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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMcontact points, coordinating points,Communication between the protectedand routes of withdrawal.force commander and the rear guard(3) Security. The commander plans forcommander must be continuous socommander must be continuous soflank security and reconnaissance tothe front and flanks of occupied de-of any situations that affect the withlayingpositions. The enemy must notdrawal of the rear guard.be permitted to bypass the rear guard c. The rear guard follows the force beingand attack the rear of the force being protected, occupying successive delay positionsprotected. One or more subordinate at a prescribed time interval or distance, Whenunits may be assigned to reconnoiter contact with the enemy has been made or isan area to the front or flanks of a po- imminent, the rear guard occupies each delaysition.Normally, however, rear guard ing position until the protected force hasunits are assigned the additional mis- cleared the next delaying position. If the prosionof protecting the flanks and ex- tected force is moving rapidly and no contact istending reconnaissance forward of made with the enemy, the rear guard maythe delaying position. Aircraft and move at a given rate behind the force beingair cavalry improve control and com- protected, regulating its speed to maintain themunication and extend observation to prescribed interval.the front and flanks. The organic d. The rear guard engages enemy forcesground radar sets may be used to that threaten the rear of the force being proaugmentsecurity to the front or tected. It fights to insure that the enemy doesflanks. Air cavalry elements may be not impede the movement of the protectedemployed to maintain contact with force. The rear guard fights a delaying action,the protected force and to prevent the trading space for time until the protected forceenemy from bypassing the rear guard has moved beyond the range of effective enemyand attacking the rear of the force action. When contact with the enemy has beenbeing protected. Air cavalry elements made, it is maintained until the enemy is nomay establish an air screen to the longer a threat to the force being protected orfront and flanks of the rear guard to has moved out of the area of responsibility.warn of enemy approach.105. Screening Force(4) Supporting elements. The rear guard a. A screening force provides early warningcommander, in coordination with the by surveillance over an extended frontage toartillery representative, develops the the front, flank, or rear of a moving or stationplanof fire support for the operation.The plan of fire support includesary force. The missions of the screening forceare toplannedartillery fires (nuclear andnonnuclear), tactical air, and the fires (1) Provide timely warning of enemy apoforganic weapons. Frequently, en-proach.gineers are attached to or placed in (2) Gain and maintain visual contactsupport of the rear guard. The rearwith, and report the movement of enguardcommander, together with theemy forces.engineer unit commander, plans to (3) Destroy or repel enemy patrols.construct obstacles to delay the en- (4) Impede the advance of enemy forcesemy.by employing long range organic and(5) Coordination with the force being supporting fires.protected. Liaison must be main- b. A screening mission is assigned whentained with the force being protected economy of force requires that an extendedto regulate withdrawal of the rear area must be kept under surveillance and thereguard. The rear guard commander are few troops available to perform the mismustbe thoroughly familiar with the sion. The mission is accomplished by manningplan of the force being protected. a series of observation posts that cover57