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AD863281

Approved for public release; distribution isunlimited.

Distribution authorized to U.S. Gov't. agenciesand their contractors;Administrative/Operational Use; 01 AUG 1969.Other requests shall be referred to AssistantChief of Staff for Force Development,Department of the Army, Attn: FOR-OT-UT,Washington, DC 20310.

OAG D/A ltr, 29 Apr 1980

THIS REPORT HAS BEEN DELIMITED

AND CLEARED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

UNDER DOD DIRECTIVE 5200,20 AND

NO RESTRICTIONS ARE IMPOSED UPON

ITS USE AND DISCLOSURE,

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE,

DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED,

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY O F F I C E O F T H E A D J U T A N T G E N E R A L

W A S H I N G T O N . D . C . 20S10

IN REPLY REFER TO

AG DA (M) (1 Dec 69) FOR OT UT 69.3255 4 December 1969

SUBJECT: Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 27th Transpor-tation Battalion, Period Ending 31 July 1969

SEE DISTRIBUTION

1. Subject report is forwarded for review and evaluation in accordance with paragraph 4b, AR 525-15. Evaluations and corrective actions should be reported to ACSFOR OT UT, Operational Reports Branch, within 90 days of receipt of covering letter.

2. Information contained in this report is provided to insure appropriate benefits in the future from lessons learned during current operations and may be adapted for use in ueveloping training material.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY:

dr. 1 Incl KENNETH as

G. WICKHAM Major General, USA The Adjutant General

DISTRIBUTION: Commanding Generals US Continental Army Command US Army Combat Developments Command

Commandants US Army War College US Army Command and General Staff College US Army Adjutant General School US Army Armor School US Army Aviation School US Army Field Artillery School US Army Infantry School US Army Ordnance School US Army Quartermaster School US Army Special Warfare School US Army Transportation School

Reproduced by the C L E A R I N G H O U S E

for Federal Scientific & Technical Information Springfield Va. 22151

U N C L A M I P I K O n c r o R T

o i s T R i B i r r i o N N O r o m i o N W I T H O U T A P P R O V A L O F A » » I » T A N T C H I E F

( A R M Y )

Copies furnished: Office, Chief of Staff, US Army

W * T A W W worn F O R C E D E V E 1 . 0 P M K N T

A T T N F O R O T U I . W A « M I N « T O N , D . C . * 0 ) 1 0

Protective markings cancelled when separated from inclosure.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

vm*

(Cont'd) Staff

sar^h and Development iefs of Staff

ers eral, US Army Materiel Conwand the Marine Corps tatlon Center r, Hudson Institute D

Officers Limiten War Laboratory

Logistics, Doctrine Systems & Readiness Agency US Army Mobility, Equipment Research & Development Center 27th Transportation Battalion

DISTRIBUTIO; Deputy Chie Chief of Res Assistant Ch Chief of Eng Commanding G Commandant Defense Doc Security 0 USAF Pro Commandin

US Arm US Arm

lei >l«/tt

U-J

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

L MA^rfM^M tfMfe **■

^*W"

DEPARTmiT OP TIX Aiü:y IlEADaUAIlTaiS, ariH TRA/ISPCRTAnOH DATTALIOH

APO 96226

AVCA Q« TG 27 OP 1 Au^uat 1969

SUUKT: OparatlontJ. Report of th« 27th Tranoportction Battalion (IVuok) for the Period Kn4lnc 31 July 1969 RCS CSPCR-65 (R-l)

THRU: Cownandinj Offlcsr, Öth Transportetion Group, ATW: S3, APO 96226

Conrrndlng Goner-J, 'JS knay Suwort CcM*nend> QM, ATTW: AVGA QH-QOJ) APO 96238

Conmanding Genüral, 1st Logiatlcel Coramiad, ATTN: AVCA-JGO-JL, APO 96324

IDs ContrtTJiding Generzd, United States Amor Vietnaa, ATTN: AVBGC-087, APO 96375

CorvTandei'-lö-Chief, united States Arqar Paduc, ATINt GPOP-DT, APO 9655'i

Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Developnont, Departoent of th» Arny, Vtsliington, D, C,t 20310

SECTION I CPSUTIOHSJ SIQHIFICAIJT AG3TVITIÄS

1, Corinand:

c. The 27th Trmnportntion Dcttelion continued to support tactical cud direct support oporatlons aa vrell zs local and ]ine Iiaul operations« During the 92 day reporting period the battalion mmA 333,006 short tons :Jid A,085,000 gaiJLons POL v/hile traveling 1,7,67,356 miles,

b. During tlw riurjrtor the following changes in oonsnand positions took place. On 10 June 1969 OPT Robin Perry cssunod cocraand of the AMth Tirnns« portation Carneny On 3 July 1969 1LT Pirod Leperd eaaumed cenmond of the 597th Transportation Cor/pany and an 23 July 1969 U«T Terry Miller nssuraod caranend of the sarno ccrTx.ny. On 5 July 1969 1LT St oven Welch assured coimand of tlie 2nd Transportation Conpeny and on 24 July 1969 ILT Robert Parüay asriaaed coranond of the sowe unit. On 25 Megr 1969 CPT Robert Jones aseunsd camand of the f&th Transpoz'tatian Company» rp* prof

inciosure FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

1

PROTECTIVE MARKING EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC TERMINATION.

■umwK... ■ ■■ '■■ """""•'"""' '■ -"":mm

i A7G& QK TG 2? CO? 1 August 1969 SUTJBCTi Operational ileoort of the 27th Transportation Battalion (Trucdc)

for the Period Ending 31 JtOT 1969 PCS CSP(R-69 (R-l)

2. Personnel, Administration, Morale r.nd Disoiplinej

a* The Battalion's strength remained at a numerically acoeptable level during the reporting period« Shortr.ges in MDS 64k/6£ß exceed 90. Strrogth of cooks 1CS 94820 grade B5 is critioal, authorised 8 and assisned 1, This command is short one WO, MOB 631A,

b. During the reporting period adndnistipation oontinued in a normal ncnnor»

c. The morale and discipline remained hifjh during this period» All units continued to inalce significant improvements in physical facilities*

3» Operations:

a. Diuring the 92 day report period the 27th Transportation Battalion received 36 new 5 ton tractors and issued 18 to the üöth Tnnsporte.tion Conpnny, 8 to the <U4.th Transportation CaapeXty, and 10 to the 597th Trans- portation Company. On 10 June 1969 an intensified POL operation began due to repedrs/replacenent of POL line from Qul Nhon to Pleiku. Over 4,085,OCX) gullons \rere hauled during the repcrting period in addition to our normal . line 'saul coptdtment,

b. During the past reporting period the percentage of vehicles coranitted has bessi very hi^i. Of the vehicles avr.ilr.ble %$ were ^oraitted. This is extremely high in comparison to other comparable units in Vietnwn,

c« Enemy activity in re^rd to anbp.ahes has incroaced during the reporting period. Two ambushes occurred during the rspcrting period, one on 2/. lioy 1969 resulting in no loss of life or loss of equipment (tiro KM wounded in action), the other on 3 June 1969 once a^ain resulting in no loss of life or eauipr^ent (one EM wounded in action}. Enemy sniper incidtmta have remained high, A total of eight sniper and norter incidents occurred on 8 June 1969., 8 June 1969, 13 June 1969, U June 1969, 24 Juno 1969, 28 June 1969, H July 1969, and 16 July 1969. It has been detemined that tiie increased training program concerning convoy deployment and con« position of security vehicles, known as the Ludy Concept, has deprived the enemy of prime targets to lie ar.bushed,

4. Trciningt

a, During the 92 day reporting period this battalion has continued to conduct tr?.ining in accordance v.lth the Amy Subject Schedule at night uhen most personnel ere availr.bDe. Additional eupliaslis bos been pi^y»«»^ on snbjects oerteining to convoy operations,

b, OJT training is being conducted in the POI (Progran of Instruction) format aoecified by fJS..SUPCOH, 'M Hhon.

c, S;iecicl subjects such na "Sapper Attacks" and "Claymore Mines* have beon iraplonented into the companies orientation« for both new and old perconnel, Manditory monthly trcinlng and doily briefings are also given on these subjects,

iNCL FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 2

TO 27 0P 1 Augast 1969 SUBJECT: Operational Report of the 27th Transportation Battalion (Truak)

for the Period Ending 31 July 1969 PCS CSRXU65 (R-l)

d. Many of the replacement drivers assigned arrive without driver qualifications record (DA Form 348). This placed an additional retraining * requirement upon the units thereby increasing the in—processing time for the new personnel*

e. Organic ',/eapons monthly familiarization held at company level,

5. Intelligence and SeciTity:

a. During the reporting period 7 search lights have been installed on the perimeter as an extra security precaution.

b. The compounds within Sub Complex Charlie I are located at the of a mountain. This is undesirable as it affords the enemy an excellent opportunity to observe and engage the units from an elevated position. De-foliation by air of the base of this mountain would allow much better obser-vation. Large rocks and cliffs however make it very difficult to perform this mission bjj land means. At present tliis unit has requested appropriate action with negative results,

c. The Sub Complex Charlie has been hand receipted two AH/tVS-3 Tele-scopes (Ic.st Reporting Period) which have been inoperative for the last 23 days due to lack of batteries. Red Ball Request Expedite has been forwarded thru ap ropriate channels being passed to CONUS for fill. Follow up action has been talren but to this date the batteries have not boon re-ceived at this headouarters.

6. Logistics:

During the 92 day reporting period the 5 ton vehicles hate been modi-fied iy the installation of armor plating on floor side of drivers cabs. This has increased protection for the drivers.

SECTION II

COHiAIIDERS* OBSERVATIONS, EVALUATIONS AID AECOil3MDATICIB

1 . Personnel : Hone

2. Operations:" lone

3. Training:

Item: Driver Training-

Observation: It'jy of the replacement drivers arrived within tlie connand '..dthout DA Form 3Qualification Record. This necessitated driver retraining and retesting for those personnel, thus increasing the in-processing time.

INCL 3

FOR OFFICIAL OSE ONLY

AVGA QH TG 27 OP 1 AugUflt 1969 SUrvTKT: aperatloncl Report of the 27th Transportation Battalion (Truok)

for the Period Ending 31 July 1969 RCS CSrra-65 CR-l)

Evalui'tioni Had records been screened at FOR Boards corrective action could have been taken to insure that replacements had in their possossion oroper driver quaiifloptlon record (DA Pom 348) prior to arriving in country« Such action could jhave shortened the period of tine that these personnel uere not available to perform their primary mission« Such additional re» testing and retraining is unrealistic and time consuming to perfotra in a fiflfltet jMM-

ftecoramendation: That OOIFJS PCR Boards screen all personnel records prior to departure to insure inclosure of DA Form 348 for oversocs re« placeinentSf driver personnel« International Road Sign Tost for personnel ..ssißned overseas in driver MDS's should be accomplished at state side posts prior to movonant oversees, thus cutting down the in-proceesing tine in tlio ecnbat zone«

4« Intelligence and Security: None

5. Logistics;

Item: Outstanding Roqulsitons

ObservT'tion: Outstanding requisitions on the depot system are not being released G:qjediously as stock is nade available on liond« Each unit presently has approjdmatoly 216 outst-Jiding due outs«

Ev luation: If outstanding due outs v/ere released to the requisitioners more storage area irould be avoilablej money i/oul.d be saved in verions v»yB such as limiting units missions, reducing pilferer, reducing vttoy dco^p, reducing storage deterioration, and eliminating wr-rehousing«

Recorf omlation: Tk^t Inventory Control Center oaid depots relee»G stocks limadiately to re'-iiisitioners to cut dota on wasted ti*ie, supplies, labor^ end help incror.se the efficiency of units in RVN«

I ten: Contact Teams

Obcervr.tion: Unit pdd December 1968 the Support Maintenance Battalion kid e contr.ct tear thr.t provided excel ont support for units vrithln the BaV t^J-ion, For ex "pie a clutch, trcLnsrdüoion, engine, or bra.ta8 \/ould go out on p. vehicle. You then notified the contnet teem end the next morning the vehicle would be ready for the road.

Evaluation: Hcid thin practice continued a more efficient utilization of vehicles would liavc provoüed.

Recommendation: Thnt ttiic systen be put bade into offset tlirou^hont ilVW,

6, Or-.aniaation: Hone

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 4

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AVCA Ü? TG 27 OP 1 Auguat 1969 STJBJSCTJ Oporational iteport of the 27th Trpjisportation Battalion (Truok)

for the Period End'rg JL July 1969 RCS C3PCR^5 (R-l)

?• Esccpo and Ev, sion: This or; nizrtion has had no escape and ovcsion GXporience during the reporting period.

ß. Other: None

/ s/Mx&z C /jw* ■ ^ lÖLLIAii C, fBESUir LTC, TC

'1 laol Cooonanding Orge-Riaattenal Gher^- Incl wd HQ, DA

5

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

1 (

AVCA QN-TG-3 (10 Aug 69) let lixl SUBJECT: Operational Report ef the 27th Transportation Battalion (Truck)

for the Period Ending 31 July 1969 RCS CSFOR-65 (R-l)

DA, HQ, 8th Trans Gp (MT), APO 96226, 13 Aug 69

Commanding General, USASC, QN, ATTN: A7CA QN-GO-H, APO 96238

1, The Operational Report for the 27th Transportation Battalion (Truck) has been reviewed and the information contained therein is considered adequate.

2. The following conments are submitted:

a. Reference Section II, Operations. Concur with recoBBiendation ef unit.

b. Reference Section II, Logistics. Concur with reconaendation of unit.

TEL: PT 785 GARLAND A. LUDT Colonel, TC Comnanding

This is a true copy

"JAMES R. MACRACEK 1LT, GS Military History Division

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

6

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»'»I ..-.-..i L.O- -. ..... II— I .^*~mr^-.~ - - PWSW"

AVCA QN-GO-H (1 Aug 69) 2d Ind SUBJECT: Operational Report of the 27th Trsuisportation Battalion (Truck)

for the Period Ending 31 July 1969 RCS CSPCIU65 (IM)

DA, HEADQUARTERS, US Army Support Canmand, Qui Nhon, APO 96238 1^ SEP 196»

TO: Commanding General, Ist Logistical Canmand, ATTN: AVCA GO-0, APO 9638/f

1, (FOUO) The Operational Report, Lessons Learned of the 27th Transporta- tion Battalion for the quarterly period ending 31 July 1969 has been review- ed by this headquarters and the following ccnunents are submitted:

a, SECTION II, paragraph 3' Concur. This item requires action by higher headquarters to infonn pertinent organizations in CONUS of thr problem,

b, SECTION II, paragraph 5 (ist item): Concur. USAD, QN and the DSU/- GSU's publish a monthly status listing for customer units. A check of this listing will provide the unit with current status and information as to whether or not valid due outs have been established. If units have valid due outs for critical supplies, these can be placed on the Commander's Critical. Items List (CCIL) so that action can be taken.

c, SECTION II, paragraph 5 (2d item): Concur, This procedure cannot be implemented at the present time, since personnel resources do not permit a dedicated contact team for this tranpporcation battalion. The response of supporting maintenance units to the field maintenance requirements of the units supported is considered adequate. The proximicy of the supported and supporting units (less than 5 miles) also tends to negate the contact team requirement. Contact team maintenance is being used in support of FSA's, LSA's, remote fire bases and special forces camps. No action is required by higher headquarters since the use of contact teams to perform on-site maintenance is adequately covered in current doctrine.

2. (U) This report is considered adequate as modified by the above comraenta,

FOR WE COMHANDSR:

TEL: ON 216l yV. RoffiRT J' FL0RCZAK#7'^C GPT, AGC Asst Adjutant General

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

AVCA GO-MH (1 Aug 69) 3rd Ind SUBJECT: Operational ueport - Lessons Learned of the 27th Transportation

Battalion for Period Ending 31 July 1969 RCS CSFOR-65 (R1) (U)

DA, Headquarters, 1st Logistical Command, APO 96384 * 8 OCT 1969

TO: Comnanding General, United States Army, Vietnam, ATTN: AVHGC-DST, APO 96375.

1. The Operational lieoort - Lessons Learned submitted by Headquarters, 27th Transportation Battalion for the quarterly period ending 31 July 1969 is forwarded.

2. Pertinent comments follow: Reference item concerning Outstanding Requisitions, page 4, paragraph 5. Concur.

a. The release of dues-out upon receipt of stock in the depot is an auto-matic feature of 3SVN. The problem that prevents timely release of dues-out is the lag time in processing of receipts from storage to the stock control element for posting on the ABF, If the receipt is picked up in a timely manner, the same basic processing cycle will effect release of dues-out in order of priority and age within priority.

b» Items issue, control of which is held by the ICCV, are subject to the same procedures. The due-out is held on the due-out subsidiary file of the ICCV rather than on the file of the depot. The receipt of material by the depot must again be posted to the ICCV ABF before the due-out can be automatically released. The computer systems supporting the supply system in Vietnam work very efficiently in respect to release of dues-out; however the release can be no more timely than the posting of receipt documentation. The problem of supply discipline at the receiving function in the depot is the basis of the condition described. Its resolution lies in the training of deoot personnel.

c. A system is presently being incorporated as an integral oart of scheduled cycle processing which causes reactivation of backorders at each depot oeriod-ically for submission to the ICCV to be matched with assets in other command depots. This will preclude a backorder from remaining on one deDots file while another depot has the stock.

Protective marking excluded g from automatic termination

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

AV3A GO-MH SUBJECT! Operational Rtport - I«BBon8 Learrwd ot the 2Jth TrHiisportaLlon

Battalion lor Period Ending 51 July 1969 RCS CSWh-65 (U)

5. Concur with th« basic report as modified by thia «rid preriou» indore. menta.

PQH THE COMTiANDKRö

1

TEL: LBN 4859

CP: USASUPCCM QKH 8th Trans Gp 27th Trans Bn

Arf. I). STAFFORD - ILt, AGO

Asst Adjutant General

WR OmCIAl USE ONIY

i^ ■ ■ i^

AVHGC-DST (1 Aug 69) 4th Ind SUBJhCT: Operational Report of the 27th Transportation Battalion (Truck)

for the Period Ending 31 July 1969, RCS CSFOR-65 (Rl) (U)

HfcADQüARTlLHü, UNITED STATUS ARMY, VIETNAM, APO San Francisco 96375 1 NOVföfQ

TO: Commander in Chief, United States Army, Pacific, ATTN: G^OP-'T, APO 96558

1. This headquarters has reviewed the Operational Report-Lessons Learned for the quarterly period ending 31 July 1969 from Headquarters, 27th Transportation Battalion (Truck).

2, Reference item concerning "Driver Training," section II, page 3, para- graph 3; concur. CONUS POR Boards are required to check each individual's 201 File for correctness and presence of all allied documents. If an individual has been qualified as a driver the POR Boards are required to insure that the DA Form 348 is present. Regardless of the qualifications listed on an individual's DA Form 348, he must be given additional training before being permitted to operate a vehicle in RVN. Recommend this item be forwarded by DA to CONAKC for consideration and action if appropriate.

FOR THb COMMANDER:

Cy fum: 27th Trans Bn 1st Log Comd

CPT, AGC Assistant Adjutant General

/O

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

GPOP-DT (1 Aug 69) 5th Ind SUBJECT: Operational Report of HQ, 27th Transportation

Battalion (Truck) for Period Ending 31 July 1969, RCS CSFOR-65 (Rl)

HQ, US Army, Pacific, APO San Francisco 96558 7 f^QV L9

TO: Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Department of the Army, Washington, D. C. 20310

This headquarters concurs in subject report as indorsed.

FOR THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF:

%

C L. bliORU CPT, AGQ Asit AG

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UN( lASSlFIKD S K w r i l ^ l m i f i c a t i O T

DOCUMENT CONTROL DATA R&D (Security cleaaillcetion of title, body of mbatrmcl end indfixhtf annotation muat he mnter+d the overallreport J^clmeeltlod)_

t . O R I G I N A T I N G A C T I V I T Y (Corporete author)

HQ, OACSFOR, DA, W a s h i n g t o n , D .C . 20310

R E P O R T S E C U R I T Y C L A S S I F I C A T I O N

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY t . O R I G I N A T I N G A C T I V I T Y (Corporete author)

HQ, OACSFOR, DA, W a s h i n g t o n , D .C . 20310 M. COOP EXCLUDED FROM

AUTOMATIC TERMINATION ». R E P O R T T I T L E

O p e r a t i o n a l R e p o r t - Lessons L e a r n e d , HQ, 2 7 t h T r a n s p o r t a t i o n B a t t a l i o n

4. D E S C R I P T I V E N O T E S (Type ol report and inclusive datea)

E x p e r i e n c e s o f u n i t engaged i n c o u n t e r i n s u r g e n c y o p e r a t i o n s , 1 May 69 t o 31 J u l y 6 9 . S- AU T H O R I S I (Piret name, middle initial, teat name)

CO, 2 7 t h T r a n s p o r t a t i o n B a t t a l i o n

«. R E P O R T O A T E

1 A u e u s t 1969

7 A T O T A L NO O F P A G E S 7b. N O . O F R E F S

14 la. C O N T R A C T OR G R A N T NO

b. P R O J E C T N O .

N/A

d.

M . O R I G I N A T O R ' S R E P O R T N U M B E R ( S )

693255

la. C O N T R A C T OR G R A N T NO

b. P R O J E C T N O .

N/A

d.

9b. O T H E R R E P O R T N O W (Amy > O i f mmmbere dtet may bo eaaijnmd thia report)

l b . D I S T R I B U T I O N S T A T E M E N T

I I - S U P P L E M E N T A R Y N O T E S

N/A OACSFOR, DA, W a s h i n g t o n , D .C . 20310

1 3 . A B S T R A C T

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DD ^..1473 UNCLASSIFIED ' • • Security Classification