(5) Trafficability of the soil, under any weather conditions that may be expected during the capture
and occupation of the airhead.
(6) Nature of the soil as affecting the installation of perimeter defenses and the construction of
airstrips.
(7) Cover and concealment, both within the airhead and along its perimeter.
(8) Enemy defenses, including minefields and roadblocks, and other enemy military installations
within the area.
(9) Enemy civilian installations within the area, such as towns, isolated buildings, public utilities, and
the like, which might be of military significance.
(10) Existing landing fields and landing strips and proposed sites for drop zones and for additional
airstrips needed, with estimates of their maximum absorption capacity in terms of aircraft and parachutists.
(11) Sites for engineer dumps and parks.
(12) Location and amounts of engineer construction materials located within the airhead, including any
enemy stocks which may be expected to fall into our hands, with special reference to items useful for the
construction and repair of airstrips and for hasty fortifications.
(13) Water points for use during the capture and occupation of the airhead.
(14) Conditions as to observation and fields of fire, and covered approaches, along the perimeter of the
airhead.
(15) Enemy engineer troops within or adjacent to the airhead, and their capabilities.
(16) Special data needed in connection with the possible employment of nuclear weapons.
c. DEFENSIVE POSITION. If the commander plans an advance into enemy-held territory, followed
by the organization of a defensive position therein, the following data will be expected from the engineers in
connection with organizing the position:
(1) Weather to be expected over the period of the organization and occupation of the position, with
special attention to extremes of heat, cold, drought and precipitation. (Weather information supplied by engineers is
based upon historic compilations; short-range meteorological data is not the responsibility of the engineers.)
(2) Topography and landforms, and any bodies of water both within and on the enemy side of the
proposed position. Data on observation and fields of fire, covered approaches, and natural barriers and obstructions
that may be adapted to defensive purposes. If time permits, a terrain model may be called for.
(3) Location and trafficability of roads within and on the enemy side of the position; extent to which
roads within the position are or could be shielded from enemy ground observation.
(4) Roads, railroads, and other forms of communication leading to the position from the friendly side.
(5) Trafficability of soil within and on the enemy side of the position under the weather conditions
that may be expected.
(6) Nature of soil from the viewpoint of installing both hasty and deliberate field fortifications.
(7) Natural cover and concealment within and on the enemy side of the position; variations of natural
concealment that may be expected with the seasons.
PANEL 1-7. Applications of Engineer Intelligence - (Cont.)
1-64
Previous Page
