FM 57-35 Airmobile Operations - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMtion, or special skill may be required during the conduct of thedefense.71. Defense Against Armora. Continuing emphasis must be placed on improving and extending antitank defense in the objective area because of its vulnerability to enemy armor. Organic antitank weapons, artificialobstacles, natural obstacles, and tactical air and other availablesupport must be used to maximum advantage.b. During the assault, air support is the primary defense againstenemy armor. Aircraft attack enemy targets which appear, dispersing them and delaying enemy buildup. In this manner, wellcoordinatedenemy attacks are delayed until the force can assemble, reorganize, seize initial objectives, and organize initialdefenses. Throughout the operation, enemy armor is attacked atlong distances from the FEBA and maintained under observationand attack as long as it poses a threat.c. Strong points along the FEBA use natural obstacles such asrivers, swamps, woods, built-up areas, and gullies or ditches,augmented by minefields, wire entanglements, tank traps, demolitions, chemicals, and similar artificial obstacles to strengthentheir defenses. Antitank weapons are located in depth alongfavorable avenues for armor.72. Defense Against Nuclear Attacka. The airmobile force normally seizes objectives of significanttactical importance. Therefore, early attack by enemy mobileforces, supported by nuclear and nonnuclear weapons, is to beexpected. The force must have reserves with enough mobility tocounter enemy efforts.6. The requirement for dispersion to protect the airmobile forcefrom destruction by nuclear weapons is in direct conflict with therequirement for an objective area small enough to be defended.Usually, the size of the area organized by a battle group will besuch that major elements of the force may be lost to one or morenuclear weapons. Consequently, reserves of appropriate size maybe provided within friendly lines ready for rapid airmobile movement into the objective area.c. The practicability of a successful defense in a dispersed formation can be increased by using nuclear weapons to attack enemyconcentrations.d. In most airmobile operations, some elements of the force areclose enough to enemy units and vital installations to obtain a48 AGO 2294B