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Patrolling Fundamentals II

Written by David R. Reed

The Patrol Base

A patrol base is any place you intend to occupy for more than umm..., 4 hours? You'll be there a

while anyway. This is what you must plan for and do.

Whatever method you choose, make certain that everyone knows where 12:00 is. Now if you have

to run the PL can say 3:00 400 meters and everyone will know what direction that is. You should

have an evacuation plan that includes at least two rendezvous locations that everyone knows.When in position the PL can say rally point 1 is at 2:00 , 300 meters and RP 2 is at 3:00 600

meters. This is the direction everyone will run if a flare goes up to signal the evacuation of the

patrol base.

dead space is any place that you cannot shoot into from the patrol base. It is usually a

depression in the ground where a person could hide. If attacked, your enemy will be able to use

these places to fire into your location and you cannot hit him with direct fire weapons. In a small

patrol that has no mortars, you may want to booby trap the dead spaces. If you lack explosives

for this, sharp stakes can be used, and they are difficult for the enemy to use against you.

You may now begin the maintenance schedule. Usually larger units will send out LP's at night

(Listening Posts) or maybe an ambush patrol. A frag order is issued telling a team to go

somewhere nearby and set up an ambush or something. I t is very important t hat everyone knows

where the LP or ambush is located, when they will be back, and a running password. If the LP has

to high tail it back at a run they need something to yell when doing this so they won't be fired up.

Our little patrol lacks the resources for this. We will have passwords to exchange when we meet

up after the recon mission, and if we parachute in, we'll need one when we meet up on the DZ.

Another concept is Final Protective Fire. When in a patrol base, each man will have an assigned

sector. At night you must be very careful not to shoot the men in the position directly to your right

and left. You should press aiming stakes into the ground in front of your position. These will keep

you from swinging your rifle too far to one side. If the patrol base is in danger of being overrun,

the PL may decide to fire final protective fire as a last attempt at holding the position. On a recon

patrol we HOPE to take all precautions to keep from being found, much less overrun. Nonetheless

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it is important to have this down. Final Protective Fire usually means swinging your rifles all the

way to one side and firing directly in front of the position to your side. You will also blow all

claymores, throw grenades, and when firing, you fire on full auto everything you can feed through

your weapon. With a system of interlocking fires, it makes for a very deadly defense. I believe the

system of interlocking fires now in use by the US Army was learned from the Vietnamese. The APL

should check all sectors of fire and insure they are safe, and interlocking.

Digging inmeans digging fighting positions in the pat rol base. Remem ber t hat digging is noisy and

leaves a lot of sign. The enemy will know exactly how many people occupied the position. I do not

think that digging in is wise on a recon patrol. The whole concept is to avoid detection. If you are

compromised, break contact, run a safe distance, and resume the patrol in a manner that the

enemy will be unable to find you again.

[interlocking fire picture]

ORP - Objective Rally Point is a special patrol base located within 50 - 100 meters of the objective.

This is the place where we would drop rucks on a raid mission. Our little patrol will not really have

an ORP. All men w ill have to pull security on the objective. We w ill take everyt hing with us.

Smoking

You can't take people who smoke. They have poor night vision, and they certainly can't take

tobacco with them. Skoal, bar soap, deodorant, et c. must also be left behind. They smell. Period.

Food

You should eat only the food your enemy eats for 48 hours prior to the patrol. This will give you

the same smell that they have.

Drink

Bring only water and do not drink alcohol for 48 hr. prior.

Sand Table

This is a sandbox about 6' square. with 2x4 sides. Fill it with sand, dirt, rocks, etc. Take string and

stretch it across the box where the grid square lines are on your map and label them. Tie the

strings to small nails. Use your hands to sculpt the dirt to match the contour lines on your map.

Add little trees, streams, fences, roads, buildings, etc. Make sure you add all major terrain

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features. These will help you get an overall 3D impression of the land you will be working on. Be

as detailed and creative as time allows. It is good to let everyone participate in this by building it in

stages. This gets everyone involved and creates a lasting impression of the terrain in each team

members mind. You will use this table to help you plan, and help you deliver the OPORD when it's

finished.

Othe r Tips

Make a thorough, detailed terrain analysis of the country you will cover on your patrol.

Build a Sand table.

Consider all types of explosives, grenades, mines, and other weapons in your plan -- Use

them to create diversions, cut-off bridges, roads, etc.

Avoid taking weapons that use different kinds of ammo.

Every person must bring:

Weapons cleaning equipment.

Gloves.

Individual First Aid Kits.

Signal Mirror.

Compass.

Knife.

Poncho.Lots of socks.

Flashlights with (2) red lens filters.

Radio batteries.

Two canteens.

Water purification tablets or filter.

Secure all equipment with duct tape so that it will not squeak or rattle.

Tape weapon sling swivels.

Camouflage stick, ghillie suit.Waterproof m aps.

Commo wire and garrot handles.

Swiss seat and snaplink.

Once you are on the ground, and clear of the LZ, everyone sits down, closes their eyes, and

spends five minutes listening to the sounds of the forest. Birds, crickets, tree frogs, wind.

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Test everyone's knowledge of the mission, call signs, frequencies, passwords, etc. prior to

departure.

Check EVERYTHING on each man in your patrol. Do not allow men to wear two sets of clothing,

long underwear, or thick socks unless it will be sub-zero weather. Extra clothes make a man hot

while moving. Long underwear or extra clothes will wear you out quickly. Travel Light, freeze at

night. When stopped for long periods use poncho's to stay warm. Anything not inspected is

probably neglected.

Back to Training

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