MHI Copy 3 FM 17-10 WAR DEPARTMENT ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL TACTICS AND TECHNIQUE v, I .I FM 17-10 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL TACTICS, AND TECHNIQUE Prepared under direction of the Chief of the Armored Force UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1942 For sale by the Superintendenb of Documents, W'shing.tn, D, C. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, March 7, 1942. FM 17-10, Armored Force Field Manual, Tactics and Tech- nique, is published for the information and guidance of all concerned. [A.G, 002.11 (7-17-40).] BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: G. C. MARSHALL, Chief of Staff. OFFICIAL: J. A. ULIO, Major General, The Adjutant General. DISTRIBUTION: D 2, 7 (5); IR 2, 7 (5); Bn and H 17 (5); IBn 2, 5-10 (3); C 17 (20); IC 2, 511 (5). (For explanation of symbols, see FM 21 6.) II TABLE OF CONTENTS Ca.PreT 1. Doctrine and organization. Paragraphs Page SECrON I. General .________...---------.-- 1-12 1 II. Individual and unit training -. ..13-15 9 III. Relation with other arms .… .....16-24 11 CHAPtIEI 2. Tactical employment. SECTION I. General ___ .-....... .__._.___ 25-27 15 II. Reconnaissance _____.____..--- 28-31 20 III Security ____._ .-.. ____.__.... 32-45 38 IV. Offensive combat __.__.- .-.. 46-51 85 V. The defensive -. ................52-56 120 VI. Special operations -_ . _ 57-64.... 133 VII. Marches- .------------------------65-66 147 CHAPrTE 3. Scouting and patrolling, mounted. SECTION I. General .-. ....................67 149 II. Mounted scouting .----.----- 68-70 149 III. Mounted patrolling ___-_________- 71-90 153 CHArERn 4. Reconnaissance platoon and company, armored. SECION I. General .-....................... 91-99 163 II. Reconnaissance platoon .--.... 100-109 166 III. Reconnaissance company .-. 110-118... 185 CHArTn 5. Armored company and armored bat- talion, tank, light and medium. SECTION I. General .-----------------------119-133 192 II. Individual tank …_. _. ..........134-136 198 III. Tank section and platoon -. .....137-143 205 IV. Tank company, light and medium_ 144150 211 V. Tank battalion, light and medium_ 151-167 226 CHA*rTa 6. Maintenance company, armored regi- ment -_..............___…… 168-173 252 CHarPTs 7. The armored regiment. SEcTION I. Armored regiment_- _--. _____- 174-184 256 II. Tactical employment -_-------- 185-193 262 III. General ..................... 194-197 274 CHASPTa 8. Reconnaissance battalion, armored. SECTION I. General -____............. 198-206 277 II. Reconnaissance -. ____._.____- 207 215 281 III. Security -_____.________.___ 216 285 IV, Movement .--------------- - _ 217-218 285 V. Combat .---------------------219 287 VI. Evacuation- . .........----.220 288 VII. Bivouac- _______._.__.-..... 221 289 VIII. Supply and maintenance ----. - 222 289 CHarrea 9. Headquarters company, armored, SECTION I. General -. ....................223-235 291 II. Headquarters and headquarters company, armored battalion, light and medium .-.- .......-236-241 303 III. Headquarters and headquarters company, armored regiment___ 242 248 306 IV. Headquarters and headquarters company, reconnaissance bat- talion--... _..__ _____--_____ 249-254 308 In TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraphs Page CHAPTER 9. Headquarters company, armored--Continued. SEcTION V. Headquarters and headquarters company, armored division ... 255-262 310 VI. Combat command _-- ___..... 263-264 311 VII. Division artillery headquarters and headquarters detachment_ 265-266 314 VIII. Headquarters company, armored corps ..--.267 ------ 315 IX. Headquarters and headquarters company, GHQ reserve tank group __.._.._..-. ... _ 268-270 316 CHAPTER 10. Service company, armored regiment and division. SECTcON I. Service company, armored regi- ment _----.__ .. .......271-279 323 II. Service company, armored divi- sion_-..- _ _ ________.__.. .. 280 289 327 CHAPTER 11. Division trains, armored. SEcTroN I. General ..-.................. 290-291 331 II. Train headquarters and head- quarters company _ .- . .......292-293 332 III. Tactical operation of division train .---------------. 294-298 333 CHAPTER 12. GHIQ reserve tank battalion, light and medium. SEcrToN I General .. __................299-308 340 II. Coordination and cooperation___ 309-315 346 III. C o n t r o l, communications and liaison_- _____.______ _ .316-318 348 IV. Reconnaissance .-....... ______ 319-323 350 V. Security.-.. __._ ___._______ 324-328 354 VI. Offensive combat …_-___________329 335 355 VII. Defensive combat ._. .. ....336-340 358 CHAPrTE 13. GHQ reserve tank group. SETIoN I. Role and organization .-. ......341-343 361 II. Control combat order and liaison -. ................344-346 362 In. Reconnaissance and security ---- 347 350 363 IV. Offensive combat .--. .......-351 355 365 V. Use of GHQ reserve tank group with infantry divisions, mo- torized infantry, armored, and cavalry divisions . ..........356-359 369 VI. Defensive combat and retrograde movements .-......________ 360-363 370 APPENDIX 1. Glossary of military terms -_----------- - _ --- 372 II. Radio channels of communication and radio nets .................--............ 414 INomEx_ ____--_________-- __________-_-------_-_____ 451 IV FM 17-10 1-2 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL TACTICS AND TECHNIQUE CHAPTER 1 DOCTRINE AND ORGANIZATION Paragraphs SEcnoN I. General--.... ___.____.__._...__.______.___. 1-12 II. Individual and unit training- __ .--------__--__..13-15 III, Relation with other arms ___._ -___._________-__16-24 SECTION I GENERAL * 1. ROLE.-The role of the Armored Force and its com- ponents is the conduct of highly mobile ground warfare, pri- marily offensive in character, by self-sustaining units of great power and mobility, composed of specially equipped troops of the required arms and services. Combat elements of the Armored Force operate in close cooperation with combat avia- tion and with large units of ground troops in the accomplish- ment of a mission. * 2. TACTICAL ORGANIZATION.-a. The Armored Force consists of armored corps, armored divisions, and GHQ reserve tank battalions. It is composed of troops from more than one arm or service, transported in armored or other type motor vehicles. b. The amored corps consists of a headquarters and head- quarters company, two or more armored divisions, and certain organic and auxiliary units termed corps troops. c. The armored division is a self-contained unit of the sev- eral arms and services organized tactically and administra- tively for independent action. It may be attached for operation with an infantry or a cavalry corps. d. The GHQ reserve tank group contains a headquarters and headquarters detachment and three GHQ reserve tank battalions of either light or medium tanks or both. 1 2-5 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL e. The GHQ reserve battalions are self-contained units, of either light or medium tanks, organized tactically and admin- istratively for employment by battalion or by group to furnish additional striking power to other ground forces including amored divisions and corps. Trained as units, they are im- mediately adaptable to inclusion in larger groupings of other ground troops. * 3. CHARACTERISTICS..-The characteristics of Armored Force units are: a. Mobility.-All combat units are mounted in armored motor vehicles. b. Fire power.-Through a multiplicity of weapons mounted on the vehicles. c. Armor protection.--All combat vehicles are protected by armor of varying thickness, capable of withstanding at least rifle fire. d. Shock action.-Accomplished by the combination of the other characteristics and by the weight and crushing power of the major vehicles. * 4. METHODS OF EMPLOYING ELEMENTS OF ARMORED FORCE,- Operations of components of the Armored Force may, at various times or simultaneously, involve-- a. The attachment of GHQ tank battalions and groups to infantry, cavalry, and armored divisions or corps. b. The grouping of armored divisions, corps, or GHQ tank groups with other corps or field armies for combined operations. c. The employment, by the field or theater commander, of armored divisions and corps on independent or semi- independent missions without reinforcing logistical means, or additional supporting troops other than combat and recon- naissance aviation. d. Operation as task forces wherein armored divisions or corps or, at times GHQ reserve tank units, are teamed with motorized divisions, antitank battalions, antiaircraft auto- matic weapons battalions, and GHQ engineer, maintenance, and supply units, closely supported by combat aviation, para- chute, and other troops transported by air. * 5. GENERAL CONSIDERTRAoNs.-Larger units of the Armored Force properly utilized, either separately or in combination 2 TACTICS AND TECHNIQUE 5 with other means, can achieve rapid decisive results in the area of employment. They are to be employed on decisive missions. They must not be frittered away on unimportant objectives. A mission far in advance of other main forces is justified when the operation will obtain decisive results, but must be closely supported by other equally mobile troops. Their proper utilization necessitates a definite appreciation and a careful consideration of the several characteristics of the Armored Force units. a. The conditions which should exist or be created for their successful action are air superiority in the decisive area of employment, surprise, favorable terrain, and absence of or neutralization of massed defensive means. b. The mobility of armored units permits great latitude in the choice of direction and the method of attack. The de- cision as to whether the attack will be executed as a turning movement, envelopment,