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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMsible, he reconnoiters his assigned sector as naissance and improvement of routes from pricompletelyas time and the situation will permit. mary to supplementary positions.While on reconnaissance he determines-b. Preparation of Defensive Position.(1) The probable avenues of enemy armor (1) As soon as defensive positions are ocanddismounted approach.cupied, units organize the ground for(2) The terrain that is to be occupied by defense. Fields of fire are cleared,security forces.tanks are placed in hull defilade, em-(3) Key terrain that is to be retained or placements are dug for crew-servedthe use of which will be denied theweapons. Foxholes and slit trenchesenemy.are dug for personnel. Alternate and(4) Natural obstacles forward of and inthe area that can be used to strengthensupplementary positions are plannedand prepared as time permits.the defensive area.(2) Occasionally armored personnel car-(5) Location of reserves. riers may be integrated into the for-(6) Location of command posts. ward defense positions. Their vehicu-(7) Location of logistical support installa- lar weapons can be assigned fire mistions.sions to augment the long range,close-in, and final protective fires of229. planning for Defense other automatic weapons. However,because of their high silhouette andNormally, the defender has an advantage invulnerability to certain types of enemythat he can select the terrain and has time forfire, it is usually necessary to placeorganization of the ground and opportunity tothe majority of the armored personnelimprove natural obstacles. Initially, the com-carriers in defilade to the rear, withmander develops a tentative plan from his re-provision for moving them, as theconnaissance, and issues a warning order. Thissituation requires, to previously preisfollowed by more detailed plans, includingpared firing positions from which theyplans for-can augment protective fires. When in(1) Organization of the ground. defilade, they can provide flank and(2) Organization for combat. rear protection.(3) Command and control. (3) Range cards are prepared for all crew-(4) Fire support. served weapons. All vehicles, weapons,(5) Security and surveillance. and emplacements are camouflaged.(6) Employment of supporting troops. Every effort is made to deceive the(7) Logistics. enemy as to the true location of thedefensive positions. Movement of in-230. Priority of Work in Organization dividuals and vehicles within theof the Ground for Defensedefensive areas should be kept to aminimum.In the defense, measures for increasing theeffects of fire and movement take precedenceover all other work. The goal is to insure that Obstacles are improved and mines are used toaccurate fire can be delivered on the attacker, provide close-in protection for each blockingto render his fires ineffective, and to impede his position. Protective, defensive, and phony minemovementswhile facilitating the movement of fields may be installed. Protective minefieldsdefending forces. The normal tasks associated may be installed, upon authority of the comwithorganization of the ground includes- pany commander, to the front and flanks of thea. Preparation of Counterattack Routes. A blocking positions to provide security. Phonyreconnaissance is conducted for each counter- minefields may be used as gaps by the strikingattack plan to determine the requirements for force/reserve. Time permitting, and upon auimprovingthe route to facilitate the movement thority of the brigade commander, defensiveof forces. This task also includes the recon- minefields may be installed to add strength toAGO 9139A 117