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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMeach blocking position. Each minefield must belance, and to coordinate the movementmarked and recorded properly.of the striking force/reserve.d. Preparation of Routes for Supply and (3) Boundaries are used to delineateEvacuation. Supply routes are established forlateral responsibilities in the forwardeach battalion task force. Supply routes mustdefensive area. Boundaries normallybe coordinated with the plan of defense, to in-extend forward to the maximum rangesure that they do not conflict with the maneuverof organic weapons, and rearward toof forces conducting the defense; alternate sup-the depth of the blocking positions.ply routes may be required. Supply routes (4) Coordinating points are used in theshould be marked and traffic entering the for-forward defensive area for the coordiwarddefensive area should be controlled.nation of the fires of adjacent units.e. Establishment of Communications System. (5) Contact points may be designated toEmphasis will be placed on warning of enemyinsure coordination of units performapproach.ing surveillance missions, and of unitsoperating observation posts or combat231. Organization for Combat outposts.Organization for combat is the method by c. Communication. Although radio is thewhich a commander organizes his forces to meet means of communication most often used inthe varying requirements of the battlefield in armor units, supplemental means should beterms of the factors of METT. These factors established to insure effective communicationare of such importance and sufficiently different under all conditions.in the two basic types of defense that a detaileddiscussion of each is set forth in paragraphs 233. Fire Planning in Defense237237throughthrough243243(Mobile(MobileDefense)Defense)andandparapara-a. Mission. The fires of organic and supportgraphs244 through 253 (Area Defense). ing weapons are coordinated toingweapons are coordinated to-232. Command and Control (1) Bring the enemy under effective fireas early as possible.a. General. The defense commander must insureeffective control and coordination of the (2) Subject the enemy to progressivelydefensive action; however, such control mustheavier fire as he approaches the depermitmaximum flexibility of employment offensive area.the forces conducting the defense and allow (3) Destroy the enemy by fire if he attacksfreedom of action by subordinate commanders.the blocking positions.The commander initiates control and coordina- (4) Support the counterattack and movetionby announcing his concept of the operationment of other units to support theand the plan of defense, by insuring adequateplan of defense.communication, and by employing necessary b. The Plan of Fire Support. The plan of firecontrol measures, together with priorities of support is the coordinated and integratedeffort and sequence of action.plan for all fires, nuclear and nonnuclear,b. Control Measures. organic and supporting, available to the com-(1) Objectives are normally established mander at each echelon. Components of the planfor the coordination of each counter- of fire support include detailed plans for fires ofattack plan. In addition, fire control automatic weapons, tanks, mortars, and allmeasures, lines of departure, axes of available fire support agencies. Planning foradvance, or directions of attack are fires is continuous and is as detailed as the situestablishedfor each counterattack ation and the time permit. Fires are planned onplan.all targets and areas on which a need for fire(2) Phase lines may be used to control the might arise, to permit prompt and effectiverearward movements of the security delivery of fires under all conditions of visiforce,to delineate areas for surveil- bility. Provision must be made to allow de-1e8AGO 9139A