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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMat its command. The advance take advantage of terrain and be sufficientlyshould be timed so that the elements flexible to permit enemy weaknesses to be exofthe maneuver force arrive on the ploited rapidly. For a detailed discussion onobjective simultaneously, so that planning and conduct of the attack, see parathetanks and mechanized infantry graphs 184 through 195.can provide mutual support. As theobjective is reached and overrun,the base of fire is shifted to the183. Factors Affecting the Planning andConduct of the Offenseflanks and rear of the objective andthe assault fires of all weapons of Throughout the planning and conduct of ofthemaneuver force are intensified. fensive operations, commanders and staff offic.The attack is planned thoroughly and exe- cers must consider the factors of METT.. Recutedviolently. The commander must take gardless of the situation or level of command,maximum advantage of the inherent charac- these factors are considered continuously andteristics of his combined arms force to insure simultaneously to insure maximum use of alla concentration of superior combat power at available combat power. For a detailed discustheproper time and place. Planning should sion, see paragraphs 29 through 33.Section III. PLANNING FOR THE ATTACK184. General (c) Line of departure.In planning the attack, the commander and (d) Time of attack.his subordinates (including his staff) follow c. Plan of Fire Support. This plan must protheprocedures described in chapters 3 and 4 vide for the coordination of all available firesas regards estimates, troop leading procedures, of organic, attached or supporting fire supportorders, and supervision. In offensive operat- agencies to include tactical air and naval gunions,the plan normally includes those factors fire. The plan of fire support includesdiscussedin paragraphs 43 through 47.(1) Location of fires.185. Plan of Attack (2), Schedule of fires.a. General. When the commander arrives athis decision, he completes his plan of attack.(3) Type of fires.(4) Assignment of missions and tasks toThe plan is simply a detailed elaboration of thefire support unts.fifth step of the estimate-the decision. It must (5) Priority of fires.be simple, but cover all essential details. Theplan of attack includes the scheme of maneuver 186. Organization for Combatand the plan of fire support.Organization for combat is the method byb. Scheme of Maneuver. The scheme of ma- which a commander organizes or tailors hisneuver is the detailed plan for the placement forces to meet the varying requirements of theand movement of the maneuvering force into battlefield (pars. 34-42). For a discussion onadvantageous positions with respect to the the employment of combat support units, seeenemy or the objective. In developing the chapter 10 and appendix XIV. Armored cavschemeof maneuver, consideration is given to alry units, organic or attached, are employedits possible effects on future operations. The in accordance with FM 17-36 and FM 17-95.scheme of maneuver includes-(1) Organization for combat. 187. Formations(2) Formations. a. General.(3) Control measures. (1) The initial formation for the attack,(a) Objectives.and subsequent changes to it, are(b) Direction of movement.based upon the factors of METT.AGO 913tA 91