EMPLOYMENT OF THE SEPARATE ANTIARMOR BATTALION
This chapter discusses how the separate antiarmor battalion should be employed on the battlefield. The employment techniques in this chapter concern the effective use of the antiarmor battalion units within the framework of combined arms missions and capabilities.
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a. The separate antiarmor battalion provides heavy,
reinforcing antitank fires to maneuver units. It is a
corps asset whose subunits are usually attached to
divisions or brigades, depending on where they are
needed most. A corps commander will usually attach the
entire battalion to a division. The division commander
may then further attach the antiarmor companies to his
maneuver brigades or battalions. The antiarmor companies
are then employed by the units to which they are
attached.
b. The separate antiarmor battalion gives the supported maneuver commander maximum flexibility. It is equipped with M151 's and M966's and can therefore move rapidly by road or cross-country to critical points on the battlefield.
5-2 . COMMAND AND STAFF RELATIONSHIPS
The separate antiarmor battalion differs significantly from other battalions in that it is not designed or equipped to conduct extended combat operations as a battalion. The command relationship between the companies of the antiarmor battalion and the maneuver units they support is usually that of attachment. This is because of the antiarmor battalion's limited CSS capability. This attachment makes the functions of the antiarmor battalion commander and his staff much different than those of his supported maneuver unit counterpart.
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a. Battalion Commander. Normally, the antiarmor battalion
commander's subordinate units are attached to maneuver
units. They respond to the maneuver unit's orders,
plans, and support; therefore, the antiarmor battalion
commander will rarely exercise command and control in a
tactical situation. He advises the maneuver unit on the
employment of his antiarmor companies. He must ensure
that his soldiers are trained to their full potential,
and he must understand the weapon system to ensure that
it is properly employed. He further ensures this by
supervising the coordination efforts of his staff so
that services provided by the supported unit are
sufficient to accomplish the mission.
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(1) When the battalion is ordered to move to a new area
of combat, the battalion commander must coordinate
the detachment of his companies from the former
supported units, move to the new area by road
march, and coordinate with the new supported unit
commander.
(2) The battalion commander works with the supported unit commander to assist in integrating the antiarmor companies into the scheme of maneuver and fires.
(3) He must ensure the rapid, smooth transition of his companies from one unit of attachment to another. To do so, he ensures his companies know where to go, who to report to, and have a general idea of the new mission.
b. Battalion Staff.
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(1) The antiarmor battalion staff assists the commander
in his advisory, support, and coordination efforts.
The primary function of the staff officers is
supervising training, control, and administrative
deployment of the subordinate units. Due to the
limited CSS assets, and the resulting dependence on
the maneuver units for support, staff officers act
as coordinators and liaison officers. The major
limitation of the staff is its inability to conduct
sustained 24-hour combat operation because of the
limited number of personnel within various staff sections.
(2) The staff continuously plans for the detachment, consolidation, and attachment of the battalion or any of the companies. The battalion staff normally exercises its coordination and liaison function by satelliting with the appropriate general staff member. This does not mean that the antiarmor battalion staff officer is an augmentation to the general staff to be added to the duty roster. He has a specific function and must be assisted by the general staff in accomplishing his mission.
(3) The staff consists of the following officers:
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(a) Intelligence/operations officer. The S2/S3 is
the senior staff member. He helps the
commander ensure coordinated and complete
staff actions. He may assist the battalion
commander in advising and assisting the
supported commander in the employment of the
companies. In the absence of the commander,
he assumes control of the battalion. He also
makes the initial coordination efforts for the
movement of the battalion.
(b) Adjutant. The S1 ensures that the administrative support for the battalion is coordinated with the maneuver unit. The battalion depends on the supported maneuver unit for personnel, administrative, finance, chaplain, and medical support.
(c) Supply officer. The S4 for the battalion coordinates maintenance, ammunition resupply, food service, and other supply requirements for the antiarmor battalion.
The antiarmor battalion has a maintenance detachment that normally augments the division support command (DISCOM) of the division to which the battalion is attached. The battalion does not have the capability for recovery or evacuation. It is restricted to operator maintenance on vehicles. The companies of the battalion depend on DISCOM or corps support command (COSCOM) (as augmented by the battalion maintenance team) for all wire-guided missile maintenance.
The antiarmor battalion does not have a support platoon. Each company has two 5-ton trucks and one 5-ton petroleum, oil, lubricants (POL) truck. Therefore, ammunition and POL resupply require precise coordination with the supported unit. Resupply of ammunition and POL is a critical function that must be ensured by the supported maneuver unit.
5-5. CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS
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a. The antiarmor battalion provides heavy antitank fires on
the battlefield. It is unique in organization and
concept, and can quickly deploy to many theaters to
provide maneuver units with direct antitank fires.
b. As with other TOW organizations, antiarmor battalion weapons systems provide high-target hit probability at long ranges. With the antiarmor battalions, however, maximum range is limited to 3,000 meters because they do not have TOW 2 systems or thermal sights at this time. The antiarmor battalion also has all the limitations inherent to the TOW system as follows:
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(1) Long time of flight.
(2) Large firing signature.
(3) Slow rate of fire.
(4) Requires line of sight to target.
c. In addition, the antiarmor battalions lack armor protection because they are mounted on light wheeled vehicles. They are vulnerable to both direct and indirect fires. This requires special consideration. Commanders must employ them initially from positions where indirect fires are not likely to be planned, and then move them as required to avoid engagement by indirect fires.
There are employment guidelines to follow when task-organizing with the separate antiarmor battalion. The corps commander directs the attachment of the battalion to reinforce the division (or divisions) on the corps' main armor avenue of approach. Ideally, the battalion is attached as a whole to a division. The battalion can then be suballocated by attaching the companies to brigades or down to battalion task force level. The antiarmor companies are best employed as a whole. They offer massive, coordinated antiarmor firepower under one commander. The separate antiarmor company is organized as follows:
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a. The company headquarters has headquarters, maintenance,
communications, supply, and reconnaissance and security
sections. The company headquarters section commands and
controls the tactical deployment of the three organic
platoons. It has an XO, first sergeant, communications
chief, and radiotelephone operator to assist the company
commander in performing his mission.
b. The reconnaissance and security section has three squads. Each section is equipped with two M966's, pedestal-mounted M60 machine guns, and radios. The reconnaissance and security section reconnoiters routes and primary, alternate, and supplementary TOW firing positions. It also maintains liaison with supported and adjacent unit commanders.
c. The supply section has a supply sergeant, armorer, and two ammunition specialists. This section uses two 5-ton trucks with 1«-ton trailers for ammunition resupply and one 5-ton for POL resupply. Because the antiarmor company may be employed over a large area, the commander, assisted by the S4, must coordinate for additional resupply requirements.
d. The maintenance section provides wheeled-vehicle mechanics and one communications-electronics equipment mechanic for organizational maintenance support. The antiarmor company, however, is entirely dependent on DISCOM or COSCOM (as augmented by the separate antiarmor battalion maintenance team) for all wire-guided missile maintenance support.
5-7. COORDINATION WITH SUPPORTED UNITS
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a. The separate antiarmor battalion is only employed in
attachment. This means that the unit to which antiarmor
battalion units are attached is responsible for command
and control, administration, and logistics support. The
antiarmor battalion depends on the unit to which it is
attached for all ammunition, POL, repair parts, rations,
medical treatment, replacement personnel, and pay.
- In defensive operations.
- In offensive operations.
- In retrograde operations.
- Ammunition
- POL.
- Food and rations.
b. All antiarmor battalion unit leaders must coordinate continuously with the leaders of the supported unit to ensure proper employment and resupply. Specifically, the antiarmor unit leader must discuss--
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(1) His unit's capabilities and limitations.
(2) Recommendations for integrating his TOW assets into the overall antiarmor system.
(3) Resupply.
(4) Maintenance and administration.
c. As tactical operations progress and antiarmor battalion units are moved about the battlefield from one maneuver unit to another, the battalion staff, company commanders, XOs, and platoon leaders must keep track of their subunits at all times.
The companies and platoons of the separate antiarmor battalions are employed as described in Chapters 3 and 4 of this manual.
The antiarmor battalion (separate) is not designed or equipped to conduct extended combat operations by itself. The battalion companies will be detached from the battalion and attached to other units (division, brigade, battalion) for combat operations. When attached to maneuver units, the companies depend almost entirely on the supported unit for combat service support.
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a. Maintenance. The companies of the separate antiarmor
battalions can perform organizational maintenance on
wheeled vehicles and communications-electronics
equipment. Vehicle maintenance is limited to using the
light mechanics tool kit. Maintenance requirements
beyond the capability of company personnel becomes the
responsibility of the maneuver unit.
b. Evacuation of Disabled Vehicles or Equipment. Disabled vehicles or equipment that cannot be repaired by the operator or company maintenance personnel will be evacuated by the supported unit to its unit maintenance collection point (UMCP). If the item cannot be repaired at battalion level, the supported unit evacuates it to the next level of maintenance support.
c. Weapons. Organizational maintenance of weapons is accomplished by operators and crew or by armorers from the supported battalion. If this is not possible, the supported battalion evacuates the weapon to the next level of maintenance support. Wire-guided missile maintenance support is provided by maintenance augmentation teams from the separate antiarmor battalion, which are attached to the appropriate DISCOM or COSCOM.
d. Rations. Rations and water are supplied by the supported unit. The antiarmor companies have no capability to prepare their own rations.
e. POL. Each antiarmor company has one 5-ton POL truck. However, the company must get its resupply from the supported unit's POL sources.
f. Ammunition. Each company has two 5-ton trucks specifically for ammunition resupply. The company must operate within the supported unit's ammunition resupply system. This means that the company obtains its missiles and other ammunition from the same source as the supported unit.
g. Repair Parts. Repair parts are obtained through the supported unit.
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