QUARTERHORSE HEADQUARTERS STAFF S-3
"The Fundamentals of Armored Cavalry"
The interval between vehicles while in the herringbone formation is 25 meters.
With this interval we can mass our fire power using the extended herringbone
we can maneuver elements through our formation and still provide security.
5. Road Opening: A frequently performed mission is the opening of a road which
has been under VC control for a period of time. In opening a road we concern
ourselves with three forces: the mine sweep force, the security force, and the
reaction force.
a. The Mine Sweep Force: This force consists of mine detectors,
personnel to operate mine detectors, and probers. Never trust anyone else to
sweep a road for you. If another force is providing sweep teams let them lead
but follow with your organic sweep team, Attempt to keep infantry out of your
fields of fire, Whenever possible, extensive reconnaissance by fire should be
conducted while sweeping the road, Recon by fire should be conducted to the left
front and right front, Make the man with the RPG or command detonated mine think
twice! Be wary of defiles. Check culverts and bridges thoroughly. Don't be
afraid to get wet and probe, probe, probe. Many mines cannot be detected by the
mine detector; they can only be found by probing or by running over them. The
first way is much better. Never follow trails or old tracks unless forced to do
so. If forced to follow trails or old tracks, sweep and probe them. Most mines
are in the shoulders of the road, Avoid shoulders of roads, Avoid obvious turn
off points along a road, Use common sense, If you see a place where you would
put a mine or boobytrap - there may well be one there, Normally a minimum of
three mine detectors should be available for sweeping a road, A mine sweep team
consists of a mine detector, an operator for the mine detector, and a prober.
b. The Security Force: The security force precedes the mine sweep force,
operating well out on the flanks of the road in order to provide security for the
mine sweep force. This force works as far out on the road flanks as possible,
being alert for booby traps, claymore mines, and wires leading to command
detonated mines in the road. When infantry is available it should be utilized as
a part of the security force in the following manner:
Armored vehicles can be intergrated into this formation. If infantry is not
available we must provide the security force from our own resources. Remember
that the VC do emplace mines off the road, too, When providing security for
a mine sweep force use tanks to lead whenever possible.
When utilizing this formation, the security force should operate as far from
the road as terrain and good sense will allow, while still maintaining visual
contact with the mine sweep force.
c. Reaction Force: The reaction force consists of all elements not
committed to the sweep force and the security force. The reaction force follows
behind the sweep force prepared to reinforce or support the sweep or security
force. Due to the nature of this type operation, the reaction force moves very
slowly. When at halts it assumes a herringbone formation. To minimize unnecessary
starting and stopping the reaction force will allow the sweep and security force
to move as far forward as terrain and visual contact will permit prior to
displacing forward.
6. Route Security: After opening a road we frequently receive the mission to
secure it. The principal technique used to secure a road is to outpost, When we
outpost we do just that: Outpost. We cannot defend a road in depth except by
search and destroy techniques. The mission is to provide timely warning in case
the VC attempt to establish an ambush. We cannot always prevent the VC from
firing an RPG at a convoy or at us but we can make it extremely difficult for
them to get a shot at us or at the convoy. The most desirable method of
outposting a road is to place vehicles in pairs so that each pair is in sight
of the left and right flank pair. Example:
When in this optimum configuration, dismounted patroling can be conducted the
vicinity of the outposts/strong points. Frequently we must extend our outpost
line, precluding the possibility of employing vehicles in back-to-back pairs.
In this case the vehicles must be offset - but pairs still must be within sight
of one another. When there is no vehicle providing security for the rear of your
vehicle you must either dismount an OP to protect the rear of the vehicle or
have an additional observer on the vehicle observing to the rear. Terrain will
dictate which method will be used. Example:
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The interval between vehicles while in the herringbone formation is 25 meters. With this interval we can mass our fire power using the extended herringbone we can maneuver elements through our formation and still provide security. 5. Road Opening: A frequently performed mission is the opening of a road which has been under VC control for a period of time. In opening a road we concern ourselves with three forces: the mine sweep force, the security force, and the reaction force. a. The Mine Sweep Force: This force consists of mine detectors, personnel to operate mine detectors, and probers. Never trust anyone else to sweep a road for you. If another force is providing sweep teams let them lead but follow with your organic sweep team, Attempt to keep infantry out of your fields of fire, Whenever possible, extensive reconnaissance by fire should be conducted while sweeping the road, Recon by fire should be conducted to the left front and right front, Make the man with the RPG or command detonated mine think twice! Be wary of defiles. Check culverts and bridges thoroughly. Don't be afraid to get wet and probe, probe, probe. Many mines cannot be detected by the mine detector; they can only be found by probing or by running over them. The first way is much better. Never follow trails or old tracks unless forced to do so. If forced to follow trails or old tracks, sweep and probe them. Most mines are in the shoulders of the road, Avoid shoulders of roads, Avoid obvious turn off points along a road, Use common sense, If you see a place where you would put a mine or boobytrap - there may well be one there, Normally a minimum of three mine detectors should be available for sweeping a road, A mine sweep team consists of a mine detector, an operator for the mine detector, and a prober. b. The Security Force: The security force precedes the mine sweep force, operating well out on the flanks of the road in order to provide security for the mine sweep force. This force works as far out on the road flanks as possible, being alert for booby traps, claymore mines, and wires leading to command detonated mines in the road. When infantry is available it should be utilized as a part of the security force in the following manner:
Armored vehicles can be intergrated into this formation. If infantry is not available we must provide the security force from our own resources. Remember that the VC do emplace mines off the road, too, When providing security for a mine sweep force use tanks to lead whenever possible.
When utilizing this formation, the security force should operate as far from the road as terrain and good sense will allow, while still maintaining visual contact with the mine sweep force. c. Reaction Force: The reaction force consists of all elements not committed to the sweep force and the security force. The reaction force follows behind the sweep force prepared to reinforce or support the sweep or security force. Due to the nature of this type operation, the reaction force moves very slowly. When at halts it assumes a herringbone formation. To minimize unnecessary starting and stopping the reaction force will allow the sweep and security force to move as far forward as terrain and visual contact will permit prior to displacing forward. 6. Route Security: After opening a road we frequently receive the mission to secure it. The principal technique used to secure a road is to outpost, When we outpost we do just that: Outpost. We cannot defend a road in depth except by search and destroy techniques. The mission is to provide timely warning in case the VC attempt to establish an ambush. We cannot always prevent the VC from firing an RPG at a convoy or at us but we can make it extremely difficult for them to get a shot at us or at the convoy. The most desirable method of outposting a road is to place vehicles in pairs so that each pair is in sight of the left and right flank pair. Example:
When in this optimum configuration, dismounted patroling can be conducted the vicinity of the outposts/strong points. Frequently we must extend our outpost line, precluding the possibility of employing vehicles in back-to-back pairs. In this case the vehicles must be offset - but pairs still must be within sight of one another. When there is no vehicle providing security for the rear of your vehicle you must either dismount an OP to protect the rear of the vehicle or have an additional observer on the vehicle observing to the rear. Terrain will dictate which method will be used. Example:
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Fundamentals of Armored Cavalry Tactics - Dec 1967(Cont)
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