When
decontamination
is
required,
the
resources
necessary
for
decontamination will put a strain on the combat operations. Decontamination
reduces or eliminates the hazard and permits units to continue the mission.
Decontamination is done only when it is necessary to accomplish the mission.
PART A -- EFFECTS OF RADIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION
The effects of radiological contamination range from denial of terrain,
facilities, and equipment, to casualties from radiation. Heat stress, due
to troops being forced to wear protective clothing, reduces combat
effectiveness. Contamination will hinder operations due to losses of time
spent in decontamination operations or in bypassing contaminated objects or
terrain.
Contamination will tax the logistics system and cause a lack of
support for operations, including decontamination operations.
In a contaminated environment, special provisions will be required for
eating and drinking, sleeping and attending bodily functions.
For troop
feeding, collective protection must be provided, or troops must be withdrawn
to a safe area. Personnel must sleep in full protection and, when possible,
under cover.
Personnel must be taught to attend bodily functions without
spreading contamination to inner clothing or their skin.
The wearing of protective clothing makes identification of personnel almost
impossible without a special method of identification.
Units will be
required to devise expedient identification systems. Color coded tapes for
subordinate unit identification with triangles or rectangles of tape to
identify leaders will probably be used.
Maintenance will be more difficult in a contaminated environment. More time
will be necessary for repair of equipment that has been contaminated because
it must be decontaminated prior to repair. Using units are responsible for
decontaminating equipment before it is turned in for maintenance.
The
receiving maintenance unit will check for contamination. Separate storage
sites within maintenance areas will be necessary for the storage,
decontamination, and disposition of equipment prior to maintenance.
Rebuilding damaged facilities is much more difficult and time-consuming when
these facilities are contaminated.
Restoration will not normally be
undertaken unless the area affected is of vital importance and the damaged
facilities cannot be established elsewhere with less effort. Consideration
should be given to the use of locally available or requisitioned facilities.
The logistics system will be affected by radiological contamination
Alternate supply routes and modes of transportation will be of increased
importance.
Traffic regulation and control measures will be necessary to
prevent the use of contaminated routes. Detours and
CM5206
6-2
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