What does a tank crew do when they penetrate deep behind enemy lines?


 A tank would never penetrate behind enemy lines by itself. A tank on its own, no matter what kind of tank it was, is a dead duck.


Tanks are always in platoons. In Vietnam, platoons of tanks had M113s or ACAVs with them and support troops. Tanks had a buddy or wingman system with a buddy tank to protect and stay with a tank that either had broken down or was hit.So when we penetrated into combat areas, Tay Ninh Province or Long Khanh Province, we usually had two platoons of tanks, eight tanks, about 20 ACAV’s, commanders ACAV, and troops with us.


A tank was never, ever alone. It would not last long. That would be like a sea turtle surrounded by a shiver of hungry sharks.


M48A3 tanks of the 11th. ACR stopped on road taking protective herringbone position... Continue reading 

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