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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMmoves in the formation of the overall unit. Innation between, and control of, eletheformation, the reserve is positioned to-ments of the force are facilitated.(1) Permit rapid movement to points of (2) Mutual support. All elements of theprobable employment.force are together throughout the at-(2) Provide security by its presence. tack. Mutual support by elementsd. Nuclear Weapons. The commander nor- within the maneuver force is facilimallyholds a part of his nuclear weapons intated.reserve.c. Maneuver Force Attacks in Two or Moree. Establishment or Reconstitution of the Converging Directions. In this method, theReserve. When the commander has all maneu- maneuver force closes on the enemy from morever units actively engaged, he should provide than one direction.for means by which he may influence the ac- (1) Surprise. An attack that convergestion. He may either-on the enemy from more than one di-(1) Constitute forces for a reserve from rection forces him to fight in moreother elements of the command;than one direction simultaneously and(2) Determine which unit may be most may achieve surprise.profitably disengaged if an urgent re- (2) Coordination. When elements of thequirement for a reserve arises, ormaneuver force are attacking over(3) Request additional means from higher different terrain with varying enemyheadquarters.resistance, the coordination and controlnecessary to insure a coordinated189. Control Measures attack and simultaneous assault mayIn keeping with the philosophy of armor,be difficult to achieve. Measures mustonly the control measures necessary to coordi-be taken to prevent elements firingnate maneuver and fires are imposed upon sub-into each other.ordinates by the commander. For a discussion (3) Mutual support. The separate direcofcontrol measures, see appendix X.tions used by the maneuver forcemake mutual support between ele-190. Methods of Attack ments of the force more difficult thana. General. The maneuver force, composed in the single-direction attack.of tanks and mechanized infantry, accom- d. Tanks of the Maneuver Force Support byplishes its mission by closing with and destroy- Fire Only. The only justification for thising the enemy. There are three general meth- method of attack is under conditions where terodsof attack employed by the maneuver force. rain or enemy-emplaced obstacles prevent tanks(1) The maneuver force attacks in a sin- from moving with the maneuver force. Thisgle direction.method does not take maximum advantage of(2) The maneuver force attacks in two or the mobility, shock effect, and combat power of(2) The maneuver force attacks in two ormore converging directions.tanks.(3) Tanks of the maneuver force support e. Selection of a Method of Attack. Duringby fire only.an attack, any one or more of the three methb.Maneuver Force Attack in a Single Direc- ods of attack may be used. As the situationtionm In this method, the entire maneuver force changes, the commander is alert to vary hiscloses on the enemy in a single direction. method of attack. The factors of METT are(1) Coordination. Because the force at- analyzed in selecting a method of attack andtacks in the same direction, coordi- are discussed in FM 17-15.AGO 9139A 95