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TROOPER REFLECTIONS ON THE GSR (GROUND SURVEILLANCE RADAR)
from Loren Sundell"
"I was somewhat upset with our Sections role, as it applies to events,
actions and other operations. We as well, as the Mortar Platoon were
Support, and with only a few exceptions, we were always looked at as
Reserves, Back Up if you will.
That meant a lot of Perimeter related duties, and assignments that were
normally associated with Diesel Fuel.
Out on Operations, I found that those in charge did not give much
credit to the capabilities of the Radar equipment, or the Operator's. I
believe it was because they themselves, lacked knowledge of the
equipments capabilities, and just choose to write us off as Support.
On one occasion, we were set up over night, in the Rock Pile area, south
of FSB Vandergrif. While operating our Radar, we picked up Enemy Mine
Laying Activity, on and about the main road leading to Vandergrif.
Our ________?, refused to recognized our reports of enemy activity on
the road. Several American Troops paid for that oversight the next
morning.
I took a Patrol down to the road the next morning, after Truck Drivers
had already hit mines, too late of course, but we did recover enemy
munitions, Chi Com grenades, booby traps, etc."
GSR Fire Missions:
"In the boonies, away from Base Camps, I'm afraid that it took an act of
God, in almost any case, to actually get a Fire Mission, especially
internally out of the Mortar Squad, since that would most definitely
give away the location of defensive positions.
Not that the enemy didn't always already know where we were anyway, but
it was just not good protocol to increase the odds against yourself.
If within Artillery range of supporting FSB's, they would sometimes give
clearance, however, by the time the authorization got back down to the
Platoon Leader, and coordination could be made with an adjusting FO, it
was normally to late to be of any effect.
Such was the War as a whole......
I do recall a stand down incident, where we were GSR on night perimeter
watch, reported activity, which initiated a fire mission on a sizable
level of detected activity outside of, I believe the Quang Tri Brigade
Base Camp, may have been Charlie 3.
Anyway, the Fire Mission came off the New Jersey, in the Gulf of Tonkin.
One 16-inch "FireCracker" round was fired, requiring no more than a
center grid square coordinance. We provided an 8-digit coordinance to
the TOC.
The "FireCracker", as we called it, was a 16-inch diameter shell,
containing small bomblets. The shell would detonate over the target
area, bomblets from inside the shell, rained on the earth, and exploded
like hundreds of grenades, i.e. FireCracker.
Very impressive, unbelievable to here it coming for what seemed like
minutes, and capable of eliminating any personnel above ground, in a 800
to 1,000 meter, 360 degree circle, radiating out from center of
detonation.
Next morning, over the radio came the KIA report, "Water Buffalo Burgers
Anyone"?
Some Mortar Platoon clearances were given for "Fire Missions in and
around Alpha 4, Charlie 2, and Charlie 3. A few Arty missions out of
Vandergrif in support of NDP's around the Hwy 1, and Khe Sahn areas.
All activity was reported to the Command Track on NDP's, and the TOC
(Command Bunker), in Base Camps. Each of which had at least one Officer
LT or above on duty.
A lot of the time, we done our own "Fire Missions" with M-79's. LT would
call up saying, "What the Hell is going on out there"? We would respond,
"We thought we had some activity outside the wire LT, just "Recon'ng by
Fire". LT would call back saying, "Well, knock it off out there"! "10-4
LT".
I loved that M-79!"
from MATT SPRUILL
"The troop had two Ground Surveillance Radars (GSR). They were AN/PPS-4, and used call sign 61 and 62. Each radar had a track and a crew of 2 or 3. The radars looked like a large can turned on its side with the radar end being curved and the operators end being flat. This was mounted on a tripod and could be hooked up to a small generator for power.
The radar was designed to pick up movement and worked best against vehicles, but it could pick up groups of people. There was no scope like you see on most radar, but the radar return came through an noise which the operator heard in a set of head phones. It required training and practice to use the set with any reliability.
The radar also went to the field when the troop deployed and at night was located in the center of the troopÕs position.
When I was there I had the mortars and the radar set up on the same base azimuth. That way when ever the radar picked up a target they only had to give the mortars the azimuth and range for the mortars to fire, it took some practice but several times suspected targets were engaged.
As each mortar track and Radar track had a .50 cal mounted on top they also provided a nice firepower reserve for direct fire in a defensive position if needed.
When on the move the Radar tracks accompanied and set up with the mortars to provide security."
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