aircraft from the Italian, Southern French and Greek Air Commands have attacked suspected SAM and AAA sites, possible SSM sites, troop concentrations, transport and communications nodes.”
He clicked his pointer, changing the page to a graphic showing a plane dropping four men onto Tripoli.
Main Targets
“The Airborne was sent in to seize the airports, the port area, which includes the seaport and the military port, and finally
Bab al-Azizia, also known as the Gaddafi compound. They report taking them with light losses. However they report that the Gaddafi compound was already vacant. Now, these troops will hold these positions until reinforced.”
“Meanwhile, amphibious and naval assets steamed from the naval amphibious base at Ferrol last night, carrying
EUROCORPS, a mechanized formation,
Battlegroups 2 and 3, both airmobile formations,
Battlegroup 5, an armored formation and
I MEF, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.”
“
Battlegroup 8 (Armored) is being held on standby in Sardinia. Air support can be expected from the
Garibaldi and the
Asturias, both on standby in the Gulf of Tripoli with their total complement of 28 Harriers. AMXs from the
1st Assault Wing are standing by in Malta. Naval support can be provided by any number of ships in the gulf, from cruise missiles to close gunfire.”
He clicked his pointer to show a slide of the orders of battle for the forces deployed.
He checked his watch.
“We’ve sent the go signal for Phase Two, the seaborne and heliborne assault of regular forces, which is due to begin soon.”
______________________________________________________________________________
Aboard “Havoc One-One”
Over the Gulf of Tripoli
0900, January 28, 2004
It was a beautiful day, with the sun allowed unfettered brilliance due to the lack of clouds in the Mediterranean skies. The temperature was perfect with a calm and light breeze. He could still hear the sounds in the distance as Typhoons patrolled the skies above them, sometimes dashing down to attack any lingering targets. Meanwhile a heterogenous selection of military transport and attack helicopters was forming up from the LHAs, LPDs and LHDs present in the fleet. Some prototype Caracals, Super Pumas, Sea Stallions, Chinooks and several of the brand new NH90s were transporting
Battlegroups 1 and 2 [1] and I MEF to their targets in the city.
The helicopter ride seems to be dragging on. Intellectually, he knew it was only a short hop to the former US airbase east of Tripoli. His mistake was looking at the Gulf of Tripoli too long. No, not the clear waters, mind you. He was distracted by the sheer size of the invasion forces. It was the biggest armada assembled so far by any continental member of Europe in modern times. He could see them all down there, the
Garibaldi and the
Asturias, four of the brand new
Dixmude class amphibious assault ships[2] including their home, the
Dien Bien Phu, several LPDs and LHDs and some replenishment ships, surrounded by a ring of destroyers and frigates. Meanwhile lurking under the surface were the six
Rubis class submarines of 1SubMed [3]. He could now see the LCACs and LCMs carrying the assorted armored vehicles of
Battlegroup 5 and the
EUROCORPS, which mean a lot of Leopards, Marders, VBLs and Wiesels streaming to meet the Libyans head on.
However, General Goesbriand’s mind couldn’t be on that. As the highest in command and therefore de facto theater commander of this invasion, (yes we may call it an “inspection in force”, but it is what it is) he was responsible for the lives of the 100,000 men of this expeditionary force.
Turning to his second in command, he said
“Turn on PSYWAR Ops”, giving the commander an order to play music he had selected.
Shaking his head, he turned on his radio and gave the word to play the first of three tracks in the helicopter speakers. He was surprised at the willingness of his commander to indulge the young troops under his command. He hadn’t exactly been one of the people who went to Ibiza every summer.
As he heard the end of a
true classic, he asked for an open line to everyone. Addressing his troops, he said
“This is going to be one of the great conflicts of Europa. Remember what you’re fighting for, fighting for your homes, for your families, for the lives of your countrymen back home. By defeating them here you stop the fight from affecting them. Intelligence estimates that there are 30,000 regular Libyan army troops as well as God knows how many irregulars. Our brothers in the Airborne have gone in already and are counting on us all to back them up.
Europa expects every man and woman to do their duty.
We’re gonna get bloody on this one.”
“Resume PSYWAR Ops”
He could swear that he heard some men on the other helos singing it. He hoped they were. It was a hell of a way to start a war.
Est Europa nunc unita
et unita maneat;
una in diversitate
pacem mundi augeat.
Semper regant in Europa
fides et iustitia
et libertas populorum
in maiore patria.
Cives, floreat Europa,
opus magnum vocat vos.
Stellae signa sunt in caelo
aureae, quae iungant nos.
NOTES:
[1] Battlegroup - division-sized formation composed of two or more brigades
[2] Pretty much OTL Mistral class amphibious assault ships - renamed since I have my own naming scheme
[3] 1st Submarine Squadron, Mediterranean
