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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM(5) Missions requiring defense againstmodern mechanized forces favor bal-anced forces.b. Enemy. Action against-eral support under battalion control. On occasion,the section or its squads are positioned tofire in support of a particular team, but controlis still retained at battalion.39. Scout and Reconnaissance Platoons (1) An enemy protected by strongly organizedantitank defenses or by obsta-The scout platoon organic to armor or mech-cles favors infantry-heavy forces.anized infantry battalions and the reconnaissanceplatoon organic to the infantry and (2) The anticipation of encountering enairborneinfantry ballations are normally em-emy forces in meeting engagement faployedunder battalion control. In special vors tank-heavy forces.situations, these platdons or their elements (3) An enemy conducting a hasty defensemay be attached to company teams.or a retrograde action favors a tankheavyforce.40. Armored Cavalry (4) An abundance of enemy automaticThe attachment of combat or combat sup-weapons and massed indirect fires faportunits to armored cavalry units is referredvors tank-heavy forces.to as reinforcement. The type and amount of (5) A vague enemy situation favors tankreinforcementare based on an analysis of theheavy or balanced forces.factors of METT.(6) An enemy capability for using strong41. Factors of METT in Relation to Organiza- tank forces favors tank-heavy or puretion for Combattank forces.a. Mission. c. Terrain and Weather.(1) Missions requiring wide ranging orrapid maneuver favor tank-heavy(1) Conditions that provide good observa-tion and long range fields of fire favorforces.tank-heavy forces.(2) Missions requiring close and detailed (2) The presence of obstacles, other thanorganization of terrain favor in-chemical or radiation obstacles, fafantry-heavyforces.vors infantry-heavy forces.(3) Missions requiring semi-independent (3) Tank-heavy forces require trafficableoperations of a subordinate unit favor terrain.an organization for combat that providesfor an organization which isd. Troops Available. The discussion oftroops available in paragraph 34 is a considerself-sustaining.ation primarily of those factors that determine(4) Counterattack missions favor tank- the feasibility of different organizations forheavy forces.combat,Section VI.PLANNING ARMOR OPERATIONS42. General 43. The DecisionThe tempo of events in mobile warfare and a. The decision is the result of a reasonedthe rapid fluctuations in tactical situations analysis of all factors affecting the employmentplace a premium on time. The successful corn- of units in combat. The steps to be consideredmander makes sound and timely decisions. Heis assisted by his staff in developing a plan toand their sequence are contained in the esti-mate of the situation (app VII). Because ofimplement the decision and an order to dissem- rapidly changing situations, estimates normalinatethe plan to subordinates.ly are accomplished mentally.16