■ A water source. Make maximum use of existing facilities, such as car washes and swimming
pools. The supply should be sufficient in quantity to allow for about 100 gallons of water for
each armored personnel carrier. The larger, more heavily contaminated, and dirtier (e.g.,
mud) vehicles will require more water.
The M12A1 Power-Driven Decontamination Apparatus (PDDA) can carry 450 gallons of
water to a decontamination site and hold it there. The M17 Lightweight Decontamination
System (LDS) has a collapsible bladder which can hold 1500 gallons, but must be set up and
filled with water at the decontamination site.
d. Rendezvous.
The contaminated unit meets the battalion decon crew at the decontamination site. The contaminated
unit's company supply section brings replacement MOPP Gear, decontaminants, and skin
decontamination kits to the rendezvous location. This location could be near enemy territory, and the
decon crews and company supply section have little, if any, organic security. Therefore, local field
SOPs should describe the rendezvous procedure for all parties involved to avoid confusion, delay, or
confrontation with enemy forces.
e. Site Setup.
The battalion decon crew will set up the vehicle washdown area. An operational decontamination site
implies minimal setup or preparation time prior to commencing the decontamination operations. Site
setup requires positioning the PDDE along the roadway, ready to dispense hot, soapy water. If water for
the M12A1 PDDA has been preheated, setup should take approximately five minutes. Setup for the
M17 LDS will take longer if the water bladder must be filled. Contaminated vehicles move up to the
washdown area, are sprayed, and move out.
The company supply section drops off supplies and returns to the company area. Two people from the
contaminated unit set up a MOPP Gear Exchange. You should set up both the Vehicle Washdown and
MOPP Gear Exchange to operate concurrently if it is not a deterrent to mission accomplishment. The
use of concurrent operations increases safety and security; it decreases the all important time factor
between contamination and decontamination.
4.
Execution Phase.
During this phase, the two techniques used in operational decontamination are implemented. The two
techniques are: Vehicle Washdown and MOPP Gear Exchange.
CM 2506
4-22
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