Logistics: March 18, 2005

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While half the casualties in Iraq are from roadside bombs, rarely does a coalition truck carrying fuel or ammo get hit and destroyed. Some divisions have gone an entire year with none of their fuel or ammo trucks being destroyed on the road. How can this be? Simple, the fuel and ammo convoys always get the highest level of protection. This includes air cover in the form of a helicopter, often a helicopter gunship. Lower priority convoys have to make do with a UAV, or no air cover at all. Air cover is not magic, the MPs or combat troops providing the ground escort also have to be watching carefully for camouflaged roadside bombs. Its also important to vary the schedule and routes for fuel and ammo convoys. The chances of getting attacked on the road have always been low, but if you are out there several times a week, you are likely to experience at least one roadside bomb, or some gun fire, at least once in a 12 month tour. But if you take enough precautions, you can reduce the chances of getting hit bad, to near zero. And thats whats happened with the most dangerous cargo of all.

 

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