FM 57-35 Airmobile Operations - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMc. Serialization.(1) Serial numbers are reference numbers and do not indicatea priority or sequence for landing. They are used to(a) Identify units or cargo for control purposes.(&) Provide for brevity and security in communication,(c) Prepare checklists to insure that all elements are ordered to land and are landed.(2) A serial number is assigned to each unit, subunit, or groupwhich is to be(a) Embarked on one ship.(b) Landed as a unit at one landing zone.(c) Landed at one time.(3) Cargo, except for loose items, is also assigned a serialnumber.(4) Serial numbers identify each load on the helicopter employment and landing table (fig. 22).d. Wave Organization.(1) The fastest way of moving a number of troops from onepoint to another is by individual helicopter shuttle, witheach helicopter working at its maximum rate, unimpededby any delay of the others. This, however, is permissibleonly in administrative situations or tactical operationsof limited size. Wave organization is therefore consideredto be most adaptable to tactical ship-to-shore operations.(2) If the tactical situation calls for a maximum effort to bemade in the landing zone initially, a massive formationmust be preplanned for the first wave. Such a massivewave means that a long time interval will elapse beforebuildup can start. A maximum initial effort also createsa refueling bottleneck, thus offering a lucrative helicoptertarget.(3) The landing plan of the airmobile force should not presume a fixed wave organization throughout the lift. Lossesdue to enemy action and mechanical difficulties must beanticipated.(4) A wave interval is the time interval in minutes betweentwo successive waves. The optimum interval is that whichpermits one wave to land at a site immediately after thetakeoff of the wave ahead. The wave interval is, therefore, controlled primarily by the ground time at the site.Nothing is gained by decreasing the interval to the pointwhere a wave must orbit awaiting its turn to land.(5) Under a given set of conditions, there is a maximum num-72 AGO 2294B