/ ^ B FM 1-116
■ACTICS, TECHNIQUES,
ANfe PROCEDURES
FORTHE
CAVALRY/
RECONNAISSANCE
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HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
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FIELD MANUAL
NO 1-116
♦FM 1-116
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 20 February 1991
TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES FOR THE
AIR CAVALRY/
RECONNAISSANCE TROOP
CONTENTS
PREFACE
Chapter 1. MISSION AND ROLES
AlrLand Battle Doctrine
Mission
Organization
Capabilities and Limitations
Chapter 2. COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS, AND
INTELLIGENCE
Commander’s and Subordinate Leaders’ Roles
Command and Control Process
Command and Control Facilities
Communications
Operations Security
Chapter 3. EMPLOYMENT
Page
. iv
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-6
2-1
2-3
2-4
2-7
2-8
Section I
TASK ORGANIZATION
Employment Considerations
Scout-Weapons Team Composition
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
' *This publication supersedes FM 1-116,14 August 1986J
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3-1
3-2
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Section II
RECONNAISSANCE OPERATIONS
Missions 3-5
Fundamentals 3-6
Techniques 3-7
Route Reconnaissance 3-10
Air Route Reconnaissance 3-15
Zone Reconnaissance 3-15
Area Reconnaissance 3-18
NBC Reconnaissance 3-22
Section III
SECURITY OPERATIONS
Purpose and Missions 3-27
Fundamentals 3-27
Screen Operations 3-28
Guard Operations 3-32
Covering Force Operations 3-34
Air Assault Security Operations 3-34
Section IV
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
Air Combat Operations 3-36
Counterreconnaissance 3-41
Passage of Lines 3-41
Feint 3-44
Demonstration 3-44
Raid 3-45
Section V
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Types 3-45
Movement to Contact 3-45
Hasty Attack 3-46
Deliberate Attack 3-47
Exploitation 3-49
Pursuit 3-50
Section VI
DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Purpose and Mission 3-51
Close Operations 3-51
Page
Rear Operations 3-53
Deep Operations 3-54
Section VII
RETROGRADE OPERATIONS
Purpose and Mission 3-54
Delay 3-55
Withdrawal 3-56
Retirement 3-57
Chapter 4. COMBAT SUPPORT AND COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Section I
COMBAT SUPPORT
Fire Support 4-1
Tactical Air Support 4-2
Engineer Support 4-3
Air Defense 4-3
Signal Support 4-4
Army Airspace Command and Control 4-4
Section II
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Planning and Coordination 4-5
Supply 4-6
Maintenance 4-6
Personnel Services 4-6
NBC Detection and Decontamination 4-7
Field Services 4-7
Appendixes, Glossary, References, and Index
Appendix A. RISK MANAGEMENT A-1
Appendix B. THREAT OVERVIEW B-1
Appendixe. NBC OPERATIONS C-1
Appendix D. COMBAT ORDERS AND REPORTS D-1
Appendix E. AEROSCOUT OBSERVER RESPONSIBILITIES E-1
Appendix F. TARGET HANDOVER PROCEDURES F-1
Appendix G. AERIAL OBSERVATION G-1
Appendix H. KIOWA WARRIOR EMPLOYMENT H-1
Glossary Glossary-1
References References-1
Index Index-1
iii
PREFACE
The air cavalry/reconnaissance troop is an organic element of the regimental aviation
squadron, cavalry squadron, reconnaissance squadron, or air reconnaissance squadron.
It is organized and equipped to perform reconnaissance and screening operations in
support of the overall scheme of maneuver. Successful employment of this organization
on the modem battlefield depends heavily on the synergistic efforts of combined arms
forces.
This publication describes the organizational structure of the air troop and its doctrinal
and tactical employment on the modern battlefield. Appendixes A through H provide
supplemental material on risk management, the threat, NBC operations, orders and
reports, aeroscout observer responsibilities, target handover procedures, aerial observa-
tion, and Kiowa Warrior employment. The L-series TOE serves as the basis for the unit
discussed. This field manual is based on the doctrinal and tactical employment prin-
ciples outlined in FMs 1-100, 1-111,1-114,1-117, 17-95, and 100-5. It is intended for air
troop commanders as well as squadron commanders. It is also a practical tool for ground
commanders, because ground and air troops will likely be employed in tandem.
This publication applies to commanders and staffs who will lead, employ, or fight with
an air troop and to soldiers assigned to this type of organization. It also serves as a
reference for flight crews learning to understand and conduct reconnaissance and
screening operations in the air troop.
The proponent of this publication is HQ TRADOC. Send comments and recommenda-
tions on DA Form 2028 directly to—
Commander
US Army Aviation Center and Fort Rucker
ATTN: ATZQ-DOT-DD
Fort Rucker, AL 36362-5263
This publication implements the following international agreements:
STANAG QSTAG Air Std
2014 506
(Edition Five)
2112
(Edition Three)
2253 174
(Edition Four)
2398
(Edition One)
2404
(Draft)
2904 665
(Edition One)
2999
(Edition One)
3497
(Edition One)
3805 45/6B
(Edition Three)
277
Title
Operation Orders, Warning Orders,
and Administrative/Logistics Orders
Radiological Survey
Roads and Road Structures
Friendly Chemical Attack Warning
Joint Anti-Armour Operations
Airmobile Operations—ATP-41
Use of Helicopters in Land
Operations—ATP-49
Aeromedical Training of Aircrews in
Aircrew NBC Equipment and
Procedures
Doctrine and Procedures for Airspace
Control in the Combat Zone—ATP-40
Procedures for the Employment of
Helicopters in the Antiarmor
Role—ATP-49
This publication has been reviewed for operations security considerations.
Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns and pronouns do not
refer exclusively to men.
v
CHAPTER 1
MISSION AND ROLES
This chapter describes the mission and roles of the air cavalry/reconnaissance
troops in AirLand Battle doctrine. It provides the organizational structure of
air troops within the various squadrons assigned to divisions and armored
cavalry regiments. It also describes the air troops’ capabilities and limitations.
Subsequent chapters refer to the actual employment of air troops. The air troops
serve as the squadron’s aviation scout-attack assets. They are one of the
commander’s most critical HUMINT-gathering assets. They collect and dissemi-
nate vital information that aids commanders in “seeing” the battlefield.
AIRLAND BATTLE DOCTRINE
AirLand Battle doctrine is based on seizing and retaining the initiative and
employing aggressive offensive actions to impose our will on the enemy. This doctrine
stresses the multidimensional nature of modern warfare. Air troop commanders
must understand all dimensions of the battlefield. This understanding is vital for
their decision on how to fight within a combined arms context. In previous conflicts,
commanders employed forces on the battlefield in only two tiers of ground mobility:
dismounted and mechanized. The evolution of aviation has added a third tier, air
mobility, which has become increasingly essential to successful combat operations.
Army aviation’s rapid, terrain-independent air mobility helps create tactical oppor-
tunities for commanders at all echelons. Therefore, commanders can operate inside
the enemy’s decision cycle and cause the enemy to make decisions that will disrupt
its initial plan. The air troops play a vital role in AirLand Battle doctrine by
performing reconnaissance and security operations and gathering intelligence. By
effectively using air troops, the ground maneuver commander can take the initiative
away from the enemy; he can conduct combat operations on his own terms with the
ultimate goal of destroying the enemy.
By knowing and effectively using the tenets of AirLand Battle, air troops can
enhance the squadron, division, and corps commander’s ability to capitalize on
opportunities against the enemy force. These tenets are agility, initiative, depth, and
synchronization.
Agility. Air troops greatly enhance the squadron’s agility because of the
capabilities of Army aviation on the battlefield. Agility is the ability of friendly forces
to act faster than the enemy. It is the first prerequisite for seizing and holding the
initiative. Agility requires flexible organizations and quick-minded, flexible leaders.
They must know of critical actions as they occur and act to avoid enemy strengths
and attac
