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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMsance should be made by commanders and key ough planning and reconnaissance. Artillerymembers of the unit making the passage. This fire may be employed during the movement toreconnaissance should cover routes to the area cover the noise of the vehicles. If the moveofthe passage, the area itself, existing troop ment is conducted during daylight, smoke maylocations, proposed positions, and, if necessary, be placed on known enemy observation postsproposed locations of individual combat vehi- and forward positions. While the passing unitcles. A visual reconnaissance should be made of is moving through the area of the unit in conthearea forward of the frontline position; air- tact, the resulting concentration presents ancraft may be used in this reconnaissance. In excellent target for nuclear attack. Therefore,reconnoitering, care must be taken not to alert the passage should be completed as quickly asthe enemy by offering indications that a pas- possible. During the period of concentration,sage of lines is to take place. It may be neces- maximum passive defense measures againstsary to limit the number and size of reconnais- nuclear attack should be taken.sance parties, or it may be advisable to use g. Control Measures. The type and numberground vehicles and aircraft of the units in of control measures will depend upon the expecontact.rience of the commanders involved but willc. Intelligence. The units in contact should normally be more restrictive than those used inprovide all possible information of the enemy other operations. For a discussion of controland the terrain to their front to the unit mak- measures, see appendix X.ing the passage. This information should includestrength, disposition, composition of en- 135. Liaison and Coordination in Passage ofemy forces, and location of enemy armor,Linesantitank weapons, and obstacles.a. Liaison. As soon as it is determined thatd. Fire Support. The fire support agencies of a passage of lines will be made, liaison must bethe units in contact are normally integrated established between the passing unit and theinto the fire support plan of the unit making unit in contact. At brigade and battalion level,the passage. Artillery liaison officers, forward liaison officers are exchanged until completionobservers, air liaison officers, and mortar platoon of the operation.leaders of the unit making the passage should b. Coordination. Thorough coordination iscontact their counterparts in the unit in posi- essential to the success of a passage of lines.tion to exchange information and develop the Normally, the unit in contact is given thedetails of the fire support plan.definite mission of "assisting in the passage."e. Priorities of Routes and Areas. The Special emphasis must be placed on the followhigherheadquarters directing the passage nor- ing coordination measuresmallyestablishes an overall priority on routes (1) Refueling areas and routes into andand areas. If it does not, a priority must beout of these areas are reconnoiteredestablished between the commanders con- by personnel from the passing unit,cerned. Complete information on routes to beassisted by guides furnished by theused and areas to be occupied should be dis-unit being passed through. It may beseminated as early as possible to avoid confu-necessary for the unit being passedsion and delay.through to adjust its positions to perf.Movement Through the Area. The routes mit a satisfactory passage, but suchestablished for movement into the forwardadjustments should be held to a miniareasmust be well marked and controlled.mum.Ideally, the passing unit and the unit in con- (2) Clearing and marking the lanestact provide guides down to platoon level. As athrough friendly minefields and obminimum,the units in contact provide guides.stacles to permit rapid passage areGuides lead elements of the passing unit accomplished by the unit being passedthrough the unit in contact along prearrangedthrough. Passing units should provideroutes. For increased security, the movementtheir own control personnel at difficultinto the forward areas may be conducted atgaps or defiles to check through eachnight; this requires stringent control and thor-subunit.78