MHI Copy 3 kFM 17-5 lWAR DEPARTMENT ARMORED FORCE FIELD I MANUAL ARMORED FORCE DRILL January 18, 1943' FM 17-5 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL SAC ARMORED FORCE DRILL UNITED STATEB GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1943 WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, January 18, 1943. FM 17-5, Armored Force Field Manual, Armored Force Drill, is published for the information and guidance of all concerned. [A. G. 062.11 (12-11-42).] BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: G. C. MARSHALL, Chief of Staff. OFFICIAL: J. A. ULIO, Major General, The Adjutant General. DISTRIBUTION: D 2, 7 (5); IR 2, 7 (5); Bn and H 17 (5); IBn 2, 5-10 (3); C 17 (20); IC 2, 5-11 (5). (For explanation of symbols see FM 21-6.) II TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraphs Page CHAPTER 1. Individual instruction. SECTION I. General -______________________ _ 1 1 II. Special instruction for occupants of vehicles --__________________ 5-6 29 CHAPTER 2. Mounted drill_______________________ 7-17 31 CHAPTER 3. Platoon and company formations_____ 18-20 59 CHAPTER 4. Ceremonies and inspections. SECTION I. General ______---_ ______------___ 21-25 65 II. Reviews _____-__________________- 26-39 66 III. Parades__________________________ 40-41 74 IV. Escorts ________-__- _________-____ 42-47 74 V. Inspections ___.-__________________ 48-52 76 INDEX - _--_--_ ___________________________-________-_-_ 83 JIn FM 17-5 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL ARMORED FORCE DRILL (This manual supersedes FM 17-5, January 12, 1941, including Changes No. 1, March 7, 1942.) CHAPTER 1 INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION Paragraphs SECTION I. General -____------ ----- ---------------------- 1-4 II. -Special instruction for occupants of vehicles -__--- 5-6 SECTION I GENERAL * 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE.-The purpose of drill is to teach control, discipline, and teamwork. Drill may take the form of dismounted movements on a parade ground, or it may consist of combat exercises and crew drills in the field. a. Dismounted drill.-() The procedures, formations, and movements for dismounted drill and for dismounted cere- monies are prescribed in FM 22-5. In addition, certain dis- mounted formations are prescribed in this manual. (2) The evolutions of dismounted drill do not apply to mounted drill. b. Mounted drill.-Mounted drill is covered in chapter 2. c. Crew drills.-Crew drills for individual armored force vehicles are prescribed in appropriate Field Manuals. (See FM 21-6.) * 2. DEFINITIONS.-The following definitions are in addition to those contained in FM 22-5: a. Agent scout and reconnaissance.-An individual sent out to reconnoiter. Also a messenger. b. Armored reconnaissance car.-An armored reconnais- sance car is a completely armored, wheeled, combat vehicle, designed primarily for reconnaissance. 1 2 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL c. Assembly.-The regular grouping in close order of the elements of a command. The grouping of units in areas, prior to or following combat, for the purpose of coordination or reorganization preceding further effort or movement. d. Base.-The element on which a formation or move- ment is regulated. e. Car (tank) commander.-The senior member of the crew present with the vehicle. f. Car, half-track.-A partially armored, half-track com- bat vehicle designed for reconnaissance, personnel carrier, or prime mover. g. Carrier, 81-mm mortar.-A partially armored, half- track combat vehicle, similar to the half-track car, designed as a self-propelled mortar mount. h. Carrier, personnel.-A partially armored, half-track combat vehicle designed primarily to transport personnel and weapons to, from, and on the battlefield. i. Close order.-Any formation in which units are arranged in line or column with intervals and distances of 25 yards or less. j. Column.-A formation in which the elements are placed one behind another. k. Combat vehicle.-A self-propelled, armed vehicle, with or without armor, manned by combat personnel. I. Command car.-A motor vehicle, either armored or un- armored, usually equipped with communication facilities for the exercise of command and used to transport command personnel. m. Crew.-The personnel that mans a vehicle or a weapon requiring more than one man for its proper operation. n. Deployment.-An extension of the front of a command. o. Depth.-The space from front to rear of any formation, or of a position, including'the front and rear elements. p. Direction of march.-The direction in which the base of the command, whether actually in march or halted, is facing at the instant considered. q. Dismounted.-The term "dismounted" as applied to a unit indicates that it is employed without vehicles; as applied to personnel it means that the individuals are not mounted on or in vehicles. r. Distance.-Space between elements in the direction of 2 ARMORED FORCE DRILL 2 depth, measured from the rear of one vehicle or element in front to the front of the next vehicle or element in rear. s. Dress.-See definition for alinement, FM 22-5. t. Echelon.-A formation in which the subdivisions are placed one behind another extending beyond and unmask- ing one another wholly or in part. In battle formations, the different fractions of a command in the direction of depth, to each of which a principal combat mission is assigned, such as the attacking echelon, support echelon, and reserve echelon. The various subdivisions of a headquarters, such as forward echelon and rear echelon. u. Element.-A subdivision of a command, such as an in- dividual, vehicle, squad (crew), section, or platoon. v. Evolution.-A movement by which a command changes its position or formation. w. Extended order.-Any formation in which the vehicles or elements are separated by intervals or distances, or both, greater than in close order. x. Flank.-The side of a command from the leading to the rearmost element, inclusive. Right flank is the right side when facing the enemy and does not change when the command is moving to the rear. y. Formation.-The arrangement of the subdivisions of a command so that all elements are placed in order in any designated disposition. z. Front.-(1) The space occupied by an element meas- ured from one flank to the opposite flank. The front of a man is assumed to be 22 inches. (2) The direction of the enemy. The line of contact of two opposing forces. aa. Interval.-Interval in mounted units is the lateral space between vehicles, measured from the hub of the wheel or the track. Between troops in formation it is the space from the left flank of the element or unit on the right to the right flank of the element or unit on the left. ab. Inverted wedge.-A formation in which the elements are moved successively and alternately to the left front and right front of the base in such manner that they are un- masked by the succeeding element and with such distances and intervals as to permit the elements to form line to the front without overlapping or undue extension. 3 2-3 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL ac. Leading.-The acts of a commander in controlling his unit by personal direction. ad. Line.-A formation in which the elements or units are abreast. ae. Mass.-The mounted or dismounted formation of a company or larger unit in which the platoons or larger units are in column, abreast, or at close order. at. Mounted.-The term "mounted" as applied to units indicates that the unit is employed with vehicles; as applied to personnel, it means that the individuals are mounted on or in vehicles. ag. Park.-An -area used for the purpose of servicing, maintaining, and parking vehicles. ah. Rate of march.-The average speed over a period of time including short periodic halts. ai. Speed.-The rate of movement of' a vehicle or unit measured in miles per hour at a given instant. aj. Scout car.-A partially armored, wheeled combat ve- hicle designed primarily for reconnaissance. ak. Successive formations.-A movement in which the ele- ments take their places successively. al. Tank.-An armored, turret type, track-laying combat vehicle designed for combat. am. Unit.-A military force having a prescribed organiza- tion. an. Wedge.-A formation in which the elements are moved successively and alternately to the left rear and right rear of the base in such manner that they are unmasked by the preceding element and with such intervals and distances as to permit the elements to form line to the front without overlapping or undue extension. 3. COMMANDS.-a. The commands authorized for dis- mounted close and extended order drill and the manner of giving them are prescribed in FM 22-5. The commands and signals for certain additional dismounted formations and mounted formations are prescribed in this manual. b. A command is the direction of the commander either expressed orally and in prescribed phraseology or given by prescribed signals. c. Where it is not mentioned who gives the prescribed com- mands, they will be given by the commander of the unit. 4 ARMORED FORCE DRILL 3 d. There are two kinds of commands: (1) The preparatory command, such as FORWARD, which indicates the movement that is to be executed. (2) The command of execution, such as MARCH, HALT, or ARMS, which causes the execution. e. In mounted extended order formations there is gener- ally no command of execution. Certain commands or sig- nals indicate the movement and also cause its execution, such as EXTEND, ASSEMBLE. I. Preparatory commands are distinguished in this manual by small capitals and those of execution by large capitals. g. The preparatory command is given at such interval of time before the command of execution as to insure proper understanding and to permit the giving of necessary com- mands by subordinate leaders; the command of execution is given at the instant the movement is to commence. Changes in formation or direction should normally be completed be- fore ordering other changes. h. The tone of the command should be animated, distinct, and of a loudness proportionate to the number of men for whom it is intended. Indifference in giving commands must be avoided, as this leads to laxity in execution. Commands must be given with spirit. i. When giving commands to troops, the commander faces them. When the section or platoon in close order drill or in ceremonies is part of a larger unit, the leader turns his head toward the unit to give commands but does not face the men. j. Officers and men fix their attention at the first word of command. k. If all men in the unit are to execute the same movement simultaneously, the subordinate leaders do not repeat a com- mand; otherwise they repeat the command or give the proper new command for the movement of their'own unit. 1. If at a halt, the commands for movements involving marching, such as 1. COLUMN RIGHT, 2. MARCH, are not prefaced by the command FORWARD. m. Preparatory commands may be revoked by command- ing AS YOU WERE. n. In instruction by the numbers, all movements for the purpose of instruction may be divided into motions and 5 3-4 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL executed in detail. The command of execution determines the prompt execution of the first motion. The other mo- tions, depending on the number, are executed at the com- mands TWO, THREE, FOUR, etc. To execute the movement in detail the instructor first cautions, "By the numbers." All movements are then executed in detail, one motion for each count until the caution "Without the numbers" is given. o. Commands may be transmitted by any of the following methods: (1) Voice (seldom practicable mounted). (2) Audible signals. (a) Whistle. (b) Trumpet. (c) Horn or siren. (3) Touch signals. (4) Visual signals. (a) Arm and hand. (b) Flags. (c) Lights. (5) Example of the leader. (6) Radio, voice or key. (7) Interphone system. (8) Staff officers. (9) Messengers, mounted or dismounted. (10) Pyrotechnics. (11) Any combination of the above methods. p. Drill and combat signals are for the purpose of trans- mitting commands when the transmission will be more sim- ple and efficient than would be possible by the use of other means. Signals may be given by any of the methods listed above. * 4. SIGNALS.-Mounted drill of armored force units is con- trolled or directed by means of various types of signals or by radio or arm and hand signals. Any type of signal used must be simple, easily understood, and definite. Dismounted drill simulating mounted drill and conducted by signals should precede mounted drill. a. Audible signals.-Audible signals are made with the leader's whistle, siren, vehicle horn, or trumpet. Whistle signals are limited to-.