Civil engineer guide to fighting positions, shelters, obstacles

AFH 10-222 Volume 14 1 August 2008 55
3.2. Expedient Protective Structures. When designing bunkers and shelters,
consider the purpose (e.g., command post, observation post) and the degree of
protection desired (small arms, mortars, bombs). These structures should be
sited and constructed out of the path of natural drainage lines. If possible, site
shelters on reverse slopes, in wooded areas, or in some form of natural fortification
such as a ravine, valley, gully, hollow or depression for added protection.
NOTE: Reverse slopes of hills and mountains also provide some protection
from the effects of nuclear weapons since the heat and light from the
fireball of a nuclear blast and the initial radiation tend to be absorbed by hills
and mountains. For additional information on NBC protection, refer to
AFTTP (I) 3-2.46. Once constructed, continuously improve the protective
capability of bunkers and shelters as time permits. The following paragraphs
outline key factors to be considered when designing and constructing expedient
protective structures.
3.2.1. Overhead Protection for Expedient Protective Structures. Expedient
shelters should have some type of overhead cover. Although it may not be
possible to provide overhead cover for every asset, fighting positions and
mission-critical assets deemed vulnerable to certain threats must be provided
appropriate levels of protection. Overhead cover can be constructed from a
combination of berms, revetments, or partially buried structures if engineers
are not limited by the lack of time or resources. During the initial stages of a
deployment, however, it is very likely that time and resources will be limited.
This is why it is very important that civil engineers focus initially on defeating
specific threats (e.g., direct- and indirect-fired weapons) and protecting
the most critical assets, rather than attempting to equally protect all assets
from all possible threats. See Attachment 2 for a list of the different types of
materials that may be available in the expeditionary environment for use in
constructing overhead cover to protect against various projectiles.