Short Halt Maintenance Keeping Combat Power Rolling Forward in the Attack

Union Major General George H. Thomas, the famous “Rock of Chickamauga,” once told his young officers that “the fate of an army may depend on a buckle.” The same is true today in our Armor Force of high technology weapon systems: every component must always be in working condition. The fate of soldiers and units now rests on wedgebolts and filters, roadwheels and batteries. Our maintenance efforts have improved in recent years, particularly in the motor pool. But what about during-ops maintenance, that critical time when there is much to do, and soldiers are alternately keyed-up or exhausted due to the stress of battle? Our doctrine calls for continuous operations, but how can we maintain equipment over long periods to ensure our combat power remains up front on the objective?

The “Iron Dukes” of 2-67 Armor solved the problem in a manner much -like an Indy pit team swarms over its vehicle at the Speedway. At each operational halt, vehicle crewmen dash from one point to the next, scurrying from driver’s compartment to suspension to engine. Moments later the word to move is sounded. The crewmen mentally check their list once more: refueled, filters cleaned, suspension lubed, fluids full, all is ready. They climb aboard and speed away. This technique of rapid, yet thorough, maintenance on the move is termed short halt maintenance, a concept that arose from the need to consistently combat the harsh effects of the desert on the MlAl during periods of continuous operations. Tankers quickly found that the “during-ops“ checks from the -10 TM proved insufficient and cumbersome to access during extended periods of movement and around-the-clock operations.

Likewise, crews could not expect any downtime to execute the “before” and “after” checb of the full schedule. Short halt maintenance maximizes the quality of PMCS within the absolute minimum time afforded by high intensity operations. Although developed in the desert, the concept itself is adaptable for any type of climate. Two distinct components comprise the program..

First is a list of maintenance checks distilled from TM 9-2350-264-10, written in bullet format for simplicity (Figure 1). The particular content of this list is certainly flexible. It does not pretend to be all-inclusive, and can be modified anytime the tional tempo or maintenance posture changes significantly. Each crew gets a copy of these checks while in the assembly area. The list should be on an index card, or affixed where it is readily accessible within the turret. A brief, backdeck demonstration for the tank commanders, conducted by the company XO and maintenance team chief, pays tremendous dividends. You may think that, as these tasks come directly from the PMCS table of the -10, no instruction is needed. However, this provides a great start point for the program, and affords tank commanders the opportunity to ask questions. In this way, everyone on the team will know the standard. More Opera-44 about execution of these checks later. The second component for success is a clear priority of work established by the chain of command. Tank crews can then rapidly translate their leaders’ guidance into aggressive maintenance on the ground. As the tank company rolls to a stop, whether it be for ten minutes or an hour, the commander or executive officer must prioritize and quickly publish a maintenance effort that is sharply focused, based upon the estimated length of stay, recent maintenance accomplished, and upcoming operations. Other important activities will compete for your time: refueling, orders updates, and feeding must all be accomplished. The maintenance order may be given on the ground or over the radio, using the number of Short Halt Checks

1. Inspect roadwheel hubs

2. Clean engine and transmission oil coolers

3. Blow V-Packs and predeaner

4. Check scavenger fan and hose

6. lnspact and brush heat exchanger

7. Inspect rear grilles and seals

8. Field strip and clean weapons

10. Sweep backdedc

11. Dust radios

12. Clean turret interior

13. Clean ammo door rails

14. Check and dean batteries

15. Clean and inspect wind sensor

16. Dust optics, vision blocks and MRS

17. Dust fire extinguisher sensm

18. Inspect and clean NBC equipment Figure 1 ARMOR - MayJune 1992 the chec.. -.-...,. Another method is to publish the maintenance priority of effort for short halts in the OPORD. The minimum goal is to complete your list daily. A typical short halt may unfold like this: A company has been on the move for the last three hours. Five miles from their current location, the task force is going to halt for not longer than ten minutes to give commanders anew map overlay. Knowing this, the company XO radios on the company net, "All Blue elements, this is Blue 7. At next halt., execute ority to 1 and 14. Length of halt ten minutes. Out."

Tank crews will soon anticipate this guidance and develop the skill to transition rapidly from tactical opentions to productive maintenance work with a minimum of disruption. The time spent at the halt will, therefore, be fully utilized with productive activity that supports the maneuver plan. No time is lost while crews mill around seeking information. In executing the checks, adherence to the procedures outlined in the -10 is the rule of thumb. The purpose of short halt maintenance is to emphasize and supplement during-ops checks, not to deviate from the TM checks 1, 5,7, 14, 15, and 17. Pri-standard. However, certain checks may require specific practice before crews become proficient under field conditions. The process of blowing the V-Packs and pre-cleaner is one of these and bears mention.

In a dry, dusty environment, blowing the V-packs becomes a critical and time-consuming process. There is definitely aright way and a wrong way to do this.

A good technique is to have one wand and two base attachments in each platoon, so that each platoon is self-sufficient. One tank may blow out I Demonstrate In AA/Rehearse Select -10 Tasks Codlfy 8 Bullet Format I I I J I XO Evaluates Upcomlng Halt; Determlnes Tasks I FM (or OPDRD) Figure 2 ARMOR - Y the other three, then SWILII W I W to the tank with the second attachment to have its own packs blown. Of course, a tank must never attempt to blow out its own packs! Ensure that your crews are reminded.

As much as possible, blow the dust from the inside to the outside of the filters to prevent dust from being blown through the material of the filter element. Wear gloves to handle the wand, and do not blow the packs on the back deck. Place them on a tarp or cloth on the ground to preclude further dust settling in the engine. Finally, replace the V-Packs in the exact sequence they held before cleaning. This ensures a better seal. The amount of dust and dirt that comes out of each V-Pack after a few hours of running in the desert is amazing.

As the example of the Indy pit team illustrates, the aggressive spirit of short halt maintenance applies any time the tank is not moving. Such an attitude fosters crew pride and teamwork. Caring for the tank becomes second nature for every soldier, a comfortable, instinctive routine which ensures that our combat power is constantly prepared to fight. First Lieutenant Bradley T. Gericke is a 1988 graduate of the United States Military Academy. He has completed the Armor Officer Basic, Air Assault, Jungle Warfare, and Airborne Courses. He sewed as a tank platoon leader and tank company XO with 2-67 Armor, 3AD. Friedberg, Germany. While in Iraq after DESERT STORM, he became the battalion S1, 2-67 Armor, his current position. He is scheduled to attend AOAC this fall.