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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM190select, reconnoiter, mark, and assistficial light may be used to reconinthe improvement of fording sitesnoiter the bottom. Searchlights andfor deep fording operations. Under-flares can be used in addition to wawaterreconnaissance teams are terproof lights used by the swimmers.usually formed and may include or- In absolute darkness, or when theganic personnel and those from sup- water is murky, reconnaissance isporting engineer units. Subsequentmuch slower since swimmers mustparagraphs provide guidance for theswim to the bottom, feeling their wayemployment of underwater reconnais-across.sance personnel when they are pro- (5) The length of time that underwatervided.reconnaissance personnel can remain(2) When the water obstacle is narrow, in the water will depend on the curunderwaterreconnaissance personnelrent, water temperature, and equipmayenter from the near bank andment. When conducting a reconnaisconducttheir reconnaissance by swim-sance in any current, the swimmerming to the far bank. When thewill expend more energy, tire moredistance between banks will not per-easily, and use his air supply quickermit this, M114's M113's will enter thethan when working in calm water. Inwater when an entrance has been se-water temperatures between 70 andlected and drop teams off at regular85 ° F, divers can work comfortablyintervals. Vehicles will remain in thein their underwear but will chill inwater during reconnaissance and pickone to two hours while resting inup swimmers when the operation is water. In temperatures above 850 F,completed unless the area is under en-the diver will overheat and the maxiemyfire. If the area is under heavymum temperature that can be enfire,divers will swim to the friendlydured, even at rest, is 960 F. Protecshoreor, if on the far side of a widetion is usually needed when the waterobstacle, they will signal when readytemperature is below 70 ° F, and into be picked up. To reduce the possi-cold water, sense of touch and abilitybility of injury, swimmers are re-to use the hands are affected. Airmounted over the front slope with thetanks vary in size. The size used andvehicle tracks locked.the working conditions will govern(3) To assist the underwater reconnais- how long a person can operate on asance team in maintaining direction,xweighted ropes can be placed acrossset of air tanks. Extra tanks shouldbe readily available to the underwaterthe bottom of the water obstacle.reconnaissance teams; and when tanksBuoys or other floating obstacles areare emptied, they should be immediattachedto these ropes to indicate the ately recharged. Recharging equipareaof responsibility of each team.ment should be located so as to beWhere the current is in excess ofresponsive to team requirements.about 1.3 meters per second, underwaterreconnaissance personnel will 367. Conduct of Inland Water Crossingshave difficulty maintaining a position a. General. During the movement to thealong the line selected. Another water obstacle, the armor unit commander deweightedrope, parallel tt the direc- ploys his force with the necessary means readitionalrope, is placed upstream with ly available for the anticipated crossing. Helines connecting these ropes to assist advances on a broad front as rapidly as possitheswimmer.ble in an attempt to seize bridges intact before(4) During periods of good visibility and the enemy can destroy them. This is the mostwhen the water is clear, bottom condi- economical means of crossing a water obstacletions can be easily determined. Arti- and should be attempted whenever possible.