Ranger LRRP Effectiveness

[Ranger Bill]

I can only speak about K Company from November '69 to June '70. Operational Control of the Company switched from the G-2 to the G-3 and most missions became ambushes. In February, we tasked to conduct a company-sized raid on a POW camp, CSM Donald G. Keller (Ret.), was the 1SG at the time. He wrote an article about the raid in Patrolling Magazine last year.

[Steadfast]

I would like to point out a few misconceptions that this thread has taken. First is that LRRP was only Reconnaissance. while most mssions were "sneek and peek", there were many missions that were "snatch" in nature, therefore direct contact.
The next misconception is that of lineage, present day Rangers lineage goes to WWll, with Darby and Merrill. In the "argument" papers switching LRRP/LRP to Ranger, the lineage goes back to Roger's Rangers, because the first companies, were used for Reconnaissance.
As far as "sentless soap", I don't know about later , we didn't have any, also the concept that we were ojt, might have been right when we first started, but Recondo school, became the norm for new guys.

In the beginning (early years '66, '67) few units and personnel were in RVN. In '69 there were in JUN 643,000 soldiers in country. Not everyone got to go to Recondo. Only #1 in class was selected for Recondo. The rest only got Pre-recondo taught by graduates of Recondo & usually 20 something missions amassed. The rest became ojt.

[rangerrg_c75]

C/75 had very few attend MACV Recondo. If memory serves correctly it was shut down in late '70 or early '71. We didn't send anyone that I'm aware of after about Jun of 70. Company Cdr thought it was waste of time. Course he thought our own Company Pre-Ranger Course was a waste of time. But then he didn't have to hit the bush with 4 newbies either.

[Ranger Ron]

Our missions in I Co were Reconnaissance during my time there. Big Red One was then brought home in the early spring of 1970.

[AbnRgr289]

I hope everyone realizes this is a none secure wire and the info being given out opens doors for Idiots in the future. (If you know what I mean.)

[H75thRangers]

H Company (1st Cav) stayed with primary mission of Recon, occasionally targeting a high profile target snatch (pay master, local VC leader, etc) but mostly recon-intel. The five-to-six man team size and the distance to friendlies made it disadvantageous to be going after heavy contact.

This is not to say that while monitoring a trail or watering site that we didn't blow ambushes, because we took advantage of those opportunities when they presented themselves, with approval from HQ, but normally, division felt it was more effective to get in, garner intel, get out without being compromised. The last thing you wanted to do was get extracted by McGuire rig that took splitting the team and having to reduce your firepower and increase your wait time, especially at night through triple canopy, where traditionally you were subject to get your best intel.

[Lurp Eyes]

I came across the lineage argument for switching LRRP/LRP to Ranger, modern Rangers lineagcome out of WWll, Europe and Asia, LRRP/LRP comes from Roger'se Rangers. The first companies were Lurping for the Brits, until they formed up to kick the Hurons.
Another misconception is that there was a difference between LRRP and LRP, I don't know about other units but the 173rd, was NOT just recon, it included snatch and ambush. Doing their war, their way , with their rules, but we had choppers and they didn't, lol.

[Steadfast]

I came across the lineage argument for switching LRRP/LRP to Ranger, modern Rangers lineagcome out of WWll, Europe and Asia, LRRP/LRP comes from Roger'se Rangers. The first companies were Lurping for the Brits, until they formed up to kick the Hurons.
Another misconception is that there was a difference between LRRP and LRP, I don't know about other units but the 173rd, was NOT just recon, it included snatch and ambush. Doing their war, their way , with their rules, but we had choppers and they didn't, lol.

You are right Lurp eyes - Actually, the 2nd "R" was dropped since patrols were doing more than recon making them Long Range Patrols.

[Ranger Bill]

Much more than recon...

[Goog]

Uh Oh FOG fight???

My daaddy had a bigger shitgun than yours??????

WTF, Over