Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Short Rounds, June 1967 - June 1968
Abstract
A recurring problem facing commanders at all levels is that of "Short Rounds," the inadvertent or accidental delivery of ordnance resulting in injury or death to friendly forces or noncombatants. A previous CHECO Special Report on Short Rounds in South Vietnam, from the beginning of 1965 through May 1967, evaluated several of these incidents, their causes and effects, their chronology, and corrective steps taken to alleviate the problem. This study covers the subject from May 1967 through 30 June 1968, with special emphasis on those incidents involving troops-in-contact, the most prevalent type of Short Round since the turn of the year and perhaps the most difficult to eliminate. For purposes of this study, rather than give a brief resume of each incident, several significant Short Rounds have been examined in detail with a view toward showing how failure to communicate, lack of detailed knowledge of the ground situation, poor flying visibility, and other contributing factors tend to produce a situation where human error takes over and a Short Round is the result. Efforts at all levels to counter the growing trend of troops-in-contact (TIC) Short Rounds (a corollary of the increased ground activity in South Vietnam) are shown. The problems are evident, the solutions difficult; if one observation emerges, it is that the continuing attention, concern, and efforts to reduce Short Rounds must not be relaxed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 23, 1968
- Accession Number
- ADA586308
Entities
People
- Melvin F. Porter
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces