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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMpartures from the plans to meet unforeseen of machineguns. Tanks in the blocking positionsituations and to permit prompt attack of tar- engage targets of opportunity.gets of opportunity.f. Fires Within the Forward Defensive Area.(1) Each unit develops plans for employ- Fires within the position are planned to limitment of its organic weapons. It plans possible pentrations of the forward defensivefor supporting fires, and includes the areas or support counterattacks. Fires arerequest for these supporting fires in planned to seal off the penetrating force and tothe plan of fire support, which it sub- prevent movement of enemy reinforcements.mits to the next higher headquarters. Plans should be made for fires of adjacent unitsSubordinate plans of fire support are to support the penetrated units by firing on theincorporated into the next higher eche- flanks and rear of the penetration force. Inlon's plan of fire support.addition, fires should be planned to cover gaps(2) Planned fires for the defense fall into between blocking positions.four categories-long range fires, g. Air Support. If available, close air supportclose defensive fires, final protective is integrated into the plan of fire support. Iffires, and fires within the defensive possible, ground alert or air alert aircraftarea, should engage targets of opportunity. Prec.Long Range Fires. planned on-call missions should be planned on(1) Long range fires are planned to engage locations where enemy troop concentrations arethe enemy as early as possible to in- likely to occur during an enemy attack. Preflictcasualties, to delay his advance, planned missions should be requested to supandto disrupt his organization. port counterattack plans.(2) Long range fires are employed initially h. Additional Information. See paragraphsin support of the security force. 274 through 278 and appendix XIV for addi-(3) As the enemy continues his advance tional information on fire support planning.and comes within range of additionalweapons, he is brought under an in- 234. Security and Surveillance in Defensecreasingly heavy volume of fire.Gaps throughout the defensive area must(4) Long range fires should also support be secured against infiltration, guerrilla action,counterattacks and spoiling attacks or airborne and airmobile attacks. The comconductedforward of the defended mander plans for the employment of all availarea.able means in providing adequate surveillanced. Close Defensive Fires. Close defensive of the defensive area (app. XXII).fires are planned to disorganize the attackingforce before the enemy can assault a blockingposition by inflicting the greatest possible num- a. Artillery.ber of casualties; by disrupting command, con- (1) The massed fires of supporting artiltrol,and communication; by denying observa-lery are essential to the success of thetion; and by neutralizing his supporting fires.defense. Every effort is made to meetClose defensive fires also support counter- enemy attacks with massed artilleryattacks or spoiling attacks made immediatelyfires. If the frontage is so extensiveforward of the battle area.that artillery fires cannot be massede. Final Protective Fires. Final protective across the entire front, plans must befires are designed to break up the enemy assaultdeveloped for concentrating fires onon the forward defended positions under alllikely avenues of enemy approach andconditions of visibility. Such fires consist of aon areas to be denied to the enemy.first priority, prearranged, barrier of fire laid (2) Light artillery normally is placed indown just in front of forward blocking posi-direct support of each brigade contionsand strongpoints consisting of mortar andducting the defense. Artillery liaisonartillery barrages and final protective line firesofficers are provided to each battalionAGO 9139A 119