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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMto minimize the residual effects of the (f) Evacuate vehicles and major itemsweapon.of equipment to appropriate vehi-(2) All operative communication facilities cle and equipment collecting points.report expeditiously the situation and (g) Perform decontamination.condition of the affected unit to thenext higher effective headquarters. 175. Decontamination Measuresb. Units Observing the Mass Destruction a. Radiological Decontamination. Radio-Attack.logical decontamination measures are unit and(1) Every effort is directed toward con- individual measures taken to reduce the dosetinuance of the assigned mission. A rate resulting from fallout. They includereportof the observation of the attackshould be submitted to the next (1) Brushing or sweeping off clothing andhigher effective headquarters. equipment. If possible, a complete(2) Commanders of units unaffected by change of clothing should be issuedthe attack should anticipate a possibleand the old laundered.change in mission to counter the at- (2) Bathing as soon as possible.tack's effects on the plan of the nexthighershigherheadquarters. This reduces re-(3) Turning over the soil in the immediateaction time when a change of missionarea of foxholes, vehicles, and occuisreceived.pied installations. This buries the finefallout particles and reduces intensity.c. Next Higher Headquarters of Unit Subjectedto a Mass Destruction Attack.(4) Hosing or washing equipment and(1) Receives reports from subordinate vehicles with soap or other detergentsunits concerning the enemy attack; at the earliest opportunity.determines the extent of damage as b. Decontamination of Vehicles after Toxicearly as possible, and issues necessary Attack. A contaminated armored vehicle willorders to continue the assigned -nis- continue its mission until the tactical situationsion.permits decontamination by the crew. For very(2) As early as feasible, acts to restore light contamination, exposure to the weatherthe effectiveness of the unit subjected may be sufficient for decontamination. Decontotothethe attack.attack. IfIfnecessary,necessary, ananareaareatamination of the interior of the vehicle maydamage control organization will beemployed in the affected area, area. AppropriateApprow be accomplished by the use of forced hot air orfunctions for the organization wiping with rags. Other expedients are pro-performing area damage control op- tective ointment (on small critical areas) anderations are-solvents such as kerosene, fuel oil, and diesel(a) Determine and report the effective- oil; when such expedients are used, they mustness of elements of the unit sub- be washed off or otherwise removed beforejected to the attack.damage occurs to sensitive materiel. To de-(b) Assume control of disorganized per- contaminate the outside of a vehicle, the crewssonnel and elements of the affected will spray the vehicle with decontaminatingunit.apparatus. Should this prove insufficient, spe-(c) Restore communication in the af- cially trained personnel may scrub the entirefected unit and from the affected vehicle with hot soapy water or apply theunit to its next higher headquarters. bleach slurry or DANC method. Decontamina-(c) Release effective elements to the tion is performed at decontamination points incontrol of the next higher head- maintenance areas by vehicle crews and specialquarters.units. For additional information on decon-(e) Evacuate casualties to appropriate tamination and further explanation of themedical installations. above methods, see TM 3-220 and FM 21-40.AGO 913eA 83