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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM352directly (fig. 85). The intensityed sector. Employment of theof illumination on the ground de-system in the "spot check" mancreasesgradually as the rangener has the additional advantagefrom the searchlight increases.of brief periodic operation. ThisMinute atmospheric particles reduces the vulnerability to atreflectthe beam and reduce thetack from an infrared-equippedability of the observer to see theenemy and achieves better retargetarea. This effect may besuits at the illuminated point bereducedby positioning the ob- cause of the surprise illumiserverto the flank of the light.nation.Objects silhouetted between an e. Selection of the Means of Illumination.observer and the light beam are (1) Factors involved.clearly visible to a range of sev-(a) No one meanseral hundredof illuminationmeters. Theissuitable under all circumstances.efficiency of direct illumination isaffected by atmospheric condi- (b) In planning for illumination, alltions, natural night light, themeans must be considered. The usereflectivity of the illuminatedmayof onlybe negatedne typebyofsuch illumination factors assurfaces, and shadows. Visiblesearchlights used in direct illumi-the necessity for employing all ornationshould be operated inter-ganic weapons on missions othermittently and moved often to al-than illumination, failure of the ilternateor supplementary lumination device itself, or lack ofpositions. This not only decreaseslogistical support.the ability of the enemy to bring (2) Influences of the enemy and friendlyeffective fire on the position butalsoalsoprovidesprovidesgreatergreatersurprisesurpriseil-il-situation.(a) Enemy and friendly dispositionsmay affect the allocation of illumisearchlightis the searchlight nation means. For example, priormostcommonly available to armormorcommanders.commanders. Adetaileddetaileddisdiscussionof the employment oftank-mounted searchlights is dis-ity may be assigned to the weaker(b) Enemy mass attacks at night juscussedin paragraphs 7 throughtify extensive provision for large9, this appendix. area illumination to enable friendly2. Near infrared searchlights. This forces to destroy all or part of thetype searchlightenemy at longer ranges.is used in directnear IR illumination and is em- (c) The enemy's illumination capabilityployed similarly to the visiblemay require use of our illuminationsearchlight. It is best employedresources as a countermeasure.to checkpoints or areas which (d) The illumination means selectedhave been previously plotted on ashould be in a position and be caparangecard. With the narrowble of accomplishing the missionbeam, the amount of terrain illuminatedis too small for systemwithoutdisclosing the actions orpositions of friendly forces.atic and complete coverage of an (e) The enemy's retaliatory actionassigned angular sector. Use ofmust be considered. For example,the beam spreader further re-enemy fire at a searchlight may notduces the range which preventsdamage the searchlight itself butthe proper coverage of an assign-may inflict extensive damage on