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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMe. Taking under fire any other targets indi- (3) Tanks employ high explosive amcatedby the mechanized infantry (fig. 33).munition against street barricades.f. Establishment of roadblocks and barri- Steeples, tall chimneys, and othercades.structures likely to contain enemyartillery observers are destroyed363. Employment of Attached and promptly. Crewmembers must beSupporting Unitsalert to detect pillboxes built intohouses along the street. Tanks shoulda. Tanks. not halt or move slowly close beside(1) Streets and alleys constitute ready- buildings not held by friendly troops,made fire lanes and fixing zones.because enemy troops might drop ex-Vehicular traffic is greatly restrictedplosives or flammables upon them.and canalized and is subject to am-All bridges and overpasses should bebush and close-range fire. Tanks arechecked for mines and for weightata further disadvantage becausecarrying capacity. Boobytraps of alltheir main guns cannot be depressedvarieties are to be expected. Tanksor elevated enough to fire into theshould not move singly, and specificbasements or upper floors of buildingsriflemen should be charged with proatclose range.tection of specific tanks.(2) When a platoon of tanks forms part (4) Moving tanks keep fairly close toof a company team, two tanks advancebuildings on either side of the streetwith the leading mechanized infantry.held by friendly troops, covering theThe remaining tanks support by over-opposite side and firing at anythinghead and flank main gun and machine-suspicious (fig. 34). All tank crewgunfire. At least a squad of mecha-members are alert to detect signalsnized infantry should remain withfrom the infantry in the houses tothese tanks to furnish local security.each flank. Tank commanders keep.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"- t.Figure 35. Tanks take under fire targets indicated by mechanized infantry (dismounted).AGO 91S9A 185