FSB's were a major US innovation
in Vietnam. They were established as a self-contained and self-defended
artillery base from which infantry operations could be mounted
and supported.
A typical FSB could be expected
to deploy 6 x M102 105mm field howitzers and anything from a company
to a battalion of infantry with it's supporting 81mm mortars,
communications, medical and administrative personnel.
Construction
and Layout of American FSB
There was a standard drill for
the construction of a FSB.
following recon and site selection, a stake was positioned at the center of the chosen site and a 131' (40m) rope was used
to mark the bunker line.
the bunker line was marked by stakes at 15' intervals to indicate the individual infantry bunker positions.
a circle of 246' (75m) radius marked the line of the perimeter wire.
at each bunker position, helicopters dropped a standard pack of 1 shaped demo charge, 2 sheets of pierced steel planking
and empty sandbags which were used to construct a 9' (2.7m) bunker.
bulldozers excavated ground for the CP and the FSCC or FDC and pits for the guns and mortars.
a prefabricated 20' (6m) observation tower was flown in by CH-47
time taken for construction varied but it was deemed essential that the outer defences and infantry positions were completed
by last light on the first day of the occupation of the FSB site.
Legend
1. FSCC - Fire Support Co-ordination
Center
2. Communications Center
3. Administration & Stores
4. 105mm Gun Pits
5. 81mm Mortar Pits
6. Observation
Tower
7. Command Post
8. Ground Surveillance & Anti-personnel
radar emplacements
9. Night observation devices, searchlights
for visible/infra-red illumination
10. Perimeter - triple dannart barbed wire,
claymores, trip flares & Fougass
11. Infantry Bunkers
L.Z. Landing Zone (Helicopters)
The following are pictures of Australian FSB's in Vietnam 1969.
Each FSB was given a Nickname
