» Flï31-75 (TEST) DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FIELD MANUAL RIVERINE EPATONS THE ARMY LIBRARY WASHINGTON» D. C. gasa orti HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY JUNE 1968 TAGO 20012A « FM 31-75 (TEST) FIELD MANUAL HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY No. 31-75 (TEST) WASHINGTON, D.C., 2U June 1968 RIVERINE OPERATIONS Paragraphs Page CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Section I. General 1—1—1-3 3 II. Nature of riverine operations 1-4,1-5 5 CHAPTER 2. OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT Section I. General 2-1—2-3 ^ II. Enemy forces - 2-4—2-7 8 III. Host country and Free World forces 2-8,2-9 10 CHAPTER 3. ORGANIZATION AND COMMAND Section I. General 3_i__3_3 12 II. Command and control - 3_4 3-7 12 III. Army forces 3_8,3-9 15 IV. Naval forces - 3_iO—3-13 16 V. Air Force forces -. 3-14, 3-15 19 CHAPTER 4. OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS , Section I. General 4-1—4-6 20 II. Division/brigade operations - 4-7—4-11 26 III. Battalion operations 4-12—4-15 28 IV. Enemy positions - 4-16—4-18 49 CHAPTER 5. OTHER TACTICAL OPERATIONS Section I. Patrolling 5-1—5-7 56 II. Raids 5—8—5—12 58 III. Operations in swamps and forests 5-13—5-19 59 IV. Ambushes/counterambushes 5-20—5-22 60 V. Clearance of water ^obstacles 1' 5-23—5-25 66 VI. Survival, evasion, and: escape _ r 5-26—5-29 67 CHAPTER 6. COMBAT^SUPPÓRT Section I. Introduction 6-1,6-2 69 II. Fire support 6-3—6-15 69 III. Engineer 6-16—6-19 82 IV. Communications 6-20—6-29 84 V. Intelligence &-30—6-33 90 VI. Tactical airlift 6-34—6-36 94 VII. PSYOP 6-37—6-39 94 VIII. Army aviation 6-40—6-43 96 CHAPTER 7. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Section I. General - - - - 7-1, 7-2 97 , II. Supply 7-3—7-6 97 III. Maintenance 7-7—7-14 99 IV. Medical 7-15—7-19 103 V. Military police - 7-20—7-23 104 CHAPTER 8. DEFENSE OF BASE AREAS Section I. General 8-1,8-2 106 II. Fundamentals of base area defense 8-3, 8-4 106 III. Planning and organizing the base defense 8-5—8-9 109 IV. Defense of the afloat base 8-10,8-11 110 V. Defense against enemy mortar, rocket, and recoilles rifle attack - 8-12—8-14 111 *Th¡» tost field manual supersede« USACDC Training Text 31-75, January 1967. AGO 20012A 1 Paragraphs Page CHAPTER 9. CIVIL AFFAIRS Section I. General 9—1» 9—2 114 II- Military civic action — 9-3—9-5 116 III. Populace and resources control - 9-6—9-9 116 IV. Consolidation psychological operations 9-10, 9-11 120 V. Community relations and other special considera- tions 9-12—9-14 120 APPENDIX A. REFERENCES 124 B. REFERENCE DATA - 126 C. BOAT PROCEDURES - 178 D. CANAL-CROSSING TECHNIQUES FOR MECHANIZED VEHICLES 182 E. LOAD PLANS - 195 INDEX 202 2 AGO 20012A CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Section I. GENERAL V 1-1. Purpose units based afloat or supported by Naval units. а. This test manual presents concepts and It adapts existing doctrine, terminology, and techniques for training and employing forces techniques to riverine operations. in a riverine environment. It outlines interim b. This manual provides guidance in the doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures intergration of ground forces, naval units, and for training an infantry division for employ- supporting air forces conducting joint opera- ment in stability operations where inland tions. The nature of riverine operations re- waterways are the primary lines of communi- quires utmost coordination and cooperation cations (LOG). between the forces involved. Their operations б. The manual is written primarily to serve are interdependent, and the combined forces the immediate requirements imposed by opera- operate as a single tactical entity responsive tions in Vietnam and secondarily to provide to the needs and requirements of the ground further information on the development of con- force. cepts and doctrine concerning riverine warfare c. This manual deals primarily with the riv- conducted in a more general riverine environ- erine operations in areas like the Mekong ment. River Delta in South Vietnam. c. The significant operational concept of riv- d. Equipment for use by, and in support of, erine warfare concerns the sustained employ- forces afloat are described in appendix B. ment of forces in a riverine environment, one e. Users of this manual are encouraged to element of which is the force operating on the submit recommendations to improve its clarity waterways. Military forces equipped and or accuracy. Comments will be keyed to the trained to operate on rivers and canals in con- specific page, paragraph, and line of the text junction with airmobile and overland forces in which they recommend a change. Users will can add a new dimension to mobility and fire- provide reasons for each comment to insure power, can successfully dominate the overall understanding and complete evaluation. Users environment, and can control its routes of will forward comments direct to the Com- communication and populated areas. manding General, U.S. Army Combat Devel- d. The contents of this manual are applicable opments Command Institute of Combined to— Arms and Support, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (1) Nuclear and nonnuclear warfare. 66027. Originators of proposed changes that (2) Employment of, and protection from, would constitute a significant modification of chemical, biological, and radiological (NBC) approved Army doctrine may send an informa- weapons or agents. tion copy, through command channels, to the (3) Stability operations. Commanding General, U.S. Army Combat Developments Command, Fort Belvoir, Vir- 1-2. Scope ginia 22060, to facilitate review and followup. a. This manual covers doctrinal concepts, Comments based on tests, maneuvers, and operating techniques, and procedures for in- combat experience are especially solicited to fantry divisions; and it specifically applies to assist in preparing FM 31-75. AGO 20O12A 3 11—3. ûefôiniifi©m barracks ships, supporting ships, and water- The following definitions are associated with craft for use as a mobile base by both ground the terms used throughout this manual. These and naval forces during a riverine campaign. definitions apply to, but are not necessarily The base includes the surrounding land and limited to, riverine operations. water areas required for close-in security. а. Riverine area {environment)—A land en- h. Tactical area of responsibility {TAOR) vironment dominated by water LOG. It may —That area within which a designated unit contain an extensive network of rivers, has certain continuing responsibilities. The streams, canals, paddies, swamps, or muskeg unit coordinates with host country military extending over broad, level terrain, part? of and civil authorities in meeting these responsi- which may be inundated periodically or per- bilities. They include, but are not limited to, manently. It may include sparsely populated the following specific, functions: swamps or forests, rivers and streams that (1) Defense of key installations. have steep banks densely covered with tropical (2) Conduct of operations, including re- trees or bamboo; and relatively flat, open ter- action operations, necessary to secure the area rain. A large agrarian population may concen- against enemy regular (main), regional, or trate along the waterways. Ocean tides may village militia forces. affect riverine areas near the seacoast or far (3) Support of host country internal de- inland. fense and internal development programs. б. Riverine warfare—All military activities i. Area of operations (AO)—A specified area designed to achieve and/or maintain territorial in which designated forces conduct tactical control of a riverine area by destroying enemy operations for prescribed periods of time. Ac- forces and restricting or eliminating their ac- tivities in these areas and the responsibilities tivities. The significant characteristic of riv- of the designated units operating within them erine operations is the extensive use of joint are coordinated with host country officials in waterborne forces together with groundmobile the course of operational planning. In an AO, and airmobile forces in a predominantly land operations usually are not of a continuing battle. The basic nature of riverine operations nature, and civil affairs operations are more is sustained ground combat in a land environ- limited in scope. ment dominated by water LOG’S. j. Combat base—A temporary base in an c. River warfare—River warfare refers only AO established by a brigade or battalion, con- to specific tasks by naval components—water sisting of essential command and control, fire patrol, transport, and combat support—as part support, and combat service support elements of overall riverine warfare. of the unit. Supporting naval elements and d. Riverine force—The force organized or attachments needed to accomplish the assigned assembled to conduct riverine operations, com- mission are included in the base. posed of naval; air, when available; and k. Patrol base—A temporary base estab- ground forces operating from afloat or land lished by a company from which it conducts bases responsive to the ground force com- extensive patrolling, reconnaissance, raid, or mander. other operations. e. Waterborne operations—Operations in l. Sector Operations and intelligence coorcK- which combat forces and their combat and nation center {SOICC)—A host country fa- combat service support elements move about cility where representatives of all operations the battlefield in watercraft under the control and intelligence-gathering agencies within the of a ground force commander to engage in political division (state or province) coordi- ground combat. nate. This facility grants clearances to all fire /. Land base—A shore installation for support agencies within the area, identifies ground and naval forces during a riverine friendly and enemy-controlled areas, and des- campaign.