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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMarea, disperse, and pursue them. j. Ambush. Use of armor in ambush opera-Since insurgent raids are normally tions requires careful planning, violent action,accomplished in open populated areas and aggressive leadership.and ambushes along usable routes of (I) In ambush operations, the noise madecommunications, counterattackingby moving armored vehicles can beforces can usually expect access to theheard over a considerable distancebattle area. Proper security measures,and is easily identified by the insursuchas aerial surveillance and recon- gent. In order to overcome thisnaissance by fire, must be exercised indifficulty, the "stay behind" techniquethe approach;march by the counterat-can be employed. Using this techtackforce. The insurgent's initial at-nique, a number of vehicles are movedtack may have been a diversion withthrough a planned ambush locationtheir main force deployed in ambushand a few predesignated vehicles dropto destroy the counterattack force.out to hide and cut engines. This tech-Although time is critical, cross- nique can be applied at dusk when thecountry movement may be required.enemy returns to the scene of earlierA mobile, indirect fire support capa-engagements to access damage and tobility should be available to the coun-evacuate dead and wounded.terattacking force. The counterattack- (2) The speed of armored vehicles may being force must be provided with used in some ambushes. The ambushadequate infantry strength for clos-force will (by the technique of theing with the enemy and for search ofpreceding paragraph or by an exareasfor concealed insurgent troops. tremely slow and disciplined ap-(2) Once the insurgent is identified, mini- proach) hide itself in a position frommum reaction time is of greatest im-which it can observe the ambush siteportance. The counterattacking forceand from which good routes are availmustarrive at the attack site beforeable to the site. When the enemythe friendly defenders are defeated.enters the observed area, a concerted,Ground armor, air cavalry and airmo-top speed attack is made on the ambileunits are well suited for thesebush site.missions. Air cavalry provides the (3) Because armored vehicles are largesuppressive and interdictory fires. and difficult to hide from close obser-The air cavalry squads and airmobilevation, careful control of casual civiltroopsfix or assault the insurgentian traffic through and near the pointforce, and the armor team or taskof concealment will be necessary.force or armored cavalry unit moves (4) During the period in which the artothe attack area for the final de-mored vehicles are static in a constructionof the insurgent force. Aircealed position, maximum local secucavalrycan also observe the action, rity must be provided. For thisinterdict fleeing insurgents, and landreason, the ambush force must be wellriflemen to cut off and ambush escap-reinforced with riflemen.ees.(5) Night viewing devices on armored ve-(3) The most responsive use of attached hides can be used effectively for nighthelicopter transport is to locate theambushes.helicopters and the troops to be air- (6) Air cavalry can be successful in esliftedcentrally within the supportedtablishing impromptu ambushes withorganization. Where response time isrifle squads, especially if the site cannot critical, the helicopters can go tobe approached without warning to thea designated armored unit, pick upinsurgent force.dismounted elements, and lift them to (7) See FM 31-16 for detailed discussiontheir objective.of ambushes.237