(LGOP = Little Groups of Paratroopers)

After the demise of the best Airborne plan, a most terrifying effect occurs on the battlefield. This effect is known as the rule of the LGOPs. This is, in its purest form, small groups of pissed-off 19-year-old American Paratroopers. They are well-trained, armed-to-the-teeth and lack serious adult supervision. They collectively remember the Commander's intent as "March to the sound of the guns and kill anyone who is not dressed like you..."

...or something like that. Happily they go about the day's work........

Since the beginning of Airborne forces, they have been mainly light infantry restricted to foot mobility at best 4 mph. While its often desirable to fight dismounted---fire weapons and move---on foot, its not good to be slow and unprotected from enemy small-arms fire, mortars, artillery to move operationally. Movement to get into advantageous positions is the first battle to be won in war.

Several Airbornes, particularly the Russians have realized that they need an armored mobility by providing every Paratrooper squad a BMD light tracked Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV). The Russian Paratrooper squad can fight mounted firing through weapons ports or from an open top-hatch or dismount the vehicle and fight on foot. The U.S. 82nd Airborne Division can and should acquire at least a Battalion's worth (44) of M113A3 Gavin 10.5-ton tracked AFVs and parachute airdrop them to replace the shock action capability that was lost when the M551 Sheridan light tank Battalion (3/73rd Armor) was taken away and not upgraded with the M8 AGS light tank as promised. M113A3 Gavins with (rocket propelled grenade) RPG-resistant applique' armor, band-tracks, a computer situational awareness screen/keyboard and 40mm grenade machine gun can be driven by Paratroopers to fan out from the drop zone and destroy any enemies with mounted and dismounted infantry shock action. M113A3 Gavin infantry can advance even in the face of enemy fires to destroy the enemy and seize control of assault landing zones so the Airborne operation can proceed on schedule.

While the superb M113A3 Gavin at 11 tons is far more cross-country mobile with a 8.63 PSI ground pressure than the 19-21 ton LAV-III "Striker" air-filled, rubber-tired armored car with a 40 PSI the current Army leadership is obsessed with, the key consideration is that the C-130 Hercules turboprop aircraft can only airland vehicles under 16 tons, and cannot airdrop the LAV-III due to its height. Airborne forces to achieve strategic surprise must be able to mass at unexpected locations on the battlefield by USAF 3D air delivery. From these points, Airborne forces must smash the enemy throughout his entire depth, destroying his cohesion and supplies from the inside-out. From a defensive perspective, Paratroopers must control an area at least 10 km in all directions from the airhead to keep out enemy mortars, rockets and short-range artillery so aircraft can airdrop and airland follow-on-forces. M113A3s are parachute airdropped using type V platforms rolling off the rear ramp of USAF t-tail, rear ramp-equipped aircraft (C-130s, C-141Bs, C-5s, C-17s). Details: www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/m113combat.htm

To compliment M113A3 Gavin mounted/dismounted infantry shock action, there must be swarms of Little Groups Of Paratroopers (LGOPs) converging rapidly to gobble up key enemy terrain, destroying his supplies, weapons and infantry. The power of LGOPs comes from the self-sufficiency and confidence the individual Paratrooper gains by jumping into battle and being ready to prevail amidst the chaos of being widely dispersed and separated. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this is a good thing--bunching together only makes you a good target for enemy fires. With today's communications technologies, being dispersed also does not mean out of contact with friendly elements and fire support for long. To exploit the power of LGOPs we must provide the individual Paratrooper a lightweight means to triple his speed so he can physically come together and take control of terrain faster.

Many future war theorists have advocated LGOPs with lightweight, air-droppable vehicles, RAND researchers Peter Wilson and John Gordon term them a "High Technology Light Force" and General David L. Grange's study group, calls them "Air-Mech-Strike" forces. Even the best light tracked armored vehicles cannot go everywhere Paratrooper on foot can go due to terrain vegetation, rocks but can break-brush to get most places on the map. What is needed is a LGOPs mobility means that can bridge the spaces where motor vehicle can go and where foot infantry operate. The answer is small, human powered vehicles HPVs)--bikes and carts.

The All-Terrain All-purpose Cart/Sled (ATACS) would be the Army-standard UT 2000 (NSN 6530-01-398-3949, cost $759) system that splits into two backpack cargo frames and dropped as A-21 door bundle loads with Javelin and Stinger missiles, 60-120mm mortars and ammunition. Without wheels, the UT 2000 is a snow sled, towable by men on skis and snowshoes. ATACSs would give superior firepower to Paratrooper units securing and holding the drop zone. ATACSs would shuttle ammunition from truck forward to Paratroopers in combat, and back-haul wounded men to HMMWV ambulances for life-saving medical care. Unlike carts of the past, ATACSs have wide, fat tires that do not sink into soft mud and can be positioned to balance the load for effortless towing. A quick-release strap enables a single Paratrooper to tow the ATACS hands-free to fire his weapon and detach himself instantly upon enemy contact. The Airborne Veterans fraternity would be wise to start a fund-raising campaign to purchase ATACSs and donate them to their old Airborne units. Details: www.geocities.com/pentagon/5265/atac.htm

NSN: 6530-01-398-3949
Part number: 42-000

Price $759

Ferno MILITARY PRODUCTS
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Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Phone: (618) 651-9205
FAX: 9086

ATBs

To punch out from the drop zone and secure key blocking positions, act as a mobile reserve and raid force would be a designated Rifle Light Bicycle Infantry (LBI) Company equipped with folding All-Terrain "Mountain" Bikes (ATBs). ATBs cycled by the "LBI Raid Company" have airless, solid foam tires impervious to punctures, flats or damage by enemy fire. Moving at speeds of 10-25 mph with stealth and ability to fit through small terrain openings, the LBI Raid Company can rapidly mass superior numbers of LGOPs against key enemy positions and destroy them by organic dismounted fire & maneuver and joint fires beckoned by digital communications means. When mounted, the LBI Raid Company moves by bounds covered by overwatching fires from designated security elements in a similar manner as is now done on foot except larger distances are covered faster. Unlike bikes of the past, ATBs cannot get flat tires, have 21 or more speeds and are far more durable and light.

To maximize USAF aircraft carrying capacity, the 82^nd Airborne Division loads all-personnel in aircraft to jump from both side jump doors, and all-equipment (vehicles, supplies) in aircraft that roll off the rear ramp. The personnel birds drop men into one drop zone, the heavy drop birds drop equipment into a separate drop zone. The A-21 loads would be door bundles dropped amongst the Paratroopers in "personnel birds" that would use the gear contained inside and towed by UT 2000 ATACs.

ATB airdrop options are:

1. Jump the folded ATB in airdrop bag attached to the Paratrooper

2. Drop the folded ATB/ATACs separately as;

While its possible to put several ATBs in an A-21 door bundle, we would need enough ATBs to equip a LBI Raid Company, and its not allowed to push out over a dozen door bundles. Thus, there are two other ways to efficiently deliver ATBs along with the men who would use them---jump the ATB attached to each individual Paratrooper or push all the ATBs off the rear ramp as bundles like the old "wedge" system, close the rear ramp and jump as normal through the two side doors.

The preferred aircraft of the 82^nd Airborne is the C-17 Globemaster III whose 500+ mph speed and inter-continental range makes it the means to do strategic airdrops from the continental U.S. to anywhere in the world within hours. The C-17 has very larger 80" x 84" side jump doors and an ATB in airdrop bag attached to the individual Paratrooper could be jumped through them. The current C-17 seating configuration allows 102 men in a C-17 who would have their ATBs in airdrop bags stacked on the unused rear ramp until prior to drop time. Then, one stick at a time would attach their ATBs to their parachute harnesses and after all personnel are rigged, would jump through the side jump doors, then under canopy lower on a hook, pile tape line their ATBs prior to landing. Obviously, jumping the ATB folded/attached to the Pararooper will require a major "gut check" of those involved, but the pay-off of 10-25 mph mobility on the ground afterwards is definitely worth it. The rear ramp jump provide undisturbed air for a majority of the parachute opening sequence, so should not be a major mental obstacle to overcome. SOF routinely jumps TacSATs and loads almost as large routinely over the rear ramp of C-130-type aircraft today. However, it may be necessary to remove the center aisle seats of the C-17 to have enough space to individually rig and jump ATBs, resulting in less men per aircraft.

Another method is to prepare all the ATBs into A-21 or A-22 bundles onto the rear ramp of the C-17, and open the ramp so the USAF Loadmasters can push them out just prior to the personnel jump out through the side jump doors. The LBI Raid Company Paratroopers would jump immediately after their ATB bundles so upon landing, would be no farther than 200 meters away to recover them and use them as mobility means.

Details: www.geocities.com/pentagon/5265/atb.htm

ParaGator ATVs can be stacked two in the space of 1, on a small type V airdrop platform, rolling off a heavy drop aircraft. Paratroopers to operate the ATVs will have to jump into the personnel drop zone, then run to the heavy drop zone to recover their vehicles in the same manner that the M113A3 Gavin Battalion would have to recover their mounts. While the Paratroopers with the ATBs/ATACs will have their mobility tools right away, the Paratroopers with motor-driven vehicles should be operational within 30 minutes after landing.

Modern LBI tests

Get to point B from A in a bike in an hour, get off the bikes and into attack position. Walking at a turtle's pace for hours exposes the infantry force to all kinds of air/ground observation, artillery, mortar, small arms fires. Troops tired from long foot marches have lost battles and wars since the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. What is so great about that?

Being able to move through terrain several 1,000 meter grid squares at a time is a form of protection called SPEED. When the LBI force moves it has security front, rear and flank to contact any enemies before they can reach the main body. When contact is expected, LBI teams move by bounding overwatch, one team aimed in on likely enemy ambush points as the other moves ahead--just like armored vehicles do. When it is certain the enemy is ahead, they dismount their ATBs and begin fire/maneuver on foot against the enemy. In contrast, this is more tactical then riding in back of a noisy, unarmed or armored truck or LAV-III armored car along a predictable road.

Ref: Prior message on Shields used in MOUT.

THE HISTORY OF LBI