are often used for harassment. They may also be used, however, to cause the road to be blocked
during an ambush. When used in this manner, they are often command detonated.
In order to reduce the chance of striking a mine or booby trap, certain active measures can be taken.
Drivers should avoid driving on the shoulders of the road. They must also avoid driving over foreign
objects, grass, brush, or fresh earth. Any of these can be used to disguise a mine or booby trap. The
escort and convoy personnel should also keep a watchful eye on local traffic and pedestrians. Caution
should be exercised if these people avoid certain areas. Caution should also be exercised when there
is an unexplained absence of traffic in an area that normally has traffic.
Casualties and damage from mines can be reduced by passive measures as well. This includes such
measures as hardening the underside of the vehicle. Sandbags can also be placed on the floor of the
vehicle to help absorb the impact and shrapnel.
When suspected mines and booby traps are located, or if one is detonated, the escort leader and
convoy commander are immediately notified. The exact location is marked and reported. Engineer
support may be required to disarm such devices. The convoy, however, should proceed. If the device
is placed in such a manner that it cannot be bypassed, the security element must breach it. This is
usually accomplished by detonating the device from a safe distance.
Defensive Tactics
If a convoy makes contact with the enemy, depending on the type of attack certain procedures must be
followed. Rules of engagement must be clearly understood and followed. The mission is to get the
convoy through and not engage in protracted fire fights with the enemy. Attack on a convoy is usually
by ambush, sniper, air attack, artillery, and/or mortar fire.
Automatic weapons are placed within the convoy so they are mutually supporting. Vehicle
commanders assign sectors of observation around their vehicles whenever possible. When a convoy
halts, each vehicle is assigned a sector for local security. Convoy personnel provide local security for
their vehicles. The MP take offensive action, when required.
Ambushes. The actions taken by the convoy and the security escort when it is ambushed will depend
on whether the road has been blocked or not. Red star clusters are normally used to indicate enemy
contact. Other signaling devices may also be prescribed and must be coordinated ahead of time.
When the road is not blocked, the vehicles of the convoy that are in the kill zone drive out of the
ambush to the front. Vehicles disabled by enemy fire are left behind. If disabled vehicles block the
road, they are pushed to the side and out of the way by the following vehicles. This must be done with
some care, even under the circumstances, so that the following vehicle does not disable itself and
create an even worse situation. Vehicles that have not
MP1031
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