FM 57-35 Airmobile Operations - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM(5) Communication equipment organic to the team enablespathfinders to provide coordinated control in landingand drop zones over widely dispersed areas (up to 10miles in diameter).(6) Pathfinders are trained and equipped to determine theextent of residual radiation and assess damage in areassubjected to nuclear explosions. They may be employedto determine the reaction of the enemy forces to thistype weapon.2. Organization and Equipmenta. General. A team is the basic TOE pathfinder unit and consistsof two officers and ten enlisted men. These teams are assigned tothe field Army. One or more pathfinder teams may be employedfor the same operation. One team may be divided to form thenucleus for two teams that are completed by attaching personnelfrom the supported unit. Pathfinder support is also availablewithin the supported unit as outlined in paragraph 6.b. Equipment. Equipment used by pathfinders for aircraftterminal guidance consists of(1) Navigation devices to guide aircraft to the general landing area, including visual and electronic beacons.(2) Visual aids to assist in the landing of aircraft and assembly of troops. They include panels, lights, flags, smokegrenades, and pyrotechnic signals.(3) Communication equipment, including portable radio setsto provide ground-to-air and ground-to-ground communication.3. TransportationThe pathfinder team may be air delivered or air landed in anobjective area, it may go by ground or water vehicle, or it mayinfiltrate on foot. (It may be practical for the team to move tothe objective area on foot in a short-range operation because pathfinder equipment is designed for lightness and portability and canbe hand-carried for considerable distances.)4. Visual Signaling ProceduresThe pathfinder team uses the standard visual signaling procedures as described in ACP's 129,136, 168(A), and FM 1-100.5. Conduct of Operationsa. General. A pathfinder team assists in the navigation andcontrol of Army aircraft in three basic types of operation: helicopter landings, airplane landings, and air delivery. Usually, aAGO 2294B 85