FM 3-05.70 Field Manual Survival (17 May 2002)

F-4. Sharks vary in size, but there is no relationship between the

size of the shark and likelihood of attack. Even the smaller sharks

can be dangerous, especially when they are traveling in schools.

F-5. If bitten by a shark, the most important measure for you to

take is to stop the bleeding quickly. Blood in the water will

attract more sharks. Get yourself or the victim into a raft or to

shore as soon as possible. If in the water, form a circle around the

victim (if not alone), and stop the bleeding with a tourniquet.

OTHER FEROCIOUS FISH

F-6. In saltwater, other ferocious fish include the barracuda, sea

bass, and moray eel (Figure F-2). The sea bass is usually an open

water fish. It is dangerous due to its large size. It can remove

large pieces of flesh from a human. Barracudas and moray eels

have been known to attack man and inflict vicious bites. Be

careful of these two species when near reefs and in shallow water.

Moray eels are very aggressive when disturbed.

Figure F-2. Ferocious Fish

F-3

F-7. In fresh water, piranha are the only significantly dangerous

fish. They are inhabitants of the tropics and are restricted to

northern South America. These fish are fairly small, about 25

to 60 centimeters (10 to 24 inches), but they have very large teeth

and travel in large schools. They can devour a full-grown hog

in minutes.

VENOMOUS FISH AND INVERTEBRATES

F-8. There are several species of venomous fish and

invertebrates, all of which live in saltwater. All of these are

capable of injecting poisonous venom through spines located in

their fins, tentacles, or bites. Their venoms cause intense pain

and are potentially fatal. If injured by one of the following fish or

invertebrates, treat the injury as for snakebite.

Stingray

Dasyatidae species

Stingrays inhabit shallow water, especially in the tropics, but in temperate regions

as well. All have a distinctive ray shape, but coloration may make them hard to

spot unless they are swimming. The venomous, barbed spines in their tails can

cause severe or fatal injury.

F-4

Rabbitfish

Siganidae species

Rabbitfish are found predominantly on the reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

They average about 30 centimeters (12 inches) long and have very sharp spines

in their fins. The spines are venomous and can inflict intense pain.

Scorpion fish or zebra fish

Scorpaenidae species

Scorpion fish live mainly in the reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They vary

from 30 to 90 centimeters (12 to 35 inches) long, are usually reddish in coloration,

and have long wavy fins and spines. They inflict an intensely painful sting.

F-5

Siganus fish

The siganus fish is small, about 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) long, and

looks much like a small tuna. It has venemous spines in its dorsal and ventral

fins. These spines can inflict painful stings.

Stonefish

Synanceja species

Stonefish are found in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Averaging about 30 centimeters (12 inches) in length, their subdued colors and

lumpy shape provide them with exceptional camouflage. When stepped on, the

fins in the dorsal spine inflict an extremely painful and sometimes fatal wound.

F-6

Tang or surgeonfish

Acanthuridae species

Tang or surgeonfish average 20 to 25 centimeters (8 to 10 inches) in length, with

a deep body, small mouth, and bright coloration. They have needlelike spines on

the side of the tail that cause extremely painful wounds. This fish is found in all

tropical waters.

Toadfish

Batrachoididae species

Toadfish are found in the tropical waters off the coasts of South and Central

America. They are between 17.5 and 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches) long and

have a dull color and large mouths. They bury themselves in the sand and may

be easily stepped on. They have very sharp, extremely poisonous spines on the

dorsal fin (back).

F-7

Weever fish

Trachinidae species

The weever fish is a tropical fish that is fairly slim and about

30 centimeters (12 inches) long. All its fins have venomous spines that cause a

painful wound.

Blue-ringed octopus

Hapalochlaena species

This small octopus is usually found on the Great Barrier Reef off eastern

Australia. It is grayish-white with iridescent blue ringlike markings. This octopus

usually will not bite unless stepped on or handled. Its bite is extremely poisonous

and frequently lethal.

F-8

Portuguese man-of-war

Physalis species

Although it resembles a jellyfish, the Portuguese man-of-war is actually a colony

of sea animals. Mainly found in tropical regions; however, the Gulf stream current

can carry it as far as Europe. It is also found as far south as Australia. The

floating portion of the man-of-war may be as small as 15 centimeters (6 inches),

but the tentacles can reach 12 meters (40 feet) in length. These tentacles inflict a

painful and incapacitating sting, but it is rarely fatal.

Cone shells

Conidae species

These cone-shaped shells have smooth, colorful mottling and long, narrow

openings in the base of the shell. They live under rocks, in crevices and coral

reefs, and along rocky shores and protected bays in tropical areas. All have tiny

teeth that are similar to hypodermic needles. They can inject an extremely

poisonous venom that acts very swiftly, causing acute pain, swelling, paralysis,

blindness, and possible death within hours. Avoid handling all cone shells.

F-9

Terebra shells

Terebridae species

These shells are found in both temperate and tropical waters. They are similar to

cone shells but much thinner and longer. They poison in the same way as cone

shells, but their venom is not as poisonous.

FISH WITH TOXIC FLESH

F-9. There are no simple rules to tell edible fish from those with

poisonous flesh. Figure 8-2, page 8-7, shows the most common

toxic fish. All of these fish contain various types of poisonous

substances or toxins in their flesh and are dangerous to eat. They

have the following common characteristics:

• Most live in shallow water around reefs or lagoons.

• Many have boxy or round bodies with hard shell-like skins

covered with bony plates or spines. They have small

parrotlike mouths, small gills, and small or absent belly

fins. Their names suggest their shape.

F-10. In addition to the above fish and their characteristics,

barracuda and red snapper fish may carry ciguatera, a toxin that

accumulates in the systems of fish that feed on tropical marine reefs.

F-11. Without specific local information, take the following

precautions:

• Be very careful with fish taken from normally shallow

lagoons with sandy or broken coral bottoms. Reef-feeding

species predominate and some may be poisonous.

F-10

• Avoid poisonous fish on the leeward side of an island. This

area of shallow water consists of patches of living corals

mixed with open spaces and may extend seaward for some

distance. Many different types of fish, some poisonous,

inhabit these shallow waters.

• Do not eat fish caught in any area where the water is

unnaturally discolored. The discoloration may be indicative

of plankton that cause various types of toxicity in

plankton-feeding fish.

• Try fishing on the windward side or in deep passages

leading from the open sea to the lagoon, but be careful of

currents and waves. Live coral reefs drop off sharply into

deep water and form a dividing line between the suspected

fish of the shallows and the desirable deep-water species.

Deepwater fish are usually not poisonous. You can catch the

various toxic fish even in deep water. Discard all suspected

reef fish, whether caught on the ocean or the reef side.

F-11

Appendix G

Ropes and Knots

TERMINOLOGY

G-1. To be able to construct shelters, traps and snares, weapons

and tools, and other devices; you should have a basic knowledge of

ropes and knots and some of the terminology used with them. The

terms are as follows:

•

Bight. A simple bend of rope in which the rope does not

cross itself.

•

Dressing the knot. The orientation of all knot parts so that

they are properly aligned, straightened, or bundled.

Neglecting this can result in an additional

50 percent

reduction in knot strength. This term is sometimes used

for setting the knot which involves tightening all parts of

the knot so they bind on one another and make the knot

operational. A loosely tied knot can easily deform under

strain and change, becoming a slipknot or worse, untying.

•

Fraps. A means of tightening the lashings by looping the

rope perpendicularly around the wraps that hold the spars

or sticks together.

•

Lashings. A means of using wraps and fraps to tie two or

three spars or sticks together to form solid corners or to

construct tripods. Lashings begin and end with clove

hitches.

•

Lay. The lay of the rope is the same as the twist of the

rope.

•

Loop. A loop is formed by crossing the running end over or

under the standing end to form a ring or circle in the rope.

•

Pig tail. That part of the running end that is left after

tying the knot. It should be no more than 4 inches long to

conserve rope and prevent interference.

•

Running end. The free or working end of a rope. This is the

part of the rope you are actually using to tie the knot.

•

Standing end. The static part of rope or rest of the rope

besides the running end.

G-1

• Turn. A loop around an object such as a post, rail, or ring

with the running end continuing in the opposite direction

to the standing end. A round turn continues to circle and

exits in the same general direction as the standing end.

• Whipping. Any method of preventing the end of a rope

from untwisting or becoming unwound. It is done by

wrapping the end tightly with a small cord, tape or other

means. It should be done on both sides of an anticipated

cut in a rope, before cutting the rope in two. This prevents

the rope from immediately untwisting.

• Wraps (Figure G-1). Simple wraps of rope around two poles

or sticks (square lashing) or three poles or sticks (tripod

lashing). Wraps begin and end with clove hitches and get

tighter with fraps. All together, they form a lashing.

Figure G-1. Wraps

G-2

BASIC KNOTS

G-2. The basic knots and methods of tying them that you should

know for your survival are as follows:

• Half-hitch. This is the simplest of all knots and used to be

the safety, or finishing, knot for all Army knots. Because it

had a tendency to undo itself without load, it has since

been replaced by the overhand.

• Overhand (Figure G-2). This is the simple knot that most

people tie everyday as the first half of tying their shoes. It

can also be used to temporarily whip the end of a rope.

This knot should replace the half-hitch as a finishing knot

for other knots. This knot alone will reduce the strength of

a straight rope by 55 percent.

Figure G-2. Overhand Knot

• Square (Figure G-3, page G-4). A good, simple knot for

general purpose use. This knot is basically two overhand

knots that are reversed, as in Right over Left, Left over

Right. It is used to tie the ends of two ropes of equal

diameter together (just like your shoe laces) and must be

secured with an overhand on both ends. It is easy to

inspect, as it forms two loops and is easy to untie after

being loaded.

• Round turn and two half-hitches (Figure G-4, page G-4).

This is the main anchor knot for one-rope bridges and other

applications when a good anchor knot is required and where

high loads would make other knots jam and difficult to

untie. It is most used to anchor rope to a pole or tree.

G-3

Figure G-3. Square Knot Secured by Overhand Knots

Figure G-4. Round Turn and Two Half-Hitches

• Clove hitch and end-of-the-line clove hitch (Figures G-5 and

G-6, page G-5). It can be used to fasten a rope to a tree or

pipe and also puts little strain on the rope. It is an easy

anchor knot but tension must remain on the knot or it will

slip. This can be remedied by making another loop around

the object and under the center of the clove hitch.

G-4

• Double sheet bend (Figure G-8). This knot is used to tie

together the ends of two ropes of equal or unequal diameter.

It will also join wet rope and not slip or draw tight under

load. It can be used to tie the ends of several ropes to the

end of one rope. When a single rope is tied to multiple ropes,

the bight is formed with the multiple of ropes.

Figure G-8. Double Sheet Bend

• Prusik (Figures G-9 through G-11, pages G-6 and G-7).

This knot ties a short rope around a longer rope (for

example, a sling rope around a climbing rope) in such a

manner that the short rope will slide on the climbing rope

if no tension is applied, and will hold if tension is applied

on the short rope. This knot can be tied with an end of rope

or bight of rope. When tied with an end of rope, the knot is

finished off with a bowline. The nonslip nature of the knot

on another rope allows climbing of ropes with foot holds. It

can also be used to anchor ropes or the end of a traction

splint on a branch or ski pole.

Figure G-9. Prusik, End of Line

G-6

Figure G-10. Prusik, End of Line and Center of Line

Figure G-11. Prusik, End of Line With Bowline for Safety

• Bowline and bowline finished with an overhand knot

(Figure G-12, page G-8). Around-the-body bowline was the

basic knot used for rescue for many years as it provided a

loop, which could be placed around the body, that would

not slip nor tighten up under strain. It has been replaced

by the figure 8 in most applications as the figure 8 does not

weaken the rope as much.

G-7

Figure G-12. Bowline and Bowline Finished

With an Overhand Knot

• Figure 8 and retraceable figure 8 (Figure G-13). This knot is

the main rescue knot in use today. It has the advantage of

being stronger than the bowline and is easier to tie and

check. Its one disadvantage is that when wet, it may be

more difficult to untie than the bowline after being stressed.

The figure 8 (or figure-of-eight) can be used as an anchor

knot on fixed ropes. It can also be used to prevent the end of

a rope from slipping through a fastening or loop in another

rope when a knot larger than an overhand knot is needed.

Figure G-13. Figure 8 and Retraceable Figure 8

G-8

VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION LASHINGS

G-3. There are numerous items that require lashings for

construction. Figures G-14 through G-16, pages G-9 and G-10,

show types of lashings that you can use when constructing

tripods, shelters, and racks. Refer to paragraphs 12-25 and 12-26,

pages 12-10 and 12-11, if using field-expedient rope.

Figure G-14. Shears Lashing

Figure G-15. Square Lashing

G-9

Appendix H

Clouds: Foretellers of Weather

About 200 years ago an Englishman classified

clouds according to what they looked like to a

person seeing them from the ground. He grouped

them into three classes and gave them Latin

names: cirrus, cumulus, and stratus. These three

names, alone and combined with other Latin

words, are still used to identify different cloud

formations.

By being familiar with the different cloud

formation and what weather they portend, you

can take appropriate action for your protection.

H-1

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

ADMINISTRATION

Cirrus clouds

Cirrus clouds are the very high clouds that look like thin streaks or curls. They

are usually 6 kilometers (4 miles) or more above the earth and are usually a sign

of fair weather. In cold climates, however, cirrus clouds that begin to multiply and

are accompanied by increasing winds blowing steadily from a northerly direction

indicate an oncoming blizzard.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

ADMINISTRATION

Cumulus clouds

Cumulus clouds are fluffy, white, heaped-up clouds. These clouds, which are

much lower than cirrus clouds, are often fair weather clouds. They are apt to

appear around midday on a sunny day, looking like large cotton balls with flat

bottoms. As the day advances, they may become bigger and push higher into the

atmosphere, piling up to appear like a mountain of clouds. These can turn into

storm clouds.

H-2

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

ADMINISTRATION

Stratus clouds

Stratus clouds are very low, gray clouds, often making an even gray layer over

the whole sky. These clouds generally mean rain.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

ADMINISTRATION

Nimbus clouds

Nimbus clouds are rain clouds of uniform grayness that extend over the entire sky.

H-3

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

ADMINISTRATION

Cumulonimbus clouds

Cumulonimbus is the cloud formation resulting from a cumulus cloud building up,

extending to great heights, and forming in the shape of an anvil. You can expect

a thunderstorm if this cloud is moving in your direction.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

ADMINISTRATION

Cirrostratus clouds

Cirrostratus is a fairly uniform layer of high stratus clouds that are darker than

cirrus clouds. Cirrostratus clouds indicate good weather.

H-4

Appendix I

Evasion Plan of Action Format

Properly planning for the possible contingencies

that may occur during a mission is a positive step

toward being able to cope successfully with the

changes in situation. The EPA is a critical

document to an individual soldier or to a unit faced

with evading enemy forces. First, it is a plan that

will provide evaders a starting point to begin

operating effectively once evasion has begun.

Second, it gives recovery forces the ability to know

what the evaders are planning to do, thus making

recovery operations easier. A well-thought-out EPA

that everyone can understand is an important

document to the evader.

Note: Upon deployment, you may carry with you

the information compiled in A through E of the

SITUATION paragraph only.

TASK ORGANIZATION (NAME AND RANK FOR EACH CREW

OR TEAM MEMBER)

I. SITUATION

A. Country Climatic Zones

1. Tropical Rainy Climate

2. Dry Climate

3. Temperate Climate

4. Cold Climate (wet/dry)

5. Polar

B. Climatic Land Zones (whatever is applicable)

1. Coasts—Seasons

a. Temperature

b. Precipitation

c. General wind direction

d. Cloud cover

I-1

FM 3-05.70 (FD) Oct 01

2. Plains (refer to coasts)

3. Deserts (refer to coasts)

4. Plateaus (refer to coasts)

5. Mountains (refer to coasts)

6. Swamps (refer to coasts)

Light Data (BMNT, EENT, moonrise, moonset, percent of

illumination)

Terrain

Neighboring Borders

General Terrain Zones

Coasts

(1)

General description and size

(2)

Vegetation

(a) Natural

1. Tundra

2. Coniferous forest

3. Deciduous forest

4. Temperate grassland

5. Marshland swamp

6. Desert

7. Pastoral and arable land

8. Tropical forest

9. Savanna

(b) Cultivated

(d) Growing seasons

(e) Edible

1. Food value

2. Procurement (young or mature)

3. Preparation

4. Cooking

(f) Poisonous

(g) Medical use

(h) Other uses

(3)

Animals and fish

I-2

FM 3-05.70 (FD) Oct 01

(a) Domestic

1. Food value

2. Procurement

3. Preparation

4. Cooking

5. Medical use

6. Dangerous

7. Poisonous

8. Other uses

(b) Wildlife (animals, fish, insects, and reptiles)

(see domestic)

(4) Water sources

(a) Procurement

(b) Potability

Plains (refer to coasts)

Deserts (refer to coasts)

Plateaus (refer to coasts)

Mountains (refer to coasts)

Swamps (refer to coasts)

Rivers and lakes (refer to coasts)

Natural Land Barriers

a. Mountain ranges

b. Large rivers

Civilian Population

1. Numbers of Population

a. Totals and density (by areas)

b. Divisions of urban, suburban, rural, and nomads

2. Dress and Customs

3. Internal Security Forces

4. Controls and Restrictions (explain)

5. Border Area Security

Friendly Forces

1. FEBA/FLOT

2. Closest Units

I-3

FM 3-05.70 (FD) Oct 01

3. Location of Friendly or Neutral Embassies, Liaisons,

Consulates

4. Recovery Sites (explain), LZs en Route

G. Enemy Forces

1. Doctrine

2. Tactics

3. Intelligence Reports

a. Identification

b. Location

c. Activity

d. Strength

e. Night-sighting devices

II.

MISSION—Conduct Avoidance of Capture on Order From-To

III.

EXECUTION (include planned routes and actions for

ingress and egress)

A. Overall Plan (discuss actions for first 48 hours and actions

after 48 hours)

1. When Do You Initiate Movement?

2. Location of Initial Movement Point

3. Actions at Initial Movement Point

4. Location of Hide Areas

5. Movement to Hide Areas

6. Actions Around the Hide Sites

7. Movement to Hide Sites

8. Actions at Hide Sites

a. Construction

b. Occupation

c. Movement out of hide site

9. Location of Hole-up Areas

10. Actions at Hole-up Areas

11. Location of Recovery Site(s)

B. Other Missions

1. Movement

a. Formation

b. Individual positions

c. Navigation

I-4

FM 3-05.70 (FD) Oct 01

d. Stealth/listening

e. Security

(1) Noise

(2) Light

(3) All-around security

f. Cover, concealment, and camouflage

g. Actions at breaks

(1) Listening (5 to 10 minutes)

(2) Long

h. Actions at danger areas (enemy observation or fire)

i. Actions for enemy sighting/contact

j. Rally points/rendezvous points

(1) Locations

(2) Actions

Actions in the Care of Sick or Injured

a. Initial movement point

b. Along the movement route

Actions for Crossing Borders

Actions at Recovery Site(s)

Other Actions

Training and Rehearsals

Inspections Before Starting Movement

IV.

SERVICE AND SUPPORT

A. Survival Aids

1. Health

a. First aid

b. Disease

2. Water

a. Procurement

b. Purification

c. Carrying

3. Food

a. Procurement

b. Preparation

I-5

FM 3-05.70 Field Manual Survival (17 May 2002) - page 22