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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMfriendly forces. The objective may be enemy quickly as possible. When terrain permits, thetroops, a terrain feature, or a locality. To effec- enemy position is reconnoitered by mountedtively perform the operation, commanders of reconnaissance. Reconnaissance by fire may beunits conducting reconnaissance must be al- employed when time is critical. If the terrainlowed maximum freedom of action.restricts vehicular movement, the situation isb. Report all information Accuratelzy. Re- developed with dismounted patrols while otherconnaissance is conducted to obtain informa- elements of the unit support their movement.tion to be used in the production of combatintelligence. To be of value to the commander, 78. Types of Reconnaissance Missionsthis information must be received in time to be There are three types of reconnaissance misofuse and must be accurate in answering the sions: route, zone, and area. The type to bequestions what (including how many), when, employed is determined after considering thewhere, and doing what. All members of units information desired, where the information isconducting reconnaissance missions must re- to be sought, the known enemy situation, terportall positive or negative information rap- rain, size of the reconnaissance force, and theidly and accurately to the next higher head- time available for obtaining the information.quarters. When considered in conjunction withinformation from other sources, information 79. Route Reconnaissancethat appears unimportant to one level of com- a. Route reconnaissance is the directed efmandmay be extremely valuable to the next fort to obtain information of the route, obstahighercommander. The development and use cles, and enemy along a specific route, and theof brief reconnaissance spot report forms (app. terrain adjacent to the route, which, if occu-V) will facilitate the rapid transmission of pied by the enemy, would affect movementessential information. A reconnaissance unit along the route.has not fully accomplished its mission until ithas reported all information gathered to the b. Route reconnaissance may be assigned tonext higher headquarters.obtain information of a specific route (see FM5-36 for discussion and report format) or ofc. Avoid Decisive Engagement. Units per- an enemy force moving generally along a speciformingreconnaissance obtain information by fic route. When intelligence indicates that thestealth whenever possible, but fight when nec- enemy is moving on one or more routes, oressary to gain the desired information. The when terrain features canalize his advance,reconnaissance mission must not be jeopard- these routes may be reconnoitered to obtainized by combat with the enemy when combat is enemy information. Routes of advance ofnot essential to obtain the information desired. friendly forces may be reconnoitered whend. Maintain Contact with the Enermy. In the specific information of a route or series ofperformance of a reconnaissance mission to ob- routes is required.tain information of an enemy force, contact c. The techniques employed and the requirewiththe enemy is gained as soon as possible. ments of a route reconnaissance are less timeOnce contact has been made, it is maintained, consuming and can normally be performedand is not voluntarily broken without author- more rapidly than zone or area reconnaissance.ity from higher headquarters. Contact can bemaintained by ground or air observation. 80. Zone Reconnaissancee. Develop the Situation. When enemy con- a. Zone reconnaissance is the directed efforttact is made or an obstacle is encountered, the to obtain detailed information of all routes,situation must be developed quickly. The terrain, and enemy forces in a zone defined byenemy's location, strength, composition, and boundaries (1, fig. 3). Zone reconnaissance isdisposition are determined, with special effort more thorough and time consuming than otherbeing made to determine the flanks of his posi- reconnaissance missions.tion. A decision to attack or bypass the posi- b. When the enemy's location is in doubt, ortion, in keeping with the mission, is reached as when it is desired to locate suitable routes or40 AGO 9139A