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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMENEMYformation is employed normally in the initialMOBILE assault. The use of a column formation doesMECHANIZED not mean that all elements of the assaulting1l RESERVE force should be in column. Several column formationsmay be employed by a commander conductingthe assault. For example, a battaliontask force may use a column with each of itscompany teams in line, wedge, or echelon.These formations tend to shorten the length ofthe task force column reducing the time necessaryto move into the built-up area. Regardlessof the formation employed, the leading elementsof the assaulting force should use a formationthat facilitates the delivery of maximumfire on the point of penetration.Engineers, mechanized flamethrowers, andLSUPPLIE5Smine-detection or mine-detonating tanks or vehicles(if available) should be included in theassaulting force. Artillery airbursts are placed~j, Gf Pover the point selected for entry to prevent theenemy from manning crew-served or individualantitank weapons. The mechanized infantryremain mounted and are carried asclose to the objective as possible. In the attackof a strongly defended area, the mechanized infantrywill have to dismount to assist in theassault of the outer defense and to provideclose-in protection for the tanks. Designatedfire teams or squads may be assigned to workFigure 31. Coordinated attack against a town. with a particular tank. Direct communicationbetween the rifle squad or fire team leader andtank commander is maintained by visual sigareaand seizure of a foothold. It should insure nals and external interphone. When operatingthe elimination of the defender's ground obser- dismounted, the mechanized infantry shouldvation and direct fires on the approaches into remain to the rear of their assigned tanks tothe built-up area. The attacker uses the foot- avoid masking their fires and to protect themholdarea to reorganize, decentralize control,andholddisplacearea toweaponsreorganize,to firingdecentralizepositionscontrol,fromselves from fires directed at the tanks. When itwhich the continuationwhich, o the. ofofcontinthe attack can beis necessary for the dismounted mechanized in-supported. The initial penetration is made on anarrow front with tanks leading. All available sistance holding up the advance, the tanks supsupportingfires are concentrated at the point port by fire, moving forward as soon asselected for entry. Assaulting forces can expectto encounter barricades, antitank mines andpossible. The armored personnel carriers fol-low as closely as the situation permits behindobstacles, and effective antitank fire. The prob- the advance of the tanks and dismounted mechabilitiesof success are increased if the assaultis launched from an unexpected direction andanized infantry. When possible, the fires of thearmored personnel carriers' machineguns augpreferablyin the early morning just before ment the other fires of the assault or coverfirst light, during other periods of limited visi- critical areas on the flanks of the assaultingbility, or under the cover of smoke. To achieve force. When the buildings on the periphery ofthe penetration on a narrow front, a column a town are fortified heavily, the techniques for203