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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMa. Single or Intersecting Beams. A single friendly installations that could be damaged bybeam or an intersection of two or more beams enemy action directed at the searchlight. Themay be used to-position should use maximum defilade compati-(1) Assist in marking targets or objec- ble with the direct illumination mission.tives (fig. 69).Ideally, the position should be on high ground(2) Aid in deception. to afford maximum range and flexibility and(3) Orient air vehicles and illuminate to avoid silhouetting friendly troops locatedlanding areas.along or near the axis of the beam.b. Flicker Illumination. Tank-mounted d. Control of Searchlights. The unit comsearchlightsshould be operated in groups of mander may control searchlights to be used fortwo or more when using flicker illumination a specific operation under one commander or hetechniques. The duration of each flicker should may employ them as part of their parent unitbe approximately 15 seconds. During the period and control their illumination through normalone tank searchlight is flicked off, other search- command channel, depending on which methodlights should be flicked on in turn.best contributes to the accomplishment of thec. Positions. The tactical employment of mission.tank-mounted searchlights is facilitated by day- e. Effects on Enemy Observers. In using thelight reconnaissance and selection of positions.searchlight for direct illumination, the follow-The reconnaissance should include azimuthsing effects on enemy observers should be conandelevations to prominent points and targetareas. Positions should be located as accurately sideredas time and facilities permit. Final selection (1) When an observer is close to theof positions should consider the location of vitalsearchlight, direct observation intoFigure 69. Intersecting searchlight beams marking a target.AGO 91SA 307