UK | Operation Encore

[Jamie]

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OPERATION ENCORE
Operation Directive, June 1997
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

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XI. PRELIMINARYX
After monitoring and assessing the situation surrounding the return of the Irish Republican Army and after discussions with the Irish Government, the decision has been made to tighten security on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Consisting of local law enforcement, the British Prime Minister has authorized the deployment of a squadron from the Special Air Service to Northern Island on Counter Terrorist duties as a precaution.

XII. BELLIGERENTSX

Blufor United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland

Opfor Irish Republican Army

XIII. STRENGTHX

ACTIVE DEPLOYMENT
[1] C-130-J-30 Hercules

5 Squadron, A Flight, ZK1000 ASCOT 001​

[60] 23 Special Air Service Regiment

A Squadron​

[2] Westland Lynx AH.1

[50] 6th Regiment Army Air Corp, 656 Squadron

[1] TIGER081, ZA0280
[1] TIGER082, ZA0281​

[2] Britten-Norman Defender AL.2

[50] 8th Regiment Army Air Corp, 673 Squadron

[1] DEFENDER001, ZA0328
[1] DEFENDER002, ZA0329​

XIV. CASUALTIES AND LOSSESX

Blufor	Opfor	Non-Combatant
Dead: 0 Wounded: 55	Dead: 782 Wounded: 362

XV. OPERATING BASESX

Designation	Location	Status
JHC FS Aldergrove	Aldergrove Base, Aldergrove	Active

XVI. CAMPAIGN REGISTERX

Operation	Description	Status
Operation Encore I JUNE1997 - OCT1997	Counter Terrorist Deployment to Northern Ireland	Successful
Operation Encore II JULY1997 - JULY1997	RAF & AAC Contributions to Intelligence Gathering in Ireland	Cancelled

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Over night, the forces of the Special Air Service were to be dispatched to the standing Royal Air Force base in Northern Ireland at Aldergrove and transported in via the C-130-J-30 Hercules that would accompany them. During that time, the two Lynx Helicopters depart their station in England and make the journey across to the same RAF facility. This is where the group would be on stand by pending any terror related activities in Northern Ireland to prompt a rapid deployment of special forces if required. Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland was upping the ante of their own. Across all roads crossing the border between the two countries, instruction was given to ensure that a 'Checkpoint Team' was present on a 24/7 basis. Each team was to consist of four officers from the PSNI Armed Response Unit and six police constables. Random stop and searches would take place from those crossing the border going both ways. The information surrounding these check points has been released to the public, identifying them as a "deterrent for anyone wanting to cause harm to others". It was expected that the checkpoint system was to be in place for a number of weeks before going under review to determine whether the need was still there. During this time, officers across Northern Ireland have been offered overtime to account for the lack of resources due to re-positioning to the border.

Drivindeath

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[Drivindeath]

OPERATION EMERALD
Operation Directive, June 1997
Security Classification: TOP SECRET/ENCRYPTED

I. PRELIMINARY
After monitoring and assessing the situation surrounding the return of the Irish Republican Army and after discussions with the British Government, the decision has been made to tighten security on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Consisting of local law enforcement, and Military Police. The Irish Government has authorized the deployment of three Companies of Military Police to the boarder of Northern Ireland and various cities on Counter Terrorist duties.

II. BELLIGERENTS

Blufor Republic of Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Opfor Irish Republican Army

III. STRENGTH
ACTIVE DEPLOYMENT
[155] 1st Corps, 1st HHQ Brigade, 1st Military Police Battalion, Alpha Company
Commanded by: (Captain Kelly, James)

[31] Tarpan Honkers​

[155] 1st Corps, 1st HHQ Brigade, 1st Military Police Battalion, Charlie Company
Commanded by: (Captain Ferguson Derek)

[31] Tarpan Honkers​

[775] 2nd Corps, 3rd Division, 5th Brigade, 11th Infantry Battalion, Alpha-Echo Company
Commanded by: (Commandant Phillis, Jacob)

[50] Tarpan Honkers​

[25] Star 266 Trucks​

*All soldiers have standard load out of weapons and armor.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
[200] Letterkenny Garda Síochána
[50] Castlefinn Garda Síochána
[50] Blacklion Garda Síochána
[50] Swanlinbar Garda Síochána
[200] Cavan Garda Síochána
[200] Monaghan Garda Síochána

[375] Patrol Vehicles​

[750] Riot Gear​

[750] Benelli M4 Shotguns​

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IV. CASUALTIES AND LOSSES

Blufor	Opfor	Non-Combatant

V. OPERATING BASES

Designation	Location	Status
Aiken Barracks	Dundalk Ireland	Active
Finner Camp	Balltshannon, Ireland	Active
Stephens Barracks	Kilkenny, Ireland	Active

VI. CAMPAIGN REGISTER

Operation	Description	Status
Operation Emerald - JUNE1997 - Present	Counter Terrorist Deployment	In Progress

Layout and design by Jamie

 

[Drivindeath]

OPERATION EMERALD
TOP SECRET/ENCRYPTED
Information would be given to the United Kingdom (Jamie) ​

BELLIGERENTS:

Republic of Ireland

OPFOR:

Irish Republican Army

MAP:
RED: 11th Infantry Battalion
GREEN: Irish Republican Army
Light Green: Contested Territory


At 0300 hrs on the 15th of July, 1997, 5 Companies of the 11th Infantry Battalion surround the town of Killarney, Ireland. They would block off all roadways that lead into the town. From their position they can determine that Ross Castle is the primary stronghold of the town. In the zones labeled in Light Green small skirmishes happen. Nothing more than pop shots to keep the 11th Infantry away from the Castle. The Irish Republican Army have been hiding in tall grass, and have created a strong perimeter on the main roads into the town. They have flipped over vehicles that they are using as roadblocks.

SITUATION AND CONSIDERATIONS:
Unknown number of civilians
Exact number of IRA Fighters is unknown, estimated 2,000
Requesting Calvary and Artillery

 

[Jamie]

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Upon the conclusion of the British COBR Meeting to discuss the escalating events of Ireland, the Home Office have announced the intention under support of constabularies across England, Wales and Scotland, to have an additional 2,500 Police Constables across Northern Ireland which will support resources on the borders between Ireland and Northern Ireland and reassure the public across the country. Naturally this would enhance security at checkpoints and with the new travel advisory, checks would become more stringent with any vehicle passing by is stopped and searched. Only essential travel into and from Northern Ireland was approved based on the Foreign Office announcement. The Special Air Service in Belfast remained somewhat active by training and having daily briefings on recent events but were yet to be called upon. Fortunately, the Ministry of Defence had authorized the start of Operation Encore II which is the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corp contribution to the situation of the Irish Republican Army in the form of intelligence gathering.

Although not yet accepted by the Irish Government, planning had commenced at RAF Waddington to put the Lockheed Martin U-2 Spyplanes to use in the event that British Air Assets could not receive permission to operate in Irish Airspace. Meanwhile, the British Army had begun the deployment of two Britten-Norman Defender AL.2 aircraft to Belfast with air-frames ZA0328 and ZA0329. Both aircraft departed their home bases in England for Belfast International to support the Special Forces and would be used for intelligence gathering. The information for both aircraft deployments remained secret as did the preparation going into the U2 planes.

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[Drivindeath]

OPERATION EMERALD
TOP SECRET/ENCRYPTED
Information would be given to the United Kingdom (Jamie)
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It would take 6 hours for Alpha Troop of the 5th Calvary Squadron to arrive at Killarney. They would be outfitted with 50 T-72B orb.1990g Main Battle Tanks. It would take the same amount of time for the 5th Artillery Battalion, Bravo Battery to arrive. They would be outfitted with 10 pieces of 105mm L118 Light Guns and would be towed by 10 Star 266 trucks. The Artillery Battery would be in the back of the Star 266 Trucks. The Artillery would be positioned to the South East of Killarney and the Tanks positioned to the North, East, and West of Killarney.

At 0100 hrs loud booms could be heard outside the town as the Artillery pounded the woods/brush to the South East of Killarney. The explosions could be heard up to 20 miles away. The shells would pound down on the wood line for about 5 minutes before the command of cease fire was given. The Alpha Troop of the 5th Cavalry Squadron would proceed to move into Killarney on all fronts. Mounted with FN MAG Machine Guns and the 125 mm 2A46M smoothbore gun. They would fire the FN MAG Machine Gun into the check points as they plowed through the flipped over cars, they would shoot down any person holding a weapon at the IRA checkpoints. Simultaneously Echo and Alpha Company of the 11th Infantry Battalion would push into the wood lines. They would be met with full auto gunfire, the rate of fire was comparable to that of a Light Machine Gun. The 2 Companies would bunker down behind whatever cover they could find and return fire in a coordinated pattern to avoid gun fire. Left flank would fire into the trees to draw the machine gun fire, then right flank to draw the fire. A call for fires was made. 105mm rounds would rain down over the Irish Armies heads and land in front of them into the trees. Screams could be heard, crying out. The Alpha Company proceeded forward after the artillery stopped. Echo Company remained pinned down.

Bravo, Charlie and Delta Companies moved into Killarney pushing pass the IRA former roadblocks, and commenced searching every building, kicking in doors, and shooting anyone with a gun in hand.

The Battle lasted 4 hours. An assessment of the battle was made: IRISH ARMY: 55 wounded, 0 KIA. IRA: 362 wounded, 782 KIA.
Status of Echo Company is pinned down and under sporadic fire.

 

[Jamie]

The collapse of the Irish Government was somewhat concerning but been on standby for a duration of time, it saw the tension with the Irish Republican Army minimize since the Irish Operation, Emerald, begun the main siege of Killarney. This seemed to have caused enough eruption into country to at least put the IRA into hiding given the massive loss they had to their support. With a few months of no violence, the Ministry of Defence had concluded Operation Encore; returning the Special Air Service to their base in England. The border checkpoints would, over the next two months, have a wind down period. Having a reduction in personnel in the checkpoints under eventually the checkpoints are once again, gone. Law Enforcement who had volunteered to go to Northern Ireland could return home to their families and their usual duties within their respective counties.