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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMand lubricant trucks normally are not needed tant. The plan for the operation must provideforward because of the light expenditures of for adequate support during movement to andthese supplies. If necessary, additional am- occupation of each delaying position. The sizemunition is stockpiled in the forward area. The of the battalion/squadron combat trains is heldsize of battalion/squadron combat train is us- to a minimum.ually restricted. The bulk of the logistical elementsshould be in the field trains. Normally, b. Supply of the combat elements is accomcompletesupply is accomplished at night. plished immediately upon their arrival at selectedb. When mess trucks are used to transportdelaying positions. As soon as practical,rations to forward defense elements, they move the battalion/squadron S4 or his representafromthe field trains area under cover of dark- tive directs the movement of battalion/squadnessand then normally return to the battalion/ ron combat trains to the immediate rear of thesquadron field trains before daylight.next delaying position, where they can mosteffectively support the operation.c. The medical section aid-evacuation teams,equipped with frontline ambulances, evacuate c. The battalion/squadron commander mustcasualties from the companies/troops to the give special consideration to demolitions andbattalion/squadron aid station. In some cases, engineer class IV supply requirements. Transdismountedlitter bearers are required. Casual- portation must be provided for these items, andties are evacuated from the battalion/squadron they must be so located that they are readilyaid station by elements of the supporting medi- available to the combat elements. It may beeal unit.expedient to stockpile these items on successived. Personnel of the company/troop mainte- delaying positions. This permits the earlynance sections recover and evacuate disabled withdrawal of supply vehicles and provides advehiclesto the established maintenance collect- ditional time for the supply vehicles to repleningpoint, using organic recovery vehicles. Dis- ish loads at supporting supply or distributingabled vehicles that cannot be repaired by the ointsbattalion/squadron maintenance platoon areevacuated to the supporting division mainte- d. The evacuation of casualties is generallynance collection point.the same as that in offensive or defensive operations.The aid station operates in the bat-145. Logistical Support in Retrograde talion/squadron combat trains area. If theOperations, Generalmedical aid-evacuation teams attached to theRetrograde operations are characterized by companies/troops cannot evacuate all casualheavyexpenditures of fuel and lubricants. The ties, it may be necessary to use company/troopnature of the operation may involve compar- vehicles and the armored ambulances from theable expenditures of ammunition. All classes medical section.of supply are often prepositioned to insure continuoussupport for the combat elements sincethe supply chain is extremely vulnerable to 147. Logistical Support in the Withdrawalenemy attack. Movement of supply vehicles is a. Logistical plans in the withdrawal providenormally accomplished during periods of re- for the support of the main body and for securducedvisibility because of the enemy's superiityforces remaining in contact with the enemy.ority in combat power. Maintenance and recoveryof damagedsince materielitLogistical difficult support for the main body is similarcovery of damaged materiel is difficultis often performed in the face of enemy fire.to that for a unit conducting a march (app.VI). Logistical support for the security force146. Logistical Support in the Delaying in the withdrawal is similar to that of the se-Action curity force in the mobile defense (par. 143).a. In the delaying action, control and secur- b. The logistical plan provides for evacuationity of the logistical elements are vitally impor- or destruction of excess supplies and equip-72 AGO 1lSA