Last Battle - Grenada

Company Sized
Normal Conditions
Hypothetical Scenario

As the afternoon of October 25 wore on, the SEALs were still trapped at Government House. Task Force 121 had heard that they had taken heavy casualties and were low on ammo, although this was not accurate. The Rangers and Paratroopers were tied down on Point Salines and the only uncommitted units were Company G of BLT 2/8. This company was trained for amphibious assault and since the beaches around Pearls and Grenville were unsuitable for amtracks, the troops had remained onboard along with the tank platoon, artillery battery and other vehicles. Task Force 121 elected to land this company and the supporting forces on Grand Mal Beach, just to the north of St. Georges. F Company would land by helicopter at the same time and the two companies would drive into St Georges together. However, the commander of BLT 2/8 and his headquarters team were ashore at Pearls while the transports were sailing away. He only learned of the planned amphibious assault an hour and a half before it was to begin. He was able to get the assault delayed so that he could try and get the two company's assaults coordinated. However, it was not to be. The radio problems that plagued the operation from the beginning had not been remedied. The amphibious assault went in at 1900 hours with relative ease. F Company arrived the next morning, but fortunately, there had been no contact with the enemy.

Task Force 121 had received information that there was a Cuban battalion located to the north of St. Georges, although this was far from the truth. In fact, there were only two Grenadian recoilless rifles and a single scout car in the area. This scenario assumes that this rumor is actually true and that Cuba had moved in combat units before the invasion.

As G Company started its drive south on the morning of the 26th, it found the bridges crossing the St. John River covered by accurate fire from Cuban regulars. A scratch force named Task Force Conway was assigned with trying to outflank the Cubans to the east. Task Force Conway consisted of a platoon from G Company in amtraks, one from F Company that had been airlifted in and the Recon Platoon in trucks. They moved as quickly as they could to try and get around the roadblock.

The Cubans were not unaware of the possibility of a flanking attack and they sent out recon patrols which reported Task Force Conway's movement east. They countered with their reserve, a mixed company of infantry. If the Cubans could throw back Task Force Conway, they would be able to flank the Americans in turn and hopefully allow enough time to find a way to escape the island.