BLACK HORSE REGIMENT: 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment BEST COMBAT UNIT in Vietnam 2/3

The 11th ACR's M113 Gavin cross-country mobility was continually used to force the enemy out of hiding and into blocking force positions. Once the area was swept clear of VC/NVA trying to hide in closed terrain, roads became safe for civilians to pass and restore faith in the central government we were supporting. Armored assault scissors bridges mobile on tracked tanks enabled spots of road blown up by the enemy or washed out by the weather to be kept functional.

During Operation Junction City in concert with 173rd Airborne Brigades parachute jumps, the 11th ACR used bulldozers to clear the terrain to the left and right of the main roads so anyone trying to lay land mines or hand weapon ambushes would be immediately spotted from the air and attacked.

Airborne FACs with O-1 Bird Dogs (not BS UAVs) insured fighter-bomber CAS was rapidly available to the 11th ACR to pile on the bastards after they found the enemy. Note the rare Korean war combat veteran Hiller OH-23 Raven "killer bee" observation/attack helicopter

http://www.combatreform.org/killerbees.htm

used in Vietnam to keep commanders in touch with armored ground maneuver elements; you can also see this helicopter in action in the James Bond 007 movies, "From Russia with Love" and "Goldfinger"

http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_h23raven.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OH-23_Raven

Black Horse Soldiers trained ARVN Soldiers how to use weapons to better defend themselves. Australian troops received OJT and swept the VC/NVA clear

11th ACR convoy escorts often prevented the VC/NVA from ambushing supply convoys in the first place. Flamethrowers on M113 Gavins (yet another capability we lack today) burned out the VC/NVA and removed vegetation for them to hide in.

NONE OF THIS TRACKED COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS CAN BE DONE IN WHEELED STRYKER OR HUMVEE WHEELED TRUCKS. The VC/NVA would kick our asses today if we tried to fight them in our current BS wheeled trucks.

Here's an U.S. Army Command & General Staff College School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) report by Infantry officer, Major William Sutey on the need for cross-country MOBILITY (XCM) from M113 Gavin light tracked tanks to improve LIGHT INFANTRY FORCE mobility, protection and firepower. READ IT.

http://www.combatreform.org/M113GAVINSforLIGHTINFANTRYmajorsutey1993.pdf

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• BLACK
• HORSE
• REGIMENT
• 11th
• acr
• vietnam
• M113
• GAVINS
• apcs
• tanks
• coin
• insurgency
• war
• snc
• stryker
• humvee
• hmmwv
• trucks

[vampvisuals]

This was my fathers Unit.. Just crazy to think he was there...

[rllang01]

This is a great video. thanks for posting

[brennan2185]

Beatin' the bush, huh? Allons!

[michaudd61]

Standing order of the 11th ACR: Kill the bastards, then pile on!

[pbrucpaul]

I heard a guy who was with this unit say " we might as well have had a Bullseye on our jackets; very hairy experience." The Australians were pretty darn good Troops he said.

[stunnashades2020]

Glad I wasn't alive then, I woulda shit my pants. Hats off to the brave U.S. Soldiers who fought in this war.

[CoreGoddess]

i'm doing party in reno nv. to honor an medi-vac piolet of air cav. come! VFW HALL Jan 22, 2011

[gpratschner1]

According to one prisoner we took, the VC were told the ACAV was all for show and actually made of plywood.

[drwhitc]

Looks like we're winning the war and helping the "villagers". Way to go Army!