SELF-TEST
LESSON 4
First requirement. From the information contained in the following situation, fill out both sides of DA Form
1248 (figs 4-1 and 4-2) as the reconnaissance officer would have done. Then, referring to the form and to the
situation, answer exercises 1 through 6.
NOTE: The mileage chart on DA Form 1248 measures 16 kilometers in all. On a map of 1:50,000 scale, 1
centimeter equals 0.5 kilometers.
Situation. At 0745 hours, 24 October 1972, the CO of the 33d Engineer Combat Battalion ordered Company B
to submit a road reconnaissance report prior to 1700 hours on State Route 210 between grid coordinates 293152 and
262218 (These points are referenced to the PEMBERTON map, 1:50,000, sheet 6063 1). The anticipated traffic is
single flow for wheeled vehicles.
CO, Company B, assigned the mission to LT W. B. Duke, who started his reconnaissance at 1000 hours at grid
coordinates 293152. He completed his report at 1530 hours. During his reconnaissance, LT Duke made the
following observations:
a. A light steady rain fell throughout the trip.
b. Both the base and surface of the road were gravel. While the foundation seemed to be firm, considering the
recent continuous rain, the surface was badly rutted, and the surfacing gravel of the crown had sloughed to the
shoulders over most of the route. The "washboard" ruts made vehicle operation difficult.
c. The steepest grade observed had a 5.5 percent slope.
d. One culvert in a marshy area (283178) 3.0 kilometers from the starting point had been demolished by
explosives placed inside it. The resultant crater was hindering suitable drainage and was bypassed with difficulty by
the reconnaissance vehicle. Otherwise, the ditches and culverts were effective under inclement conditions.
e. The traveled way was 5.5 meters with 1-meter shoulders over most of the route. From start to finish, the
route reconnoitered was 8.0 kilometers long.
f. At coordinates 272184, which was 4.2 kilometers from the starting point, a concrete slab bridge was
located. It was of reinforced construction, consisting of one 9-meter span, 3.8 meters over water. The horizontal
clearance measured 6.8 meters; vertical clearance was unlimited. The military load classification was computed to
be 60. Bypassing this bridge would be difficult.
g. At coordinates 266204, which was 66 kilometers from the starting point, there was an old timber-truss
bridge. The military load classification was estimated to be 8. The bridge was 7.5 meters long; horizontal clearance
was 2.5 meters; and vertical clearance was unlimited. This bridge could be bypassed easily.
h. Suitable turn-offs with concealment (scrub oak) were observed 1.3 kilometers and 5.5 kilometers from the
starting point.
i. The measurements for determining the radius of the sharpest curve observed were as follows: chord length,
50 meters; perpendicular distance from the tape measuring the chord to the road center line, 2 meters.
4-69
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