halted vehicles.
Convoy and escort personnel must be alert
for any hostile acts.
They should wear protective equipment
and keep their weapons in hand.
Post guards at the front and rear of the convoy to warn and
direct approaching traffic.
Also, ensure that all convoy
vehicles remain off the road, keeping the travelled portion
clear.
Select areas that provide cover and concealment, including
overhead concealment, when physically possible.
Use caution when positioning convoy vehicles that are carrying
ammunition and POL supplies. The grouping of vehicles loaded
with critical cargo provides a very profitable and easily
identifiable target for the enemy. To avoid giving the enemy
this advantage, disperse POL and ammunition-loaded vehicles
throughout the march elements comprising the convoy.
Also,
ensure that vehicles are camouflaged with canvas-covered
frames, tarpaulins, or by placing lumber, wire, or other cargo
over the primary load.
PART E - ESTABLISH START/RELEASE POINTS
AND NOTIFY RECEIVING UNITS
Since convoys are often made up of vehicles or elements from several
different units, the vehicles in the convoy seldom originate from the
same point.
Therefore, you must pick a common originating place
called the start point (SP).
Similarly, not all vehicles will have
the same final destination.
To ensure that all convoy elements are
released from column control at a specific point from which they can
continue their assignments, you must also designate a release point.
You must schedule all motor moves from start point to release point.
RELEASE POINTS
Release points (RPs) are well known points on a route where convoy
trucks leave the convoy.
They may leave the convoy to go to the
place where they are to load or unload.
Or, they may leave the
convoy to return to their unit.
You must use RPs to keep vehicles
from bunching up. The RP, like the SP, should be easily recognizable
on both the map and the ground and must be on the column' s route.
Locate RPs so vehicles leaving the established convoy route have easy
access to existing road nets and may clear the route without delay or
congestion.
Unit guides should meet their units as they arrive at
the RP and lead them to their designated area.
You should use
multiple routes and cross-country movements from the RP to allow
units to spread
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TR1009
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