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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM18(3) Use existing resources. All means of plishment of the mission. Evenapplying or supporting combat powerthough the armor commander desiresmust be included. The use of theseto permit maximum freedom of actionmeans is planned so that all resourcesof his subordinates, he must still plancontribute to the accomplishing of theto control and direct their efforts tounit'smission.ward a common goal, the accomplish-(4) Provide the necessary task organization.The organization for combat dementof the mission. For overlay tech-niques used to express the commandcidedupon by the commander must beer's desires concerning controls, seetranslated into the specific terms of appendix X.task organization. For example, a de- (8) Be simple. Plans may, of necessity, becision to attack with a tank-heavydetailed but should avoid complexiunitmust be converted into the ties. The planner strives for simplicispecificsas they will appear underty of execution. As an example, com-"task organization" in the order. Thismitting a following unit around awill be a determination of what unitleading unit is normally simpler thanwill be the nucleus, how many subor-committing it through the leadingdinate elements should remain underunit.the unit's control, how many elements (9) Be flexible. Planners strive for flexiwillbe attached, what unit or unitsbility in plans. One reason why unwillthese elements be detached from,necessary restrictions are not imandwhen the attachments will beposed on subordinates is that theeffective. Command relationships andexercise of initiative at all levelsresponsibilities must be indicated inadapts the conduct of operations tothe organization for combat.circumstances. Other parts of the(5) Provide continuity. The plan must plan that may contribute to flexibilitymake all necessary arrangements forare the composition and location of athe full period of the operation. Ar-reserve, the use of balanced task orrangementsshould be made in detailganizations, and the preparation ofas far in advance as the events of thealternate plans.operation can be foreseen. This in- (10) Be coordinated. All aspects of theeludes such items as displacement ofplan that affect units or support agensupportingweapons, command postcies not under control of the unitfacilities, and trains. must be coordinated to prevent(6) Provide decentralization. Subordinatesshould be allowed maximumconflict of action.c. The two basic elements of the plan are thefreedom in the discharge of theirresponsibilities consistent with thescheme of maneuver and the plan of fire sup-port. They are developed together and are sonecessity for coordinating their ef- interrelated that they normally are referred toforts. As a planning technique, the by a single name-plan of attack or plan ofplanner normally visualizes the action defense.of units two levels below his own. d. The overall plan is made up of manyThis technique must not be carriedover into the order. Adherence to theparts of supporting plans. To insure that thisoverall plan is complete and that each part confundamentalof using mission-type tributes to it, a basis for planning must beorders will require that the planningdevelop what subordinates are to doused. The basis is the scheme of maneuver-the employment of the basic maneuver units,without specifying how they are to do and the plan of fire support-the employmentit.of fire support units. Specific plans developed(7) Provide control. All actions and to support the scheme of maneuver and plan ofefforts must contribute to the accom- fire support may include-