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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMg. Firepower Capability. The enemy capa-bility to counter the employment of armor unitsis of vital concern and must be considered inthe preparation of plans. Factors to be con-sidered in determining his capabilities are-continued throughout the conduct of the operation.All means and sources are exploited tofurnish the commander with accurate andtimely information so that he may make a continuingestimate of enemy capabilities.b. Means. The primary means for obtaining (1) Location and disposition of his weapcombatinformation available to the armorons and their fields of fire.commander include reports of units in contact, (2) Characteristics of his weapons, suchair observers, liaison with adjacent units,as range, rate of fire, mobility, andorganic reconnaissance units, reconnaissanceeffectiveness against the various typepatrols, and intelligence provided by highervehicles being used in the operation.headquarters. Combat patrols, or reconnais- (3) Vulnerability of the enemy weapons tosance in force may be employed to providethe combat power available to theadditional information. Any unusual employ-friendly commander.ment of patrols, air vehicles, or reconnaissance (4) Number and type of weapons in posinforce may risk loss of surprise in the opera-session of and available to the enemy.tion.c. Sources. Sources of enemy information 32. Terrain and Weathernormally available to the commander are pris- a. General The terrain and the weather areoners of war, airphotos, and enemy activity. important factors in armor operations. TheUnder some circumstances, refugees or civil- commander makes a thorough analysis of theians may be reliable sources.terrain to determine the advantages it offersd. Obstacles. Minefields, roadblocks, anti- and to evaluate the advantages it may affordtank ditches, and other antitank obstacles are the enemy. Weather affects virtually all operaconstructedto restrict the maneuver of armor tions, both administrative and tactical.units and slow their operation. Knowledge of b Tthe existence of such obstacles is of extremeimportance. The commander needs to know (1) Observation and fields of fire. The efthelocation, extent, and strength of obstaclesif he is to calculate accurately the measuresfect of observation on both friendlyand enemy operations is considered.needed to overcome or avoid them.High ground that affords line-of-sightobservation is of particular impore.Nuclear Capability. An enemy capability tance. The commander employs allto employ nuclear weapons must be given seri-observation means, including visualous consideration. This will result in increasedand electronic, ground and air, to keepattention to passive defense measures such asthe enemy under constant surveildispersion,concealment, movement during lance. Good fields of fire are essentialdarkness, cover, stringent traffic control, radiofor the effective employment of directdiscipline,and individual protective measures.fire weapons. Fields of fire are anaf.Air. An armor unit will be a high-priority lyzed in connection with the nature oftarget for enemy tactical air forces. Althoughthe weapons and the nature of thearmored vehicles are relatively invulnerable totargetsall but direct hits by conventional weapons, asopposed to nuclear weapons, unarmored vehi- (2) Obstacles.cles organic to armor units are vulnerable to (a) The effect of obstacles, either inenemy air attack. The employment of all formshindrance or support of operations,of deception, cover, dispersion, concealment,is considered.and, particularly, movement is of importance. (b) Obstacles may be natural terrainAn enemy capability of employing airborne orfeatures, manmade obstructions, orairmobile forces must be considered by theobstructions created by chemicalcommander.and nuclear fires.AGO 9139A 13