Detachment B-52 (Project Delta) Reconnaissance Tips of the Trade

[Team Sergeant]

I have a copy that pre-dates 15 August 1970 (as in the first post).......

My copy is dated 24 Feb 1970.....

I'm looking at it right now....

[Team Sergeant]

Who wants to see the first page?

[exsquid]

We don't use the term "base camp" anymore, they are now called "tactical facilities" "TACFAC" for short. This is according to the newest (02/09) FM3-05.230. I believe the change was meant to reflect that fact that you don't always live in a camp but it just sounds gay to me. However, Papi's little green book was still being issued to 18C students when I went through in 07. Would be nice to have it on digits though. Who is our DOTD rep around here?

x/S

[glebo]

I checked with Tim V, the 18C tng developer. He's not sure of what your actually refering to. Any other info on that handout???

Originally Posted by exsquid

We don't use the term "base camp" anymore, they are now called "tactical facilities" "TACFAC" for short. This is according to the newest (02/09) FM3-05.230. I believe the change was meant to reflect that fact that you don't always live in a camp but it just sounds gay to me. However, Papi's little green book was still being issued to 18C students when I went through in 07. Would be nice to have it on digits though. Who is our DOTD rep around here?

x/S

"TACFAC" sounds more gay then "base camp".

[glebo]

ever notice how the conventional army "stole" forward operating base (FOB) and we had to "rename" our facilities....

things that make ya go hhmmm

[Papa Zero Three]

Originally Posted by glebo

I checked with Tim V, the 18C tng developer. He's not sure of what your actually refering to. Any other info on that handout???

I'm pretty sure it is what has become Papi's little green book. There used to actually be (according to Mr. Tabata) a few blueprint/manual/ documents on base camps and the structures to include detailed blue prints with the BOMs and everything that they used in Vietnam. It was a hodgepodge of information that they had acquired the hard way, through experience, and it was in a manual called Base camps or something to that effect. Not entirely positive it was an actual Army manual or something someone had made by compiling all the BOMs from the base camps in Vietnam. I'd have to ask Mr. Tabata about it to be certain. At any rate, it is this type of institutional knowledge and materials that we seem to lose as it either goes with the people who have it in their heads or the materials/books are forgotten about.....until needed.

[Richard]

Tell Ernie to beat his boots for not keeping all his old files on A Camp development - I know he's kept about everything else. FWIW - he and Dick Warren were the guys who built Kham Duc and two of the SF NCOs I truly admired - SGM Warren was my first B TM SGM and SGM Tabata was one of my last B TM SGMs - two of the BEST.

Attached photos are the cover and main sections (Phase 1 - Planning; Phase 2- Construction; Phase 3 - Opening) of the planning handbook circa '66-'67 in my files. I'll see about scanning the entire thing when I get some more time if anyone is interested.

Richard

[Papa Zero Three]

Originally Posted by Richard

Tell Ernie to beat his boots for not keeping all his old files on A Camp development - I know he's kept about everything else. FWIW - he and Dick Warren were the guys who built Kham Duc and two of the SF NCOs I truly admired - SGM Warren was my first B TM SGM and SGM Tabata was one of my last B TM SGMs - two of the BEST.

Attached photos are the cover and main sections (Phase 1 - Planning; Phase 2- Construction; Phase 3 - Opening) of the planning handbook circa '66-'67 in my files. I'll see about scanning the entire thing when I get some more time if anyone is interested.

Richard

I'm going to guess that's the book people were looking for a while back, I know I was. Based on the pictures, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that was never an official Army manual.

I'd appreciate a scan of it if you have the time.

[exsquid]

I am refering to a little mint green covered Base Camp manual written by Papi I believe sometime in the 70s. Once I get back in country I can take a look at mine for the exact title & publication date. It includes a lot of hand done drawing. My favorite being one of a VC crawling under the wire while rounds go over top the wire with a in the corner. The next one is a VC climbing over the wire & getting shot w/ a in the corner.

x/S

[bost1751]

Thanks Richard. I still know it as "Camp". I don't ever recall SF using the term base camp. I still recall the star formation A camp.

[bost1751]

should have read "A Camp"

[HisDisciple]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

ANNEX B (M-16 / CAR 15 Tips) to Detachment B-52 (Project Delta) Reconnaissance Tips of the Trade.

M-16 / CAR 15 Tips
13. Place magazines upside down with the bullets pointed away from your body in the ammo pouches. This will keep dirt and water out of them and if a round goes off due to enemy fire, you won’t be injured by your own ammo.

I have never heard of this, is this popular to pack mags like this on the teams?

This manual is excellent, a lot of it is common sense, lots of excellent info though. Unfortunetly, I'm sure this knowledge was paid in blood, so that we can know.

Originally Posted by HisDisciple

I have never heard of this, is this popular to pack mags like this on the teams?

This manual is excellent, a lot of it is common sense, lots of excellent info though. Unfortunetly, I'm sure this knowledge was paid in blood, so that we can know.

Gutted 550 cord, looped, exiting the small water drain hole on the bottom of each mag will aid in the removal of a magazine. Also, placing an non-pourus 1/4" cushion at the bottom of the ammo pouch will raise the magazine said height.

Of course none of this really matters, on an ODA there are no individual deviations, one does what the team decides is the SOP. Each new mission may require something different. That's why we rehearse, and rehearse, and rehearse until we get it right.

"Actions on the objective are directly proportionate to the amount of time spent in preperation, factors to the fourth and fifth powers are not uncommon". - An early Mentor

[Richard]

Gutted 550 cord, looped, exiting the small water drain hole on the bottom of each mag will aid in the removal of a magazine.

"Thumb loops" were a must - especially w/gloves or in colder weather.

Also, placing an non-pourus 1/4" cushion at the bottom of the ammo pouch will raise the magazine said height.

We placed a small, OD plastic wrapped combat dressing at the bottom of each magazine pouch to raise the magazines for easier access and so each man carried plenty of dressings.

We also cut about 1/2" off the upper front of the pouch to make it easier to slide the magazines out.

FOG tips - a bit 'dated' now but still good to know and applicable if it becomes necessary to 'borrow' older style gear still found throughout much of the world.

Richard's $.02