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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMeral war field army-type operations. Forces mor produce psychological effects which makeconducting guerrilla operations may vary from armor well suited for conducting stabilityirregular to enemy airborne and airmobile reg- operations such as a show of force. In IDAular armed forces. Terrain may require armor operations, these characteristics similarly enaunitsto be tailored for antiguerrilla opera- ble armor to conduct successful tactical operations.tions against insurgency tactical forces, espeh.Close Support of Infantry. This task is cially during insurgency phase II and phasefulfilled most frequently by the tank battalions III. Air cavalry units are particularly wellof the mechanized infantry and infantry divi- suited for IDA operations in terrain that doessions and tank battalions attached to airborne not provide trafficability for ground armoreddivisions. Tank battalions increase greatly the units. Armor units, as part of stability andfirepower and mobility of the infantry attack IDA operations, also may be employed to supanddefense and provide a powerful armor-de- port internal security operations, conduct orfeating capability.support military civic action, provide advisoryassistance to host country (HC) units, and eni.Economy of Force. Armored cavalry units gage in psychological and intelligence operaareparticularly suited to perform economy of tions (para 404-414). In stability and IDAforce missions, thus permitting a commander operations, armor units may be attached or astomaneuver the preponderance of his otherforces to another area for a decisive blow.signed to independent task forces, MAAG, Mis-sions, or Military Assistance Commandsj. Stability and Internal Defense Assistance (MAC), and may be employed to support host(IDA) Operations. The armor-protected fire- country and US divisions, brigades, battalions,power, shock effect, mobility, and mass of ar- or specific political and/or military areas.Section IV. CONDUCT OF ARMOR OPERATIONS12. General mum combat power to bear against the enemy.Armor operations are conducted by fire Every effort is made to gain knowledge of theand maneuver and are combined and controlled enemy before, during, and after engagement.to create a preponderance of combat power Commanders and leaders at all levels mustthat culminates in a powerful and violent ac- make continuous estimates and react rapidly totion at the decisive time and place. Com- changes in the situation. Armor operations aremanders must avoid rigid adherence to theoriginal plan in the face of significant changesmobile in nature, violent in action, and calcu-lated to obtain decisive results.in the situation that provide opportunities to 13. TypeOperationsdestroy the enemy. The cross-country mobility, The basic doctrine discussed in paragraph 12firepower, and communications of armor units isTheemployedbasic doctrineby the armordiscussedcommanderin paragraphat every12allow the armor commander to rapidly mass or opportunity regardless of the type operation hedisperse his combat power for the accomplish- may be conducting. The techniques used in thement of any given task. The armor commander conduct of offensive, defensive, retrograde, reseeksevery opportunity to employ his com- connaissance, security, and other operationsbined arms force in mass and thus bring maxi- are discussed in specific chapters.7