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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMtarget for enemy tactical air forces. Althoughservation means, including visual andarmored vehicles are relatively invulnerable toelectronic, ground and air, to keep theall but direct hits by conventional weapons, un-enemy under constant surveillance.armored vehicles organic to armor units areGood fields of fire are essential for thevulnerable to all types of air to ground fires. effective employment of direct-fireTherefore the employment of organic weapons;weapons. Fields of fire are analyzedattached air defense artillery (ADA); allin connection with the nature of theforms of deception, cover, dispersion, conceal-weapons and the nature of the tarment;and, particularly, movement is of impor-gets.tance. An enemy capability of employing air- (2) Obstacles.borne or airmobile forces must be considered (a) The effect of obstacles, either inby the commander.hindrance or support of operations,d. Firepower Capability. The enemy capabil- is considered.ity to counter the employment of armor unitsis of vital concern and must be considered intaclesmay be natural terrainthe preparation of plans. Factors to be considfeatures,obstructionsmanmadecreated byobstructions,nuclear fire,ered in determining his firepower capabilitiesor restrictions imposed by chemicalfires. Minefields, roadblocks, anti-(1) Location and disposition of his weap- tank ditches, and other antitank obonsand their fires.stacles are constructed to restrict(2) Characteristics of his weapons, such the maneuver of armor units andas range, rate of fire, mobility, andslow their operation. The comeffectivenessagainst the various typemander needs to know the location,vehicles being used in the operation.extent, and strength of obstacles if(3) Vulnerability of the enemy weapons he is to calculate accurately theto the combat power available to themeasures needed to overcome orfriendly commander.avoid them.(4) Number and type of weapons in (c) Obstacles may be used by bothpossession of and available to the en- friendly and enemy forces toemy.strengthen a defense, or deny usee. In addition to the aforementioned enemy of key terrain for observation andcapabilities which are of special concern to thedefensive positions, to assist inarmor unit, see FM 30-5 for discussion ofeconomy-of-force measures, and toothers that may be considered by the com-protect the flank of a moving force.mander.(d) Nuclear weapons can create the followingobstacles: induced and fall-33. Terrain and Weather out radiation, cratering, rubble,a. General. The terrain and the weather are fires, or tree blowdown: The obstaimportantfactors in armor operations. Thecle-creating effect must be considcommandermakes a thorough analysis of the ered when nuclear weapons areterrain to determine the advantages it offersused.and to evaluate the advantages it may afford (3) Concealment and cover. Concealmentthe enemy. Weather affects virtually all opera-is protection from observation. Covertions, both combat and combat service support.is protection from fire. Every advanb.Terrain. tage afforded to friendly forces by the(1) Observation and fields of fire. The terrain and conditions of visibility toeffect of observation on both friendlyprovide concealment and cover mustand enemy operations is considered.be exploited. Concealment and coverHigh ground that affords line-of-sightare essential in masking assembly ofobservation is of particular impor- troops, for protection against alltance. The commander employs all ob-types of fires, and in aiding in tactical13