Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: ESVENSSON%brage.qz.se@SEARN.SUNET.SE (Erik Svensson) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Survival on the battlefield Message-ID: <1991Jan19.041518.5085@cbnews.att.com> Date: 19 Jan 91 04:15:18 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 39 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Erik Svensson >Mike Schmitt writes: > My ol' Brigade Commander (1st Bde, 1st Div) was an infantry lieutenant > during the Korean War. He told us that an interesting phenomena occurs > when your unit is overrun (as his company was in Korea). Once overrun, > the survivors are no longer in danger - since the enemy forces that > overrun you are now past you and not firing at you - you're safe!? > > Hmmmmmmm. Anyone believe that? > > > mts In fact I do. When I made my military service I read a study about the survival of Special Forces-like units. For the ones tasked with long range recon, inserted by air, the most dangerous moments was a, when the aircraft pentrated the front-line and the enemy air-defences and b, when the units would try to get back through FRIENDLY lines. Since the units will have problems keeping up on the local passwords, they will have to convince the guards that they're really good guys. For foot recon people, the risks were the same. That is, the most dangerous time is the passing through the enemy lines. Once you are through, if you keep off the roads, you are pretty safe. Reinforcements going to the front will most probably keep to the roads, and if you are off them and only observing, you can feel safe. Sabotage and ambushes will radically increase the danger to the unit, especially if the enemy has special units for rear security. (USSR do have this kind of units). Erik Svensson Research Officer Guided Weapons Division National Defense Research Establishment (FOA) Stockholm, Sweden net.address: esvensson@brage.qz.se "I've got LOT'S of common sense, I just choose to disregard it"--Calvin