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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMavenues of enemy approach into the sector. tact with the enemy and continuing to adjustFoot, motor, and air patrols reconnoiter those supporting fires. Under some circumstancesareas that cannot be observed from the obser- small enemy patrols may be permitted tovation posts.infiltrate the security screen so that larger enc.The commander of the force being emy forces may be observed. Precaution mustscreened designates the general trace of the be taken to insure that infiltrators do not joinscreen, the unit to be screened, and the respon- with other infiltrated forces and threaten thesibility for the area between the screening screened force.force and the screened units. In determining f. When the flank of a moving force is to bethe units to be screened the commander considersthe factors of METT and the capabilityscreened, the mission is conducted in the samemanner as is a mobile flank guard operationof the screening force to-except that-(1) Maintain contact with the screened (1) The screening force normally does notforce.have responsibility for the area be-(2) Reach and man the line of screening tween the screened force and thepositions (OP's).screening force as does a flank guard.d. In planning a screening force operation, (2) The screening force may not alwaysthe screening force commander selects the gen-be within range of support from theeral location for establishing a series of OP'sscreened force.and designates contact points between and for- (3) The screening force occupies observawardof the line of OP's. When selecting thetion posts in succession along thelocation of OP's, the following should be con-flank instead of blocking positions.sidered:(1) Overlapping fields of observation with 106. Rear Area Securityother OP's.a. General. A rear area security force pro-(2) Concealmentroutes.of OP's and access tects rear area units, installations, and routesof communication (all routes, land, sea, and(3) Ease of installation. air, along which supplies and replacements(4) Maintenance of communication. move) from attack by enemy airborne and air-(5) Avoidance of landmarks. landed forces, guerrilla forces, and infiltrators.The rear area security force commander muste. Observation posts are positioned to procoordinatewith combat and other type units inthe area. He should avoid stereotyped operament.Mounted or dismounted patrolling isteningconducted between contact points consistent posts in regard to time, areas, and patrolwith the need for security. To be effective, a routes. See chapter 12 for the conduct of rearscreening force must have good radio com- area security operations.munication between OP's and enough personnelto man the OP's for sustained periods and b. Securing Lines of Communication. Theto patrol between the OP's and contact points. techniques of guarding lines of communicationGround radar should be used to cover major vary with the terrain, road net, length of theavenues of enemy approach. Aircraft and air lines of communication, and the type of enemycavalry elements may be used to extend recon- activity expected. The following techniquesnaissance and materially increase the effec- form the basis for plans to secure lines of comtivenessof the security screen. It is desirable munication.that each OP have one automatic weapon. Once (1) If the lines of communication to bevisual contact has been made with the enemy,secured extend a short distance, subitis maintained. OP's make accurate and time-ordinate units of the rear area securilyreports and may direct the fires of support-ty force may be assigned areas of reingelements to harass advancing enemy sponsibility. Small security forces areforces. If permitted to withdraw, the screeningplaced on dominating terrain featuresforce moves by bounds, maintaining visual con-overlooking likely avenues of enemy58