FM 17-35 ( Armored Cavalry Platoon, Troop and Squadron ) 1960

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When so employed, it should be reinforced with tanks, engineers,
artillery, Army aviation, and tactical air.
b. Planning. When the squadron is not in contact with the enemy,
the squadron commander normally plans to advance on a
wide front to establish contact. Until contact is established, the
squadron employs zone reconnaissance techniques, and his plan
assigns zones to be reconnoitered by the armored cavalry troops.
Army aircraft are used to extend the range of reconnaissance,
to the front and flanks. If the squadron has been reinforced, the
squadron commander may designate a reserve. Plans also provide
for the withdrawal of the main body and subsequent employment
of the squadron.
c. Conduct. In the execution of a covering force operation, the
armored cavalry squadron moves aggressively to develop the situation
and to ensure that the enemy does not threaten or surprise
the main body.
(1) During an advance to contact, small enemy forces may be
bypassed by the covering force; however, the covering
force commander must notify the main body commander.
A small force may be left to maintain contact with the
enemy. The reserve, if constituted by the covering force
commander, may be used to destroy small enemy forces
that are bypassed by the leading elements of the covering
force and that threaten the accomplishment of the mission,
or used to develop the situation and force the enemy
to make a show of strength.
(2) After contact has been gained and the squadron is unable
to advance further, or when the squadron is covering the
division in a defensive operation, the squadron deceives
the enemy as to the location of the main body and delays
the enemy effort to advance. Ambushes may be effectively
employed by the squadron to add to the delay of
the enemy.
289. General
Section VI. SCREENING FORCE
a. A screening force protects an area or body of troops from
surprise by observing and reporting enemy activity. The mission
is accomplished by establishing a series of observation posts and
patrols capable of observing enemy approaches into a designated
sector. Army aircraft augment the ground capability.
b. A screening force is not able to offer strong resistance to the
enemy. However, it protects itself and within its capability destroys
or disperses small enemy elements.
188 AGO 4088B