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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMagainst the enemy and strike violently and re- and may evolve only as the engagement conlentlessly.The terrain may offer such an ad- tinues.vantage that it will be best to defend, inflict e. Maneuver units direct their attackslosses on the enemy, and then counterattack against the flanks of a fixed enemy to producewith all available forces. This is particularly decisive results. Frontal attacks are avoided.true when the enemy has superior tank f. If the enemy force is moving when constrength.tact is made, a rapid flank attack may hinderb. The security elements will normally be seriously his ability to deploy and maneuverthe first to contact the enemy. The initial his main body.fighting by security elements is particularly g. It is of utmost importance that the comimportantto the successful continuation of the mander recognize changes in the situation inengagement and is of great concern to the corn- time to act accordingly. He may be required tomander. These forces must make a rapid re- change plans rapidly, and assign new tasks toconnaissance as accurate information is re- his units already in motion to support the iniquiredby the commander from the outset. tial plan.They may attack or block the enemy, making it h. Units committed from the march columnpossible to occupy important terrain.often encounter enemy forces in unreported loc.Forces in the march column deploy rapid- cations. The action taken against them must allyand are normally committed to the fight ways assist in the accomplishment of the overwhileon the move to achieve tactical surprise. all mission. Adjacent and higher headquartersCertain forces may be deployed adjacent to the must be advised of this enemy contact and theroute of march and constitute the commander's commander's plan of action.reserve.i. Commanders may be directed to bypassand. Artillery supports the security forces and enemy force. Minimum forces are employed toforces committed to the action from the march block the enemy and allow the uninterruptedformation. Artillery units quickly move as far advance of the main force. Blocking forces willforward as possible to provide the required fire initially be security elements and should be resupport.This maneuver is essential because the lieved of this mission as rapidly as possible byconfines of the fight cannot be predetermined units that have a follow and support role.Section VIII. PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES OF THE BYPASS142. General c. Regardless of the level to which authoritya. In a bypass operation the commander de- has been granted, the commander conductingliberately avoids offensive combat with an en- the bypass immediately notifies the next higheremy force, position, or installation. This action commander of his intention and reports on theis designed to avoid dissipation or diversion of enemy force to be bypassed.combat power to efforts other than accomplishmentof the mission. Bypass operations are 143. Considerationsparticularly applicable during the exploitation, a. The first consideration in the decision topursuit, or other offensive action when the en- bypass an enemy force is an analysis of theemy force encountered is of insufficient factors of METT.strength to jeopardize the accomplishment ofthe unit's mission.b. Initially, limited information of the enemymay be available. Aggressive action mustbe initiated to develop the situation to obtainhigher headquarters but is not normally dele- be initiated to develop the situation to obtaingated below task force level. Because of the extendedfront over which the armored cavalry c. Minimum time is available to develop thesquadron normally operates, authority to by- situation and formulate plans to hasteri execupassmay be delegated down to troop level. tion of the bypass.81