Boots on the Ground: The history of Project Delta

by Carpenter, Stephen

  Don’t use the PRC-25 as a homing station for the FAC because VC have homing equipment for FM radios. Instead, use the radio to direct FAC to your position.

  The FAC must know your position on the ground before he will clear any strike craft on your target.

  The Mirror is the way of best signaling the FAC to mark your position. If the sun is not out, use the clock system with your panels.

  If the sun is obscured by clouds you can still signal an aircraft by placing your strobe light against your signal mirror. The pilot can more readily see the flashes from the strobe light as they are reflected from the mirror.

  Do not cut your signal panel if it will make it difficult to see from the air.

  When using the transponder or beacon never point the antenna at the aircraft. The antenna should be parallel to the aircraft.

  Use smoke, flares, pen guns, and tracers as a last resort for marking your position.

  Pilots should identify the color of smoke used by teams on the ground after it has been thrown. The team does not identify the color to the pilots. Violet and red smoke are the best colors to use.

  If contact is made with enemy and you are in a dense jungle, use WP grenades to mark your location for the FAC. Normally the regular red and violet smoke grenades are not sufficient.

  There are several methods of marking your location at night. You can use a flashlight, strobe light, flares or WP grenades.

  The flashlight should be placed inside of a M-79 barrel and aimed directly at the aircraft. This shields the light from observation by the enemy.

  Tape or paint the sides of the strobe light to make it more directional and to reduce illumination from the sides.

  Notify the aircraft before firing a pen flare since a flare resemble a tracer. Never fire them directly at the aircraft.

  When directing a FAC to your position or target area use the clock system. NOTE: The nose of the aircraft is the twelve o’clock position.

  Don’t use AZ readings to direct aircraft until the FAC has your position located. Once located use AZ reading in degrees to your target and distance in meters.

  Always give the FAC a complete description of your target and target area.

  Make adjustments for the FAC after each round and after each aircraft makes a pass.

  Give the track that you request, always try to put strike across your front. Do not call air in with its strike track coming directly across your position, from the front or rear. NOTE: A strike that is a fraction too soon or late could land in your position. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

  A combat sky-spot can be used as an immediate or preplanned strike. You must give him an eight digit coordinate and a track for the aircraft. NOTE: If possible, have the FAC determine the patrol’s location before the sky spot makes a strike.

  Whenever possible, try to give a BDA (bomb damage assessment) to the FAC.

  A FAC can be used effectively to direct a team in contact to LZ’s. A FAC can also provide an airstrike to prep an exfill LZ for a team before it reaches the LZ. This is a good technique to employ in dangerous areas.

  A FAC can be used to break off contact while a patrol is waiting for strike craft. A low pass or a pass firing a marking round may make the enemy think they are being attacked, thus causing them to withdraw.

  When directing Shadow over your target do not let him fly directly over the targets.

  Ask Shadow to drop a flare and direct him to the target from that flare. Make adjustments from his tracer impact area to insure that you get full target coverage.

  Remain Over Night Tips

  Practice proper RON procedures when your team is training, even if you are on rifle range. Take advantage of all training opportunities. Many training areas are not in what we would call “safe zones”.

  Select a tentative site for RON, from your map, at least two hours in advance.

  Deviate from your route of march often. Never move in a straight line.

  After passing a suitable RON site “fish hook” and move into your selected position so that you can observe your own trail.

  When in position, personnel should keep their equipment on and remain alert until the perimeter has been checked for 360 degrees at a distance of no less than 40 to 60 meters.

  Packs should not be taken off until it is dark.

  Before dark each team member should memorize the azimuth and distance to the trees and bushes around his RON.

  When deploying the team for RON, place the point man in a position opposite the most likely avenue of approach to lead the team out in case of emergency.

  If a team is within range of friendly artillery, and has preplanned concentrations, azimuths should be taken (OT line) to the concentrations, noting distances, prior to night fall. Nearby large trees or propositioned stakes will aid as hasty reference points for calling in artillery at night.

  If it is necessary to send in nightly “SITREP”, do not send the message from your RON position. Send your present location but add that you will RON 100 meters east or 200 meters north, etc. This will confuse the enemy as to your exact location in the event he has monitored your transmission with DF equipment. Use your SOI.

  Keep transmissions to a minimum. It is better to send the location of your RON position the next morning, after you have moved out. The enemy may monitor your traffic but he will not know in what direction you plan to move.

  Do not send radio transmissions from your RON site unless they are necessary. Be prepared to move if you do send radio transmissions.

  Prior to dark, the team leader should tell each man the primary and alternate rally points.

  One half of the team should have their compasses set on the primary rally point and the other half on the alternate. If the enemy comes from the direction of the primary rally point, the man with the azimuth of the alternate rally point set on his compass can lead the team out.

  A buddy system should be established in case casualties are taken at night. Each man will take care of another man and his equipment if one is wounded, injured, or killed.

  The pack or rucksack can be used as a pillow, however, ensure that the carrying straps are in the “up” position for easy insertion of the arms in case of rapid withdrawal.

  It is permissible to unhook the web gear or harness but it should not be taken completely off, at night or at any time during the entire stay in the field.

  If a person coughs or talks in his sleep, make him sleep with a gag in his mouth.

  US team members should not “bunch up” or sleep next to each other. One grenade or automatic burst from a weapon could get them all. Each team member should be able to touch each other without moving from their position.

  Check your RON position to find a break in the canopy for using the strobe light to direct “Shadow” at night.

  Know what your next day’s plans are to be before settling down for the night.

  When placing claymores around your RON they should be placed one at a time by two men, one man emplacing the mine while the other stands guard. Never emplace claymores in a position that prevents you from having visual contact with it.

  Claymores should be emplaced so that the blast parallels the team, ensuring that the firing wire does not lead straight back to the team position from the mine. If the claymore is turned around by the enemy they will not point at the team.

  Determine, in advance, who will fire each claymore and who will give the command or signal.

  In most instances it is better not to put out claymores around RON positions but rather to rely on the use of CS grenades for the following reasons: When claymores have been put out, and the enemy is discovered to be moving in on the team, the team will have a tendency to stay in place too long, waiting for the enemy to get within the killing zone.

  If the team discovers the enemy moving in on them, the enemy will normally be “on line”, not knowing the exact position of the team. If no claymores are out, predesignated team members throw CS grenades in the direction of the
enemy force. After the gas begins to disperse the team can withdraw. When the enemy is hit with the CS he will normally panic. If he has gas masks with him, and puts them on, he can no longer see clearly. If he does not have them he will run away and may even fire his weapon indiscriminately, causing overall confusion and panic. In either case, the team has a good chance to escape, unharmed and unseen.

  If a claymore is triggered, a grenade thrown, or a rifle fired, the enemy may flank the team and box it in.

  All team members should be awake, alert, and ready to move, prior to the first light.

  Another check of the perimeter, for 360 degrees, at a distance of at least 40 to 60 meters, should be made prior to moving out or prior to retrieving claymores.

  A thorough check should be made of the RON site to ensure that nothing is left behind and that the entire site is sterile.

  The team leader must make sure that each man takes his daily dapsone malaria tablet.

  Never eat chow or smoke cigarettes in your RON position. The odor of the food or tobacco gives your position away.

  Be alert when leaving your RON. If you have been seen, you will probably be attacked or ambushed within 300 meters.

  Team leaders should check themselves to ensure they are not forming the common habit of constantly turning to the left, or right, when fish hooking.

  Habits are easily formed, as mentioned previously around certain times of the day. For example, some always move into an RON site at 1830 hours or into a noon break position at exactly 100 hours each day. If the enemy has been observing you, he will take note of this and will plan an ambush for you.

  Breaking Out of Encirclement Tips

  1. General: Too many times Recon Teams which have not planned for or practiced methods to “break out” from the encirclement have been encircled by the enemy. The following methods and suggestions have worked for others in the past and it is hoped that this will be of assistance to you in the future if you find yourself and your team in such a situation.

  a. Team encircled, the sooner you attempt to break out the better chance you will have to do so effectively and with the least amount of casualties. The longer you wait the stronger the enemy becomes.

  2. Preparations for breaking out of encirclement: Plans must be made prior to the break out attempt to take care of the following:

  a. Rucksacks and equipment left behind must be destroyed by someone.

  b. Dead must be left behind. Someone must remove any classi fied documents such as SOIs, notebooks, maps, etc.

  c. One or two persons, depending upon the size of the team must have the mission, during the break out assault, of rear security. This will include assisting any personnel who may be wounded before or during the attempt. Additionally they should recover documents from personnel killed during the break out movement. No attempt should be mode to try to take KlAs with the team.

  d. Keep in mind that the successful completion of your mission depends on getting the information back to headquarters. All personnel must be reminded of the important information the team has observed.

  3. Formation to use: The most effective method a small element can use (5 to 12 man teams) is to form into a pyramid configuration, with the base of the pyramid leading. The following actions should take place:

  a. The teams forms into position.

  b. CS rounds from M-79s and/or CS grenades are fired or thrown to the flanks.

  c. WP grenades are thrown to the rear.

  d. A claymore mine and/or grenades are fired or thrown in the direction the team will move.

  e. Immediately after the claymore and/or grenades go off to the front, the team moves out.

  f. The first element of line will fire on full automatic. The others hold fire.

  g. When the first elements’ magazines are empty, the second element moves through them and continues the fire.

  h. When the second element has emptied their magazines the first element will have reloaded and will pass through them, taking up the assault but will only fire on semi-automatic.

  i. Once the team starts to move it must move rapidly, but not run, and never stop until completely out of the encirclement.

  4. Supporting fires: Artillery, helicopter gunships and TAG Air, if available, should be used to assist your break out attempt. These are discussed below:

  a. Supporting artillery fire, within range, can be effectively employed to pave your way out of an encirclement or near encirclement. When foul or inclement weather prevents your use of helicopter or TAC air for support, you must use artillery if available. Artillery support, when available, should also be requested at the first sign of trouble for many times it can be firing in your direction before air support can arrive on station to assist you. It is a common practice, as you learned in basic training, that when you are subjected to incoming mortar or artillery fire, you move out of the area as quickly as possible. Enemy forces follow this same doctrine. When you desire to break out, with the aid of artillery, first have the fires placed completely around your position, and then having selected your desired heading, “walk” the artillery in front of you. This will effectively lead you out of the danger area and you may even pick up a shell shocked or wounded PW on your way out.

  b. Helicopter gunships can assist you with almost continuous close in fire support, firing directly in front and to the rear during your break out attempt. The effect this fire will have is dependent upon the density of the vegetation, location of your team, and whether or not your supporting aircraft crews can see you or your signals. You may have to direct their fire by adjusting from the strike of the rounds and rockets.

  c. Tactical airstrikes can assist you in your attempt to break out of an encirclement. To do this, call for bombs in the direction you desire to move. Since the enemy will get as close to the team as possible to avoid airstrikes, it is preferred to call in the bombs first and then have the TAC Air fire his machine guns and 20mm in front of you as you move out. They can place machine gun fire much closer to you than bombs.

  PW Snatch Tips

  1. General: Once your recon team has been selected for a PW snatch mission and given a recon zone the following actions should be taken in addition to those normally taken for a recon mission.

  a. Study the map to find a possible location to conduct your PW snatch within your RZ.

  b. Conduct a visual reconnaissance to familiarize yourself with the terrain, select LZ’s, E&E routes, reference points, record any new trails in RZ and pick tentative PW snatch positions.

  c. Finalize plans for primary and alternate LZ’s and routes of march to and from PW snatch location you selected while on VR. If you have any photos or have taken some during your VR, study them carefully.

  d. Assign duties for each patrol member and draw equipment needed both for training and for actual preparation.

  e. AWPRT-r and AMPRR-9 or HT1 radios should be taken for “in-position” transmission and signaling.

  f. Flight time to and from the target area considering the time recovery aircraft will have “on target” should be remembered by the team leader when he selects the number of personnel and helicopters it will take for insertion and extraction. Plan the altitude of the insertion and extraction LZ’s with the load carrying capacity of the aircraft in mind.

  2. Training: Practice rehearsals and put as much realism into your training as possible. If you are going to handcuff, gag and blindfold your prisoner then do it during your training. If you plan to carry your prisoner, don’t carry him just 20 or 30 meters as is commonly done but as far as your proposed extraction LZ.

  a. Designate men to accomplish the following missions:

  1. Handcuff, blindfold, search and gag prisoner.

  2. Treat and bandage prisoner’s wounds.

  3. Carry or assist him.

  4. Carry his equipment and weapon.

  5. Cover the tell tale signs at the ambush site.

  6. Take care of friendly WIA’s or MIA’s to include their weapon and e
quipment.

  7. Take point, rear security and who will be alternates in each class.

  8. Make security check of extraction LZ.

  9. Stand guard over prisoner at LZ.

  10. U.S advisor to get on board exfill aircraft first.

  11. Lift prisoner into aircraft.

  12. Secure prisoner to floor of aircraft.

  13. Ride out with prisoner.

  14. Bring out prisoner’s equipment.

  b. Other actions that need to be practiced, explained and rehearsed are:

  1. Action taken by each team member if discovered in snatch position.

  2. Movement into position.

  3. Signals to be used.

  4. Concealment of personnel and equipment.

  5. Employment of claymores.

  6. Action to be taken if the team’s preparations are not completed in time.

  7. Action to be taken if inclement weather moves in preventing any possible extraction attempt.

  3. Considerations for selecting the location of the PW SNATCH SITE. Generally speaking there are three different locations, a road, a trail and a village (or living complex). The advantages and disadvantages are as follows:

  a. Location on a Road:

  1. Advantages:

  a. Vehicles and/or troops will pass by thus ensuring a possible target.

  b. A lone messenger on foot or riding a bicycle is very possible.

  c. Personnel moving on a road are not, normally, very familiar with the surrounding terrain or area. hampering their pursuit of the team in case of compromise.

  d. Sites can normally be found which offer long stretches of clear visibility.

  2. Disadvantages:

  a. Large formations of troops use roads and normally sweep possible ambush sites with security elements.

  b. Rapid reinforcement is easily effected.

  c. Security elements normally check roads for mines and ambushes each morning and evening.

  d. Stationary security elements are normally positioned every two to five kilometers along all roads.

  e. Troops and convoys traveling on roads are constantly on the alert for possible ambushes and carry heavy caliber weapons to break them up if they occur.