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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMand accidental air attacks on friendly ground usually by blast, shock, fragmentation, or fireforces. Tactical aircraft may attack targets effect. Varied fuse arrangements are used toshort of the FSCL when ground forces request, control bomb bursts as desired. Types ofor give clearance for, such an attack.bombs that may be used by tactical air supportaircraft are-293. Close Air Support (1) Fragmentation (against personnel andThe following types of missions are employedaircraft on the ground).normally in close air support operations:(2) General purpose (same as HE shell).a. Column-cover missions are performed (3) Special purpose:usually by tactical fighter aircraft and are ac- (a) Penetrating.complished by positioning the aircraft over the (b) Demolition.ground formation to perform visual reconnais- (c) Chemicalsance to the front, rear, and flanks, and to at- (d) Mining.tack enemy air or ground elements that impede (e) Napalm.or threaten the progress of the ground force.An air control team (ACT) is located usuallyin one of the forward armored vehicles and b. Rockets. Air-to-air and air-to-grounddirects aircraft onto targets. The column cover rockets are used to destroy small targets suchmission is of great assistance to armor in the as tanks, armored vehicles, trucks, gun emexploitationof enemy disorganization and placements, strongpoints, and aircraft.weakened resistance following a breakthrough. c. Machineguns and Cannon. These weaponsAircraft on column cover missions can often are an integral part of armament of tacticalneutralize elements of impending enemy resist- fighters.ance before these elements have been contacted (1) High cyclic rate of fire.by friendly ground forces.b. Bombing missions are employed in closeair support to destroy strongpoints, concentra- d. Missiles. These weapons may be emtionsof troops, and vehicles. These missions ployed air-to-air or air-to-surface. There areare carried out by tactical fighter aircraft and two general types: guided and nonguided.tactical bombers.e. Chemical Spray. Tactical air support airc.Air-to-ground strike (ground attack) mis- craft usually can be fitted with chemical tankssions are the backbone of close air support. to deliver smokescreens or spray attacks.Heavily armed tactical fighters execute theirmissions by attacking weapons positions, tanks, 295. Typical Targets for Close Air Supporttroops, vehicles, and other equipment.a. Weapon positions.d. Special missions may include such missionsas electronic countermeasures performedby specially equipped aircraft to neutralize c. Command posts.enemy electronic equipment.d. Troop concentrations.294. Arrmhament e. Strongly defended positions.a. Bombs. Bombs are used to destroy or f. Missile launch sites.neutralize a selected target. This is achieved g. Defended roadblocks.Section VIII. INTELLIGENCE296. General elements of combat intelligence-informationCombat intelligence is intelligence for use ina combat area, whether based upon informationcollected locally or provided by higher headquarters.An armor commander uses the threeof the terrain, weather, and the enemy-in theexecution of any combat mission (app. XII).Information of the enemy situation is normallythe most critical intelligence requirement be-152 AGO 9139A