FM 57-35 Airmobile Operations - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMmethod is not accurate enough to compute requirementsfor units that must transport major items of equipmentand also maintain tactical integrity. Aircraft requirements are determnied by dividing the allowable cargoload (payload) of each aircraft into the total weight ofthe force to be transported.(2) Example of using the weight method:Weight to be transported 60,971 poundsAllowable cargo load H-34 = 4,240 pounds60,971-^4,240=14.3 or 15 helicopters required.b. Space Method.(1) The space method is the most desirable method for computing aircraft requirements since the number of spacesrequired for personnel, weapons, ammunition, and vehicleswill not change for each operation or with every changein allowable cargo load. Thus, the majority of the computations remain constant and overall planning time isdecreased.(2) A space is defined as the weight of a fully combat equippedsoldier and is used as a denominator to convert theweight of major items of equipment and accompanyingsupplies into a common factor. A space is considered tobe 240 pounds and is derived as follows:(a) Average weight of each individual = 155.00 pounds.in the Army(6) Weight of normal combat clothing = 49.89 pounds,and equipment(c) Average weight of each combat = 204.89 pounds,equipped individual(d) Average weight of all weapons and hand-carried ClassV basic load in a rifle company, to include the 81-mmmortar (but not the 81-mm mortar ammunition, the106-mm rifles, or 106-mm rifle ammunition) = 36.41pounds.(e) Grand Total = 241.30 pounds (or rounding off) = 240pounds.(3) In converting weights to spaces, consider only whole orhalf spaces by carrying fractions to the next higher halfor whole space; for example, 10.1 = 10.5; 11.6 = 12.0.(4) Convert major items of equipment such as vehicles,trailers, or heavy weapons into spaces by dividing theweight of each item by 240. If two or more items of thesame type are to be transported, multiply the spaces re-AGO 2294B 99