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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMa. The mission of the force. (2) Missions requiring close and detailedb. The composition of the force. organization of terrain favor infantryheavyforces.38. Subordinate Elements of heavy forces.38. SubCompany Teams of (3) Missions requiring semi-independent~~~~~Company Teams ~operationsof a subordinate unit favorThe tank and rifle platoons normally are com-an organization for combat that promandeddirectly by the team commander. Nor-vides for as much self-sufficiency asmally, a platoon leader will not command anypossible.platoon other than his own. Coordinated actionbetween platoons of a company team is at- (4) Counterattack missions favor tanktainedby orders to each platoon leader fromheavy forces.the team commander and by cooperation be- b. Enemy. Action againsttweenthe platoons. If it is deemed necessary (1) An enemy protected by strongly ortoplace two platoons under a single com-ganized antitank defenses or by obmander,the company executive officer may bestacles favors infantry-heavy forces.designated to command them. (2) The anticipation of encountering39. Mortar and Davy Crockett Platoonenemy forces in meeting engagemenefors in a m eeting engage-The platoon is normally employed under battalioncontrol (general support). On occasion,the platoon, or mortar squads or Davy Crockettor a retrograde action favors a tanksectionmay be given a mission in which controlheavy force.is retained at battalion, but the platoon, squads, (4) An abundance of enemy automaticor teams are positioned to fire in support of aweapons and massed indirect firesparticular company team (direct support). Thefavors tank-heavy forces.platoon or its mortar squads and Davy Crockettsection are rarely attached to company teams.(5) A vague enemy situation favors tank-heavy or balanced forces.40. Armored Cavalry Platoon (6) An enemy capability for using strongThe armored cavalry platoon organic to thetank forces favors tank-heavy or purecombat maneuver battalions is normally em-tank forces.ployed on reconnaissance and security missions c. Terrain and Weather.under battalion control. The platoon or its ele- (1) Conditions that provide good observamentsare rarely attached to company teams.tion and long range fields of fire favor41. Armored Cavalry tank-heavy forces.The attachment of combat'or combat support (2) The presence of obstacles, other thanunits to armored cavalry units is referred to aschemical or radiation obstacles, favorsreinforcement. The type and amount of rein-infantry-heavy forces.forcement are based on an analysis of the fac- (3) Tank-heavy forces require trafficabletors of METT.terrain.42. Considerations of METT in Relation d. Troops Available. The discussion ofto Organization for Combattroops available in paragraph 33 is a consideraa.Mission. tion primarily of those factors that determine(1) Missions requiring wide ranging or the feasibility of different organizations forrapid maneuver favor tank-heavy combat.forces.16 AGO O1s8A