FM 17-95 HOWITZER BATTERY OF THE REGIMENTAL ARMORED CAVALRY SQUADRON During reconnaissance operations, the centrally positioned well forward within the squadron's artillery battery is usually used as squadron area. It will usually be given a a unit. This adds to efficient round-the-clock direct support mission with priority of fires operations and ease of massing fires. Some- established by the squadron commander. times, it may be necessary to split the During squadron movements (for example, battery. This is usually not desirable as it the squadron moves from the assembly area compounds the problems of fire direction, to an area reconnaissance) the battery should maintenance support, resupply, and com- be placed in the line of march far enough mand and control. However, a battery may forward to provide fires for the leading be split so that all squadron elements are elements of the squadron. within a field artillery range fan. The battery may frequently displace by platoons during reconnaissance operations to give continuous FM 6-20 contains fire planning, tactics, fire support. The battery should normally be and techniques for field artillery. 5-55 C1, FM 17-95 Reconnaissance instructions are nor- Reconnaissance orders should ensure a mally issued orally as an operation order. coordinated effort, but should not unneces- Changes are in the form of fragmentary sarily restrict subordinate commanders. orders (FRAGO's). Generally, time available When possible, squadron commanders and prevents preparation and issuance of a commanders of units reporting to or support- written order before starting an operation. In ing the regiment should be assembled to this case, the written order may be prepared receive the order. This face-to-face meeting after the fact for historical purposes. helps ensure that schemes of maneuver and fire support are understood. After reconnais- If the regiment is to conduct, or requires a sance begins, FRAGO's are issued as neces- subordinate unit to conduct, two or more sary. These orders are usually transmitted reconnaissance missions concurrently, it by radio, but may also be sent in writing by must set priorities. These priorities are messenger or radio teletypewriter. Messen- determined by the relative importance of gers at the regimental level often use aircraft. information sought and time available. ARMORED AND AIR CAVALRY SQUADRONS Command and control considerations regiment. The difference is in the scope of during reconnaissance operations at squad- command and level of operation. ron level are essentially the same as at ARMORED CAVALRY, AIR CAVALRY, AND CAVALRY TROOPS During reconnaissance operations, a * Zone, area, route, or axis of advance. troop commander operates from his battle- * When, where, and how information field vehicle. is to be required. A troop commander controls his unit Time of departure. through the executive officer and platoon leaders. At times, an air cavalry troop * Phase lines, control points, recon- commander may elect to directly control naissance objectives, and, when teams. required, the times they are to be reached. A reconnaissance mission is normally Locations and procedures for assigned to the troop as a unit with specified control measures. When more than one refueling/rearming, when required. mission is assigned, a priority is stated. A • Time mission is to be completed. troop commander assigns tasks to platoons. Instructions to platoons include: * Action after the mission is completed. Available information on the enemy and friendly troops in the area of operation. A troop commander issues orders orally to his platoon or section/team leaders. After * Plans of the higher commander, reconnaissance begins, additional instruc- when appropriate. tions are provided by radio,messenger, or by * Specific information desired. the troop commander in person. 5-57 FM 17-95 ARMORED CAVALRY, CAVALRY, AND AIR CAVALRY PLATOONS A reconnaissance mission is assigned to a platoon by the parent troop. After receiving the order, the platoon leader issues orders to his platoon. After the reconnaissance starts, additional instructions are disseminated by radio, messenger, or the platoon leader in person. The platoon leader moves and locates where he can best control the team. An armored cavalry or cavalry platoon uses hand-and-arm (or a flag as an extension of the arm) signals as often as possible to reduce radio transmissions. This is done more frequently within teams than between them. An air cavalry platoon or team must rely primarily on radio. Well developed standing operating procedures and the use of the same personalities together as frequently as possible reduce need for radio transmissions. SUMMARY The purpose of reconnaissance is to gather information upon which commanders may base plans, decisions, and orders. The three types of reconnaissance are route, zone, and area. A route reconnaissancem ission is concerned with a specific route and all adjacent terrain from which the enemy could influence movement along that route. Zone reconnaissancei s the reconnaissance of all natural and man- made features within specified boundaries. An area reconnaissancei s conducted to obtain information about a specified area; for example, a town, a ridge, or a woods. Cavalry conducts reconnaissance according to five fundamentals: Orient on the location or movement of the reconnaissance objective. Report all information rapidly and accurately. * Retain freedom to maneuver. • Gain and maintain enemy contact. * Develop the situation rapidly. 5-58 FM_ 17-95 ® CHAPTER 6 SECURITY OPERATIONS The purpose of security operations is to provide reaction time, maneuver space, and information about the enemy to the main body. Security includes all measures taken to prevent observation, annoyance, surprise, espionage, or sabotage. Aggressive and bold reconnaissance to reduce the unknowns in terrain and enemy situation is an integral part of security. CONTENTS PAGE THE THREAT....................................................6-4 SCREEN......................................................... 6-11 GUARD.......... ................................................ 6-20 COVER........... ............................................... 6-27 OFFENSE................................................... 6-35 DEFENSE.........................................6-40 DELAY ..... .................................................... 6-47 AREA SECURITY................................................ 6-52 AIR CAVALRY ............................................................. 6-55 TANK COMPANY OF THE REGIMENTAL ARMORED CAVALRY SQUADRON........................................ 6-58 HOWITZER BATTERY OF THE REGIMENTAL ARMORED CAVALRY SQUADRON........................................ 6-58 NIGHT OPERATIONS............................................. 6-59 COMMAND CONTROL CONSIDERATIONS ............................... 6-61 SUMMARY....................................................... 6-68 - FM 17-95 When. Cavalry units conduct security Where. Security forces may operate to operations when directed. the front, flanks, or rear of a moving or stationary main body. Why. Cavalry units conducting secu- rity operations provide information about the size, composition, location, and direction of Operation and Orientation. The the movement of enemy forces, and provide type of operation and the orientation with reaction time and maneuver space so that the regard to the main body are determined by: main body can be warned, prepared, and properly deployed to engage the enemy. Cavalry units are specially organized, equipped, and trained to conduct security operations over wide and deep areas, thus Mission: Usually stated as cover, permitting the main body commander to guard (protect), or screen. retain tanks, mechanized infantry, and other combat units in the main body, ready to concentrate at the place and time of decision. * Enemy: Most dangerous direction (front, flank, or rear) with respect to the main body. What. Security operations include: Terrain: Extent of space available. * Troops and Equipment Available: Number and size of cavalry units available to the commander. Time and Space Required. SScreen: Maintain surveillance and provide early warning by maintaining contact with enemy forces encountered. Air Cavalry. As in reconnaissance A screening force must impede and operations, air cavalry is integrated with harass the enemy by organic and sup- ground cavalry during security operations. porting fires, and within its capability, Most often, air cavalry screens and acts as a must destroy or repel enemy patrols. rapid reaction force. It may be used as an advance guard when the situation is fluid. f Such a mission is conducted in the same Guard (Protect): Prevent enemy manner as a route reconnaissance when the ground observation, direct fire, and situation is fluid. Such a mission is con- surprise attack. A guard force destroys, ducted in the same manner as a route stops, or delays the enemy within its reconnaissance when enemy contact is likely capability. (page 5-45). Air cavalry does not conduct a flank or rear guard. It does not conduct a E Cover: Operate apart from the main covering force mission. It usually reconnoi- body to intercept, engage, deceive, disor- ters and screens forward and/or to the flanks ganize, and destroy enemy forces before of ground cavalry during movement to they can attack or halt the main body. contact. After a line of contact has develop- 6-2 FM 17-95 ed, air cavalry may reconnoiter and screen to FUNDAMENTALS the flanks, maintain contact with the main body, and help ensure the ground cavalry is not infiltrated. It can be used as a rapid Cavalry units conduct security opera- reaction force to engage enemy elements with tions according to five fundamentals: its long range standoff aerial fires and all available suppressive fire. This helps gain time for armored cavalry and other maneuver Orient on the Main Body. A security elements to occupy defensive positions or to force operates between the main body and maneuver to attack. The flexibility and known or suspected enemy units. The secu- mobility of an air cavalry troop permits its rity force commander must know the scheme mission to be rapidly changed. These factors, of maneuver of the main body, and maneuver coupled with long range standoff aerial to remain between it and the enemy. firepower and the ability to use all available suppressive fires, frequently result in it being used to temporarily reinforce a ground Perform Continuous Reconnais- maneuver unit by fire. This is done until the sance. A security force performs continuous situation can be stabilized or other ground aggressive reconnaissance to gain all maneuver unit(s) can react. During a flank possible information about terrain and guard or covering force operation, air cavalry enemy. Such information is vital to the main may also conduct zone reconnaissance be- body commander since it represents two of tween the main body and its parent unit's axis of advance. It may be reinforced with the four factors of METT (mission, enemy, terrain, and troops available). ground maneuver elements to facilitate clearing the zone. During security opera- tions, air cavalry may be: Provide Early and Accurate Warn- ing. Early warning of enemy activity, including accurate reports of size, composi- tion, location and movement, provide the main body commander with the time and * Assigned a specific mission and information needed to retain initiative or to retained under the control of its choose the time and place to concentrate to parent unit. defeat that enemy. Provide Reaction Time and Maneu- ver Space. A security force operates as far a Reinforced with ground maneuver from the main body as possible, consistent with the factors of METT. It fights as elements. necessary to ensure adequate time and space for main body response to the Threat. Maintain Enemy Contact. Contact * Required to place teams under opera- once gained should be maintained to ensure tional control (OPCON) of squadrons continuous information about enemy ac- or troop-size units. tivity. If contact is lost, it must be regained unless the enemy is withdrawing from the area of operations and the security force is ordered not to follow. 6-3 FM 17-95 THE THREAT Cavalry conducting security operations will usually find an enemy force which is moving to contact or providing security for a larger defending force. THREAT OFFENSIVE DOCTRINE Enemy forces intend to advance rapidly, locate gaps and weak points in a defense, mass quickly, and penetrate to deep objectives. If the situation is not already developed or attacking forces are not in contact with defenders, the enemy will move to contact. THREAT ORGANIZATION FOR MOVEMENT TO CONTACT Both the motorized rifle and tank divisions usually move to contact on a wide (up to 30km) front. A Threat division moves to contact with a reconnaissance screen, an advance guard, and first and second echelons. i i ~~F~j~Bi~ NOTE: Regiments do not always use a reconnaissance screen and advance guard when moving behind those of the division. 6-4 FM 17-95 Reconnaissance Screen. US cavalry units wfl first encounter the Threat reconnais- sance screen. It operates 8-10km forward of the division's advance guard point platoon. It consists of the division's reconnaissance battalion reinforced with artillery forward observers, engineers, and chemical and radiological reconnaissance squads. X _V X The reconnaissance battalion is organized * Reconnaissance group has three and equipped with a: light amphibious tanks (PT-76's), four BRDM's, three motorcycles, one * Headquarters and service section. chemical and radiological reconnais- [ Light tank company (PT-76) with sance squad, and one engineer two tank platoons, each with three squad. Within the reconnaissance PT-76's. There is also one PT-76 in group an advance guard consisting the company headquarters. of one PT-76, one BRDM, and one * Scout car company with 12 BRDM's motorcycle may operate 4-7km ahead of the remainder of the group. and 20 motorcycles. * Reconnaissance patrol has one * Radar reconnaissance company light amphibious tank (PT-76), two with four intercept and direction BRDM's, and one motorcycle. finding platoons and a processing station. The reconnaissance groups and patrols are * Long range reconnaissance com- temporary tactical subunits formed for a specific mission. The reconnaissance com- pany with five long range reconnais- pany or a reinforced platoon thereof is the sance teams. normal base for a reconnaissance group. Similarly, a reinforced squad or platoon The battalion reconnoiters forward of the forms the base for a reconnaissance patrol. division advance guard and first echelon The radio/radio technical reconnaissance regiments, orienting on the division's pri- company is directly behind the combat units mary avenue of approach. It operates across of the first echelon regiments. The company the entire division front, however, it uses conducts radio interception and direction most of its assets to clear routes to be used by finding as part of the reconnaissance mission first echelon regiments. To accomplish its of the battalion. The long range reconnais- mission, the reconnaissance battalion task sance company's long range patrols may organizes the light tank company and the infiltrate by air as far as 100km to our rear. scout car company into reconnaissance Their mission is to locate our reserves and groups and patrols: nuclear delivery units. 6-5 FM 17-95 One reconnaissance group with several group may be left in contact to create a subordinate reconnaissance patrols is allo- diversion while the division's main elements cated to each divisional route of advance. bypass. The basic purpose of the enemy's Each group is assigned successive objectives reconnaissance is to find the defender's along its route. As each objective is secured, a flanks and weak areas so the main body may reconnaissance base is established. Recon- quickly bypass pockets of resistance to naissance patrols are then deployed forward continue the mission. of the base toward the next objective. The patrols reconnoiter by rapid and frequent movement from one vantage point to Advance Guard of Threat Division. another. They cross open areas at high Moving closely behind the reconnaissance speeds, and close and broken terrain by battalion is the advance guard. Its mission is bounds. OP's are established at vantage to respond to contacts made by the reconnais- points. When contact is gained, the recon- sance screen. In either type of division the naissance group uses feints and flanking advance guard is a reinforced tank battalion. maneuvers to determine the defender's This battalion is reinforced with a motorized strength, composition, and disposition. The rifle company, artillery, engineers, and air reconnaissance group reports and attempts defense artillery. It destroys opposition to bypass the defender's locations and con- encountered by the" reconnaissance bat- tinue along its prescribed route of advance. talion. It is centrally located and moves to Bypassed positions are saturated with artil- contact in column. The tank battalion's lery fire and attacked by the advance guard. column formation provides both depth and If contact is not intense, a reconnaissance the ability to quickly react in any direction. FM 17-95 Advance guard tactics are to rapidly build up an overwhelming tank force to push through opposition or cover the maneuver of the division. The buildup is by stages. The first stage is a reinforced platoon, followed by its parent reinforced company, in turn fol- lowed by the remainder of the reinforced battalion. Therefore: WITH SA-9 ZSU-23-4 457-874 0 - 84 - 6