Tactics for Route Clearance

Abstract : I n Somalia, military police used mine detectors to sweep for command-detonated mines. This tactic for searching for command-detonated mines, as opposed to searching for their firing wires, is both dangerous and unnecessary. Somalia was not the first military operation where American lines of communication (LOC) were mined.1 Although Gis in World War II and the Korean Conflict experienced their share of mine incidents, U.S. forces in Vietnam routinely faced the threat posed by mines and ambushes along their LOC. Through trial and error, Gls have learned to operate in this difficult environment, and their experiences have produced many useful lessons regarding command-detonated mines and route clearance. It is not possible to completely eliminate losses from mines, but commanders can take steps to significantly reduce them. Appropriate tactics combined with an aggressive training program for all personnel in theater can effectively reduce casualties and equipment losses. Experiences of U.S. forces in Vietnam and Somalia demonstrated that to ensure success, route clearance must be treated as a combined arms combat operation. Infantry, armor, engineer, artillery, aviation, intelligence, and military police support must be carefully planned and executed. The route-clearance tactics described in this article and shown in Figure 1 and Table 1 (page 48). portray an ideal situation where optimum support is available. When tasked with a route-clearing mission, commanders can adapt the following critical mission elements and tactics to local conditions and the resources available .