[Belgium] Operation Slot

[Flying Damascas]

Operation Slot
Ministry of Defense

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Operational Directive
December 1996
Top Secret

[1] Overview
[1a] Background
[1b] Operational Objectives
[1c] Casualties and Losses
[2] Belligerents
[3] Order of Battle
[4] Operation Staging Areas
[5] Campaign Register

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[1] Overview

[1A] Background

The Mugabe Regime in Harare, has provoked the ire of the Belgian state and has imposed a brutal crackdown on political dissidents under the guise of conducting riot control. In order to bring down Mugabe and The Zimbabwean economy, The Navy has been authorized to commence a blockade of the port of Beira in neighboring Mozambique which functions as a port of entry for trade westward towards Zimbabwe.

[1B] Operational Objectives

- Seal off all exit and entry points towards Beira
- Deter Foreign Shipping by Lethal Force if Necessary

[1C] Casualties and Losses

N/A

[2] Belligerents

Belgium - Zimbabwe

[3] Order of Battle

×5 Baptista de Andrade-class corvette(s)
× 5 Vasco de Gamas-class frigate(s)

see this page for Armarments -> Navy

All Armed, Stocked with Provisions, Personnel at ready

Route: JO> IN > IM > JM > KM > KL > KK > LK > LJ > LI > LH

[4] Operation Staging Areas

Beira, Mozambique/Mozambique Channel Region - Indian Ocean

[5] Campaign Register

Operation Slot - Aborted - December 1996/January 1997

 

[Flying Damascas]

Private/Encrypted

At dawn, the crews of all ten vessels would meet together in the port city of Ostend to discuss the opening phase of Operation Slot in the privacy of their respective barracks. Huddled over a long wooden table, the sailors pierred a tactical map which contained the route of their journey.

Around noon, provisions and ammunition would be distributed with instructions to abstain from unwarranted aggression unless provoked by a credible threat either on land, sea, or air. A strong emphasis would be placed on preventing civilian casualties and avoiding those vessels uninvolved with Zimbabwean commerce.

Towards 1:20, the small "armada" began its scheduled departure out of Belgian territorial waters with the intention of reaching the English channel within the span of roughly 2 days time. Radio silence would commence immediately and orders would be put in place against the flying of the national colours so as to avoid attracting unwanted attention at sea.

 

[Flying Damascas]

Private/Encrypted

With radio silence in force, the small armada would continue making its way to the rendevouz point travelling IM > JM > KM > KL > KK > LK > LJ > LI > LH. It was their intention to pass through the Suez Canal and from there head towards the Mozambique channel via the Gulf of Aden. While enroute towards their objective, the crew would take steps to instruct sailors on the identification of aircraft and vessels that might be encountered upon arrival in Beira. Ordinance would be brought out of storage and loaded into its appropriate place for use later on in the operation.