TOW and Dragon Employment in the Armor Team Defense

The armor team commander controls three of the world's most lethal armor-killing weapons. When employed together, the TOW, the tank, and the Dragon can satisfy the demands of any armor battlefield. But to maximize the potential of these weapons systems, we should position and employ each to take advantage of its strengths while protecting its vulnerabilities.

The commander who thinks that range is the only difference between these three weapons makes a grave error. Although the TOW has one of the longest direct fm ranges on the battlefield, its disadvantages are along time of flight, a large signature, and a slow reload time. The tank, with its outstanding fire control system and superior protection, can be restricted by terrain. Finally, the Dragon, with its relatively short range, is an extremely portable direct fire and surveillance system. Keeping these ideas in mind, let's examine how that armor commander can use the TOW and the Dragon to augment his tank defense. The TOW The mor team commander will have four TOWs mounted on Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles. By following seven basic principles of TOW employment, he will multiply the effectiveness of his TOW fms, increase Bradley survivability, and complement the killing effort of his tanks.

1. Provide for mutual support -Never allow one TOW to cover a sector by itself. One good reason is that volley fire by TOWs against tanks has proven more effective than single TOW shots. Furthermore, when two or more TOWs engage the same sector, one can displace to an alternate position while the other maintains sector coverage. Employing TOWs in two sections of two is the easiest way to apply this principle. At some point, the two sectors should interlock, thus creating mutually supporting sections, but mutual support shouldn't overshadow the need for dispersion. A rule of thumb is to position TOWs so that fires h m the enemy on one vehicle do not suppress another.

2. Provide for security -A Bradley on a flank, employing its TOW, is highly vulnerable to dismounted infantry. If it's not feasible to position friendly dismounts near the vehicle, provide the materials necessary so that the crew can construct and emplace hasty protective obstacles and early warning devices along dismounted avenues leading to the weapon.

3. Strive for flank shots -Tanks are bigger, weaker, and blinder on their flanks. The shape and composition of 'heat frontal armor makes frontal TOW shots ineffective. The TOW'S HEAT warhead is more lethal engaging the tank's ''softer" sides and rear. Position TOWs in an area were the advancing enemy will expose his flank.

4. Use Your Standoff Advantage -Simply stated, engage with TOWs before the enemy tanks can engage them. With a range of 3,750 meters, a TOW a n engage a T-80 1,350 meters beyond the maximum effective range of the T-80’s main gun. Position your TOWs where they can get those long shots, but keep in mind that the farther the shot, the longer it will take for the missile to travel (up to 12 seconds), and hence, the longer the enemy vehicle must be exposed.

5. Use cover, concealment, and dispersion - The large signature means that the Bradley has to make itself survivable. Make maximum use of natural cover, such as reverse slopes, hollows, and ravines. Don’t position vehicles so that they must skyline themselves to acquire and engage. Above all, disperse vehicles laterally and in depth. A distance of 300 meters is not unreasonable between TOWs, as long as you maintain the balance with mutual support. Don’t feel as though you must place four Bradleys in a 4Wmeter platoon battle position.

6. Employ TOWs in depth - In planning positioning of your TOWs, consider their need to displace to alternate positions after firing. Position TOWs so they can engage targets in depth: for example, place one where it can engage the lead elements of a column while another engages the middle of that same column.

7. Fight as a combined m steam -An enemy formation will have a harder time reacting to that TOW signature if, at the same time, it’s also being engaged by tank, artillery, and mortar fires.

Figure 1 demonstrates one method of employment that achieves depth, mutual support, standoff, dispersion, and flank shots. The infantry platoon leader who owns those TOWs should know these principles and put them into practice. Commanders, however, Figure 1 TOWs engaging from Bradleys in an Armor Team engagement area. must also consider them when arraying their forces.

The Dragon Dragons are often employed to support the main engagement mea in the role of close-in antiarmor weapons targeted at enemy vehicles threatening to penetrate battle positions. Although this is a legitimate employment technique, one exists which makes better use of the Dragon’s ability to go where tanks and TOWs may not be able to go, or may not be able to engage. Few, if any, engagement areas are perfectly flat; many have wadis, dry creek beds, or eroded irrigation ditches running through them. Enemy reconnaissance elements can use these features as mounted avenues of approach. In some cases, a vehicle in one of these avenues can remain conceded throughout the depth of the engagement area and enter a battle position undetected.

PIacing a TOW or a tank into one of these avenues would take valuable combat power away from the main engagement ma. Furthermore, a tank or a Bradley may have trouble turning, getting out, or maneuvering in a close fight, if the ditch is very deep and narrow. By employing the Dragon in such terrain, the armor commander can place effective antiarmor fire on an advancing enemy along an otherwise concealed approach, and hopefully deny its continued use. Consider the following factors when planning for and preparing the antiarmor ambush, to improve its chances of success.

Mass your Dragons -Individual Dragons lack the killing power of tanks and TOWs: volley fires at a single target will increase the lethality of your ambush. Employ all three Dng-ons at one ambush site, either simultaneously or in quick succession. 0 Make them survivable - Since this ambush could prove to be a close- “Also, don’t forget the possible use of the ambush team as a reconnaissance and surveillance asset. If positioned far enough forward in the concealed avenue, a Dragon gunner can detach the six-power IR night tracker and observe for enemy movement into the company sector from a well concealed position. ” in fight, strong survivability positions we a must. Allocate assets to help prepare and reinforce these positions.. Reinforce the ambush site with obstacles - If the avenue is narrow enough, plan an obstacle which ties in with the higher ternin on the sides. This obstacle will help slow the enemy as he enters the kill zone and may disrupt him when the ambush is executed. Any obstacle will undoubtedly be reinforced by the burning hull of the destroyed vehicle caught in the ambush.

Position subsequent ambush sites in depth - If the enemy feels that this avenue is valuable enough, he may try again, sending additional vehicles, even if one is caught in an ambush. To prevent him from breaching and clearing the obstacles of an initial ambush, plan additional ambush sites in depth along the length of the avenue. Ensure each position is prepared, with rounds cached at each location, and always monitor the current location of the ambush team if they have displaced from original positions. Figure 2 illustrates how to apply these principles.

The task force S2, among others, may be very interested in your antiarmor ambush. Tie your ambush planning into the current IPB process to determine whether this avenue of approach is a likely one for division and regimental reconnaissance units or even the CRP. By doing so, you can give specific guidance to the infantry platoon leader about the probable mission and intent of that ambush. Also, don’t forget the possible use of the ambush team as a reconnaissance and surveillance asset. If positioned far enough forward in the concealed avenue, a Dragon gunner can detach the six-power IR night tracker and observe for enemy movement into the company sector from a well concealed position.

For the armor team, an ideal situation would be for the ambush to block the avenue and force trailing vehicles out of the low ground up into the engagement area.

Chances m that vehicles coming out of a deep mine would have mobility difficulties, would expose flanks and un-dersides, and would Figure 2 Dragon antiarmor ambushes in depth. be misoriented. Vehicles would emerge and find themselves in the engagement area, where tank and TOW fires would destroy them. Few would argue that the most effective killer of a tank is another tank. However, terrain and engagement a m considerations may preclude a tank from engaging targets. Effective positioning and employment of the Dragon and TOW can cover those areas where the tank may have trouble. Each weapon would then engage in a situation best suited for its capabilities, resulting in a solid defense with weapon systems mutually sup porting one another in depth. Captain Sande J. Schlesinger, an infantry officer, served as a rifle platoon leader, an antitank platoon leader, and a rifle company executive officer with 2-23 Infantry and 3-47 Infantry at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He is a 1992 graduate of the Armor Officer Advanced Course.