Fire Support

During January the composition of the Forward Observer Teams was changed with each team losing experienced enlisted men and receiving new personnel who required training.  Charlie Companies team improved when a new team leader was brought in.  A, B and D Companies went through the month with competent FO’s who continued to display good technique.

In the first three weeks of January the FO Teams supported the 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines in operations sweeping from below the Nue Tia Pong to the DMZ in the north.  After that they were joined by OPCON units in giving Artillery Support to Vandegrift Combat Base, Elliott Combat Base, Ca Lu, Fire Support Bases Cates, Neville, Russell, Fuller, Hills 950 and 691.  FO Teams also supported the Battalions ‘Sparrow Hawk’ Reaction Force when they went into the DMZ.

All teams fired missions on active targets in January for the B, C and D teams, this was during fire fights with the enemy.

Vegetation and terrain made surveillance incomplete, however, there were three confirmed NVA/KIA and one secondary explosion by artillery.

The Artillery Support given to the 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines in January significantly improved over that of previous months.  This is accountable to the Regimental FSCC giving this Battalion responsibility for its own Sav-A-Plane when there was enemy contact.  In such cases the Battalion mustered quicker Fire Support and with more continuity than before.  It was possible for the first time in months to develop a coordinated air and artillery attack.

Improved Fire Support was also possible during most contact was within range of 81mm mortars.  In contact the Grid of artillery fire was also forwarded on as an 81mm mortar mission.  Mortar fire filled in the time gap until heavier fire could be employed on the enemy.

The area needing stress lies in insuring that the fire support exploitation of contact does not hamper ground movement and unit advancement.  Some enemy contact may have been given over to supporting arms to the extent that they put ground advancement in check.  All FO teams have been made aware of this potential problem and have been instructed to keep the FSCC better appraised of the nature of contact from the moment of contact, also they will stress FO techniques that will allow quicker ground exploitation.

Missions Fired in Support of 1^st Battalion 4^th Marines

    Adjusted                     182 targets                             3177 rounds

    Prep Fires                    69 targets                             1228 rounds

    Illumination                    1 target                                     3 rounds

    H&I/TOT                   904 targets                              4177 rounds

**Sensing Devices       97 targets                             3016 rounds

** Approximated for Sensing Device Targets

This page last corrected 5 September 2011