Temporary Fire Support Bases Add Mobility to Airborne Troops, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam

Description

OF STATEMENT NEWSFILM RELEASE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) UNITED SECURITY WASHINGTON, D.C. - 20301 STATES OF PLEASE NOTE DATE Number: V-535-70 April 13, 1970 OX 7-6161 Filmed: March 15, 1970 Footage 54' Time 1:30 Room 2E773 16mm Color Composite Print TEMPORARY FIRE SUPPORT BASES ADD MOBILITY TO AIRBORNE TROOPS (official Department of Defense motion picture film by the U.S. Air Force, under the direction of the MACV Office of Information. Photography by Sgt. Whittaker and Sgt. Nakaishi. Sound by T Sgt Hirsch.) This is Fire Support Base "Bullet", a rugged, mountain-top installation built in just 24 hours by the engineer units of the 101st Airborne Division. Con- structed and totally supplied by helicopters, the temporary base is part of a new concept to provide infantry units on combat operations with artillery support whenever it is needed. "Bullet" is located 19 miles west of Hue, South Vietnam, in Thua Thien Province and is manned by troops of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Republic of Vietnam Division (ARVN). The heavily fortified installation includes six 105mm howitzers manned by the American soldiers and four mortar sites, of which two are handled by ARVN troops. The heavy firepower backs up six American and ARVN rifle companies on reconnaissance-in-force missions within an eight mile radius of the camp. A1- though temporary, the fire support base provides a chance for soldiers to handle housekeeping chores and is complete even to the extent of having Sunday church services conducted by a division chaplain. In all, some 300 American and 90 ARVN soldiers conduct operations from Fire Support Base "Bullet." SEQUENCES SCENE FOOTAGE VIDEO AUDIO 5 (a) Aerial view of fire support base Wild Track 8 (b) Helicopter bringing in supplies to camp 11 10 (c) Artillery pieces fired in support of 11 rifle companies 3 (d) ARVN soldiers firing mortars in support 11 of rifle companies on operation 4 (e) Perimeter radar set-up 11 4 (f) Soldier checking perimeter of compound 11 3 (g) Soldier washing clothing 11 6 (h) Soldier cleaning rifle 11 3 (i) Soldiers relaxing 11 8 (j) Church services being held at fire support 11 base by a division chaplain NOTE TO EDITORS: 54', 16mm color composite print released to ABC-TV, CBS-TV, NBC-TV, Fox Movietone, UPITN, and a master and optical track to Deluxe Labora- tories. EDITORS: PLEASE CREDIT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN TITLE OR COMMENTARY. This is a "V" series color composite print released to each individual DOD pool.

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases