1966 US Army Vietnam War ARMOR ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM393. Embarkation tinent information to each separately em-In the embarkation of armor units, it is importantto retain, so far as possible, the integbarkedunit.c. The commanding officer of the troops andrity of the unit as organized for combat. The embarkation team commander are responsiblelanding ship, docks (LSD's) and landing ship, for shipboard routine and training.tanks (LST's)-because of their greater capacity-generallyassist in the maintenance ofd. Vehicles should be loaded so that they areaccessible for servicing during the voyage. Daiunitintegrity. To expedite the loading opera- ly servicing and final preparation for combattion, personnel must be familiar with different must be planned, scheduled, and performed inmethodsof ship loading.cluding-(1) Prestarting checks.394. Movement to the Objective Area (2) Daily running of engines for approxia.Security regulations usually preclude de- mately ten minutes.tailed briefing of all personnel before embarka- (3) Checking batteries.tion. Therefore, they are informed of details ofthe operation during movement to the objective (4) Checking controls and linkage to inarea.All personnel must understand their du-sure free movement.ties and be thoroughly familiar with the over- (5) Final application of waterproof sealallplan. Each commander or leader shoulding compound on D-day minus one.know the relationship of his mission to the (6) Constant preventive maintenance onplan of the units in the amphibious troops.communication equipment.Briefings for personnel should emphasize thefollowing:(7) Constant preventive maintenance onarmament.(1) Mission. e. Vehicles must be well secured aboard(2) Scheme of maneuver. ship. Tank landing ships are equipped with se-(3) Details of the beach assault. curing chains. During extremely heavy seas,(4) Procedure for the ship-to-shore movement.chains alone may not prevent heavy vehiclesfrom slipping on the ship's steel decks. There-(5) Location and methods of communicationwith command posts, liaison perfore,heavy shoring timber is placed on deckbetween the vehicles and flush with the tracks.sonnel, the naval and controlShoring is used in conjunction with securing(6)zation. org chains. Dunnage must be placed under vehicleshaving steel tracks. In heavy seas, a continuousCondition of the beaches, nature of watch is maintained to insure that securingobstacles, beach exits, terrain inland, chains and shoring remain in place.f. All removable vehicular weapons are test(7) Plans for (7) breaching Plans forbeach obstacles.fired during the voyage. Fire control equip-(8) Tentative location of initial assembly ment should also be tested.areas and instructions for waterproofing.g. The following precautions are observed(9) Plans for location of maintenance and during the voyagesupply facilities ashore.(1) Engines are not run or fueled withoutpermission of the ship's commanding(10) Enemy situation, with particular at- offiermtention to antitank defense.(2) Vehicles in LST's are neither startedb. Intelligence information received during n ele s ness emovement to the objective area should be dis-nor fueled below decks unless enoughseminated to all personnel. This information isobtained from air observers, submarine peri- (3) Vehicles are fueled one at a time.scope photographs, and reports of underwater (4) Fire extinguishers are kept on handdemolition teams and reconnaissance units. and fire precautions observed whenProvision must be made for disseminating per-fueling.212