TRANSPORTATION
CATEGORIES OF VEHICLES
Army vehicles fall into the following main categories:
a. A Vehicle.
⬧ A tracked or wheeled armoured combat land vehicle
⬧ primarily designed for offensive purposes and
⬧ a specialist vehicle derived from these basic designs.
(WMZ, BTR 80, BMP and T55, etc.)
b. B Vehicle.
⬧ A tracked or wheeled land vehicle of all types, self-propelled or towed,
⬧ which is not primarily designed for offensive purposes,
⬧ but which may in some cases be armoured designed for defensive purposes and
⬧ which is not C land vehicle.
⬧ This may include land vehicles built to general service or commercial specifications.
(Motor Cycle, Truck, Bus, and Light Vehicle, etc.).
c. C Vehicle.
⬧ A wheeled or tracked item of earth-moving equipment,
⬧ both self-propelled or towed; all self-mobile, self-steering, and
⬧ purpose-made cranes; cable laying ploughs; and
all industrial and agricultural tractors and
rough terrain forklift tractors
excluding warehouse and tractors.
TRANSPORT
Transport in a theatre of operation is divided into 4 main categories as follows:
a. First line - Organic unit transport.
b. Second line - SLASC transport organic to a formation
(Division level)
c. Third line - SLASC transport allotted for the support of formations under command
(Corps/SFHQ level)
d. Fourth line - All SLASC transport is not included in the second or third line
(Dte of S & T)
The main duties of the Divisional Transport Squadron include:
a. Collecting, holding (normally one standard day on wheels) and distributing C Sups
(ration and fuel), in the divisional area.
b. Operating the divisional railheads.
c. Out loading depots and forward storage sites.
d. Distributing heavy lift items in the divisional area.
e. Running Dropping Zones (DZs) and Landing Zones (LZs)
where aircraft and helicopters are used for logistics resupply.
f. Miscellaneous transport tasks including dumping programmes
PWs transport and
CASEVAC.
FIRST LINE TRANSPORT
➢ First line transport can be subdivided into F, A and B echelons.
➢ In certain armoured regiments and mechanised battalions,
A echelons can be divided into A1 and A2 echelons.
The composition of echelons, which will normally be laid down in SOPs, is based on the principle of relieving the
troops in battle with non-essential vehicles, yet having other vehicles readily available when required.
SECOND LINE TRANSPORT
➢ The second line of transport of a division is
the divisional transport provided by the SLASC and consists of a transport squadron affiliated with the
division.
➢ The AQ Staff at divisional HQ is responsible for the allocation of transport resources to meet the various
commitments.
❖ The main duties of the Divisional Transport Squadron include:
THIRD LINE TRANSPORT
➢ The third line transport is provided from the (General Transport) GT of SLASC at the SFHQ level.
➢ If transport is not sufficient, will be fulfilled by taking vehicles from civil hired vehicles, under the supervision
of Dte of S & T.
➢ They also assist the forward movement of depot stocks within the AOR.
➢ The types of the unit include regular and temporary attached elements that supplement the transport of
formations under command of the FMA, as well as
tank transporter, ambulance, and vehicles in support of the artillery regiments…………………………………
FOURTH LINE TRANSPORT
➢ Fourth line transportation is provided from the Independent Transport Squadron (ITS) at the Army level
under the direct supervision of the Dte of S& T.
➢ If the second line and third line transport are not sufficient, fourth line road transport will be used where
necessary.
➢ The vehicle acquiring procedure will be carried out by ITS.
OPERATION AND METHODS OF ROAD TRANSPORT
Many factors must be taken into account when planning a road move.
⬧ Certain calculations are required and a movement table should be prepared.
⬧ Operational road movement in the FCZ is a function of G Staff. In the corps/SFHQ area control of movement on
MSRs is delegated to AQ Staff in liaison with G Staff.
❖ Major factors to be taken into consideration are as follows:
a. Routes.
In selecting routes, consideration must be given to the size and quality of roads and tracks, likely bottle-necks,
bridge classifications and clearances, critical points such as main crossing routes, the availability of staging areas,
recovery/repair/refuelling facilities and the type of traffic that uses the route.
b. Day and Night Restriction.
In view of the air threat to all areas, all road movements may be restricted to the hours of darkness, especially in the
forward areas. However, due to the very large quantities of ammunition required to be moved, daytime movement
is likely to become necessary, particularly over long distances.
All such moves must be carried out by small individual packets of not more than 6 vehicles.
c. Method of Operating Transport.
There are 4 standard methods of operating transport over long distances:
Method of Operating Transport.
There are 4 standard methods of operating transport over long distances:
(1) Unit Stages.
• The driver and his vehicle cover a section of a route and
• deliver their load which is transferred to another vehicle for onward movement.
• The driver and vehicle then return to its base.
(2) Through Running.
• The driver and vehicle cover the whole route
• from the loading point to the destination and
• return after delivering the load.
(3) Continuous Running.
• The drivers are changed at appropriate intervals
• even though the vehicle runs throughout the whole route
• from the loading point to destinations.
(4) Interchange of Vehicles.
• The drivers deliver and change vehicles at appropriate changeover points
• and complete with loads.
• For instance, a unit driver exchanges his empty vehicle for a full second line vehicle and
then the empty vehicle is subsequently reloaded for redeployment as required.
ORDNANCE SUPPLY
The SLAOC is responsible for the supply of all items of materiel to the Army,
(except stores of engineer provision, construction material, medical and ration/POL).
❖ Ordnance stores include the followings: (05)
a. All kinds of ammunition, explosives and missiles.
b. General stores.
c. Barrack stores including tentage and camp equipment.
d. Clothing including some medical equipment.
e. Stationery and office equipment.
SLAOC Units in the Combat Zone
SLAOC units that are responsible for handling ordnance materiel in the combat zone should establish the following:
a. Depots.
b. Forward Maintenance Areas.
c. The FOD which forms the DAA typically consists of:
(1) Stock Control Section.
(2) Store Depot.
(3) Returning Store Sub Depot.
(4) Local Purchase Section.
d. Ordnance Battalions.
(1) Store Depots.
(2) Forward Ordnance Depots.
(3) SLAOC Battalion Headquarters.
e. Ordnance Stores Sections.
a. Depot.
✓ They may be a composite with several items or
✓ accommodate with a single commodity.
✓ These are located in RCZ to ensure that necessary stocks are readily available for the operation
✓ and controlled by the AHQ level.
✓ They are replenished from ports and airfields.
b. Forward Maintenance Areas.
✓ In addition to their C Sups (ammo) role mentioned elsewhere,
✓ FMAs hold stocks of ordnance materiel, vehicles and equipment both in support of the divisions and
✓ for issuing directly to corps/SFHQ troops.
c. The FOD
which forms the DAA typically consists of:
(1) Stock Control Section.
(2) Store Depot.
(3) Returning Store Sub Depot.
(4) Local Purchase Section
d. Ordnance Battalions. Briefly describe the organization and responsibilities of the supply of Ordnance battalion deployed in the divisional area?
The ordnance battalion consists of
(1) a store depot,
(2) 4 x FODs,
(3) an Ordnance Store Section (OSS) and
(4) HQ
as described below:
(1) Store Depots.
The store depots consist of a
⬧ traffic group (regiment police),
⬧ MT and
⬧ First Aid Mechanical Transport Outfit (FAMTO) sub depot,
⬧ clothing sub depot,
⬧ general and barrack sub depot,
⬧ technical and stationary group,
⬧ return store sub depot and
⬧ workshop group.
(2) Forward Ordnance Depots.
⬧ A SLAOC battalion normally will deploy 4 x FODs which
⬧ carry a range of fast-moving items from all ordnance stores to support the division.
⬧ FODs are replenished from FMA as appropriate.
⬧ Each FOD can detach FOTs.
The FOT
⬧ The FOT acts as a link between units and the SLAOC battalion,
⬧ for receiving and checking demands and acting as a transit point when stores are being brought forward.
⬧ The FOT will normally be deployed in the BAA
⬧ if one is formed, or to a location near a group of unit A echelons.
⬧ The FOT does not usually hold stores.
(3) SLAOC Battalion Headquarters.
⬧ On mobilization, the battalion HQ detaches the supply operation cell to the divisional rear HQ
to provide advice and liaison.
⬧ The remainder of the battalion HQ is deployed at the FMA.
e. Ordnance Stores Sections.
✓ Workshops are heavy users of ordnance materiel.
✓ SLEME armoured and field workshops and some base workshops are therefore directly supported by an OSS.
✓ OSSs are replenished from the FMAs.
Systems of Supply
Three different systems used for the supply of ordnance materiel are discussed below
a. Normal System.
b. Controlled Stores.
c. Clothing.
SLAOC Ancillary Services
a. Fire Service.
b. Printing and Stationery.
c. Industrial Gases.
d. Local Purchase and Contracts
e. Ammunition.
f. Equipment Repair
REPAIR AND RECOVERY
STAGES OF REPAIR
Repairs to all Army equipment are classified into four stages according to the extent of the engineering content
a. 1 st Line (Unit Repairs)
✓ These are the minor repairs, replacements and adjustments
✓ that can be carried out in unit areas by LADs or attached SLEME personnel.
b. 2 nd Line (Field Repairs)
✓ These are the repairs beyond the capacity of attached tradesmen and LADs.
✓ They comprise mainly of replacement of defective assemblies with new or reconditioned ones.
✓ In addition to that, certain other repairs to equipment are also classified as field repairs.
✓ These repairs are carried out by the field workshops established in the DAA.
c. 3 rd Line (Medium Repairs)
✓ Intermediate repairs that are expensive or special in nature and
✓ modifications carried out in the field to complete vehicles and equipment that
✓ do not require base overhaul or base repair facilities. මූලික අලුත්වැඩියා හ ෝ මූලික අලුත්වැඩියා ප සුකම්
✓ Repair of major or minor assemblies beyond the capability of field workshops, and
✓ repair of the overflow of vehicles and equipment from field workshops are referred to the medium
workshops in SFHQ areas.
d. 4 th Line (Base Repairs)
✓ These encompass rebuilding of engines, Major Unit Assemblies (MUAs) and
✓ a periodic complete overhaul of vehicles and equipment. (Overhaul -නැවත සකස් කිරීම)
✓ Generally base repairs are carried out in base workshops established in Comm Z.
✓ The repairs required facilities beyond the base workshops, may directed to local agent for execution of the
repair.
CONDITION OF EQUIPMENT
⬧ The condition of equipment determines the nature of the repair required;
⬧ hence, the type of unit that will carry out the repair is expressed by a letter of classification and
⬧ the required consequent degree of repair will be as follows
a. S - Serviceable.
b. O - No repair is required but the fault should be kept under
observation.
c. A - Can be made serviceable by the crew.
d. X - Can be made serviceable by unit repair.
e. Y - Can be made serviceable by field repair.
f. Z - Can be made serviceable by base repair
g. Beyond Local Repair (BLR)
✓ This is a process of moving equipment backwards,
✓ when a particular repair is beyond the capacity of the SLEME,
✓ for reasons such as non-availability of spares,
technical skills, and
workshop facilities.
h. Beyond Economical Repair (BER)
✓ Vehicle/equipment that is declared as BER is subjected to condemnation procedure.
✓ BER refers to the decision taken to sentence equipment out of service due to the following
considerations:
(1) If the cost of repair exceeds 75% of the current market value of the equipment.
(2) Expecting life after repair
(3) The policy of AHQ.
(4) The age/mileage of the equipment.
i. Unserviceable.
✓ In this process, if equipment is not fit for further service,
✓ it is sentenced as unserviceable and
✓ will be returned to SLAOC.
An armoured workshop is fully mobile, self-administered, and normally divided into two parts:
Forward Repair Group (FRG) and
Medium Repair Group (MRG).
⬧ It provides independent repair and recovery coverage for A vehicles.
⬧ The composition and functions of these two parts are as follows:
a. FRG
✓ The FRG is made up of several FRTs, recovery vehicles and store elements.
✓ It will affect major assembly changes to operationally vital A vehicles.
✓ The work of the FRG is controlled by the respective armoured field workshop and
a large armoured workshop can deploy 2 x FRGs.
✓ The FRG will normally be located in a BAA and be under command of a brigade for movement and
daily maintenance.
b. MRG
✓ A MRG carries out field repairs to the remainder of the equipment in the theatre of operations.
✓ The work of the MRG is controlled by the CO of the SLEME armoured battalion.
✓ Large armoured workshops can deploy 2 x MRGs
RECOVERY
❖ Recovery
is the process of extricating disabled equipment
from the point of breakdown to the place where it can be repaired or backloaded.
❖ The movement of equipment out of a theatre of operations is known as evacuation.
Basic Recovery Terms.
The following basic terms are used in the recovery process:
a. Evacuation.
This is the movement of equipment casualties out of a theatre or zone.
b. Recovery.
It is all or part of the process of extricating an equipment casualty from the forward area for repair or
further evacuation.
c. Equipment Collection Point (ECP).
This is the location where equipment casualties from units are collected before backloading by the second
line recovery resources.
d. Back Loading Point (BLP).
This is the location at which equipment casualties that need repair are dumped for backloading outside
the divisional area.
A BLP will only be established in circumstances where the subsequent backloading of equipment
casualties has been planned.
Recovery Classification.
⬧ The recovery system in the field is organised in four stages or lines, linked to the lines of workshops.
⬧ Recovery resources may be used to move equipment casualties in any direction, even forward, when
operationally required.
⬧ The chain of recovery connects ECPs, workshop sections, BLPs, recovery posts and workshops to form an
integrated recovery pattern
a. First Line Recovery.
⬧ The first line recovery is
the extrication and restoration (ඉවත් කිරීම ස ප්රතිෂ්ඨාපනය කිරීම) of mobility to an equipment casualty from the place
where it has become a casualty, by the units themselves or by their workshops section (if available).
⬧ It also includes removal to an ECP or some location from where it can be backloaded.
⬧ The first line recovery is primarily the unit’s responsibility and
is carried out by the recovery resources available in the unit including the SLEME element integral to it.
⬧ However, if the recovery is beyond the scope of the unit, the second line recovery resources will provide the
necessary assistance.
b. Second Line Recovery.
⬧ The second line recovery includes the removal of equipment casualties from units, workshop sections,
recovery posts, ECPs and conveyance to the second line workshop or BLPs.
⬧ This process covers the following recovery tasks:
(1) Repair in-situation of a casualty or
its backloading to an ECP, field workshop or BLP, when these are beyond the scope of the first line
recovery
(2) Backloading of equipment casualty collected at an ECP to the field workshop or the BLP.
(3) Within the divisional area, the second line recovery is carried out by the concerned field/armoured
workshop as per the recovery plan prepared by the CO, SLEME.
c. Third Line Recovery.
⬧ The third line recovery includes backloading from the second line workshop or BLPs to the third line repair
resources and
⬧ is normally carried out by the SLEME battalion recovery resources.
d. Fourth Line Recovery.
This involves backloading from a medium workshop to a base workshop for base repairs
There are 3 basic recovery tasks as follows:
a. Vehicle Casualty.
o The towing of vehicle casualties to a place of relative safety where a repair can be completed
which have been damaged in battle, or have suffered serious automotive failures.
(The process is illustrated in Annex G to this Chapter.)
b. Immobilised Vehicles.
o The recovery of B vehicles/AFVs that are in every other respect crewed and fit but are bogged or ditched.
o The current recovery policy is to provide a rapid response so that such vehicles
are extracted without delay and are consequently returned to their units battle-worthy.
c. Route Clearance.
o It is essential to retain the ability to manoeuvre and redeploy armoured forces in the battle.
o This flexibility will be prejudiced unless routes can be kept open, particularly at choke points.
o Recovery vehicles are, therefore, placed to remove vehicle casualties’ critical points where any delay in
movement could lead to failure of operations.
MEDICAL
CASUALTY EVACUATION
The actual organization and chain of evacuation in the field will depend on the following aspects:
a. Type of terrain, communication, command structure and distance involved.
b. Availability of armoured ambulances consisting of tracked or wheeled.
c. Availability of aircraft, sea transport and other modes of quick evacuation system for CASEVAC.
d. Methodical deployment of required medical installations in the theatre of operations and other areas in the
country.
e. Availability of an adequate number of qualified tradesmen in each medical establishment.
Role of FST (Field Surgical Teams)
The role of the FST is
• to act as a mobile and first line surgical support team.
• Resuscitation and lifesaving emergency surgeries are done to make the casualties fit enough
for onward evacuation (නැවත පණ ගැන්වීම ස ජීවිතාරක්ෂක දිසි සැත්කම්)
Main functional aspects of a medical establishment
In general, all medical units are required to carry out the following tasks:
a. Reception of causalities, including carriage.
b. Preparation of casualties for diagnosis and treatment.
c. Sorting of casualties (triage). තුවාලකරුවන්ව වර්ග කිරීම
d. Resuscitation and treatment. පුනර්ජීවනය ස ප්රතිකාර
e. Documentation.
f. Evacuation.
g. Hygiene.
h. Ancillary tasks such as: ස ායක කාර්යයන්ව
(1) Resupply.
(2) Cooking.
(3) Repair and maintenance.
(4) Radio watch.
Field Hospital
• A field hospital
o consists of 3 x 30 medical and administrative staff.
• All field hospitals
o have 3 surgical teams, one of which is totally self-contained and
o mobile to be deployed in a forward location at short notice.
• Each field hospital must consist of the following staff:
a. Medical Officer.
b. Resuscitation Officer. පුනර්ජීවන නිලධාරියා
c. 12 x Staff Nurses.
d. 8 x Medical Assistants.
e. 10 x other staff including Clerk, PHI, ECG Operator,
Radiographer, Store men, Pharmacist and Drivers.
PROVOST
The SLCMP
➢ is responsible for policing the Army and providing the military police support as a part of overall
sustenance.
➢ The SLCMP will continue to uphold military law and maintain military discipline in war and peace.
➢ The role of SLCMP is to police the Army both in peace and war.
This role is summarised as follows:
a. Tactical police support to the Army in all phases of operations.
b. Law enforcement and crime prevention within the Army in peace and war.
c. The provision of garrison police duties.
CORE FUNCTIONS
SLCMP adopts the following core functions to the highest:
a. Assist.
b. Correct.
c. Prevent.
d. Arrest and Custody.
DUTIES OF SLCMP
a. Supervision and Enforcement of Disciplinary Regulations.
b. Prevention and Detection of Crime.
c. Tactical Police Support.
➢ The following tasks are carried out by SLCMP:
(1) Traffic Control (TC).
(2) Route Signing.
(3) Stragglers Posts.
(4) Information Posts.
(5) Aid to the Civil Authorities.
(6) Prisoners of War.
(7) Handling of IDPs.
(8) Escorts.
SLCMP UNITS
The force levels that operate in different fields are:
a. Comm Z.
A provost battalion providing TC and normal provost duties under the direction of the Provost Marshal.
b. RCZ.
As for Comm Z.
c. Corps/SFHQ.
Provost battalion deployed in FMA to assist troops under Corps/SFHQ AOR.
d. Division.
One provost company.
e. Brigade.
Supported by the divisional provost company.
When operating independently, provost resources will be allocated by the CO of the respective battalion
COMMAND AND CONTROL
Provost representation at HQs is as follows:
a. Force HQ (Comm Z)
Provost Marshal
b. Corps/SFHQ
CO, SLCMP
c. Division.
OC, SLCMP
d. Brigade.
A SLCMP officer/SNCO from a divisional provost company (when a brigade is operating independently)
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMANDERS OF MAINTENANCE AREAS
1. Comd FMA.
a. Responsible for the coordination of the local deployment of all CSS units and installations in SFHQ AOR.
b. Supervise and should ensure that unit commanders carry out instructions and directions given by respective
service directors through their chain of command.
c. Ensure proper information is passed between formation HQ and units or installations in the FMA.
d. Responsible for the coordination of local admin.
e. To liaise with the movement control cell and reorganize movement and materiel within AOR.
2. Brigadier Log Comd/Comd RP.
a. Coordinate local defence of FMA/RP.
b. To monitor and supervise whether the instructions of the service directors are carried out with respect to the
levels of stocks and forward delivery.
c. Act as the communication centre to pass information between RMA/FMA and subunits/installations in the RP.
(1) Coordinate local administration.
(2) Coordinate the allocation of resources within RP, particularly labour and transport.
(3) To liaise with the movement control cell.
(4) Units of supporting arms or services usually receive orders from arms advisers or the heads of services,
and therefore it is unnecessary and undesirable to issue them with full CSS Orders. In cases where this is
desired, however, additional copies are issued to appropriate arms adviser or the head of the service. It may
reduce the workload if arms advisers and heads of CSS are given extra copies of a complicated overlay; it
can then be passed on to units without reproduction.
d. At Brigade level CES and Engineer Regiments will seldom be under command, but their HQ is usually located at
Brigade HQ and therefore they are normally treated as an action addressee. Additional units of supporting arms
should receive orders through their respective affiliated command, to whom additional copies may be issued, if
appropriate.
e. At the Brigade level, if the service unit is placed under command, it appears in the distribution list immediately
after the request from its service representative. If a service unit or sub-unit is supported, (e.g.: an FRG) it will
normally not require a CSSO, but may be issued with one, at the discretion of the originator.
