INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MILITARY TECHNOLOGIES 2013 Faculty of Military Technology, University of Defence in Brno 525 THE CROSS-COUNTRY MOVEMENT IN SANDY AREAS Martin HUBÁČEK 1 and Marian RYBANSKÝ 2 SUMMARY: Soil characteristics are one of the distinctive characteristics of terrain that affects the movement of vehicles. Their influence changes depending on the current meteorological conditions, gradient of terrain relief and geographic location. For each region characteristic properties of soils can be identified certain. They are different for central or southern Europe, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa or Patagonia. Although the characteristics of soils are not homogeneous for the entire region, it is possible to determine their major impact on the mobility of troops. Our troops operate outside the territory of the Czech Republic in recent years, especially in the arid areas with sandy surface (Iraq, Afghanistan). Because the sandy soils are not typical in the Czech Republic environment, soldiers are not so acquainted with their properties up on arrival to the area of deployment. The Department of military geography and meteorology at the University of Defence in Brno has been dealing with the cross-country movement research since 1998. For testing purposes the techniques in sandy conditions were used in the geographically unique sandy environment of the Military Training Area Záhorie (Slovak Republic). There were determined driving characteristics of the selected military vehicles on the sand soils surface, the ability to overcome the critical slopes, the influence of microrelief (small terrain waves and edges) and vegetation. The testing results will be used for the methodology of the cross-country movement in sandy areas. Keywords: Cross-Country Movement, sand soils, terrain analysis, Záhorie. Introduction Terrain analysis is one of important parts of the planning process preceding every operation. Czech Army units have not been deployed for several years only in the Czech Republic or in the European space. At present, Czech units are involved primarily in ISAF mission (International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan, but they were deployed in Iraq and surrounding countries before. These arid areas are characterized by sandy soils. Their characteristics are significantly different from soils typical for Central Europe. Units to be deployed prepare for each of these missions well in advance. Different geographical and climatic conditions will take effect during the actual deployment. The movement of vehicles is one of the main characteristics influenced by geographic factors especially characteristic of soils. Because the sandy soils are not typical in the Czech Republic environment, soldiers are not so acquainted with their properties up on arrival to the area of deployment. Department of military geography and meteorology has been dealing with the issue of the influence of terrain and weather on activity units since 1998. Cross - country movement is one 1 Martin Hubacek, Ph.D., Faculty of Military Technology, University of Defence, Kounicova 65, 662 10 Brno, Czech Republic. E-mail: martin.hubacek@unob.cz 2 Assoc. Prof. Marian Rybansky, CSc., Faculty of Military Technology, University of Defence, Kounicova 65, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic. E-mail: marian.rybansky@unob.cz