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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM(2) Nuclear fires may be used just before the objective and the visibility. It is difficult tothe attack to neutralize known hard change direction. Complicated maneuvers aretargets. The employment of on-call avoided to decrease the danger of firing onnuclear fires should be avoided. The friendly troops. Attacks normally are made inexact location and protective meas- one direction and in a relatively close formauresafforded the attacking troops tion to facilitate control. Nevertheless, simplemay be difficult to determine. Special maneuvers may be used by tank and mechaprecautionsmust be taken to increase nized infantry units employing vehiculartroops safety considerations because mounted navigational aids and infrared equipofdazzle effect at night. The creation ment.of obstacles is to be avoided as they a. Formations. In an attack that is not illuaremore difficult to negotiate at minated initially, tank companies cross the linenight. Nuclear fires may obliterate of departure in line formation with platoons inlandmarks that were to be used as column. Attached mechanized infantry may becontrol measures.in column behind a tank platoon. Intervals be-(3) Normal fires are maintained before tween company teams are such that units canand during an unsupported attack. deploy when necessary. Deployment by pla-They do not alert the enemy to an im- toons to the line formation is made whenpending attack but assist in maintain- forced by enemy action or at the probable lineing secrecy by muffling the noise of of deployment to attain maximum firepoweradvancing tanks and armored person- and shock effect. In an illuminated attack withnel carriers.supporting fires or when visibility permits, pla-(4) Positions for supporting weapons are toons may employ the line formation from thereconnoitered and marked, and firing attack position to the objective. In any event,data is prepared during daylight. the rate of advance is timed to permit a simul-Weapons are moved under cover of taneous assault on the objective by the leadingdarkness. In a night attack by a bat- units. For a discussion of formations in a distaliontask force, it may be desirable mounted attack with tanks, see FM 7-20 andto provide all supporting fires from FM 7-11.units not in the task force. When this b. Time of Attack. Time patterns are avoidisdone, all the battalion's supporting ed to facilitate surprise. Consideration must beweapons can follow the attacking given to the mission and enemy situation. Ifechelon to the objective by bounds. the attack is to seize favorable terrain for ag. Communication. Radio is the primary succeeding daylight attack, it may be launchedmeans of communication in the mounted at- during the final hours of darkness to give thetack. Listening silence may be imposed on the enemy minimum time in which to interfereattacking force to mislead the enemy as to the with the subsequent attack. However, attacksintentions of the moving tracked vehicles. launched during early darkness permit the at-When the enemy discovers the attack, listening tacker to take maximum advantage of a longsilence is lifted. Dismounted mechanized in- period of darkness and exploit the enemy's confantrygiven the mission of breaching mine- fusion and loss of control. Attacks may be inifieldsand securing the probable line of de- tiated during darkness and continued withoutployment should use wire communication until pause during daylight.the attack is disclosed. In any event, supplementalmeans such as pyrotechnic signals, in- 149. Conduct of the Night Attackfrared searchlights, and electronic devices are a. The attacking forces cross the line of deplannedand employed.parture at the time prescribed by the operation148. Scheme of Maneuverorder. Commanders are well forward to insureaggressive movement of their units, mainte-The amount of maneuver possible during a nance of direction, and coordination with othernight attack depends mainly on the nature of units and the base of fire. All leaders must ex-86