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FM 18-5: Organization and Tactics of Tank Destroyer Units
Tank Destroyer Field Manual, War Department, June 16, 1942
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from a WWII U.S. War Department Field Manual. As with all field manuals, the text may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the contents of the field manual. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]


INDEX

 ParagraphPage
Adjutant148, 150, 153, 18380, 82, 105
Advance guard74, 92, 102, 17338, 46, 51, 96
Alinement, avoidance of5323
Allocation3618
Allotment, group194114
Ambushes105, 127, 176, 178, 188, 21053, 66, 100, 101, 108, 124
Ammunition14, 588, 27
Ammunition corporal, heavy platoon8341
Ammunition sergeant14174
Antiaircraft—
     Artillery54, 19323, 113
     Section64-67, 84, 102, 17135, 42, 51, 95
     Weapons1610
Antitank—
     Bombs209123
     Grenades16, 20910, 123
     Guns2, 6, 91, 4, 7
Areas5724
Armored cars3, 123, 8
Armored combat, characteristics11
Armored divisions27, 186, 187, 19114, 106, 107, 111
Armored force1-81
     Artillery echelon21
     Combat21
     Combat aviation21
     Engineers21
     Infantry echelon21
     Matériel33
     Objectives21
     Reconnaissance elements2, 61, 4
     Tactics21
     Tank echelon21
Artillery2, 6, 54, 168, 1811, 4, 23, 93, 103
Assembly positions57, 175, 188, 19124, 99, 108, 111
Auxiliary weapons1610
Battalion commander's party147, 150, 166, 173, 181, 18378, 80, 91, 96, 103, 105
Battalion executive. (See Executive, battalion.)
Battalion headquarters28, 146-16715, 78
Bivouacs63, 101, 131, 144, 171, 188, 19132, 50, 68, 76, 95, 108, 111
Bugler10049
Cavalry192, 193113
Cavalry divisions27, 186, 187, 19014, 106, 107, 110
Characteristics, tank destroyer units107
Chemical troops108, 180, 192, 19355, 103, 113
Chemicals233139
Cipher. (See Communication.)
Codes. (See Communication.)
Combat—
     Areas57, 178, 18124, 101, 103
     Aviation2, 10, 54, 181, 2071, 7, 23, 103, 122
     In woods7840
Combat action—
     Antiaircraft section6635
     Armored force1-31
     Basic factors37-5519
     Battalion168-19193
     Battalion commander147, 181, 18278, 103, 104
     Communication platoon14476
     Group195-203114
     Headquarters company14476
     Medical detachment14577
     Motor maintenance platoon14275
     Pioneer platoon126, 12765, 66
     Reconnaissance company133-13770
     Reconnaissance platoon12362
     Security section72-8037
     Tank4-84
     Tank destroyer company101-107, 17850, 101
     Tank destroyer platoon, heavy84, 8542, 44
     Tank destroyer platoon, light88-9445
     Tank destroyer section6332
     Tank destroyer squad6229
     Tank hunters210124
     Transportation platoon14375
Command posts150, 165, 166, 173, 183, 20580, 91, 96, 105, 120
Commanders:
     Antiaircraft section6435
     Battalion147, 16678, 91
     Communication platoon15988
     Duties32-3516
     Estimate of the situation3316
     Group196, 197, 200, 203115, 116, 119, 120
     Headquarters company15080
     Initiative4421
     Motor maintenance platoon16189
     Orders32, 3516, 17
     Personnel reconnaissance3416
     Preparation for combat3216
     Reconnaissance units11658
     Security section7037
     Tank destroyer company98, 104, 17349, 52, 96
     Tank destroyer platoon8241
     Tank destroyer section6332
     Tank destroyer squad27
Communication platoon 140 73
Communications:
     Ciphers231137
     Codes18, 21, 23111, 13, 137
     Emergency1711
     Messages25, 165, 21314, 91, 127
     Messengers17, 22, 10011, 13, 49
     Officer148, 150, 15980, 88
     Panels, air-ground21, 20713, 122
     Pyrotechnics20, 20713, 122
     Radio17, 18, 9711, 49
     Radio nets18, 166, 17011, 91, 95
     Reference points1811
     Signal operating instructions18, 1911, 13
     Signals, arm-and-hand1913
     Signals, visual17, 19, 63, 20711, 13, 32, 122
     Telephones17, 2411, 14
Cooperation5423
Counterintelligence154, 23283, 138
Counterreconnaissance119, 124, 187, 19062, 64, 107, 110
Cover position5724
Defensive action97
Defensive situations188, 189, 190, 195108, 110, 114
Delaying action123, 18562, 106
Demolitions12766
Direction of attack178101
Disciplinary training224132
Discipline12, 2368, 140
Divisions. (See armored, cavalry, infantry, and motorized divisions.)
Driver training226134
Drivers58, 6027, 28
Employment36-5618
     Attacks on tanks in assembly areas5523
     Avoidance of alinement5323
     Cooperation with other troops5423
     Decentralization5022
     Depth5122
     Elasticity4922
     Fire and movement4220
     Frontages5223
     Initiative13, 448, 21
     Maneuver40, 10420, 52
     Mass3920
     Mobility4020
     Offensive action3819
     Reconnaissance4822
     Recovery system5624
     Security4622
     Simplicity4521
     Surprise4120
     Terrain4321
     Warning service4722
Engineers2, 192, 1931, 113
Estimate of the situation3316
Executive, battalion148, 150, 152, 18380, 82, 105
Exploitation64
Fire, conduct of6229
Fire control148
Fire positions57, 62, 63, 8424, 29, 32, 42
First sergeant, tank destroyer company10049
Flank guards93, 17347, 96
Flank protection184106
Gas officer148, 16080, 89
Gas, persistent13068
Grenades, antitank16, 20910, 123
Group31, 192-20715, 113
Guides113, 18357, 105
Gunners58, 6127, 29
Half-track vehicles33
Harrassing action12362
Headquarters company, battalion28, 138-14415, 73
Headquarters company, group204-207120
Identification2113
     Aircraft228136
     Vehicles228136
Incendiary grenades209123
Individual training217, 220-233130
Individual weapons1610
Infantry2, 6, 168, 192, 193, 1991, 4, 93, 113, 118
Infantry division27, 186, 187, 18814, 106, 107
Information232138
Intelligence232138
Intelligence and operations sergeant14174
Intelligence officer148, 150, 15480, 83
Intelligence sergeant14174
Intermediate position57, 20524, 120
Leadership13, 2188, 130
Liaison187, 207107, 122
Liaison officers17, 23, 148, 164, 170, 20611, 14, 80, 91, 95, 121
Maintenance227135
Maps2514
Marches59, 60, 73, 84, 88, 92, 102, 127, 134, 173, 174, 188, 191, 197, 20527, 28, 37, 42, 45, 46, 51, 66, 71, 96, 98, 108, 111, 116, 120
Marksmanship225132
Matériel, armored forces33
Medical detachment145, 17377, 96
Meeting engagements176100
Message center sergeant14073
Messages. (See Communication.)
Messengers. (See Communication.)
Mines16, 128, 20910, 67, 123
Missions11, 48, 62, 65, 69, 110, 116, 121, 122, 126, 130, 147, 1788, 22, 29, 35, 37, 56, 58, 62, 65, 68, 78, 101
Moral qualities128
Morale12, 2368, 140
Mortars10855
Motor maintenance platoon14275
Motor officer148, 150, 16180, 89
Motor sergeant, tank destroyer company10049
Motorcyclists100, 10949, 56
Motorized divisions27, 186, 187, 18914, 106, 107, 110
Mounts148
Night attacks136, 21072, 124
Objectives6, 1784, 101
Observation aviation169, 187, 192, 193, 19794, 107, 113, 116
Obstacles2, 9, 38, 55, 1041, 7, 19, 23, 52
Offensive situations188-190108
Orders35, 132, 17717, 69, 100
Organization26-3114
     Battalion2714
     Headquarters and headquarters company27, 2814, 15
     Reconnaissance company27, 30 14, 15
     Tank destroyer company27, 29, 3014, 15
     Group31, 19215, 113
Panel and code corporal14073
Panels, air-ground. (See Communication.)
Park57, 170, 196, 20524, 95, 115, 120
Parked guns1510
Party, battalion commander's. (See Battalion commander's party.)
Patrols115-117, 13258, 69
Penetrations21
Personnel officer148, 150, 15780, 87
Personnel sergeant14174
Phase lines17398
Physical training223131
Pioneer platoon125-12865
Plans and training officer148, 150, 15580, 85
Plans of action, battalion172, 17798, 100
Plans of action, group199118
Platoon, heavy tank destroyer81-8541
Platoon, light tank destroyer86-9445
Platoon sergeant, communication platoon14073
Platoon sergeant, heavy platoon8341
Position in readiness5724
Positions5724
Projectors, smoke1810
Pursuit2, 90, 106, 127, 182, 188, 189, 2031, 46, 54, 66, 104, 108, 110, 120
Pyrotechnics. (See Communication.)
Radio (See Communication.)
Radio electrician14073
Radio nets. (See Communication.)
Radio operators18, 140, 22111, 73, 130
Raids210124
Rallying position57, 183, 19124, 105, 111
Rear echelon144, 150, 17376, 80, 96
Rear guard94, 17348, 96
Reconnaissance48, 105, 114-124, 129, 130, 132-135, 172, 174, 183, 187, 196, 197, 23022, 53, 58, 67, 68, 69, 96, 98, 105, 107, 115, 116, 137
     Air16994
     Armored2, 81, 4
     Battle38, 12819, 85
     Cavalry190, 198110, 115
     Company30, 102, 109-137, 168, 174, 175, 182, 18515, 51, 56, 93, 98, 99, 104, 106
     Corporal, heavy platoon8341
     Corporal, tank destroyer company10049
     Firing position10352
     Personal34, 17716, 100
     Platoon114-12458
     Route17195
     Section114-12458
Recovery system5624
Reference points. (See Communication.)
Reorganization2, 8, 107, 183, 2011, 4, 55, 105, 120
Reserves85, 105, 126, 178, 181, 18544, 53, 85, 101, 103, 106
Retrograde movements188, 191108, 111
Road blocks123, 12762, 66
River crossings188, 191108, 111
Salvage227135
Scouts109-11356
     Day movements11156
     Guiding units11357
     Mission11056
     Night movements11257
Security46, 63, 72, 91, 101, 122, 130, 137, 171, 173, 175, 23022, 32, 37, 46, 50, 62, 68, 72, 95, 96, 99, 137
Security section68-80, 8437, 42
Sergeant major14174
Signal operating instructions. (See Communication.)
Signal sergeant, tank destroyer company10049
Signals, visual. (See Communication.)
Smoke6, 16, 108, 2104, 10, 55, 124
Smoke projectors1610
Staff147-16678
Standing operating procedure129, 16767, 93
Supply67, 143, 156, 17336, 75, 86, 96
Supp]y officer148, 150, 15680, 86
Supply sergeant, battalion14174
Support of divisions191111
Surgeon148, 150, 16380, 90
Tank attacks64
Tank destroyer, company29, 58-108, 171, 173-175, 178, 18515, 27, 95, 96, 101, 106
Tank destroyer, section6332
Tank hunting55, 80, 208-21023, 41, 123
Tank tactics4-84
Tanks2, 3, 10, 121, 3, 7, 8
Task forces2, 551, 23
Telephones. (See Communication.)
Terrain appreciation229136
Training71, 216-23737, 129
Transportation officer148, 16280, 90
Towed guns1510
Warning nets196, 214115, 127
Warning service47, 211-21522, 127
Weapons14-168
Withdrawals79, 94, 127, 188, 189, 191, 20241, 48, 66, 108, 110, 111, 120
Zones of action178101
 


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