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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMand mounted mechanized infantry overrun the (3) Combat service support elements seekobjective. If necessary, supporting fires may beevery opportunity to supply the comshiftedto isolate the objective, and mechanizedbat and combat support units withinfantry, as required, dismounts to mop up.the means required to continue the ate.Tanks Support by Fire. Terrain or obsta- tack.cles may make it impossible for tracked vehiclesto join in the assault. In this situation, dis- 124. Consolidation and Reorganizationmounted mechanized infantry will conduct the a. General. The actual occupation of the obassault.Tanks support by fire, with full consid- jective is the critical stage of the attack. Conerationgiven to the long range and rapid rate trol is most difficult and it is the time when anof fire of the tank weapons and the precision aggressive enemy delivers a carefully plannedand control with which these fires can be deliv- and coordinated counterattack, supported byered. As soon as the situation permits, tanks all available fires. When possible, the seizure ofwill rejoin the mechanized infantry and, if ap- the objective should be followed by an immepropriate,again lead in the attack.diate continuation of the attack. In nuclearwarfare, a rapid move to dispersed locations123. Continuation of the Attack from which the unit can dominate the objectivea. General. Armor units seek to conduct the will avoid presenting a lucrative nuclear tarattackas a single advance and assault that con- get. In many situations, small armor units willtinues until the assigned objective is seized. be required to hold an objective. In these cases,The momentum of the attack must be main- consolidation of the objective is required andtained. When intermediate objectives must be the unit should be reorganized.seized, armor units strive to avoid halting. If b. Consolidation. Consolidation pertains tothere is no requirement to hold the objective, all measures taken to use a newly captured pothetanks and mechanized infantry continue sition or terrain feature against possible entheattack, reorganizing on the move. If the ob- emy counterattack. The action may vary fromjective is to be held, the unit will consolidate, a rapid redisposition of forces and security elereorganize,prepare to repel enemy counterat- ments on the objective to the organization andtack, and continue the attack on order.detailed improvement of the position for deb.Intentions of the Higher Commander. fense. When consolidation is anticipated, manyThe overall plan of attack contained in the of the actions can be preplanned and an-"concept of operation" is an expression of the nounced initially in the attack order. These incommander'sintentions. Subordinate com- structions may be changed or supplemented bymanders require a full understanding of the fragmentary orders as the attack progresses.purpose of the operations so that they may ex- Actions to be taken includeercise initiative in continuing the attack with- (1) Security. Observation or listeningout waiting for further orders.posts are established; and, if rec.Continuous Reorganization. All steps are quired, patrolling is initiated.taken to maintain the combat effectiveness of (2) Reconnaissance. In addition to the retheunit. Whenever possible, this is done whileconnaissance efforts to effect security,on the move. To save time, actions that cannotcommanders take steps to reconnoiterbe accomplished on the move are preplanned.in anticipation of immediate and fud.Supporting Elements. ture missions.(1) Combat support elements are kept (3) Positioning. Tanks are positioned onwell forward in order to providearmor avenues of approach and mechimmediateassistance to the combat anized infantry cover infantryelements.avenues of approach. Combat support(2) If contact with the enemy is lost, re- and combat service support elementsconnaissance and security units, espe-are relocated if necessary.cially those with aircraft, are em- (4) Fire planning. While fire planning isployed to regain contact.continuous in an operation, specific72