December 18, 2003

Convoy Protection

interesting article in USA Today on the evolution of Convoys in Iraq. bq. Hard lessons applied to convoy protection bq. An internal military report says Iraqi insurgents have grown more sophisticated in ambushing U.S. military convoys. Attackers are targeting small groups traveling without air cover and using a variety of tricks to get the convoys to slow down so guerrillas can spring a trap. more: bq. Iraqi fighters look for small vehicle convoys without air cover, according to the report on what the military calls Iraqi "TTP" — tactics, techniques and procedures. bq. The guerrillas tend to strike at night, using spotters with cell phones to alert attackers to approaching convoys. Some attacks involve visible roadside bombs set as bait to get convoys to slow down or divert into "kill zones" rigged with larger, better-hidden explosives. Guerrillas have even staged accidents to slow an approaching convoy. more: bq. The challenge posed by Iraqi tactics is that they keep changing. A high-ranking U.S. officer based in Iraq said Iraqi guerrillas rarely kill more than one American soldier in an ambush and often lose many of their own in a hail of return fire. An infantry squad of 15 to 20 soldiers is usually enough to repel any guerrilla attack, the officer said. Interesting analysis of a complex problem... Posted by DaveH at December 18, 2003 12:48 PM