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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM366. Reconnaissance of Crossing Sites (2) Reconnaissance will be performed bya. General. In general, the purpose of on-site organic scout sections of armor units.reconnaissance is to locate, report, and markBecause of the complex nature ofsuitablecrossing sites, This includes water crossings, it will be normal forsuitable crossing sites. This includes determiningthe amount and type of enemy resistance; r eonnaissance teams If insufficient.determining information concerning those reconnaissance teams, If insufficientitems appropriate to the site as enumerated inreconnaissance personnel are presentparagraph 364; accomplishing the marking ofshould be rossing area, additional ted andapproaches and crossing sites with flags, en-should be immediately requested andgineer tape, ropes, and buoys; and the inspec-transported to the area by the fastesttion of captured bridges and abutments foravailable means.immediate use and for mines or' demolitions. (3) When underwater reconnaissance isOn-site reconnaissance may be conducted necessary to reconnoiter routes forunder enemy observation and fire; therefore,fording armored vehicles, qualifiedspeed is essential to avert casualties and to personnel, trained in underwateravoid divulgence of the operational plan to thetechniques to include the determienemy.Information obtained by reconnais-nation of stream bottom characterissanceparties is reported to the commander astics and the recognition and markingquickly as possible. Based on the informationof water obstacles, should be requestreceived,crossing plans are changed as re-ed if not provided.quired. Final selection of the actual crossing d. Reconnaissance at the Crossing Site. Resitesis based on the desired characteristics of connaissance at the crossing site determinescrossing sites as listed in paragraph 364, the the presence or conditions of the following:tactical situation, and the analysis of informa- (1) Obstacles. Obstacles includetioncollected by all reconnaissance means.(a) Vertical banks.b. Reconnaissance Means. A map reconnaissancereveals only the superficial character of (b) Mines and boobytraps at entrancethe water obstacle. Up-to-date aerial reconnais-and exit sites. Mines in the channelsance and photography, radar observations,and infrared imagery provide armor unitobstacles.commanders with information of shorelines (c) Debris and floating obstacles suchand crossing conditions. The photogrammetryas large quantities of logs andmethod of interpretation of aerial and infraredbrush, floating poles with heavyphotography may reveal soil type in banks, ap-wire attached for fouling propellersproaches, and streambed; approximate currentand suspension systems, and icevelocity and depth; possible shallow fordingwhich may cause major damage tosites and submerged obstacles; and areas the conning towers of deep fordingwhere favorable bank gradients are to bevehicles and may interfere with thefound. Most important to the armor unit com-track or trim vanes of an amphibimander,however, is the result of on-site physi-ous vehicle.cal reconnaissance with respect to entrances (2) Current.and exits, stream velocities, streambed condi- (a) The maximum current in whichtions, and depths for vehicle swimming andamphibious vehicles can be operatedsafely depends on such factorsc. Reconnaissance Personnel. as the choppiness of the water, the(1) Personnel conducting on-site recon- amount of debris or ice in thenaissance missions will be briefed bywater, and the maximum acceptaintelligencestaff members and guidedble drift distance. When the curbythe essential elements of informa-rent is greater than 6.5 kilometerstion (EEI) which is a part of theper hour, particular attention mustoperation order.be given to drift distance, balance186