Article AMBUSHES

Frisco-Kid

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Since it's one of the most basic offensive tactics in guerilla warfare, most grunts in VN have been on scores of them. Since alot of Charlie's movements were at night, we did alot of night ambushes. Some were during the day, though.

Some of the ambushes were deliberate ones, based on intelligence gathered by S-2 [battalion or brigade level] or, I suppose sometimes, G-2 [division level]. Basically, they said that an anemy unit of THIS size, equipped like THIS, was going to pass by HERE, on THIS night. These NEVER materialized, that I recall. So much for Military Intelligence.

We would occasionally do daylight ambushes by leaving behind maybe a squad after we would pull out of our night laager for the day's hump, knowing that the local VC would often search the position for any material that might have been left behind. Another daylight scenario would occasionally be to set up another ambush a couple hundred meters away from a night ambush that was sprung. This would be in the direction that those that had escaped the Kill Zone had fled. Charlie liked to sneak back and retrieve bodies or weapons. Also, knowing this, we would often booby trap the area and/or bodies.

Setting up a good night ambush took a bit of planning and preping. After a sight was picked [a well-used trail; road; stream; railroad bed; etc.], we would go to work. The type of ambush[linear or L-shaped were the most common] was determined by the terrain. Which will establish the most efficient Kill Zone? If a large enemy unit was anticipated, we would put out Security Units on our flanks to prevent any of the enemy that escaped the Kill Zone from flanking us. Sometimes a unit was in reserve to move in as a blocking force after the ambush was sprung. A Rally Point was established in case things turned to S**t and we had to didi mau in a hurry. A casualty evacuation plan was established.

Now getting down to business. The Kill Zone was established, preferrably one that confined the enemy to an area where he could be destroyed. Firing positions were designated. Fields of fire were established. Sometimes this would involve some clearing of vegetation for the best field of fire. Claymore mines were strategically set. These would be the first thing fired to inflict the most casualties immediately. We would often booby trap the side of the road or trail furthest away from the ambushing force. Had a platoon sergeant that liked to unscrew the firing mechanism on 4 or 5 grenades, replace it with a blasting cap, link them together with det cord, and hang them in trees. Very effective. The rest was waiting for dark and The Bad Guys.

This was the tough part. It was hard work staying awake and focused after humping all day. If possible, we would try to have 2 or 3 guys on each firing position so 1 could catch some Zs. Sitting still and quiet with the creepy crawlies was often challenging. If you were a smoker, the no smoking order was often hard to comply with. The discomfort could be compounded if it was raining. I never used a poncho on ambushes or perimeter guard at night. They were shiny when wet, and noisy when the rain hit it. They were especially hard to hear in if the hood was used. I'd rather be wet than to be detected as a target, or unable to see or hear my surroundings.

When the enemy walked into the ambush, methodically designed for the sole purpose of destroying him, it was often awesome and terrifying to behold. The sudden noise was deafening; the blast of the Claymores; the firing of rifles and shotguns; the explosions of grenades, M-79 and LAW rounds. All punctuated by the screams of the terrified, wounded, and dying. The carnage was awful. It was usually over in minutes as the enemy was destroyed, the survivors breaking contact. If it was a large, well disciplined unit they would sometimes try to counter attack. But if we did our job right, they were usually too decimated and demoralized to put up much of a fight. The element of surprise is VERY effective.

Then came the grisly part of checking out your handiwork. We would cautiously enter the Kill Zone. Some of the obviously wounded were cautiously approached, making sure that they were disarmed. Dead bodies, real or playing dead, usually had a couple of rounds put into them before they were approached. This may sound harsh to some, but it was a safety precaution learned the hard way. We would then search the dead and wounded for any papers or maps. Weapons were policed up. The wounded were evacuated and the dead usually left where they were. Like I said before, the area and bodies were often booby trapped before we left. War is definately not pretty........especially a guerilla war. So there you have one of my many skills learned in VN. I say this matter-of-factly.....I was good at my job.
 
Great post Frisco me ole chum.

I believe that ambush is one of the oldest strategems of battle. The tactic of striking at an enemy force on the move from a concealed position which has been prepared in advance. Ambush appears ancient in concept but it is still,even now one of the most important elements of modern day Infantry Battlecraft.

Once again a fantastic post Frisco, thanks for sharing it. Mil-smile01
 
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Pretty much it, Bud. Very straight forward. It could be changed and adapted to fit any sized unit or terrain. A very effective tactic. Now, being on the wrong end of one is a different story.
 
Yep buddy, dont think I would have liked to have been on the other end but what tactics we have, so do the enemy. War!, its a brutal but necessary evil. I hope someday somebody comes up with an alternative. But somehow I doubt it will ever happen. :?
 
In March of 67 the 4th Infantry division came in country around Tuy Hoa and we supported them some. The developed a unique way of setting up ambushes - split the team in half and occupy both sides of the trail with the kill zone in the middle. Couldn't understand why they were taking more casualties then getting kills. After the second or third one they figured it out.

We watched the Marines and their unique method of setting ambushes. They moved a company into an area, set up in the middle and sent ambushes out on the surrounding trails. Only they sent them out before dark and recovered them after daybreak. Couldn't understand why their ambush parties were getting ambushed on the way back to the company. When we casually inquired why they did it this way, we were told, disdainfully, that not being Marines, we wouldn't understand. They got that right.

In SF we used a hasty ambush that could be set up while running like hell. The tailgunner reached into the ruck of the guy ahead of him and pulled out a claymore. After turning a corner in the trail, he ran about fifty yards, set the claymore, unwound the wire and hid. When Charley reached the mine, he touched it off and ran like the rest of em.

An ambush like in the diagram would work better if you placed an M-60 at the corner firing down the kill zone and moved your security out another 50 meters, especially if you have radios, which sometimes are a luxury.

Rotor
 
rotorwash said:
An ambush like in the diagram would work better if you placed an M-60 at the corner firing down the kill zone

You just described an L shaped ambush which couldn't always be setup due to terrain.
 
RW

Right on with the M-60. Anytime we set up on a road, or trail if enough room, we almost always used an L-shaped ambush with the 60 on the short side shooting down the road.

Somebody's ass should have been in a sling over the 4th ID ambushes, especially if it took more than one time to figure it out. Jaysus. And the Marines..............well, what can you say. They're Marines.
 
Hey, Bill. We were typing at the same time, basically saying the same thing :mrgreen: .
 
Fellas, did you ever consider 'Snatch Squads' during your ambushes?
Just thinking about intelligence gathering, surely some provision for this could be factored in to you ambush plans?.
Just a thought :roll:
 
SOG used snatch squads. At Marble Mountain in Da Nang they had a course set up using card board profile targets trying to set up claymores so there was a hole in the kill zone that would leave one man alive.
 
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