ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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Distribution Operations 18 June 2020 6-5 to units with limited access by ground transportation assets. Aerial delivery allows bypassing enemy activities and reduces the need for security operations along ground lines of communications. A sling load is an external load carried beneath a utility or cargo helicopter held in place by a sling, bag, or net. As in airdrop, weather conditions, mission requirements, threat environment, and equipment units deliver determine the equipment and type of aircraft used for the delivery. Army aviation performs most sling load operations supporting Army units. The FSC may be prepared to both receive and package bulk supplies for sling load operations. To execute these operations, sling load trained personnel are required in the FSC’s distribution platoon. The mission may require the FSC to designate and operate a pickup zone. Keep in mind the following criteria when selecting pickup zones: Shielded from enemy observation. Approach and exit routes based on the availability of good masking features. Located near storage or supply points and a good road network. Size of pickup zone, depending on the number and type of helicopter expected. Tactical dispersion based on the threat. Potential obstacles and loose debris. Level landing area. Flight paths into and exiting from the pickup zone. The receiving unit, which may be the FSC, selects a landing zone or drop zone to receive aerial resupply. They are also responsible for the receiving and derigging of the loads. The receiving unit immediately transports the delivered supplies away from the landing zone/drop zone and returns the sling or air delivery equipment including — slings, cargo nets, and cargo bags, to its owning unit if the tactical situation permits. They may also have retrograde supplies and equipment the unit will prepare and load on the returning aircraft. For additional information about aerial delivery operations refer to ATP 4-48, Aerial Delivery. Refuel On The Move A ROM is a deliberately planned operation requiring augmentation for the BSB to conduct. ROMs are usually planned as part of offensive operations or long movements to facilitate transitions, like forward passage of lines. A ROM provides adequate fuel to extend the endurance of the supported unit. Planners do not intend a ROM to completely refuel the combat vehicles. It is used when complete refueling operations are either impractical or unneeded. When vehicles enter a ROM site for refueling, fuel trucks issue a predetermined amount of fuel (usually timed) and vehicles return to their convoy or formation. The rapid refueling executed during a ROM distinguishes it from routine convoy refueling operations. Supported unit S-3 and S-4 staffs coordinate with the BCT S-4 and BSB SPO to set the time and place to perform the ROM operations according to march tables and scheme of maneuver and establish the amount of fuel the BSB or FSC will provide for each vehicle. Ideally, ROM operations utilize fuel assets from the DSSB or BSB’s distribution company that allow the FSC petroleum fuelers to maintain full mobile storage capacity. ATP 4-43, Petroleum Supply Operations, contains more information about ROM operations. Forward Arming and Refueling Point A FARP is a temporary facility organized, equipped, and deployed as far forward and widely dispersed, as tactically feasible to provide fuel and ammunition necessary to sustain combat aviation units. Establishing a FARP allows commanders to extend the range of their aircraft or significantly increase time on station by eliminating the need for aircraft to return to the aviation unit's central base of operations to refuel and rearm. FARPs may be task organized to provide maintenance support as well as air traffic control services, if required. A FARP is an example of supply point distribution. The Army employs FARPs to support aviation operations, generally by the distribution company of an aviation support battalion, when the distance covered ATP 4-90