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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMthereby alienating the population. Minimum pursued. It is improved through the implemencombatpower must be used to accomplish the tation of civilian national economic, political,mission as contrasted to limited and general social, psychological, and civic developmentwar employment of massed firepower, mobility, programs supported by military resources.and shock effect against enemy forces.Units committed to these operations supportthe overall effort by the application of their re-409. Missions sources in the following methods.There are two general categories of operationswhich will be conducted in an insurgency(1) In the offensive phase, tactical offen-sive operations of the strike varietyoperational environment-strike operations are stressed, other activities beingand clear, hold, and consolidation operations.subordinated to the tactical mission.a. Strike operations, usually conducted in (2) In the defensive phase, tactical defenremoteor contested areas, variously calledsive operations, to include extensivesearch and clear, search and destroy, andpatrolling and defense of the area,others, are primarily tactical operations. Otherwill be the primary missions. Duringactivities, such as psychological operations, this phase, advisory assistance inmilitary civic action, advisory assistance, and training HC paramilitary and irreguinternalsecurity operations, are minimizedlar forces for tactical defensive, interduringthe period of the strike. Because strikenal security, or other civilian activioperationsare of relatively short duration, oneties are initiated. Intelligence andday to several weeks, these latter activities arepsychological operations and militarypursued only to the extent that they can assistcivic action programs are conductedthe force while it is in the strike area. Strikeconcurrently.operations are conducted primarily to find, fix, (3) In the consolidation phase, defensiveand destroy insurgent tactical forces, and theyphase activities are continued, andalso may be used to harass insurgent forces.planning for supporting subsequentGenerally, they are conducted against locatedinsurgent tactical forces and bases or in areasinternal development operations isstressed.suspected of containing these. Additionally,they serve to keep the insurgent forces on-the- c. In the conduct of these two types ofmove and off balance. The operation entails no operations (strike operations and clear, hold,intent to remain permanently in the area of and consolidation operations), the six operaoperations.Ground or water means of entrymay be used. Airmobile or air drop means aretional modes or activities (i.e., tactical opera-tions against insurgent tactical forces, militarymost adaptable in some areas to this type of civic action, internal security operations, advioperation.Usually a combination of means is sory assistance, psychological operations, andrequired. Strike operations are comprised ofraids, reconnaissance in force, coordinated atintelligenceoperations) may be conducted tovarying degrees. The following specific tacticaltacks, relief operations, or combinations of missions, which fall under one of the above sixthese.operational modes or activities, may be accomplishedby armor units. Tank units usually willb. Clear, hold, and consolidation operations, require attachment of infantry or mechanizedstrategic hamlet operations, province rehabili- infantry for these specific missions. These mistation,and others, are, in essence, the applica- sions are accomplished primarily throughtion of all aspects of the HC national internal offensive operations. No attempt is made todevelopment program to specific regions, prov- designate missions most suitable for armorinces, districts, or other political subdivisions. units since suitable missions in one geographicThe internal development operation restores area may be unsuitable in another.HC governmental control to the population andthe area. It provides an environment withinwhich the normal economic, political, social, (2) Search and clearance of areas.and civic activities of the population may be (3) Reaction force (reserve).221