Battle of Ortego

The squad departing from their rally point at Dolores. We pack light so we can cover more ground before a rest halt.

With the tenuous positions along the Toro line holding off the SLA advance, RACS mounts a counterattack to lift the seige of Ortego. The SLA were engaged in street fighting for the early hours of the day, only gaining a foothold in the northern suburbs. The 2nd Royal Light Brigade rushed reinforcements north into Ortego to stem the tide of enemy forces infiltrating from the east. Geraldo, the neighboring town was lightly held by miltias barely able to hold the ground against SLA regulars, let alone secure the eastern flank of the city.

The squad continues moving up, the vineyard the best kind of concealment we've had in a while looming ahead.

After an eight-hour march to Dolores, 1st Platoon, D Company arrived at their Objective Rally Point. With only one squad fit for combat and only one functioning machine gun, the US forces moved north to strike along the left flank. The vineyard west of the city was vacant for two days leading up to the counterattack, with the area being plotted as an assembly area for an SLA assault team. That vineyard was also selected as an ambush site by D Company. 

Entering the vineyard and hoping no SLA units have decided to set up camp there.

 As small arms fire rattled off from the city and smoke floated skywards on the outskirts, US forces moved north to their ambush site. RACS units began to crumble from their positions in the northern outskirts of the city as the SLA poured their second company in. Heavy weapons teams began pouring heavy fire into Ortego from the heights north of the city, these were secondary objectives.
 As D Company's assault teams reached the vineyard, they split into three groups. The medium machine gun would take the height on the right flank, one rifle team would hold the vineyard's actual structures in the center, and the other would hold the left up on a height to provide long range fires. After the ambush, they would follow the foothills north and sweep the enemy from the left.

Almost impossible to see the machine gun team and the rifle team moving along the left row.

The machine gun team waits for the rifle teams to take up position before peeling off.

 The 2nd Royal Light Brigade's fresh reinforcements sweep the right flank of the city, sending the SLA back up to the heights north. From there on, vicious street to street fighting ensues. Mortars begin firing on RACS forces in the city, though some fighting is so close it cannot be discounted that both sides may have been struck by the shells.

Alpha 2's team leader and automatic rifleman setting up to watch the road in.

Alpha 1 reports in movement towards the vineyard and all callsigns report engines and dust clouds headed south towards the killzone. A last minute weapons check and a hush over the radios lead up to the ambush kicking off at Alpha 2's gunfire. 

SLA forces scramble out of their truck desperate to get out of the kill zone. Alpha 3's M240L rips through from the hill in the background. Alpha 2's fire shreds the driver and a grenade finishes the truck for good. There are no enemy survivors.

 The team continues on after tearing apart the only other SLA vehicle to reach their assembly area (UAZ with a heavy machine gun mounted in the rear) and makes it five hundred meters before taking fire. The squad crests the next ridgeline and cut down an SLA squad milling on the other side.

Enemy casualties after a botched ambush.

 The SLA fire into the foothills, trying to halt the US advance. Alpha 1 gets pinned by automatic fire and the squad is forced to maneuver into a grove. Miraculously only two men suffer wounds, and they are superficial. The squad continues moving, closing the remainder of the distance rapidly. The squad decides to take the left flank and storm the hill to clear the mortar pit and the water tower.

Alpha 1 reports on the RACS advance as it becomes difficult to tell friend from foe near the city.

 RACS forces begin pushing out of the city, coming under mortar and machine gun fire from the heights. The squad mounts an assault on the hill's left flank, catching an enemy reserve squad at the junction before charging up the hill.

SLA infantry scrambles away as Alpha 2 and Alpha 3 pour fire onto the junction. Alpha 1 will storm the water tower in the background. Alpha 2 seizes the rocky outcrop on the right and clears two enemy machine gun positions and a mortar.

The final assault on the water tower. On the hilltop are the remnants of the SLA defensive line.

 Alpha 1 takes one man wounded and shelter behind a large rock. Alpha 3 rushes up to bring some support. Alpha 2 takes one man heavily wounded and has to pull him off the hill, but RACS forces arrive to bolster the assault.
 RACS units rush up sandbags and barbed wire to fortify the line. SLA units are sent scrambling north to regroup near Camp Corazol. Units caught between the city's defenders and the attacking force to the north surrender leading to the elimination of two companies of light infantry along with the capture of all of their heavy weapons.

Group photo of all participating save the squad leader. Alpha 2 in the second row, Alpha 1 split with Alpha 3 in the center.