1959 US Army Vietnam War Terrain Intelligence ... - Survival Books

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(17) Surface configuration.
(18) Other military aspects.
25. Prerequisite Information
a. A terrain study is not the compilation of all the terrain intelligence
available of some particular area, but only that information
that has a direct bearing on some existing requirement. Accordingly
the scope of a terrain study must be defined. Prior to initiating the
study, the engineer must know the area to be covered, the mission and
type operation, the specific information required by (2, and the
time period to be considered.
b. Terrain intelligence is produced continuously at all echelons.
The engineer maintains a file of intelligence data, drawing upon it
for pertinent matter when he is directed to make a terrain study.
Additional information is obtained from the sources and agencies
discussed in chapter 3.
26. Format
a. Appendix II shows a checklist for terrain studies, and Appendix
III presents an outline form for a terrain study. A specific terrain
study will not cover every item on the form, but only those items
applicable to the operation being planned. Used in this manner, the
terrain study form insures uniformity of presentation yet permits the
flexibility imposed by terrain analysis.
b. The primary requirements for a terrain study at army, corps,
or division level is that it must present the intelligence in a form
that can be easily utilized by field units. The study must be concise,
presenting only pertinent information. Written description should
be kept to a minimum. Intelligence should be presented graphically
whenever possible.
27. Compilation
a. The format suggested for the compilation of the terrain study
consists of three parts: the written text, a terrain study map, and a
regional description section. A fourth major paragraph, Analysis
of Area of Operations, is prepared by the intelligence officer. The
scope of this paragraph is described in FM 30-5. The written text
follows the sequence.of the sample terrain study (app. IV). It presents
the terrain intelligence called for in the applicable sections of
the form. Tables and charts are used to simplify, amplify, and
clarify the presentation. The written text should be as concise as
possible.
b. Wherever possible, terrain intelligence should be presented on a
terrain study map, based on a topographic map of appropriate scale.
A map scale of 1: 50,000 or 1: 100,000 is usually utilized for battle
groups and infantry divisions. Corps and Army Headquarters will
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