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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMComplete information on routes to be used and Special emphasis must be placed on the followareasto be occupied should be disseminated as ing coordination measures:early as possible, to avoid confusion and delay. (1) Refueling areas and routes into andf. Movement Through the Area. The routes out of these areas are reconnoitered byestablished for movement into the forwardpersonnel from the passing unit, asareasmust be well marked and controlled.sisted by guides furnished by the unitIdeally, the passing unit and the unit in contactbeing passed through. It may be necprovideguides down to platoon level. As a mini-essary for the unit being passedmum, the units in contact provide guides.through to adjust its positions to per-Guides lead elements of the passing unitmit a satisfactory passage, but suchthrough the unit in contact along prearrangedadjustments should be held to a miniroutes.For increased security, the movementmum.into the forward areas may be conducted at (2) Clearing and marking the lanesnight; this requires stringent control and thor-through friendly minefields and oboughplanning and reconnaissance. Artillery stacles to permit rapid passage are acfiremay be employed during the movement, tocomplished by the unit being passedcover the noise of the vehicles. If the movementthrough. Passing units should provideis conducted during daylight, smoke may betheir own control personnel at difficultplaced on known enemy observation posts andgaps or defiles to check through eachforward positions. While the passing unit andsubunit.the unit in contact are together in the area, the (3) Details of fire support are furnishedresulting concentration presents a good targetby the unit through which the passagefor enemy nuclear attack. Therefore, the pas-is being made.sage should be completed as quickly as possible. (4) Details of communication nets andDuring the period of concentration, maximumchannels required by the passing unitpassive defense measures against nuclear at-are coordinated between the units andtack should be taken.with their higher headquarters.(5) Within its capabilities, the unit beingg. Control Measures. The type and number passed through furnishes combat servofcontrol measures will depend upon theice support to the passing unit duringseasoned judgement of the commanders in-and immediately after the passage.volved but will normally be more restrictiveThis support may include medical fathanthose used in other operations. For a dis-cilities, handling PW's, clearing roadscussion of control measures, see appendix X.of refugees, and assisting in handlingthe dead, but normally will not include205. Liaison and Coordination in Passage supply of class III and V.of Linesc. Passage of Command. The time or cira.Liaison. As soon as it is determined that a cumstance when responsibility for the zone ofpassage of lines will be made, liaison must be action is transferred to the commander of theestablished between the passing unit and the unit executing the passage of lines must beunit in contact. At brigade and battalion level, mutually agreed upon by the two commandersliaison officers are exchanged until completion concerned. Normally, the commander of theunit making the passage of lines assumes reofthe operation.sponsibility for the zone of action at or beforeb. Coordination. Thorough coordination is the time of attack. The responsibility for theessential to the success of a passage of lines. zone may shift at the time of the firing of pre-Normally, the unit in contact is given the paratory fires or earlier at the direction of thedefinite mission of "assisting in the passage." headquarters ordering the passage.AGO 9139A 105