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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMFM 100-5forces. Armored units can also blunt enemy attacksand launch counter-attacks as part of a defense.Light armored units can participate in a variety ofArmy operations, including rapid worldwide deployment,throughout a wide range of environments. Tacticalmissions include providing security, reconnaissance,and antiarmor firepower to the light infantry orairborne division. Light armored units also conductstandard armor operations, including the destructionof enemy forces in coordination with other arms.CavalryThe basic missions of cavalry units are reconnaissance,security, and economy of force. The ability ofcavalry units to find the enemy, to develop the situation,and to provide the commander with reaction timeand security also make them ideal for operating in aneconomy-of-force role. Cavalry forces can delay anattacking enemy as well as assist in a withdrawal. Aircavalry units perform the same missions of reconnaissanceand security as ground cavalry and are organicto all cavalry units. Because of their greater mobility,air cavalry troops can reconnoiter and maintain surveillanceover a much larger area in a shorter periodof time than ground troops. During security operations,the air cavalry reconnoiters, screens forward and tothe flanks of ground forces, and acts as a rapid reactionforce.Army AviationThe firepower, agility, and speed of Army aviationpermit ground com-manders to close with anddefeat a wide range of enemy forces. Attack helicoptersare ideally suited for rapid reaction in close, deep,or rear operations. They are also used where the terrainrestricts or prohibits ground-force occupation.Attack helicopters can favorably influence the battlewhen ground forces are decisively engaged.Scout helicopters provide a wide range of armedand unarmed recon-naissance and security capabilities.Whether autonomous or operating with a cavalryorganization, air scout assets are essential in detectingand identifying enemy forces throughout thebattlefield—an important source of real-time battlefieldinformation. On-board radars and digitalcommun-ications are key in winning the informationwar at the tactical and operational levels.Utility aircraft provide airmobile and air assaultcapabilities for dismounted infantry and ground antitankunits. Dismounted forces achieve greatly increasedmobility and can gain positional advantagewhen rapidly airlifted across the battlefield. As thecommander requires, utility assets can quickly movetowed artillery and light elements of the combined armsteam and perform lifesaving medical evacuation(MEDEVAC) missions. Utility aircraft provide a fullrange of critical CSS to forces throughout the battlefield.Field ArtilleryA principal means of fire support in fire and maneuveris the field artillery. It not only provides fireswith cannon, rocket, and missile systems but also integratesall means of fire support available to the commander.Field artillery can neutralize, suppress, ordestroy enemy direct fire forces, attack enemy artilleryand mortars, and deliver scatterable mines to isolateand interdict enemy forces or protect friendly operations.Field artillery units contribute to attackingthe enemy throughout the depth of his formations andsuppress enemy air defense systems to facilitate groundand air operations. As mobile as the maneuver force itsupports, field artillery provides continuous fires insupport of the commanders’ schemes of maneuver.Commanders exercise overall control of the firesupport system. In integrating fire support into operations,their most important considerations are adequacy,flexibility, and continuity. In offensive operations, themain attack gets priority fire support, while long-rangesystems strike in-depth defenses, enemy reserves, ortargets such as command posts, bridges, and enemyartillery. In the defense, a broader balance of fire supportis necessary, but the main effort is still allocatedstronger fire support. Commanders should changepriority of support when they shift their main effort.When maneuver forces conduct raids, deep attacks,or covering-force operations that take them beyondsupporting distance of the main body, commandersmust provide for their fire support. They may do sowith supporting field artillery brigades, division artilleries,battalions, dedicated batteries, or mortars, dependingon the size of the force and its mission.2-23