Operation Phalanx

Operation Phalanx was the UN operation to break the Federation blockade of Mars and, if possible, capture their vessels for intelligence gathering and as bargaining chips for the return of UNAS Lictor and UNAS Venti.

Background

See Mars Crisis.

Goals

In order of importance:

• Send a clear sign that the United Nations is capable and willing to defeat Federation assets is required

• Gain something to trade the Federation for return of UN troop transports

• Gather intelligence on Federation fleet capabilities

• Defeat of the Federation Mars Blockade

Assigned Units

Task Group PHALANX, containing ships from 1st Cruiser Squadron

Commanding Officer: Captain Dirt5o8

• DE UNS Bohol
• DE UNS Benguet
• DE UNS Quirono
• DE UNS Romblon
• DE UNS Panay
• DE UNS Caloocan
• DE UNS Taguig
• DE UNS Negros
• DE UNS Visayas

Outcome

Federation victory.

• Destruction of two Moskva 31 class destroyers
• Severe damage of one Moskva 31 class destroyer
• Severe damage of two UNS Negros and UNS Panay

Operational Plan

Initial orders

Operation PHALANX

Operational mission: Neutralise the Federation Mars Blockade, either by outright destruction or show of force, if possible negotiate for the safe return of UNAS Lictor and Venti.

Operational plan: Approach Mars at 2700 kps until at a distance of 1.2m km from the Federation vessels in orbit. Any demands from the Federation to keep distance are to be disregarded. Once near Mars, announce that the Federation vessels over Mars are to remain stationary or be fired upon.

If the vessels do not surrender two warning salvos of 6 missiles each are authorised, after which full lethal force is to be employed. Pursuit is authorised, up to full military speed if necessary. If they are moving faster than the maximum speed of the Samar II but slower than the maximum speed of a Samar/Surigao, the slower vessels may be left behind. If they are moving faster than any ship in the task group can keep up with, the task group is to move to Low Mars Orbit and declare the blockade broken.

If the vessels surrender their command crew will be taken down to UN territory on the Martian surface and treated as PoWs. If they agree to remain in place but threaten to open fire if approached that is satisfactory.

If the vessels have surrendered the Federation is to be contacted, demanding the safe return on UNAS Lictor and UNAS Venti to UN control in return for the safe release of the Federation Vessels over Mars, also informing them the approach of outside Federation vessels to within 15m km of Mars will be considered an act of aggression and result in the destruction of the Mars Blockade. If the Federation accepts, the Federation vessels will be released once we regain control over the troop transports.

If the vessels do not surrender their crews are to be offered free passage to the Martian surface, after either completing this operation or having received a refusal, they are to be summarily destroyed. the task group is to move to Low Mars Orbit, declare the blockade broken, and await further orders.

During the operation a Surigao Warbler is to be active at all times, a Samar Overwatch sensor may be turned on to maintain lock on a retreating target, the Jove on the Samar II vessels is to remain unused unless absolutely necessary.

Further orders post-engagement

Given to Captain Dirt5o8 after the succesfull breaking of the blockade.

Congratulations on your success, captain.

You are to rejoin the Samar and Surigao portions of the task group and approach the first crippled Moskva at a range of 90.000 km. You are to demand it stand down all weapons and prepare to be boarded for inspection, officers and crew will be apprehended on charges of piracy pending an explanation from their government, and tried for the former if the latter is not forthcoming. A single ship will approach for boarding, with the clear message that any offensive action will be met with massive retaliatory force. Make sure to have a good look around the vessel while you're around, and send some engineers aboard to see if the engines can be fixed. The same will then be done for second Moskva. Federation crew and officers will then be detained on Mars within UN territory, where they will be treated with all the rights due to prisoners of war regardless of the fact that no war has been declared and we're holding them on criminal charges. You are then to hold on Mars by way of garrisson until such a time a force too big to engage approaches, whereupon you are free to disengage. We politicians will take it from here with the demands of returning the Lictor and those aboard. Although included under the prisoner of war clause, it bears mentioning specifically that all Federation personnell are to receive proper medical care for any injuries sustained during operation PHALANX.

Good hunting.