ELO H CONDUCT ACTIONS AT THE RELEASE POINT (RP)

2. ELO H CONDUCT ACTIONS AT THE RELEASE POINT (RP)

3. COMPLETE RELEASE POINT ACTIVITIES • Coordinate RP security • Coordinate medical support for ambulatory patients • Report arrival and status to higher headquarters • Coordinate disposition of KIAs • Direct off-loading of cargo • Coordinate maintenance or disposal of damaged vehicles • Coordinate issue of ammunition and supplies

4. COMPLETE RELEASE POINT ACTIVITIES (Continued) • Coordinate mess and billeting • Submit convoy commander’s report to higher HQ • Prepare order and briefing for return convoy • Direct upload of return trip cargo • Debrief the S2 element

5. ELO I DESCRIBE THE PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF A GUN TRUCK “The Eve of Destruction”

6. VIET NAM GUN TRUCKS “Iron Butterfly”

7. VIET NAM GUN TRUCKS “The Untouchable”

8. VIET NAM GUN TRUCKS “The Piece Maker”

9. LESSONS LEARNED IN VIET NAM • Strict adherence to regulations sometimes impeded success • Engine noise caused delays in recognizing attacks • Gun trucks were excessively heavy • Limited ammunition equals limited effectiveness • Drivers are best defended by other drivers • Gun trucks should be highly visible and intimidating • In ambush, the enemy would target gun trucks (specifically the drivers) first • Gun trucks did not have an adverse effect on a trans unit’s mission capability

10. LESSONS LEARNED IN VIET NAM, cont. • Ideal gun truck armor was a double layer of steel plate • Sandbags had to be maintained • Trucks loaded with the hulks of APCs were too heavy and unbalanced • The box type gun truck was best • Gun trucks generally had four crew members • The M-2 .50 caliber machine gun was the best weapon “The Outlaw”

11. LESSONS LEARNED IN VIET NAM, cont. • Gun shields were heavy and restricted observation • Shotguns, M-79 grenade launchers, and M-60 machine guns were highly effective secondary weapons • Intercom link between members of a gun truck crew was critical • The ideal ratio of gun trucks to task vehicles = 1:10 • Gun trucks were well-suited to serve as convoy control vehicles • In an ambush, gun trucks were deployed into the kill zone for a quick and violent response • The area immediately surrounding the gun truck is dead space

12. GUN TRUCK FUNCTIONS • Ambush deterrence • Ambush defense • Control vehicles • Forward security element (FSE) • Rear security • Perimeter security during halts • Evacuation of wounded from the kill zone • Security for disabled vehicles

13. ELO J IDENTIFY GUN TRUCK CREW DUTIES

14. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (All Crew Members) • Qualification on all weapons to be employed • Troop Leading Procedures, Standing Operating Procedures, and reporting requirements • All battle drills • Target identification and engagement • Latest enemy TTPs • Convoy control and movement techniques • Safety and risk assessment • Rules of Engagement (ROE) • First aid

15. GUN TRUCK SECTION LEADER (Convoy Preparation) • Organizes crews and issues OPORD • Briefs gun truck section • Conducts pre-combat checks (PCC) • Conducts pre-combat inspections (PCI) • Conducts section rehearsals • Participates in convoy rehearsals

16. GUN TRUCK SECTION LEADER/ COMMANDER (Convoy execution) • Crosses start point (SP) on time • Maintains position in convoy • Controls gun trucks • Maintains discipline and adheres to SOP • Maintains convoy security • Identifies threat and returns fire aggressively • Identifies and fires on enemy FO (indirect fire) • Quickly assesses situation and reports to convoy commander • In convoy commander’s absence, acts aggressively

17. GUN TRUCK SECTION LEADER/ COMMANDER (At the halt) • AS FSE, selects halt locations that ensure security • Positions gun trucks for maximum security • Conducts consolidation and reorganization • Submits SITREP/SALUTE report

18. ELO K HARDEN GUN TRUCKS “Highland Raiders”

19. HARDEN THE VEHICLE • Basic hardening • Commercial kits • Ideal armor (?) double layer of steel plate • Box configuration • Doors and floorboard • Windows/windshield • Readily accessible • Field expedient

20. ARM THE GUN TRUCK • Determine weapons assets required • Determine assets available • Coordinate with higher HQ to obtain shortfalls • Determine how weapons will be mounted • Ring mounts • Pedestal mounts • Gun shields • Location • Supplemental weapons and pyrotechnics • Training

21. ELO L EMPLOY GUN TRUCKS “Little Respect”

22. BASIC EMPLOYMENT • Aggressive, yet controlled and disciplined posture • Functional communications systems • Minimum of two gun trucks per convoy; three or more with convoys greater than ten vehicles • Gun Truck 1 responsibilities • Gun Truck 2 responsibilities • Gun Truck 3 responsibilities

23. MANEUVER RESPONSIBILITIES • Deter ambush through intimidation • Disperse crowds blocking the road • Scan and identify RPG gunners • Secure intersections and block civilian traffic • Provide security at halts, rally points, disabled vehicle, and CASEVAC halts • On IED attack, repel follow-on attacks • Maneuver to block civilian vehicles attempting to infiltrate the convoy

24. FORWARD SECURITY ELEMENT (FSE) • Clear route, identify IEDs, check choke points, provide show of force • If two or three gun trucks in the convoy, stay in line of sight of the convoy, no more than 1 to 2 km • If four or more gun trucks, two gun trucks may scout ahead, no more than 3 km • Never deploy one gun truck alone as an FSE • Maintain communication with convoy at all times • Travel in overwatch formation

25. After convoy passes, gun trucks assume their original positions in the convoy After Gun Truck #1 clears overpass and before convoy arrives, Gun Truck #2 assumes position on other side of overpass Gun Truck #2 provides overwatch while Gun Truck #1 clears overpass SECURE OVERPASS 4 Direction of Travel 1 Gun Truck #1 clears overpass 3 2

26. Gun Truck #1 moves up the on ramp to engage the enemy Friendly Fire Enemy Fire BEWARE OF FRATRICIDE! Gun Truck #2 flanks the enemy from the other side of the ramp Gun Truck Civilian Vehicle RETURNING FIRE FROM OVERPASS Direction of Travel

27. Civilian Vehicle Gun Truck Task Vehicle NEGOTIATE TRAFFIC CIRCLE Direction of Traffic

28. Task Vehicle Gun Truck Civilian Vehicle NEGOTIATE ON/OFF RAMP

29. AMBUSH PROCEDURES • Gun trucks forward of kill zone maintain security for the forward element unless called back • Gun trucks in kill zone return fire to neutralize the threat • Gun trucks to rear of kill zone (except the last vehicle) move forward to engage the enemy and neutralize the threat

30. AMBUSH PROCEDURES (CONTINUED) • Rear gun truck remains with trail element unless called forward by convoy commander • All gun trucks prepare to move, on order, to engage the enemy • Gun trucks continue to engage the enemy until threat is neutralized or the kill zone is cleared • Gun trucks provide security during consolidation and reorganization

31. SUMMARY “I got this jacket at Wal-mart…”

32. SUMMARY • Characteristics of the threat • Hardening vehicles • Convoy briefing • Convoy execution • Forms of attack • IED attack

33. SUMMARY (Continued) • Consolidation and reorganization • Release Point Activities • Gun trucks • Gun truck crew duties • Hardening and arming gun trucks • Gun truck employment