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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM(1) Road guides are posted at the front (2) Security forces. Security may be proandrear of each march unit.vided by a covering force; advance,(2) Correct intervehicular distance is flank, and rear guards; or by the relamaintained.tive position of other friendly forces.(3) All vehicles and personnel remain For details of security forces, seewell on the right side of the route and chapter 5.keep the traveled part of the route b. Security Before the March.clear. (1) Secrecy. Routine operations should be(4) Ground and air security is main- maintained up to the time of movetained.ment, with no apparent increase or(5) Crew maintenance is performed by decrease in activity. Movement of vethecrew of each vehicle.hides or units should be kept to a(6) Vehicle personnel are alert to receive minimum and the number and size ofand relay signals for the resumptionreconnaissance parties may have to beof the march. This is particularly im- restricted. Concealment offered byportant at night when personal con-darkness is used for unavoidable matactshould be maintained with thejor movements.vehicle in front.(2) Communication. Radio transmissions(7) Maintenance personnel check the me- continue at average rates before thechanical condition of vehicles as ap-move. Plans may be made to continuepropriate.dummy radio traffic after the marchis begun as a deceptive measure.(8) All vehicles move out at the sametime after the halt.c. Security During the March.c. Unit SOP must prescribe the actions to be (1) Secrecy. Marches may be conductedtaken when unscheduled halts occur. As aat night or during periods of reducedminimum, vehicle commanders make contactvisibility. Routes may be selected thatwith the vehicle to their front and commandersoffer maximum concealment. Marchestake appropriate action to determine and elimi-should be accomplished in as short anate the cause of the halt.time as possible.d. Halts for refueling should be scheduled in (2) Aircraft. In addition to reconnoiadvance;this enables march unit commanderstering routes and supervising the exetomake definite plans for refueling.cution of the march, aircraft are usede. It may be desirable to clear the route of to provide security by reporting themarch temporarily to shorten the column,approach of enemy aircraft. Air cav-When the terrain permits, units do this by coil-alry units may be used to provide colingup on each side of the route. In an adminis-umn cover.trative march, the units are placed so they can (3) Communication. Listening silence mayeasily move back onto the road. If tactical con-be prescribed during the march. Ifsiderations govern, the units are placed to fa-listening silence is not in effect, lowcilitate movement in the direction of the expectedaction.power and minimum transmissionsassist in preserving secrecy.(4) Sectors of observation. While on the20. Security march and at halts, each vehicle coma.General. mander is assigned a primary sector(1) Secrecy. Secrecy makes a major con- of responsibility for observation (fig.57). These sectors are assigned in apattern to provide all-round observa-tion.(5) Security against air attack. Duringthe march and at the halt, the unittribution to the security of a unit on amarch. All measures are employed tokept the enemy from learning of theintention to march or detecting amarch once it has begun.283