COUNTER CHAPTER 5 AMBUSH TECHNIQUES Seabees spend a considerable amount of time convoying from the bivouac area to project sites. This makes it important for you to know and understand proper convoy procedures. COMSECONDNCB/ COMTHIRDNCBINST. 3122.1 provides the guidance you need for convoy procedures. Another good source for convoy procedures is the FMFM 4-9, Motor Transport. This chapter will focus on techniques for use in counter ambush operations that supplement established tactical procedures. It includes counter ambush preparations for motorized units and immediate action drills.

COUNTER AMBUSH TECHNIQUES FOR CONVOYS

Experience in fighting terrorists and guerrillas has shown that they favor the ambush anytime a favorable situation exists. The ambush of units traveling in a motor convoy is not difficult and can be very costly if you do not take time to prepare vehicles and occupants before contact.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A VEHICULAR AMBUSH

A convoy is never safe from a guerrilla ambush. There is no set pattern for a likely area for an ambush. Ravines, defiles, and heavily wooded or jungle-covered areas are most favorable but ambushes are equally likely to be conducted in villages or in flat terrain that offers a minimum of cover and concealment. The most common characteristics of an ambush are as follows:

1. The ambush lasts the minimum time necessary to accomplish the mission.

2. The ambush occurs in two phases- a short period of heavy fire followed by an assault of the ambushed vehicles to capture equipment, to complete the annihilation of personnel, and to destroy vehicles.

3. The basic ambush weapons are small arms. These are augmented by machine guns, rocket launchers, and recoilless rifles.

4. The enemy will use electrically detonated mines to disable vehicles and cause personnel casualties. These mines may consist of artillery shells and mortar rounds as well as conventional mines.

PREPARATION OF VEHICLES

Occupants traveling in vehicles must have all-around observation and fields of fire and can throw or fire grenades without hindrance. They must be able to exit from the vehicle rapidly with minimum restriction. For these reasons the configuration of vehicles, such as a 6 by 6 cargo truck, must be altered. The following measures are taken to "harden" a vehicle and provide its occupants with a degree of protection:

1. Canvas, bows, windshields, and doors are removed.

2. The tailgate is lowered to a horizontal position. A piece of pipe, wood, or metal is affixed to the vehicle in a vertical position extending above the driver's head. This will prevent decapitation from wire stretched across the road.

3. Sandbags are placed on the floorboards and bed of the vehicle. For a 6 by 6 truck, a single row of sandbags is placed on the bed of the truck. Then sandbags are stacked five layers high down each side of the truck. This provides protection from most small arms. A total of 70 to 100 sandbags is required for each truck This load plus troops and equipment weight permits off-highway operation without undue wear on the vehicle. A wooden bench or packs rigged down the middle of the bed provide the troops with seats (fig. 5-1.)

4. Sections of scrap armor plate may be used to reinforce sandbags in the bed of the vehicle.

ORGANIZATION OF OCCUPANTS

Encounters with a guerrilla ambush are sudden, short, and unexpected. The opportunity to inflict casualties upon the guerrillas is lost if your troops are not organized and well-drilled to take immediate

Figure 5-1.- Hardened vehicle. offensive action. The organization of a rifle squad as occupants of a 6 by 6 truck is as follows:

1. A vehicle commander is designated for each vehicle. The squad leader is usually the vehicle commander and is positioned in the bed of the vehicle where he or she can best control the squad and operator of the vehicle.

2. An assistant driver (shotgun rider) capable of operating the vehicle is seated in the cabin with the driver. The shotgun rider is armed with a M-203 grenade launcher with the M-16 as a automatic rifle. After debarkation, the shotgun rider remains with the vehicle to act as close protection for the driver and vehicle. He or she does not accompany maneuvers executed by the occupant squad.

3. Four comer sentries are positioned in the bed of the vehicle. The two at the front observe an arc of 90 degrees from the front to each side. The two at the back observe an arc of 90 degrees from the back to each side. When possible, each sentry is armed with an automatic rifle. If the vehicle is ambushed, the sentries fire immediately from their positions within the vehicle. Their fire covers the debarkation of the occupants if the vehicle is halted in the ambush killing area. They also help the vehicle commander by notifying the commander of any convoy formation.

4. If a machine gun team is traveling with the occupant squad, it should be positioned facing out the rear of the vehicle and be prepared to debark expeditiously, bringing fire to bear on the enemy and covering the debarkation of the four corner sentries.

5. The remaining occupants are positioned in the bed of the vehicle, each facing outboard.

6. The maximum number of people in the bed of a hardened 6 by 6 truck should not exceed 13 (fig. 5-2).

CONVOY COMMANDER The position of the convoy commander is where he or she can best control the convoy. This position should never be the lead vehicle. A second in command and a vehicle commander for each vehicle are designated by the convoy commander. Briefing by the convoy commander before departure is detailed and explicit. All drivers and vehicle commanders are present. The briefing includes the following:

Formation (close column, open column, or infiltration)

Timings Route Speed Order of march (organization of vehicles and vehicles intervals)

Communication (radio frequencies, horn signals, and arm signals)

NOTE: Figure 5-3 shows recommended arm signals. It is important that each member of the

Figure 5-2.- Organization of occupants in a hardened 6 x 6 truck.

Figure 5-3.- Convoy arm signals. convoy know what the arm signals mean no matter which arm signals are used.

Procedure when communication is lost Action on vehicle breakdown Actions on ambush Action in danger areas Call for fire procedures Check points Location of friendly forces