Operation Silent Talon

[ManBear]

Operation Silent Talon
Operacja Cichy Sokol

Operational Directive
April 2007
Encrypted and Secured by POSP​

---

Background​

This operation is designed to simulate and enhance Poland’s special operations capabilities in high-threat environments, with a focus on rapid, clandestine VIP extraction and hostage rescue in foreign territory. Set against the backdrop of geopolitical complexity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the exercise integrates air and ground assets to validate joint operations, stealth infiltration, and multi-domain exfiltration techniques. All forces will use simunition to simulate wounds and gunfire.

---

Operational Objectives​

1. Clandestine Insertion: Validate Poland’s ability to deploy special operations forces covertly into hostile territory, including overland and air approaches.
   
   
2. Hostage & VIP Rescue: Train operators to conduct precision urban raids and extract high-value personnel under realistic conditions.
   
   
3. Interoperability: Strengthen coordination between GROM and the Polish Royal Air Force, emphasizing joint operations and real-time communications.
   
   
4. Multi-Domain Operations: Integrate ground vehicles and light/heavy helicopters to simulate realistic operational contingencies.
   
   
5. Adaptive Training: Present dynamically evolving threats and scenarios, requiring operators to adapt plans, react to contingencies, and maintain operational security.

---

Participants​

Unit	Branch	Equipment / Role
12-man GROM Detachment	Royal Special Forces	Operators, CQB, reconnaissance, tactical assault
6 x 1 SOA Squadron Pilots	Royal Special Forces	Flight Operators for MH-6E Little Birds and Mi-24VM Hinds
1 x CC-150 Polaris	Royal Air Force	Fixed-wing transport for insertion of 2 Honker Max + 1 Honker Skorpion 3
4 x Crew for CC-150 Polaris	Royal Air Force	Operators for the CC-150 Polaris aircraft
2 × Tarpan Honker Max	Royal Special Forces	Team transport, gear, assault vehicles
1 × Honker Skorpion 3	Royal Land Forces	Armored support, VIP protection, gear transport
2 × MH-6 Little Bird	Royal Special Forces	Stealthy aerial VIP/operator extraction
1 × Mi-24VM	Royal Land Forces	Suppressive fire and armored overwatch for extraction
60 x Polish-Congo Brigade	Polish Military	OPFOR: role-play hostile paramilitary units, patrols, checkpoints, and simulated threat elements (~60 personnel)
3 x VIP Roleplayers	Polish Military	Simulated high-value personnel for extraction exercises (3 VIPs)

---

Scenarios​

1. Covert Staging & Insertion: Deploy via CC-150 Polaris from Polish airfield to secured EoC airstrip; offload vehicles and equipment under time-sensitive conditions.
   
   
2. Reconnaissance & Surveillance: Covert mapping of AO, identifying OPFOR positions, patrols, and potential threats; designate LZs for extraction.
   
   
3. Infiltration & Vehicle Deployment: Use 2 Honker Max and 1 Skorpion 3 to advance covertly into AO; coordinate subteam movements while avoiding detection.
   
   
4. Urban Raid & Hostage Rescue: Conduct CQB operations to rescue VIP role-players, neutralize OPFOR, and secure hostages.
   
   
5. VIP Extraction: Execute multi-aircraft aerial exfiltration using 3 MH-6 Little Birds with Mi-24VM overwatch; integrate ground vehicle perimeter support.
   
   
6. Operator Overland Exfiltration: Remaining GROM personnel navigate ~100 miles to alternate LZ; employ camouflage, evasion, and survival skills.
   
   
7. Contingency & Recovery: Activate emergency extraction procedures if compromised; reconsolidate at extraction zone, conduct medical checks, and perform equipment recovery.

---

Pre-Exercise​

All personnel, vehicles, and aircraft participating in the exercise must undergo rigorous inspection and maintenance. Full operational readiness must be confirmed prior to deployment. Only the 12-man GROM detachment is fully briefed on the exercise parameters; the Polish-Congo Brigade (~60 OPFOR personnel) and 3 VIP role-players simulate hostile and high-value conditions to ensure realistic training outcomes.

 

[ManBear]

The operators hadn't been informed before they were aboard the CC-150 transport aircraft where they were going or what their mission was. It was only until they were in the air, as was customary for their teams, what was expected of them to limit information being leaked of their operations. Training exercise at their newly minted training facility in the former Empire of the Congo that would hopefully hone their skills as tier 1 operators even further. Many of the men present on the plane had spent some time in New Caledonia during the troubles there and thus had experienced actual combat but no one present had set foot in the new training facility within the Congo. Each man lounged around in their Panthera camouflage, helmets and rifles in seats around them. The lights in the cabin were dimmed during the transit and shades shuttered on the windows. Their headsets suddenly keyed up as a familiar voice crackled through. They must be nearing their destination.

"Eyes and Ears up." Major Kwiatkowski spoke up to the team. "I will be one of the exercise controllers for what we are calling Operation Silent Talon. Team, listen closely. Hostage roleplayers are being held approximately twelve kilometers northeast of your staging area. OPFOR roleplayers have been deployed along two probably approach routes. Intelligence reports on the ground report that their patrols are irregular, they will not maintain any set pattern throughout this exercise. You will insert at the airstrip, offload vehicles, and conduct a stealth infiltration via ground convoy. Primary objective for the operation is secure VIPs and exfil under time-sensitive conditions. No ENDEX until final exfil has been achieved. Casualty roleplayers will simulate real injuries, treat them as if they are real. Command will monitor via helmet cams and UAV. Do not expect intervention unless safety is compromised. Route and weather update. Rain has currently cleared and leaves us landing in a timely manner. As for routes, the southwest approach is partially flood due to rain. The northern track has dense tree cover but offers better concealment for convoy movement. Operators, you may adjust as necessary but final movements must be synchronized.

they will not hold patterns for more than five minutes. You will insert at the EoC airstrip, offload vehicles, and conduct a stealth infiltration via ground convoy. Primary objective: secure VIPs and exfil under time-sensitive conditions. No ENDEX until final exfil. Casualty roleplayers will simulate real injuries — treat as live. Command will monitor, but do not expect intervention unless safety is compromised. Any questions? Make them no"

The operators would all ask pertinent questions throughout the remaining of the flight to insure they had all the information. Simunition was to be used at all times, and a single hit to the chest or head would be considered an incapacitation. Extremity wounds would need to be handled according to how a real life wound would be handled. If an arm was hit, controllers could order the arm immobilized. Whether there were civilians to be avoided. Which there were. Their goal was to be unnoticed by local civilian population due to the fact if local police were notified there could be increased danger and an actual firefight. Whether they would perform ELINT and COMINT while clearing compounds. They would treat all electronic devices as if this was a real world situation and recover what they could find. They were also given lee-way to take OPFOR roleplayers as detainees and transport them back.

Finally, after what felt like hours the CC-150 would descend to the tarmac at the Polish airbase. Tires screeched as it slowed to a stop and the Operators filed down to the cargo hold where their vehicles awaited them. The carefully packed vehicles would be freed from anything keeping them in position before the operators would pile into their assigned vehicles. The lead vehicle, a Tarpan Honker Max would be the first to drive out under no headlights, only using the NVGs of the operators. HK416Ds would be loaded with simunition, each magazine marked with blue tape around the base, and insure their NODs were in working order as they departed the hangar. The Skorpion 3, vehicle two, would depart next while the gunner would work on loading the UKM-2000 general purpose machine gun chambered in 7.62x51mm. Each vehicle would host additional simunition loaded mags and flag/bang grenades to simulate fragmentation grenades as well as flash/bang grenades for clearing rooms. The fragmentation grenades would be shaped similar to standard frags to differentiate them between the standard flash/bang grenades.

Elsewhere

Several kilometers away from the airstrip, the OPFOR roleplayers, being played by the Polish-Congo Brigade, waited underneath the thick jungle canopy. Rain from the early march storm soaked their camouflaged uniforms and dripped off of their equipment. These men had been chosen to play the OPFOR team due to the fact they were used to the jungle. Every member of the team checked their weapons, adjusted adaptors, and confirmed their position with hand signals. Sergeant Malczeksi crouched behind a fallen tree, scanning the outskirts of the road. "Convoy will be incoming shortly from what I understand about the timeline. Remember, no early engagement. BLUFOR doesn't know we are live yet."

A pair of roleplayers moved silently to pre-position the simulated IEDs and ambush markers along the first bend of the approach road. A third climbed a small ridge, binoculars in hands, providing overwatch and relaying updates to the field commander via comms.

"Check your sectors," came Malczewski's voice through their coms. "Lead and rear. Simulate village activity if spotted. Lets keep it realistic, the operators will have to make decisions not just run drills tonight."

The team stayed low and waited. Listening to the sound of the jungle at night. Creatures and critters alike came alive as the sun went down. Soon the crackle of a radio could be heard in Malczewski's earpiece before he radioed his immediate team.

"Forward observer instructs the convoy is leaving. Two Honker Maxes and one Skorpion 3. Time to execute ambush is t-minus ten minutes. Prepare yourselves."

Rain slicked leaves dripped onto weapons and down uniforms. The jungle appeared to be holding its breath as the minutes ticked by in preparation for the ambush. The simulated hunt was about to begin. The operators were still unaware that the shadows around them were alive, ready, and testing every training decision they'd ever made.