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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMquired. The ADM has the capability of moving ed until the time of detonation. An ADM norquantitiesof earth not previously possible. mally requires a maximum of two hours to em-Missions such as blocking major passes and de- place and prepare for firing if the emplacementstroying complete major installations may be site requires no preparation. After attainmentaccomplished in the time available in a tactical of this armed condition, the munition may besituation. Further, it can destroy targets or fired within five minutes after the tactical comitemsthat cannot be attacked by any other nu- mander makes the decision to fire. The numberclear delivery means such as underground em- of successive rounds that may be fired is limitplacements.ed only by the available engineer effort. An ene.Emplacement Site Control and Security. gineer squad supplemented with other techni-The employment of the ADM requires that the cally trained engineer personnel is the smallestimmediate area of ADM emplacement must be size engineer unit capable of an ADM mission.under friendly control or occupancy for the pe- f. Time Saver. The demolition of targets canriod of the time required to emplace and as- be accomplished quickly and efficiently with ansemble the munition. Furthermore, provisions ADM, whereas use of conventional explosivesmust be made to protect an emplaced ADM is a tremendous manpower and time-consumfromthe time the emplacement site is evacuat- ing task.Section II. TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT AND COMMAND CONTROL4. Command and Staff Responsibilities (2) Authority to fire is provided by an asa.General. The tactical use of an ADM does signment of the ADM's. However,not alter command and staff relationships orthis authority is subject to normal reproceduresas specified in FM 101-5. Planningquirements for troop warning, coordiphasesand staff actions for ADM missions arenation, and other specific instructions.essentially the same as for the employment of (3) Commanders having physical controlother nuclear weapons. Detailed planning forof ADM's are responsible for their sethetactical employment of ADM's will seldomcurity.be accomplished below brigade level. However, c. Staff Responsibilities.staff planning at all echelons must consider (1) General. Nuclear weapons employformulatingand promulgating directives, poli-ment officers (NWEO) are providedcies, and SOP's containing ADM informationin the staff organizations down toand guidance for subordinate units. Further-battalion task force level. These staffmore, authority for ordering an ADM mission,officers are specially trained in thesuch as a surface or subsurface nuclear detona-technical aspects of the tactical emtion,will not be fixed at any echelon of com-ployment of ADM. They make themand except as directed by the senior tacticalnecessary target analysis and staffcommander in the area of operations. Normal- recommendations inherent to theirly, this authority will be delegated to the low-use.est commander exercising control over the (2) Special staff. Certain special staffarea of militarily significant fallout resultingofficers furnish the commander inforfromthe burst, which for an ALFA (0.5 KT)mation and intelligence as pertains toweapon could be at battalion task force level.their related fields. The engineer staffb. Command Responsibilities. officer performs the following:(1) An allocation of ADM's usually is (a) Participates in the target analysismade by a commander to subordinatefor employment of the ADM in cocommandersfor planning purposes ordination with the operationsfor a specific phase of an operation orofficer, chemical officer, and the arperiodof time. This allocation is ex-tillery officer. The elements of anpressed as a number of specific typeADM target analysis are discussedand yield ADM's. in FM 5-26.387