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FSB commanders must anticipate a substantial amount of their units' work being done at night or in limited visibility. They must plan for the equipment needed and the precautions necessary to perform the mission in such conditions. For these types of operations, they should consider--

• Reduced electromagnetic emissions. Support activities are a major source of such emissions. FSB commanders must continually emphasize the role and use of wire, messengers, and sound and visual signals.
  

• Appropriation of civilian buildings to reduce thermal signatures.
  

• Lightproofing of shelters.
  

• Use of filtered lights.
  

• Use of night vision devices.
  

• Elimination of all but essential noise.
  

Use of chemical lights may be applicable. Possible techniques that may be used or modified include--

• CPs lit only by chemical lights to eliminate generator noise and thermal signature.
  

• Chemical trip flares which create no fire hazard but illuminate targets, mark target reference points, or mark ranges.
  

• Magnetic holders to allow placement of colored chemical lights on vehicles.
  

• Use of chemical lights to illuminate areas of vehicle engine compartments for night repair.
  

• Chemical light holders to regulate the amount and direction of light.
  

Supply planners can anticipate high consumption of batteries, flashlights, and illumination rounds during night operations by their supported brigade. Also, additional fuel will be used to run vehicle-mounted night sights.

When resupply operations are conducted at night, MSRs must be clearly marked. Chemical lights are one possibility, but enemy scouts can easily move them. Engineer tape on stakes is more secure.

Aerial resupply will require a directional light source to guide helicopters. Directional strobe lights or bean-bag lights (and in emergencies, chemical lights) may be used.

Use of prestocked supplies requires careful coordination. Locations must be capable of being found in limited visibility. Despite the difficulties, however, this technique will be sights. important. Care must be taken to ensure the attack is not signaled by the prepositioning.

Use of materials-handling equipment is more dangerous at night. Therefore, whenever possible, supplies to be delivered at night should be loaded during the day. External SOPs should require supported units to provide additional walking guides or personnel to load supplies onto trucks.

Unless prohibited by the tactical commander, maintenance company elements work in lightproof shelters with subdued visible light. Tarps and tentage may be draped over tank and howitzer main guns to provide expedient shelters. When available, night vision devices are used to repair critical items that cannot be fixed in the shelters. Equipment, tools, and repair parts are prepositioned and marked for easy use.

BDA is difficult. Therefore, recovery vehicles should be placed forward during night attacks. Equipment should be moved to a location where assessment can be performed more easily. Recovery personnel should reconnoiter routes during daylight so they can rapidly recover vehicles to the MCP.

Light discipline requirements will affect medical operations much as they do supply and maintenance operations. Extensive treatment operations will require lightproof shelters. Patient acquisition will be more difficult. Units may employ some sort of casualty-marking system such as luminous tape or filtered flashlights.

Evacuation will be slowed by limited visibility. Additional ground ambulances may be required to compensate. In the offense, ambulances will move forward with battalion aid stations. However, this movement will also have to be done carefully to avoid signaling the enemy. Predesignated AXPs and patient collecting points should also be used. Air evacuation will be difficult. Precise grid coordinates as well as prearranged signals and frequencies are required.