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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM331. Effect of Mountains vated terrain. On such terrain, the attackinga. The nature of the terrain normally limits force will often gain tactical surprise. Extentheuse of armored vehicles to roads and trails. sive engineer work may be required to placeTactical surprise may be achieved by employ- tanks on high ground where they can closelying varying degrees of engineer effort to per- support the attack. It may be necessary tomit tanks to move to advantageous firing posi- build a trail from low ground to the attack potionsin the roughest types of terrain.sition. When mountainous terrain contains corridorsthat are favorable to the attack and perb.Consideration should be given to obtain- mit employment of armor, armor units maying information from local inhabitants of the attack down the corridors while infantry unitsarea about trails and natural obstacles that of- attack along the ridge lines.ten do not appear on military maps.ec. Available roads and trails must be kept inc. Adequate logistical support for armor good repairto permit the movement of armor.units engaged in mountain operations is ex- Tank dozers, armored vehicle launched bridges,tremely difficult. Roads are usually few in and bridging material must be kept well forandward. bridging material must be kept well fornumberand require extensive maintenance.Helicopters may be used for supply operations. d.d. Mountainous d Mountainousterrain presents many communicationproblems. Radio communication, en forward than are required for immediated. No more armored vehicles should be tak-particularly FM sets, may be affected by high operation. Having uncommitted armored vehigroundbetween stations. See FM 24-1 for de- cles in forward areas causes unnecessary damageto roads and may create traffic hazards fortails on communications in mountain operations.~~~~~~~~~tions.supply vehicles.e. If decisive armor action becomes possible,332. Offensive Operations armor forces are committed in mass, supporteda. In mountainous terrain, an armor attack closely by artillery and engineers. Objectivesmust be planned in detail and the troops are usually critical points on hostile supplybriefed thoroughly. The terrain may permit routes and withdrawal, the capture of whichtanks to support attacking infantry with rela- would isolate the enemy forward position.tively long range direct fire. This requires excellentradio communication and thorough c9- 333. Defensive and Retrograde Operationsordination between the infantry and tank The fundamentals of defensive and retrounits.grade operations discussed in chapters 7 and 8b. Key terrain features are primary objec- are applicable to the conduct of the defense intives. Attacks along low ground are usually mountain warfare. The use of armored vehiclescostly because the defender has excellent obser- may be limited; however, wherever possible,vation. The route of an attacking force will full advantage is made of tanks in their antinormallybe along ridge lines or on other ele- tank role and in offensive actions.172