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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMb. Air Defense Artillery. The static natureof units and installations in a defensive pos-ture increases the probability of detection andattack by enemy aircraft. Use of ADA must beble means in providing adequate surveillanceof the defensive area. See appendix XXI foremployment of ground surveillance radar.165. Combat Support Units in Defense considered in defensive plans and appropriatea. Field Artillery. action taken to defend priority areas. Air de-(1) The massed fires of supporting artil- fense artillery units must also be considered inlery are essential to the success of the plans for counterattack to provide protectiondefense. Every effort is made to meet of displacing units, particularly when in marchenemy attacks with massed artillery column. Natural and manmade features essenfires.If the frontage is so extensivethat artillery fires cannot be massedtial to success of a counterattack such asdefiles, river crossing sites, and bridges mustacross the entire front, plans must be be protected from air attack (para 220-221).developed for concentrating fires onc. Engineers. Engineer support during delikelyavenues of enemy approach and fensive operations is discussed in chapter 9.on areas to be denied to the enemy.(2) Artillery normally is placed in direct d. Air Cavalry. Air cavalry is used to augsupportof each brigade conducting ment the ground reconnaissance and securitythe defense. Artillery liaison officers effort. Initially, maximum support is providedare provided to each battalion of the to the security force. After the security forcebrigade, and forward observers are has withdrawn through the forward defensiveprovided to each company-size combat area, air cavalry may provide surveillance ofunit.the flanks and the areas between blocking posi-(3) Fires of general support artillery may tions. They may support the movement ofbe made available by request through forces in the defensive area, particularly coundirectsupport artillery channels. terattacking forces.(4) Artillery elements are attached normallyto the security force during the 166. Defensive Areasinitial conduct of the defense. Whenthe security force is forced to with- Defensive areas include the security area,draw, the artillery withdraws to the forward defensive area, and the reservepreselected positions to support the area. Each of these areas is allocated forcesdefensive action.and fires as part of the overall plan of defense.Section III.MOBILE DEFENSE167. General 168. The Security Forcesa. The mobile defense employs a combina- a. General. Security forces consist of thetion of offensive, defensive, and delaying ac- covering force, observation posts, listeningtions. The ultimate success of the mobile de- posts, patrols, and rear area security forces.fense depends upon the offensive action of the b. Covering Force.reserve. The primary objective of the mobile (1) The covering force detects and redefenseis the destruction of the attacking en-ports the approach of the enemy; deemyforce.lays and disorganizes his advance;and deceives him as to the location ofb. Although armor units may employ some the main force. The division coveringof the techniques of the mobile defense, the di-force seeks to destroy the enemyvision is normally the smallest unit to conductwithinf its capabilities employing supsuchan operation. Armor units participateporting fires, including nuclear weapnormallyin a mobile defense as the securityons when authorized, and ground acforce,the fixing force, or the reserve.tion.94