Military

CHAPTER 10

Combat Service Support

Combat service support (CSS) is that support provided to a unit from outside sources. This chapter describes how Stinger platoons and sections are provided the supply, maintenance, medical, and administrative support necessary to sustain them in combat. Except for the performance of operator maintenance and IFF reprograming, the Stinger platoon has no capability to provide combat service support to its teams. This responsibility must be assumed by the parent ADA battery. Stinger personnel must be fully aware of the procedures to follow, so that requests for and distribution of supplies and maintenance support are handled routinely and without delays.

CSS must begin with the actions of the platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and section chiefs. They must know the status of vehicle, and Stinger maintenance; of the supply of rations, ammunition, equipment, and POL in the platoon. Also, they must know the personal needs of their men. They must do all within their capabilities to improve conditions in these areas and seek assistance from the battery commander, XO, and first sergeant. Overall responsibility for platoon CSS belongs to the platoon leader.

STINGER-PECULIAR ITEMS

The Stinger weapon system is simple to maintain. Operator and organizational maintenance have been kept to a bare minimum. The requirements include visual inspection of system-peculiar equipment and correction of minor faults. Specific requirements can be found in TM 9-1425-429-12. The TL-29 electrician's knife is the only tool issued to Stinger personnel. Certain repair parts are necessary to perform operator/organizational maintenance. These are maintained in the prescribed load list (PLL) of the unit to which Stinger is assigned.

WEAPON ROUND/MISSILE ROUND

Both the weapon round and missile round are certified rounds of ammunition and each is sealed in a launch tube. Maintenance of certified rounds consists of the replacement of minor exterior components, visual inspection of the exterior for damage, and visual inspection of the humidity indicator for excessive moisture.

No special maintenance is required to make the missile itself work. As long as the round is sealed, there is no exterior damage, and the humidity inside the sealed launch tube is at the correct level, the round should function properly.

Damage on the exterior of the launch tube or a bad humidity reading may be noted. If so, the, referenced TM should be consulted to determine if the round should be turned in for a new one. The same applies to the separable gripstock assembly which is part of the weapon round.

A weapon round may malfunction during an engagement. In this case, both the missile round and the gripstock must be considered unserviceable. The weapon round is a controlled item and every effort should be made to turn it in to the ammunition supply point (ASP), if the situation allows. If the weapon round is destroyed, the serial number should be recorded and reported through command channels. The missile round can be exchanged for a new one at the ASP. It can also be exchanged at the theater depot where the theater stock is located. In most cases, some missile rounds will be present at the ASP to insure ease of supply. The gripstock assembly may be exchanged for a new one at the missile support unit (MSU) or the post/station maintenance support unit. This unit is usually in the division rear area. All exchanges are governed by the direct exchange (DX) procedures in AR 710-2.

In some cases, the Stinger section may be supported by the rocket and missile support teams, rather than an MSU. This unit consists of ordnance detachments in a cellular organization. The entire unit or detachments of the unit may be found at theater, corps, or division level. This depends on where requirements exist. The section leader must determine which type of unit supports him and where it is located. He must do this before the need to exchange items arises.

SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINERS

Operator and organizational maintenance consists of visual inspection and correction of minor faults. Again, TM 9-1425-429-12 should be consulted to determine if the containers should be exchanged or repaired. Containers which cannot be repaired at the organizational level should be returned to the ASP with the weapon. A new container/weapon combination will then be issued.

BATTERY/COOLANT UNITS

During peacetime, BCUs will be sample tested by a quality team from CONUS. This quality team will replace faulty BCUs. BCUs used in the field that do not activate will be discarded. Those BCUs which have been expended will also be discarded. Inactivated BCUs will be turned into the ASP for return to the supply system.

IFF SYSTEMS

Unserviceable IFF programmers and interrogators will be exchanged at the MSU. The Stinger section maintains operational float interrogators for exchange with the teams.

TADDS

Nonoperational TADDS will be returned to the MSU for exchange.

TRAINING EQUIPMENT

Faulty training equipment (Training Set, M134 and field handling trainers) will be exchanged at the MSU. Limited organizational maintenance is authorized.

The following chart summarizes maintenance support for Stinger-peculiar items.

COMMON EQUIPMENT

COMSEC

Although not Stinger-peculiar items, COMSEC equipment does require maintenance support. The Stinger section headquarters will perform operator maintenance required by the appropriate TMs, Some items may require additional maintenance. These will be evacuated through normal signal COMSEC channels to a maintenance facility.

OTHER COMMON EQUIPMENT

Operator and organizational maintenance required on other common equipment will be performed by the Stinger section/teams. Maintenance support for these items will normally be provided by the supported unit.

SUPPLY

The supplies most often needed by the platoon are food, fuel, ammunition, and spare parts.

Maintaining an adequate level of supplies within the platoon is mainly a matter of timely request for resupply. If the platoon leader waits for ammunition levels and other basic loads to become very low before requesting resupply, then the platoon will not have enough. Resupply and refueling must be accomplished at every opportunity.

Supplies for Stinger sections will be handled through the S4 of the parent unit. In rare instances, a section may be attached to another unit, or may be deployed in a manner that is not supportable by the parent unit. If this occurs, provisions for maintenance and logistics support should be made by the commander assigning the mission.

As mentioned previously, ammunition resupply is usually available at an ASP. However, in some theaters, it may be necessary to go to a theater depot.

If avoidable, Stinger sections should not have section personnel or vehicles ferry parts or transport supplies. This is because of the limited number of personnel and vehicles in a section. Doing so may degrade the section's capability to perform its air defense mission or to react to a change in mission.

Other classes of supplies are provided to the Stinger platoon by request from the platoon leader to the battery supply sections located in battalion trains. Stinger teams supporting companies, batteries, or troops request rations, POL, clothing, spare parts, and personal health items through that unit's supply section. The Stinger platoon leader/section chief will prearrange this support when he orders his teams to support these units.

OTHER LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

The platoon leader makes recommendations to the battery commander for promotions, awards, and disciplinary actions. He promptly reports casualties and other losses. Personnel services --leaves and passes, command information, postal service, religious activities, exchanges, financial services, legal services, welfare, bath and laundry services, and rest and relaxation --are designed to help commanders maintain morale. The platoon leader is responsible for having these services fairly and impartially provided to his soldiers.

Medical support for the Stinger platoon is provided by the parent medical section. However, depending on the situation, the platoon leader may arrange for the medical support from the unit being supported.

Administrative support is provided by the parent battalion/squadron S1 sections. The parent battery of the Stinger platoon will handle most of the routine administration pertaining to Stinger personnel.

Logistical support for nondivisional Stinger platoons will be handled by their parent organization.

The platoon leader's problems of insuring continuous CSS for his unit is compounded when his sections are deployed. Sections at different locations may be separated by considerable distances. Experience has shown, however, that all these problems can be overcome through careful planning and coordination.