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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMe. Maneuver units direct their attacks against h. Units committed from the march columnthe flanks of a fixed enemy to produce decisive often encounter enemy forces in unreportedresults. Frontal attacks are avoided.locations. The action taken against them mustf. If the enemy force is moving when contact alwaysalwaysassistassistinin thethe acentaccomplishment ofof the theoverall mission. Adjacent and higher headismade, a rapid flank attack may hinder seriquartersmust be advised of this enemy contactously his ability to deploy and maneuver his and the commander's plan of action.main body.i. Commanders may be directed to bypass ang. It is of decisive importance that the com- enemy force. Minimum forces are employed tomander recognize changes in the situation in block the enemy and allow the uninterruptedtime to act accordingly. He may be required to advance of the main force. Blocking forces willchange plans rapidly, and assign new tasks to initially be security elements and should be rehisunits already in motion to support the initial lieved of this mission as rapidly as possible byplan.units that have a follow and support role.Section IX. PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES OF THE BYPASS212. General situation and formulate plans to hasten execua.In a bypass operation the commander de- f the bypass.liberately avoids offensive combat with an d. Mobile forces are required to develop theenemy force, position, or installation, to avoid situation rapidly and aggressively and to locatedissipation or diversion of his combat power possible bypass routes.to efforts other than accomplishment of his mis- e. The availability of follow-and-supportsion. Bypass operations are particularly appli- forces may influence the commander's decisioncable during the exploitation, pursuit, or other to bypass an enemy force.offensive action when the enemy force encounteredis of insufficient strength to jeopardize the 214. Conductaccomplishment of the unit's mission.a. Developing the Situation. When enemyb. Authority to bypass is delegated by higher contact is made, engaged friendly forces deploy,headquarters but is not normally delegated develop the enemy situation (location, strength,below task force level. Because of the extended composition, and disposition), choose a coursefront over which the armored cavalry squadron of action, and report to higher headquarters.normally operates, authority to bypass may be Concurrently with actions to develop the situadelegateddown to troop level.tion, reconnaissance is conducted to locate posc.Regardless of the level to which authority sible bypass routes. If available, armoredhas been granted, the commander executing the cavalry elements or air vehicles may be embypassimmediately notifies the next highercommander of his intention and reports on theployed to facilitate the reconnaissance of enemypositions and possible bypass routes.enemy force to be bypassed and circumstancesof the bypass.b. Techniques of the Bypass. One, or com-bination, of the following techniques may beemployed:(1) Block the enemy by fire and bypassa. The first consideration in the decision to with the maneuver elements.bypass an enemy force is an analysis of the (2) Block the enemy with part of thefactors of METT.maneuver elements and bypass withb. Initially, limited information of the enemy the balance of the force (fig. 19).may be available. Aggressive action must be c. Actions ofthe Blocking Force.initiated to develop the situation to obtain ac- (1) Normally the blocking force will encuratedetailed knowledge of the enemy.gage the enemy until the maneuveringc. Minimum time is available to develop the elements have completed their bypass108 AGO a139A