us army special forces group (airborne) (u) - NPS Publications

194 Pages·2000·0.98 MB·English

by  Paul Tompkins

CONFIDENTIAL

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FIELD MANUAL

U.S. ARMY

SPECIAL FORCES GROUP

(AIRBORNE) (U)

Classified by______DA________
Subject to GDS of EO 11652
Automatically Downgrade at Two
Year Intervals
Declassified on May 3, 1976.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (cid:31) AUGUST 1955

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*
FM 31-20
FIELD MANUAL
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
No. 31-20
WASHINGTON 25, D.C., 10 August 1955

U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES GROUP
(AIRBORNE) (U)

Paragraphs Page
PART ONE. SPECIAL FORCES GROUP
ORGANIZATION AND
MISSION
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL.............................................1-8 5
2. SPECIAL FORCES
GROUP
HEADQUARTERS AND
STAFF
Section I. The unit staff........................................9-14 11
II. The special staff.................................15-26 17
CHAPTER 3. SPECIAL FORCES AD-
MINISTRATIVE
UNITS............................................27-30 28
CHAPTER 4. SPECIAL FORCES OPER-
TIONAL TEAMS..........................31-35 34
PART TWO. SPECIAL FORCES
GROUP FUNCTIONS
AND OP-ERATIONS
CHAPTER 5. THE SPECIAL FORCES
BASE
Section I. Introduction........................................36-39 38
II. Command and staff structure..............40,41 41
III. Base functions....................................42-46 42
CHAPTER 6. SPECIAL FORCES AD-
MINISTRATION...........................47-51 45
7. SPECIAL FORCES IN-
TELLIGENCE...............................52-54 49
8. SPECIAL FORCES
TRAINING....................................55-57 51

*This manual supersedes FM 31-20, 1 February 1951.
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CHAPTER 9. SPECIAL FORCES RE-
SPONSIBILITIES
FOR TRAINING
GUERRIL- LA
FORCES.........................................58-61 53
10. SPECIAL FORCES COM-
MUNICATIONS............................62-65 55
11. OPERATIONS...................................66-74 58
PART THREE. GUERRILLA FORCES
CHAPTER 12. GUERRILLA FORCE AD-
MINISTRATION............................75,76 71
CHAPTER 13. GUERRILLA FORCE IN-
TELLIGENCE
Section I. Introduction.........................................77,78 72
II. Guerrilla intelligence..........................79-82 72
III. Counterintelligence.............................83,84 79
CHAPTER 14. GUERRILLA FORCE OP-
ERATIONS
Section I. Organization and training....................85,86 83
II. Marches and movements....................87-89 85
III. Security Measures..............................90-95 86
IV. Offensive operations........................96-109 89
V. Defensive operations......................110-112 99
CHAPTER 15. GUERRILLA FORCE LO-
GISTICS
Section I. Supply............................................113-119 103
II. Medical service..............................120-126 107
CHAPTER 16. GUERRILLA FORCE
COMMUNICATIONS
Section I. Introduction....................................127-131 113
II. Means of communication...............132-134 116
CHAPTER 17. RESUPPLY OPERATIONS
Section I. Amphibious resupply opera-
tions............................................135-138 120
II. Air resupply operations..................139-142 123
APPENDIX I. REFERENCES.................................................. 127
II. GLOSSARY................................................. 131
III. GUERRILLA
INTELLLIGENCE
AGENCIES.............................................. 133
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APPENDIX IV. COMMUNICATIONS................................. 146
V. GUIDE FOR TRAINING............................ 155
Section I. General......................................................... 155
II. Training phases............................................ 158
Appendix VI. GUIDE FOR LOGISTICAL
SUP-PORT............................................... 160
VII. FIELD EXERCISE...................................... 165
INDEX .................................................................. 174

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PART ONE

SPECIAL FORCES GROUP ORGANIZATION
AND MISSION

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL

1. Purpose and Scope
This manual is designed to assist the special forces
group commander, his staff, arid his detachment
commanders in the organization and preparation for
operational employment of all elements of the group. It is
designed also to assist commanders and staffs of higher
headquarters whose duty may require the wartime
employment of a special forces group (airborne). It
discusses the characteristics, principles, doctrine, and
mission of the special forces group (airborne). The manual
also discusses the phases of development, organization,
support, and direction of guerrilla forces, consisting
primarily of indigenous peoples and a minimum number of
participating United States personnel and, equipment.
2. References (Unclassified)
For a list of references of subjects related to this
manual, see appendix I.
3. Definitions (Unclassified)
For definitions of phrases and terms used in this
manual, see appendix II
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4. Characteristics of the Special Forces Group
(Confidential)
a. The group is a cellular type unit employed at
theater level. It operates initially within the Army
forces of the theater to conduct guerrilla operations
(fig. 1). An appropriate command organization for
the conduct of Unconventional Warfare may be
organized as needed by the theater commander.
Typical of an appropriate command organization is
the joint unconventional warfare task force
(JUWTF). This term is used throughout this
manual.
b. The special forces group has the capability of
operating within the framework of other theater
organizational structures. In a large theater of
operations, the theater commander or the
commander of a joint unconventional warfare task
force may organize one or more joint sectors for
the purpose of coordinating, controlling, and
supporting the unconventional warfare effort in
designated areas. The special forces units are
prepared to operate as a part of a joint sector force
(fig. 2).
5. Mission (Confidential)
The primary mission of special forces units for
guerrilla operations is to infiltrate operational
detachments by air, sea, or land to designated areas
within the enemy's sphere of influence in
accordance with the approved plans of the
appropriate area commander—
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