Bandit Tactics

This page and the ones to follow are sub-pages off the Bandit page. The main purpose is to give greater detail and understanding about the workings and tactics of the 118th AHC armed platoon, the "Bandits". Each member of the platoon was required to read and fully learn the Tactics Guide. Plus, they were quizzed by the Aircraft Commanders(ACs) until all were convinced the new pilot knew the material. There is no doubt that this knowledge and the adherence to the principles of the Tactics Guide insured successful missions and more important was the survival of the air crews. The one time the author was "shot down" was when he failed to follow a major principles as presented in this Tactics Guide..."Do not fly over the target"!

The ACTUAL pages from the 7 Chapter, 30 page booklet have been scanned with OCR(Optical Character Recognition) software by TextBridge. I hope it works for you to look over this Tactics Guide.

While the original author and date of the Tactics Guide is not know, the author was tasked to update the guide just before DEROS in August 1967. Most armed platoons had a SOP developed from "Lessons Learned" reports and was available in the unit's Flight Operations office. In the case of the 118th AHC Bandits, copies of this Tactics Guide were given to all personnel in the platoon, including pilots and enlisted crew members. How long this practice continued, is not known. That question needs to be answered someday.

(Calling Card, above, carried by Bandit pilots and presented to units and people who were supported)

Forward

 

This short guide to the current tactics and techniques of the armed platoon of the 118th Assault Helicopter Company was compiled by the members of the "Bandits", past and present. The sole purpose of this booklet is to assist new members of this unit and to assist those new units forming in Vietnam. The experience we have gained in our short time here, coupled with the experience of those who went before us, was in many instances gained the hard way. We strongly believe that what we have written is well tested and sound. We do not advocate this as doctrine nor as the only way to get the job done. This is "a way" to accomplish the mission and a point of departure for anyone completely new to armed helicopter warfare in Vietnam.

15 August 1967

 

BANDIT PLATOON OFFICERS
 
Captain Jeffrey H. Thomason, Inf. - Platoon Commander
1/Lt Thomas H. Payne, Arty. - Section Leader
WO-1 Carl Garret, Avn. - Section Leader
WO-1 Jack Armstrong
WO-1 Robert Bell
WO-1 Stanley Cotton
WO-1 Mike Erwin
WO-1 Dan Hart
WO-1 Rodney Hill
WO-1 Charles Prather
WO-1 Dusty Rhoads
WO-1 Warren Spencer
 
BANDIT PLATOON NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS
 
S/SGT Jimmie Pirtle - Platoon SGT
SP5 Ronald Booth - Armorer
SP5 Gerald Weekly - Armorer
SP5 James Elder - Armorer
 
 
 
(Signed)
Howard K. Hostler
Major, Armor
Commanding

Contents

 

Chapter I .......................Definition of Terms-------------------------1

Chapter II........................Cardinal Rules- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3

Chapter III.......................Attack Considerations- - - - - - - - - - - - - 5

Chapter IV......................Duties of the Crew- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -7

Chapter V.......................Armed Helicopter Missions- - - - - - - - - 11

............A. Visual Reconnaissance- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12

.............B. Support of Company Airmobile Opns- - - - - - - - - - - -13

.............C. Overhead Cover for Ground Operations- - - - - - - - - -17

.............D. Escort of Unarmed Aircraft - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -19

.............E. Ground Convoy Escort- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21

.............F. Adjustment of Air Force Strike - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -25

.............G. Adjustment of Artillery Fire - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -26

.............H. Emergency Reaction Force- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26

Chapter VI..........................Door Gunner Techniques- - - - - - - - -28

Chapter VII......................."Banditisms"- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30

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