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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM17. March Distance b. Traffic Control of the March.a. The intervehicular distance in a march (1) When an armor battalion size unit iscolumn is determined by the selection of themarching as a part of a larger unit,type column to be employed.traffic control is provided normally bythe headquarters controlling theb. The distance between elements of the col- march (FM 19-25). Military policeumn expressed as a time interval is announcedtraffic control posts are located atusually by the commander. For planning pur-critical points along the route to diposes,the time interval is generally threerect all elements and to minimize deminutesbetween march units and five minuteslays caused by other columns, civilianbetween serials. A company or team usuallyor refugee traffic, congested areas, orcomposes a march unit and a battalion taskdifficult terrain. Efficient use of miliforceusually composes a serial.tary police must be planned. Movec.Gap (time or distance) between columns ments on multiple routes during perihavingdifferent identification numbers is ods of poor visibility and thespecified by the commander ordering the existence of major intersections,march.defiles, and detours along routes increasetraffic control problems. Mini-18. Control and Coordination mum essential traffic control postsa. General. should be used. Additional militarypolice support from higher head-(1) A high degree of march training and polic support e from highen attacheddiscipline is the greatest factor inor supporting military police are insuccessfulcontrol of the unit on thecapable of rendering proper support.march.and complete.MarchCommandersorders mustandbe clearstaff(2) Road guides may be used to augmentofficersOfficersmustmustsupervisesupervisethethemarchmarchtotoand support the military police effort.Road guides may be posted in pairs,insure strict compliance with the contnsroaninced msursc wi the m - one to direct traffic while the othertrol measures announced in the marchprovidesprovidessecurity.security.TheirTheirequipmentequipmentorder. They may use ground vehicles,should provide for identification duraircraft,radio, route markings guidesing hours of darkness. Guides areand military police to assist them innormally provided by the movingcontrol and coordination of the march.unit.(2) When radio silence is in effect, or to (3) Battalion size units performingsupplement radios, visual signals aremarches alone or when military policeused extensively for column and vehi-support is not provided, the abovecle control. Messengers are used be-functions are performed by organictween units in the column, and guidesand attached elements.may be used to pass messages to fol- c. Control of Speeds in the Column.lowing units. Aircraft may be used to (1) Elements in a column of any lengthsupplement organic means of comr-encounter simultaneously many differmunicationduring the march.ent types of routes and obstacles,(3) Each unit marching as part of a resulting in different parts of thelarger unit maintains liaison with thecolumn moving at different speeds atpreceding unit. A liaison officer orthe same time. This produces anagent travels with the preceding unitundesirable accordion-like action orand keeps his commander informed ofwhip.the preceding unit's location and (2) To reduce whip the leading vehiclegives him early warning of anymust not exceed the authorized maxiunscheduledhalt and the reason for itmum speed of the slowest vehicle inas soon as it is determined.the column, especially after negotiat-281