The heavy maintenance company provides DS maintenance to division units not supported by the FSBs. (The company does not maintain medical, C-E, COMSEC, airdrop equipment, light textiles, avionics, aircraft armament, missile, and ammunition items). The company also provides limited reinforcing DSM, less repair parts, for the FSBs. Also, it has two teams which provide close-in DS to the cavalry squadron and the MLRS unit in the division. The company is organized as shown in Figure 7-1.
Other support this company provides includes-
- Common repair parts support to organic platoons and sections.
- Limited recovery help to supported units.
- On-site and combat system-oriented support by the maintenance support teams.
Maintenance principles for this company are the same as those outlined in Chapter 6.
The heavy maintenance company operates from the DSA. The company typically colocates with the light maintenance company. It has a base shop capability to repair equipment for which it is responsible. The focus is always on returning the system to the user. The maintenance control officer controls the mission of the heavy maintenance shop. He also keeps the company commander informed on maintenance operations.
Maintenance support teams from the maintenance support platoon extend support forward. When repairs are beyond the ability of the FSBs, the company may dispatch MSTs to help units in the brigade sector. The MSTs may be integrated into the FSB company shops, or they may provide on-site support. MSTs work as close to the site of equipment failure as possible. This minimizes downtime and increases equipment availability to the unit.
The main division MCP is operated by the light maintenance company, the heavy maintenance company, and elements of the missile support company. It is the center for maintenance operations in the DSA. If equipment cannot be repaired in the BSA, it is brought to the main MCP. Equipment beyond the repair capability of DSA assets is evacuated through the DSA to the Corps. MSTs from the COSCOM may assist the MSB maintenance companies in BDA by recommending disposition for specific items.
The service and recovery section of the company provides limited reinforcing recovery support for units in the DSA. Recovery is the process of retrieving or freeing immobile, inoperative, or abandoned materiel. Items are recovered from where they are disabled or abandoned and returned to operation or to the MCP. There items are repaired, evacuated, or otherwise disposed of. Recovery is performed to-
- Return immobilized equipment to operation.
- Retrieve equipment for repair and return to user.
- Prevent enemy capture.
- Use enemy equipment for intelligence purposes or for US or allied force use.
Recovery is initiated by the operator of the disabled item. First the operator should attempt repairs and self-or like-vehicle recovery. If the operator cannot recover the equipment, he requests help from his battalion motor officer. The BMO evaluates the request on the basis of command guidance and the overall tactical and maintenance situations. He then develops a recovery plan. If the unit is in the division rear and recovery is beyond the unit's capability, the unit requests help from the heavy maintenance company.
The service and recovery section helps evacuate unserviceables from the BSA to the DSA or to maintenance activities to the rear of the division. Factors which affect the amount of evacuation done are the tactical situation, extent of damage, and availability of people, parts, and tools.
Vehicles taking repair parts or serviceable items forward evacuate unserviceables on the return trip. Large and heavy items such as tanks are beyond the heavy maintenance company capability. In such cases, HETs from the MSB TMT company are required. Support from the TMT company is requested through the DISCOM movements control officer of the S2/S3 office.
Recovery and evacuation principles are covered in FMs 20-22 and 43-5.
The company headquarters provides command, control, administrative, and logistics support to all elements of the company. It provides technical inspection support to operating elements of the company. The command element is responsible for training, discipline, billeting, and security of the company. The command element has a unit armorer and an NBC NCO. The NBC NCO is responsible for coordinating and conducting training on NBC defense at the company level. He also instructs unit personnel in NBC operating procedures.
Maintenance control section provides the control, coordination, and supervision of the heavy maintenance shop. This supervision includes technical inspections, shop supply, job order accounting, equipment accountability, and the administrative operations of the maintenance control office. This section has a maintenance control office and an inspection element. The inspection element also serves as the nucleus for the BDA teams.
The inspection element is the technical inspection and quality control element for the company. The quality control technician supervises the element. He is responsible to the maintenance control officer. Technical inspectors are responsible to the company commander for all aspects of quality assurance, TI, and QC for DS maintenance activities of the company. This section has inspectors for wheeled vehicles, engineer equipment, and armament items.
The automotive armament platoon provides base support for automotive and armament equipment. It also provides reinforcing support to the maintenance companies of the FSBs. This platoon consists of automotive repair, engineer equipment repair, and armament repair sections.
The automotive repair section provides base shop capability for repair of automotive equipment and on-site repair in the division rear. The two key areas of concern are tracked-vehicle repair and wheeled-vehicle repair. Tracked-vehicle repairs center on DS maintenance on malfunctioning end items, assemblies, and components. This includes transmissions, engines, electrical items, steering controls, and hydraulic cylinders on tracked vehicles. Wheeled-vehicle repairs center on DSM on engine, powertrain, and chassis components of wheeled vehicles; MHE (less propulsion motors on electric MHE); and related items.
This section provides base shop support of utility, power, and construction equipment. Repairers perform DS maintenance on construction equipment. This includes such items as compressors and cranes.
This section provides base shop support for equipment not repaired on site. It performs DSM on fire control instruments, control systems and related equipment. This equipment includes laser rangefinders, ground laser-locator designators, and related items. This section also performs corrective support maintenance on small arms and turret-mounted weapons and mechanisms. It also repairs previously diagnosed malfunctioning towed weapons.
The maintenance support platoon has a service section and support teams which provide DS maintenance. One team supports the cavalry squadron of the AB. The other team supports the MLRS battery. The platoon headquarters provides command and control of the teams.
This team provides DSM to the AB cavalry squadron. The team normally operates out of the cavalry squadron trains area. It is reinforced with other MSB elements as required. The team can perform DSM on engine, powertrain, and chassis components of tracked and wheeled vehicles. It also provides DSM for turret-mounted weapons and mechanisms, tactical utility and precise power generation equipment, and related equipment. The field radio repairer inspects, tests, and performs DSM on radios and related items. The team also provides recovery and lift support to the cavalry squadron.
The MLRS support team provides DS maintenance support to the division MLRS battery. The SST is task organized into MSTs for specific operations. The MSTs may include elements of other platoons and companies of the MSB.
The service section performs machine work repair and metal working repair in support of the DS maintenance mission.
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