24TH MECH INF DIV OPERATION DESERT STORM AFTER ACTION REPORT

File: 080596_jun96_decls21_0102.txt
Page: 0102
Total Pages: 253

Subject: 24TH MECH INF DIV OPERATION DESERT STORM AFTER ACTION REPORT    

Box  ID: BX001437

Document Number:          2

Folder Title: 24 MECH INF DIV AFTER ACTION REPORT                                                             

Folder Seq #:        785

Unit: 24TH ID     

Parent Organzation: XVIII CORPS 






                                     UNCLASSIFIED
                                                                     05/30/91
                                   JULLS LONG REPORT

          1. (U) TULLS NUMBER: 50850-69326 (00011), submitted by ALL UNITS,
          24 ID, 870-5516, (912)767-5516.

          2. (U) Other OPN DESERT STORM NOTES conducted by 24 IN DIV (MECH)
          on 03/05/91.

          3. (U) KEYWORDS: NAVIGATION, GPS, GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM,
          DESERT NAVIGATION, LAND NAVIGATION, .

          4. (U) TITLE: NAVIGATION IN THE DESERT

          S. (U) OBSERVATION: Navigating in the desert is extremely
          difficult, and without a Global Positioning System, virtually
          impossible.

          6. (U) DISCUSSION: This is not a new problem. In 1941, during
          Operation Barbarossa, the Germans had the same type of problem
          navigating across the steppes of the Ukraine. Their solution at
          that time was to assign a naval officer with a sextant and
          tables to each of their maneuver elements to compute the
          unit's location. The GPS is the 1991 solution to a 1941
          problem. Exact grid coordinate locations are an absolute
          necessity for long range aerial navigation, calls for indirect
          fires, attack helicopter emplacement, all forms of ground
          movement, and nearly all other types of tactical operations.
          Leaders cannot rely on current navigation techniques alone. The
          importance of GPS systems during this operation cannot be
          overstated. They were just as important as a map and compass.
          They allowed leaders to navigate quickly, confidently, and
          a'ccurately. These navigation aides are relatively inexpensive,
          easy to use, and reliable.

          7. (U) RECOMMENDED ACTION: Equip every combat system, tactical
          vehicle, and aircraft with a GPS, compass, and an odometer that
 need
          to have an external antenna since the covering on a vehicle will
          block the signal received from the satellites in space.
          Additionally, it was difficult at times to access enough
          satellites (three) to get an accurate reading of ground
          location. We need to complete the network of satellites so that
          it is not difficult for ground GPS equipment to make the link to
          the satellites.




              (U) SUBJECT: OPERATIONS

              (U) INTEROPERABILITY: MATERIEL

              (U) Lesson distributed by: 24TH IN DIV.



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                                    UNCLASSIFIED

Document 253 f:/Week-22/BX001437/24 MECH INF DIV AFTER ACTION REPORT/24th mech inf div operation desert storm after a:08029615062350
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-22
Box ID = BX001437
Unit = 24TH ID
Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS
Folder Title = 24 MECH INF DIV AFTER ACTION REPORT
Folder Seq # = 785
Subject = 24TH MECH INF DIV OPERATION DESERT STORM AFTER A
Document Seq # = 50
Document Date =
Scan Date = 12-JUN-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 02-AUG-1996