4 Comments

This is 90% applicable today. Prior fire support planning is critical if you are inside the range of friendly artillery. Air Support is critical and the FAC must be upfront. Radio chatter in US units is 85% too much and that is driven by higher HQ micromanagement. The reintroduction of motorcycles has been suggested and crushed time and time again. Huge mistake.

Expand full comment

"At very short ranges, you can run over known anti-tank guns."

QOTD

Expand full comment

*Nor does it discuss fire support planning and execution while on the march, in the attack or in defensive positions (hedgehogs).

Expand full comment

Some interesting stuff here, some of which is outdated due equipment and organizational changes (few units have motorcycles anymore and the TC’s hatches on US tracks are designed with a half open position to allow visual scanning while still protected, etc.), but still good, especially the points about minimizing radio use.

I posit these rules are applicable to all units, including Cav and Armor - Mech Infantry teams. I find it interesting they while this article notes that minimizing halts is important, especially in the open, it does not discuss the need for units to ALWAYS have their air guards and ADA coverage up. Perhaps the Soviet Air Force was not as big a threat as it was later?

Expand full comment