I Field Force Vietnam Lessons Learned 21 April 1967

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28 Feb 1979, DoDD 5200.10; AGO ltr, 29 Apr

1980

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4- CONFIDENTIAL

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYOFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20310

IN REPLY REFER TO

AGAM-P (M) (19 Apr 67) FOR OT 24 April 1967

SUBJECT: Operational Report - Lessons Learned, HQ, I Field Force

Vietnam Artillery

SEE DISTRIBUTION

1. Forwarded as inclosure is Operational Report - Lessons Learned,

' eadquarters, I Field Force Vietnam Artillery for quarterly period ending

1 ' anuary 1967. Information contained in this report should be reviewed

and evaluated by CDC in accordance with paragraph 6f of AR 1-19 and by

0ONARC in accordance with paragraph 6c and d of AR 1-19. Evaluations andcorrective actions should be reported to ACSFOR OT within 90 days of

00eceipt of covering letter.

2. Information contained in this report is provided to the Coi-

andants of the Service Schools to insure appropriate benefits in the

future from lessons learned during current operations, and may be adapted

for use in developing training material.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY: o

0 0 4.5

as... KENNETH G. WICKHAM-,)as 0,

Major General, USA . 0

DISTRIBUTION: The Adjutant General

-. Commanding General.

US Army Combat Development CommandUS Continental Army Command

Commandants "* <

US Army Command and General Staff College C-

US Army War College ,

US Army Air Defense School 0 . '

US Army Artillery and Missile School

US Army Armor School REGRADED UNCLASSIFIED <' .US Army Chemical Corps School WuEN SEPARATED FROM " '

US Army Engineer School CLASSIFIED INCLOSURE r ' - 0

US Army Military Police School 0 1-

US Army Infantry School

US Army Intelligence School ,- . : i

US Army Medical Field Service School LI -I' ;;: ¢. .r f,*-.. o o ou'I riii' 010 W

CONFIDENTIAU )', DEC 5 196°

-1oooa aLC W

L



A';FA-AT-D 15 February 1967

SUXJF(T: Operational Report of Lessons Learned for Quarterly PeriodEnding 31 January 1967, RC S (CSFOR-65) (u)

F. Dunn. A change of command ceremony was held at, he 5th Srecial ForcesGroup (Airborne) Quadranglo, '1HA TRANG. Massed Colors from the 52d Artil-

rery !'Yroup and the battalions attached to I Field Force Vietnam Artillery:tre in attendance. Captain Dona.d Borden, Commandine Officer, HeadquartersSattery, I Field ?orce Vietnam Artti]erv was coanandes" of troops.

g, Headquarters, I Field Force Vietnam Artillery (Forward)(QUI

NiHON was established in QUI klO[' on 29 Dec 66 and becam operational 5 7

Jan 67. The mission of this forward cormmand post is to act as an extensicn

of Peadquarters, I Field Force Vietnam Artillery and to provide com;-:and " iand control of battalions in the Q1 NON - PF CAT area. The units undercontrol of this headquarters are 7th Battalion, i3th Artillery; 3d Battal;....ion, 18th Artillery; 1st Battalion, 30th Artillery, and Battery B, 29th

Artillery (Searchlight). Headquarters, I Field Force Vietnam Artillery

(Forward)(QUI lO1) is collocated with Is t Battalion. 30th ttillery.

h. On 14 Jan 67 the 3d Battalion, 18th Artillery was reattached-

to 52d Artillery with no change in mission.

i. Headquarters Batter.v, 8th Battalion, 26th Artillery (Target

Acquisition) arrived in Il Corps Tactical Zone for employment under IField Force Vietnam Artillery. Th e advance party arrived on 8 January

1967 with the main body followinR on 19 January 1967. Unit equipment

and !irpedim-nta have been received and as of the and of the report period

the unit wa s nearing operational readiness. Plans have been cotapleted attin I Field Torce Vietnam Artillery "or ad-iion assignments for the unit's

two met sections, si: AN/??0-.OA conterriortar radar sections and threesurvey sections . Th e battery is stationed at QUI N .*N,VN and has been

attached to 1st Battalion, 3Oth Artillery for quarters ani rations. Oper-

at-' inal Control has been retained by HQ, I Field Force Vietnam Artillery.

2. (C) Operations and Training: Statistics for artillery assigned,

attached or under operational control of IFFCRICEV during the report period

are as follows:

a Missions Fired: NOV DEC JAN

........ eutralization,..... Destruction, etc. 5,327 5,7h4 8,96

& 4064 op522 51,803

..... TOTAL 46,976 56,, 66 59,999

Observed h,391 4,88 5t2%

I Unobserved h2,585 52,078 54,'15

-IST,



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_.

.~~~~ P A-MY-, 1~ ~HTF., ' LD '01TW ARZTI LL Z

- vo "96350'-

dl ~ *i967

.4iding 31 vanuv (UP

M0: See Distribution

6LCTLOC' I (C) SIGNiFICANT ORGANIZATIM OR UNIT ACTIVITIES

1. (C) Gtmeral:

a. On 13 hovember 1966, Colonel Ashley A. Blinn assumed comandfron Colonel Linton 6. Boatwright, of I Field Force Vietnam Artillery.

b. The 7th Hattalio, i3th Artillry received its equipment andbecame fuilly operational on 15 November 1966. its base camp is FAM1ND Am~yAirfield near PHU CAT.

c. The I! Corps Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer relocated i 1aecember 1966 fron 6,, 1I Corps in PLE1KU to HQ, I F,;OhCEV Arty in NHA TRWIG.This relocation has facilitated the integration of Naval gunfire into firesupport coordination and planr:.ing for US, RZC1M,nd ARIM operations.

d. Headquaztei-s, 1 1ieid Y c Ai., tille,- (Forward)(DONGHA) was established at DONC hI',VN on 3 Dec 66 to exbrcise conkand and con-trol of the US Ari.-y'artillery battalions sitationed in I CTZ, The three bat-ta.4ons, Ist Battalion, 40th Artillery; it att.ion, 44th Artillery with.,attery G, 65th Artillery attached; aund 2d Battalion, 94th Artillery with&iLtery , 6h Battalion, 27th Artillery attached, are attached to I FieldPorce Vietnam Artillery and under Cperational Co1trol of IIi Uarine Amphib-ious Force. The dission of this Forward Coaand cost is to act as an exten-sion of Headquarters, 1 Field Force V'ietnwn Artillery, to provide commandand control less operational control, of the iUb Anmy artillery units in I,7Z and to monitor arinistmtive and logistzcal suport provided reserctive-ly b2 11 I . a q,d, e, 1 Field For...... and i1.tLgistical Com-

,and.

e. On 7' ecember 1966, C;olone. Jeriiy F. Dai -z<,tued corm.and ofField -orce Vietra. Arti.Llery from Colonel Asnlcy A. Alizm.

ir . asweun f -'JLivki: iKr~i.'lr frorg CXlon.ai jvrryt

)n ~~t ~ D O W N G R A D E D AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS; DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YFAPS.

nc~i u:-- DOD DIR 5200.10

i; DR 0T R'



0

CONFIDENTIAL

DISTRIBUTION (Contld)

US Army Ordnance School

US Army. uartermaster School

US Army Security Agency School

US Army Transportation School'

US Army Signal School

US Army Special Warfare School

US Army Civil Affairs School

Copies furnished:

Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development

'ResearchAnalysis Corporation Library

Security Officer, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

Dr. Martin J. Bailey, OSD (SA), South East Asia Forces

2

CONFIDENTIAL



VFA-AT-D 15 February 1967iUBJECT: Operational Report of Le3sons Learned for Quarterly Period

Ending 31 January 1967, HCS (CO.0kR-65) (U)

b. Anuunition Expended: NOV DEC JAN

(1) 2.75 ,460 9,475 12,U,7

(2) 105 IE 114,920 108,139 116,525

10 5 Ill 1,836 2,048 2,727

105 WP 18,215 17,479 20,305

105 SRK 4,066 3,237 6,252

105 other 10 0 21

TOTAL 139,047 130, 903 145,830

(3) 155 HE 22,729 24,577 25,055

155 Ill 1,210 85 6 1,753

155 WeP 1, 970 1,923 1,635

155 %K _ 5 45 93

TOTAL 26,364 27,811 28,936

(4) 8-irch lHE 8,490 9,721 7,807

(5) 175m HE 5,743 8,401 7,001

3. (C) Logistics:

a. Periodic Logistics Report:

(1) The value of the Periodic Logistic Aeport (RCS AVHGD-35),became more apparent during, this reporting quarter. Non-divisional US Armyartillery units in I CT Z and Ii CT Z began to receive reports of actionstaken by the responsible support conriand. As a result, the status of PLLhas been improved.

(2) The frequency of submitting this report should be changed

to every two weeks. Less reporting would result and more time would beavailable in which support agencies could react.

b. The lack of the foll.:ing jiraintenance float items aL USASC,QUI NMON and CAP, RANH continues to adversely affect the support of artil-

Iery units in 11 OTZ:

3

COfNFIDENMlA



.PA- A -D 15 Febriary 1967:.6v.JCT: Operational -eg.,ort of irssonw Lear:Led for QuzrtrJv Period

Endjixzg 31 Jmary~z 1967) IM('S O- ) (

(1)Panrantic

Telescee,k115 (8-i;,ch Ho w and 17!inm Gun)

(2) Panoramic Telescooc, i]? (105m Ho w SP)

(3) Generator Set, PU lo0.' (AN/biY-4A ladar)

(4) F-108, 105.xm How 3P

c. The shortage of rawin3onde systeni cx!nendzblc items has

caused the deadline of several of these systems in Ii CTZ.

d. The lorg lines of cor~nummicatIons betweon the US Anny Support

onwand, QUI 1II0N, the DA Ei'JNG Sub-area Coziuand (275 Ili), anc; the FSA at... hA (115 Kh) make it imperative to have aircraft for the transportation

of arti1Lex" weapons rep.ir Parts and other critical su.lies. The airtrans,-ort capabili ty for resupply functims between I and II CT Z is inade-quate.

4. (U) PiuAtLL

a. Personnel and ActinistratiA1:

Strength figures of 1HQ, 1 FFOfiCEV Arty on 31 January 1967 were:

OFF WO iz4

Authori zed 34 2 159

Assigned 36 2 143

Present for Duty 34 2 127

b. liezt and RIcuperati :. PL'.! J

The folawlng I.WR quotas were received and utilized:

D/.C .B JANUARY

4 2 4

c. Awards and Decorations:

The following awards and decorations were presented duringthis period:

SRE'NMAL



AVFA-AT-D 15 February 1967

SUBJECT: Operational Report of Lessons Learned for Quarterly Period

Ending 31 January 1967, -w,6 (-,;COr-65) (U)

NOV!,,'BER ). r1iV1 JANUARY

OFF WO F1, OF F WO F, O.:k X0 a,

Air ) edal

Bronze Star 2 1

Army Camendation 3

i edal

d. }orale and Discipline:

The morale aid discipline have continued to be excellent

through the reporting period.

SECTION 2 (C) CO1:DEDHR'S OBS&VTIGN5 ZU LECO A0ATIONS

Part I Observation (lessons learned)

a. Item: Naval Gunfire in Support of Operations.

Discussion: There are =ny II CTZ areas of tactical

importance in which naval gunfire can be used to suj..pcrt operations. TheUS Navy providea fire support to ARVN and FIAF; however, US observersand spotters munt adjust and control the gunire.

Observation: Field Arti.llery forward observers and key

infantry personnel .to platoon leader level should receive service schooltraining in the control and adjustment of naval gunfires.

b. Item: Coordination ard Clearance of Fires.

Discussion: The presence of friendly non-US forces and

civilians in the combat area of o '.e3).na.cqruired the establishment

of coordination and clearance procedure:, to avoid ccnflict between units

and to preclude wounding or killing of non-combatants.

Observation: Procedures used in Vietnam would be aworth-while addition to tactics classes in US Army Service Schools.

c. ;tem: Shell APES-T YMi-56 (Beehive).

Discussion: Beehive araiunition wa s employed againstenemy personnel duting the enemy attack of Landing Zone Bird on 27

December 1966. Units occupying this LZ were Battery B, 2d Battalion.

5

MO-



A404?A-AT-D :1.5 Fobruary 1967

3Il33JZCT: Operational neq-port of Letzsvns Leared for at.I~ry Period

anding .31 Ja~ntvry VA)7, itCS C.L9~0 o

]",th Artillery (lU)lm ~ zcWdiid 1iattry G. &tr,Rattajion, i6ht-Illery

i155m Towed). 'Iwo ratinds o., bteehive u~iuiinwere e:xpended arnd,

-, ough enemy KlA attril.3table to t ._1 ii~ cot)1" not be deteml Ined,.Lt was credited w,.th broaakin t-~u ,. 1,71 I'tirez i.Tc 82 KIA.

Cbservatior.: The be.ehive rout-i ir, direct fire ir, 'extremely

a fective.

d. It1em : Co:.tbat 5upport Coorciristion Centters

Dis cussion: The eneny attac ied ?.KUon 7 January 1967

w.ith mortars aryd irlfntry. Location of tLhe cneqnj mortars, by countersortar

radar was hinderedby ljeLvy C ienuly ccuttrfires. The raaars couild not

discern between frieid.y and eneiiW traicks.

Observation: Defensive techniques of ' Combat 'Support Coordinatior

"enters shoiuld include Lrans 01'* co.ztrcllhx.g counterfire measure3 if holding

these fires amears prudent.

PLCT H, Recomwerdaticon:

Recomauend trat the ?,eriodic Logistics e~eport (R~CS ,VHGD-35) be

rev.ised to include a two week reporting period ins.-tead of one week.

3. Ixic) 'c;. deSAUSSUILN

Organizational 5tructure Brigadier General, USA

ConxIand ing

)TiRIBUTION:2 - CZlCIJEA~I'AC, AI'.:I GI'ONNI*11, AIN, 06558-3 -DCG, USARV, A-?N: AVO-H!IST, APO 963074 - CG, I FFCCD, AT'11,: A'VFA-GC-9c)T, APO 96350

I - FILEUA



Incl I (Organizational Structure), ro Operational Report of Lessons

Learned for Quarterly Period Endinly 31 January 1967 (R^S CSFOR-65)

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUGUIE

Artillery units attached to I Field Force Vietnam Artillery during thereporting period.

:] I Field Force Vietnam Artillery (Forward) (QUI NON)

HQ, I Field Force 'Tietnam Artillery (Forward) (.3NG HA)

52nd Artillery Gronp:

3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery (105mm SP)

.6th Battalion, 14th Artillery (8"1/l?5mm, 5DS)

3rd Battalion, 18th Artillery (8"/175.m SP)

7?th Field Artillery Det:-chment (Radar)

235th Field Artillery Detachmnt (Radar)

237th Field Artillery Detachment (Radar)

7th Battalion, 13th Artillery (O5.a- T)

5th Battalion, 27th Artillery (105mm T)

is t Battalion, 30th Artillery (155mm T)

1st Battalion, 4th ii)-tillery (105= c?)

Ist Bttalion, 44th Artillery (AW P)

Battery O, 65th Art ']lery (50 ral .j)

2nd Battalion, 94th Artillery (1751rn 3P)

Battery B, 6th Battalion, 27th Artillery (175mm SP)

Headquarters andl q aquarters Battery, 8th Tar-et Acquisition3Battalion, 26th .rtillery

B.attery P, ?9th Artillr ('-archAliht)

218t'- Pild Artille ry --etachi rnt (nqalar)

7

CONFRIENDMA.



AVFA-GC-OT (15 Feb 67) ist Ind

7 SUBJECT: Operational Report of Lessons Learned for Quarterly Period

Ending 31 January 1967, RCS (CSFOR-65) (u)

HEADQUARTERS, I FIELD FORCE VIETNAM, AP O 96350 8 MAR 1967

TO: Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Develog-en-" Dc):'z2t of the

Army, Washington, D.C., 20310

1. (U) This headquarters concurs with the contei, s t Zie Opera-

tional Report of Lessons Learned for Quarterly Period Ernjo., ;1 January1967 of I FFORCEV Artillery, with the following comments°

2. (C) Reference Section I, page 3 - Significant Aoti z s.

a. Reference paragraph 3b: Th e existing shortage of mainte-

nance float items has been brought to the attention og the Col;-AandingGeneral, Is t Logistical Command; however, as of this date the shortages

still exist.

b. Reference paragraph 3c: Follow-up action cannot be initi-ated until specific shortages are forwarded. Upon receipt of itemized

shortages necessery follow-up action will be taken.

3. (C) Reference Section 2, Part II - Recommendations:

I FFORCEV (U) message B-0730, subject: Periodic LogisticalReport Procedures, atg 250909Z January 1967, recommended that the re-port be changed to a bi-weekly report.

FO R ThE COMMANDER:

Cr4ARLES L JU49A6iT. AGC

COFIDETI i! 5 1

I Field Force Vietnam Lessons Learned 21 April 1967

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