"Errant Scud rockets aside, the last legitimate air attacks on American troops occurred back in 1945. As their song advertises, nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force, not to mention Navy and marine corps air, plus Army choppers...Of course in Cortina, attacks from the air came anyway, to exercise the U.S. Army air defense system for training purposes. What enemy this replicated has never been spelled out. The Koreans, Vietnamese, Iraquis and all other riff-raff never flew against our ground troops, and the Russians cannot even figure out who is on their team anymore. But because our Army has air defenders, by God, they need a workout, just in case somebody launches an air strike someday. Given that the entire Army air defense establishment within our fighting divisions consists of variously mounted Stinger missiles, with a whopping five and a half kilometer range, it appears that the U.S. National Security apparatus has given up on troop air defense as a waste of manpower, time, money and all other resources. But like the Federal Helium Reserve, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or subsidies for mohair, once in place, a chunk of the federal leviathan does not gently go into the night. The U.S. Army air defenders remain, and JRTC tickles them to make them feel wanted.
The Stinger teams come with their own trucks. Like the little military intelligence parties, Stinger pairs prefer to roam at will across battalion areas of operations. Although dished out to fighting battalions, they also respond to an air defense battery commander, a Captain ensconced in the Brigade Command Post. The air defenders demand infantry squads for security, resupply of necessities for them and their HUMVEES, and access to the TOC for their platoon leader and platoon sergeant to advise the battalion commander on how to frustrate enemy airplanes.
None of this impressed XXXXX. He declined to permit the Stinger folks to bring in their trucks, because the CLF [Cortina Liberation Front] so easily captured them as they tooled about in splendid isolation. He ignored the bizarre positioning directives spewing from the air defense battery Captain, and of course denied infantry security for the stinger teams. XXXXX knew that the air defenders would be eaten on their own, and so kept them in tight. And XXXXX did not run a TOC, and so demanded that his Stinger Platoon Lieutenant get his butt out and hang with his gunners rather than offering unsolicited and unnecessary advice...
The air defenders had their day on XXXXX, thanks to the O/Cs. Mindful of XXXXXX's disdain of air defense, and yearning to see a mass casualty event that the CLF had been unable to cause, the JRTC leadership allowed a ridiculous occurence at 1715 on XXXXXX. At that time, a single armed UH-1H OPFOR helicopter flew straight toward the XXXXXXX, then dispersed in the sparse woods northwest of Jettertown. Vectored in by luck or, more likely, by the O/Cs, the enemy bird appreoached non-chalantly above the tree tops. It then swung hard to the right, into an orbit. The helicopter made ten lazy circles, ripping the insides out of XXXXXXXXX. XXXX XXXXX again went down, along with forty others. The company responded angrily to its aerial tormentor, delivering a shattering fusillade, but the hostile Huey's MILES harness proved conveniently defective. Well, so be it. The air defense structure had been struck and found wanting...
After a terse meeting with his ADA Lieutenant, the BN Commander writes:
...the Lieutenant Colonel knew damn well that another Stinger more or less meant nothing in this sort of affair. 'You need to defend LZ Owl, and forget about perfect positioning'...'And don't over-react to this one. If we stay dispersed, out hunting, the OPFOR air can't do too much to us.'
The next morning, the enemy Huey came back. Again, invincible, it overflew the entire Fullerton box, stopping to bang away at the Brigade support area, the Brigade TOC, XXXX Infantry, Team XXXXX, and the FLS proper. Bobbing majestically south, the UH-1H strafed the 2d Platoon of the XXXXXXXXX (three killed, eight wounded) and the mortar platoon (three killed, six wounded) then soared away. Fourteen Stinger Teams engaged with no effect...Probably no matter what the Battalion did, the killer Huey was destined to survive. Not all of JRTC makes sense or reflects reality."
I'm sure this is the "tip of the iceberg" in regards to the importance many leaders in the Army feel about the need for ADA.
In the summer issue of Air Defense Artillery magazine online, "Survivability: how you can increase the life expectancy of your Avenger crews and Stinger teams" by Captain Paul A. McNamara & Staff Sergeant Philip A. Holian write:
"The Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, Louisiana, offers units a unique and challenging experience. Nowhere in the world can light, Airborne, Air Assault and special units employ their combat power against a world class opposing force (OPFOR) under such unique situations. Over the years observer/controllers have had the opportunity to observe Stinger and Avenger teams operate under adverse conditions. This article will discuss tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that permit Stinger and Avenger teams to increase their survivability. In addition, the article addresses why teams often fail to survive much less accomplish their mission.
At the Joint Readiness Training Center, the enemy destroys more teams by direct-fire engagements than by any other means. Teams normally understand the composition, disposition and strength of the enemy forces, but do not understand how the enemy fights and uses terrain to its advantage. Platoon leaders must understand what type of threat their teams face and how the enemy operates. Understanding how the enemy operates can increase the survivability of teams emplaced directly on ground avenues of approaches. For example, depending on the threat, it is often more dangerous to position a team at the edge of the wood line because the wood line is the primary dismounted ground avenue of approach. In essence, teams have placed themselves in the best position for the enemy to take advantage of the terrain and accomplish their mission of destroying high payoff targets."
The good news is that the problem can be easily corrected.
MAN-TO-MAN AIR/GROUND DEFENSE NEEDED
The basic problem is close to the analogy between a football defense that uses "man-to-man" coverage or a " zone" defense. The infantry wants to move across the battlefield and find/kill OPFOR, orienting on the enemy (MAN), ADA wants to orient to the terrain, covering an AREA which a likely air attack is to come from to be in optimal firing positions. While ADA is sitting in a "zone defense" awaiting an attack by the air, they are vulnerable to a ground attack by MEN destroying them, so they ask for infantry protection which takes away from the friendly ground forces. If ADA is not protected it gets killed by OPFOR. What is the answer here?
The answer here is for ADA to move to man-to-man coverage. ADA must move along with the infantry it protects and not key on the terrain in closed terrain fights against unconventional foes without a large air threat like in Panama, Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia and replicated at JRTC. In these situations, ADA uses its ground-level firepower to make up for what U.S. Army early entry forces lost when the 3/73d Armor Battalion's M551 Sheridan light tanks were retired and their replacement M8 Armored Gun Systems not purchased.
The official DOD ACTD LOSAT web site describes this dilemma:
"Within this evolutionary climate, fiscal realities and the aging of existing systems have resulted in a significant gap in our forced/early entry capabilities. The deactivation of the 3d Battalion, 73d Armor, coupled with the termination of the Armored Gun System (AGS), has created a critical need for enhanced direct fire assault support and anti-armor capabilities for forced/early entry forces."
ADA must Air Assault in with light forces like the 101st Airborne Division. ADA must parachute in or C-130/(C-17?) STOL airland with the 82d Airborne Division into Fullerton Landing Strip. ADA must be factored in by light fighters of the 10th Mountain Division to blast away at snow covered ground targets. ADA must help convoy defend for the 25th Infantry "Tropic Lightnings" as they wheel through jungle trails. ADA must begin by being a wanted player in the JRTC fight. To do this, ADA needs a DUAL-ORIENTATION, vigilant for air attack and immediately contributing to the infantry led ground attack. The way to do this is by maximizing the GROUND warfighting capabilities of Avenger HMMWV and the Stinger ADA teams. These are:
*2.75" Hydra 70 rockets instead of Stinger SAM pods
*.50 cal HMG on Avengers, 7.62mm MMG/5.56mm LMGs on cargo HMMWVs via M197/M6 mounts
*Forward Looking InfaRed (FLIR) surveillance capabilities
*TV camera surveillance capabilities to determine who in towns are helping the guerrillas
*4x4 off road mobility 10-40 mph of the HMMWV
*Possible anti-armor capabilities of the Stinger SAM
EYES FOR THE INFANTRY
Currently, U.S. Army line light infantry units do not have a FLIR or "thermal" imagery capability other than the Dragon night sight which is too heavy to march and ends up collecting dust in the arms room. Some of the more blessed units are getting the Javelin ATGM to replace the Dragon which has a more man-portable FLIR capability. (Refer to AGTMs: New Names for New Weapons, ADA Magazine, Summer '98) Each infantry Battalion's "D" Company anti-tank units have TOW ATGMs with a FLIR capability but these are often traded in for MK-19 40mm Grenade Machine Guns (GMGs) in thick woods like at JRTC. Thus, light infantry is vulnerable to enemy dismounted attacks that are well camouflaged and exploit the vegetation, which takes place over and over again at JRTC. Avenger HMMWV FLIR could give infantry forces an important "edge" in detecting OPFOR attacks by seeing through the vegetation to spot them and fire on them FIRST. The Avenger's TV recording capability can be used to collect intelligence bout who is/is not helping the enemy resistance.
By offering ground warfighting capabilities to the infantry commander, ADA units can insure they will "be there" to protect these forces from air attack: man-to-man coverage. The way to execute this is by a thorough map recon during the mission planning process. Infantry commanders after forming their concepts of operation, need to step back and look down from the air and assess their vulnerability to enemy air attack. At those points, have the ADA teams assume hasty overwatch positions ready to fire into the air OR the ground in close proximity to the main body. The ADA commander helps by anticpating on the map where he can effect a dual-security role position. All motor convoys like the S4 LOGPACs resupply men with food/water/ammo and evacuating simulated wounded/dead and the usual JRTC Armor-Mech Team in Bradley Fighting Vehicles (BFVs) and Abrams Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) would be vulnerable to air attack and could use ADA protection.
ADA SUPPORTS GROUND ATTACKS BY FIRE
Then, as the mission proceeds, have the Avenger HMMWVs and/or Stinger FAAD HMMWVs with MGs move into support-by-fire positions using MG fire, 2.75" rockets, and Stingers fired at OPFOR dismounted infantry and OPFOR AFVs simulated by MILES. It will be on the ADA community to coordinate with the JRTC Command Group to get ADA ground attack capabilities accepted and factored into the war game rules. Certainly the MG fire and rockets will do the same damage coming from an Avenger HMMWV as they would coming from an AH-6 "Little Bird" or AH-64 "Apache" attack helicopter. The Stinger should be able to at least destroy light AFVs. In the big picture, Army ADA as a branch would be wise to develop a dual-role Anti-air/Anti-armor warhead as soon as possible for future Stinger purchases. Otherwise, we are allowing other branches to marginalize and diminish the contributions ADA could make to both the ground and air combat of the U.S. Army, beginning at the JRTC. A token air attack instigated by the O/Cs to placate Army ADA units deploying to JRTC is not maximizing the capabilities of ADA weapons in both air and ground roles.
ADA, DEFEND THYSELF!
The new reality of non-linear ground war is that ADA must DEFEND ITSELF. ADA Branch needs to purchase M197/M6 pedestal MG mounts for its cargo HMMWVs so they are not easy marks of the enemy as they drive around, and to help support-by-fire ground attacks.
M197/M6 line drawing:
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/3629/hmmwvmount.jpg
Photo of M249 LMG mounted on M197/M6 on cargo HMMWV:
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/4756/rifle.jpg
M197/M6 manufacturer:
Ramo Manufacturing Inc.
412 Space Park S
Nashville, TN 37211-8104
(615) 832-6700
ADA Soldiers must aggressively camouflage themselves and their equipment with ghillie strips cut from burlap bags. ADA branch needs to purchase infared defeating "thellie" suits and covers for their vehicles for the days of just the U.S. "owning the night" with thermal imaging is rapidly coming to a close with enemy armies buying such devices on the open arms market. ADA must in the defense utilize the new Fighting Position Overhead Covers (FPOCs) because at JRTC you are not allowed to cut down trees to make overhead cover! Overhead cover is vital in order to not get killed by enemy ground action, mortar or artillery attacks:
Fighting Position Overhead Cover (NSN : 5450-01-430-2081)
General Description
http://www.kohlbrat.com/fpoc-01.htm
How to install
http://www.kohlbrat.com/fpoc-02.htm
Technical data
http://www.kohlbrat.com/fpoc-03.htm
155mm airburst video test footage:
http://www.kohlbrat.com/kohlbrat-1.html
Kulbrat & Bunz
122 Summerville Drive Mooresville, NC 28115, USA
Tel : (704) 663-0170 / Fax : -0264
The infantry, ADA protects could heed the better all around camouflage and overhead cover advice so they are not easily hosed down by enemy aircraft. Details for digging in can be seen in the Fall issue of ADA magazine written by the two JRTC ADA O/Cs, "Rediscovering a Lost Art: DIGGING IN" by Captain Paul A. Mcnamara & Staff Sergeant Nathan Broussard:
http://147.71.210.21/fall98/newpage15.htm
Their directions dove-tail with the integration of the FPOCs as the basis for better defensive positions to repel OPFOR attacks.
ADA Soldier MILES gear on their rifles/MGs must be well-zeroed to kill enemy OPFOR Soldiers. Every man with a smoke grenade to immediately mask themselves to defeat a OPFOR attack. In short, ADA Soldiers in a non-linear infantry fight versus guerrillas with a minimal air threat must be INFANTRY first and ADA shooters second. Then, when the external PRA conventional attack comes they must be ready to kill BOTH ground and air targets simultaneously, alongside the infantry they are defending---a "man on" defense.
RESUPPLY THYSELF AND EVACUATE THE WOUNDED
ADA units operating attached to the infantry it protects must be self-sufficient. With its "mother" HMMWV vehicle hull-down, camouflaged, Stinger missiles, MRES, water need to be shuttled in from the LOGPAC quickly in as few trips as possible using an all-terrain, all-purpose cart (ATAC) like the UT 2000:
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/5265/atac.htm
Or if its too difficult to make a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) purchase of a government approved item (IMPAC credit card anyone?) then pass the hat around in your unit and go to the local hardware store, buy a wheelbarrow with the fattest tire possible and paint it OD Green. Strap the wheelbarrow to your ADA HMMWVs and add to your unit property book list so some nit-picking O/C at JRTC cannot find an excuse to not allow you to continue the mission. Use the wheelbarrows to shuttle supplies in and simulated walking wounded casualties/dead out.
Water cans, water cans, water cans everywhere and not a drop of water in sight? The fumbling around filling/refilling water cans can be solved by obtaining 5 gallon collapsible milk bags (just like used in the mess hall)and placing them inside MRE ration cases as the 25th LID pioneered at JRTC. This way, you only have to make one trip in with the empty bags, pick up the filled bags, instead of shuttling non-collapsing empty water cans back for refilling. Details for using water bags at the link below:
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2116/waterbags.htm
DON'T BELIEVE ME, WAR GAME IT!
We have developed an easy war game capability for Army units:
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2116/ezwargames.htm
With E-Z war gaming, ADA leaders can develop using accurate depictions of the terrain/vegetation how to move along with infantry/armor forces and yet be able to "hip shoot" to ward off enemy air attacks. One way would be to at every stop move to a dual ground and air overwatch position.
ADA units can buy little metal miniature Avenger HMMWVs from GHQ to use in our ez war gaming.
http://www.ghqmodels.com/usmodern.htm
(Scroll down to Avenger HMMWV)
$7.95 buys 5 Avenger HHMWVs
http://www.ghqmodels.com/images/n111.jpg
You can also buy metal aircraft but the selection is limited.
http://www.ghqmodels.com/natoair.htm
http://www.ghqmodels.com/warsawair.htm
I suggest for war gaming have the OPFOR player "fly" an aircraft identification GTA card across the board. The BlueFOR Avenger HMMWV player will have to identify friend/foe then engage.
If unable to obtain these cards, go to FM 44-80 Aircraft Identification online and print up your own aircraft ID cards:
http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/44-80/appenh01.htm
CONCLUSIONS...
It's clear that JRTC is forcing us to learn from the lessons of the past through the frustrations of the present. Army ADA must not stand by idle as its brothers die from a lack of ground level fire support which it can provide by being a little more flexible in regards to self-image and positioning. We are all SOLDIERS first. Lets use JRTC as the proving ground which we startle the world with Army ADA innovation and teamwork.
