Part Two. Detailed Procedures FM 90-13/FMFM 7-26

Chapter 9

E n g i n e e r R e g u l a t i n g P o i n t O p e r a t i o n s GENERAL

â€Ã³ Vehicle configuration for the crossing.

ERPs ensure effective use of the crossing means.

â€Ã³ Disabled vehicle actions and the location of the ERPs and TCPs may be collocated to provide control maintenance collection point.

for the river crossing. The CSC uses them to rapidly

â€Ã³ Hand and arm signals and signaling devices.

organize and move the unit through the crossing area.

â€Ã³ Brassards, arm bands, or other identification of guides and traffic controllers.

ORGANIZATION

â€Ã³ The issue, wear, and return of life jackets.

The CSC establishes ERPs at the call-forward area

â€Ã³ The location of TCPs and engineer guides.

and, if enough engineer assets are available, at the

â€Ã³ The location of holding areas and alternate routes.

staging area and the far-shore holding area. He uses

â€Ã³ The location of the casualty collection point.

additional ERPs only when specific site conditions

â€Ã³ Actions in the call-forward area.

make it necessary for crossing-area control. The ERP

â€Ã³ Actions to take in case of threat fire.

needs sufficient space to layout the dimensions of a raft,

â€Ã³ Company regrouping in the far-shore holding area.

brief crossing procedures, and conduct necessary in-An engineer from the squad running the ERP can spections and rehearsals. A hardstand, such as a rest brief vehicle crews and rehearse them in movement stop or parking lot, is ideal for this purpose but lacks signals. The staging area is an ideal place to do this, the overhead concealment usually desired. Some ERP

minimizing the time and effort spent organizing across-functions may be done at separate ERPs to ensure a ing unit in the call-forward area, Otherwise, a separate smooth and rapid flow of vehicles to the river. In this ERP should handle this task.

case, it is essential to maintain communications be-

Figure 9-1, page 9-2, is an example of an ERP at the tween ERPs.

call-forward area. The engineer squad leader positions Typically, an engineer squad mans an ERP. This himself where he can best control vehicle movement maintains unit integrity and provides sufficient person-from the call-forward area to the river line. He estab-nel and equipment for continuous operations. The lishes communication with the crossing-site head-crossing-site headquarters establishes direct com-quarters. As a crossing unit arrives, the assistant squad munication with the ERP to control raft load or in-leader contacts the unit’s commander, who determines dividual vehicle movement. Depending on the location the order in which his vehicles will cross. The assistant and purpose of the ERP, it can have the following squad leader then configures individual vehicles into functions:

raft loads, while ensuring that the vehicles do not ex-

â€Ã³ Briefing crossing unit personnel on procedures, in-ceed either the weight limit or the maximum dimen-cluding safety.

sions of the raft. He has a space marked out in the exact

â€Ã³ Demonstrating ground-guide signals.

dimensions of a raft for this purpose. An engineer

â€Ã³ Inspecting equipment to ensure it meets load-class squad member guides the vehicles onto this mockup capability of the crossing means.

raft, using the same procedure to be used at the raft

â€Ã³ Organizing vehicles into raft loads.

embarkation point on the river. At the same time,

â€Ã³ Conducting rehearsals.

another engineer inspects vehicles for proper load clas-

â€Ã³ Controlling vehicle movement.

sification and dimensional clearances and chalks the Raft Operations

raft load number onto the vehicles. Once cleared The ERP configures vehicles into raft loads and through the mockup, an engineer guides the raft load sends them to the river to coincide with the arrival of to a ready line. The engineer squad leader releases an empty raft. Engineers brief crossing units before individual raft loads to the river as directed by the their arrival in the call-forward area to make this hap-crossing-site headquarters.

pen as rapidly as possible. The briefing covers –

Items useful for running an ERP could include–

â€Ã³ The route and its markings through the crossing site.

â€Ã³ A TA-1 field phone and RL-39 with wire.

â€Ã³ The road speed and interval.

â€Ã³ Two rolls of engineer tape and six stakes.

â€Ã³ Raft loading and unloading.

â€Ã³ Ten traffic markers.

â€Ã³ The location of passengers while on rafts.

â€Ã³ Flashlights with colored filters.

Engineer Regulating Point Operations 9-1





FM 90-13/FMFM 7-26

Part Two. Detailed Procedures

â€Ã³ Chemical lights.

â€Ã³ Vehicles will maintain the interval indicated by signs

â€Ã³ Signal flags.

on the side of the road.

â€Ã³ Chalk.

â€Ã³ Operators will follow the signals of engineers at

â€Ã³ Camouflage nets and poles.

ramps and intervals along the bridge.

â€Ã³ Night-vision goggles.

ERPs maybe established along routes to the crossing

â€Ã³ Sandbags.

site to regulate traffic. A mockup bridge is not necessary for the ERP.

Bridge Operations

Abridge operation requires a continuous traffic flow Swim Operations

to the river. Units must be briefed and sent to the The ERP for a swim site has necessary briefings and crossing site quickly. To accomplish this, engineers vehicle inspections. Crossing units are responsible for brief at staging areas and check vehicle load most preparations, but the ERP can assist with a pre-classification and dimensional clearances. The brief-dip site established nearby and provide recovery assets.

ings include the following rules: A-briefing on swimming operations should include–

â€Ã³ Vehicles will maintain maximum speed of 15 miles

â€Ã³ Layout of entrance and exit markers.

per hour while crossing the bridge.

â€Ã³ Swamping drills.

â€Ã³ No vehicles may stop on the bridge.

â€Ã³ Rescue procedures.

â€Ã³ No operators will shift or make abrupt changes in

â€Ã³ Actions in case of enemy fire.

speed on the bridge.

9-2 Engineer Regulating Point Operations