1st Nov Multi crew Bounding Overwatch

[0405 Andrew]

1st Nov.

Multi crew Huey night.
We will be concentrating on crew communication techniques and flying as pairs from a new training base on Cyprus.

Please sign up below.

Paul
Neal
Weasel
Andrew

[0405 Andrew]

Brief for Monday's training mission.

60 Squadron training mission
1st November 2021

Introduction
This mission will start our transition training to the AH-64.
The AH-64 requires different tactics, techniques and procedures to what we have trained to.
We will initially be training to counter an equivalent enemy, so we should assume there will be SAM’s, these could be manpads or other low level defences like the SA-15. There will also be other air defence units like the ZSU-23 or ZSU-57, also Tanks and APC’s.

Mission objective
To become familiar with Travelling overwatch movement techniques.
To become familiar with Bounding Over watch movement techniques.
To become familiar with communication through the movement.

Mission

2x UH-1 equipped with mini guns. Crewed with Pilot and Commander/Gunner
Flight1 – Lead
Pilot R/H seat,
Commander L/H seat

Flight2 – Trail
Pilot R/H seat
Commander L/H seat

Transit to training area in contour flight 25ft-80ft, 60-80kts

Depart the Forrestal on a bearing of 090 until feet dry.
Fly along the coast south until Paphos Airport is seen.
Turn North East and transit to North shore of large narrow lake that runs NE-SW.
The South shore of the lake is the phase line / transition point to NOE flight and Travelling Overwatch into the training area.
From the lake follow the river North and transition to Bounding Overwatch, phase line is around 1.5Km North of lake .

Overview.jpg (293.17 KiB) Viewed 478 times

Traveling Overwatch
3-43. Company elements employ traveling overwatch when speed is essential and enemy contact is possible. This technique is normally associated with reconnaissance, security, and attack missions when threat and/or environmental conditions preclude use of bounding overwatch. Lead aircraft or teams move constantly and trail aircraft or teams move as necessary maintaining overwatch of lead. Overwatching aircraft key their movement to terrain and their distance from the main element. It also remains ready to fire or maneuver, or both, providing support to main elements. Units often employ contour or NOE flight with the traveling overwatch technique using high and varying airspeeds depending on weather, ambient light, and threat.

Bounding Overwatch
3-44. Company elements employ bounding overwatch when they expect enemy contact and the greatest degree of concealment is required. It is the slowest movement technique; too slow for high tempo operations and vulnerable for nonlinear and/or urban operations. Individual aircraft or aircraft teams employ alternate or successive bounds.
3-45. One element remains in position to observe, fire, or maneuver before the other element moves. Overwatching elements cover the progress of bounding elements from a covered and concealed position, which offers observation and fields of fire against potential enemy positions.
3-46. The length of the bound depends on terrain, visibility, and effective range of the overwatching weapon system. Units normally employ contour and NOE flight with bounding overwatch technique. Airspeed during each bound is varied depending on availability of vegetation and terrain for concealment.


Communication calls in Bounding Overwatch

Lead will identify phase lines and call formation changes to traveling overwatch and bounding overwatch.
A point or feature will be identified and acknowledged and a flight will be told to BOUND to point/ feature while the remaining aircraft stays terrain MASKED.
When flight has bounded to position they will call SET.
Identifying the next point /location, the now trailing flight will move up, calling UNMASKED, BOUNDING and SET when in position.

This is repeated until through the objective. Distances will vary depending on terrain.

Limitations with using the UH-1
This is a training exercise and the threats are simulated.
The range of the Mini gun is the same or less than the range of the enemies’ weapons.
There are no sensors apart from the MK1 eyeball, this can be improved by using VR zoom, please make sure it is mapped.
When through the valley the mission will be repeated after swapping positions. Use Paphos aircraft. Please make sure you have both seats mapped and are familiar with the Flex Sight.

Resources

Video detailing Overwatch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJWad3InUTA
Document detailing Attack reconnaissance Helicopter Operations
https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-04-126.pdf