I understand infantry is mechanized and only travels on foot when in actual combat. However tanks travel faster than people can walk and run. How do tanks and infantry support each other without tanks being vulnerable by moving slow, given that tanks are also vulnerable without infantry support?
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Tanks are usually paired with mechanized (tracked APCs) or motorized (trucks) infantry. During a movement-to-contact, the force will normally be organized into a recon element, advance guard, main body, rear guard, and screening elements. Most of the tanks and infantry are in the main body, with maybe a platoon size element of each in the advance and rear guards. If an element of the force makes contact with the enemy, then the whole force will orient on the enemy to give battle. This is when the infantry will dismount to maneuver on the enemy force with tank support.
If they are assaulting a pre-planned objective, then tanks will usually be a part of the support-by-fire position that suppresses the objective to allow the infantry to maneuver close enough to the objective and dismount in order to assault on foot.
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