OCR Text |
Show Family Weekly/ February 14, 1971 Electronic Battlefield ated ome § tant With Jestears ated merica’s fantastic new system of computerized warfare By VERNON PIZER But the truth is that the first stages of IBCS are already a reality. For example, here is a sampling of some of the more than 250 automated battlefield items that are already developed: MINISID (Miniature Seismic Intrusion Detector)}—Implanted by. hand along likely routes of enemy approach this compact sensor detects the vibrations of movingsoldiers at a distance of “talk” to them around the clock, drawing a detailed picture of the advancing enemy. So timely and accurate was this sensor-developed data that the U.S. de- fenders were quickly able to fashion more than 100 feet, and those of vehicles a counter-strategy and smash two enemy divisions. An official U.S. report of the action, referring specifically to the role played by sensors, declared that “The results at Khe Sanhfired the imagina- at more than 1,000 feet. It instantly con- tion of the field commanders.” verts these seismic vibrationsinto electrical impulses and transmits them by selfcontained radio to a distant “portatale” PRaatiy the most experiencedof all U.S. commanders in the new techniques monitor. (ADSID and PSID,similiar to of the electronic battlefield is Major GeneralEllis W. Williamson, commander of the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam from mid-1968 until the end MINISID, have greater range.) XM-3—Popularly dubbed “the people sniffer,” this is a chemical sensor that detects the presence of humans by identifying tell-tale substances in their body wastes. It also sends its data to a read-out monitor. SLAR—Thishighly sophisticated airborne radar is able to look sideways as well as straight ahead, thus vastly increasing the area of battlefield surveillance. On the ground, there is AN PPS-9 and AN PPS-10—radars so miniaturized that one can be carried by a Not long ago, members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee listened attentively as General Williamson testified on his experiences on the electronic battlefield. “The best real war story I have is Fire Base Crook,” he said. “This is where 412 enemysoldiers were eliminated with the loss of only one U.S. soldier.” Fire Base Crook was established in April, 1969, northwest of Tay Ninh city. A sharp thorn in the enemy’s side, the base blocked one of his divisions and also served as a springboard for American operations near the Cambodian border. Aware that attack against Crook was only a matter of time, Wil- of 1969. liamson ordered sensors seeded along its approaches, The 52-year-old North Carolinian, who began his military career as a National Guardprivate, was a highly decorated combat commander in World War II and Koreaas well as Vietnam. When he talks about combat, people listen. On June 5, the North Vietnamese attacked. In General Williamson’s own words, “The first indication of enemy activity near Crook was given by sensor activations 950 meters east and 550 meters northwest of the base at 2000 (Continued on page 13) Dubbed “People Sniffer,” this backpack being used in Vietnam is sensitive to human body chemicals; it indicates the presence of enemy ahead to monitoring soldier. or not toboggan? Toboggan, of course! Even if it’s that time of the month. Because with Tampax tampons, you're free to do anything you wantto do right from the start of those difficult days. Tampax tampons were developed by a doctor to give prea you internal sanitary pro- Pay single patrolling soldier. tection that’s both safe and [Ug ACOUBUOY—Acompactacoustical sensor has emerged from pioneering comfortable. They have a onal silken-smooth container-applicator that enables you to place them in the proper position every time. And for extra safety, the with- Navy development of sub-killer sonar devices. Delivered on target by air-drop, the device picks up and broadcasts to its home base all the sounds made by an enemy who does not even suspect he is “on theair.” STARLIGHT SCOPE—Anindividual weaponsight that abolishes darkness for the night-fighting soldier by multiplying a thousand-fold the faint star- light or moonlight that is reflected by his target. This is only one in a whole family of night-vision devices. Another is helmet-mounted, infrared binoculars that enable a driver to see in the dark. These and scores of other devices have already been battle-tested in Vietnam and have emerged with flying colors. The first major test came in early 1968, when a massive Vietcong and North Vietnamese force was closing in on the U.S. base at Khe Sanh. The U.S. command seeded the approaches to Khe Sanh with its sensors, not without a certain degree of skepticism. But skeptics were rapidly converted to believers when the sensors began to drawal cord is chain stitched the entire length of the tampon. Disposal! is no problem either, because both the container-applicator and the tampon are completely flushable. With Tampax tampons, you know that there’s never anything showing. No chafing or odor. Theyjust give you real protection. And... confidence. Which is something else you should take along if you’re going tobogganing! Right from the start... OLVELOPED ay 4 DOCTOR WOW USED BY MILLIONS OF woner: TAMPAX® TAMPONS ARE MADE ONLY BY TAMPAX INCORPORATED, FALMER. MASS, |