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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMstricted observation and proximity of friendly bly on a large city. The progress of the groundand enemy troops. The artillery employed dur- attack would be seriously hampered by theing this phase should be capable of firing high- effects of a nuclear explosion.angle fire so that it will clear the taller buildings.Time fire and proximity-fuze fire may be 381. Communicationused effectively against enemy on rooftops and Although radio communication during phasebehind barricades. The 155mm and 8-inch self- III may be affected adversely by conditions pepropelledhowitzers may be used effectively as culiar to the built-up area, radio is still the pridirect-fireweapons in support of the attacking mary means of communication. Wire communitroopsbut are vulnerable to enemy antitank cation will assume greater importance than infire.other types of operations. Foot messengers willfrequently be the most reliable means of comc.Mortars. 4.2-inch mortars and 81mm mor- munication. Visual and pyrotechnic signalstars are usually employed in general support of may be used by smaller units to indicate thetheir parent unit. Mortars firing high explosive need for fire, the shifting and lifting of fires,shells with point detonating fuzes are useful and to announce the seizure of a building oragainst rooftop targets. Use of delay fuze set- group of buildings. Armored personnel cartingswill permit projectiles to penetrate roofs riers may be used to provide mobile, protectedand destroy the enemy inside buildings. These communication centers.weapons may be used to provide smoke screensto cover the advance of assault elements across 382. Logisticsstreets, parks, yards, and other open areas as a. Evacuation of Wounded. Evacuation ofwell as being used in their normal role.wounded from rooftops and upper stories ofbuildings may require additional litter bearersd. Engineers. Attached or supporting en- and the use of special evacuation equipment.gineers should be well forward and will fre- Plans should include marking buildings thatquently operate under the control of the attack- contain wounded personnel.ing battalion task force. When used as part of b. Supply of Ammunition. Large quantitiesan assault team, they are attached to the team. of ammunition are consumed in this type ofThe normal mission of the engineers is to re- operation, Therefore, ammunition supplymove mines, move clear clear mines, barricades barricades and and debris, debris, and and points should be well forward, and mobile supexecutedemolitions.ply points may be required down to team level.e. Nuclear Weapons. Nuclear weapons are Consideration should be given to the use of arnotlikely to be used in conjunction with a mored personnel carriers to resupply the asgroundattack on a built-up area, except possi- sault echelons.Section Xl. AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS383. General rehearsal, movement, and assault. It is a jointa. Amphibious doctrine is set forth in FM operation when the assigned forces are com-5-144, FM 31-11, FM 31-12, FM 31-13, and posed of elements of more than one service.pertinent Department of the Navy publications.For explanation of Navy and special 384. Armor Units in Amphibious Operationsterms used in amphibious warfare, see AR a. The tank battalion of the infantry divi-320-5. Detailed guidance on embarkation and sion participates in the assault in support ofship loading is contained in FM 60-30. General the division mission. The armored or mechaguidelinesfor planning communications in am- nized division, because of its heavy vehiclesphibious operations are contained in FM 24-1. and equipment, is not normally used in the asb.An amphibious operation consists of an sault phase of an amphibious assault. However,attack launched from the sea by naval and in certain situations the early landing of armorlanding forces on a hostile shore. It includes units (brigade, regiment, or smaller) may bethe following phases: planning, embarkation, desirable for early linkup with airborne or air-208