1963 US Army Vietnam War Armor Operations ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMtroops entrain, impedimenta is loaded, and themovement is accomplished.For planning purposes and staff training, thefollowing assumptions may be made.27. Principles of Rail Movements(1) Sleeping cars. Average (standard andtourist Pullmans). These cars willa. Different types of equipment have differ- ordinarily accommodate 26 troopsent freight rates, and should be loaded sepa-with individual equipment.rately, that is, baggage of personnel (having a (a) Officers and warrant officers willhigher freight rate) should not be loaded innormally be moved in standard Pullvehicles,which are loaded on flat cars,mans, two per section.b. In loading equipment and supplies, the(6)(b)EnlistedEnlistedmenmenmovemoveinineithereitherstand-standminimumfreight weight of a railroad carshould be met whenever possible. (2) Coaches. A coach can accommodate 55troops with individual equipment.c. The towed piece of equipment should be (3) Passenger trains. Passenger trainswith the towing vehicle to facilitate loading and consist consist normallynormallyofof1111sleepingsleepingcars,cars, 2unloading.kitchen-baggage cars, and 1 or 2 bagd.A 12-inch brake wheel clearance per car(American) must be allowed for all freight.gage cars. A train of this size willnormally accommodate two companies.28. Rail Movement Table(4) Freight trains. For troop unit moves,including heavy equipment such asa. The rail movement table shows actual tanks, artillery, and engineer equipstrengthof the unit, type and amount of equip-ment, each train does not normallyment, number and type of cars (for planningexceed 65 cars for infantry divisionspurposes), and other pertinent information. Itand 55 cars for armored divisions.is kept current, and following receipt of move- (5) Mixed trains. Mixed trains, whichment orders, it is used to prepare the traincarry personnel with their vehicles,consist table. The rail movement table is pre-artillery and equipment, are desirablepared during the training phase of movementfrom a tactical and organizationaloperations and, in accordance with Army regu-standpoint.lations, must be maintained current. The unit c. Loading Organizational Equipment.S4 initially prepares the rail movement table. (1) The amount of headquarters, kitchen,He revises it to conform with current strength,and maintenance equipment varies inimpedimenta, and equipment to be moved, andunits. For planning purposes, 20 shortmaintains an up-to-date table through all tons (2,000 pounds per ton) arephases of the movement. Final revision of theallowed per company or equivalentmovement table is made upon receipt of ordersunit.directing the movement.(2) Organizational equipment moves norb.To be ready for movement, each troop unit maly in baggage or box cars.will prepare and maintain up-to-date rail move- d. Flat Cars. Flat car requirements are commenttables, under guidance of the unit trans- puted on the basis of maximum use of each car,portation officer (S4).regardless of length. Do not restrict computationto cars of one length. Twelve inches at 129. Loading Plans end of each car must be left for brake-wheelclearance. Length, width, height, and weighta. General. Loading plans are essential to must be considered in loading vehicles andintelligent and accurate preparation of a rail equipment. Final approval of loads will be mademovement table. A loading plan provides the by the local transportation officer.type and amount of railway equipment requiredby a unit as well as that required by each sub- 30. Train Consist Tableordinate organization (fig. 52).a. General. The train consist table is preb.Space Requirements for Troop Loading. pared after the rail movement table has beenAGO 9139asA 237