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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM(3) Employment of tanks against routes to be followed, time to openfortifications. The tanks normallyfire, types of fire to be used, areas inprovide direct-fire support to the as-which teams may fire, and the generalsault teams. They fire at embrasureconduct and action of each team.openings and attempt to destroy the (7) Use of tank dozers and combat enfortification.Tanks usually follow gineer vehicles (CEV's). In the initialother elements of the team but mustphase of the attack, the tank dozer orbe close enough to give direct supportCEV may be used to assist in reducatall times. Tanks not attached to aning obstacles. As soon as the assaultassault team may give additional fireteam closes on the fortification, thesupport from hull-defilade positions.tank dozers or CEV's are moved for-(4) Employment of flamethrowers againstfortifications. Both portable and mechwardto be available to cover theopenings of the fortification with dirt.anized flamethrowers may be used inThis is an effective way of immobiliztheassault teams. The flamethrowering any enemy troops who refuse tois an effective weapon for the last-surrender.minute, close-in protection of men (8) Artillery assault fire. When the usualplacing breaching charges and fordirect-fire means and supporting firesmopping up the fortification after itcannot neutralize an enemy fortificahasbeen breached.tion, self-propelled medium or heavy(5) Use of smoke against fortifications. artillery may be used in an assaultSmoke may be used to screen the en-fire role.tire front, to cover the movement of (9) Use of nuclear weapons. Extensivelytroops into position, to screen one orfortified areas present a difficult tarbothflanks of a gap created by une-get for destruction by nuclear weapqualadvance of units, to screen anons. By careful selection of weaponsarea outside of the immediate action,and height of burst, however, severeor to obscure observation posts anddamage can be created to permit exfortificationsthat cannot be neutral-ploitation by armor units withoutized by other weapons. Though thecausing an unacceptable hazard fromattack may be made during darkness,smoke may be valuable to counter theradioactive fallout.possible enemy use of illuminating c. Conduct of the Attack of Fortifications.flares and shells. The use of smoke (1) The attack usually starts with intensemust be coordinated to insure that itartillery fire and with the laying of awill not interfere with the need forsmoke screen if conditions are favoradirectfire on fortifications and forground observation by the assaultble. Air bombardment of the fortifica-tions is also desirable. While the artilteams.If conditions are at all favorable,every effort should be made tolery is firing, routes are cleared ofantipersonnel mines by use of grapobservefortifications that can sup- nels or other means. Demolitionport those being attacked.snakes may be used to clear antitank(6) Orders for attack on fortifications. mines. When paths have been cleared,Orders for an attack on a fortified positionnormally are issued in great detheassault teams move forward asrapidly as possible (fig. 30) under thetail. The attack on each bunker andcover of supporting fires.defensive work is planned individ- (2) The flank groups direct their fire atually and is coordinated with attacksany open emplacement on the flankson adjacent fortifications. The orderof the fortification. The tanks andincludes detailed instructions to eachmachineguns of all groups fire at emassaultteam, including positions, brasures to keep them closed. If the199