DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS, 1ST BATTALION, 92D ARTILLERY
APO 96318

AVGG-BJ-C                                            4 November 1967

SUBJECT: Operational Report for Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967
(RCS CSF0R-65)(WA2NAA)(U)

TO: See Distribution

SECTION 1 (C) SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZATIONAL OR UNIT ACTIVITIES

1. (C) General

a. During the reporting period this battalion has provided artillery support to the 4th Infantry Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 23rd Ranger Battalion (ARVN), 11th Ranger Battalion (ARVN), 3rd Cavalry Squadron (ARVN) and Le Trung District (ARVN). Meteorological support has been provided the battalion's firing batteries, other batteries of the the 52d Artillery Group, 4th Infantry Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade. The battalion has participated in Operations FRANCIS MARION, GREELY and MACARTHUR.

b. This battalion is attached to the 52nd Artillery Group.

c. Batteries of the battalion have made five (5) moves by Skycrane and Chinook helicopters during the reporting period.

d. Current missions of the batteries:

   Battery A: GS, 4th Infantry Division
   Battery B: GS, 4th Infantry Division
   Battery C: GSR, 3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery (52d Artillery Gp)
   Battery D: GS, Pleiku Defense
   Battery E: GS, 4th Infantry Division (Battery E is composed of two (2) howitzers from Battery B and an FDC from battalion).

The batteries have answered all ARVN and U.S. Forces request for fires within range.

e. Days spent in movement, training and operations are as follows:

1. Movement: 11

2. Training: 12

3. Operations: 92 (All days of the reporting period were spent on operations with training and movement concurrent).

2. (C) Intelligence: Target intelligence was obtained through the 52d Artillery Group; II Corps; 5th Special Forces; 11th ARVN Ranger Battalion; 23d ARVN Ranger Battalion; 3d ARVN Cavalry; 2d Squadron, 1st Cavalry; 4th Infantry Division; Le Trung District Headquarters, Pleiku Sector; visual reconnaissance by battalion air observers and battalion forward observers.

3. (C) Operations and Training Activities:

a. Plans: No significant reports.

b. Operations:

(1) The battalion has participated in Operation FRANCIS MARION from 1 August through 11 October.

(2) The battalion participated in Operation GREELY from 1 August through 11 October.

(3) The battalion has participated in Operation MACARTHUR from 12 October to the present.

(4) The met section has provided electronic support during the entire period.

(5) The survey section provided survey control as required.

(6) A chronological list of operational activities during the quarter follows: (Information obtained from Daily SITREP and Daily Journal 1/92d Artillery).

11 August 67: Battery B moved by road to YA893376, GSR 6/29 Artillery. Battery C moved by air to YA923270, GSR 4/42 Artillery.

17 August 67: Battery B moved by road to YA849363, GSR 6/29t Artillery.

22 August 67: Battery A moved by road to FSB 5 (ZB043223), attached 173rd Airborne Brigade.

27 August 67: Three (3) howitzers from Battery A moved by air to YB897505 from ZB043223 (FSB 5).

4 September 67: Battery D (Provisional) located at Artillery Hill fired at a VC platoon. One (1) VC KIA confirmed plus assorted equipment was found.

5 September 67: Three (3) howitzers from Battery A moved by air to YB958253 from FSB 5, ZB043223. Mission unchanged.

6 September 67: Battery C relieved fro GSR 4/42 Artillery and assigned FSR 6/29 Artillery.

11 September 67: Three (3) howitzers fro Battery A moved by air to YB916258 from YB958253. Mission unchanged.

13 September 67: Battery B began move by road to Duc Co. Halted 2 kilometers from original position area due to extremely muddy ground caused by excessive rain.

14 September 67: Battery B began move by road to Cateka Tea Plantation, ZA175336, (new location). Closed at Jackson Hole, YA895305, (12 kilometers travel) due to severe road conditions.

15 September 67: Battery B continued road march, but had to spend the night at ZA058315 due to severe weather and road conditions. Battery A moved by air to ZB040226 from YB916258 and YB897407. Met Station began move from Duc Co to Dak To joining the Battery B convoy.

16 September 67: Battery B closed at Oasis (ZA109273). Battery A assigned GS 173rd Airborne Brigade. 1/92 forward CP established at Oasis and clearing all fires for US and ARVN units. Battery B GS 4th Division.

19 September 67: Battalion Met Station operational at Dak To (ZA043223).

21 September 67: Headquarters Battery 2½ ton truck was fired upon at ZA221541. No friendly casualties.

23 September 67: Battery A moved to ZB048289 by road. Mission GS 4th Division.

3 October 67: Battery A moved by road from ZB048289 to Artillery Hill.

4 October 67: Battery A moved by road to AR885491 after spending night on Artillery Hill. Mission GS 4th Division.

6 October 67: Three (3) howitzers from Battery B moved to ZA166067, GSR 6/29 Artillery.

7 October 67: 1/92 liaison section established at Soui Doi (2/1 Cavalry CP).

12 October 67: Three (3) howitzers from Battery B moved from ZA109273 to BR123552, mission GS 4th Division.

13 October 67: Two (2) howitzers from Battery B moved from 166067 to BR037537, GS 4th Division. One (1) howitzer moved from ZA166067 to BR123552, GS 4th Division.

16 October 67: Duc CO mortared. Battery C fired at mortar locations and received credit for destroying mortar crew.

17 October 67: Three (3) howitzers moved from Battery A to Artillery Hill attached to Battery D to support 2/1 Cavalry operation west of Pleiku.

25 October 67: Battalion forward CP established at Soui Doi (BR036537).

26 October 67: Artillery Hill received 122mm rocket attack. Battery D expended 272 HE rounds in response to the attack. No friendly casualties.

29 October 67: Battery C released from GSR 6/29 Artillery and assigned GSR 3/6 Artillery.

c. Training: Training in selected subjects was conducted at battery level. Training of replacements was conducted at battalion and battery level.

d. Chemical: No significant activities.

e. Psywar: No significant activities.

f. Other: No significant activities.

4 (C) Logistics: Logistics have presented no problems. Currently, all classes of supply for all batteries has been handled by the battalion by vehicle from Pleiku Aircraft sorties for the quarter are as follow:

CH-54: 34
CH-47: 319

5. (U) Civil Affairs: No significant activities.

6. (C) Personnel:

a. Casualties: 0

b. During the period the following personnel actions occurred:

(1) Personnel losses: 153

(2) Personnel gains: 129

(3) Present for duty strength as of 31 October: 500

(4) Promotion allocations:

(a) E4: 36

(b) E5: 32

(c) E6: 7

(d) E7: 1

(5) Mail: Mail support is good.

(6) R and R quotas: 141

(7) Pay has been timely and accurate.

7. (C) Artillery: Rounds expended during the period:

8. (U) Other: No significant events.

SECTION II (C) COMMANDER'S OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Part 1. Observations (Lessons Learned)

1. (C) Personnel: No observations

2. (C) Operations:

a. Item: Aircraft-Artillery Coordination.

Discussion: Fire support coordination between artillery and tactical air support, Army and Air Force, is a must. Fire support can be lost to the maneuver force through lack of this control and coordination. Coordination measures for planned operations should permit maximum and responsive application of artillery fire support uninterrupted by aviation intrusion. In meeting engagements, helicopters and light aircraft must not flock to the contact area and preclude artillery from firing.

Observation: Fire support coordination symposiums should be held on a regular basis. Personnel attending these meetings should be artillery operations and liaison officers through battalion level, Air Force tactical support operations officers, Army aviation operations officers, forward air controllers, and combat support coordination center (CSCC) personnel. These symposiums should be conducted at division and equivalent levels. Results of these symposiums should be published for study, advice, and guidance.

b. Item: Rules of Engagement.

Discussion: Rules of engagement change from locale to locale, from major unit to major unit and from the passage of time.

Observations: Rules of engagement should be published quarterly at a sufficiently high level to permit standardization among areas of operations.

c. Item: "Screaming" Artillery Shells

Discussion: An artillery round that "screams" enroute to the target would increase the effectiveness of harassing fires.

Observation: The psychological impact on the enemy of such a shell would be significant. A device placed over rounds, now in use, should prove most effective and inexpensive. Accidents to friendly troops due to a trajectory change caused by such a device can be avoided by not firing when friendly elements are on GT line and within 2000 meters of the target.

d. Item: Leaflet Artillery Shells.

Discussions: The artillery can deliver propaganda leaflets effectively and leaflets can be delivered on infiltration routes, assembly areas, etc, with speed and accuracy. Effective education of villagers, known to be cooperative with the enemy, could also be provided by this means of distribution.

Observation: Leaflet shells should be developed and used.

e. Item: Surveillance Radar

Discussion: Artillery can work in coordination with ground surveillance radar. Targets can be detected by the radar and fired upon by artillery with good results.

Observation: No means of target acquisition should ever be overlooked by the artillery.

f. Item: Wet Powder.

Discussion: Propellant charges, once wet, can be dried, but the burning properties of the powder are changed and it is therefore unsafe to use. Also, personnel may believe the charges to be dry when in fact they are not.

Observation: Propellant charges should be destroyed once they become wet.

g. Item: Firing Charts.

Discussion: Firing and check charts should have all friendly locations, roads and villages and no fire zones drawn on them. Friendly villages are continually changing locations and sizes from what is shown on maps. A program and procedures for continually updating the locations and sizes must be conducted by the battalion to prevent firing incidents.

Observation: Plotting of friendly locations (with the buffer distances around them), villages and roads on firing charts should be mandatory and taught by the Artillery School.

3. (U) Intelligence: None

4. (U) Logistics: None

5. (U) Other: None

Part II RECOMMENDATIONS

1. (U) Personnel: None

2. (C) Training and Organization: None

3. (U) Intelligence: None

4. (U) Logistics: None

5. (U) Other: None

                              JOE B. MYERS
1 Incl                        LTC, Artillery
Organizational Chart          Commanding

DISTRIBUTION:
    AS DIRECTED BY CG, IFFORCEV ARTY

AVFA-AT-D (4 Nov 1967)         2d Ind
SUBJECT: Operational Report for Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967, (RCS CSFOR-65) (WA2NA) (1st Bn, 92d Arty) (U)

HEADQUARTERS I FIELD FORCE VIETNAM ARTILLERY, APO 9635O   25 November 1967

TO: Commanding General, I Field Force Vietnam, ATT: AVFA-GC-OT, APO 96350

1. Concur in the observations contained in basic communication and previous indorsement.

                        DONALD L. BURTON
1 Incl                  MAJ, Artillery
  nc                    Adjutant

AVFA-GC-OT                         3d Ind
SUBJECT: Operational Report - Lessons Learned for Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967, RCS CSFOR-65  UIC WA2NA  1st Bn, 92d Arty

HEADQUARTERS, I FIELD FORCE VIETNAM, APO 96350       

TO: Commanding General, United States Army Vietnam, ATTN: AVHGC-DST, APO 96375

(U) This headquarters has reviewed the 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery Operational Report - Lessons Learned for the quarterly period ending 31 October 1967 and concurs with the (illegible) recommendation of the basic document.

       FOR THE COMMANDER:

                   JAMES P. GASTON
1 Incl             CPT, AGC
  NC               Assistant Adjutant General

AVHGC-DST (4 Nov 67)               4th Ind
SUBJECT: Operational Report for Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967, (RCS CSFOR-65)(WA2NAA)(U)

HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES ARMY VIETNAM, APO SAN FRANCISCO 96375

TO: Commander in Chief, United States Army, Pacific, ATTN: GPOP-OT, APO 96558

1. (U) This headquarters has reviewed the Operational Report-Lessons Learned for the period ending 31 October 1967 from Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery (A2NA) as indorsed.

2. (C) Pertinent comments follow:

a. Reference item concerning rules of engagement, page 6, paragraph 2b; Concur. Standardization, however, may not always be possible as all units are not exposed to the same circumstances. Rules of engagement must be kept current. It is not advisable to wait for quarterly reviews.

b. Reference item concerning screaming artillery shells, page 6 paragraph 2c; Nonconcur. A projectile of this nature has been tested in RVN and was found to be unacceptable. Any change in the configuration of an artillery shell will tend to alter its ballistic characteristics, thereby inducing an unpredictable "fall of shot". There is no quarrel with the psychological impact such a projectile would have on the enemy, however, the probability of an accident occurring is too high and not worth the risk involved.

c. Reference item concerning leaflet artillery shells, page 6, paragraph 2d; Concur. A limited supply of leaflet shells is available in CONUS and action has been initiated to obtain these projectiles. Further, MACV has requested limited procurement of a leaflet shell on an expedited basis in RVN.

d. Reference item concerning surveillance radar page 7, paragraph 2e; Concur. Ground surveillance radar (GSR) can be effectively integrated into the artillery support plan. GSR sections should have direct communications with the supporting artillery FDC so that when a target is located it can be engaged immediately.

e. Reference item concerning firing charts, page 7, paragraph 9; Concur. The US Army Artillery and Missile School has instituted a change in the plotting of all friendly elements and villages on the FDC firing and check charts. Artillery battalions in-country must continue to stress the requirement that all firing and check charts contain these locations in order to effectively reduce the occurrence of artillery accidents.

3. (U) A copy of this indorsement will be furnished to the reporting unit through channels.

FOR THE COMMANDER:

                    D. E. Tuman
1 incl              Major AGC
  NC                Asst. Adjutant General

MFR: ORLL was staffed through:

G4       LTC Phillips/4379
Opns     CPT Harrison/4642

ACTION OFFICER:   CPT ARNOLD/4485

GPOP-DT (4 Nov 67)                       5th Ind (U)
SUBJECT: Operational Report for the Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967 from HQ, 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery (UIC: WA2NAA)(RCS CSFOR-65)

HQ, US ARMY, PACIFIC, APO SAN FRANCISCO 96558        14 NOV 1967

TO: Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C. 20310

This headquarters has evaluated (illegible) report and forwarding indorsements and concurs in the report as indorsed.

      FOR THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF

                     K. F. OSBOURN
1 Incl               MAJ, AGC
  NC                 Asst AG

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
1st Battalion, 92d Artillery

INCLOSURE 1

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