ARMOR, January-February 1991 Edition
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For the second straight time in as many Was the M48 or the M113 a proven years, we begin a new calendar year with tlefield workhorse in 1965? Did most US. forces deployed abroad under condi- talion or company commanders in Vie1 tions of imminent hostility. For those who like have combat experience? The answer i! to find lessons learned, there is a gigantic now, obvious. We have nearly ah one there -- mostly for those who thought entered a major conflict the same wa you could fold up the Army like a tent and with new, untested leaders and equipn put it in storage until the next camping trip. Somehow, American soldiers and leaders learn quickly and get optimum There has been a lot of talk about readi- out of any piece of equipment from hell ness. (See p. 45 for clarification on USR.) to tanks. And some would have everyone believe that we could be in for real trouble because our Korea was the exception. While we battalion and company commanders have proven equipment and leaders, the tent no combat experience, and our equipment is been folded and put in storage. largely untested in battle. Let's look at the record, after which we can formulate the answer, "So what?" Compare the U.S. Army at the start of with the Army in 1917, 1940, or 1965 In 1918, Rockenbach and Patton and Brett you should see an Army that stands I led the first Tank Corps into battle, essential- and shoulders above those others in qt ly on an OJT footing. No combat-tested of equipment, training, and organization equipment here. an all-volunteer force that has enjoy( good decade of plentiful resourcing to r Did the first Sherman tanks we gave the it what it is today. The equipment is the British to use in North Africa have a combat in world, and our tactical unit leaders track record? Nope. Was Creighton Abrams had the best training possible, short of a a hardened veteran of mobile, armored com- combat. bat when he led the 37th Tank Battalion into battle in Europe? Nope. Nor were many of And don't worry about our reservists his contemporaries or subordinates. The guardsmen. Never before have they bee whole concept of mobile, armored warfare highly trained and deployed so quickly. was new to us in 1940, and the TOES were changed several times during the war to reflect new equipment and lessons learned. Just keep the ammo and chow coming. New equipment training took place near or on the front lines. By Order of the Secretary of the Army: Official: CARL E. WON0 THOMAS F. SIKORA General, United States Army Brigadier General, United States Army Chief of Staff The Adjutant General ARMOR I The Professional Development Bulletin of the Armor Branch PB- 17-91 - 1 Editor-in-Chief Features MAJOR PATRICK J. COONEY 8 Defeating the Iraqis Managing Editor by Colonel Wallace Franz, USA, Ret. JON T. CLEMENS 10 Obstacle Breaching Techniques Commandant by Lieutenant Colonel David Eshel, IDF, Ret. MG THOMAS C. FOLEY 14 Tactical Unit Pre-Combat Inspections by Captain (P) James L. Boling ARMOR (ISSN 0004-2420) is published bimonthly by the U.S. Army Armor Center, 4401 18 Making Light Forces More Flexible and Responsive Vine Grove Road, Fort Knox, KY 40121. Disclaimer: The information contained in by Lieutenant Colonel Tom Rozman ARMOR represents the professional opinions of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the 21 Cavalry in the Defense: A Historical Vignette official Army or TRADOC position, nor does it by Captain Douglas W. Dunklin change or supersede any information presented in other official Army publications. 26 Tank Destroyers in WWll Official distribution is limited to one copy for each heavy brigade headquarters, armored by First Lieutenant John A. Nag1 cavalry regiment headquarters, armor battalion headquarters, armored cavalry squadron head- 32 The Armored Gun System Debate: quarters, reconnaissance squadron head- Let It Begin Before It Is Too Late quarters, armored cavalry troop, armor com- by Lieutenant Colonel James Etchechuty pany, and motorized brigade headquarters of the United States Army. In addition, Army libraries, Army and DOD schools, HCl DA and 35 The French Armor Corps: A Branch in Transition MACOM staff agencies with responsibility for ar- In a Changing Army mored, direct fire, ground combat systems, or- by Major Timothy Decker ganizations, and the training of personnel for such organizations may request two copies by 42 Combat Service Support in the Task Force Scout Platoon sending a military letter to the editor-in-chief. Authorized Content: ARMOR will print only by Captain Timothy Flanagan those materials for which the U.S. Army Armor Center has proponency. That proponency in- 45 Unit Status Reporting: A Broken System? cludes: all armored, direct-fire ground combat by The Directorate of Total Armor Force Readiness systems that do not serve primarily as infantry carriers; all weapons used exclusively in these 47 In Memory: Major Charles E. Griffihs systems or by CMF 19-series enlisted soldiers; any miscellaneous items of equipment which armor and armored cavalry organizations use Departments exclusively; training for all SC 12A, 128, and 12C officers and for all CMF-19series enlisted 2 Letters 17 Armor Conference soldiers; and information concerning the train- ing, logistics, history, and leadership of armor 2 Contacts 48 Bustle Rack and armored cavalry units at the brigadelregi- 5 Commander’s Hatch 52 Books ment level and below, to include Threat units at 7 Driver’s Seat those levels. Material may be reprinted, provided credit is given to ARMOR and to the author, except where copyright is indicated. Second-class official mail postage paid ai Fori Knox, KY, and additional maillng offices. Postmastoter: Send address changes to Editor, ARMOR, AmATSEAM, Fori Knox, KY 40121-5210. Distribution Restridlon: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. January-February 1991, Vol. C No. 1 USPS 487-970 ~ ~ A Worthy Cause into law on November 6, 1986, authorizing Monument Committee stili needs about Is Slipping Away establishment of a memorial to honor the half of the $400,000 price tag - a cheap United States Armored Force. "The price by monument standards. Dear Sir: memorial shall commemorate the excep- tional professionalism of the members of To say that donations from industry What if a halfcentury of Armor Force his- the American Armored Force and their ef- have been disappointing, is to severely un- tory and development went unrecog- forts to maintain peace worldwide." derstate the record. And now, with dwin- nized? What if someone decided to build dling defense contracts, that situation is a monument to our valorous Armored For- Such would seem to be a worthy cause not likely to improve. So, it falls to us ces in our nation's Capital, and nobody deserving support of the thousands who then, to our pride in having served, to our cared? How do these ideas sit with you? sewed from the very beglnning of the Ar- memories of comrades, to raise this They are soon to be facts unless we take mored Force in 1940 to today. monument to their deeds in four wars. action now. And time is against us. The Congressional The monument, on the "Avenue of authorization expires in about a year. Do After a tremendous volume and a few Heroes" in Washington, D.C., was to be we really want to sit idly and watch this years of liaison work by several in- dedicated on November 11, 1990. But it happen? Or do we want to jump up and dividuals, the Congress passed H.R. 4378 did not happen. The Armored Forces say, "Count me in!"? (Note: Fort Knox Defense Switch Network (DSN) prefix is 464. Commercial prefix is Area DIRECTORY - Points of Contact Code 502-624-m). ARMOR Editorial Offices U.S. ARMY ARMOR SCHOOL Editor-in-Chief Commandant (ATZK-CG) Major Patrick J. Cooney 2249 MG Thomas C. Foley 2121 Managing Editor Assistant Commandant (ATSB-AC) Jon T. Clemens 2249 BG James L. Noles 7555 Editorial Assistant Deputy Assistant Commandant (ATSB-DAC) Vivian Thompson 2610 Production Assistant COL Donald E. Appler 1050 Mary Hager 2610 Command Sergeant Major Contributing Artist CSM Jake Fryer 4952 SPC Jody Harmon 2610 Maintenance Dept. (ATSB-MA) COL James R. Joy 8346 MAILING ADDRESS: ARMOR A'ITN: ATSB-AM, Fort Command and Staff Dept. (ATSB-CS) KIIOX. KY 40121-5210. COL J. W. Thurman 5855 ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS: To improve speed and ac- Weapons Dept. (ATSB-WP) curacy in editing. manuscripts should be originals or clear copies, COL George R. Wallace 111 1055 either typed or printed out in near-letterquality printer mode. 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