Sunday, June 2, 2013
Post # 58, PCP, (Over all tips)
AHOY,
FRAGMENTED FIGHTING FACTS
Preparations and Conduct of Patrols
The Basic rule have
all bee listed, the “over all tips” is additional knowledge to consider as you
conduct a patrol.
Over all tips
The classic Law of the 7 P’s
applies. Proper Previous Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Dispatch trail breaking teams
far enough in advance to insure continuous, uninterrupted movement of the main
body.
Prior detailed reconnaissance
is most important to insure successful mobility as always.
The first halt after
initiating a march should be made in approximately 15 minutes. This will allow
adjustment of clothing and equipment.
Normally, corpsmen and first
sgt will bring up the rear of the column and, in each halt, will check the men
and report their condition to the leader.
Marching in single file is
often the best formation. It maintains track discipline, camouflage, and
reduces the number of trailbreakers and reconnaissance parties required.
Advantages of snow; speed of patrol on skies and longer ranges possible. Holding capacity is the interaction with
waxes and snow to minimize back sliding with out impeding forward motion.
Changes with snow conditions different waxes are used. Carrying capacity when snow packed capacity improves movement is
easier. Ice although it is firm it is slippery. In the woods snow softer
Carrying capacity pourer than in open area. Also in wooded areas snow collects
latter in winter and remains longer into spring. Movement from sun lighted to
shaded areas is difficult because snow in lighted areas is wet and sticks to
skies and snow shoes, then freezes in shaded areas. During break up periods
i.e. Spring. Snow becomes slushy, danger of rust and corrosion is at its
highest in Summer. At mid winter the lack of moisture in the air reduces this
risk. During brake up and autumn drops in temperature at night and still in
early morning makes movement easier. Sleds when run long distances build up
heat on there skates; when sleds are stopped they may settle in snow and freeze
in the ice. Should be parked on logs or unloaded and stood on end or side.
MT. slopes
easy to travel in summer can be difficult in winter. Sleet on rocks can quickly
transform trail into difficult route. Rock falls almost always localized on
certain part of the face of a peak in gullies or couloirs making natural
funnels. Routes which cling to a ridge (military crest) are immune. (Sinai)
Rock slides and avalanches are not as common as in high cold mountains.
Whenever a rock is kicked loose, personnel in area can immediately lean into
the cliff to reduce their exposure, and do not look up. Personnel farther away
may look up to determine where the rock is heading and seek cover behind an
obstacle. Lacking cover, personnel should move out of its path to the left or
right. If a Marine slips or stumbles he must immediately self-arrest, roll over
onto stomach with his legs downhill, digging into the slope with hands, elbows,
knees and toes. With steep terrain, of solid ground, (rock or ice) use the ice
ax for self-arrest. Also used as a third point of contact on difficult terrain.
If not in use the ice ax is carried in or on the rucksack with its head down
and secured. The character of rocks; Dolomite or Granite of the Aiguilles of
Chamonix is very secure. Sandstone and shale of the Canadian Rockies very
unstable. Rock most likely to fall when ice of previous night melts in morning
sunlight, Eastern slopes first.
In MT. travel is difficult on
snow shoes. Continuous traffic packs snow and may allow movement on foot, with
out skies or shoes. Infantry may utilize tracks made by armor. Marines on skies
can be towed but not with shoes. On shoes mobility restored to point
approaching foot traffic on hard ground.
(Reference, PCP,
rule # 4/5 skis)
Assent of MT. start from camp
located at snow line or above, early as possible in morning several hours
before sunrise. Marines roped together as soon as unit reaches the ne’ve (firn)
of glaciers. Most experienced leads, least in the middle. If soft snow is found
or much step cutting in ice is necessary each Marine relieves the other as
leader. Pace is slow enough that no one gasps for breath. At low altitude
strong unit can average 2000 feet per hour vertically. Can be as slow as 100
feet per hour with lots of step cutting or on rocks. Rope always kept taunt
between Marines. Spikes driven in by leader as high as can be reached. Snap
ring emplaced, rope fed threw and then haul others up. Halts made rarely at low
altitudes, every two hours at high elevations. Crossing wide snow fields,
willow wands may be set. Stone cairns may be erected at strategic points on
rocks. On descent strongest man at stern for holding Marines that fall. At
difficult points on the descent even more than on the ascent the rope is
belayed about a projection (piece of rock) or ice axes, wedged in to rocks.
Only one man moves at a time. At very difficult points during descent units may
descend en rappel. Fatigue or feeling of relaxation makes for carelessness,
more accidents happen during descent. At least 3 Marines per unit, smaller the
party less delay crossing difficult terrain, when only one at a time may cross.
With out 3 rescue of one becomes difficult. The weak link is very important, in
gauging units’ abilities. When vehicle patrols are stopped (weather to turn
engines off or not) Herringbone maneuver, column splits into two one each side
facing out. Two vehicles forward one each lane to block traffic, two vehicles
move to stern.
CLIMBING
The margin of safety is a
protective buffer the climber places between himself and potential climbing
hazards. Both subjective (personnel-related) and objective (environmental)
hazards must be considered when applying the margin of safety. The leader must
apply the margin of safety taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of
the entire team or unit.
Rock climbing can leave
the climbing party totally exposed to weather, terrain hazards, and the enemy
for the length of the climb. Sometimes steep rock cannot be avoided. Climbing
relatively short sections of steep rock (one or two pitches) may prove quicker
and safer than using alternate routes. A steep rock route would normally be
considered an unlikely avenue of approach and, therefore, might be weakly
defended or not defended at all.
Approach Observations for
route selection.
Watch the mountain during the
approach march, studying it for climbing routes. Distant views can reveal
large-scale patterns of ridges, cliffs, snowfields and glaciers. General angles
of the large rock masses can be seen from afar. Most features (patterns and
angles) repeat themselves at increasingly finer levels (smaller scale), as they
are generally derived from the overall structure of the particular mountain
group. A basic knowledge of mountain geology, combined with the specific
geological background of the operational area, pays off in more efficient
travel. Experienced climbers learn to climb with the "eyes." before
getting on the rock, study all possible routes, or "lines," to the
top. Noting fault lines, gross bedding planes of rock, cliff bands, and
crevasse zones. Snowy or vegetated ledge systems. Note any larger ledges or
benches for resting places. Weaknesses in the mountain walls, such as couloirs
or gullies. Looking for cracks, ledges, nubbins, and other irregularities in
the rock used for footholds and handholds, mentally climb the route, rehearsing
the step-by-step sequence of movements required.
SPOTTING
A "top-rope" belay
can be used for safety, allowing the individual to increase the length and
difficulty of the climb under the protection of the climbing rope.
Personnel not climbing can
act as "otters" for those climbing. Spotting is a technique used to
add a level of safety to climbing without a rope. A second man stands below and
just outside of the climbers fall path and helps (spots) the climber to land
safely if he should fall. The spotter should not catch but pushes the climber
against the rock.
CLIMBING TECHNIQUE
A variety of techniques are
used to climb different types of rock formations. These techniques can be
thought of as a combination of the balanced movement required to walk a
tightrope and the used to ascend a ladder. No mountaineering equipment is
required; however, the techniques are also used in roped climbing.
Climbing involves linking
together a series of movements based on foot and hand placement, weight shift,
and movement. When this series of movements is combined correctly, smooth
climbing which reduces excess force results. The basic principle is based on the five
body parts described here. The right hand, left hand, right foot, left
foot, and body (trunk). The basic principle is to move only one at a time. The
trunk is not moved in conjunction with a foot or hand, a hand is not moved in
conjunction with a foot, and so on. Following this simple technique forces both
legs to do all the lifting simultaneously.
Body position is the single
most important element. The body should be near vertical with the weight
centered over feet. Leaning in towards the rock will cause the feet to push
outward, away from the rock, resulting in a loss of friction between the boot
sole and rock surface. A relaxed, comfortable stance is essential. The legs are
straight, bent legs and tense muscles tire quickly. The heels are kept low to
reduce fatigue. Strained muscles may vibrate uncontrollably. AKA
"Elvis-ing" it is cured by straightening the leg, lowering the heel.
The hands are used to maintain balance. Keeping the hands between waist and
shoulder level will reduce arm fatigue.
Whenever possible, three
points of contact are maintained with the rock. Proper positioning of the hips
and shoulders is critical. When using two footholds and one handhold, the hips
and shoulders should be centered over both feet. In most cases, as the climbing
progresses, the body is resting on one foot with two handholds for balance. The
hips and shoulders must be centered over the support foot to maintain balance,
allowing the "free" foot to maneuver.
The angle or steepness of the
rock also determines how far away from the rock the hips and shoulders should
be. On low-angle slopes, the hips are moved out away from the rock to keep the
body in balance with the weight over the feet. The shoulders can be moved
closer to the rock to reach handholds. On steep rock, the hips are pushed
closer to the rock. The shoulders are moved away from the rock by arching the
back. The body is still in balance over the feet and the eyes can see where the
hands need to go. Sometimes, when footholds are small, the hips are moved back
to increase friction between the foot and the rock. This is normally done on
quick, intermediate holds. It should be avoided in the rest position as it
places more weight on the arms and hands. When weight must be placed on
handholds, the arms should be kept straight to reduce fatigue.
Performing these steps in
this exact order will not always be necessary because the nature of the route
will dictate the availability of hand and foot placements. The basic steps are
weight, shift, and movement (movement being either the foot, hand, or body). (A
typical climbing sequence is shown in Figure 6-3.)
The trunk does not move
during foot movement. Shift the weight from both feet to one foot. Feet placed
within one to two feet of the starting position (higher placement will result
in a potentially higher lift for the legs to make, creating more stress, and is
called a high step) Shift the weight onto both feet. Lift the body into a new
stance with both legs. Move one hand to a new position between waist and head
height. During this movement, the trunk should be completely balanced in
position and the removed hand should have no effect on stability.
Now the entire body is in a
new position and ready to start the process again. Following these steps will
prevent lifting with the hands and arms, which are used to maintain stance and
balance. If both legs are bent, leg extension can be performed as soon as one
foot has been moved. Hand movements can be delayed until numerous foot
movements have been made, which not only creates shorter lifts with the legs,
but may allow a better choice for the next hand movements because the reach
will have increased.
When the angle of the rock
increases, these movements become more critical. Holding or pulling the body
into the rock with the arms and hands may be necessary as the angle increases
(this is still not lifting with the arms). Many climbing routes have angles
greater than ninety degrees (overhanging) and the arms are used to support
partial body weight. The same technique applies even at those angles. Avoid
climbing directly above or below other climbers. When personnel must climb at
the same time, following the same line, a fixed rope should be installed.
Avoid moving on the knees and
elbows. These bony portions of the limbs offer little friction and
"feel" on the rock.
USE OF HOLDS
All jewelry should be removed from the fingers.
Avoid climbing with gloves on because of the decreased "feel"
for the rock. The use of gloves in the training environment is especially
discouraged, while their use in the mountains is often mandatory when it is
cold. A thin polypropylene or wool glove is best for rock climbing, although
heavier cotton or leather work gloves are often used for belaying.
Avoid grasping vegetation for handholds; the root systems can be
shallow and will usually not support much weight.
The climber should check each hold before use, grab and tug on the hold
to test it. Force can be applied in a direction that strengthens it. A loose
nubbin might not be strong enough to support the climber's weight, but it may
serve as an adequate handhold.
CLIMBING WITH THE FEET
It is true that solid handholds and a firm grip are needed in some
combination techniques; however, even the most strenuous techniques require
good footwork and a quick return to a balanced position over one or both feet.
The beginning climber will have a natural tendency to look up for
handholds. Try to keep the hands low and train your eyes to look down for
footholds. Even the smallest irregularity in the rock can support the climber
once the foot is positioned properly and weight is committed to it.
Maximum Sole Contact. Maximum
friction is obtained by placing as much of the boot sole on the rock as
possible, leg muscles can also relax. (Figure 6-4) On some large holds, like
bucket holds that extend deep into the rock, the entire foot cannot be used. The
climber may not be able to achieve a balanced position if the foot is stuck too
far underneath a bulge in the rock. In this case, placing only part of the foot
on the hold may allow the climber to achieve a balanced stance. Remember to
keep the heels low to reduce strain on the lower leg muscles.
At this point or
should I say beyond this point, there is lots of material including images that
I have not edited yet. I well be doing that and adding that Knowledge along
with the images I choose to keep in the updates.
“Let no Marines ghost say if my training had only done its
job”
" Give me a million dollars and I well change the
world"
" When it comes to persecution and suffering that
fairly tale about christ dose not have (S) nothing on me"
" I well bet my lucky start"
“IKYG”
G-day!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment