FM 17-37 Air Cavalry Squadron - Survival Books

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FM 17-37
maneuver force, the aero scouts screen to the aero scout elements may locate and mark by fire
flanks and rear to prevent enemy surprise attack. the targets for the maneuver element and other
When the attacking force is air assulted into the supporting aerial weapons.
attack position, the aero scouts reconnoiter the f. When the aero weapons platoon is engaged in
landing zone prior to and during the landing.
After the objective is reached, the aero scouts proindependent
offensive action, it employs its firepower
to harass, interdict, disorganize, and devide
security to the front, flanks, and rear during moralize the enemy. Because of its air mobility, it
consolidation and reorganization, and maintain may penetrate enemy lines to conduct raid type
visual contact with any enemy forces that may operations in the enemy rear. It may engage
have been driven from the objective,
enemy reserves, column convoys, or supply inc.
Normally, the aero rifle platoon is the assult stallations. By striking in irregular patterns, the
force in a coordinated troop attack. The platoon is enemy can be caused to devote more than normal
airlifted by its organic lift aircraft into a landing effort to rear area security. When conducting inzone
by using favorable air routes. When terrain dependent engagements, the platoon commander
and the situation permit, the landing zone is se- must consider method of engagement, route to the
lected to permit the platoon to approach an enemy target, direction of attack, formation, and method
position from the flanks or rear. Once dismounted. of disengagement. The aero weapons platoon may
the entire platoon maneuvers in the attack, with be committed independently as the leading elethe
aero scout and aero weapons platoons prom~et
in a troop counterattack. In this case, the
viding security and direct aerial fire support. As
same factors must be considered
the platoon is nearing
as in
the
any
objective and
other
the assult
begins, prearranged signals are used for the sup- independent engagement. FM 1-110 and FM 140
port elements to lift or shift fires to allow the pla- contain a detail discussion of employment of
toon to move onto the objective. After the platoon attack helicopters.
has taken the objective, consolidation, reorganization,
and preparation for extraction or continua- 6-7. Action on the Objective
tion of the mission is accomplished. During the a. Immediately upon taking the objective, the
dismounted attack, the aircraft orbit or laager dismounted elements deploy and prepare to repel
nearby and are prepared to extract the platoon a counterattack. The aero scout elements reconnowhen
the mission is accomplished.
iter to the flanks and front of the objective to
d. When operating in support of the aero rifle maintain contact with enemy forces that may
platoon in offensive actions, the aero weapons pla- have been driven from the objective. The aero
toon will provide direct fire support during the air weapons teams orbit the objective to assist in reassult
of the platoon into the landing done; while pelling a counterattack, and deliver harassing
the platoon is engaged in the attack, and during fires on the enemy.
consolidation and reorganization after the attack;
b. When the objective is taken, the position is
and during the extraction from the pickup zone. consolidated and the platoons are reorganized for
The aero weapons platoon leader coordinates with subsequent action.
the aero rifle platoon so that the heaviest volume
of fire is available during the assult phase of the c. The objective should be consolidated in mindismounted
attack. Close coordination also insures imum time. Plans for consolidation should be SOP
that supporting fires are shifted to the rear and and should include
flanks of the objective as the riflemen move on to (1) Establishing local security.
the objective. The aero weapons aircraft continue (2) Preparation to repel counterattacks, to
to deliver harassing fires on the enemy during the continue dismounted action, to prepare for extracconslidation
and reorganization by the aero rifle tion, or to defend the position as required by the
platoon..
mission.
e. The aero scout platoon may assist the base of d. Actions of the platoons in reorganization infire.
It has the advantage of being able to move cluderapidly
in and out of positions, over terrain that (1) Reporting by all elements of the status of
would be difficult or impassable for ground units. personnel, equipment, and ammunition.
It will use firing passess in support of the at- (2) Redistributing personnel, equipment, and
tacking force. When used to assist the base of fire, ammunition, as necessary.
AGO 20026A 63