Sangin

Afghanistan (War in Afghanistan (2001-present))

2015

Kajaki

Obeh

Ksatta Sang

Bedak

Sangin
(city 5[-5])

Ghorak

Pada

Eran

Gereshk

Malgir

Yakhchal

Tulak

Jamal

Sangin - 2015 (War in Afghanistan (2001-present)).

Become A War Blog Patreon
or

Simple set up for late December 2015 action.

Really not sure of the units involved and have just guessed really. There are 2 USAF air sorties available, which is stated in the BBC report.

Very little specific detail about the forces there but I am adding Afghanistan reinforcements to arrive at staggered intervals. I have used the 2 and 3rd Brigades from the 201st Corp (KABUL) just as a total guess. They each have 3 battalions but I have used regiments as the army structure doesnt make sense otherwise. The 6 units arrive over 30 turns. Not sure how that pans out but I doubt the Taliban can hold off such a large chunk of the Afghanistan Army. However, I think thats quite true to life really as they are only attacking Sangin because its relativly weak. The Afghans do do two earlier reinforcements as detailed in the BBC report, from troops and Police Commandos, neither of which sound to overpowering. I doubt that the Afghans will hold out for 10 turns, but if you consider 3-4 turns is one day then it sort of fits into place.

There are however UK and US special forces that enter on turn 3. I have beefed them up a bit as they are special forces. The new feature here will, hopefully be their amphibious ability, ie, special forces can cross rivers. The Oracle Daily link says that there are 30 members of the SAS and 60 US Special Forces there but they are only providing advice? Other reports state the Taliban has complete control of the town except for a couple of Governemnt buildings. Unless the Taliban are accepting the fact that the Special Forces are not combat units and are leaving them in their hotel, I doubt they are not combatants. Either way, I am deploying them as units and also as quite big units, much bigger than described, just for the hell of it. If you dont lie that then dont use them, march them to the map edge or something.

Very little detail on the Taliban units and I have used infantry for all. They might be motorised. I have added some small reinforcements which might offset attrition.

Again, a very interesting feature is the river without any bridges. As such, I think the Taliban would probably be securing the bridge around Gereshk probably with greater effort than Sangin itself. However, they might be crossing the river on small rafts etc, I really dont know, but under these rules they cant cross the river and I doubt the Taliban can be considered amphibious units. I have looked closer and there loos like there might be a small footbridge at Sangin which is probably easy taken out plus the river looks probably fordble in a number of places. However, as a strategic feature I think it is non-the-less uncrossable. Either way, I think its fordability would be a major consideration.

Another interesting point is that the area is big on Opium growing plus if you look closely at the map the river banks are stuffed full of agriculture. I did think of altering the scale to make Sangin 2 hexes so that it could be contested and also having agriculture on either side of the river but elected instrad for a more strategic approach as I thought that was more interesting than a whollay tactical chit encounter.

see BBC

see Wikipedia Afghan Army Structure

see Mirror

see Oracle Daily Voice