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

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engineer headquarters, and another is sent through engineer channels
to the zone of interior for use by the intelligence agencies of the Office
of the Chief of Engineers.
Section II. BASIC COMPONENTS OF TERRAIN AND CLIMATE
30. General Considerations
a. The basic factors of terrain are discussed under item 2 of the
terrain study form (app. IV). The factors discussed are climate,
topography, and when applicable, coastal hydrography. Although
climate and the oceanographic features of coastal hydrography are
not elements of terrain, they have a direct influence on the terrain and
are, in themselves, important considerations.
b. Appendix IV compiles the terrain intelligence oil the area that is
pertinent to the planned operation. The scope of the area will vary
with the echelon performing the compilation. Terrain studies at
higher echelons may present fairly extensive descriptions for planning
purposes. Terrain studies at lower echelons, having a more definite
direction and limit as to area, time, and purpose, restrict their descriptions
to the intelligence applicable to the operation planned, for this
more concise type of study.
c. Written and graphic descriptions can be used to describe the factors
of the terrain. The application of these means is discussed in the
following paragraphs.
31. Climate
a. Terrain features are affected by the climate, which includes such
elements as visibility, temperature, precipitation, humidity, winds,
clouds, and electrical disturbances. Not all of these factors are discussed
in every terrain study, since the factors to be described and the
manner of description depend on the area, time, and type of operation
planned.
(1) The area of operations influences the description of the climate.
Terrain features also influence the climate of an area.
A description of the climate of a large area can consider these
terrain influences only generally, whereas a description of a
small area, such as a single valley, can be quite specific.
Further, the importance of certain elements of climate depends
upon the area.
(2) The time that a specific operation is due to commence determines
the type of intelligence presented in the description.
Climate data must be used if the starting data is more than a
week or two in the future. (Weather predictions will be
used by G2 in the terrain estimate for periods of 5 days or
less.)
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