TANK POSITIONING
Correct positioing allows tanks and TOWs to both survive and kill. Surviving is key and is a function of two factors: (1) avoiding detection by the enemy; and (2) if detected, moving securely to a different firing position. "What can be seen can be hit, . . ." is not just a trite phrase.
A few suggested positioning principles and techniques are outlined in the following paragraphs. They all apply to tanks. Some are also applicable for ITVs.
- Use a full hide position if at all possible and stay in it until the enemy is in the area where you plan to kill him. A prone or dug-in observer forward gives a much smaller signature than a tank, even one that is in a good firing position.
- Have a backdrop and avoid anything that catches the eye. Hill tops are death traps. Likewise, if you position a tank in the vicinity of a large boulder or other prominent terrain feature, it will almost certainly be detected.
- Position to the flank of an enemy approach and behind frontal cover. It is far easier for an attacker to acquire and kill targets to his front than those to his flank or rear. Despite the fact that MILES does not accurately reflect the vulnerability variance in frontal and flank armor, most kills at the NTC are from the flank.
- Have covered routes into and out of firing positions. Experienced crews often put as much priority on covered routes as on the quality of firing positions. Weapons must move carefully. Hot rodding produces diesel and dust signatures.
- One of the most successful techniques is the "Window" or "Keyhole" position. Simply stated, the basis for this technique is to limit exposure by deliberately restricting a tank's sector of fire. The tank is exposed only to the targets at which it is firing. It then shifts to other firing positions as targets are destroyed.
- Valley floor/open field positions are often very successful. Tank platoons have taken out battalions using this technique. The position must be well constructed with at least one hull down firing location for each tank and a covered route to full defilade. Very little of the tank is exposed in the firing location and there is normally a wide sector of fire. Such positions allow grazing fire analogous to effective machine gun emplacement. They often achieve surprise and it is difficult for one enemy element to point the position out to another or to accurately adjust indirect fires. The technique is often used with obstacles in such a way that neither the obstacles nor the tanks can be seen until the enemy crests a hill. The biggest disadvantage is the absence of a covered route of withdrawal. However, it is frequently possible to achieve security by killing all of the enemy within range before moving.
- The guideline of 75 meters or more between primary and alternate tank positions is clearly correct. Dispersion is also needed between wingmen. The greater the separation, the less likely that both will be suppressed and that the detection of one will give the other away. Depth is also critical. Linear deployment almost always loses.
- Do not construct berms. More than 20 feet of dirt is needed to be effective against a modern APFSDS round -- clearly impractical. They also make it easier for the attacker to spot the position.
Like almost everything else on the battlefield, the number of rounds a specific tank should fire from a given fighting position is a function of METT-T. As a general rule, movement to cover before or immediately following detection is the best course of action. Enemy turrets traversing in your direction or a round impacting nearby are indicators that it is probably time to go. However, there are situations when it is best to stay and fight; i.e., there are lots of them and only a few of you; they are moving and you are in high quality positions; and they are headed in your direction. If you employ what is commonly known as the "rock and roll" technique of frequent moves in and out of firing positions, your volume of fire is likely to be insufficient to blunt the attack. Also, a bound back to the next terrain feature requires a significant mobility differential. Either your equipment has to be a lot faster or you must slow him down with something. The odds of survival are sometimes better if you stay in position and slug it out until you cause a break in the flow; i.e., kill whole bunches of them quickly. Obstacles which slow his rate of advance obviously lessen the dilemma.
Table
of Contents
Attack
Techniques
Defense
Techniques
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