I Field Force Vietnam Lessons Learned 2 February 1970

8/3/2019 I Field Force Vietnam Lessons Learned 2 February 1970

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Approved for public release; distribution isunlimited. Document partially illegible.

Distribution authorized to U.S. Gov't. agenciesand their contractors;Administrative/Operational Use; 31 OCT 1969.Other requests shall be referred to Office ofthe Adjutant General, Department of the Army,Washington, DC 20310. Document partiallyillegible.

AGO D/A ltr dtd 29 Apr 1980 AGO D/A ltr dtd 29Apr 1980


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C O N F I D E N T I A L DEPARTMENTOFTHEARMYOFFICEOFTHEADJUTANTGENERAL

WASHINGTON.O.C. 20310

I N REPLY REFER TO

AGDA(M)(27Jan70)FO ROTUT694290February1970SUBJECT. OperationalReport-LessonsLearned,Headquarters,I .eld

^orceVietnamArtillery,PeriodEnding31October1969(U)CO CO l . Subjectreporti sforwardedforreviewandevaluationinaccordance

i withparagraph4b,AR525-15, EvaluationsandcorrectiveactionsshouldbereportedtoACSF0ROTUT ,OperationalReportsBranch,within90daysofreceiptofcoveringletter.

SE EDISTRIBUTION

c 2 nformationcontainedinthisrepottisprovidedtoinsureappropriatebenefitsinthefuturefromlessonslearnedduringcurrentoperationsan dma ybeadaptedforuseindevelopingtrainingmaterial.BYORDEROFTHESECRETARYOFTHEARMY:

AJJ.

DT )GV* t 4 _

1Incl ENNETHG.W1CKHAMas ajorGeneral,USATheAdjutantGener alDISTRIBUTION:

'CommandingGeneralsI ' SContinentalArmyCommandISArmyCombatDevelopmentsCommandI ' SArmyMaterielCommand


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C O N F I D E N T I A L DISTRIBUTION(Cont'd)Copiesfurnished:Office,ChiefofStaff,USArmyDeputyChiefsofStaffChiefofResearchandDevelopmentAssistantChiefsofStaffChiefofEngineersChiefofMilitaryHistoryOSD(SA)AssistantforSoutheastAsiaForcesDirector,DefenseResearch&EngineeringOffice,JointChiefsofStaffCommandingGeneral,USArmyWeaponsCommandCommandantoftheMarineCorpsDirector,WeaponsSystemsEvaluationGroupDefenseDocumentationCenterUSAFProjectRANDComrrandingOfficersI ' SArmyLimited WarLaboratory

I ' SArmyLogistics,DoctrineSystems&ReadinessAg enc y"SArmyMobilityEquipmentResearch&DevelopmentCenter

1FieldForceViet namArtillery

C O N F I D E N T I A L


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-

CONFIDENTIAL ' DEPARTMENT O F " THE ARMY

Headquartora,I Field ForceVietnamArtilleryAPOSan Francisco6350AVFA-AT-D 3 1Ootober1969SUBJECT:perationalReportof Headquartersan dHeadquartersBattery, TFieldForceVietnamArtilleryforPeriod1Augustte : 3 1Ootober1969,RCSCSFOR-65(R2)( U )SEEDISTRIBUTION

1 .ECTION I tC )ignificantorganizationorunitaotivitles.a eneraliuringthereportingperiod)I FFORCEVArtyoontinuedsupportofARVN,RF/PF,ROK,USan dUSSF/CIDGfroesinIICTZ.heI FFORCEVArtyorganizationasof theoloseofth eperiodisasoutlinedinlnclosure1 .Threegroups,on eseparatebattalion,on oseparatebatteryandthirteenradardetachmentssupportedoperationsoenduoted byalliedmaneuver unitsinareasofoperations(AO)ndioatedbelowIFFORCEV ARTY M A N E U V E R U N I T A O4lstArty Gp

( 7 / 1 3 )7 / 1 5 )( 6 / 3 2 )

2 2 d ARVN D i vC a p ROK Inf Div9 t hROK InfDanC u o n g / L e e

5 2 dA r t y Gp( 3 / 6 )( 6 / 1 * 0( 2 / 1 7( 1 / 9 2 )

2 ^ t h A R V N S T 2I f t h Inf Div DanQ u y e n / H i n e s

ProvisionalArtyGp(5/22)v5/2?)

2 3dARVNDivTaskForceSouth DanAn/Sheridan

TheI f t hBn,60thArty(AW)(SP),withattachedBtryB ,29th(SLT)andBtryE ,MatArty(MG),andHHB,8thBn,26thArty(TAB)withelevenattachedcounter--mortarradardetachmentsoontinuedoperationinsupportofalliedforoesthrough-ou tIIC T Z . b .ntelligence!( l )ostileartilleryattaoksduringth eperiodreachedahighpointon12Augustwhentheenemyconducted60attacksandexpended457roundsincon-junctionwithth ereportedinitiationofth eautumnoffensive.owever,th e

1Seelncl2vs., , - , p. r-K , - r , A , DOWNGRADED A T 3 Y E A R I N T E R V A L S ;J g J a S UTONFIDENTIAL D E C L A S S I F I E D A F T E R 1 2 Y E A R S . lnclosure O D D I R 5200.10


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CONFIDENTIAL AVFA-AT-DSUBJECTperationalReportfHeadquartersandHeadquartersBattery,IFieldForceVietnamArtillery for Period iAugust to31October1969( U )offensivedidnotmaterializeandaotivityreturnedtoalowlevelshortlythoreaftor*nemy aotivitywasnotconcentratedin anyoneareaduring-t h e ' paricdandthevastmajorityoftheattacksworeoflowintensity.he High-landProvincesreceivedtholargestpercentagesofactivitywithattacksoccuringprimarilyinthovicinity ofKontuaCity,PleikuCity,andBanMeThuotCity,he28th5 6 t h . . . "and40thNVARegimentsremainedunlocatedinCambodiahowever,theya r c "bslievedtohavemovedtoSouthernIICTZwith"intentionsunknown.hemajorityof enemyactivity intheCoastalProvincesoccurredinBlahDinhProvince,whereattackswerescattaredthroughouttheProvinceandweredirectedpiiBarilyagainsttheAlliedPacificationPrograar0 "Severaloftheenemyunitsin thoCoa3taiProvinceshavereportedlybroken-down intosmaller eizoelec&ntstooporatewithandasguerrillaforces,hePhanIhievareaof BinhIhuanProvincecontinuedtowitnessa cyclicalpattern"ofactivityasenemy attacksincreasedduringthelasttwoweeksofAugustandthefirsttwoweeksofOotober." 1 ackhorseintheSouthernProvince,Dalatreceivedconsiderableactivity,particularlyduringthemonthof August,withactivitybeing scatteredandoflow intensityintheremainingprovinces.Enemy-artilleryactivityincreasedsharplyintheBuPrangarea(Quang DueProvince)duringthelastweekof October whiohwastargetedagainstUSfire-bases.herewasnosustainedoffensiveana"activitywasspread'throughout 'IICTZ.

( 2 )êe n e t f < y artillerycapabilityremainedthesameastheprevious-quar-ter. ew enemyartilleryunitswer*identified.( 3 )nemyartilleryattacksandexpenditures(Dally Average)throughoutIICTZforthereportingperiodareindicatedbelow

MONTH TTACKS/DAYOUNDS/DAYAugust 0September Ôctober 2

( . 4 )heenemydidnotemployanyfieldgunorhowitzer firewithinIICTZduringthereportingjoried=( 5 /uringthequarter^therewere . l / 3r c u r . d . iof l ' / j a ; r .rocketi n d79roundsof122mmrocketfirodatfriondlyinstallationsIn26separateattacks.

Therewerenonewweaponsnorvariationsofthestandardenemymunitionsem-ployedinIIC T Z . ( 6 )uringthefaricd,thereware3attacksinwhioh7 roundsofiÔaarocketwereemployedint h e H i g t i i a n d Provinces,

OONFIDENTIAL


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CONFIDENTIAL AVFA-AT-DSUBJECTr" " OperationalimportofHeadquartersandHeadquartersBattery,IFieldPoreVietnamArtilleryfor Period1Augustto31October

1969(U)(?)adar Operations!(a)aringthemonthofAugust1969theradar sectionandthesurveyinformation center of First Field ForceArtillerywereformed intoa combinedoperation*hisofficeisdesignated theTargetAcquisitionInformationCenterandis thecoordinationan dinformationagency fo rradar,survey,crateranaly-

sis oand"duffleba goperationsfor FirstFieldForcesVietnamArtillery,herationaleforcombiningthesetwoofficeswastoconsolidate and expeditethe~accumulationandanalysisofalltargetacquisitioninformationan drecommendproceduresthatwouldInsureoptimumutilisationofal ltargetacquisitionassetsinIFFORCEVArtilleryareaofoperations(b)uringthequarter,sixradarmovtswereconducted,a totalof47enemyweaponslocationsweremadeand 63 7groundsurveillancesightingswere"

made0'Fifty-sevenpercentofallgroundsurveillancesightingswereengagedrepresentingtotalartilleryexpendituresof7669rounds,(8)urvey:xtensionofsurveycontroltoallfiresupportbasesin'

IICT Zcontinuedduringthisquarterodate,483,857metersoffourthordersurveyhavebeencompleted,toincludetheestablishmentof77fourthorderSCPsohem o s t ,recentsurveywasthecompletionoftheKontumt cBenHetsurveywhichextended173*000matersintoapreviouslyunsurveyedarea andadded21SCPstothelistofIFFORCEV ArtillerySCPsC operationsan dTrainingActivities!(1)perations!(a)uringth ereportingperiod,artilleryunitswithIFFORCEVcontinuedsupportof ARVN,BOX,US,RF/PF,RDTeamsandUSSF/CIDGforcesinIICTZ.

IFFORCEV ArtilleryunitscontinuedsupportofIFFORCEVmaneuver forcesinprovidingmaximumparticipationinpacification,fireplanning,and artilleryprotectionfor thegreatestnumberofvillagesand hamletsintheIICTZ.(b)reasofresponsibilitiesremained unchangedwiththegroupscontin-

uingtooperateintheirAOs.(2)ireSupport.CoordinationElement!(a)avalGunfireSupportforIICTZwasprovidedbyanaverageof two

shipseachday.nallatotalof21differentships,representingtwocountries,sawactioninIICTZ duringthethreemonthperiod.hefollowingisasummaryofNavalGunfireSupport!MISSIONS

463TARGETS1983

ROUNDS16,867

CONFIDENTIAL


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CONFIDENT IALAYFA-AT-DS U B J E C T :p e r a t i o n a l R s p o r t o f Headquartersa n d HeadquartersB a t t e r r y ,IFieldF o r c eV i e t n a mArtilleryfor Period 1 Augustt o3 1 October

1 9 6 9( U )( o )u r i n g t i i e reportingp e r i o d ,a dallya v e r a g e o f 62immediatereaction--a n d hangfiret a r g e t s w e r ed e v e l o p e d .f t h e s e , a dailyaverageo f kZ w e r e

f i r e d .f t h o s et h a t w a r e n o t f i r e d ,m o s t c o u l d n o t b ec l e a r e d o r h a d b e e n p r e t a r g a t e d .i e followingi s a summaryof t a r g e t s developedandf i r e d I MMEDIATEREACTION HANGFIRE OTHER

DEVELOPED0 0 6643 9 1FIRED M69 ^8 8( c )h e A r e a H a r a s s m e n tp r o g r a m c o n t i n u e st ob ea n e f f e c t i v e m e a n s ofharassingt h o e n e m y i n t h o s e s a n c t u a r i e s andb a s e a r e a sw h i c h a r e o u t o f range"o f friendlya r t i l l e r y ,hirteena r e a sw h i c h c h a n g e a st h e e n e m y m o v e s within -"t h eC o r p sa r ec o n s t a n t l y m o n i t o r e d .veryf i v ed a y st h eb e s t s e v e n a r e a s a r es e l e c t e d i n p r i o r i t y a n d targetedt w i c e dailyf o r t a c t i c a l a i r ,s p o o k y andshadow m i s s i o n s .h i s p r o v i d e s c u r r e n t ,l u c r a t i v et a r g e t st h r o u g h o u t t h e C o r p st h a tc a n b e s t r u c k a sa i r c r a f t b e c o m e a v a i l a b l e u m m a r y o f m i s s i o n si n s u p p o r t oft h e a r e a harassmentp r o g r a m sT A R G E T S/CSORTIESG T SPOOKY/SHADOW( R D S )6k0 ?92 9 , 2 0 0( d ) d a l l y a v e r a g u o f6s u p p r e s s i o n o r d e r sw e r e Issuedt o1 7 5 m m g u n st h r o u g h o u t t h eC o r p s .( a ) t o t a l o f 1 2 ?A r cL i g h tt a r g e t sw e r es t r u c k duringt h ep e r i o d b y at o t a l o f 4?0a i r c r a f t ,h o followingi sa b r e a k d o w n o f ARCLIGHT s u p p o r t s

PRIMARYA R C LIGHTP R O V I N C E A R G E T SJJ?AFTB I N H D I N H 1 4B I N H T H U A N /K Q H T U M 3 3

P H U BONP H U Y E N 1P L E I K U 6 lQ U A N G D U C 1 0 5Q U A J i CN G A I J_

T O T A L 8 2 5 6CONFIDENTIAL


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CONFIDENTIALAVFA-AT-DSUBJECT:perationalReportofHeadquartersandHeadquartersBattery,I

FieldForceVietnamArtilleryfor Porlod 1Augustto31October1969(U)

SECONDARYARCLIGHTPROVINCEBINH DINHDARLACKONTUMPLEIKU TOTAL

TARGETS AIRCRAFT3 l> 7 1 8

2 5 6 81 0< * 5

2k1 1 *

(f)no:dertoImplementuniformARO LIGHTproceduresthroughoutIICTZwhichareeorapatablewithcurrentKACV requirements,acomprehensiveregulationcoveringallaspectsoftheARCLIGHTprogramwaspublishedinSeptember.SCEpersonnelalsomadefrequentfieldtripstoassistnewpersonnelIntheARCLIGHTprogram,,hesevisitsincludedadetailedsecurityinspectiontoInsurethatallunitsarecomplyingwithproper securityrequirements.uringthelatterpartofOctoberan ARCLIGHTconferencewassponsoredbytheFSCS todiscussplanningandrequestingtechniquescontainedInthenewregulation.Resultsofth esecurityinspectionwerealsoreviewedattheconference.

(g)nenewArtilleryWarningControlCenterwasadded totheIICTZArtilleryWarningSystem.herearenow2kperationalcenters.n05Aug,anAWCCconferencewasheldatHQ;IFFORCEVtodiscusstheproposedchangestoKACV Dir9^-13ubsequenttothisconference,anunclassifiedlistingofIICTZAWCCfrequencieswasdeveloped and published.nOctober,th oAssistantChiefofStaff,MACV J), releasedtheproposedKACVDi r95-13.Artillery andAirStrikeWarningSystem,for concurrenceh ,FSCEexaminedthisdocumentandforwardedittotheIFFO.iCEVChiefofStaffrecommendingseveralchanges.Themajorchangeintroduced byth eproposeddirectiveisth erequirementtopestair strikeearningsInadditiontonormalartilleryadvisories.herearenoforeseeabledifficultiesincomplyingwiththismajorc.ange.heFSCEiscurrentlydrafting adirectivewhichwillimplementtheMACV directiveandestablishstandingproceduresfor theIICTZArtillery ancAi r StrikeWarningSystera.

(3)raining:(a)heIFFORCEVArtyForwardObserver TrainingCourse(FOTC)and theFireDirectionOfficerTrainingCourse(FDOTC)continuedtotrain artillery

lieutenantsandotherUSan dRVNAFpersonnel.(b)VNAFAssistancePrograms1 _VNAFAssistanceProgramscontinuedtoshowprogressduringthereporting

period.sa resultoftrainingassistancefurnished byUSartilleryunits,

CONFIDENTIAL


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CONFIDENTIAL AVFA-AT-DSBJECTsperationalReportofHeadquartersandHeadquartersBattery,IFieldForceVietnamArtilleryforPeriod1Augustto31October

1969(u)th eproficiencyofARVNunitshasshowncontinualImprovementrequently,ARVNartilleryhssbeenusedinsupportofUS maneuverunitsinconjunctionwithUSartillerysupport.

2reacaremphasishasbeenplacedonth eartilleryassistanceprogramforCivilianIrregularBafonjeGroupcamps.he105mmhowitzersorganictotheCIDGCampsanaheretoforeusedinthedirectfirerollforperimeterdefense,ca nnowbeusedintheindirectfiresupport,rollofmaneuverele-m e n t s .hishasbeenaccomplishedbyIFF0RC3VArtyunitsprovidingteamstotrainC ' C D Gpersonnelinfiringbattery,firedirectionandforwardobserverprocedures,

2rainingassistancetoTerritorialForce(RF/PF,RU)unitshasshowncontinualimprovement.orwardobservertraininga n ltechnicalassistancefo rtheimplementationofDistrictFireSupportPlanshavebeenrenderedbyIFFORCEVArtyu n i t . ? , ,

4sapartoftheacceleratePhaseIIplanforRVNAFImprovementandModernization,property of6thBattalion,84thArtillery,wasscheduled fo rturnovertot h ?ASM45thArtyBattalion.pprovaloftheturnoverw c * agrantedbyKACV on2Aprili99-hi3actionwascompletedduringth ereportingperiod,AcompleteresumefollowsACTION ATSTurnoverof BtryoR V N 8p r69 Turnoverf BtryoR V N 5un9TurnoverfBuyoR V N 4ul9TurnoverofQ stry tc A i l V J ? 9ul9Tnrnin:'eoidii.ilr-;prty toupportUnit8ep9crTx'ansferjtherJYiitareviewofropertyokorVerification0-22ap9 ofropertyAccountabilityDestructionf.v:;..:tyookyFFVArty43Sep9 asirectedy U.'. '- . ' : ' /

(4) Other1(a) Artilleryafety, TheArtilleryafetyffiv.s..cess^d otalfrcvenncidentsndr. sccidenteporti investigationusinghehreemontheriod. Th e F0RC2VArtyiringafetyO r--. .>ewritten. 6thBattalion,2aArtilleryontinuedtsnbie^i^nedartilleryiringsafety

CONFIDENTIAL


12/23

CONFIDENTIALAVFA-AT-DSUBJECT:perationalReportofHeadquartersan d HeadquartersBattery,IField ForceVietnam Artilleryfor Period1Augustto31October

1969( U )recordan dnoaccidentsorincidentsoccurredintheremainderof' I s tArtyGroupthroughoutthequarter.dditionallyth efollowingI FFOBCBVArty unitswerenotchargedwithan accidentorincidentfo r th ethreeaonthsidBn ,17thArty1stBn,9 2 dArtyiand5thBn ,2 2 d Arty.

( b )eteorologicalQualityControlTeas(MQCT)iomaintainth equalityofballisticmeteorologicaldatainIICT ZtheIFFOflCEV ArtilleryHQCTcheckedthefollowing number ofsounding duringth ereportingperiodwithresultsasindicatediMONTH N O OF SOUNDINGSCHECKED NOU N S A T I S F A C T O R Y . % UNSATISFACTORYAugust 9 6 4 4 . 4 2September 8 3 3 1 0 1 . 2October 8 5 6 8 . 9 ^

( c )ersonneli(l)ersonnelstrengthof HQ 4 HQ Btry,I FFORCEVArtyon31Oct 69 wast

AuthAgPresfor dy *Includ,s Colonel,1Majorwh oare assignedtoHHBfordutywithProvArtyG p naddition,iCaptainisassignedtothisheadquartersan dattachedtoTaskForceSouth. Includes2 enlistedaeni f i oar eattachedtoHHBfo rdutywithProvArty Gp.

O F F H O E M3 8 5 1 5 14 8 6 1 6 8

4 5 6 **153

( 2 )verallStrengthofCommandi AUTH2 7 2 3 ASG6 5 9 5( 3 )hereexistsacriticalshortageof RadarTechnicians,MO S211A0,

inthiscommand.HB,8 thBn ,26thArtyisauthorisedatotalof nineteen211A08.tpresent,onlytn nwarrantofficersandqualifiedlieutenantswiththisMO Sareassigned.womorewarrantofficerswithrelatedMOSahavealsobeenassigned.dditionally,th ecommandhasa shortageof38lieutenantswhichrestrictsth eeffectivenessofForward Observersectionsthroughoutth eIICorpsTacticalZone.

CONFIDENTIAL


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CONFIDENTIALA . V T AAT-D.WBJECT:perationalReportofHeadquartersandHeadquartersBattery,IFieldForceVietnaaArtilleryfor Period1Augustto31October

1969( U )( 4 )nlistedpersonnelstatushasdeer . s e d duringth ereporting periods

withth eoverallcosaandstrengthcurrentl;at9 8 5 6 .riticalshortages stillxlstinth efollowing HOSstM O S TITLE

FA BasicAUTH1758

ACTUAL1533

SHORT13A1 - 2251 + FACrnn i f 3 0 3 9 6 -34

13B4 FA Opns/IntelAsst 1 1 0 4 9 - 6113Z5 Opns/T.ntel/lSG 7 4 4 8 -2 616F4 AutoWpnaSecCh 1 2 4 5 3 - 7126B2 p r i sSpt RadarRepair 1 6 5 -1 136K2 : ' i l dt f i r e a a n 4 2 8 3 4 4 - 8 463C4 Ge nVe hRepair 6 4 5 ? -76Y4 SupplySergeant 7 1 5 8 -1394B4 MessSteward 5 4 4 6 -( 5 )hefollowingaccidentswererecorded duringthisperiodforIFFORCEV

*utyo r i l t s :

VehicleFatal''hideNon-FatalFirarms< V . * e rTOTAL

A U G S E P O C T2 1 13 3 32 1 1

_ 2 _ JL JL1 6 1 0 1 0

CONFIDENTIAL


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CONFIDENTIAL AVFAAT-DSUBJECT)perationalReportofHeadquarters andHeadquarters Battery,IFieldForceVietnaa ArtilleryforPeriod Augustto31October

1969(U)( 6 )hefollowingawardsanddecorationswereapprovedforI FFORCEYArty

units:TYPEOFAWARDDS MDFCLOM3SBSMVB3MACMVACMAM?HCof A

TOTAL( ? )oraleanddisciplinecontinuedtobeexcellentthroughoutth ejeriod,

2 ECTIONl i tC )essonsLearned-CommandersObservations,,evaluations,an drecommendations:a .ersonnel:o n e , ,b .perations)aeofLongRange40mmAmmunition,B 5 5 8 , ,( 1 )bservation)ecentlyVC/NVAunitshavebeensettingupmortar,recolilessrifleandrocketpositionsjustoutsideth emaximumrangeofreg-

ular40amammunition,( 2 )valuation)neffectivecounter measurefo rtargetslocatedbeyond

th erangeof B559istoload onegunonth eM42A1withregular range(B559)andon egunwithlongrange40mm ammunition(B553).po nobservingth eaor-t . i r ,recolilessrifleorrocketflashes,th ecrewadjustsonth eenemy

CONFIDENTIAL

A U G S E P O C T0 0 00 0 02 2 3 2 1 32 1 3

1 2 7 6 9 1 1 61 4 2 1 5

1 4 3 1 5 3 1 9 83 1 3 1 2 51 1 * 5 1 5

- 2 1 J2 _ 4 Z4 2 8 4 0 8 4 2 1


15/23

CONFIDENTIALAVFA-AT-DSUBJECT:perationalReportofHeadquartersand Headquarters Battery,IFieldForceVietna Artilleryfor Period1Augustto31October

1969( U )locationbytracer observationwithB559ascloseaspossiblethenswitchestoth eother gu nand deliversfireonth eenemywith B558ammunition.hismethodresultsinasavingsofB558aaaunitionduringadjustmentyetprovidesforinstantaneousresponse.

O) Recommendation:hatcommandersusethistacticwhenenemyfiringlocationsca nbelocatedbyflashes-adjustingonth etargetwithB559,givingth eenemyafalsesenseofsecurityduringth eadjustingperiod,thenswitchestoB558fo r quick,positiveresults.C uralnlngioned ontelligence!one.e .ogistics!( i ;60MachineGu nBrassCatcherfor M42Als.( a ;bservation)mptyshellcasingsand linkagesfromth eM6 0machine

gu nmountedonth eturretoft h e M * t 2 A lca nfoul40mmgunautomaticloadersandmainenginecomponents.( b )valuation:woincidentshaveoccurredinwhichspentcasingsan d

linksfromth eM6 0machinegunmountedonth eturretofth eM * f 2 A lcausedequipmentfailure.non eincident,anemptyshellcasingfouledth eauto-maticloaderonon eofth eJ f O m m gunsrenderingitnon-operationaluntilth eguncouldbetornapart.nth eotherincident,a spentlinkfellthroughth e' rackgrill workintoth emainenginecompartmentandwasthrownbythee n -Sinefanintotheoilbreather,laterresultinginafireandtotallossofVieMhZM

( c )ecomm


16/23

CONFIDENTIALAVFA-AT-DSUBJECTSperationalReportofHeadquarterand HeadquartersBattery,Ifield ForceVietnaa Artilleryfor Period1Augustto3 1October

1969( U )( c )ecommendationsioadoptth eheliotropeasaT04E itesfor all

artillery 4thordersurveyparties.f rganization!one.g .therione.

^htd^)^^Ji3Incl HARLESM .HALLas olonel.FAIncl dQ ,A oaaandingDISTRIBUTION! 2 -C INCUSARPAC ,TTNi GPOP-DT3-CG ,SARV ,TTNiVHAC-C-DST4 - CG , FOriCBV,TTNiVFA -GC -D5-IIF O R C E V 5-XXIVC o r p s5 - U SAFAS 5 -USAADS 3-52dArtyp 3-1 FFORCLV Prov ArtyGp2-4thBn,60thArty2-6th3n,32 dArty2-7thBn ,13thArty2-?thBn ,15thArty1-HHB,8 thBn ,26thArty1-FSCE

1 1CONFIDENTIAL


17/23

C O N F I D E N T I A L A ; FA -GC - i . I aT (31Oct9) istnd0) * * E C 1 9 6 9 SBJ i&T: OperationalReportfHeadquartersndeadquartersattery,FieidForceietnamArtilleryorPeriod1Augusto31October

1969,G SSFOh -65R2) (U )DA ,eadquarters, ieldForceietnam,P O 96350TO : ConuiiandingGeneral,nitedStatesArmyietnam,TTW At fhGC-DST,A P O 963751. (li) ThiseadquartersasvaluatedubjecthiiLndoncurs,xceptsindicatedelw . . (C ) Referenceara4)age: Recordsfhiseadquartersndicateeh eollowingotaltrengthsorwQS ' sndicated.

a.3A10 1577b.6F40 c.3H40 416totalACrewmanandAOps/IntelAsst).3. U ') Fieferencera6)a g e Award sorep9houldeflectne

U o l - iwardedtodijiuleormerG , F O R b VArty.ruf .i.iO t l . A l J j H j

4 L ' joFOh,A i o ,.'VOii-O'^Arty

P A U LtKEKELAERE ill;.:,ASSTG

C O N F I D E N T I A L D O W N G t A D E D A T3Y E A I I N T E I V A I S ; 12ECIASSMDAFTE112YIAIS .D O D M5200.10


18/23

C O N F I D E N T I A L AVHGC-DST( 3 1Oct69)2dIndSUBJECT:perationalReportofHeadquartersandHeadquartersBattery,

IFieldForceArtilleryforPeriod Augustto3 1October1969,RCSCSFOR-65( R 2 )( U )HEADQUARTERS,UNITEDSTATESARMY,VIETNAM,APOSanFrancisco96375T O :ommanderi nChief,UnitedStatesArmy,Pacific,ATTN:POP-DT,APO965581 .u )hisheadquartershasreviewedtheOperationalReport-LessonsLearnedforthequarterlyperiodending 3 1October1969fromHeadquarters,IFieldForceVietnamArtillery.2 .C )ommentsfollow:

a .u )eferenceitemconcerning"Personnel",page 7 paragraphlc(4)(c)(3). criticalshortageofwarrantofficersqualifiedinMOS211A0doesexist. FFVisauthorized1 8 *he30November AG19reportfromIFFVindicatesatotalof14assigned.ixarewarrantofficersandeightareschooltrainedlieutenants.asedoninputprojectionsall211ApositionswillbefilledwitheitherwarrantofficersorschooltrainedlieutenantsbytheendofJanuary.asedonthe20NovemberAG19IFFVreportedthefollowing:ieldArtilleryLieutenants-Authorized1 9 1 jAssigned1 8 9 .irDefenseLieutenants- Authorized2 0 |Assigned2 8 . Thesefiguresindicate6artillery lieutenantsoverauthorized.herewillbeaDecember DEROSlossof29lieutenants,butO f l DUSARVisfillingtheseanticipatedvacancieswithanaverageinputofoneartillerylieutenantperday.

b .C )eferenceitemconcerning"Useof Long Range40mm Ammunition,B558",page9 ,paragraph? b ;concur.lthoughthismethodisaneffectivecountermeasurefortargetsbeyondtherangeof B559(HEIT-SD),theuseofB558(HEIT-HSD)islimitedbyits availability.S A R ^ JG4AmmunitionDivision,statedthatwhenthepresenttheatersupplyofB558(HEIT-NSD) iaexhaustedi twillnotbereplenished.

c .C )eferenceitemconcerning"M60machinegunbrasscatcherforM42Als",page1 0 ,paragraph2e(l)iconcur.daptionofacatcherbag(FSNIOO5-903-1088)t otheM60machinegunwillhelpt okeepspentbrassfromdamagingM42equipment.dditionally,considerationshouldbegivent ousingt h emachinegunbrassdeflector kit(FSN1005-221-7392).hisdeflectioncurtainpreventsexpendedbrassfromfallingintothevehicle.

d .C )eferenceitemconcerning"Heliotropes",page1 0 ,paragraph2e(2). TherecommendationthattheheliotropebeadoptedasaTOEitemofequipmentforallartillery4thordersurvey partiesappearstohavemerit.Recommendedchangest oTOEwillbepreparedbyIFFVArtilleryandsubmittedthroughcommandchannelst otheUSArmyCombatDevelopmentsCommandIAWAR310-31andAR310-44.FORTHE COMMANDER:

3?fc0t^*7yurn:IFVArtyIFV 3

C O N F I D E N T I A L OOWNGtADEDA T3YWINTEIVAIS;

D E C L A S S I F I E D AFT1 2YEAIS.D00M$2001 0


19/23

GPOP-DT( 3 1Oct69)3 dI n d( U )SUBJECT:perationalReportofHQ,I FieldForeVietnamArtilleryforPeriodEnding31October1969,RCSCSFOR-65(R2)(U)HQ,USArmy,Pacific,APOSanFrancisco65584JAN 70T O :ssistantChiefofStaffforForceDevelopment,Departmentofth eArmy,Washington,D .C ,0310Thisheadquartersconcursinsubjectreportasindorsed.FOR THECOMMANDERINCHIEF:

C . L . S f l O iC P T , AGCA t AG

1 4


20/23

CONFIDENTIAL1 ,ANCUYEN/HINES2 .ANCUONG/LEE3 RID4 ,t h r t O K INF DIV5A N AN/SHERIDAN

C A M B O D I A

e3 iO

DOWNGIADEDA T 3Y E A R N T E R V A L S ; D E C L A S S I F I E D A F T E R 1 2Y E A R S .

D O i ?D I R 5200.10 !

CONFIDENTIAL

i( IPPVARTY

PHU MEP

IFFVA f l T Y

SOUTHCHINASEA


21/23

CONFIDENTIAL ARTILLERY STRENGTH ANDAMMUNITION STATISTICSI FFORCEV ARTILLERY

1August69t o 3 1October 6 9i C )rtillerystrengtha s of 3 1July 69 Included 84-105 howitzers,25- 155*a howitzers,24-8Inchhowitzersand24-175" gunsfor a t o t a l of1 5 7 t u b e s .2 ( C )aaunltlonexpenditures by targetc a t e g o r y tTARGETCATEGORY AUGUSTROUNDSMISSIONS SEPTEMBERROUNDSMISSIONS OCTOBERROUNDSMISSIONSConfinedAcqui red Coun t e rBatteryPreparationInterdictionSpecialPurp o s eOth e r T O T A L S

16 ,651 45,8813,8428,9645,892 12,143

832

8379.792

271 823

3.7631,861

136

11,21047,5201,6396,8765,6029.5501 .396

670 11,001

7972 1

2,5421,207-If*

11.8533^.2851.33410,5274,82110,4892.078

94.205 17,483 83,793 16,3683. (C ) AaaunltlonExpend i tureb ya l i b e r

685 12,021

68582

2,3611,321

16 895.W 7 17,476

M O N T H CALIBER R O U N D S %O T A L RDS/TUBE/DAY A U G 105u 63,129 67 29 155M 7.560 8 10 8nch 10,628 11 14175m 12,888 1 .4 17

SUBO T A L 94,205 100* 21*3E P 105M 59,274 71 29

155t 7.643 9 10 8nch 8,049 10 11 175aa 8,827_ 10 12

3U BO T A L Inel

81,793 100*CONFIDENTIAL it * 20

DOWNGtAKDA T 3YEa tMTitVa lS Mcus s r urn n VIMS .D0 0M5200.10


22/23

CONFIDENTIALM O N T H CALIBER R O U N D S %O T A L RDS/TUBE /DAY O C T 105m 64,868 68 30

155M 10,514 10 148nch 9,822 9 13 175M 10.283 13 14

SUBOTAL 95,487 1005 22*G R A N DOTAL 273,485ProratedAverage

nCONFIDENTIAL

D O W N G R A D E D A T 3YEAIN T E R V A L S ; D E C L A S S I F I E D A F T E R 1 2Y E A R S .

000D I R 5200.10


23/23

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O ACS FO R , DA ,Washington, D.C. 20310

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I Field Force Vietnam Lessons Learned 2 February 1970

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Transcript of I Field Force Vietnam Lessons Learned 2 February 1970