• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Vignette: OPERATION JUST CAUSE:
AIR SUPPORT

---

During limited visibility, a mechanized infantry unit participated in a coordinated attack on a sensitive target. The primary objective for light forces was a fortified position potentially containing enemy armored cars. The mechanized unit had a supporting objective adjacent to, and outside of, the enemy position's perimeter. An AC-130 gunship provided supporting fire with the following primary control measures:

• Friendly personnel marked with GLINT tape on top of helmet
• Friendly vehicles marked with GLINT tape (infrared visible)
• Air support suppresses within the main objective
• Air support freely engages any vehicle within the position
• Control adjustments through fire support channels

Smoke resulting from intense preparatory fires began to obscure much of the objective and the mechanized axis to the supporting objective. Consequently, the AC-130 gunner switched from his primary IR sight to alternate thermal sight. This improved the acquisition capability, but now the infrared-visible GLINT tape could not be seen in the thermal sight. In the course of orbiting the objective, the orientation of the perimeter became confused for the air support gunner. Without the confirmation of the GLINT tape, he acquired a friendly vehicle outside the position, but reported it inside the position. In accordance with the fire support coordination, fires were cleared and he engaged. Mistaking the friendly fire for the enemy mortar fire, the ground unit suffered several needless casualties prior to transmitting the appropriate alarm.

In many ways this incident reflects the unpredictable fog of war. However, it also reinforces the need for redundant , positive control measures even if improvisation is necessary. In any future battlefield, a full range of recognizable, heat-producing signals must complement the visual ones that are more familiar. These can mark lead or flank vehicles, positions on the ground, firing limits, limits of advance or any other battlefield focal point.

Table of Contents
Chapter 3: Fratricide Reduction Measures and Lessons Learned
Chapter 4: NCO Corner