The armor leader conducts a ground reconnaissance of the route to the. Training of the armored forces in the training year of 1937. In infantry combat the reader leads a rifle platoon charged with protecting the flank of u. It also provides discussion of planning consideration for the platoon s operational missions. All platoon personnel should read, understand, and comply with the provisions of this sop. The remaining personnel and equipment stayed at the brigades garrison. The tank platoon an interactive exercise in smallunit tactics and leadership john f. Current and future infantry antiarmor equipment, doctrine, and organizations are examined next. A1n example of what has been accomplished in night attacksis demronstrated by actions of the 30th united states infantry division and two attached units, the 743d tank battalion and the 823d tank destroyer battalion, during the nights of 2526 and 2627 february 1945. Armor, us army this manual describes how the tank platoon fights. Predominant area is the central region called ao brandt is used as a staging area for anticoalition force operations and ao newton to the north. Defeating the russian battalion tactical group by cpt nicolas j.
Each fourman crew consists of the tc, gunner, loader, and driver. It is often remembered as the successor to the 37th tank battalion, 4th armored division, commanded by then lieutenant colonel creighton abrams abrams tank during world war ii. The tank platoon is organic to tank companies and armored cavalry troops. Specifically it is directed toward the company commander, executive officer xo, first sergeant 1sg, platoon leader pl, platoon sergeant psg, fire support officer fso, master gunner, supply sergeant, signal support specialist, emergency care sergeant, field. Armor companies are limited by having only six rt1523 series radios in each tank platoon. This is a translation of a german training circular issued by the german armored force containing 30 basic lessons of armored combat on the platoon and company level derived from the wehrmachts experience against the soviets. These battalions were temporarily attached to infantry, armored, or airborne divisions according to need, though at least one battalion 745th tank battalion spent the entire war in europe attached to one division. To accomplish these functions, each platoon leader is assisted by a platoon sergeant, two tank commanders, four gunnersassistant tank commanders, four tank crewmen, and four tank crewman loader. Organized to fight as a unified element, the platoon consists of four main battle tanks organized into two sections, with two tanks in each section. It applies at all times except when modified by platoon or higher orders. Antitank tactics for infantry units when fighting armor, every infantry echelonfrom squad, to platoon, to companyneeds an organic antitank at capability. This manual is written for the battalion task force commander, his staff, company commanders, organic specialty platoon leaders, and supporting units.
Tank commanders normally fire three rounds of armor. A lee tank platoon in north africa, or training in the us would have 1 officer, 9 ncos and 25 enlisted men. Armor attacks john f antal free ebook download as pdf file. Allows readers to play the role of a tank platoon leader and participa. Ww2 german tank destroyers archives tank encyclopedia. Incorporating a mounted scout section and a tank section, the infantry lieutenants led platoonsized attacks on an urban environment to clear five buildings and eliminate enemy combatants. Atp 320 15 tank plt 20120507 federation of american. They were tied in between two tanks along a dismounted avenue of approach. At a battle position in baghdad, 3a164 ar was attached a weapons squad from an infantry platoon. The 77th armor is an armored regiment of the united states army. During the first world war the marines of the 5th and 6th marine regiments 4th marine brigade, 2nd division, united states army, saw and participated in some of the first tankinfantry assaults of recorded history.
Tanks are not organized into squads, so we can leave that aside. Allows readers to play the role of a tank platoon leader and participate in two missions in which their decisions will effect the outcome. The tank platoon is the smallest maneuver element within a tank company. As a minimum, all tcs should maintain a copy of the sop at all times. Armor doctrine does not equal armor vs armor doctrine. Lieutenants lead,most platoons, and the secondincommand is.
Guidelines for preparing armor platoon drills and tactical. Plans, preparation, and movement to the objective have been accomplished. World war 2 and cold war the 37th armored regiment 37th armor was constituted. The platoon leader tank 1 and platoon sergeant tank 4 are the section leaders.
Ste p action 1 ensure crews are briefed on details of the operation. Additionally, i establish some common historical characteristics for infantry antiarmor attacks, as well as a common countertactic used by armor forces. Army regimental system with only a single battalion, the 1st battalion, 77th armor regiment, and is therefore classified as both a single battalion and the remainder of the regiment itself. The 37th armor is an armor tank regiment of the united states army. In armor attacks, you take on the role of the leader of a u. Youre in charge of the battle outcome as an m1 abrams tank platoon leader in this exciting, interactive work. Against tanks, infantry without at weapons are withdrawing, hiding, or being overrun. The tank and mechanized infantry battalion task force is organized and equipped for combat specifically to destroy enemy forces by mounted combat or by a combination of mounted and dismounted combat. Armor attacks is an attempt to help people who are not in the military understand some of what a tank commander faces in the modern battlefield. This publication applies to the active army, the united states army. In fact, mostly armor doctrine about defeating enemy armor is not to use armor to do so, certainly in the ww2 era or as a first resort. This video covers some of the fundamental tactics, techniques, and procedures of the rifle squad in offensive combat.
Excerpts from team c, 3rd battalion, 15th infantry aar. For a detailed description of the tank platoons organization and personnel responsibilities, refer to fm 1715. Us army table of organization and equipment intro to toe. The following table lists steps the platoon leader takes to ensure the platoon is fully prepared for the operation. Player can complete his tasks either commanding a single tank tank platoon or commanding more units in the tactical. It depends greatly on the nationality of the unit, and the era. The rifle platoon after reading john antals similar book about tank combat armor attacks where the reader was commander of an m1 abrams tank. Infantry leads while tank platoon remains stationary. Section iv ot attack and assautucargo units during co marking and targets attack the hasty attackrcnse fight 743 7.
For details concerning crew drill and service of the piece, see fm 1712, fm 1778, fm 1779, and fm 1780. Lets start with the smallest sub unit of the tank battalion, the tank platoon. For instance, an ifv scores 2 hits on a soviet tank in its front arc. For a tank company, this works out to 11,200 gallonsday and 336,000 gallonsmonth. Tank crews brush loose material from their the protective features of the tank. A pair of sixsided dice are required to play this solitaire game which is a variation on the choose your own adventure game book genre.
Armor ncos learn platoon tank operations article the. It utilised the latest armour, targeting, night vision, and engine technologies. This is a study of the organization and equipment of the united states army armored. Because it is believed friendly armor can be used to greater effect against more vulnerable enemies instead of the fair fight of mashing like on like. The 37th armor is an armor tank regiment of the united. As many as a third of the deployed soldiers were highquality contract volunteer enlistment soldiers who were recruited to be the noncommissionedofficer corps of a. Fm 1730, armored force field manual, tank platoon ibiblio. This summary of army tables of organization and equipment includes only combat and directly related major support units. Blaze of war is a realistic tank simulator with tactical elements. At the same time, the independent army antitank battalions received one more command vehicle and the overall strength was to. The fundamental mission of the tank platoon is to close with and destroy the enemy. Tank 2 is the wingman in the platoon leaders section, and tank 3 is the wingman for the psgs tank. Redhawk city to the south, south east, and south west.
These soldiers were critical to the platoons defense. An interactive exercise in smallunit tactics and leadership. You may adapt any part of this tank platoon sop as needed to fit your. Destroys enemy forces using fire, maneuver, and shock effect, and capitalizes on the mobility, armor protection, and firepower of the tank.
The platoon is attacking separately or as part of a larger unit. It moves, attacks, defends, and performs other essential tasks to support the company team or troop mission. This chapter discusses the doctrine that is the basis for platoon techniques and drills. Fm 1735, armored cavalry platoon, troop, and squadron. The platoons ability to move, shoot, communicate, and provide armored protection is a decisive factor on the modern battlefield. Just for an example, lets look at the united states army, circa 1986 to the nearpresent. Among the first witnesses of these attacks were a few farsighted officers, who, after the war, were to fight lateron to convince the department of the navy that the marine corps. It focuses on the principles of platoon operations and the tactics, techniques, and procedures ttp the platoon uses to exploit its combat power and minimize its vulnerabilities. The idea was to break iraqi defense by several attacks from susangerd. The ifv penetration is 7, the soviet tanks front armor is 10. The tank is invulnerable to infantry without at weapons. Ii 2 cm that are being transferred must first of all be set up with the necessary radio links to the platoon commander to allow commands and intelligence information to be sent it may be necessary to equip the first three platoons of the light tank company with only one pz.
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