In the modern day warfare, this is much easier than before, since a route can be sanitised beforehand by aerial assets, and any obvious ambush sites noted, and counter measures taken. In Afghanistan, Mi-24 Hind gunships were used to locate concentrations of guerrillas, and these would then be attacked by the Hinds themselves, or by artillery, using the aircraft as spotters. When an element of a convoy is halted in the killing zone and is unable to proceed due to disabled vehicles, a damaged bridge, or other obstacles, personnel will dismount, take cover, and return a maximum volume of fire on enemy positions. Security troops from vehicles that have passed through the ambush area dismount and prepare to attack the flanks of the ambush position. Leave a security force behind to protect these vehicles. Personnel in vehicles that have not entered the killing zone follow the same procedure. Before attempting to flank the ambush force, the convoy commander should ensure that the force will not be in the vicinity of any fire missions. When a security escort is provided and a combat emergency arises, the convoy commander retains operational control unless the command responsibility has previously been assumed by the area commander in whose zone the convoy is operating. Normally, the security force will take action to neutralise the ambush while the convoy escapes from the killing zone. If immediate air or artillery support is available, personnel will be restricted to a specified distance from the road to avoid casualties from friendly fire. In this situation, personnel in the killing zone establish a base of fire, while others take up defensive positions around their vehicles. Everyone waits while supporting fire is called in on the enemy positions. When the enemy is defeated or has retreated, the road must be cleared and convoy movement resumed as soon as possible. Wounded personnel are evacuated, usually by helicopter. When disabled vehicles cannot be towed, their cargo is distributed among other vehicles if time permits. When it is not feasible to evacuate vehicles and/or cargo, they will be destroyed upon order from the convoy commander. When possible, radios and other critical items will be recovered before the vehicles are destroyed. Under no circumstances will anything in the convoy be allowed to fall into enemy hands. Dear Egyptian Mail readers, your contributions to and/or comments on articles published in this corner are welcome. We promise to publish whatever is deemed publishable at the end of this series. [email protected]
