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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMcape routes ambushed. If strongcombat patrols cannot be employed,the minimum security required isan outpost line with multiple listeningposts. Mobile reserves are positionedfor immediate movement tocounter any threat of a breakoutand to reinforce difficult areas, suchas deep ravines, caves, or tunnels. A. ENCIRCLEMENT COMPLETED(b) Indirect fire support can serve tocloak an impending encirclement bygaining and maintaining the insurgent'sattention through interdic-Ition and harassing fires while encirclingunits move into position. \Control and coordination of fires /should be planned in detail to sup-xport the encirclement after it is dis- -,covered.B. MOVEMENT TO FIRST PHASE LINE(c) Following the initial encirclement,the capture or destruction of the insurgenttactical force is conductedmethodically and thoroughly by useof fire and maneuver in simultane- /ous, controlled contractions of theencirclement. As the line of encirclementis progressively contracted,units may be removed fromthe line and added to the reserve.Against small insurgent tactical C MOVEMENT TO SECOND PHASE LINEforces, the entire encircled areaFRIENDLY FORCESmay be cleared by progressive contraction;however, against larger ( INSURGENT FORCESinsurgent armed forces, it is proba- ;C : PREVIOUS POSITIONSble that, at some point, some actionother than further contraction will Figure 37. Tightening of the encirclement.be required (fig. 37).1. One technique consists of driving a forces against the holding forcewedge through the insurgent by offensive action. Either eleforceto divide it, permitting thement may accomplish the actualdestruction of insurgent tacticaldestruction, but it usually will beforces in each subarea. This tech-accomplished by the attackingnique also may be used in con-element (fig. 39). This techniquejunction with contraction of theis most effective when the holdlineof encirclement (fig. 38).ing force is located on, or imme-2. Another technique, employed after diately in the rear of, a naturalsome degree of contraction, is to terrain obstacle (fig. 40).employ a holding force on one or3. Another technique is the use ofmore sides of the perimeter whileblocking or ambush forces to enpartof the line of encirclement circle an area approximatelyforces the insurgent tactical 1,000 meters square. After the231