FM 100-5 Operations - Survival Ebooks Military Manuals Survival ...

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMOPERATIONSdifferent branches. In this way, the strengths of eachbranch are enhanced.InfantryThe five types of infantry forces are light, airborne,air assault, ranger, and mechanized. Each has its ownspecial skills and specific organizational design, butall share the common mission to close with and destroythe enemy. Airborne and air assault forces aremost readily distinguished by their means of entry intobattle. Rangers serve both as a type of infantry and asSOF. Regardless of their mode of conveyance—byaircraft, by armored vehicle, by truck, or by foot—they all serve as a key element of combat power inclose combat.Light Infantry. Light infantry units can operateeffectively in most terrain and weather. They may bethe dominant arm in fast-breaking operations becauseof their rapid strategic deployability. In such cases,they can wrest the initiative early, seize and holdground, and mass fires to stop the enemy in restrictiveterrain. They are particularly effective in urban terrain.They can infiltrate and move rapidly to the enemyrear. Their tactical mobility is enhanced throughthe use of helicopter support and tactical airlift.Light infantry units are capable of rapid deploymentdue to their austere but lethal design. They mayoperate throughout the battlefield and can be rapidlyaugmented for almost any task or situation. Light infantryunits are especially useful for operations in difficultterrain and urbanized areas. They operate primarilyat night or during periods of limited visibilityin close or restrictive terrain. Light infantry unitsachieve decisive results through the employment oforganic and supporting forces and weapons systems.Airborne Infantry. Airborne infantry units havethe greatest capability for large-scale force-projectionoperations. They rapidly deploy over great distancesand conduct combined arms combat parachute or airlanding assaults to seize and secure vital objectives.These units can be projected to virtually any objectivearea under almost any weather condition. Once onthe ground, their capabilities and lethality are similarto other infantry units.Air Assault Infantry. Air assault infantry unitshave great tactical and operational-level mobility. Theytrain to fight across the range of military operations.Their significant antiarmor capability, coupled withtheir strategic deployability, makes them particularlywell-suited as an early deploying force in contingencyoperations against heavy forces. They train and fightas a team in combination with air assault artillery andattack and lift aviation and are capable of penetratingdeep into enemy territory to cut LOCs, seize airfields,destroy C2 nodes, block reinforcing units, or seize keyterrain. Because of their agility and mobility, air assaultinfantry units are well-suited for covering forceoperations.Ranger Units. Ranger units plan and conduct specialmilitary operations in support of national policiesand objectives. They have the capability to supportconventional military operations, or they may conductoperations independently when conventional infantrycannot be used. Ranger units are highly trained andwell-disciplined and capable of being employed inany environment.Mechanized Infantry. Mechanized infantry hasthe same mobility as armor forces, but less firepowerand protection. Armor and mechanized infantry trainand fight as a team to defeat enemy armored forces.When equipped with infantry fighting vehicles, themechanized infantry can accompany tanks in mountedassault, although commanders must be careful in determiningif, when, and where infantrymen must dismountto accomplish their mission. In the attack,mechanized infantrymen can act as fixing forces. Inthe defense, they act as pivot points for maneuveringtank-heavy forces. Mechanized infantry forces seekto integrate fast, protected mobility; lethal, vehiclemounted,fire-support systems; and dismounted infantryskills into an effective fighting system that enhancesthe striking power of armor forces.ArmorIn mounted warfare, the tank is the primary offensiveweapon. Its firepower, protection from enemyfire, and speed create the shock effect necessary todisrupt or defeat the enemy. Tanks can destroy enemyarmored vehicles, infantry units, and antitankguided missile units. Tanks can break through suppresseddefenses, exploit the success of an attack bystriking deep into the enemy’s rear areas, and pursuedefeated enemy2-22