Tactical Employment Tank Destroyer Unit - FM 18-5 War Department Field Manual

51. SCOPE. This chapter describes the employment of the reconnaissance company of the self-propelled battalion. Methods of employment of the reconnaissance company, less references to the pioneer platoon, apply to the employment of the two reconnaissance platoons of the towed battalion. The reconnaissance officer of a towed battalion and the company commander of a reconnaissance company execute the same tactical duties. 52. REFERENCES. Tank destroyer reconnaissance is covered generally in chapter 7. Details of the employment of the reconnaissance platoon are contained in FM 18-22. Employment of the pioneer platoon is described in FM 18-24. 53. MISSIONS, a. As described in paragraph 9, hostile armor usually holds the initiative; tank destroyers gain the advantage through thorough reconnaissance, and by preselection and preparation of positions and routes thereto. The primary mission of the reconnaissance company is the execution of this reconnaissance. Specifically, the reconnaissance company executes reconnaissance to — Select routes over which the battalion will move. Select bivouac areas and positions in readiness. Determine the exact dispositions of friendly troops. Select areas suitable for the employment of tank destroyers on their primary mission. Gain and maintain contact with enemy armor prior to, during, and after the fire fight. Determine location of friendly and enemy minefields. Locate areas and observation posts for the execution of secondary tank destroyer missions. b. At times the reconnaissance company may be charged with security missions, that is, reinforcing advance, flank, or rear guards, and establishing and manning outposts. However, the assignment of security missions must not interfere with the proper execution of reconnaissance. c. When the battalion is executing indirect fire missions, the reconnaissance company continues reconnaissance for primary mission positions and routes thereto. While such reconnaissance is being completed, selected reconnaissance company personnel may act as forward observers. 54. GENERAL The following considerations govern the employment of the reconnaissance company: a. Assignment of missions. The battalion commander assigns reconnaissance missions to the reconnaissance company commander or reconnaissance officer who, in turn, assigns missions to platoons, sections, or smaller patrois or parties. The company commander gives necessary orders for execution of the mission, including instructions for control and coordination between patrols. b. Control and coordination. (1) Specific orders as to WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and sometimes HOW and WHY are essential for control and coordination between platoons (par. 48). The HOW element contained in an order should be limited to that necessary for providing coordination; this element should not be described in such detail as to stifle the platoon commander's initiative. (2) When two or more platoons reconnoiter a zone or area, each platoon is assigned its own zone or area. Wherever possible, boundaries between platoon zones or areas should follow easily recognized terrain features. Adjacent platoons conducting zone reconnaissance are controlled further, and coordinated by means of previously designated, successive phase lines. A phase line is a line (road, railroad, stream, canal, ridgeline, or some other recognizable terrain feature) at approximately right angles to the route of advance. c. Reports. Except when executing detached missions, reports from reconnaissance patrols are sent to the reconnaissance company commander.

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