armored and mechanized divisions operations

216 Pages·2014·6.63 MB·English

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Cl, FM 71-100
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 30 March 1979
ARMORED AND MECHANIZED DIVISIONS
OPERATIONS
FM 71-100, 29 September 1978, is changed as follows:
1. New or changed material is indicated by a ★.
2. Remove old pages and insert new pages as indicated below: V'
«ff
REMOVE PAGE INSERT PAGES
2- 52-5 and 2-6 and 2-6
3- 73-7 and 3-8 and 3-8
3-11 and 3-12 3-11 and 3-12
3-13 and 3-14 3-13 and 3-14
3- 13- 7 and 3-18 17 and 3-18
4- 14- 7 and 4-18 17 and 4-18
4- 34- 5 and 4-36 35 and 4-36
5- 25- 3 and 5-24 23 and 5-24
6- 16- and 6-2 1 and 6-2
6-5 and 6-6 6-5 and 6-6
6- 16- 1 and 6-12 11 and 6-12
7- 77- and 7-8 7 and 7-8
7-15 and 7-16 7-15 and 7-16
7-17 and 7-18 7-17 and 7-18
3. File this change sheet in the front of the publication for reference purposes.
Pentagon Library (ANR-PL)
ATTN: Militara Documents Section
Room 1A518, pentagon
86-SC313/7-28B3
Washington, DC\ 20310-6050
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
BERNARD W. ROGERS
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
Official:
J. C. PENNINGTON
Major General, United States Army
The Adjutant Genera!
DISTRIBUTION:
Active Army and USAR: To be distributed in accordance with DA Form 12-11A and B,
Requirements for Engr Bn, Armored, Inf, and Inf (Mech) Divisions; FÀ Tactics; The Infantry
Brigade; Sig Bn, Armored, Inf, Inf (Mech) and Airmobile Divisions; The Armored Brigade;
Divisional Armored and Air Cav Units; MR Support Army Div and Sep Brigade; The Div Support
Command and Sep Bde Support Battalion; The Division; Operations of Army Forces in the Field;
Combat Service Support (Qty rqr block no: 28, 39, 80, 110, 130, 131, 134, 380, 404, 405, and
406).
ARNG: To be distributed in accordance with DA Form 12-11B, Requirements for The Division
(Qty rqr block no. 404).
Additional copies can be requisitioned from the US Army Adjutant General Publications Center,
2800 Eastern Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21220.
Itwï 2
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*FM 71-100
Field Manual
HEADQUARTERS
No. 71-100 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 29 September 1978
ARMORED AND MECHANIZED DIVISION
OPERATIONS
PREFACE
THE DIVISION is the largest United States Army organi-
zation that trains and fights as a team. A division is organized
with varying numbers and types of combat, combat support,
and combat service support units.
A division may be armored, mechanized, infantry, airborne,
or air assault. It is a self-sustaining force capable of indepen-
dent operations, even for long periods of time, when properly
reinforced. A division usually fights as part of a larger force,
most often a corps. Divisions, however, are the backbone of the
Army and the land battle is won or lost by their battalions.
This manual describes how armored and mechanized
infantry divisions are organized and how they fight. Because
the division’s tank and mechanized infantry battalions are
grouped under brigades, how brigades fight is also described in
the detail necessary to understand division operations.
How nuclear and chemical munitions can best be used to
support divisional operations is described where appropriate.
While no treaty or international agreement prohibits use of
nuclear weapons, authority to use them is retained by the
national command authority. With respect to chemical
weapons, it is the policy of the United States not to use lethal or
incapacitating weapons first. Therefore, these weapons can
only be employed when authorized to do so by the national
command authority and by the appropriate field commander.
How infantry, airborne, and air assault divisions fight is
described in FM 71-101, Infantry, Airborne, and Air Assault
Operations. How the corps fights is described in FM 100-15,
Corps Operations.
*This publication, together with FM 71-101 (to be published), supersedes FM 61-100, 15
November 1968.
Pentagon Library (ANR-PL)
ATTN: Military Documents Section
Room 1A518, Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-60IÔ
'Y
FM 71-100
THE DIVISION
—■Table of Contents
PAGE
Preface i
Table of Contents ü
CHAPTER: 1. TheDivision 1-1
2. The Enemy in Modem Battle 2-1
3. Preparation for Combat Operations 3-1
4. Offensive Operations 4-1
5. Defensive Operations 5-1
6. Combat Service Support Operations 6-1
7. Command Control of Combat Operations 7-1
APPENDIX: A. References A-1
B. Example Orders B-1
Index Index-1
U
CHAPTER 1
The Division
The mission of the United States Army is to win the land
battle.
To do this, today’s Army is organized into divisions, regiments were eventually
divisions. Prior to World War I the regiment replaced by three combat commands; each
was the largest permanent tactical and had attached tank and armored infantry
administrative command. During World War battalions. Combat commands were control
I infantry divisions were formed by headquarters only—they controlled tactical
combining these regiments into brigades operations; the logistics and administration
subordinate to the division. Each division chains extended direct from division to
had two infantry brigades; each brigade had battalions. Battalions cross-attached
two regiments and was supported by field companies to form task forces. Cavalry (all
artillery and service units. mechanized) provided reconnaissance and
security and was grouped as the situation
demanded. Combat commands were
In World War II, armored, cavalry, air-
supported by armored field artillery
borne, and motorized divisions were formed
battalions and engineer units—normally
in addition to infantry divisions. Divisions
companies.
were streamlined by eliminating the brigade
headquarters. This meant the division com-
mander directly commanded three infantry The Korean War was fought primarily by
regiments; these were supported by four field infantry divisions organized generally as
artillery battalions, engineer, and service they had been in World War II.
units. Regiments were still responsible for
logistics and administration. In armored
In the late 1950s, the Army prepared for
tactical nuclear war in Europe by
reorganizing into five battle groups in each
CONTENTS infantry division. These battle groups were,
in effect, large battalions, each with five rifle
PAGE companies, a combat support company, and
ORGANIZATION OF ARMORED AND appropriate field artillery and service
MECHANIZED DIVISIONS 1-3 support. They were self-sustaining and could
be employed singly or in combinations.
WINNING THE BATTLE 1-4 Armored division organization remained
COMMAND IN BATTLE: GENERALS, largely unchanged.
COLONELS, AND CAPTAINS 1-4
Generals 1-4 The “pentomic” division—the battle group
organization—was abandoned in the early
Colonels 1-5
1960s. At that time the combat command
Captains 1-6 concept traditional to armored division
organization was adopted for all divisions.
Combat commands were called brigades;
2-2
—FM 71-100
each division had three brigades into which to the Army. Differences between divisions
various numbers of battalions could be were in types of battalions assigned and in
grouped. All divisions were organized the composition of the division base. The war
similarly except that some were heavy in Vietnam was fought primarily with air
(armored and mechanized) and some were assault and infantry divisions.
light (infantry and airborne), depending on
Since the Vietnam War, armored and
the types of battalions assigned.
mechanized divisions have been provided
A new division (the airmobile division), additional antitank weapons—antitank
now called an air assault division, was added guided missiles (ATGMs).
EVOLUTION OF THE INFANTRY-ARMOR-MECH DIVISION
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DIV TROOPS
1-2
FM 71-100-
Today US armored and mechanized Long-range trends for US Army
divisions stationed in Europe have ten times armored and mechanized divisions, and
the capability in terms of firepower and similar divisions in armies of major foreign
mobility of infantry divisions deployed to powers, are generally towards better surviv-
Europe in the early 1950s, and about five ability, more lethal firepower, and improved
times the firepower of armored divisions of mobility in some combination. For a
that same era. New equipment, which will be discussion of trends in combat capa-
introduced over the next five to seven years, bility, see Chapter 2 of FM 100-5,
will again dramatically increase divisional Operations.
capabilities.
ORGANIZATION OF ARMORED AND MECHANIZED DIVISIONS
In terms of their organization, US Army armored and mechanized divisions are essentially alike.
Each has. or some will have:
• A divisional headquarters and head- 0 An engineer battalion for combat
quarters company, and brigade head- engineer support;
quarters companies to provide command
control (The number of brigade head- • A signal battalion to provide com-
quarters companies may vary from time to munication between divisional command
time depending on operational require- control installations;
ments, but is normally between two and
• A combat electronic warfare and
five.);
intelligence battalion to assist in collecting,
processing, and disseminating intelligence,
0 Tank and mechanized battalions to
and to support electronic warfare operations;
destroy the enemy and to seize and hold
terrain; • A nuclear, biological, and chemical
defense company to provide for decon-
• An armored cavalry squadron for recon- tamination and to recohnoiter areas believed
naissance, security, and economy of force to be contaminated;
operations;
0 A military police company to provide
• A division artillery consisting of medium traffic control, security of enemy prisoners of
and heavy field artillery battalions to provide war, and area security in the division rear;
fire support, and a headquarters and head-
• An aviation company to provide com-
quarters battery for command control;
mand control and utility helicopters; and
0 An air defense artillery battalion to help 0 A division support command with several
protect the division from air attack; combat service support units.
In Europe, two attack helicopter companies company which provides command control
are also found in each division. In the near helicopters.
future, a divisional aviation battalion will be
added to US armored and mechanized
divisions. It will be organized with two attack Field and air defense artillery, attack
helicopter companies, a combat support helicopter, and engineer units may be
aviation company which provides limited air- attached to or placed in support of the
lift to the division, and a combat support division by corps.
1-3
-FM 71-100
)
The difference between armored and artillery command control and service
mechanized divisions is in the mix of tank support..
and mechanized battalions in each. An
Heavy divisions can defend on wide
armored division has more tank than
frontages using mobility to rapidly concen-
mechanized battalions; while in a mecha-
trate against an enemy main attack, while
nized division, the opposite is the case. The
economizing forces1 in less heavily attacked
differences are slight however—both divi-
areas.
sions have large amounts of mobile, armor-
protected firepower. For this reason they are
The heavy division operates best in fairly
called heavy divisions.
open terrain where it can move quickly and
Because of their mobile, survivable use its long-range direct fire weapons to best
firepower, heavy divisions are normally advantage. The heavy division is not
employed where battles are fought over wide designed for operations in jungles, dense
areas against an enemy with similar forests, or mountains. Infantry is most often
capabilities. used there.
During offensive operations, heavy Large cities, towns, and built-up areas
divisions seek to rapidly concentrate over- restrict operations of the heavy division;
whelming combat power against the enemy, although in Europe, for example, it will be
break through enemy defenses, then strike necessary for these divisions to operate in
deep to destroy enemy field and air defense built-up areas from time to time.
WINNING THE BATTLE
In order for the division to win in battle, several things must be done; the most important things are:
■ See the battlefield. To attack, it is necessary to seeking to break through his defenses quickly
know how the enemy intends to defendaná the and strike rapidly into his rear.
strength, disposition, and location of enemy
units. To defend, it is necessary to know where ■ Direct the battle. The battle must be controlled
the enemy's main effort is being made and in and directed so that maximum effect of the
what strength. division's combat power can be brought to bear
on the enemy at the right time and place.
■ Concentrate forces. Sufficient forces must be ■ Maximize weapon capability. The battle must 1
concentrated at the right place and time. In the be fought using cover, concealment,
defense, forces are concentrated against the suppression, and combined arms teamwork to
enemy's main effort to destroy his attacking maximize the effectiveness of the division's :
force or force him to withdraw. In the attack, weapons, while at the same time minimizing
forces are concentrated against an enemy, their vulnerability to enemy weapons.
COMMAND IN BATTLE: GENERALS, COLONELS,
AND CAPTAINS
GENERALS collection requirements to provide him
information as to where the right place is and
It is the division commander who must what might be the essential timing. He sets
set in motion tank and mechanized priorities for fire support, air defense,
battalions toward the right place on the engineer support, and electronic warfare
battlefield. He establishes intelligence- operations. He sets priorities for combat
1-4
FM 71-100-
service support (ammunition, fuel, and
maintenance) which must also be concen-
trated to support the battle. He organizes the
division for battle.
To assist him, the division commander has
two assistant division commanders.
While they may be employed as the division
commander directs, it is normal to find one
assistant assigned to operational matters to
include training, and the other assigned to
oversee support operations. The commander
also has a division staff consisting of a
personnel officer (Gl), intelligence officer
(G2), operations officer (G3), and a logistics
officer (G4). These four staff members and
THE DIVISION STAFF AND
those who work for them are the division SPECIAL STAFF PROVIDE THE
general staff. Frequently a civic action or a DIVISION COMMANDER
civil affairs officer (G5) will be present. The INFORMATION, ANALYSES, AND
division commander also has a special staff— APPRAISALS FOR
its technical specialties include supply, DECISIONMAKING
maintenance, communications, electronics,
transportation, engineer, and aviation. It
most often operates under the supervision of
the general staff. In some cases unit com-
manders in the division also function as
special staff officers—engineer and signal
battalion commanders are examples. The
purpose of the staff is to assistthecommander
by providing him information, analyses, and
estimates which can help in making
decisions; then to prepare and disseminate
the plans and orders necessary to transmit
decisions to subordinate commands. When
the situation permits, the commander trans-
mits his decisions to his subordinate com-
manders face-to-face. The staff then assists
subordinate commands on the execution of
their orders.
COLONELS
Colonels—commanding brigades and
lieutenant colonels commanding
battalions—conduct and direct the battle.
They put the combined arms team together.
Once the division commander has set in
motion the necessary concentration of
weapons and supporting fires, brigade and
battalion commanders must organize their
forces and conduct the battle.
1-5
-FM 71-100
The brigade commander organizes tank and mechanized companies into cross-
battalions and mechanized battalions into reinforced company teams, when it is
cross-reinforced tank and mechanized necessary to do so. Like divisional and
battalion task forces. The brigade brigade commanders, the battalion
commander sets priorities for field artillery commander has a staffto assist him.
fires available to the brigade and for work by
engineer units supporting the brigade. The CAPTAINS
brigade commander then maneuvers his
forces to bring fires to bear on the enemy, Captains fight the battle. Small unit
when and where they are needed. He also has leaders must fully understand the capabilities
a staff to assist him. and limitations of their weapon systems,
train their soldiers to use them properly, and
make full use of cover, concealment, suppres-
The battalion task force commander sion, and teamwork. Ultimately the dif-
organizes and maneuvers forces and fires to ference between victory and defeat depends
destroy the enemy on his part of the battle- on the proficiency of crews or individuals who
field. It is the battalion commander who fire the weapons of the division, and the skill
integrates fire and maneuver. By cross- of the captains, lieutenants, and sergeants
attaching platoons, he organizes his tank who lead them.
It is to be expected in the opening stages of the next war that US Army
forces deployed in the area or first committed to the fight will be
outnumbered. History tells us that a small force can defeat a larger force, but
there is a fine line between victory and defeat. A well-trained, highly
motivated, disciplined division, led by confident professionals who
skillfully execute the tactics and techniques described on the pages to follow
can destroy or defeat the enemy, even though it is outnumbered.
The chapters following describe how armored and mechanized divisions
organize for combat, how they attack and defend, and how they provide for
combat service support and how combat operations are controlled.
1-6