An American soldier walks by a dead ROMN soldier//Courtesy of 101st Airborne Public AffairsThe Caribbean Island of Malden once again came under attack from American forces as another early morning assault as explosions and gunfire broke the quiet shortly before sunrise.
The American target was the ROMN stronghold west of the Malden Airport near Mount Chauve. ROMN and LOTN survivors report they fiercely defended against the American attack, and had to withdraw after losing numerous armored vehicles; however, ROMN officials deny losing any aircraft and adamantly deny the losses reported by American media.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Pentagon source claimed several American soldiers were wounded during the engagement and no American were aircraft damaged or destroyed during the operation. The source estimated three ROMN aircraft were destroyed but he was unsure if they were rotary or fixed-wing.
The American operation began with what is now known as TF Alpha, 506th IR/101st Abn Div, who conducted an aerial insertion near the pier north of Lolisse in the northwest of Malden. TF Alpha currently controls the LOTN military training base approximately 500 meters southeast of Lolisse and 2km west of the Malden Airport.
The recent attack by American military forces reportedly landed near Lolisse before sunrise with an anonymous source indicating this task force’s name as TF Charlie. Expert analysis indicates that this appears to be an effort to expand the beachhead established by TF Alpha southward and west of the Malden Airport. ROMN forces still hold Malden airport and is the lone airstrip that can support ROMN fixed-wing aircraft.
ROMN sources report its 3rd Infantry Battalion and 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company defended their positions near and north of Mount Chauve. Fierce combat ensued between the two military forces as the Americans encountered a more determined, better prepared and equipped enemy force. Sources report ROMN officials commenting the enemy (American forces) was not prepared for ROMN forces to fight effectively during low light situations. Once ROMN commander stated, “ROMN forces are modernized, as the American’s will soon tell you! ROMN forces welcome the night!” In previous conflicts dating back to the 1st Gulf War American forces showed a preference to fight at night to take advantage of technological superiority.
Moving into the rough rocky terrain of the Malden interior, American forces fought close quarters with the ROMN forces while using mortars and airstrikes to pound ROMN positions and counterattacks. One American source stated ROMN forces used the well defended military base to stage patrols and attacks against the Coalition of Rebels.
Reports indicate ROMN deployed two Ka-60 attack helicopters to provide close air support to its forces but were reportedly shot down by American aircraft supporting the assault. Additionally, a single L-39 “Albatross” Multi-Role Jet Fighter managed to take off and engaged a single American A-10C “Warthog.” In the ensuing dogfight, the American CAS aircraft emerged victorious, shooting down the enemy jet in the first air-to-air fixed wing engagement of the conflict. Sometime later a third helicopter was reported to have conducted numerous strafing and rocket runs on the American forces with negligible effects reported. ROMN sources state that they lost no aircraft.
The American forces’ coordinated assault, supported by rotary and fixed wing aircraft, ultimately resulted in ROMN forces losing control of the base and the surrounding territory north of the position. After losing the base, ROMN forces reorganized and launched a coordinated counterattack with infantry and armored vehicles. American sources say three BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles and two Pandur Armored Personnel Carriers along with as many as eight American-built Humvees and three Russian-built Tigr MRAP’s engaged them. Most were destroyed by American ground anti-tank systems and well-coordinated airstrikes. Pictures from the battlefield showed a column of four Malden-marked Humvees strewn on a road with bullet holes through windshields and their crew strewn on the ground. American estimates as many as 300 enemy soldiers were killed or wounded during the assault.