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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMcareful initial disposition of forces and by the initiative from the enemy and to destroy him.planned redisposition of troops and shifting of The defender must be prepared to take offensivefires to meet contingencies.action whenever the opportunity presents itself.d. Defense in Depth. Adequate depth to the The counterattack or spoiling attack is oftendefense is essential. It must be expected that a the key to success in the defense. They maystrong attack, particularly if supported by nu- achieve results out of proportion to the sizeclear weapons, will permit the enemy to advance forces ivolved.some distance in the defense area. There must h. Integration and Coordination of Defensivebe sufficient depth to the defense to contain or Measures. The overall defense plan involves thecanalize the enemy and to permit execution of careful integration and coordination of all decounterattacks.Shallow defenses are inher- fensive measures.ently vulnerable because the enemy may breach (1) Fire planning is conducted and coordithembefore he can be contained or effectivenated at all levels. Fire planning mustcounteraction taken. Depth to the defense isprovide for continuous fire support toachieved by proper deployment of forces, prepa-the forces in the security area, forrationof additional areas in depth, maneuverward defense area and striking force/of forward elements to alternate areas as nec-reserve area. Fires are also plannedessary, and use of mobile reserves in any partto control gaps and cover barriers.of the defensive area.(2) When time permits, natural obstaclese. Responsiveness. The success of the defen- are supplemented by minefields andsive battle will, as in the offense, depend uponother artificial obstacles to form effectheapplication of superior combat power at thetive barriers. Such barriers are dedecisivetime and place. Both maneuver unitssigned to restrict the movement of theand fire support elements must be responsive toenemy without restricting the plannedthe commander's needs if this superiority is tomaneuver of our own forces. For abe gained at the proper time and place.detailed discussion on barrier planf.Dispersion. In a nuclear situation, dis- ning see appendixes XIX and XX.persion is an important consideration in or- (3) Mutual support is provided betweenganizing the defense to limit or minimizeunits by fire or movement, or both, andvulnerability to nuclear attack. The need forcoordinated and incorporated into themaximum dispersion must be balanced againstoverall plan of defense.certain operational requirements for concentra- (4) All electronic surveillance means aretion that may be necessary to accomplish thecoordinated closely and incorporatedmission. For example, the retention of specificinto the overall plan of defense (app.terrain may oppose maximum dispersion. In XII).such cases the mission is paramount, and the i. Time. Time available for planning anddegree of risk in accepting a lesser dispersionis secondary. A force that disperses laterallyrather than in depth, risks isolation of its sepa- conduct of the defense.rate forward combat units, subsequent penetrationby frontal attack, and defeat in detail. 224. Basic Types of DefenseDispersion in depth is preferable to purely There are two basic types of defense, thelateral formations since it avoids frontages that mobile defense and the area defense.over-extend the defender, provides a larger per- a. The mobile defense employs a combinationcentage of a given force as a reserve, avoids of offensive, defensive, and delaying actions,lateral movements in the face of an enemy at- with the ultimate success of the defense dependtack,permits detection and destruction of infil- ing upon offensive action. The primary objectrators,and provides a better posture from tive of the mobile defense is the destruction ofwhich to launch offensive operations.the attacking enemy force. In the mobile deg.Mazimum Use of Offensive Action. In the fense, minimum forces are deployed as fixingdefense, every opportunity is taken to wrest the forces in the forward defensive area to detect,AGO 91s9A 115