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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMfrom the landing ships directly onto the beach provide infantry support early in the assault.and attack inland.If heavy enemy resistance at the waterline isc. During the ship-to-shore movement, ar- expected, the tank units landing in the initialmor unit commanders receive information by wave will land usually in a line formation toradio from their reconnaissance and liaison bring the maximum firepower to bear on thepersonnel ashore. The information includes the hostile defenses.condition of the beaches, progress of beachclearance efforts, recommendation of the bestbeaches for vehicles to land on, and other per- a. Rehearsal. The rehearsal is that part oftinent information. After landing, vehicles are the amphibious operation in which one or moremet at the edge of the water, and commanders exercises are conducted by the participatingare informed of the best routes across the forces under conditions approximating thosebeach. They are then led through the cleared anticipated for the actual operation. Rehearslanesby guides. The cleared lanes are marked als are conducted in accordance with a planto be clearly visible from within the tank, which approximates the plan for the specificusually by strips of tape placed along the edge operation. Units that participate in the reofeach lane.hearsals will depend on the tactical plan. Responsibilityfor the preparation of rehearsald. If intelligence is complete and indications plans is same as for the preparation of the acarethat mines will not be encountered on the tual operation plan. Rehearsal plans should bebeach, and hydrographic conditions are favora- issued separately.ble, tank units may be landed as the first wave. b. Training. Amphibious training for ArmyThey should land from 2 to 5 minutes ahead of units is outlined in FM 31-12. This training isthe initial wave of infantry. The landing and normally supported by Naval amphibiousthe initial wave of troop-carrying craft or ve- training command and may be conducted at thehides must be timed precisely to obtain maxi- armor unit's base station by landing forcemum effect from shock and firepower, and to training units.Section XII. SHORE-TO-SHORE MOVEMENTS401. General portation of the waterborne movement of theThis section provides general guidance for force.armor commanders and staff officers in the b. As is the case with amphibious operaexecutionof shore-to-shore movements by ar- tions, armor units may be employed in severalmor units. FM 31-12 provides general guid- types of shore-to-shore movements:ance for commanders, staff officers, and other (1) Attack.interested personnel for the planning and exe- (2) Withdrawal.cution of shore-to-shore operations and move- (3) Raid.ments. AR 320-5 defines shore-to-shore operationsand movements.shore-to-shore(4) Deceptive operation (demonstrationtions and shore-to-shoreor feint).a. Shore-to-shore movements include someof the techniques of amphibious operations andinland waterway operations, and involve proce- c. Shore-to-shore movements may be conduresand considerations related to each of ducted across large lakes, inland seas, alongthem. Shore-to-shore movements, although sim- coast lines, across bays, or against offshore isilarto, are not amphibious operations because lands.they do not involve embarkation in Navalships; however, both operations involve assault 402. Considerationslandings on a hostile shore. The shore-to-shore a. The participation of armor units withmovement is conducted normally by Army their vehicles in shore-to-shore movements willforces alone, employing primarily Army trans- be dependent on the types and load-carrying216