USMA - Armor Branch Home Page Armor Branch at USMA Armor is a fast paced dynamic branch. Armor represents the decisive force that ultimately determines the fate of battle.
Tanks are the primary offensive weapons in mounted warfare.
Using their firepower, protection from enemy fire, and speed they create the shock effect necessary to disrupt the enemy's operations and to defeat him. At the basic level, tanks can destroy enemy armored vehicles, infantry, and anti-tank guided missile units, but their greatest impact is at the operational level, breaking through the enemy defense, exploiting the success of the attack into the enemy's rear areas, and pursuing the enemy as he flees. So, although the tank is the principle armor defeating weapon in the Armor team, its primary role is not just to defeat the enemy's tanks but to destroy the entire enemy force. To complete this demoralization and shattering of the enemy's will, armor units employ their tremendous firepower, armor protection, speed, and mobility to mount sustained operations, in concert with mechanized infantry, and supporting artillery. While Armor is essential in fighting a sophisticated enemy mechanized or armored force, history has shown that armor units are also invaluable in lower intensity conflicts against less sophisticated opponents.