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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMavoid masking their fires and to protect them-than three tanks at the head of theselves from fires directed at the tanks. When column. The leading tanks are folitis necessary for the dismounted mechanizedlowed by the other two tanks of theinfantry to maneuver to engage or destroy re-tank platoon. The automatic weaponssistance holding up the advance, the tanks sup-of the tanks and the vehicular maportby fire, moving forward as soon as possi-chineguns of the carriers are firedble. The armored personnel carriers follow ascontinuously and are concentrated onclosely as the situation permits behind the ad-the windows and rooftops of buildvanceof the tanks and dismounted mechanized ings. The mechanized infantry reinfantry.When possible, the fires of the ar-main mounted in their carriers untilmored personnel carriers' machineguns aug-forced to dismount to protect thement the other fires of the assault or covertanks from individual or longer rangecritical areas on the flanks of the assaulting antitank weapons. The mechanizedforce. When the buildings on the periphery ofinfantry may dismount to assist ina town are fortified heavily, the techniques forthe removal of obstacles or barricadesthe attack of a fortified area may have to bethat have halted the advance of theemployed (pars. 353-355).tanks. When required to dismount toc. Phase Ill. Phase III varies from a sys- secure the tanks from fire being retematicblock by block, house to house reduc-ceived from buildings, a rifle squadtion of the built-up area to a rapid advancemoves along each side of the street,through the town with clearance of specifickeeping approximately abreast of thecritical areas and strategic buildings. Phaselead tanks. Depending upon the re-III begins without pause after the completionsistance being encountered, the squadof phase II. Clearance and seizure techniques may challenge every doorway orare dependent upon the mission, size of thetown, construction and building arrangement,ground floor window by throwing inhand grenades and spraying the inandenemy dispositions and strength. Factors teror with small arms fire. Selectedgoverning the selection and execution of themen i each squad should be assignedtechniques are-the mission of locating and engagingtargets in the upper floor windows(1) When the built-up area is exceedingly and rooftops of the building on thelarge and heavily fortified, or whenopposite side of the street. The leadthemission requires a complete clear-ing tanks meanwhile continue to fireance of enemy forces, a methodicalat suspected enemy locations fartherhouse by house, block by block clear-down the street. When resistance isance operation is performed. The areaheavy, each alley or side street preisdivided into company team zones ofresponsibility. Each subordinate unitsents an ideal fire lane for enemyhigh-velocity tank or antitank fire,must clear its zone completely, leavingno enemy in its rear. The procedureof street fighting is conducted inthe same manner as described in FMThe mechanized infantry observedown alleys and side streets before31-50. the tanks cross, and emplace lightmachineguns on each corner, cover-(2) When the built-up area is small or defendedlightly, the attacking forceing or firing in both directions. Whenshould attempt to drive through ora serious antitank threat to the colintothe town as rapidly as possible.umn's flank exists, 1 or 2 tanks and aTanks lead the column, closely fol-rifle squad with its carrier from thelcwed and supported by mechanizedinfantry. Except when an advance islead company team may be droppedoff at each intersection along themade on a wide street, it will rarelybe possible to employ effectively moreroute. If these forces are to remainin position until the entire force hasAGO 913DA 183