Existing comment:
Armor's Many Missions:
By the autumn of 1967, when a substantial armored force had been built up in Vietnam, US Army doctrine identified the missions of armored cavalry as reconnaissance, security, and economy of force. In Vietnam, armored cavalry also performed convoy escort, search and destroy (mounted and dismounted), cordon and search, search and clear, route clearing, and base defense. Tank battalions were often tasked to link up with airmobile infantry, once the latter had been landed. Tanks with attached infantry also executed missions similar to those of armored cavalry. Both tank and armored cavalry units provided security for land clearing teams and supported the pacification program. On some occasions, tanks were employed in an indirect mode, supplementing available artillery. |