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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMproach the objective, the mechanizedsidered with respect to the positioninfantry moves quickly to dismountof the carrier and the driver mustpositions to support the tanks. Asconstantly monitor the radio.the tanks move onto the objective, (b) Messenger. A dismounted messenmortarand artillery overhead timeger may be sent to the position ocfiresare shifted to the flanks and farcupied by the carriers to guide themside of the objective. The local com-to their respective units. This ismander determines when and wherethe slowest method and depends onthe mechanized infantry will dismounta route clear of the enemy.taking maximum advantage of defi- (c) Pyrotechnic devices. A pyrotechniclade for the armored personnel car-signal may be fired to indicate toriers.drivers the time to move and the(2) As the tanks continue their assault to approximate location of the unit.the far side of the objective, the in-This technique requires constantfantry follows and protects them byscanning of an area by the driver,engaging infantry-type targets, in-good visibility, availability of pyrocludingindividual antitank weapons technics to which this meaningand tank killer teams. Coordinationmay be assigned, and possession inshould be accomplished before the at-the unit of the signal device.tack to maximize infantry support of b. Tanks and Mechanized Infantry in thetank elements during the assault. Mounted Assault. In some situations, becauseWhenever possible, the machineguns of the nature of the terrain or of limited enemyof the armored personnel carriers are resistance, it may be unnecessary to dismountused to support the assault until their the mechanized infantry. The decision to keepfires are masked by advancing rifle- the infantry mounted is up to the local commen.The riflemen use assault fire to mander at the time and can rarely be preclosewith the enemy. The shock effect planned. The mounted assault differs from theof assaulting tanks and infantry is dismounted assault in the employment of supmultipliedby rapid movement and porting fires. In the mounted assault, inteheavyvolume of fire. During this grated forces may assault the objective undertime, the tanks continue to engage cover of overhead artillery and mortar fire.and destroy enemy positions and Tanks and mounted mechanized infantry overweaponswith their machineguns and run the objective. If necessary, supportingmain tank gun. As the tanks arrive at fires may be shifted to isolate the objective,the far edge of the objective, fire is and mechanized infantry, as required, disdirectedon the enemy positions be- mounts to mop up.yond the objective area. e. Tanks Support by Fire. Terrain or obsta-(3) Once the assault has cleared the ob- cles may make it impossible for tracked vehijective,the carriers are moved for- cles to join in the assault. In this situation,ward to remount their squads for con- mechanized infantry (dismounted) will continuationof the attack. They should duct the assault. Tanks support by fire, withbe moved forward under control to full consideration given to the long range andavoid "cruising" the objective search- rapid rate of fire of the tank weapons and theing for their squads. The following precision and control with which these firestechniques may be employed to move can be delivered. As soon as the situation percarriersforward under control. mits, tanks will rejoin the mechanized infan-(a) Radio. Armored personnel carriers try and, if appropriate, again lead in the attack.are provided with radios that netwith those carried by the dis- 194. Continuation of the Attackmounted infantry. The range of the a. General. Armor units seek to conduct thetransmitting station must be con- attack as a single advance and assault that98 AGo 91atI