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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMthe squad does not fire a mission with- (2) Control. Although the troop comoutthe knowledge of the platoonmander will control the provisionalleader. This squad leader must keepplatoon, a control headquarters is protheplatoon leader informed of thevided in the platoon. Following aresquad situation: that is, position, dis-techniques that may be employed:placement requirements, ammunition (a) One of the armored cavalry platoonstatus, POL requirement, and abilityleaders is designated as platoonto support the platoon.leader. He uses one of the squad(2) The two primary techniques of selec- leaders as platoon sergeant, one astion of firing position and displace-computer, and the third as gunneryment are as follows:sergeant.(a) In a fast-moving situation, when (b) The senior, or best qualified, squadthe enemy resistance is light, theleader is designated to commandsupport squad will move at the rearthe platoon. He uses one squadof the platoon formation. It mustleader as computer and the otherbe far enough to the rear of theas gunnery sergeant.formation so that the minimumrange of the weapon will not create(3) Observation. The forward observerswill normally be the scouts and othera problem when it moves into firingindividuals in the troop who can obposition.serve suitable targets.(b) When the enemy situation is such (4) Communication. Radio is the primarythat the squad will be in position means of communication. The protofire, selection of the position willvisional platoon is on the troop comfollowthe characteristics outlinedmand net for fire control.in paragraph 20, this appendix. In d. Defense and Retrograde General. Duringselecting these firing positions and defensive and retrograde operations, the supinplanning for displacement, con- port squad is employed in a manner similar tosideration should be given to keep- offensive operations. The squad is in generaling the squad positioned so that the support of its parent platoon or is formed intomajority of fire missions will not be a provisional platoon under troop control, alongbeyond the midrange of the mortar. with the support squads from the other pla-(3) The support squad does not have the toons. The factors of METT determine whichcapability of providing for its own method best accomplishes the fire support mislocalsecurity and firing in support sion.of the platoon. Security is gained asfollows:e. Defense.(a) The area the squad is to occupy will(1) General support of parent platoon.have been cleared of the enemy byWhen the squad is employed in generalsupport of its parent platoon, ititleadingadvances.elements of the platoon asoccupies a firing position as close toits platoon as minimum range and(b) When the platoon is the advancethe enemy situation permit. Concenguardfor the troop, security istrations are planned to cover thegained from the following elementsknown and suspected areas, and aof the troop as well as (a) above.barrage is planned for an area thatc. Provisional Platoon. cannot be covered by flat-trajectory(1) General. When the area of operations fire. The firing positionforthe armored cavalry troop is such (a) Must provide maximum coveragethat the support squads can be of the front and flanks of the plabroughttogether into a provisionaltoon position.platoon, they will follow the tactics (b) Should be in defilade and allow forand techniques outlined in FM 23-92.mask and overhead clearance.296 AGO 9139A