Reporting form for friendly fire incidents

Reporting Form - Near Miss Friendly Fire Incidents, No Casualties
(Vietnam incidents involving Australian troops only please)

Dr Bob Hall (Platoon Commander 12 Pl D Coy 8 RAR, Second in Command A Coy 8 RAR, author of Combat Battalion: The Eighth Battalion in Vietnam) is conducting research for the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) into how and why friendly fire incidents occur in infantry combat operations, and would like to hear about friendly fire incidents that did not result in casualties. The aim of the study is to try and reduce the number of such incidents in the future.

We all know that for every incident that resulted in one or more casualties and was therefore reported and investigated, there were a number of incidents that were "near misses", and therefore there is no file. If you were a witness to, or a participant in a "near miss" friendly fire incident, would you please complete the questionnaire below to the best of your recollection. Click the Submit button to e-mail it to Bob.

Platoon, Company and Battalion	eg 3 Platoon, A Company, 5 RAR
Date of incident	Approximately
Time of day/night	Approximately
Location	eg 1k west of Binh Ba, or Courtenay Rubber
Source of "near miss" fire
Explanation (if required)	eg US Helicopter
Short description of incident
Role of your unit/sub unit when incident occurred
Explanation (if required)	eg Clearing Patrol from Fire Support Base
Role of other unit/sub unit when incident occured
Explanation (if required)	eg Clearing by fire
How many "friendly fire" incidents did you witness that resulted in casualties?	eg 2
How many "friendly fire" incidents did you witness that did NOT result in casualties?	eg 2
	The following information is to try and identify the factors that contributed to the incident. Please select those that you feel apply, and add or elaborate if you think that the description is inadequate.
Visibility conditions
Explanation (if required)	eg Daylight, heavy cloud and patchy rain
Vegetation
Explanation (if required)	eg Crossing open area in otherwise dense jungle
Approx range of visibility in metres	eg 15-25m
Approximate range of engagement in metres	eg 20-25m
Level of enemy threat at time of engagement
Explanation (if required)	eg Heavy enemy patrolling encountered
Level of unit experience
Explanation (if required)	eg Very early in tour
Orders
Explanation (if required)	eg Didn't cover friendly forces properly
Other issues	Navigation error by own unit Navigation error by other unit On boundary of operational area Relaxed at end of operation Hyped up after contact Acceptable risk given the nature of the op
Do you have any other comments or information that will assist analysis of the incident?
Your e-mail address (only if you want to)	eg reporter@hotmail.com

Reporting Form - Near Miss Friendly Fire Incidents, No Casualties (Vietnam incidents involving Australian troops only please)

Reporting Form - Near Miss Friendly Fire Incidents, No Casualties
(Vietnam incidents involving Australian troops only please)