ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
Page 141 of 154
Sustainment Planning Factors 18 June 2020 ATP 4-90 C-9 MOVEMENT PLANNING FACTORS FOR VEHICLE TACTICAL ROAD MARCHES C-33. Transportation planning factors are basic to planning and organizing convoys. These factors and consideration provide the formulas and information necessary to plan highway movements and develop movement tables. C-34. Movements are measured by calculating how long it takes to move a convoy over a route. These calculations involve time and distance factors. Movement planners should use rate of march in performing movement calculations. The rate of march is the average number of kilometers expected to be traveled in any specific time period. Since the rate of march is an average, it compensates for short periodic halts and short delays caused by congestion. It does not include longer halts. For example, halts utilized for consuming meals or for overnight stops. March rate is expressed in kilometers in the hour or miles in the hour. C-35. Combining these tonnage and distance data, logistic/transportation planners assemble a workload model, or diagram as shown in figure C-1. Such a requirements sketch, along with the supporting data estimates, aids planners in determining and assembling the units and other necessary resources. Planners can compare workload the material and transportation requirements against the designed capabilities of logistical units by type. Figure C-1. Movement planning factor diagram C-36. Effective staffs at BCT through corps must understand the complexity involved in moving large formations, how much road space such formations require, their rates of fuel consumption, and other considerations for such movements under varying conditions and circumstances. C-37. The fighting power and tactical flexibility of heavy/motorized formations depends fundamentally on their ability to move and to do so efficiently. Efficiency, control, and coordination become more important than raw speed. Corps, divisions and brigade combat teams are powerful weapons when they can move, deploy, and maneuver quickly in fluid situations. To realize this potential, they must have the space to march and maneuver along multiple routes and avenues of approach and have sufficient march time allotted. C-38. Moving a typical corps by tactical road march involves moving some 25,000 vehicles, which at a 100- meter vehicle interval would require 2,500 kilometers of road space. The pass time on a single route at 25 KPH, even without march units and serial gaps, would be more than 4 days. Executing tactical operations, units must march on multiple routes at the greatest speed, making the most economical and efficient use of road space. Increasing the number of routes adds flexibility and speed, although mutual support among moving formations must be assured. Economizing road space requires greater vehicle density on routes in use, a function of shorter intervals between vehicles, march units, and serials. Figure C-2 on page C-10 shows an example of convoy serials, march unit, and march columns.