The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Outlook

The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Outlook by Sergeant First Class Thomas G. Adams The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment’s (ACR) future has been discussed and written about ad nauseam. Which begs the question: What will it be like until then? Having been assigned to L Troop, 3d Squadron, 2d ACR for nearly six years, I have had some time to troubleshoot and problemsolve some of the capabilities and limitations of this organization. This is what I’ve come up with so far: Issue: Increase Battlespace Management Recommendation 1: The Army is buying a new laser target designator — give the old ones to the 2d ACR. The ground laser locator vehicle designator (GLLVD) uses the same thermal night sight that our current tube-launched, optically tracked, wire guided missile (TOW) systems use. Putting a GLLVD on each TOW not only increases options for the commander to use his copperhead artillery, it also allows the scouts to designate for Hellfire missiles, thereby decreasing or eliminating the warrior’s flight time to and from the forward area arming and refueling point to reload a Hellfire. With the scouts designating the targets, the OH-58 Kiowa can stay out of contact, fire from a safer position with a fire-and-forget technique that further reduces turn around time for the next shot. Not having to acquire and track their own targets greatly increases the Kiowa’s rate of fire and survivability, and because the Army does not have to buy new lasers, this option is inexpensive and available before 2010. Recommendation 2: The Army is getting a new light howitzer to replace the current 105mm — again, give the old ones to the 2d ACR. The 120mm mortar only has 7,200 meters of range. With these mortars, a 2-kilometer doctrinal distance from the forward line of own troops and the doctrinal or extended frontage of the ground cavalry troop (GCT), the effective range at the troop boundaries creates seams that are too often exploited by the opposing force or the enemy. Replacing the 120mm mortar with the 105mm towed howitzer eliminates the indirect fire seams between the GCT and squadron. It also increases the sustained rate of fire and adds a direct fire antitank option for the GCT commander. The primary mover remains a HMMWV and troop-end strength stays the same with an MOS change from 11C to 13B, or consolidate the mortars into a squadron mortar platoon with a slight increase in 13B manning. Recommendation 3: Change the squadron’s howitzer battery to 105mm. This increases the squadron’s deployability, mobility, and flexibility by adding antitank/direct fire capabilities, increasing sustained rate of fire, and changing the primary mover to a HMMWV. The howitzer battery’s unit basic load of ammunition can be increased by using 5-tons as ammo haulers, or reduce the squadron/regiment logprint by changing ammo haulers to HMMWVs. The squadron commander does lose some ammo options by switching to 105- mm; organizing a regimental howitzer battery of 155 mm, or relying on attachments can offset this. Issue: Maximize 155mm Towed Howitzer Capabilities and Minimize Limitations The towed 155mm howitzers are very accurate, but are limited because it takes an excessive amount of time to emplace or react to an out-of-battery mission. Recommendation: Small emplacement excavators (SEE) should dig in the trails of the howitzers, with alternate holes dug left and right of the main holes to react to out-of-battery missions. Time permitting, additional pre-dug holes or trenches could be used to provide full-sector or 360-degree capability. The SEE can also help lift the trails out of the holes when they need to be moved. SFC Thomas G. Adams is the equal opportunity advisor, 1st Armor Training Brigade, Fort Knox, KY. He has an A.A. from Central Texas College. He has served in various leader and staff positions, including platoon sergeant, L Troop, 3d Squad ron, 2d Armor Cavalry Regiment (3/2 ACR); section sergeant, L Troop, 3/2 ACR; Army recruiter, Omaha Recruiting Company, Omaha, NE; and Bradley CFV commander, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. 46 ARMOR — May-June 2003

Another example of simulation use at the USMA is incorporating the game Army Oper- a tions into the military science 102 classes, “Ground Maneuver Warfare I.” Again, the cadets go through the process of developing operations orders and then executing their orders in a simulations classroom. The valuable lessons of fi re and movement and synchronized planning are taught just as effectively in this environment as they are in the training area, and in this case, the cost was zero. To keep the price tag of this new software low, market powers must be used to reduce expenses. One obvious method of reducing costs is to share the expense with the Marine Corps. Certainly, a simulator of this type would prove just as useful to them. Adding their equipment and littoral terrain to the simulator would not be diffi cult. The biggest way to reduce cost is to contract with a company and allow them to sell the simulator as a commercial game. The demand for military simulators in the civilian community is evinced by the popularity of games such as Steel Panthers III, Panzer General, and even Army Operations. A commercially available, tactical simulator/game actually used by the Armed Forces would be enormously popular. Armchair generals everywhere would rejoice. If security concerns exist about simulator access, versions can be created with slight mod- ifi cations, which are then marketed to civilians. Such an approach would allow the simulator to be developed with less expense since the developer could recoup some of its investment in the civilian market instead of charging the military the full cost. Once obtained, this software could be distributed to each battalion on CD-ROM for local use. This is the approach currently being used by 1st Armored Division and USMA with the Steel Beasts software. To obtain a superb simulator with custom specifi - cations, these units combined spent approximately $130,000. This is far less than the development costs for SIM NET and CCTT, yet is readily useable at battalion and below on existing equipment. In conclusion, the ability to maneuver in the fi eld most likely will not increase. Our combat leaders need more repetitions in a low-stress environment to gain tactical profi ciency. The Army has apparently come to the same conclusion with the reorganization of its military education program for lieutenants through majors. The bottom line here is that units need easier access to realistic tactical simulators. Existing simulators require too much planning overhead to allow convenient access and often cost too much. A battalion commander needs the capability to run his company commanders through a battalion-level attack during an OPD without 3 months of planning. A PC-based simulator can provide this ability and do so at relatively low cost. Such a system can also be readily improved as PCs and LAN technology improves. The time has come to increase our repetitions using existing, low cost technology.

CPT PAUL MAXWELL

USMA

West Point, NY Live Fire Accuracy-Screening Test — Is it Necessary? Dear Sir: When the possibility of deployment was brought up a few months ago, one question resounded from several meetings, “Do we need to screen with service ammunition, and if so, how?” The question as to whether or not to screen service rounds seems to originate from their increased accuracy over training rounds. As de- fi ned in U.S. Army Field Manual 3-20.12, the live fi re accuracy-screening test (LFAST) is designed to “ensure tanks can fi re accurately using the fl eet zero computer correction factor method of calibration,” not to evaluate the ballistic solution. Armament accuracy checks (AACs) for the M1A1, or the automatic ballistic solution check for the M1A2/SEP, one prerequisite for conducting the LFAST, more specifi cally check 5 — the ballistic solution checks — are conducted to ensure that the ballistic solutions are properly implemented for fi re control components and all main gun ammunition. The computer correction factor (CCF) refi nes ballistic solutions, is obtained from stationary tank fi rings, and corrects for mean jump. Mean jump is one of three fi xed biases. A fi xed bias, as defi ned by U.S. Army Armor Center’s Master Gunner Branch, is “an error of the ammunition, weapons, and fi re control system that at any given range will cause a round to miss the desired aiming point in a constant direction. These errors are predictable, and therefore can be compensated for.” Mean jump is also defi ned by the Master Gunner Branch as “the average difference between the actual impact of a group of rounds, fi red over many occasions, and the intended strike of those rounds, given that all inputs to the fi re control system are correct or within tolerance.” In short, screening evaluates that the tank can accurately fi re using the fl eet CCF and that mean jump is properly compensated for that specifi c vehicle. While it is true that service rounds are much more accurate than training, the LFAST is not designed to evaluate the accuracy of the round. Main gun rounds, especially service rounds, are put through a long, rigorous series of tests and evaluations and are accepted only when a very stringent accuracy tolerance is met. Most failures of the LFAST that result in a discrete CCF are due to initial errors during boresighting, undetected mechanical failure, crew error, or errors that can occur due to tolerances in the muzzle boresight device (MBD). Prior to conducting the LFAST, crews must complete the following to ensure the tank is ready to conduct screening operations with minimal expenditure of rounds:

• A thorough preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS), ensuring all defi ciencies that may effect direct fi re precision are corrected. This should be completed several days prior to departing the motor pool to allow time for parts to arrive.

• AACs for the M1A1; automatic ballistic solution check for M1A2/SEP.

• Prepare-to-fi re checks. These are not meant to replace a thorough PMCS. They are specifi c checks, typically determined by the commander and the master gunner, that crews should perform just prior to live fi re.

• Collimation check of the muzzle boresight device (MBD).

• Boresighting with collimated MBD, to include all manual input data such as CCFs, air temperature, ammunition temperature, and barometric pressure. A great majority of current tankers have never fi red service ammunition. They, along with the rest of us who fi re training ammunition on a regular basis, are not accustomed to the increased shock of fi ring that type of ammunition. Additionally, anything that will give the crew added confi dence in their weapons system makes them a more lethal, competent, and dependable crew. As everyone is aware, we use plywood targets to screen prior to conducting live-fi re tank tables at home station gunnery. So what type of material do we use when screening service ammunition and where do we get it? Plywood is fi ne for Sabot rounds because it is a kinetic energy round, but what about high explosive antitank (HEAT) rounds or multipurpose antitank (MPAT) ammunition? Will they detonate and destroy our normal thin plywood targets? The answer is yes. Through some research, I have found that there are several different types of material that may be used for screening service HEAT or MPAT ammunition. As suggested in Master Gunner Newsletter 03-02, use target cloth (NSN 8305-00-285-2152). There are a couple of problems that may be encountered when using target cloth. First, it comes in three-foot wide rolls. The unit has to have the panels sewn into 10' X 10' panels. Second, because it is a cloth, the round rips through the target and, therefore, it may not leave an easily identifi able point of impact. You can purchase rolls of denim or similar material, but the same problems would be encountered. For several years, Yuma Proving Grounds has used a material they describe as “sunshade.” It is basically the same material used to make home window screens, but denser. It is a tightly woven, black, fi berglass mesh that is purchased locally from a provider in Yuma. Because the round is hot when it strikes the target, the round actually burns through the panel, leaving a clearly defi ned hole that can be easily seen with low power optics at 1500 meters. Here is the process that should be followed if units would like to procure these panels. A unit representative should fi rst contact a team leader for Yuma Proving Grounds’ Automotive and Combat Systems Division for Direct Fire Weapons, at DSN 899-6492. He will then verify that enough material is on-hand to complete the order and get a price estimate. Once you have the price estimate, your S4 can initiate a military interdepartmental purchase request (MIPR). The S4 can contact Yuma’s Direct Fire Weapons Department Logistics Co-LETTERS from Page 4 ARMOR — May-June 2003 47 ground elements are not tracking very specifically, or are not passing that information to the Apaches, maneuver in zone behind the front-line trace can quickly become a quagmire. If the enemy forces are in such proximity to preclude the use of indirect fires, the Apaches must have specific location of bypassed elements to engage them prior to operating in the zone. Without the ability to engage enemy behind the front-line trace, the Apache becomes extremely vulnerable as it maneuvers in zone. Clearance of indirect fires. The final critical piece of air-ground integration is clearance of indirect fires. The key to efficient integration of indirect fires is division of tasks. It is most effective to use the ground maneuver FSE for targets of opportunity and the FSE supporting the aviation brigade for suppression of enemy air defense and ABF preparatory fires. If done correctly, dividing fires between the ground and aviation FSEs increases the available fires while decreasing the response time. For this concept to be effective, it is critical for the targeting officer of the ground maneuver unit to understand the needs of aviation. While ADA does not pose a significant threat to the elements on the ground, it is difficult for Apaches to assist the ground scheme of maneuver, and for that reason, known ADA must be included in the ground maneuver concept of fires. During maneuver in zone, it is critical for Apaches to call for fires directly to the ground FSE on their net. For this to be effective, the ground commander must understand and incorporate the threat to aviation in his fires. Therefore, each FSE much coordinate fires through liaison and fire support rehearsals. Once in the battlespace, the critical piece to integration of indirect fires is to deconflict the location of COLT and scout elements with ABFs. For Apaches to operate in the close fight, they must have the availability of indirect fires to prepare the ABFs. Without this, Apaches are susceptible to surface-to-air missiles that have been bypassed or undiscovered by ground maneuver elements. When the leader of the ground maneuver element is able to communicate directly with the Apaches on station and provide them accurate and timely situation updates of both friendly and enemy elements, the Apache can maneuver to best shape the battlefield. The integration of direct fires, tied to decisive events of the ground maneuver scheme, and accurate and timely integration of indirect fires, are the ultimate goals of air-ground integration. The final result is a quick, coordinated, and efficient destruction of the enemy. Notes 1U.S. Army Field Manual (FM) 1-100, Aviation Operations, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 21 February 1997. 2FM 101-5, Staff Organization and Operations, U.S. GPO, Washington, DC, 31 May 1997. 3FM 1-111, Aviation Brigades, U.S. GPO, Washington, DC, 27 October 1997. 4Ibid. CPT Henry C. Perry Jr., authored the “Liaison Mission Planning With the Maneuver Brigade” section of this article. He is currently serving as the battalion S3 liaison offi cer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Fort Hood, TX. He received a B.S. from the United States Military Academy. He has served in various command and staff positions, to include battalion liaison offi cer, 1-227th Aviation, Fort Hood; brigade LNO, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood; S4, HHC, 1-229th Aviation, Fort Bragg, NC; support platoon leader, HHC, 1-229th Aviation, Fort Bragg; and attack platoon leader, B Company, 1-229th Aviation, Fort Bragg. CPT Murphy A. Caine authored the “Mission Planning With the Ground Battalion” section of this article. He is currently serving as a support platoon leader, HHC, 1- 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood. He received a B.S. from the United States Military Academy. He has served in various command and staff positions, to include support platoon leader, HHC, 1-227th Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood; scout platoon leader, B Company, 1-227th Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood; attack platoon leader, B Company, 1-227th Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood. 1LT Joseph G. Bruhl authored the “Battle Execution: Real Time Integration” section of this article. He is currently serving as a scout platoon leader, B Company, 1- 227th Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood. He received a B.A. from Truman University. He has served in various command and staff positions, to include scout platoon leader, B Company, 1-227th Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood; and attack platoon leader, 1-227th Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood. Air Integration from Page 25 48 ARMOR — May-June 2003 ordinator at DSN 899-6205 for the information needed to complete the MIPR. The cost will be approximately $1500 for 20 panels, which includes overnight shipping, if necessary. The material comes in six-foot rolls and is sewn together in their fabric shop. I would recommend that units order 11' by 11' panels to have some overage on either side for securing the panels to a frame. Then there is the task of marking the panel. I made an illustration of the LFAST panel marked with measurements of the circle and crosshairs and took it to our local TSC. They then made a full-sized stencil out of a vinyl material. I then used regular white spray paint to mark the panel. Simply lay the panel on the ground, line up the stencil over it, and paint. Each panel requires one standard can of paint to be properly marked. Prior to conducting the LFAST, the unit chain of command and the S4 must ensure that ammunition resupply is available and in suffi cient quantity to replace the rounds fi red from the unit’s basic load prior to crossing the line of departure — prior to fi ring, confi rm that there are no resupply constraints. Units may have to decrease the number of rounds fi red to calculate a discrete CCF if there is insuffi cient service ammunition to conduct the LFAST. Fi nally, host nation environmental concerns about depleted uranium might hinder units from fi r- ing service Sabot. If this is the case, units will have to use the fl eet CCF. In the fi nal analysis, screening is a necessary step in building combat power during reception, staging, onward movement, and integration. This will maintain the normal routine of gunnery preparation that all crews are accustomed to following. Most importantly, however, it will give the crews confi dence that they will destroy what they engage. It confi rms that their boresight is correct, that the breech works properly, it demonstrates the explosive power of the HEAT and/or MPAT round, and confi rms that they are part of one of the most lethal combat platforms in the entire world.

SSG CHRISTOPHER M. QUILL

1-66 Armor Master Gunner 14th Cavalry Association Reunion The 14th Cavalry Reunion will be held from 18 June through 22 June 2003 in Tacoma/Fort Lewis, Washington. The reunion is for all 14th Cavalry troops — Horse, WWII, Constabulary, ACR, and RSTA. Contact Frank Varljen at 703- 791-6218 or e-mail at <f.varljen@verizon.net>. USMC Vietnam Tankers Reunion The USMC Tankers Reunion will be held from 21 August through 23 August 2003 at the Doubletree Airport Hotel, Seattle, Washington. The arrival day is scheduled for 20 August and departure day is scheduled for 24 August. For more information, please contact Dick Carey at 278 Main Street, Mashpee, MA 02649, e-mail <warveteran@aol.com>, or call 508- 477-5957. LETTERS continued