003. Rangers Lead the Way! - Grenada

Battalion Size
Normal Daylight Conditions
Play as US or PBEM

On October 23, 1983, President Reagan signed the presidential order that authorized Operation Urgent Fury, the military plan to seize control of Grenada. The plan called for SEALs to scout the unfinished airfield at Point Salines before the 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions seized it, either by landing C-130s on the runway or by parachuting if the runway was blocked. The SEALs failed in two attempts to reach the airfield, however, due to high seas. The Rangers approached the island not knowing if they could land or not. An EC-130 leading the way found that the runway was indeed blocked and the Rangers prepared for a parachute assault. However, this order did not reach all of the planes in the aerial convoy in a timely manner and consequently, not all of the Rangers were ready to drop in the predawn light.

The Grenadian military, small as it was, was aware that Point Salines was one of the main targets for the invading force. While the Americans had tried very hard to keep their operations secret, the Grenadians were aware of ship and troop movements that suggested an invasion was imminent. They setup about half of their primitive anti-aircraft guns around the Point Salines Airfield, but did not have either the time or perhaps the energy to fortify their positions.

There were also Cubans on the island, about 40 officers and NCOs from the Cuban Embassy and 650 armed construction workers who had been working on the unfinished airstrip. The construction workers were not soldiers, but most had received military training earlier in their lives, some much earlier as some of the workers were more than fifty years of age. Castro was unhappy with the murder of Maurice Bishop some two weeks earlier that had precipitated the American intervention. He refused to send additional troops or equipment to the island before the Americans landed. He was also unsure of the Americans intentions, whether they just wanted to evacuate the medical students and other foreigners on the island or whether they wanted to seize control of the country. He ordered the military mission to organize and lead the workers, but restricted them to only defending if they were attacked. So the Cuban workers prepared to defend their barracks and offices, but not to resist against a landing on the airfield.

As the lead MC-130 in the aerial convoy approached the drop zone, it had a complete navigation system failure. With such a narrow drop zone and the hazards of landing in the ocean, the lead MC-130 and a C-130 following it, were ordered to veer off and join at the rear of the formation. These two planes contained most of A company including the Runway Clearing Team who were tasked with clearing the runway of obstacles. The third plane in the convoy would be the first to drop its load of parachutists. This plane contained Lt. Colonel Taylor, his tactical operations center and a platoon from B Company. They jumped at 500 feet into streams of tracer fire. The fourth plane and those following it broke off the approach pattern, leaving Lt. Colonel Taylor and his handful of men alone on the island until AC-130s could suppress the anti-aircraft guns. Rangers truly do lead the way.

Note - The bulldozer has a blade that is a demo weapon. To use it, point the dozer at the wire or barrier and fire the dozer blade similar to a demo charge.

Note - There are Grenadian Obstacle vehicles on the runway. These represent obstacles that can not be removed by the bulldozer, but need to be removed by hand. They can be destroyed by either fire or assault. They have a crew of one to give them a point value. They do not move.

Note - The Rangers have two missions; primary is securing the airfield, secondary is seizing a secure defensive position by taking the buildings and hills surrounding the airfield. Both are critical to victory in this scenario.