PLANNING FUEL SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT
To support the movement and momentum of initial clashes, the COSCOM must push fuel forward and deep from the very outset of the battle. Petroleum officers will preplan bulk fuel resupply. Plans will need to include uninterruptedthest points practicable in the corps. Transportation medium truck companies (petroleum) transport fuel from the corps area to class III supply points operated by petroleum supply companies and nondivision DS supply companies. A medium petroluem truck company then pushes the fuel from the petroleum supply company to the MSB in the DSA, division ASB, separate brigade support battalion, and ACR support squadron. To meet unexpected requirements, the COSCOM MMC may divert or reroute fuel being transported from COMMZ stocks to appropriate forward-located class III supply points. Throughput is not preferred for distributing bulk POL; however, the situation may dictate that coordination take place to meet tactical requirements.
A quartermaster (QM) DS supply company provides fuel by supply point distribution for nondivisional units. This means supported units drive organic POL tank vehicles to their supporting DS-level class III supply point. However, if the customer or using unit operates closer to a GS petroleum supply company, the administrative/ logistics plan may direct the unit to obtain fuel from the GS-level source. The effort should be to support customers within tSTIFY. FUEL ORGANIZATIONS
a. Supply Company. Assigned to each FSB to provide DS to a maneuver brigade and its associated slice elements. Its fuel capability consists of 10 5,000-gallon tankers.
b. S&S Company. Assigned to a MSB to provide DS or reinforcing DS to divisional units in the division rear and FSB supply companies. Two fuel system supply points (FSSPs) are available for storage and 34 tankers for distribution.
c. Headquarters and Supply Company. Assigned to a division ASB to provide DS to the avaition brigade and its associated slice elements. One FSSP, 15 HEMTTs, 3 tankers, and 8 FAREs are used for fuel support.
d. QM Supply Company (DS). Assigned to rear or forward CSGs with the basis of allocation to support 18,500 soldiers. Provides DS-level bulk fuel to nondivision units. Forward CSGs normally employ a DS supply company in the division area to provide support to nondivision units operating in the division sector. Also provides reinforcing support to FSBs and MSBs to enable them to support corps forces employing in the brigade or division area. Two FSSPs,120,000 gallons of bulk fuel storage,provide supply point distribution.
e. Petroleum Supply Company (GS). Assigned to a forward or rear CSG to provide corpswide GS-level bulk fuel support to nondivision DS supply companies, DISCOM MSBs, separate brigade support battalions, and ACR support squadrons. These companies also maintain a prescribed portion of the corps' petroleum reserve. Normally, a petroleum supply company cannot support more than one corps division slice. A total of 1,244,558 gallons of bulk fuel can be received or issued, and 2,520,000 gallons can be stored.
f. Medium Truck Company (Petroleum). Assigned to the forward and rear CSGs with a habitual relationship with the petroleum supply company. It transports bulk fuel from GS petroleum supply companies to DS supply companies and to divisions. Each company has 60 5,000-gallon tankers providing 900,000 gallons of local haul (4 round-trips per day) and 450,000 gallons of line-haul distribution (2 round-trips per day). (Note: The 7,500-gallon tankers are allocated at EAC only.)
g. Petroleum Product Laboratory (Mobile) Team. Normally attached to the petroleum supply battalion in the rear CSG to test fuel and provide technical assistance.
h. Petroleum Pipeline and Terminal Operating Company. Normally assigned to EAC but could be assigned in a COSCOM for independent corps operations. It operates a tactical petroleum terminal or existing fixed facilities and loading facilities, and can operate petroleum pipelines. Current doctrine requires a pipeline construction engineer company to initially lay the pipeline and establish the pump stations for turnover to the QM petroleum pipeline and terminal operating company for its operation. Pipeline equipment is not TOE, but it is included in operational project stocks Department of the Army (DA) controls.
i. HQ, Petroleum Supply Battalion. May be required for C2 if three or more petroleum supply companies are assigned to the corps.
j. HQ, Petroleum Pipeline and Terminal Operation Battalion. May be required for C2 if three or more petroleum pipeline and terminal operating companies are assigned to the independent/contingency corps.
k. Petroleum Supply CLT. Normally assigned to a CSG to provide liaison with and interface between an HNS petroleum supply battalion and the US petroleum distribution system.
A REFUELING TECHNIQUE
ROM for ground vehicles is a technique of resupply that is synonymous with rapid or hot refueling for aircraft). When vehicles enter a ROM site for refueling, they receive a short burst of fuel (usually timed for 1 to 2 minutes) and move out to return to their convoy or formation. It is normally accomplished far forward on the battlefield before reaching the tactical assembly area. This differs from normal resupply that will "top off" the receiving vehicle.
METT-T must be considered when planning for a ROM. The S3, S4, and support operations officer must identify, plan, and conduct the type of ROM operation that best supports the commander's scheme of maneuver. Consideration must be given to the risk for scarce petroleum resources to enemy interdiction, the availability of sufficient space to establish ROM operations, and masking friendly actions so as not to reveal our intent to the enemy. ROM operations are equipment-intensive, high-risk, and may require support from higher organizations.
ROM is equipment-independent. As long as the concept is followed, we can use any number of current equipment configurations to accomplish a ROM operation. Any unit can employ a ROM operation anywhere on the battlefield where there is a need to rapidly refuel combat vehicles. A number of equipment configurations can be employed:
a. ROM kit,consists of enough hoses, valves, and fittings to refuel up to eight combat vehicles simulta-neously. In addition, a fuel source [one or more 5,000-gallon semitrailers, HEMTTs, tank and pump units (TPUs), or collapsible fuel bags] must be added to the configuration. If JP-4/JP-8 or MOGAS is issued, a filter separator is also required. A 350-gallon per minute (GPM) pump can be added to provide a greater flow rate than the organic pump on the fuel carrier. The common table of allowances (CTA) authorizes ROM kits. (Note: Divisions received free issue of two ROM kits during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.)
b. Bulk fuel carriers,one or more 5,000-gallon semitrailers, HEMTTs, or TPUs can be emplaced to ROM combat vehicles. Equipment and their flow rates follow:
HEMTT,50 GPM from two organic nozzles (2,500-gallon capacity, cross-country capability, organic to maneuver battalions).
TPU,20 GPM from two organic nozzles (1,200-gallon capacity with two 600-gallon pods mounted on a 5-ton truck with a pump can pull an additional 600-gallon pod mounted on a 5-ton trailer). TPUs are replaced by HEMTTs. Very few are in the field now.
5,000-gallon tanker and ROM kit,35 PGM from each of eight nozzles.
5,000-gallon tanker,50 GPM from two organic nozzles.
Organic pumps on fuel carriers are actually greater than these figures; i.e., the 5,000-gallon tanker model M969 has a 600-GPM pump. The limiting factor here is based on the receiving vehicle's acceptance rate, thenumber, and the size of the nozzles. A ROM kit has eight 1½-inch nozzles. Most vehicles' acceptance rate is 50 GPM or less. For example, you can plan for an M1 tank receiving approximately 100 gallons in a 2-minute ROM.
SINGLE FUEL ON THE BATTLEFIELD
All US military services are converting to JP-8, the single fuel on the battlefield. A single fuel on the battlefield greatly facilitates managing and distributing fuel on the battlefield. JP-8 has a higher flash point than JP-4, a petroleum characteristic that provides greater safety. It is a suitable substitute for JP-4, diesel fuel, and MOGAS. Total conversion for the US Army is scheduled this year. The US Navy continues to use JP-5 when refueling aircraft at sea. The goal is for JP-8 to be issued to all US military organizations around the world.
Army MOGAS-burning equipment; i.e., M-2 burners, generators, etc., must be replaced with a multifuel burning piece of equipment. The projected date for replaceing all MOGAS-burning equipment is 2005. Obviously, this depends heavily on budget constraints. MOGAS is available as a packaged product.