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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMc. The armored cavalry troop of the sepa-rate brigade is the basic unit used to performreconnaissance and security for the brigade.and control facilities found in air cavalry unitsmake them a sound structure around which totailor other airmobile forces.Section III.ARMOR MISSION AND CAPABILITIES10. Missions example, the armored division, as a part of thea. Tank units close with and destroy enemy corps, may be used by the corps commander toforces, using fire, maneuver, and shock effect expand the successes of other forces or thein coordination with other arms.effects of nuclear fires.b. Armored cavalry units perform recon- d. Mobile Defense. Armor is well suited tonaissance and provide security for the unit to the conduct of a mobile defense. Since it is dewhichorganic, assigned, or attached, and en- signed primarily for offensive action, it is emgagein offensive, defensive, and delaying ac- ployed best in defensive operations as the motionsas an economy of force unit.bile counterattack force of a higher command.c. Mechanized infantry units close with the The armored division, with or without the useenemy by means of fire and maneuver to de- of nuclear weapons, provides the corps andstroy or capture him or to repel his assault by army commander with a powerful reserve forfire, close combat, and counterattack.destroying enemy attacking forces. The armorunit's capability to move, live, and fight on the11. Capabilities nuclear battlefield permits its employment incompressing or canalizing enemy forces for dea.General. Armor is capable of operating struction by nuclear weapons.throughout the spectrum of warfare, from cold e. Destrction of Enemy Armor Formations.war to general war. Armored vehicles are par- Defeat of nemy armor is essential to successticularlysuited to a nuclear environment be- ful Defeat ground of enemy combat armor and is is a essential continuingto requirecausearmor their protection reduces ment in offensive and defensive operations.success-significantly the effects on personnel of blast The tank is the primary armor-defeatingand radiation from a nuclear burst and havethe capability of dispersing and concentratingrapidly over great distances. Armor's inherent f. Reconnaissance and Security. As thecharacteristics of firepower, mobility, armor range of weapons is extended, as the battlefieldprotection, shock effect, and responsiveness to becomes less densely populated, and as unitscommand provide an optimum force for sus- are more widely dispersed, the need for recontainedoperations against any type of opposing naissance and security becomes more acute.ground force.Armored cavalry units provide reconnaissanceb. Deep Penetration and Wide Envelopment. for the higher commander by ground and airLarge armor formations with inherent mobili- means. Reconnaissance and security missionsty and flexibility, controlling nuclear and non- demand highly mobile forces with a groundnuclear fire support, provide forces with power combat capability. These forces detect enemyand momentum for deep penetrations and wide forces, warn of them, and destroy them withinenvelopments. In the enemy's rear areas, these their capabilities. Armored cavalry units areforces attain great freedom of action as they well suited to conduct covering, guarding,maneuver to seize terrain; disrupt communica- screening, and rear area security operationstion; destroy command posts, missile sites, ar- and to conduct limited probing attacks. The catillery,and troop reserves; and capture or de- pability of armor units for rapidly maneuverstroysupplies.ing great firepower makes them well suited forc. Exploitation. Armor has the combat reconnaissance-in-force operations.power to create its own opportunities for ex- g. Counterguerrilla Operations in Rearploitation. It also provides the higher com- Areas. Armor units can be employed in operamanderwith a destructive force to exploit rap- tions against forces conducting guerrilla operaidlythe successes of other formations. For tions in defined rear areas in limited and gen-6