ARMORED FORCE - Ibiblio

12-14ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL(6) Cover the deployment of the combat commands.(7) Prevent enemy giround reconnaissancenaissance).(Counter-recon-(8) Seize and hold temporarily a terrain objective.(9) Furnish information of terrain.(10) Secure definite items of information.e. The Reconnaissance Battalion will operate with the division observation planes and, when possible, will listen in onthese planes. Combat commands will maintain a liaison officerwith the reconnaissance battalion operating ahead of them.Combat Commands may pass through the battalion when advancing to attack. The battalion is then used to reconnoiterand protect the flanks.13. REGIMENTAL RECONNAISSANCE UNITS.-. Each of the tankregiments have a reconnaissance company which has the sameorganization as the reconnaissance company of the Reconnaissance Battalion. The Infantry Regiments and the ArmoredBattalion each have a reconnaissance platoon. These regimentaland battalion reconnaissance units are used by their parent unitsfor local reconnaissance. Zones and objectives are assigned allreconnaissance units. These units gain contact with the enemyas soon as possible by means of patrols. Once contact is gained,it must never be lost. The progress and location of patrolsmust be constantly reported.14. ACTIONWHENCLOSINGONTHERECONNAISSANCEBAT-TALION.-a. As the Combat Commands close on the reconnaissance battalion, direct connection will be established, and thelatest information will be exchanged.b. It is extremely important that the units of the division orof the combat commands which follow the reconnaissance donot prematurely close on the reconnaissance unit, thereby losingtheir power of maneuver. In following or supporting thereconnaissance it is imperative that combat commands and thedivision maintain an echelonment in depth. This permits freedom of maneuver and concentrated attack against the enemyflanks or points of weakness disclosed by reconnaissance on a10

ARMORED DI V510SIONRECONNAA15A PNCE AND 5ECURITYRECONNA I SSA NCEDOOOUWBOODODIOA AIISECURITYMUS rBE BASED ON THE RELA TION OF TIME SPA CE MOBIL ITYIF ALL AROUND 5ECURITY /5 NECESSARY- ONEHOUR5 WARNING AGAINST 3OISSM\n,HOURENEMYMOVINE AT30 MILESPER HOUR WOULD REQUIRE 25 125 M/SECURITY DETACHMENT5OVER A FRONT OF /88MILES * V/\0AN OBSTACLE CAN BEUSED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER AND SIZE OF SECURITYDETACHMENT5(ANT/-TANKANDIN-FANTRY UNITS BEHIND ANOBSTACLE CAN AFFORD PROTECTION AGAINST THE MOSTPOWERFULL TANK ATTACKS. IF OFFENSIVE ACTION15 CONTEMPLATED A BRIDOEHEAD MUST BE HELD.CHART V11

14-16ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUALwide front. The gaps and weak spots indicated by reconnaissance will be immediately exploited by the advance guards.Every effort will be made to prevent the creation of a reconnaissance phase, a security phase and a battle phase. Thethree must be merged rapidly into one operation. Reconnaissanceunits must transmit reconnaissance information to the combatunits which close on it.15. SECURITY.-a. Security must be based on the relationshipof time, space and mobility (speed).b. Security detachments (advance guards, rear guards, flankguards, outposts, and covering detachments) unless specificallyordered by the division will be detailed by the combat commands.c. Security detachments protect the division and its componentunits from surprise attack and hostile observation. Undermodern battle conditions security against hostile armored attackmust cover a command in all directions. Anti-tank guns aredeployed for this purpose.d. Chart V illustrates the time and space factor in securityand the value of an obstacle in limiting the area of the security.e. As an auxiliary means of warning, armored security detachments of the combined arms must be used. Normally such detachments will include infantry, anti-tank weapons, tanks,artillery and aircraft.CHAPTER 4MARCHES16. GENERA.L.-a. For conduct of marches see FM 25-10 andFM 17-50.b. The Armored Division marches in one or more columnsusually organized into combat commands. . Often the marchwill be covered by other formations but such coverage undermodern battle conditions can not assure security. The ArmoredDivision will frequently move in an area in which the situationis vague and fluctuating. It must provide for its own securityon all occasions. This security must include anti-tank weapons.12

EMPLOYMENT OF ARMORED UNITS16-17c. Wherever possible the march should be conducted in severalcolumns. Night marches are preferable but it must be remembered that the division is sensitive to night attack. The missionand enemy situation will govern'the march formation to beused. In all marches of the division or combat commands inone column, some artillery will be at the head of the mainbody. In case of air attack the march continues; anti-aircraftguns open fire. When the heads of marching columns halt, andcircumstances permit, the columns may be closed into assemblyposition in order to shorten columns and to facilitate deployment. The advance can be resumed even if the column hasnot completed its closing into the assembly area.d. The division must be (I) moved as rapidly as possible,(2) hidden from enemy observation, (3) concentrated in termsof time and (4) ready for immediate deployment for battle.e. The maximum rate of march for the division as a wholeis 20 MPH, governed at the present time by the rate of marchof the medium tanks. When vehicles of several types marchtogether the rate of the slower vehicle governs the march rateof the group. It is important that armored vehicle should notbe too extended for this will cause them to be late in deploying for combat. The danger of air attack, however, must betaken into consideration. The density of columns must neverexceed 40 vehicles to the mile. This density is rarely attained.Usually, densities will be 20 or less vehicles to the mile.f. The effective employment of the division depends on speedand precision that will enable movement to continue uncheckedand upon communication which permits the rapid maneuver ofcolumns.g. Charts VI and VII show schematic arrangements of thedivision in one march column, and in march formation (Ml)divided into two combat commands. These charts show roadspaces and time lengths of organizations and unit trains basedon movement at 20 MPM. The charts can be used as a guidefor time and space calculations of the tactical groupings shownon charts which follow.17. CONTROL.-The advance is controlled by phase lines andmarch objectives. Report lines may be ordered by division and13

ARMORED DIVISIONROAD SPACES AND TIME' LENGTH5SPEED,20 MPH-ROAD SPACE PER TRUCK47 YDS - NO DISTANCE- BETWEEN UNIT5PDOS NOT INCLUDE MOTORCYCLES5 TRAILER5DIVISIONDIVISIONTWO COMBAT COMD(C',!HFCoIMA-)ONE COLUMNMILES VEHCLES187SIsAYARDSQ 4070 75 80 853-14NOTEI.CLOSED COLUMN AS IN SOFMnFOR OPEN COLUMN (SOFr14358MULTIPLY BYCHART VI14FOUR

ARMORED DIVISIONROAD SPACESDIVISIONDIVISIONINONE COLUMNIN TrWO COMBAT COMIANADL(PIARCH FORnMATION- M1)COMBAT &FIELDTRAINS IN REAROF UNITCOMBAT TRAINSFOLLOWING THEIR BN5FIELD TRAINIS IN REARALL TRAINS INREAR OF COLUMNMILES VEHICLES YAROS133 Q 8251S5 423542538-1517097s-810 20 -E-9e6 4451u3457i12545-20o :65: --n70 229142e478-1128--36613"36251.121560631321i4 COMBAT TRAINS658[FIELD TRAINS75CHnRr VIi15

17-20ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUALcolumn commanders. March objectives will beby the division. When objectives (Phase Lines)advance will be halted on these lines and willordered to go forward therefrom. Code namesboth phase lines and objectives.ordered onlyare used theremain untilwill be given18. FRONTAGES.-a. The mobility, together with the radiofacilities, enables the Armored Division to march and operatesafely on wide frontages. Columns must however be held within time supporting distance. The division can frequently marchon a front of 20 miles with all elements within one hour's supporting and closing distances of each other. To facilitatemaneuver, considerable distance should be maintained betweenmarching tactical commands.19. POSITION OF HEAuDQARTERs.-Advanced division headquarters will have no fixed place in the columns but will move wellforward where it can best obtain information and exercise control. It will always announce its axis of advance so as to facilitate connection and communications. Combat command headquarters will habitually march with their advance guards.20. FORMATIONS.-a. Five march formations, designated asM1-M2-MM3-M4 and M7 have been set up. For each ofthese formations, three tactical groupings have been made within the division. Two of these groupings in each formation arecombat commands. The third grouping remains under thedirect orders of the division commander and may be regardedas a division reserve.b. In each march formation (Ml-M2-M3-M4-M7) the threegroupings may march on one road, on two roads or on severalroads. The composition and the command responsibility foreach grouping is fixed by the designation of the formation(Ml-M2-M3-M4-M7).The order of march within groupingscan be changed to suit the particular situation.c. The march formations are shown on Charts VIII A,VIII B, VIII C, VIII D, and VIII G. In the march formations,units are assigned to combat commands. Units not so assignedremain as a separate group under the direct orders of the Division Commander. The essential purpose of the groupings is16

ARMORED DIVISIONMARCHCOMBAT COANAIDCOMBAT COMMAND(ACCM FORMATIOY-M 1)(MAICmFOMATIoN-M 1)AA1A00DIVISION CGNOT:CNA4T (WA*DS MAYOBE MAC/ED of lAE TWO.caiQrMoE RaW5CHART VIII-A17

ARMORED DIVISIONMARCHCOMBAT COMMANDCOMBAT COMMAND(MARCH FORMATIO-M)(MARCH FORMATION-M2)AAmOLiDIVISIOI C6RTVIII-BCHART VIII-B18

ARMORED DIV/ISIONMARCHCOMBAT COMMAND(MARCH FORMATION -M3)aUmm*U-mIDIVISION CGoE*HCOMBAT COMMANDA(MARCH FORMATION-M 3)OOlimCHART VIII-C19A

ARMORED DIVISIONMARCHCOMBAT COMMAND COMBAT COMMAND(tMARCH FORMATION-M4)(MAR C/FORMATION-M4)AADIVI1ION CGG-CHART Vin-D20

ARMORED DIVISIONMARCHCOMBAT COMMAND(MARCH FORMATION-M 7)A,AmIDIVISION CG-* LmEI 0F]COMBAT COMMA ND(MARCHFORMATION-M7)CHART VIII-G21o

20-21ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUALto form teams which habitually operate together, thus makingpossible intimate and uniform team training. This tacticalgrouping also simplifies orders and control. The tactical organizations as set up are suitable for and are easily deployed intoattack formations (Al-A2-A3 A4 and A7) which are shownand explained later in this text.d. Combat commands can be marched in column or abreast.The formation with combat commands in column offers the advantage of enabling the second combat command to be movedas a divisional reserve with little or no protective commitments.e. The formation with two combat commands abreast permits a wider frontage to be covered. This formation, however,leaves little in division reserve; moreover, a considerable proportion of the armored strength of the division is deployed andmay be committed at the outset.f. Depending upon the formation adopted the infantry regimcnt may move in rear of the tank elements, in advance of suchelements or with these elements. The infantry regiment maybe advanced by bounds from obstacle to obstacle or it may beused to guard a flank.g. Normally, infantry and engineers will be attached to combat commands in order to render prompt assistance in crossingobstacles and in demolitions. The engineers reconnoiter routes,post signs, reinforce bridges, build bridges, improve and maintain fords, provide by-passes around destroyed bridges, andother engineer tasks. Engineer units must be well forward ineach column. If large scale bridging operations can be foreseen the majority of the engineers will be held under divisioncontrol.21. HALTS.-a. Halts will be ordered by column commanders.Usually a halt of 15 minutes is made at the end of the firstforty-five minutes of marching. At the first halt, engines willbe stopped and inspected. Subsequent halts of 10 minutes aremade at the end of an hour and twenty minutes or one hourand fifty minutes. During all halts preventative maintenancewill be performed; this is the primary purpose of all halts.22

EMPLOYMENT OF ARMORED UNITS22CHAPTER 5OFFENSIVE COMBAT22. GENERAL.-a. The objective of armored attack is to destroy the enemy. This is effected by breaking through his defenses and surrounding all or parts of his command. Commanders of all units must be far forward. They must keepthemselves informed as to the developing situation and as tothe intention of the higher commander. Radio silence is usuallymaintained prior to an attack. After the attack is launched,commanders exert their influence and control through voiceradio supplemented by other means.b. Objectives and missions are assigned by commanders inkeeping with the changing tactical situation and the mission ofthe next higher command.c. The Armored Division may attack directly front marchcolumn or it may attack from an assembly position.d. There are three methods of attack either from marchcolumns, or from assembly position:(1) Tank units leading(2) Infantry units leading(3) Tanks and Infantry operating togethere. Charts IX A-B-C-D-G show schematically, five attackformations, in each of which the tactical grouping is different.The deployment of platoons, companies and battalions withinCombat Commands is shown on the charts as a guide in theconsideration of frontages and depths. The attack formationsshown are not to be regarded as fixed. They merely show onegrouping for each formation of the following types:Al-Two Combat Commands and a division reserve. EachCombat Command employing three echelons of attack; tanksleading, light and medium tank units mixed. Infantry and tanksoperating together in third echelon of attack.A2 Two Combat Commands and a division reserve. EachCombat Command employing three echelons of attack; tanks23

22-23ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUALleading, light or medium tank battalion in assault echelon.fantry regiment included in division reserve.In-A3-Two Combat Commands, one Combat Command composed primarily of Infantry, the other composed primarily oftanks. Infantry leading. Tanks initially in reserve. All artilleryunder direct orders of division commander.A4-Two Combat Commands and a division reserve. Lighttank units in one Combat Command. Medium tank units (lessone battalion) in the other Combat Command. Infantry acomponent part of each Combat Command and the divisionreserve.A7-Two Combat Commands. One Combat Command employing three echelons of attack, each of which is composedprimarily of Infantry and tank units mixed. One Combat Command composed primarily of tank units.f. Chart IX A shows the division organized into CombatCommands in attack formation Al. The tactical grouping forthis attack formation Al is identical with the grouping formarch formation Ml. Similarly, Chart IX B-C-D and G havethe same tactical grouping as are shown in March FormationM2-M3-M4 and M7 (See Charts VIII B, VIII C, VIII D, andVIII G). There are, of course, countless variant tactical groupings for the combat commands, but the ones presented can beused in standing procedures allowing variation as necessarywithin the combat command.g. The use of these formations or variations thereof permitsthe speedy issuance of orders and a quick formation for attackby units habitually trained as a team.h. In the attack formations shown it is seldom that the tankbattalion can strongly attack over a front greater than 1,800yards. The infantry battalion can seldom strongly attack overa frontage greater than 1,000 yards.23. ATTACK FROM MARCHarmored units are met, whenare met or when the enemyfrom march column should beCOLUMN.-.--(I) When enemyother enemy formations in marchhas recently deployed, an attackmade.24

ARMORED DIVISIONATTACKCOMBAT COMMANDCOMBAT COMMAND(A TTACK FORMATION -A I)A AA AAAA(ATTACTFORMATION -AI)A AAAAAAAL IIN GALACHATIX-AC2ART IX-A23A

ARMORED DIVISIONA TTA CKCOMBAT COMMANDCOMBAT COMMAND(ATTACK FORMAT/ON-A Z)(ATTACK FORMATION-A 2)AAAAAAAAAAAAs AAkAAAAEAAAAAAAAAA&ADlvls/oN CGorlICHART IX-B26AA

ARMORED DIVISIONATTA CKCOMBAT COMMAND(ATTACKFORMAT/ON -A3)* m Jmm -**SN HO C (3 in REGTjMM6m O*MORTDIVI51ON CrGBI F1 [I·COMBAT COMMAND(ATTACK FORMATION-A 3)CHART IX-C27

ARMORED DI VISI ONATTACKCOMBAT COMMANDCOMBAT COMMAND(ATTA K FORMA TION -A4)(ATTACK FORMA TION-A4)AAAkAAAAAADIVISION CGEiCHAT IX-D28

ARMORED DIVISIONATTACKCOMBAT COMMAND(ATTACK FORMATION-A 7AAAAAm@, IAAAZoINDI/VSION C&COMBAT COMMAND(ATTACK FORMATION-A7)LmECHART IX-G29

23ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL(2) Attack from march column is characterized by hasty reconnaissance, immediate attack orders, little planned artilleryor bombardment support, and successive attacks. It is essentialthat attack be immediate and that attacking forces are not dispersed.(3) A short halt by units forming for attack may be necessary. This halt must be under best possible cover from enemyobservation and weapons. It must be carried out quickly soas to leave the enemy no time to prepare his anti-tank defenses.(4) Unexpected encounters with the enemy or ground conditions may necessitate an initial attack on a very narrow front,such as fighting out of a defile. As soon as the leading echelonhas cleared the defile, normal battle frontages should be taken.(5) Close reconnaissance by regimental reconnaissance sectionsmust give commanders of combat commands the necessary information for the plan of actio

FM 17 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL EMPLOYMENT OF ARMORED UNITS THE ARMORED DIVISION CHAPTER 1 GENERAL 1. GENEZRAL PRovISIroNs.-a. This document is published as a guide for the tactical training and operation of the Armored Division. b. The tactical procedures and methods set forth herein are not to be followed as arbitrary rules.