TOP SECRET
UNITED STATES ARMY
INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITIES COMMAND
FORT BELVOIR, VA 22060-5246
UNITED STATES ARMY
INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITIES COMMAND
FORT BELVOIR, VA 22060-5246
13 MAR 2026
(U) Area of Operations Profile: Merak Island
(U) ADMINISTRATIVE
(U) All acronyms in the following report are defined/transcribed in full upon initial use and then abbreviated for subsequent use. They, along with parlance acronyms, have also been defined below for reader reference.
U: Unclassified - Used for government documents that do not merit a particular classification or which have been declassified. The information is low-impact, and therefore does not require any special protection, such as vetting of personnel.
CUI: Controlled Unclassified Information - is unclassified information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls, pursuant to and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and Government-wide policies.
C: Confidential - Classified material requiring protection and whose unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause "damage" to the national security.
S: Secret - Classified material requiring a substantial degree of protection and whose unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause "serious damage" to the national security
TS: Top Secret - Classified material requiring the highest degree of protection and whose unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause "exceptionally grave damage" to the national security.
SIGINT: Signals Intelligence
HUMINT: Human Intelligence
OSINT: Open Source Intelligence
GEOINT: Geospatial Intelligence
MASINT: Measurement and Signature Intelligence
ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
POI: Position of Interest
TTP: Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures
JNRC: Jamdy National Restoration Council
JPR: Jamdy People's Republic
UMF: Unknown Mobilization Force
LG: Lighthouse Group
CUI: Controlled Unclassified Information - is unclassified information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls, pursuant to and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and Government-wide policies.
C: Confidential - Classified material requiring protection and whose unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause "damage" to the national security.
S: Secret - Classified material requiring a substantial degree of protection and whose unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause "serious damage" to the national security
TS: Top Secret - Classified material requiring the highest degree of protection and whose unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause "exceptionally grave damage" to the national security.
SIGINT: Signals Intelligence
HUMINT: Human Intelligence
OSINT: Open Source Intelligence
GEOINT: Geospatial Intelligence
MASINT: Measurement and Signature Intelligence
ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
POI: Position of Interest
TTP: Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures
JNRC: Jamdy National Restoration Council
JPR: Jamdy People's Republic
UMF: Unknown Mobilization Force
LG: Lighthouse Group
(U) REFERENCES
(S) 1-506 Intelligence Report, GRINTSUM (STRATEGIC & TACTICAL SITUATION - OPERATION FROSTLINE 01-26), 15 March 2026]GRINTSUM - 15MAR26 - Strategic & Tactical Situation - Operation Frostline 01-26
(U) News Article, THE ALTAI OBSERVER (US Forces Implicated In Norwegian Sea Attack), 13 March 2026]US Forces Implicated In Norwegian Sea Attack | 13 March 2026
(U) OVERVIEW
(S) The intent of this document is to familiarize the reader with background and operationally relevant information on the island of Merak and its features, as well as the capabilities of the known faction(s) within the Merak Island AO as of 13 MAR 2026.
(U) BACKGROUND AND TERRAIN
(U) As an island in the Jamdy Isles Archipelago, Merak is located in the south Norwegian Sea. The Isles were discovered by Norse Vikings in the 8th century, and were later settled by a mix of Scandinavian and Estonians; the island of Merak was then claimed by the Russian empire during their western expansion in the 18th century and used as a naval outpost. Following WW1 and the collapse of the Russian empire, the USSR gave up interest in the area and allowed the Jamdy Isles to return to Norwegian claim--as it remains officially to this day.
(U) figure 1: Open source image of The Jamdy Isles Archipelago
(S) Merak is a 100^2km island at the southwestern extent of the Jamdy Archipelago. Bisected down the middle by the north to south-flowing Nahrin river, Merak's further tributaries continue to flow east and west, breaking up the two sides of the island. The center of the island around the Nahrin tends to be a swampy wetland, while the bulk of the island is covered by open fields and farmland bordered by thin green zones. Larger forests are also present at various locales on the island; some are systematically utilized for their construction value by logging outfits. The civilian population is primarily focused around the northern head of the Nahrin, with small communities and homesteads dotting the rest of the island. Notable positions of interest (POI) are Airbase Manticore to the southwest, the elevated "Reserve" site to the southeast, Jamdy City to the north, and the elevated Woodford Bastion to the northwest.
(TS) figure 2: Satellite view of Merak with POIs
(S) POSITIONS OF OPERATIONAL RELEVANCE
(S) Airbase Manticore is the island's largest and most strategically-important feature, dominating the whole southwest quadrant of the island. Only a portion of it was in use by civil air authorities prior to the uprising, and the formerly NATO-operated airfield has been restored to service by opportunistic tenants who are employing it as a staging area. The airbase itself is ~10^2km, including the flight line, infrastructure facilities, troop barracks, ammo depots, and hangars. Significant open lines of sight aid defense, and the compound is generally flanked on all sides by at least a perimeter fence. Small cliffs, walls, prepared killzones, and trenches are also present on various avenues of approach. Its size would allow for operation and sustainment of both fixed wing combat and transportation aircraft, making it an ideal prize for both friendly and enemy forces to control.
(TS) figure 3: UAV image of Airbase Manticore
(S) The Reserve site, like the airfield, has historically been utilized and fortified in opportunistic fashion. The compound was first a school, then a Tsarist governor's palace, extremely briefly a troop barracks for the Red Army, and finally a NATO logistics hub. Its current ownership, however, is civilian in nature, using it as a worker barracks for both mining and power production to the rest of the island. The main complex has a commanding position above the surrounding landscape, and could service a large force if seized. Fortifications in the area have been converted to barracks and are ambiguously being used by civilian power plant workers along with unknown parties. It should be noted that the nearest eastern and southern shores are observed by the isolated Lightkeeper's Keep, an old fortification that protrudes out from the southeast corner of the island in a medieval structure; the position provides good sight lines for defensive and enfilading fires. Nature of occupancy of the tower is unknown at this time, as armed individuals in the vicinity have ignored friendly forces and have given no reason for coalition troops to drive them out.
(S) Tunnel accesses have been spotted in the vicinity of the Reserve compound, and mine access shafts are known to have been in use up until the revolt. It is advised to document and then bypass these, as their layout is not known accurately and friendly forces lack the tools necessary to conduct such a clearance. Enemy activity has not been associated with them and is most probably avoiding them as well.
(TS) figure 4: UAV image of the Reserve site
(S) The Woodford bastion is an 18th century Russian star fort, built to watch the western approach to the Isles. It sits elevated on the shore of the island and provides a commanding view, both of the sea and surrounding land. It may be outdated, but its defensive characteristics are still relevant against any traditional ground or seaborne assault. Enemy forces will likely value this defensive position and strongpoint it, a task requiring minimal resources. It sits adjacent to the city of Woodford, a small concentrated metropolitan area that can easily sustain a relatively large reserve force or hide insurgent activity.
(TS) figure 5: UAV image of Woodford
(S) Centered around the head of the Nahrin River, Jamdy City sits at the center of the largest concentration of civilian populace. It includes the neighborhoods of the town of Nahrin, Krasna-Hora, Tabaka, and Rois, and is broken up by various sections of the river. These sections are technically isolated by the river, but line of communication is also reduced to chokepoints that may easily be sabotaged and denied with a minimum devotion of forces.
(S) The area is also home to the largest port on the island, and therefore the largest civilian import/export location by sea. The defensive properties of an urban center sectioned by water features and heavily infused by civilians cannot be understated, and is double edged in nature like many of Merak's other features. Enemy forces will likely exploit the port and its proximity to other civil centers to smuggle equipment or personnel to fighting positions.
(TS) figure 6: UAV image of Jamdy City
(S) ACTIVE FACTION(S) WITHIN THE MERAK AO
(S) ARMED CIVILIANS (ACIV)
(S) Alignment: Neutral / Independent Force
(S) Manpower & Training: This "faction" is really a patchwork of various independents, consisting generally of ordinary citizens and blue collar workers. They are more or less present at all populated locations on the island, but the most notable single force seem to be concentrated in and around the Reserve Site. They have no known formal training, and their strength consists of whoever lives or was working in the immediate area. Other, smaller groups are thought to be motivated by various local considerations such as politics, economics, social/ethnic biases or simple opportunism.
(S) Armament & Equipment: Small arms of sport, hunting, and self-defense nature. Field reports suggest weapons may be select fire, and specimens seen in the field have ranged from small-caliber handguns to both Soviet and NATO-pattern long arms. It is not generally expected that they will be outfitted in extensive fighting gear or be utilizing heavy weapons such as RPGs, but overall appearance and presentment dictate likely threat more than weapon choice. Military hardware in general has proliferated on the island beyond the ability of any actor to control.
(S) Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures (TTPs): True armed civilians will be interested in self-defense and stability more than anything else. They will typically be focused on surviving more than winning any fights, and in all likelihood will flee or surrender if not fired on first. It is possible they will resist some direct incursions to areas perceived to belong to them.
(S) Counterintelligence: Reliance on civilian and emergency channels for intelligence. May be associated with specific factions and acting as accomplices or spotters for belligerent parties.
(S) Jamdy National Restoration Council (JNRC) / Jamdy People's Republic (JPR)
(S) Alignment: Hostile
(S) Manpower & Training: The JPR is the JNRC's military arm. Personnel strength unknown due to sudden appearance, but they are believed to be at least modestly-trained and highly organized individuals convinced or pressganged to carry out hybrid warfare. Actions on objective during Operation Sundering Strike suggest that JPR have access to forces that are directly foreign-backed with near-peer training, who operate directly or indirectly in concert with the militia arm of the hybrid threat.
(S) Armament & Equipment: JPR forces have generally been seen employing a broad mixture of outdated military surplus, and show indications of poor logistical capability such as weapons missing parts, ill-fitting gear, or nonexistent equipment standards. Soviet pattern small arms and crew-served weapons, older model light APCs and IFVs, and limited use of SPAAs have defined most JPR-associated forces. Their backers are known to be in possession of rotary aircraft, apparently located exclusively at Airbase Manticore as of the publication of this article. There is, however, no clear division between civilian or military participation, and enemy combatants generally do not wear flags, unit insignia, or uniforms. JPR sometimes seem to be ACIV, and ACIV sometimes appear to be JPR. Some limited use of heavier hardware has been noted, and may have been operated by a third party.
(S) Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures (TTPs): Forces identified as JPR have demonstrated a willingness to use hostages as shields to steer narratives and battles, or to exploit infuriated locals into serving them. Proximity to innocents and key infrastructure heavily limits kinetic response options, likely a deliberate choice. JPR tactical capabilities have been limited to staffing blocking positions and attempting to occupy general areas, only responding to incursion with organized but poorly-massed mobs of gunmen that break after sustained combat. More recent displays have indicated some units, possibly elite or handpicked individuals, have shifted to deliberate ambush postures and have executed sophisticated harassment on friendly forces with hunter killer teams. No IEDs, MANPADS or employment of abnormally long-range marksmen have yet been observed or reported. JNRC itself will most probably exploit propaganda generated by JPR forces, but in what way is not yet clear.
(S) Counterintelligence: Strengths include strong local familiarity and, if indeed backed by a state actor, SIGNT, GEOINT, and MASINT is likely to be available to them. The strong enforcement of OPSEC by US and partner forces is recommended when interacting with any unvetted individuals encountered in the field. What additional support they can summon is unknown at this time, but is likely not exhausted.
(S) Unknown Mobilization Force (UMF)
(S) Alignment: Neutral / Independent Force (Suspected)
(S) Manpower & Training: Lower limit is constrained at thirty to fifty individuals, with medium confidence that capability does not exceed JPR combat performance by enough margin to match or exceed their threat profile.
(S) Armament & Equipment: Unknown.
(S) Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures (TTPs): Brief shortwave transmissions intercepted at civilian-typical frequencies are the only proof that this faction exists. Messages consist of Estonian-language propaganda that, among other things, issues challenges to both NATO and JNRC parties to prove their commitments. There are also vaguely worded taunts contained in these messages to "come and try" to rule over this unidentified actor. It is possible that several such groups of this disposition exist, and that not all transmissions were of the same origin. No actor matching this description has claimed responsibility for any action taken, as of yet.
(S) Counterintelligence: If this cell is truly local, they will have strong local familiarity and are probably evading detection through a compartmentalized cell structure. Enemy forces have been known to use couriers and bagmen, suggesting this party is doing the same. Vulnerabilities include reliance on commercial communications infrastructure and the risk of OPFOR infiltration via civilian channels. Given the speed at which the island government was dismantled by enemy forces, however, UMF is probably not infiltrated if they represent a coherent party.
(S) Lighthouse Group (LG)
(S) Alignment: Neutral / Independent Force (Suspected)
(S) Manpower & Training: Several dozen individuals at most, exercising a professional-looking formation and security posture. They may possess their own private airlift capability.
(S) Armament & Equipment: Individuals were universally well-armed with modern weapons and body armor, preferring dark-colored uniforms.
(S) Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures (TTPs): Encrypted signal bursts consistent with military frequencies have been detected emanating from the Lightkeeper compound in the south-east of Merak. Other than an apparent security posture, the individuals guarding the position have not been seen taking meaningful actions. An MI-8 in civilian liverie was seen launching from the position and orbited Task Force Charlie during Phase 01-26, during which friendly forces opened fire on the aircraft and caused it to wave off.
(S) Counterintelligence: Whether LG has any direct affiliation with the major belligerents on Merak Island is unknown, and thus their channels and influence are also unclear. Further observation or interaction with them may be revelatory.
| Classified By: 1-506/S2 Derived from: Multiple Sources Declassified on: 20510315 |
TOP SECRET
The entirety of this document represents fictional works of the 506th Infantry Regiment Realism Unit, S-2 Intelligence Shop, developed for use within the Arma Reforger military simulation video game, and exists purely for entertainment and educational purposes only. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.