Airborne Operations
This manual discusses the employment of airborne brigades, battalions, and regiments in airborne operations within the context of the AirLand Battle. It sets forth tactical and administrative support doctrine for the employment of Army forces in joint airborne operations. It discusses command and staff procedures, tactics, and techniques used in the planning and execution of parachute operations at brigade and lower echelons. The discussions are written in general terms so they apply to brigade or smaller units taking part in joint airborne operations. For this reason, the term airborne force is used to refer to the Army component in the operation.
Contents:
Preface
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
1–1. Preparation for War
1–2. The Soldier
1–3. The Leader
1–4. The Unit
1–5. Unit Training Program
1–6. Capabilities of Airborne Forces
1–7. Missions of Airborne Forces
1–8. Fundamentals of Airborne Operations
1–9. Characteristics of Airborne Operations
1–10. Limitations of Airborne Forces
1–11. Phases of Airborne Operations
1–12. Battlefield Operating Systems and Airborne Operations
CHAPTER 2 – AIRBORNE PLANNING
Section I – FUNDAMENTALS
2–1. Planning Responsibilities
2–2. Key Personnel Responsibilities
Section II – PREPARATION OF PLANS AND ORDERS
2–3. Commander’s Estimate of the Situation
2–4. Reverse Planning Process
2–5. Planning Considerations
CHAPTER 3 – GROUND TACTICAL PLAN
Section I – PLANNING
3–1. Estimate of the Situation
3–2. Development of the Ground Tactical Plan
3–3. Selection of Assault Objectives and Airhead Line
3–4. Reconnaissance and Security Forces
3–5. Boundaries and Task Organization
3–6. Designation of Reserve
Section II – EXECUTION
3–7. Conduct of the Assault
3–8. Development of the Airhead
3–9. Buildup of Combat Power
CHAPTER 4 – LANDING PLAN
Section I – PLANNING
4–1. Requirements
4–2. Considerations
4–3. Sequence of Delivery
4–4. Method of Delivery
4–5. Place of Delivery
4–6. Time of Delivery
Section II – ASSEMBLY AND REORGANIZATION
4–7. Cross Loading
4–8. Assembly Techniques
4–9. Assembly Aids
4–10. Assembly Plan
4–11. Unit Assembly
4–12. Multiple–Lateral Impact Points
4–13. Keys to Rapid Assembly
4–14. Activities in Assembly Areas
4–15. Departure from the Assembly Area
4–16. Reports
4–17. Security Measures
4–18. Reorganization
4–19. Briefbacks
CHAPTER 5 – AIR MOVEMENT PLAN
5–1. Joint Planning
5–2. Elements
5–3. Types of Movement
5–4. Aircraft Requirements
5–5. Load Planning Considerations
5–6. Load Planning Sequence
5–7. Load Planning of Vehicles
5–8. Air Movement Planning Worksheet
5–9. Basic Planning Guide Form
5–10. Unit Aircraft Utilization Plan
5–11. Aircraft Loading Tables
5–12. Development of Aircraft Loads
5–13. Air Movement Table
5–14. Manifests
5–15. Automated Airload Planning System
CHAPTER 6 – MARSHALING
Section I – THE MARSHALING PLAN
6–1. Preparation Before Marshaling
6–2. Movement to the Marshaling Area
6–3. Passive Defense Measures
6–4. Dispersal Procedures
6–5. Selection of Departure Airfields
6–6. Selection and Operation of Marshaling Camps
6–7. Facility Requirements
6–8. Staff and Support Agency Responsibilities
Section II – OUTLOAD
6–9. Outload Plan
6–10. Outload Procedures
CHAPTER 7 – TACTICAL OPERATIONS
Section I – GROUND TACTICAL OPERATION
7–1. Raids
7–2. Recovery Operations
7–3. Withdrawal/Evacuation of Units
7–4. Linkup
7–5. Exfiltration
7–6. Survival Operation
7–7. Breakout from Encirclement
7–8. Relief
Section II – AIRFIELD SEIZURE
7–9. Requirements
7–10. Sequence of Operations
7–11. Security Force Operations
7–12. Noncombatant Evacuation Operations
Section III – SUPPORTING OPERATIONS
7–13. Remote Marshaling Base
7–14. Intermediate Staging Base
7–15. Forward Operating Base
CHAPTER 8 – COMBAT SUPPORT
Section I – COMMAND AND SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS
8–1. Elements
8–2. Decentralization
Section II – FIRE SUPPORT
8–3. Unique Aspects
8–4. Missions
8–5. Principles
8–6. Planning
8–7. Artillery Employment
Section III – NAVAL GUNFIRE
8–8. Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company
8–9. ANGLICO Organization
8–10. Tactical Missions
8–11. Coordination and Control Measures
Section IV – AIR FORCE SUPPORT
8–12. Types of Missions
8–13. Organization of Tactical Air Support
8–14. Planning Tactical Air Support
8–15. Command and Control
8–16. Air Traffic Control
Section V – ARMY AVIATION OPERATIONS
8–17. Helicopter Tactical Missions
8–18. Deployment
Section VI – AIR DEFENSE
8–19. Air Defense Artillery Elements
8–20. Early Warning
Section VII – ENGINEER SUPPORT
8–21. Engineer Employment
8–22. Tactical Missions
Section VIII – FORWARD AVIATION COMBAT ENGINEERING
8–23. Capabilities
8–24. Responsibilities
8–25. Planning
8–26. Site Selection
8–27. Expedient Surfacing
8–28. Repair of Captured Facilities
8–29. Engineer Packages
Section IX – INTELLIGENCE AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE SUPPORT
8–30. Interrogation Support
8–31. Counterintelligence Support
8–32. Electronic Warfare/Signal Intelligence Assets
8–33. Remote Sensors
8–34. Ground Surveillance Radars
8–35. Employment
Section X – SIGNAL SUPPORT
8–36. Joint Airborne Communications Center/Command Post
8–37. Aircraft Communications
8–38. Radar Beacons
Section XI – MILITARY POLICE SUPPORT
8–39. Military Police (Airborne) Structure
8–40. Military Police Operations
Section XII – NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL PLANNING
8–41. Command and Staff Responsibilities
8–42. Chemical Staff
8–43. Unit Protective Measures
8–44. Defense Against Chemical Attack
8–45. Mission–Oriented Protection Posture
8–46. Decontamination
CHAPTER 9 – COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Section I – LOGISTICAL PLANS AND PREPARATIONS
9–1. Logistical Structure
9–2. Logistical Planning Responsibilities
9–3. Logistical Planning Considerations
9–4. Phases of Supply
9–5. Classes of Supply
9–6. Distribution of Supply
9–7. Resupply by Air
9–8. Maintenance
9–9. Transportation
9–10. Field Services
Section II – PERSONNEL PLANS AND PREPARATION
9–11. Personnel Strength Accounting
9–12. Personnel Replacement Operations
9–13. Casualty Reporting
9–14. Health Service Support
9–15. Prisoners of War and Captured Materiel
9–16. Other Personnel Service Support
9–17. Civil Affairs
CHAPTER 10 – COMMUNICATIONS
10–1. Fundamentals for Using Signal Facilities
10–2. Considerations
10–3. Communication Plans
10–4. Army Nets
10–5. Techniques
10–6. Airspace Control
10–7. Electronic Warfare Planning
APPENDIX A – JOINT AIRBORNE ADVANCE PARTY
APPENDIX B – DROP ZONE SUPPORT TEAMS
APPENDIX C – AIRLIFT PLANNING FACTORS
APPENDIX D – AIRBORNE ELEMENTS OF THE TACTICAL AIR CONTROL SYSTEM
APPENDIX E – BRIEFINGS, INSPECTIONS, AND REHEARSALS
APPENDIX F – INTELLIGENCE PREPARATION OF THE BATTLEFIELD
APPENDIX G – N–HOUR DEPLOYMENT SEQUENCE
Glossary
References
Authorization Letter