Operation Broken Arrow

DATE: 28/08/2025

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: Vietnam

MAP(S): Da Krong

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Doctor

SLOTS: 57 / 64

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RATING: (24)

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The Da Krong Valley has long been a thorn in MACV’s side. Running parallel to the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the valley is a natural highway for men and materiel moving south from Laos into South Vietnam. Its thick jungle canopy conceals entire supply routes, base camps, and fortified positions, making it one of the most dangerous regions in I Corps.

For the past year, U.S. and ARVN forces have mounted repeated sweeps through the valley — operations such as Lancaster and Dewey Canyon cleared ground and destroyed caches, but each time we withdrew, the Viet Cong and PAVN slipped back in. The valley has become a proving ground for North Vietnamese strategy: dig deep, wait out American firepower, then return once the pressure eases.

In recent weeks, enemy activity has sharply increased. Intelligence suggests that the PAVN are moving larger formations into the valley than ever before, including elements of the 324B Division. These units are well-trained, disciplined, and equipped with heavier weaponry than the local VC guerrillas. Reports from captured documents indicate that Soviet advisors have been present, assisting in the introduction of new weapons systems.

The strategic situation was made worse just days ago when Radio Relay Vandergrift — a hilltop communications station providing critical coverage for operations in the western sector — was overrun in a surprise night assault. Enemy sappers slipped through the perimeter and destroyed much of the facility before U.S. forces could respond. The outpost has not yet been retaken, leaving a blind spot in our comms net and further emboldening enemy activity in Da Krong.

MACV analysts believe the destruction of Vandergrift was not an isolated strike, but part of a coordinated effort to disrupt air and artillery support in the valley ahead of a larger offensive. The sudden appearance of MANPADS teams only reinforces this theory: the enemy want to make Da Krong a no-fly zone, cutting off the lifeline of helicopters and fast movers on which our operations depend.

In short, the valley is turning into a contested front line all of its own. If we fail to act decisively, Da Krong could become a permanent sanctuary for enemy forces, giving them free movement from Laos into the heart of South Vietnam.

Soviet-supplied surface-to-air weapons have begun turning up in the Da Krong Valley, smuggled in to support Viet Cong units and PAVN regulars. These new man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) are a serious threat to our aircraft, particularly in the thick jungle where air support is already hard to coordinate.

Earlier today, a U.S. Navy F-4B Phantom was struck by a missile whilst conducting a strike along the valley. The jet went down in hostile territory. Radio traffic confirms at least one of the crew managed to eject and is on the ground, evading capture. Local Viet Cong patrols and PAVN agitators are already moving through the jungle, looking for them. If they reach our man first, the outcome doesn’t bear thinking about.

Your company has been ordered in under MACV command. You’ll lift out from Camp Sarge by Huey and head directly into the Da Krong Valley. The mission is threefold:

1. Locate and recover the downed pilot before the enemy does.

2. Find and destroy the MANPADS unit responsible for the shoot-down, along with any stockpiles or equipment that could threaten future operations.

3. Extract safely with all survivors once the job’s done.

Be advised: this is deep jungle, and the enemy know the ground better than we do. Expect well-laid ambushes, hidden bunkers, and strong resistance. Fast air support will be extremely limited until those missiles are dealt with, so you’ll be relying on what you bring in with you and what fire support can be called from the guns at Camp Sarge.

The pilot’s survival depends on speed and aggression. Get in, find him, knock out the enemy’s new toys, and bring everyone home.