Armoured vehicles are excellent for destroying dismounted troops due to their cannons, heavy machine guns, and fantastic speed. But when they work alone, they are exposed.
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), underwent a week of anti-armour familiarization and revision with the Battalion’s Direct First Support Weapons (DFSW) Platoon in Townsville because it takes hours to set fire positions, exfil routes, and mutually supporting arcs of fire.
To help soldiers understand the potential capabilities of an enemy, soldiers were instructed in the fundamentals of anti-armour theory and engagement, including vehicle recognition.
In addition, they prepared 84mm Carl Gustav recoilless rifle anti-armour ambushes and received information on the support capabilities of DFSW’s Javelin missile launchers.
Modern militaries are predominantly mechanized or motorized, according to Corporal Oliver Drews, leader of the DFSW section. Hence it is crucial to engage armour in addition to dismounts.
Corporal Drews indicated that the 84 might use two to six tubes during an action depending on the number of troops and weapons available.
The more, the better, in theory. And we should have a more prominent place for the engagement.
While barriers and vegetation should be placed between attackers and their targets to impede any vehicles trying to rush the anti-armour crew, weapons need a clear line of sight.
“Your friends are always going to be reconnaissance and terrain.”
Which vehicle to engage often depends on a high-value target list for an anti-armour unit. Yet, they might strike the first or last vehicle in a column if they want to pin the formation.
They’ll be less manoeuvrable as a result, and if you can find the command variant, you should also focus on that, Corporal Drews stated.
Although the rifle companies of the Battalion don’t have Javelins like DFSW, they do have the 84s.
According to Corporal Drews, the weapons and vehicles an anti-armour unit is up against determine their effectiveness.
“To engage successfully, you need the element of surprise and a well-drilled section,” he explained.
We could engage from a great distance and remain undetected.
The month-long training program for 1RAR in February and March comprised a week of instruction with DFSW and a review of first aid, combat shooting, and communications for rifle company personnel.
