Mission to Boljevce: The Check Was in the Mail... See Page 7 PB 17-01-3 May-June 2001 Saddle Up... Tonight We Ride “Behold the brown-faced men, each group, each person away and appeared on the magazine’s back cover for a picture, the negligent rest on the saddles....” from Cav- many years. alry Crossing a Ford by Walt Whitman I’m not sure how Remington’s depiction of John Lannen became known as “Old Bill.” One theory is that “Old Bill” Our last issue reported the was actually Lannen’s horse. Others argue the horse’s jumping of our TOC, “AR- name was “Scout.” I’m not sure of this either, but that’s a MOR Magazine to Move great name for that particular horse! Not so, says Major Across Post.” Jon Clemens William K. Emerson in his 1978 ARMOR article. Emer- noted that our previous son’s research reveals that John or “Jack” Lannen was an home, the John Lannen alias for Canadian William Carroll, who borrowed his House, was named for the mother’s maiden name when he enlisted in the Army. Em- 3rd Cavalry sergeant who erson adds that the use of an alias to enlist was common posed for Frederic Reming- in the late 19th century when many considered Army ser- ton’s sketch of a mounted vice undesirable and immigrants filled the ranks. Lannen cavalry trooper, circa 1898. was an immigrant, too, having migrated from Prince Ed- However, I suspect most ward Island, where he had been a carpenter. He enlisted mounted warriors know John in New York City. Lannen better by his alias, Most telling about John Lannen/Old Bill are the words of “Old Bill,” and while most of his former commander, Captain Hardie: us know well Old Bill’s vis- age, few know the story behind the famous image, or “Aside from his horsemanship Lannen’s most marked much about the man. characteristics were his loyalty to his organization and his unfailing good humor under trying conditions. Ordinarily a LTC William Gardner Bell, former ARMOR editor and his- stern disciplinarian, he was always ready with a smile and torian, wrote, “Of the fine artists who turned their talents to a jest when roads were muddy, skins damp and cold, and painting the Great American West, Frederic Remington rations low. He accepted hardships as part of his day’s comes perhaps closest to being the United States Cav- work. There are too few of his kind. He was the epitome of alry’s own.” The mounted fraternity recognized this kinship soldier and cavalryman.” and made the artist a life member of the U.S. Cavalry As- sociation, predecessor to the current U.S. Armor Associa- I imagine that Lannen, a.k.a. Old Bill, was both a good tion. Remington was also a close friend of Captain F. H. man to ride with and to share hard times with; certainly he Hardie, who commanded G Troop of the 3rd Cavalry is someone well suited to symbolize our heritage of Regiment. Remington visited Hardie and his troop near mounted warfighting. Like hundreds of other soldiers in Tampa, Florida in 1898, when the troop was preparing for that fight, Sergeant Lannen contracted yellow fever and movement. The Spanish-American War had begun, and G died at Santiago in 1898 after spending almost thirty years Troop was to take part in the Santiago campaign in east- faithfully serving his country. Lannen’s memory and legacy ern Cuba. Also heading that way was Remington, who as a mounted warrior ride on. would draw scenes of the war for Harper’s Weekly. I’m certain others can furnish varying accounts and tales During his visit, Remington was struck by the sight of the of Old Bill, but I’m not certain there will ever be a com- mounted John Lannen, an NCO from G Troop. plete, definitive history, and per- “...Remington noted the ease and grace with which Ser- haps that’s as it should be. Myths geant Lannen rode and selected him as the most perfect and mysteries should not be too type of the American Cavalryman he had ever seen. At specific, after all. this time Sergeant Lannen’s hair and mustache were — D2 white. He had blue eyes and a dark, ruddy complexion. He was a superb horseman. His horse was his friend and Our thanks to several authors comrade,” said Lieutenant Colonel F.H. Hardie in a letter who documented the Old Bill/John to the Editor of the Cavalry Journal in 1911. From Reming- Lannen saga and thus passed on ton’s rough sketches of Lannen in Florida, two finished his legacy over the course of AR- works were produced and presented to the Cavalry Jour- MOR’s 113 years — Colonel C.A nal in 1902. The first, a sketch of a frontier cavalryman, Seoane, William K. Emerson, appeared on the front cover of the Journal in 1903 and Lieutenant Colonel William Bell would ride in that position for another 40 years. The sec- Gardner, and Lieutenant Colonel ond sketch depicted the rear view of a cavalryman riding F.H. Hardie — Ed. By Order of the Secretary of the Army: Official: ERIC K. SHINSEKI JOEL B. HUDSON General, United States Army Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Staff Secretary of the Army 0105101 The Professional Development Bulletin of the Armor Branch PB 17-01-3 Editor-in-Chief MAJ DAVE DAIGLE Features 7 Mission to Boljevce Managing Editor by CPT Douglas Huber JON T. CLEMENS 11 A Taste of Life at Outpost SAPPER by 1LT Michael Scott Commandant MG B. B. BELL 13 The PT-76 Light Tank in the India-Pakistan Wars by Adam Geibel 17 The Decline of Mars: Change and Its Effect on the Warrior Spirit ARMOR (ISSN 0004-2420) is published bi- by MAJ Gregory A. Daddis monthly by the U.S. Army Armor Center, 4401 Vine Grove Road, Fort Knox, KY 40121. 22 The New Chinese Type 98 MBT: A Second Look Reveals More Details by James M. Warford Disclaimer: The information contained in AR- MOR represents the professional opinions of 24 Forging the Red Thunderbolt: Armored Trains Provided the authors and does not necessarily reflect Mobile Firepower During the Russian Revolution and After the official Army or TRADOC position, nor does it change or supersede any information by MAJ Alan R. Koenig presented in other official Army publications. 30 The Military Decision-Making Process: Official distribution is limited to one copy for Applying the OPFOR’s Approach each armored brigade headquarters, armored by CPT David Haines cavalry regiment headquarters, armor battalion headquarters, armored cavalry squadron head- 35 Light Cavalry Table X quarters, reconnaissance squadron headquar- by MAJ Christopher Kolenda, CPT Raymond Zindell and SSG Mark Aide ters, armored cavalry troop, armor company, and motorized brigade headquarters of the 37 CSS and the Battalion Scout Platoon United States Army. In addition, Army libraries, by SFC Harald Jeffery Army and DOD schools, HQ DA and MACOM staff agencies with responsibility for armored, 40 Building the “Perfect” TACSOP direct fire, ground combat systems, organiza- by CPT Brant Guillory tions, and the training of personnel for such organizations may request two copies by 43 Fighting a Hundred Battles: sending a request to the editor-in-chief. Using TacOps to Produce Experienced Captains for the Mounted Force Authorized Content: ARMOR will print only by MAJ Wayne Cherry and MAJ Joseph McLamb those materials for which the U.S. Army Armor Center has proponency. That proponency 47 Tank Panel Set for Armor Conference includes: all armored, direct-fire ground com- bat systems that do not serve primarily as Back Stridsvagn 122 Swedish Main Battle Tank Poster infantry carriers; all weapons used exclusively Cover Threat Branch, Directorate of Force Development in these systems or by CMF 19-series enlisted soldiers; any miscellaneous items of equip- ment which armor and armored cavalry or- Departments ganizations use exclusively; training for all SC 12A, 12B, and 12C officers and for all CMF- 2 Points of Contact 19-series enlisted soldiers; and information concerning the training, logistics, history, and 3 Letters leadership of armor and armored cavalry units 5 Commander’s Hatch at the brigade/regiment level and below, to 6 Driver’s Seat include Threat units at those levels. 50 Reviews Material may be reprinted, provided credit is given to ARMOR and to the author, except where copyright is indicated. Periodicals Postage paid at Fort Knox, KY, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Editor, ARMOR, ATTN: ATZK-ARM, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5210. Distribution Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. USPS 467-970 May-June 2001, Vol. CX, No. 3 DSN prefix – 464- Points of Contact Commercial prefix– (502) 624- ARMOR Editorial Offices U.S. Army Armor Center Editor-in-Chief Commanding General (ATZK-CG) MAJ Dave Daigle 4087 MG B. B. Bell 2121 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Managing Editor Please Deputy Commanding General (ATZK-DCG) Jon T. Clemens Note New 4582 BG Terry Tucker 7555 E-Mail: [email protected] Phone E-Mail: [email protected] Numbers Chief of Staff (ATZK-CS) Editor for ARMOR COL George Edwards 1101 Vivian Oertle Staff 2610 E-Mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Command Sergeant Major (ATZK-CSM) Staff Illustrator CSM Carl E. Christian 4952 Mr. Jody Harmon 3923 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Directorate of Force Development (ATZK-FD) COL Joe Hughes 5050 E-Mail: [email protected] Mounted Maneuver Battlespace Battle Lab (ATZK-MW) COL Dennis J.