1966 US Army Vietnam War ARMOR ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMcommander and staff analyze the mission, issue (f) Size and type of elements involvedwarning orders, establish liaison, and visit thein the relief.unit to be relieved. The unit will normally es- (3) When "command is to pass." Thetablish its command post in the vicinity of thetime or circumstances under whichcommand post of the unit being relieved. Con-the incoming unit commander will asferencesare held between the commanders andsume responsibility for the area muststaffs of the two units concerned to work outbe clearly established. Until commandthe details of the relief.passes, the outgoing unit commanderb. Details To Be Coordinated. Procedures retains responsibility for the area andfor the accomplishment of the following mustmission and exercises operational conbeagreed upon:trol over all subordinate elements of(1) Exchange of plans and liaison person- the incoming units which have comnel.The incoming unit commanderspleted their portion of the relief. Durandstaffs must be briefed and becomeing this period, the incoming unitsthoroughly familiar with the existingmust fit into and accept the generaldefensive plans to include fire plans,defense plans of the outgoing unit.barrier plans, and counterattackNormally, command passes to the inplans.To make the most efficientcoming commander when the units intransfer of information concerningthe forward defense area have beenthe plans, dispositions and area of relieved by his subordinate unitsoperation, the outgoing unit leavesand when adequate communicationsliaison personnel with the incomingunit. The number of these personnelmeans have been established. Whencommand passes, the incoming comandthe duration of their stay withmander assumes operational controlthe incoming unit vary with the situa-of all units of the outgoing unit whichtion. Normally, they will remain withhave not been relieved.each combat and combat support (4) Reconnaissance. Arrangements mustheadquarters of the incoming unitbe made for a thorough daylight refromcompany level up. These person- connaissance by commanders andnel usually remain until the incomingstaff officers of all echelons of the inunitsbecome familiar with the situa-coming unit. Reconnaissance shouldtion.include an inspection of terrain to the(2) Sequence of relief (if not specified by front, defensive installations, reliefthe headquarters ordering the relief).routes, assembly areas, weapon posi-To establish the strongest defensetions, and combat service support induringrelief, the relief in place isstallations.executed by stages, either rear to (5) Security. Every effort must be madefront or front to rear. In determiningby all echelons of the incoming andthe sequence of the relief, both com-the outgoing units to prevent the enmandersshould consider-emy from learning that a relief is(a) The subsequent mission of the unittaking place. In addition to conductthatis conducting the relief.ing the relief during periods of re-(b) The strength and combat efficiencyduced visibility, the following securiofthe unit presently in the forwardty measures should be taken:defense area.(a) Every form of normal activity in(e) The capability of the enemy to de-the area of operations must betect and react against the relief.maintained during the relief. The(d) The characteristics of the area ofincoming unit should assume theoperations.normal pattern of harassing and(e) The need to vary the pattern of re- interdicting fires, patrols, comlief.munications traffic, and movement102