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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM(4) Counterattack plans employ the prin- fixing forces accomplish their mission by aciples of the offense (ch. 7) and are combination of holding ground and a delayingdesigned to strike the enemy forward action extending over considerable depth. Asof, within, or in the rear of the for- the attack develops, commanders are able toward defensive area.judge the degree to which specific terrain fea-(5) Counterattack plans must be flexibleto meet the actual situation. The acturesmust be held. Forces and fires not af-fected by the attack may be shifted to concentualcounterattack will probably be a trate against the enemy. Forces may occupyvariation of one of the counterattack blocking positions in company team to battalplans.Particular consideration must ion task force strength to force the enemy tobe given to multiple penetrations to mass or become canalized. Normally these posiavoidpiecemeal commitment of the tions are held only long enough to contributereserve (also see FM 17-30).to the overall plan. When required, elementsof the fixing forces may be given the mission243. Conduct of the Mobile Defense of occupying strongpoints to be defended at allcosts. This action should be taken only whena. The mobile defense is conducted as a re-.silient opposition to the enemy attack by minispecificspecificterrainterrainmustmustbebeheldheldtotopermitpermitsuccesssuccessmum forces that, within their capabilities, gain of the overall plan of defense. Forces in theinformation, delay, disorganize, divert, andotherwise weaken the attack in preparation sive action when opportunities occur to inflictfor a counterattack by the bulk of the com- damage n y.mand to destroy the enemy.f. The decision as to when and where tob. Unless surprise offers a great opportunitylaunch the counterattack by the reserve ismade by the commander of the overall defensefor success, the enemy is taken under fire asearly as possible. As the enemy advances, he is (normally the division or higher commander).taken under fire by the security forces who It may be advantageous to launch the counter-warn, deceive, and execute maximum delay attack when the enemy attack has been slowed,stopped, or disorganized. However, these arewithin their capabilities, without becoming en- stopped, or disorganized However thesenot essential prerequisites for the counteratgageddecisively. They attempt to inflict maxi- tack. Criteria for determining where and whenmum casualties on the advancing enemy and the counterattack should be launched are priforcehim to deploy. As a means of collecting marily those for assessing offensive maneuver.information, elements of the security force may For considerations on the launching of theremain in the area after passage of the enemy. counterattack see FM 61-100.c. The attacker's strength and dispositions g. The reserve is committed normally as aduring the engagement with the security forces unit to destroy the enemy. The counterattackmay favor action by the reserve forward of the plan may include terrain objectives for controlFEBA to destroy him. The commander must purposes, but the goal of the reserve is deweighcarefully the risks in terms of their ef- struction of the enemy, not seizure of terrainfects on the accomplishment of the mission. to restore the position. The reserve seeks toemploy the principles of the offense to destroyenemy units, reserves, command facilities, firerupt the enemy attack during its formative support elements, and combat services support.stages should be considered. The decision to Many techniques of the meeting engagementcommit such a force must be carefully consid- (pars. 209-211) are used to seize the initiativeered against the possible piecemeal loss of the from the enemy.strength of the command to the detriment of h. In the event of multiple enemy penetratheoverall mission.tions, they may be dealt with simultaneously ore. As the security forces withdraw through individually in the order of the seriousness ofthe fixing forces, the attacker is taken under their threat. The reserve may be committed tofire by all weapons within effective range. The destroy the major threat, while sufficient force124 AGO 9133A