*FM 17-95

HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 24 December 1996

Field Manual
No.17-95

CAVALRY OPERATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Section I. The Role of Cavalry
Section II. The Threat
Section III. The Battlefield
Section IV. Missions
Section V. Organizations
Section VI. Battlefield Operating Systems

CHAPTER 2 BATTLE COMMAND
Section I. Command and Control System
Section II. Command and Staff Relationships
Section III. Command and Staff Responsibilities
Section IV. Command and Control Process
Section V. Command and Control Facilities
Section VI. Command and Control Communications
Section VII. Integrated Air and Ground Operations
Section VIII. Continuous Operations
Section IX. Command and Control Techniques
Section X. Automated Information Systems in Support of Battle Command

CHAPTER 3 RECONNAISSANCE OPERATIONS
Section I. Purpose and Fundamentals
Section II. Route Reconnaissance
Section III. Zone Reconnaissance
Section IV. Area Reconnaissance
Section V. Reconnaissance in Force

CHAPTER 4 SECURITY OPERATIONS
Section I. Purpose and Fundamentals
Section II. Screen
Section III. Guard
Section IV. Cover
Section V. Area Security

CHAPTER 5 OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Section I. Purpose and Characteristics
Section II. Planning Offensive Operations
Section III. Forms of the Offense
Section IV. Other Offensive Operations

CHAPTER 6 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Section I. Fundamentals of the Defense
Section II. Planning Defensive Operations
Section III. Defend in Sector
Section IV. Defend a Battle Position

CHAPTER 7 STABILITY AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
Section I. Principles of Stability and Support Operations
Section II. Stability and Support Operations Activities
Section III. Peacekeeping
Section IV. Peace Enforcing
Section V. Training and Preparation
Section VI. Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
Section VII. Missions
Section VIII. Planning Considerations
Section IX. Rules of Engagement

CHAPTER 8 OTHER OPERATIONS
Section I. Retrograde Operations
Section II. Rear Operations
Section III. Deception Operations
Section IV. Movement
Section V. Assembly Areas
Section VI. Battle Handover and Passage of Lines
Section VII. Relief in Place
Section VIII. Linkup
Section IX. Breakout From Encirclement
Section X. Obstacle Breaching Operations
Section XI. Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense
Section XII. Independent Troop Operations
Section XIII. Contingency Operations

CHAPTER 9 COMBINED ARMS INTEGRATION
Section I. Relationships and Responsibilities
Section II. Fire Support System
Section III. Fire Support Planning and Coordination
Section IV. Indirect Fire Support
Section V. Army Airspace Command and Control
Section VI. Air Support
Section VII. Air Defense Support
Section VIII. Engineer Support
Section IX. Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Support
Section X. Smoke Operations
Section XI. Intelligence and Electronic Warfare
Section XII. Military Police Support

CHAPTER 10 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT

PART I. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT SYSTEM
Section I. Fundamentals
Section II. Planning
Section III. Organization
Section IV. Squadron and Troop Operations

PART II. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT FOR THE ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Section I. Corps Support
Section II. Organization
Section III. Supply
Section IV. Transportation
Section V. Maintenance
Section VI. Field Services
Section VII. Personnel Support
Section VIII. Combat Health Support
Section IX. Reconstitution

PART III. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT FOR DIVISION CAVALRY
Section I. Division Support
Section II. Organization
Section III. Supply and Transportation
Section IV. Maintenance
Section V. Field Services
Section VI. Personnel Support
Section VII. Combat Health Support
Section VIII. Reconstitution

APPENDIX A REHEARSALS

APPENDIX B DIGITAL CAVALRY OPERATIONS

APPENDIX C DOCTRINE AND TRAINING LITERATURE

APPENDIX D STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES

GLOSSARY

REFERENCES

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
*This publication supersedes FM 17-95, 19 September 1991, and FM 17-95-10,
22 September 1993.

PREFACE

FM 17-95 is the Army's doctrinal manual for cavalry operations. It is primarily designed to assist cavalry commanders, their staffs, and subordinate troop and company commanders in the conduct of combat operations. It also serves as a guide for corps, division, and brigade commanders, and their staffs. This manual discusses the organization, capabilities, and employment of cavalry units.

This manual applies to the armored cavalry regiment (ACR) and all division cavalry squadrons (armored, light, air). While the focus is on regiment and squadron, principles and fundamentals presented apply to all subordinate troops and companies and separate cavalry troops.

FM 17-95 sets forth doctrinal principles that guide the conduct of cavalry operations. It addresses specific tactics, techniques, or procedures as necessary to clarify or emphasize these doctrinal principles. Field manuals and mission training plans that support this manual contain more specifics on tactics, techniques, and procedures. Users must apply this doctrine within the capabilities and limitations of their units and develop standing operating procedures that address specific techniques and procedures.

This manual is fully compatible with Army doctrine as contained in FM 100-5 and is consistent with conventional (non-digitized) doctrine in FM 100-15 and FM 71-100. It assumes that the user has a fundamental understanding of FM 71-100, FM 100-5, FM 100-15, FM 101-5, and FM 101-5-1, and it does not repeat the concepts contained therein except as necessary to explain cavalry operations. It serves as a reference for personnel involved in the development of subordinate unit doctrine, combat development, materiel development, and the conduct of training.

This manual complies with the contents of NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG)/Quadripartite Standardization Agreement (QSTAG) 2025.

The proponent of this publication is HQ TRADOC. Send comments and recommendations on DA Form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to Commander, US Army Armor Center, ATTN: ATZK-TDD-C, Fort Knox, Kentucky 40121-5000.

Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns and pronouns do not refer exclusively to men.