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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM(c) Obstacles may be used by bothprovide defilade and ease of navigafriendlyand enemy forces to tion. Heavily forested and swampystrengthen a defense, to deny use ofareas provide good routes, as groundkey terrain for observation and de-troops have little opportunity to seefensive positions, to assist in econ-or fire at low-flying helicopters.omy-of-force measures, and to pro-Ridges reduce the possibility of detectthe flank of a moving force.tection by radar. Steep defiles or(d) Nuclear weapons can create the fol-canyons are avoided because of thelowing obstacles: induce and fall-possible effects of downdrafts onout radiation; cratering; rubble;control of air vehicles.fires; or tree blowdown. The obsta- (c) All avenues of approach are considcle-creatingeffect must be consid-ered; use of less obvious or desireredwhen nuclear weapons areable avenues of approach mayused.achieve a degree of surprise that(3) Concealment and cover. Concealment offsets disadvantages.is protection from observation. Cover c. Weather. Weather conditions have an imisprotection from fire. Every advan- portant bearing on any decision and should betage afforded to friendly forces by the a primary consideration in operational planterrainand conditions of visibility to ning. The primary effects are on visibility andprovide concealment and cover must trafficability. The basic meteorological elebeexploited. Concealment and cover ments affecting operations are wind (speedare essential in masking assembly of and direction), temperature, humidity, cloudtroops, for protection against all types cover, precipitation, and atmospheric stabilityof fires, and in aiding in tactical cover (inversion, lapse, and neutral conditions). Theand deception measures. Natural and forecast, which includes such items as sunrise,artificial camouflage, smoke screening, sunset, moonrise, and moonset should be conandnatural and manmade areas may sidered. Weather conditions may prohibit orbe used to conceal and cover forces. limit some phases of an operation. In the plan-Measures to counter advantages af- ning of operations, adverse weather conditionsforded the enemy by cover and con- should be considered; often the success gainedcealment must be considered.during unfavorable weather offsets the limita-(4) Key terrain. Key terrain is any local- tions and difficulties imposed by soil trafficityor area the control of which af- ability and slow rate of movement. Weatherfords a marked advantage to either factors are of special importance in the conductcombatant. Key terrain must be of offensive or defensive operations that includeseized, neutralized, or otherwise con- nuclear, chemical, or biological employment.trolled to deny its use by the enemy Fallout, induced radiation, and chemical andor permit its use by friendly forces. biological cloud travel are greatly influenced by(5) Avenues of approach. weather conditions. Detailed information is(a) Possible avenues of approach are contained in FM 3-5, FM 3-12, and TM 3-220.analyzed based upon the availabilityof observation, concealment andcover, fields of fire, space for dis- a. No realistic plans can be made or actionspersion and maneuver, and traffic- taken that do not consider the capabilities ofability. The obstacle-producing ef- the forces available.fects on avenues of approach by b. The capabilities of a force are dependentnuclear weapons must be considered. on-(b) In analyzing approach routes for (1) Number of units.airmobile operations, the major (2) Type of units.concern is achieving or avoiding (3) State of training.tactical surprise. Favorable routes (4) Morale.14 AGO 9139A