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Appendix B

AIRBORNE BRIGADE

The airborne brigade can be deployed strategically and can be inserted rapidly anywhere in the world. The method of insertion into the objective area is the main difference between an airborne brigade operation and an infantry brigade operation. Airborne operations require detailed planning and close coordination between Army forces and Air Force elements. (See FM 100-27 and FM 90-26 for more information on joint airborne and tactical airlift operations.)

The airborne brigade has three airborne infantry battalions assigned, but this number can vary from two to five. The only permanently assigned unit is the HHC. The airborne brigade can be task-organized with division assets for CS and CSS. Normally, CS and CSS units remain attached to the brigade until their parent units are established within the airhead. The brigade normally splits into assault and follow-on forces for an airborne operation. Assault forces are the units required to seize objectives in the initial stages of the operation. Follow-on forces include units required to sustain the operation or conduct operations as part of the larger force. These can include the rest of the assault units and CSS elements.

Airborne brigades execute parachute assaults to destroy the enemy and to seize and hold important objectives until linkup is accomplished. The parachute assault enhances the basic infantry combat mission to close with the enemy by fire and maneuver, to destroy or capture him and to repel his assaults by fire, close combat, and counterattack.

a. Missions can be strategic, operational, or tactical.

b. The airborne brigade can--

The strategic mobility of the airborne brigade permits rapid employment to meet contingence across the operational continuum anywhere in the world. Airborne forces provide a means by which a commander can decisively influence operations. When augmented with appropriate combat, CS, and CSS, the brigade can conduct sustained combat operations. The advantages of airborne operations are as follows:

• Quick response on short notice.
• Ability to bypass all land or sea obstacles.
• Surprise.
• Ability to mass rapidly on critical targets.

The brigade commander and his staff must understand the fundamentals of airborne operations to plan and execute a successful airborne assault. These fundamentals are valid at every level.

a. Airborne forces require specially selected, trained, and highly disciplined soldiers and leaders.

b. Airborne operations must capitalize on surprise.

c. The ground tactical plan must drive all other plans through the reverse planning process.

d. Airborne operations require centralized detailed planning and aggressive decentralized execution.

The commander and planners must recognize the limitations of airborne forces and plan accordingly. They must consider the following:

a. An airborne force depends on USAF aircraft for long-range movement, fire support, and CSS. The availability and type of aircraft dictates the scope and duration of airborne operations.

b. Airborne forces are vulnerable to enemy attack while en route to the DZ. Although the USAF can conduct limited airdrops without air superiority, large operations require neutralization or suppression of enemy air defenses. This may require SEAD, radar jamming and fighter aircraft in addition to transport and CAS sorties.

c. After the initial airdrop, the sustained combat power of airborne forces depends on resupply by air. Any interruption in the flow of resupply aircraft can cause a potential weakening of the airborne force. Enemy air defense fires against resupply aircraft and long-range artillery and mortar fires on the DZ can hamper the delivery, collection, or distribution of critical supplies.

d. Once on the ground, the airborne force has limited tactical mobility. That mobility depends on the number and type of vehicles and helicopters that can be brought into the objective area.

e. The airborne force has limited FA and ADA support until additional assets can be introduced into the objective area. Additional target acquisition assets are needed to provide accurate and timely targeting information.

f. Evacuation of casualties from the airhead is difficult. Until evacuation means are available the brigade must be prepared to provide medical care through the attachment of divisional medical elements.

g. The airborne force has limited capability against armored/motorized units in open terrain. In a protracted battle, this limitation extends to all types of terrain because of resupply restrictions.

The airborne brigade normally operates as a part of the division; however, it can conduct brigade operations as part of a joint task force.

a. Airborne operations are joint Army-Air Force operations. The Air Force provides the airlift, CAS, and aerial resupply; the Army provides the airborne units.

b. Participating airborne units are usually assigned to a JTF for airborne operations. The operation begins and ends on order of the joint task force commander.

c. During joint airborne operations, an airborne battlefield command and control center (ABCCC) or a joint airborne communications center/command post (JACPOT) may be used to provide the communications link between the brigade and the controlling headquarters.

The planning, preparation, and execution of an airborne operation invokes several related phases. (FM 100-27 and FM 90-26 explain these in detail.) These phases are as follows:

a. Ground Tactical. This phase begins with the landing of units and extends through the seizure and consolidation of the initial objective(s). It ends when the mission is completed or the airborne force is extracted or relieved. Subsequent operations can include an offensive operation, defense of key terrain a linkup, a withdrawal, or any combination.

b. Landing. This phase ends when all elements of the relevant echelon are delivered to the objective area.

c. Air Movement. This phase begins with the takeoff of loaded aircraft and ends with the delivery of units to their DZs and LZs.

d. Marshaling. This phase starts with the receipt of the warning order or planning directive and lasts until the aircraft lifts off. During this time, joint tactical support planning takes place. Soldiers, equipment, and supplies are assembled, manifested, and readied. Briefings, prejump training, rehearsals, and briefbacks are conducted.

Planning for airborne operations starts at the joint command level where studies, concepts, and OPLANs are prepared to cover possible missions and locations. Subordinate commands usually perform the detailed planning for specific airborne operations. When an airborne operation is necessary, the JFC ordering the operation furnishes the units with an initiating directive. This information forms the basis for the commander's preparation of planning guidance and development of OPLANs or OPORDs. Upon receipt of the warning order, the airborne brigade commander and his staff begin planning. They develop the ground tactical plan, the landing plan, the air movement plan, and the marshaling plan. They use the reverse planning sequence (Figure B-1).

a. Ground Tactical Plan. The basis for the ground tactical plan is the estimate process. Its development takes place as soon as possible since it is the basis for all other planning. It covers the conduct of operations in the objective area and the brigade scheme of maneuver once on the ground. It includes the strength and composition of the force required to accomplish assigned tasks and to develop a supporting logistics plan. Until the ground tactical plan is completed, no other final planning is possible. The plan consists of six primary elements developed in the following sequence: assault objectives, airhead line, security operations that includes reconnaissance and security forces, boundaries, task organizations, and reserves.

b. Landing Plan. The landing plan is published at brigade and below. At levels higher than brigade, it is informal. This plan links the air movement to the ground tactical plan. It provides the basis for the development of the air movement plan. The landing plan contains the sequence, method, time (p-hour), and place of delivery of troops, equipment, and supplies into the objective area to include the assembly plan. The nature and location of DZs, LZs, and LAPES zones are basic considerations in preparing the landing plan. These must be large enough to accommodate initial assault forces and to assist in the seizure of assault objectives. Insertion of assault forces should be on or near assigned objectives. Use of battalion-size or larger DZs and LZs permits rapid assembly and reorganization. However, the use of company-size DZs and LZs may be necessary to avoid massing of forces. The following should be considered in the landing plan:

• Land near to or, if the enemy situation permits, directly on top of assault objectives.
• Avoid natural obstacles and NBC contamination in the landing area.
• Avoid enemy air defenses and strong ground forces.
• Ensure the handing area is easily identified from the air under any visibility conditions.
• Ensure the landing area permits straight-line approach from at least 10 to 15 miles out to allow aircraft enough time to line upon the DZ or LZ.
• Ensure the area is near dominating terrain, good road networks, and terrain favorable for defense against armored attack.
• Ensure the area is large enough for the force to be delivered in a single pass.
• Ensure the area has adequate cover and concealment for troops to assemble and reorganize near the landing areas.
• Ensure the area is out of range of enemy suppressive fires.

c. Air Movement Plan. This plan covers the time from loading until the aircraft arrives at the objective. Although the Air Force commander is responsible for executing the air movement phase, the plan is the product of joint Army/Air Force coordination. The two key elements of the air movement plan are the air movement table, which is prepared jointly, and a flight route diagram to the drop zone, which is prepared by the Air Force. The Army provides the landing plan and the procedures for the control and disposition of troops at the departure airfields. This includes the bump plan and the marking of key and bump personnel. The Air Force controls takeoff times and coordinates timing between different departure airfields to ensure a proper arrival sequence. It indicates the time that units must begin loading aircraft. The plan lists takeoff times, flight routes, order of flight, and arrival times at DZs or LZs. It ensures timely delivery of units to the objective area IAW the landing plan.

d. Marshaling Plan. This plan occurs during the alert/marshaling phase when forces achieve final combat readiness for the airborne assault. It includes the preparations required to load equipment and personnel aboard aircraft. Key elements of the plan are the movement to marshaling areas, execution of administrative and logistic requirements, detailed mission briefings, movement to the departure airfield and aircraft loading. Unit marshaling areas should be near departure airfields to limit movement. When this is not possible, the movement of units to marshaling areas must appear routine.

The introduction of the airborne brigade into the objective area can be by a parachute assault, an airland operation, or a combination of both.

a. Parachute Assault. The parachute assault permits delivery of assault forces into the objective area in less time than airland operations. There is no requirement for LZs, and the criticality of DZ security is not as great as for airland operations.

b. Combination of Airland and Airborne Operations. When an operation involves both airland and airdrop elements, airland elements must follow airdrop elements as closely as possible. To conduct airland operations with parachute operations, elements of the brigade are infiltrated or parachuted into the objective area early. Airfield seizure is critical to the success of this operation. These elements perform the initial assault to secure, repair, or construct a suitable LZ. Forces secure the LZ by seizing and defending key terrain and neutralizing enemy forces in the area.

There are specific CSS considerations for airborne operations; Chapter 9 discusses infantry CSS operations.

a. Supply Support. Initial combat requirements dictate the quantity and type of supplies and equipment that the brigade assault forces carry. Factors influencing these requirements include the handling capability in the objective area, the availability and capacity of the airlift aircraft the projected date of linkup or withdrawal, the anticipated weather, and the enemy's capabilities. If they have unused allowable cargo load, the follow-on aircraft normally carries supplies for forces already in the objective area.

b. Transportation Support. During the early stages of an airborne operation, lines of communication to the objective area are usually air lines of communication. Accordingly, limited transportation is available within the airhead, thus, use of local resources may be necessary. An early operation of airland zones must have high priority to make sure the brigade receives proper logistics support.

c. Maintenance Support. Intensive maintenance before departure ensures that all equipment meets the highest standard of operational readiness. Maintenance units provide support during marshaling. Maintenance personnel organic to the assault units normally perform required maintenance during the assault phase. The forward maintenance company of the DISCOM enters the objective area in the follow-on echelon Upon arrival in the airhead, maintenance support teams deploy to battalion and company locations to assist in on-site repair. The forward maintenance company normally deploys with a 15-day level of repair parts.

d. Personnel Services Support. Personnel administration planning for an airborne operation is the same as for normal ground operations. A record is required of all personnel participating in the airborne assault and those renaming in the departure area. After the assault landings, the brigade units submit strength reports IAW brigade SOP.