1963 US Army Vietnam War Armor Operations ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMenemy knowledge, or by diversionary attacks by normally move over multiple lanes, to assemblyfires or maneuver forces.areas adjacent to their objectives. Closely coc.Planning for infiltration must be detailed ordinated demonstrations and fires in areas notand coordinated closely into the overall plan of included in the infiltration may be used to assistattack. Deviation from plans is difficult to co- their movement. Fires in the area of infiltrationordinate once movement has begun. Linkup may serve to reduce the enemy's surveillanceplans or plans to extricate the force must be capability.prepared.f. Upon arrival at the assembly area, thed. Infiltration lanes, assembly areas, attack infiltrating unit prepares for action, deploysand at the appropriate time, executes its mispositions,and objectives are the control meas- son. Consolidation includes preparations forures used primarily; phase lines and check- linkup or withdrawal.points assist in control while rallying points orareas are required for units that become scat- 202. Advance to Contacttered and disorganized.An advance to contact is a ground movemente. The infiltrating elements in small groups conducted to place troops in position to engagepass through, over, or around enemy forward the enemy. It takes place whenever a unit movesdefensive positions. They avoid detection, and to establish or regain contact with an enemyif detected, avoid decisive engagement. They force. For a detailed discussion see FM 61-100.Section VI. PASSAGE OF LINES203. General vehicles may be used in this reconnaissance. Inreconnoitering, care must be taken not to alertThe commitment of a unit through one whichis in contact with the enemy constitutes a pas- sage of lines is to be made. It may be necessarysage of lines. A passage of lines may be requiredto continue the momentum of the attack to limit the number and size of reconnaissanceor to exploit a weakness in the enemy position. parties, or it may be advisable to use groundA passage of lines requires careful planning and air vehicles of the units in contact.and close coordination between the units. Due c. Intelligence. The units in contact shouldto differences in organization and techniques of provide to the unit making the passage all posoperation,the passage of armor through infan- sible information of the enemy and the terraintry is more difficult than is its passage throughanother armor unit.to their front, including strength, disposition,and composition of enemy forces; and locationof enemy armor, antitank weapons, and204. Planning for Passage of Lines obstacles.a. Scheme of Maneuver. The scheme of d. Fire Support. The fire support agenciesmaneuver is based on the factors of METT. The of the units in contact are normally integratedscheme of maneuver normally determines the into the fire support plan of the unit making thelocation at which the passage of lines will take passage. Artillery liaison officers, forward obplace.servers, forward air controllers, and mortarb reconnais- Reconnaissance A platoon thorough leaders of the unit making the passagesancesance should be be made by commanders and key should contact their counterparts in the unit inmembers of the membersunit of making thethe passage. This contact, to exchange information and developreconnaissance should cover routes to the areaof the passage, the area itself, existing troop e. Priorties of Routes and Areas. The higherlocations, proposed positions, and, if necessary, headquarters directing the passage normallyproposed locations of individual combat vehi- establishes an overall priority on routes andcles. A visual reconnaissance should be made of areas. If it does not, a priority must be estabthearea forward of the frontline position; air lished between the commanders concerned.104 AGO 9139A