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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMtinguish or shift lights, provision for (4) Alternate means of communicationillumination in event of counterattackshould be provided.by the enemy and the mode of illumi- c. Employment.nation. Positions for searchlights onthe objective must be reconnoitered (1) Requirements for clear fields of illuandoccupied rapidly.mination are similar to requirementsof direct-fire weapons for clear lines(3) Illuminating tanks provide boundary of sight to the target area. The comillumination.Tank searchlights maymander will select areas and assignbe used to mark boundaries after illu-priorities for illumination. He willmination has been initiated. Whenemployed in this manner, they operdesignatethe type of illumination tobe used (visible or IR). Searchlightsate in pairs and use flicker illumi-will be laid on selected areas to pronation.move by They bounds in thevide instantaneous illumination, eithersame direction as the attacking forcesweep or fixed, on order. Selectedand lay the searchlight beam onareas will be given code designations.predetermined terrain features or onIllumination will be requested by codea given azimuth.designations, thus reducing the time9. Tank-Mounted Searchlights in Defense required to put the lights in action.Illumination data will be incorporateda. General. The searchlight is used to coverinto the range card for each tank inlikely avenues of approach and provide illumi-the range card for each tank innation for night counterattacks. Proper use ofsearchlights in coordination with listening (2) Coordination and control of the iniposts,passive viewing devices, and ground surveillanceradar provide an additional aid totiation of illumination by tank search-lights will be retained at brigade orsurveillance and assists in gaining tactical sur-task force level as the situation warpriseover approaching enemy troops. The re-rants. (Exterior teams of the taskverse of the tactics for offense (para 8) willforce may need brigade approval to ilapplywhen an enemy is using a searchlight inluminate if such action can affect andirect illumination on the offense. Friendlyadjacent task force.) However, theforces should give special attention to the dim-employment of the searchlights willly illuminated area outside the edge of the en-be the responsibility of the team comemylight beam. The defender should try to sil-mander.houette an advancing enemy against the (3) Searchlights may be extinguishedbeam's light.when in imminent danger of being deb.Planning. Preparation for the defense al- stroyed or extinguished by close-inways include the employment of tank search-small arms fire, or when the final prolights.Use of tank searchlight requires thetective fires have been penetrated bysame planning and coordination that precedethe enemy. In either case, the decisionany other defensive action. Planning will in-to extinguish lights will normally recludethese additional considerations-main with the commander of the de-(1) Tank searchlights must be coordi- fending unit.nated with other illumination means (4) Efforts will be made, by using decepandtied into the team and task forcetion and fires, to direct the enemyfire plans.to areas where searchlights can be(2) Primary, alternate, and supplemen- used to illuminate him for his detarypositions should be selected.struction by aimed fire of infantry(3) Illumination must be strictly con- and tanks. By engaging the enemy attrolled to prevent premature illumi-maximum effective ranges, his attacknation and to minimize the time re- may be retarded. Special attentionquired to engage and destroy a target.should be given to fringe areas of359