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Lessons Learned: Create Redundancy

Problem: The most common air defense problem is ineffective early warning. The problem is not usually within the ADA elements but, in getting early warning to the maneuver units. Early warning is an essential ingredient for combined arms success on the battlefield.

Successful Tactics, Techniques and Procedures

• The brigade and task force TOCs, the ADA Battery and the Forward Area Alerting Radar (FAAR) must monitor the division early warning (EW) net, except when an ADA LNO is present. Then the LNO will accomplish this task.

• Convert the Current Manual Shored Control System (MSCS) to something the maneuver units can understand ("Red Air East"). This is done at the specific TOC receiving the early warning message. This should be an SOP item in every task force.

• When the Brigade LNO receives a track and analyzes it as a threat, he converts it and passes it by voice to all the slice element staff and liaison personnel in the TOC. These elements re-broadcast to their respective elements in the brigade area. The liaison officer further passes the warning immediately over the brigade command and the Brigade Operations and Intelligence (O& nets.

• The task force TOC monitors both the brigade command and O& nets. The air defense cell provides early warning redundancy if brigade fails to send the message. This cell usually consists of the Stinger section sergeant and a vehicle. Depending on his radio assets, he should monitor the dedicated ADA early warning net and, if possible, the division early warning net. He converts the MSCS and re-broadcasts or ensures the TOC passes the warning over the task force command net. This technique allows early warning to enter the task force TOC on three or four nets.

• The FAARs monitor the division early warning net and correlate the information with targets received on the scope. FAAR personnel pass the division early warning tracks plus additional local pop-up tracks using the MSCS format over a dedicated early warning net. All air defense elements monitor this net. Additionally, if the FAAR becomes nonoperational, you can use it as a communication retrans station.

• The ADA battery TOC monitors both the division early warning net and the dedicated early warning net. The battery TOC converts MSCS and sends it out over as many nets as possible (e.g., Btry Cmd, Plt, etc.). The maneuver company/team must re-broadcast the early warning on the company/team net ensuring the platoons and attached air defense asset (Stinger gunners) receive it. Other methods than radio can alert soldiers to an immediate air threat (e.g., flares, smoke, whistles, etc.). Don't underestimate the effectiveness of soldiers with binoculars.

Lessons Learned: Use Protection

Problem: In the offense, Stinger crews in thin-skinned vehicles may not survive. The crews and their basic loads are extremely vulnerable to direct and indirect fires.

Successful, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures

• Stinger under armor affords the crews enhanced mobility and survivability. The following are options, in order of preference, as to which vehicles the Stinger gunners may ride:

  • A dedicated M113. Best option--must have a radio.

  • Infantry company XO's vehicle--only given early warning.

  • FIST track. Poor option. Interferes with FIST mission.

  • As the 4th member of the vulcan squad in a heavy division (FC 44-16R/165). Very limited ammunition carrying capability-vehicle is not designed to carry extra missiles.

Table of Contents

Fire Support

Mobility, Countermobility, Survivability