Infantry, Airborne and Air Assault Division Operations

184 Pages·2014·2.94 MB·English

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*FM 71-101
Field l\tanual HEADQUARTERS
No. 71- 01 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 26 March 1980
IINTRANTRY, AIRBORNE, AND AIR ASSAULT
DIVISION OPERATIONS
•PREFACE
The division is the largest U.S. Army organization that
trains and fights as a team. A division is organized with
varying numberk and types of combat, combat support, and
combat service support units.
Five types of divisions exist in the force structure:
armored, mechanized, infantry, airborne, and air
assault. The division ik a self-sustaining force capable of
independent operations, even for long periods of time. A
division usually fights as part of a larger force, most often a
corps. Divisions, however, are\he backbone of the Army, and
the land battle is won or lost by their battalions.
This manual is organized in two parts. Part One
describes how the infantry division is organized and
employed. It also discusses those aspects of division combat
which are generally common to infantry, airborne, and air
assault division operations. Part Two. is devoted to the
organization and employment of the airbmsne and air assault
divisions and the aspects of combat operations which apply
specifically to these divisions. Because theNmaneuver bat-
talions of the infantry, airborne, and air assault divisions
normally fight as part of a brigade, the way brigades fight is
described in sufficient detail to understand, division
operations. A detailed description of how infantry\brigades
fight is contained in FM 7—30, Infantry, Airborne, and
Air Assault Brigade Operations.
FM 71—100, Armored and Mechanized Division
Operations, describes how armored and mechanised
divisions fight.
*This puljMcation, together with FM 71-100, 29 September 1978, supersedes FM
61-100( 15 November 1968.
The Army Library (ANRAL)
ATTN : Military Documents
Room 1A518, Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310
FM 71-101
Provisions of this publication are the subject of inter-
national standardization agreements (see Appendix B for
listing). When amendment, revision, or cancellation of this
publication is proposed which will affect or violate the
international agreement concerned, the preparing activity
will take appropriate reconciliation action through inter-
national standardization channels.
Throughout this manual the word “he” is intended to
include both the masculine and feminine genders.
Users of this manual are encouraged to submit comments
and recommended changes on DA Form 2028 to: Com-
mander, U.S. Army Combined Arma Center, Attn: ATZLCA-
DL, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027.
*
I. FM 71-101
INFANTRY, AIRBORNE, AND AIR ASSAULT
DIVISION OPERATIONS
Table of Contents
PART I
ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYMENT
OF THE INFANTRY DIVISION
CHAPTER: i. The Division 1—1
2. Threat 2—1
3. Preparation for Combat 3—1
4. Offensive Operations 4—1
5. Defensive Operations 5—1
6. Combat Service Support 6—1
PART II
ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYMENT
OF THE AIRBORNE AND AIR ASSAULT DIVISION
CHAPTER: 7. Airborne Division Operations 7—1
8. Air Assault Division Operations 8—1
APPENDIX: A. References A—1
B. Implemented and Relevant International
Standardization Agreements B—1
Index Index—1
y
in
»
(Part
ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYMENT
OF THE INFANTRY DIVISION I HtlO
CHAPTER 1
The Division
The mission of the United States Army is to win
the land battle. To do this, the Army is organized into
divisions. These divisions fight the land battle.
GENERAL
Before World War I, the regiment was During World War II, armored,
the Army’s largest tactical and ad- cavalry, airborne, and motorized divisions
ministrative command. were formed in addition to infantry
divisions. Divisions were streamlined by
During World War I, infantry eliminating the brigade headquarters. This
divisions were formed by combining meant that the division commander directly
regiments into two brigades subordinate to commanded three infantry regiments. These
the division. Each brigade had two were supported by four field artillery bat-
regiments and was supported by field ar- talions, engineer battalions, and service
tillery and service units. units. Regiments were still responsible for
their logistical and administrative support.
In armored divisions, regiments were later
replaced by three combat commands which
were similar to brigades. Each combat
CONTENTS command had assigned tank and armored
infantry battalions. Combat commands
General 1—1
were control headquarters only—they con-
Organization of
trolled tactical operations. The logistics and
the Infantry Division 1—2
administration chains extended directly
Concept of Employment 1—3 from division to battalion.
Strengths 1 —4
Vulnerabilities 1—5
The Korean War was fought by in-
fantry divisions organized generally as they
had been in World War II.
1-1
FM 71-101
In the late 1950’s, the Army prepared division base. The war in Vietnam was
for tactical nuclear war by reorganizing its fought primarily with air assault, infantry,
divisions into five battle groups in each and airborne divisions and separate
infantry division. These battle groups were, brigades.
in effect, large battalions, each with five
rifle companies, a combat support company,
Since the Vietnam War, infantry,
and appropriate field artillery and service
airborne, and air assault divisions have
support. Battle groups were self-sustaining
been provided additional antitank
and could be employed singly or in com-
weapons—antitank guided missiles
binations.
(ATGMs).
In the early 1960’s, the “pentomic”
division, a battle group organization, was Today US infantry, airborne, and air
abandoned. At this time, the combat assault divisions have five times the
command concept traditional to armored capability, in terms of firepower and
division organization was adopted for all mobility, of infantry divisions of the early
divisions. Combat commands were called 1950’s. New equipment to be introduced over
brigades. Each division had three brigades the next five to seven years will again
into which various numbers of battalions dramatically increase divisional
could be grouped. All divisions were capabilities.
similarly organized except that some were
light (infantry and airborne) and some were Long-range trends for US Army in-
heavy (armored and mechanized), fantry, airborne, and air assault divisions
depending on the types of battalions and for similar divisions in armies of major
assigned. A new division, the airmobile foreign powers are generally toward better
division, now called an air assault division, survivability and more lethal firepower,
was organized. Differences between especially antiarmor firepower. For a dis-
divisions were in types of battalions cussion of trends in combat capability, see
assigned and in the composition of the chapter 2 of FM 100—5, Operations.
ORGANIZATION OF THE INFANTRY DIVISION
Infantry divisions are organized with brigades; however, additional brigades (up
varying numbers and types of maneuver to 5) may be assigned based on operational
battalions; however, the basic organizations requirements.
are alike and each has:
• Infantry, mechanized, and tank bat-
• A division headquarters and head- talions to destroy the enemy and to seize
quarters company and three brigade head- and hold terrain.
quarters and headquarters companies
which provide command control for units • An air cavalry squadron for recon-
assigned or attached to the division. The naissance, security, and economy of force
division normally controls its three organic operations.
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FM 71-101
• A division artillery consisting of three • A military police company to provide
light artillery battalions and a mixed traffic control, security of enemy prisoners
medium/heavy artillery battalion to provide of war, and assistance in area security in
indirect fire support, a target-acquisition the division rear.
battery to assist in target acquisition, and a
headquarters and headquarters battery for • A combat aviation battalion to
command control. provide command and control aircraft to the
division, attack helicopter support, and air
• An air defense artillery battalion to transport with a single lift capability of two
help protect the division from air attack. rifle companies.
• An engineer battalion for combat
• A division support command to
engineer support.
provide combat service support to all
assigned units of the division.
• A signal battabon to provide com-
munications between divisional command
Since the number and types of
control installations such as division CPs
maneuver battalions organic to infantry
(tactical, main, and rear), brigades, division
divisions vary, the discussions in this
artillery, and support command.
manual address the employment of a
division comprised of eight infantry bat-
• A combat electronic warfare in-
telligence battalion which collects, talions, one mechanized battalion, and one
tank battalion.
processes, and disseminates intelligence.
• A nuclear, biological, and chemical To increase its combat power, field and
defense company to provide for decon- air defense artillery, attack helicopter, and
tamination and to reconnoiter areas engineer units may be attached to or placed
believed to be contaminated. in support of the division.
CONCEPT OF EMPLOYMENT
The infantry division is a combined dismounted operations, such as large urban
arms force of maneuver, combat support, areas, mountains, and jungles. Unique
and combat service support units. As the characteristics of the infantry division are:
division meets and destroys enemy forces, it
operates in accordance with the principles • The infantry division is soldier-
and concepts set forth in FM 100—5, centered as opposed to equipment-centered.
Operations.
• When engaged in combat, the in-
The infantry division does not have the fantry division is predominantly footmobile.
mechanized assets to close with the enemy’s
heavy forces in terrain suitable for The organization and equipment of the
mechanized operations; rather, it is more infantry division create a combat unit with
effectively employed in terrain favoring specific strengths and vulnerabilities.
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FM 71-101
Strengths
• The infantry division operates in vir-
tually ^ all terrain and weather conditions
and enemy situations. The division’s
combat power is only slightly degraded by
extremes of weather or terrain, thus causing
it to be a formidable opponent where ar-
mored and mechanized divisions cannot
exercise their full battlefield mobility and
firepower. Forests, mountains, swamps, and
urban areas are examples of terrain that
THE INFANTRYMAN,
favors employment of the infantry division.
AND THE DIVISION
Footmobile infantry forces carry the fight to
BUILT AROUND THE INFANTRYMAN,
the enemy over mountainous or broken
CAN FIGHT EFFECTIVELY
terrain and through densely forested and
IN ANY CLIMATE
built-up areas.
THAT MAN CAN ENDURE.
• The infantry division requires less
logistical support than equivalent
mechanized/armored units. The infantry
division’s characteristically light equipment
and less complex weapon systems require
correspondingly less maintenance support
and less favorable conditions in which to
operate.
• Infantry enters a battle using varied
modes of strategic or tactical transport. The
limited amount of organic heavy equipment
allows the infantry division to be more
easily transported by land, air (airland,
airmobile, and airborne operations), and
naval vessel (amphibious operations).
Available transport can be devoted to
moving combat troops without necessitating
the movement of large amounts of heavy
equipment and maintenance installations.
Once employed, the infantry division is
relatively easy to resupply and sustain, and
it can be readily repositioned for subsequent
employment in critical areas.
• Divisional artillery is light, easily set
up and employed, less complex, and
matches the mobility and fighting
characteristics of the supported infantry.
Although some limitations in tracked
mobility, throw weight, and sophisticated
weaponry are apparent when compared
with mechanized or armored divisions, the
infantry division realizes a commensurate
gain in agility and responsiveness.
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FM 71-101
" Vulnerabilities
• Eight of ten maneuver battalions of • While moving, infantry combat troops
the infantry division are footmobile. The are especially vulnerable to enemy fires. The
vehicles of the supply and transport (S&T) tank battalion and the mechanized bat-
battalion are used to move supplies; when talion are the only units with vehicles which
used for troop movement, they are not provide protection from the effects of NBC,
available for supply transport. artillery, and direct fire.
Airmobility assets are similarly limited. The
Vulnerability can be greatly reduced by
combat support aviation companies of the
skillful use of terrain and by construction of
combat aviation battalion can provide
field fortifications. Although infantry must
airlift for only two rifle companies in a
be prepared to fight on foot from expedient
single lift. The attack helicopter company
shelters found on the battlefield, deliberate
and the air cavalry squadron provide
defensive positions should be constructed
transport exclusively for organic elements.
whenever possible to provide adequate
protection against enemy fires. The proper
application of countersurveillance
The footmobility of the division increases
measures, to include camouflage, reduces
reaction time, thereby limiting battlefield
the vulnerability of infantry units by
maneuverability. Enemy mechanized forces
deceiving, defeating, or degrading the
may be able to apply decisive combat power
enemy’s target-acquisition systems.
before the infantry division can concentrate
to alter unfavorable combat ratios. When
required to operate alongside the more
In certain offensive or defensive operations,
mobile armored or mechanized divisions,
infantry may be forced to abandon its
care must be taken to insure that the more
protection to move in the presence of the
mobile divisions do not unnecessarily
expose the infantry division’s flank. This is enemy. The maneuver of unprotected foot-
especially critical during the conduct of the mobile forces may subject the force to the
defense. effects of heavy fires or NBC agents.
Since the infantry division’s battlefield
maneuverability is limited, timely and ac- • The infantry division has less organic
curate intelligence of the enemy’s firepower—both direct and indirect—than
capabilities and intentions becomes critical armored and mechanized divisions. It has
to the division’s disposition for combat. The three light artillery direct support battalions
mobility differential between footmobile and one medium/heavy artillery battalion.
infantry and opposing motorized or The armored and mechanized divisions
mechanized forces requires the infantry have three medium artillery direct support
commander to exercise extreme caution in battalions and a heavy battalion. By com-
his efforts to concentrate forces on the parison, the infantry division artillery has
battlefield. He must deploy his division on less throw weight in a single volley, range,
terrain that will lessen the mobility and bursting radius than the heavy
differential. Most infantry concentrations of divisions. The numbers of direct fire weapon
maneuver combat power will occur prior to systems of the armored and mechanized
the start of the battle, although foot moves divisions exceed those of the infantry
in rugged terrain are possible during con- divisions. The armored and mechanized
ditions of reduced visibility after the battle divisions have six and four times, respec-
begins. tively, the number of tank systems.
1-5
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