What's an ARP?

Found this PDF of the 11thACR's newsletter from 2010, and in it there is a fun ditty about a riverside Helo-wash but also a good article on what the job of the ARPs was in 1970.
https://www.11thcavnam.com/Thunder%20Run/Thunder%20Run%20-%202nd%20Qtr%202010.pdf

Fabulous, Darby. Great article on the aerorifles.

Tom

Wow, they've got lots of merch for sale - even books and videos. It's a pity it's 10 years old.

Hey Darby,

Could you please post this in the Intel Center -> Vietnam PDF List sub forum?

Neat that their squad organization was rather different.

That's a lot of clearly displayed license plates in that newsletter!

Thanks for posting Darby ! .. I read this through ; heaps of good info here .

FWIW (having just read 'Acceptable Loss" by Kregg Jorgensen again) ; the 1st Cav ARPs (the 'Blues circa 1968-9) deployed a 21man Aerorifle Platoon in three UH1D * .

Kregg describes his squad (one of three) as five men ; squad leader , assistant leader , RTO , M60 gunner , and grenadier .

In the book he describes the Platoon HQ as platoon leader ( a Lt) , platoon sergeant , platoon RTO, Medic , and a kit Carson scout . (5 men) . (so there is one man unaccounted for in this list**) .
(.** a medic assist or FO/FAC would be obvious likely slots but are not mentioned in the book )

This is interesting if I am reading it right because the platoon carried three M60 (he states it was only authorised one on official TOE) and four radios and is sorta organised like a recon platoon rather than an assault platoon.
(Eg . I woulda thought each M60 gunner would have a dedicated assistant gunner foremost)

Also he states that in the pre-flight inspections they were expected to be wearing a helmet and flak jacket , but most typically left the helmet/body armour on the lift slick . What they wore in the field was individual choice . never mentioned anyone using enemy weapons.

As you might already know ; The rest of the Aircavalry Sqn in the field included the four OH-6 Scout ships in teams of two (the 'Whites') , four AH1G Cobras in teams of two (the 'Reds').
(Hence the term pink teams when they operate as aeroscout teams of two and two )

The ARPs and lift ships were 'the 'Blues' and were a short-notice Ready Reaction Force or 'Exploitation force' to make quick responses to targets (like bunker systems or VC infrastructure) found by the Pink teams . They apparently had a high contact rate , but were back home with the helicopters at night , all going well .

*The fourth UH1D of the lift troop often trailing (empty) to be (temporarily) on hand to be a C+C 'ship , and an immediate medevac , or extra ammo drop if need be . also to be immediately handy if there was a technical malfunction in one of the other slicks during the flight to the insertion LZ .

FWIW this footage is described in the book and allows us to see exactly what they were wearing and humping on the day . There seems a few troopers in helmets .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WeDTrc3USo

howdy , just went back and fact-checked what I had written here ; Kregg listed his squad as himself ; squad leader , gunner , backup gunner , two 'riflemen' . One of which carries the 'squad' radio PRC25.