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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMdelivery of supplies to forward units. attack. Deviation from plans is difficult to coor-Maximum use is made of captured enemymateriel.dinate once movement has begun. Linkup plansor plans to extricate the force must be pref.Conduct of the Pursuit. pared.(1) The direct pressure force attacks on d. Infiltration lanes, assembly areas, attackas broad a front as possible. The at- positions, and objectives are the control meastackscontinue day and night. When ures used primarily; phase lines and checkconditionspermit, elements of the en- points assist in control while rallying points oremy force are enveloped or cut off. If areas are required for units that become scattheenemy main force establishes it- tered and disorganized.self on a position, the direct pressure e. The infiltrating elements in small groupsforce attacks in an effort to dislodge pass through, over, or around enemy forwardit.defensive positions. They avoid detection, and(2) The encircling force attacks along an if detected, avoid decisive engagement. Theyavenue of approach that facilitates normally move over multiple lanes, to assemblyearly engagement or interception of areas adjacent to their objectives. Closely coorthewithdrawing enemy force. Forma- dinated demonstrations and fires in areas nottions are used that contribute to con- included in the infiltration may be used to astroland speed of movement.sist their movement. Fires in the area ofinfiltration may serve to reduce the enemy's131. Infiltration surveillance capability.f. Upon arrival at the assembly area, thea. Infiltration is a technique of movementinfiltrating unit prepares for action, deploys,used in conjunction with several types of offen- infiltrating unit prepares for action deployssive actions. In the attack, its purpose is to de- and at the appropriate time perform s misploystrong forces in the enemy rear while ex- n Consoldaton includes preparations forposing only small forces to enemy defensivefires.b. The movement and assembly of forces by 132 Movement to Contactstealth among enemy positions is a slow opera- Movement to contact is a means of gainingtion. While dismounted mechanized infantry orarmored cavalry units are most suitable forcontact or of reestablishing lost contact withthe enemy. Its purpose is the early developinfiltration,tank units can be carefully ment of the situation to provide an advantageinfiltrated by taking advantage of faulty en- prior to decisive engagement. During a moveemydispositions, gaps created in obstacles ment to contact armor units may be given miswithoutenemy knowledge, or by diversionary sions of a covering force, advance guard, flankattacks by fires or maneuver forces.guard, rear guard, or moving as part of thec. Planning for infiltration must be detailed main body. For a detailed discussion, see FMand coordinated closely into the overall plan of 17-30 and FM 61-100.Section V.PASSAGE OF LINES133. General through infantry is more difficult than is itsThe commitment of a unit through one passage through another armor unit.which is in contact with the enemy constitutesa passage of lines. A passage of lines may be 134. Planning for Passage of Linesrequired to continue the momentum of the at- a. Scheme of Maneuver. The scheme of matackor to exploit a weakness in the enemy po- neuver is based on the factors of METT. Thesition. A passage of lines requires careful plan- scheme of maneuver normally determines thening and close coordination between the units. location at which the passage of lines will takeDue to differences in organization and tech- place.niques of operation, the passage of armor b. Reconnaissance. A thorough reconnais-77