battle experiences 6

8/9/2019 Battle Experiences 6

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. wr. j,FTH ARMY CROUP

BA7TbE EXPERIENCESNo. 61 9 OCT 1944

' B a t t l e m e r i e n o e e * are publi shed r egu la r ly by th i s headquar ter s t o anableunlts i n t r a i ni ng t o p m f i t f r o m the l a t e s t combst emer ience a of o u r t m o p e norf i g h t i n g t h e G e m n Burope. Although the exper iences of ce r t a i n un i t s a t ap a r t i c u l a r l o o a t i o n ar e n ot n e c es s ar i ly a p pl ic ab l e t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l s i t u a ti o l u .t h e item8 publ ished w i l l be those b a s e d on p rac t i ca l exper ienoe and are reoormmtndedf o r ca re fu l cons ide ra t ion by u n i t s which may e n m u t e r s im i la r problems. Reportso f c o r r o b o r a t i v e o r c o nt r a r y e l pe r i e n c a s a r e p a r t i o u l a r l y d e s i r e d i n o r a e r t h a t t h ev a l i d i t y of t h e i n di c a te d b a t t l e l e s s o n may be determined.

By cnmannd of Lieutanant General ERADLtSY: c . $ , UC* M. LAAIDONColonel, A6D

Adjutant General

bbte: 'I'he f o ll o wi n g m a t e r i a l , e x t r a c t e d f r o m a mfmorandum of the 2d In f Div concern-iq t h e ex pe ri en ce e of t h a t u n i t i n l a r g e a o a le s t r e e t f i g h t i n g i n B r e s t , i s w r t h yof m t e a s i n d i c a t i v e of c o n di t io n s l i k e l y t o be encountered by u n i t s f i g h t i n g inGerman c i t i e s . A discuss ion of this sub jec t by the d i v condr ras publ ished i n B a t t l e&&pexriencere No. 50.

1. Bnanw de ie~be mthods. a. -Streeta were covered normally by s a z i n g f i r e ofautomatic rpns l oa a te d i n p i l l bo x e s and i n basgnea ts . P i l lb oxes were l o c a t e d fie-quen t ly a t s t r ee t in te raec t ionn .

b. mRiPlemen were p laced bo th i n upper s to r i es and i n basements ta c o r e r t h eautcnaatic rpns positions. Hiflemen were located alao in m y utted building^^ anal1holes haring been made in t h e remaining w l l l s t o e na bl e f i r e t o b e p la ce d in the cen-t e n o f blooks.

c. 'Buildings w i th i n th e i n t e r i o r of a block nornvsily were m t occupied as theydid n ot a f f o r d f i e l d s of f i r e and were e a s i l y s u m u n d e d .

d. " u i r e c t f i r e upad were kept a t some di st an ceand

were used main ly to f i r e a tu p p e r s t o r i e s , i n many ca se s denying t h e u s e o f u p pe r s t o r i e s t o arty obsrs.e. *A Large number of tu nne ls and undergmmd i n s f d l a t i o n a mere asea 8s pro-

t e c t i v e s h e l t e r s , a to re ro om e, o r repair shopa. Entrances t o these she l t e r s often w e rdefended.

f. *Buildings were se t afire f r e q u en t l y i n order t o b h c k th e advance of a t t a c k iienits. A ft er th e bui ldi ngs had burned out t h e a d d i t i s m i ?pen space gave the defenderfmpmved f i e l d s of f i r e .

2. Zones of action--F 'onaations. a,, aWidths of wrnse c;f a c t i o n were reduced bt o the he igh t and depth of t h e area to 'be ~ e u t r & l a e d .?zi-i &;l . tkrad, ! zones variedbetween. one and t w o block fronts with each p l a t - s igned .% rox or b b c k of b u i i d i w a ,4 d e f r d t e s t r e e t o r bui ld ing was mrsl@& i;s c a s c ~ A%S:W.;G dad m d plat*


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6 s Chet14oal mrta r s . "The 4.2 cm l m rt rss one of the m a t e ff ec t iva .mpport ing* m a I t waa able to shoot over h i p b u i l a i n g a to render support wi thiu 100 ydof f r o n t l i n e el en en ta . Large a m u n t s o f 1P ware a se d t a d r i v e th e enary ou t of c el a r s and b u i l d i w i n t o t h e rang e of r i f l e 8 and a t o a r t i c wpm,

7. m a n t r y weapow. a, *Tb. = st a ff sa t i v e t i ~ t a m t i o r m a p l o y e d r e r e Bd R'1-son SIP)e, and c a rb i ne 8 n m di ii ed f o r a u t a m a ti c f l m .

be 'H)10. ftmnishod l i t t l e au pp ort due t o l i m i te d f i e l d s of f i r s . They rrarw m-P la lly u eed t o c o r e r s t r e e t s l e a d in g i n t o t h e f l a n k s , acd m ~ r e oa8 ib l0 , co fife dos t r e e t s to t he f m n t to prevent t h e f mm c r o s ~ i l y t r e e t s and s h i f t l u g p o s i t i o n s

c, .Rocket lau nch ers m e m f i t a b l y snployod w *PL i t raa poss ib le to tdvcace wi thi n r an ge. Thsy rere e f f e c t i v e i n c l ea r in g o ut YI p o s i t i o n s i n h ou se s and pi.,lboxe&

dm .371m Ax guns rare h el d n ea r s t r e e t c o m e r s it ready por r it ions, f r & w h i c hthey could go i n t o f i r i n g p o s i t i o n r a p i d l y, f i r e and vith dr aw.

e. 8 6 0 a mr&s =re used on close-in targets, and r a m s i f e o t i r e i n baaping a

r l f lemen from mofs o r t o p f l o o r s of b u i ld i r g a. They were of m ro va lue i n s s sk d e nd i s t r i c t s t h a n i n s o l i d b l o c h o f h ig h buildings, bu t Ln both caaes rsw h e l p f u l inf i x i n g t h e enemy and i n p r e v e n t i n g his movaasnt t o new f i r i n g p o s i t i o n s .

f a '8 - m r t a p m v i d e d e x c e l l e n t s u p po rt a t r a n g e s no t t o ex ueed 1 500 yda. Mplacement mas normally by s e c t i o n a s e u i t a b l e are- f o r p l a t p o s l t io n a r a r e rare,om was used ex te ns iv e ly fo r sc reen ing and f o r a ao u al ty e f f e c t , and HK ( b o t h l i g h t a n dheavy) f o r d e s t r u c t i o n of b u il d in g s.

g .Band grenades ( f ragmentat ion and WP) were e s s e n t i a l f o r c l e a r r n g o u t t a ae -mente , ouses , n d p i l b o m s .

h. .Flame t h ro w e rs were us ed i n s e v e r a l i n s t a n c e s d e n d i r e c t f i r e upna couldnot be employed and proved a grea t incen t ive to the enemy to surrender.

8. h m u d t i o n s w ~ 1 ~ . Co sup dumps were maintained one block in rear of as-

s a u l t units, b ec au se f r o n t l i n e u n i t s c ou ld n ot n o n n a ll y c a r r y a f u l l day'n a p .

9* Ocnmntnications, a. * s C R 536 rad ios pmved to be of l i t t l e v a l u e, b ec au set r a n s m e s i o n and r e c e p t i o n i n b u i l d i n g s w e r e n ot good.

b. *w n w i th p l a t s w a s ma in tai ned by sound-gowered telep hon es.

10. Mine c l e a r i n q , * U e e t e c t i r y p e r s o n n e l from enn and p ion p la t s and fromcombat engm followed the assrnalt c l o s e l y i n o r d e r t o c l e a r m u t e s of advance f o r'I'D and AT rpm.

11. annineeps. 'nngr t r o o p s w e d o f i n v a l u a b l e a s s i s t a n c e i n t h e f o l l o wi n gr o l e s :

a. Capping walls, f l o o r s o r c e i l i n g s t o p er mit in f uni ts to advance.b. Clea r ing rou tes ma preparing p o s i t i o n s f o r s e l s - pr o p e ll e d rpm. T h i s o f t e n

was accompllahed during h ou rs of d a r b e s s w it h hand t o o l s t o av oi d d i s c l o s i n g ~ a a i -t iona,

c. ~ i l l i n g raters, which were numerous, w i t h rubb le from destroyed bizildjngsnd. r i l l i n g nueteroua AT di tchea by p lac ing exp los ives ins ide walls of adjacent

bu i l d in gs i n such a manner th a t the debr i s was b l o w n i n t o t h e d i t c h e s . T h i s w a sfound t o be much f a s t e r t h a n blo win g i n t h e s h o u l d er s o f . d i t c h e s , due t o i%zx andhard surfaced roads.

e. Checking a t r ee ta f o r mines. Some mines were found under regular ly spacedremovable concrete squares. T h e s e c o n c r e t e b l c ~ ~ k a ere not camouflaged =d mama:Pywould be presun e~d t o cover s l o t s f o r h o l di ng s t e e l r oa db lo ck s.

f . C u t t in g s t e e l r oa db lo ck s w i t h TMI'. This was found to be th e ~ u j kest .?.z:i!s a f e s t

method. - 3 -


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12. Conclus ions . nThe fol lo wing conclus ions have been reached a s a r e s u l t oft h e o p e r a ti o n :

a. G r ea tl y i n cr ea s ed i n i t i a t i v e i s r equ i red o f sqd and p l a t l d r s , b e c a u s e t h ecap tur e of each c i t y block and group of bui ld ings i s a d i s t i n c t o p e r a t i o n i n i t s e l f

be N a r r o w zones of ac t io n a re impera t ive .a . I n t e r i o r s o f c i t y bl oc ka , r a t h e r t ha n de fe nd ed s t r e e t s , p r ov i de b e s t a ve nu es

of advance.d. C o n s ol i da t io n o f p o s i t i o n 8 p r i o r t o d a r k n e s s i s necessary t o prevent enemy

i n f i l t r a t i o n d u r in g t h e ni gh t.e. Close a r t y how support i s normal ly impract ioable .f , D ir ec t f i r e a r ty , AT wpns, morta , gr e l~ ad es , lame throwers , and l i g h t auto-

ma t i c apne a re m s t e f f e c t i v e .g .

SCR 536 r a d i o s are u n s a t i s f a c t o r y when u s e d i n b u i l d i n g s .h. l&gr t r o o p s a r e i n v a l u a b l e i n c l e a r ing ro u t e s and accompl ish ing demol i ti ons,n

- 4 -.Pepmdoced by ,he Eng~neer eproducf~on Def, /Zfh Army


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TWELFTH ARMY c ~ O U P

BATTLE EXPERIENCES

n m t t P e U p e r i e n c e s ~ are pibUshed reguParBy by t h i s h e a d q m r t e r e t o e n a b l eu n i t e in t r a i n i n g t o p m f i t f m m t h e l a t e a t combat e q e r i e n c e s of our troop8 nowf i g h t i n g t h e Germane i n m p e . Although the ezper iemea of ce r ta in un i t e a t apar t icular Slouat ion a r e not necessar i ly appl ieab le to all units in ab% s i t u a t i o m ~t h e items publiehed v i l l b e t b a e based on p rac t i ca l . experience and a r e recormendedf o r ca r e fu l cons idera t ion by un i te which may encounter similar problems. Reportsof cor robora t ive o r con t ra ry exper iences are g & i c u l a r l y d e s i re d i n o r d e r that t h ev a l i d i t y of t h e i n d ia a t ed b a t t l e l e ss o n may be determined.

C. R. I o m m NColonelo fiD

Adgutant General0-----0_----_-_------------------------------------a--------------------------a--a---

1 DIGGING IN P A D QFF

Metet The value of pmper ly o rgan ized and prepred defens ive pos i t ions i s emphaeizedi n th i s acaount of a German counte ra t t aok aga ina t pos i t ions of a 1 st Inf Div u n i t i nth e Siegf r ied l ine zone*

1. A r t i l l e r y and m d a r preparat ion. Wn t h e night of 2 Qct U, t h e Oennansc o u nt e ra t ta c ke d p o s i t i o n s of o u r r e g t i n a n e f f o r t t o a e i z e an important mad andridge. The counterattack w as preceded by the hea vies t arty and m r t prepara t ion towhich we had ev er been subjeoted. The pr ep ara tio n began a t 2300 hours and l ae tedunt i l 0130 hours, an estimate d 2808 to 3000 m u d 8 f a l l i n g d ur in g t h a t p e ri od .

2. I p w carrualty rate. The area covered by the barrage was approximately 1 5 Qyda i n w id th and 1000 yds i n depth and vaa occupied by approximately 200 men, Onlye igh t men were killed o r wounded d urin g t h e barsage and t he m u t e r a t t a c k t h a t fo l-lowed* T he low caeualbty r a t e i s a t t r i b u t e d t o th o ro u gh ly pr ep a re d d e fe n s i ve p ~ a i t i o n eincluding deep and w e l l covered foxholes, W e e p o s i t i o n s h ad b een c o n t i n u a l l y im-proved during the few days we had occupied the defensive area,

3. 'I'he Germane ao un te ra tta uk , mFolitovillg h e pr ep ar at io n th e Germana at ta ck edi n two ravea, mgrs and F n f i n t h e f i r s t were t o e e l- t h e p il P b o re s and i n f in t h e

secopd was t o occupy themeSoIthe

of the f i r s t wave managed t o maah our p os i t io ns butth e second wave uas c u t o f f and dlepersed by our planned arty and m o r t f i r e s , Of f o9P assault guns tha t a t teaqpted to pene t ra te our pos i t ion s , th re e were knocked out wht h e y h i t o u r mine f i e l d s and o m was abandoned because of = t o r trou ble.

4 e R e s t o r i w o u r l i n e a . m ~ 4 n gh e e n t i r e o p e r a t i o n a bo ut f o r t y Germans r e r ea b le t o p e n e tr a t e t h e p o s i t i o n and seize one pi l lbox. A l l of these had been killed,aaptured or driven out rhen our f in s6 were resto red a t 0500 hours. Tr i p f l a r e 8 and6- n k x t f -00 w e r e used e f f e c t i v e ly i n t h i s a c t o b


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Y3eme hrnran pfllbogea have been 0 0 we ll aaraoufla&ed th at de te et io n i s moat diff.i-~ I l l t a In a few ins ta nc ss we sprayed aw pec ted are- with BdS f i r e and l o ca t ed t h e p i l l -boxes by t he r i aoahe t se We then used 7% and 10- Hrs t o c lea r off the ae~eouilago andAP s h e l l s t o penet ra te the d0ors.~--S-3, 16th Inf Regte

m t e i PJc;Oe and pv t s of Go PC, 11 th Inf' made the following mmrmntsa

n ~ h e es t mental cond i ti oning f o r o ff ens ive i i gb t i l l g l a a gradual introduction t ocombat. Te n dam of &kg in defensive combat a t t he beginning gave our out f i t a chancet o l e ar n w h s t i t meant t o be under f i r e o the va lue of our own f i r e powero how %o t e l lthe differenas between Je r ry wpna end ou r om , how t o keep ou t of s i g b t , an8 mham wcould depm 2 as our r e e l 1 & a a I t took away t h e f i r s t te ns en ea s of b a t t l e and gaveUB ~ ~ I l f i d e n o e . Alsoe ve ry important, it w v e us a good idea of t h e toughness and a b i l i -t y on the enemy, 1 aras the best way t o g e t experienceam

M t e : nz t r ac t ed f m . s h Inf M v mamrandm on combat in P O O ~ ~he fol%or8ne; de-~scr ibea one technique of c lose t e s r a i n f i gh t ing .

l e O r W z a t i o n . r ~ ~ roods % i & t i n g specd i l t a sk un i t s are %owed cons i a t i~ lg fa s s a u l t o support and reserve gmugsp The aeseult groups are srganized f o r shere wm-Ira$- w i t h t h e enemy end the suppork g r o ~ ~ sOF p r o d d i n g them d t h suppsrtfng f i r e s andd t i h pro tec t ion fo r t h e i r f lankso The resespea a r e maneuver fo rces t o exp lo i t t heare- where maxfmum g w g r e a s is b e i n g mde.

2. _Assault a d supporn groupss &&ch r i f l e c i s Uvided in to tam a s s a u l t and twosupport u n i t s , The assault groups r n asnaed with grenades$ BARS and r i f l e s andl fneILLBea number sf e x p e r t scouts c a p a b l e sf maintaining direction when advancing through densemods. Within t h e eo t h e y move on parallel azimuths and ars mutually s u p p r % i n g o Thesuppsr& gmupe have L W k , 6 0 i m L.*F%S t?9d ~ . f f i b i e n t i f l e8 $OF their Fmnediate localprotec t ion . 'a'hsy fo l low th e a ~ s s u l t roupa by % o a d s always ready t o give c b a e aup-por t and flank p m t a c t f s n *

Concrete fort iff cation^^ *Wba a concrete fart if icsL Pon i e encountered an as -sault group determines i t s type and size, dmps off t h e midam number of men to eon-tain i t , and a f t e r r e p o r t in g t h i s information t o i t s next superior, continue8 on i t smissions A sp ec ia ll y organized and equipped ta sk f o r c e then comss up and seduces theconcrete f o r t i f i c a t i o n .

4. meraiw from woods, sBefore arr iving a t t h e far edge sf the mods timelyarrangements are made f o r resuming normal combat formations upon breaking into theopen,

hhse muaced a CR 43 8 i n my jeep and have corn ahtb everybody j8nclud.t~ n ye r t y b ~ l a E l i k e i t b e t t e r than the SCF4 284,B--C89 9th h f Re&,

rn


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T W E L F T H ARMY GROUP

BATTLE EXPERENCES

" a t t l e l X p e r i e n c e s @ are p u b l i s h e d r e g u l a r l y by t h i s h e a dq u a rt e rs t o e n a bl eunits i n t s a i n i rg t o p r o f i t from t h e l a t e s t combat eq e r i e n c e s o f our t roops norf i g h t i n g t h e Germam i n m m p e , Uthaugh the exger i ences of c e r t a i n u n i t s at apa r t i cu l a r l o c a t i o n a r e n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a p pl i o a b le t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l situatiolU3et h e items publ ished w i l l be those based on p ra c t ic a l e ~ e r i e n c e nd are reoarmendedf o r c a r e f u l c o n s id e r a t io n by u n i t s wnicn m y ncounter similar problams. Reportso f c o r r o bo r a t iv e o r c o n t r a r y q e r i e n c e s are p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i r e d i n o r d e r t h a t t h ev a l i d i t y OI t n e indicaeea b a t t l e l es s on may be determined.

By canmand of Lieutenat General W L g y :

C- *J%KdidC e W e U N I O N

Colonel, AGDAd j u t an t Genera l

s P - m _ - ~ - - - - _ - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ - - ~ - - - - - - - - ~ - - - ~ - - ~ - ~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I ~ ~ n Y - T ~ - ~ ~ .CTION ICN THE SWFRPKD IJ?&

P. Source, %ginning om 17 Sep the 3 r d Armd Croup, composed of th e 74ns t and747th t k b m , w ? s a t t a c h e d t o t h e 2 8 t h Inf Div which used i t a s part or a t e s k f a r c ehaving the mission of widening a gap which had been made i r the S i e g f k i e d Line. ' rhecomments below ar e e xt ra ct ed f r m a m p s r t s f t h e t k group comdr t o t h e CG F i r s t k m

2, ~ m o s i t i o n , tzen,g-ch an d oraanization, *.l 'he b u l k of t h e r'orce rae composedof t h e t b with on e i n f co a% g r s ~ t l y educed s t rength eupport ix ig each t k bn. U c htk bn h a d about 33 mdiun t k s . sech bn was organ ized in to ta o somposite coe. Tkdozers were a t t a c h e d t o t h e a s e a u l t c o s a n d r i l l a v a i l ab l e a s s a u l t guns were place d i np o s i t i o n s g e m a i t t i a g &ire& f i r e s u pp or tp

3 . Plaa and opera t ion , "The g e n e r a l plan s f a t t s e k was f o r the Z i c s t o a s d tp o s i t i o n , gain f i r e s u p e r i o r i t y an5 f o r t h e inf the n t o move i n and occupy the posi t ionutii a t k 5ozer ha d covered t h e embrasures an d e n t r a n a e s to t h e p i l lb o x . I n f o u r d ay sof o p e r a t i o n 49 p i l P b o ~ s were b=ied and an add i t iona l e igh t were cap tu red by t h e t af o r c e m a des tmyed by engineers ,

Hos t i l e counter neasuresp -~.I+%r3r he secood d a y o f o p e r a t i s a s , th e enemy mf i e i s tac",ic t o mest CG P methods w f t k i nc re as in g e f f ' e c t i ~ e n e s s ~ e mined the groi n fron",of e n b r m u e s and en t rances and s t a t ion ed bazooka m n in foxholes around thep i l b b o x e s and i? seme cases on t o p sf t h e piLPborss,

5. k c b m e o u r t a c t i ~ ~ lm s were then drawn up f o r a c o o r d i n a t e d a t t a c k byt m i d O ~ O r r e i n f o r c e d tk co and o n g r s working i n teams on a group of p i l lboxesa b u t 2060 meters f r o m t h e l o c a t i o o sf th e p rev ioua a t t aek ,


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6 , glmnina, and operation. "he teams were w e f u l l y b ri ef ed and r e b r i e f e d asto a i s s i o n s , r o u t e s , s i g n a l e , e t a . on large-acale maps, ae r i a l pRoto8 and a ct ca l l y onthe ground. b r i e f in@ rere a l l a t j oi nt meetin@ which were held over a perioda f t h e e days.

7, Deception. 'During th e b r i e f i ng and p lann ing pe r io d , da i ly davs r s ion a t t ac ksworn made by th i n t h e a r e a of p r i n c i p a l o p e ra t io n . On t h e day the main attach wa.9launched, another s t rong div ers ion was c a r r i e d o u t by t k s no t Included i n the mainat tack and re inforced by nwrts and a s s a u l t gun80 T h is a t t a c k l a s t e d f m m 0730 to 1130and drew extremely heavy a r t y and m r t f i r e .

8. The main a t t ack . 'The main attack jumped off a t 0930 and i n the beginningdrew a l r J los t m f i r e a s a r e s u l t , i t i s be li ev ed , of t h e de cept ive methods employed.

he a s s a u l t teams were composed of a sqd of i nf supported by two tk a and s u f f i c i e n tengrs t o des t ro y th e pi l l box es when taken. In s i x hour8 e leven pi l lbo xes were cap-tured and 31 p r l a o w r s t ak en i n a s t r o q l y d efended a re a.

9* Con.. on. Where the enamy i s r e l a t i v e l y d is o rga n i ze d , a t t a c k by t k s aloneo r a t t a c k s witk a minimum of inf support , w i l l accomplish resul ts even against con-c r e t e emplace mentsb but when h is def eme begins t o tak e on form and coord inat ion, prof-i t a b l e r e s u l t s c an be o b t al n ed o n l y t h ro ug h c s r e f u l i y p la nn ed a t t a c k s of inf- tk-engrt e ~ e

10, Miscellaneous obse rvati ons. a, 'On f a i r l y l ev e l p u n d , a t k dozer can ef-f e c t i v e l y b ur y a p i l l b o x i n a bo ut 15 minutes.

b. 'Covering up pillboxes s t i l l occupied by the enemy has a psychological effect .A number of PWs s ta te d t h at they su re ml er ed because they pre fer red th at t o beingb u r i e d a l i v e ,

c. ? ~ k s an blow openings i n drsgons t e e t h w it h d i r e ct f i r e from their cannon.About 3 0 rounds ar e r e q u i r e d t o blow an opening la rg e enough t o p e m i t pasaage of at k o e

% system of area AA d ef en se u as i n s t i t a t e d i n t h e - iv area, by ai AAA AW Bn,t o e l i m i n a t e a t t a c h i n g AA el em^:^ 9 t r r F A Bnsa The purpose was t o prevent th e highc o ~ c e n t r a t ~ o n f BA which r e s d 5-1 f'mm k b-mching of F A uni t s . A A guns were placedtwo i n each 1000 metep grid aquare. ' Ih is r es ul t,& . i n b e t t e r p o s i t i o n s b e in g s e l e c t e dand permi t t ed a h igher pe rcen tage o f fire u n i t s t o s m i n i n p o s i t i o n a t one ti ma , Itsiap1FTied coms and AAAIS, and also g a v e r e l i e f f r o m c o u nt e r ba t t er y f i r e as t h e rearg u lways l eap- frogged t o the f m n t of t h e s e c t o r on a T f ~ a u - 4 A Bn After ActionHcport.


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T W E L F T H ARMY CRQUP

BATTLE EXPERIENCES

No.6 4 13

OCT1946

%a t t l e m p e r ie n c e s * a r e pu bl is he d r e g u l a r l y by t h i s h e a d q w e r s t o e na b lem i t e i n t r a i n i n g t o p r o f i t f r u n t h e l a t e s t c ambat e x p e ri e nc e s of our t ro op s nowf i gh t i ng t he Ge rmans i n Xurope. A l though the exp e r i enc es of c e r t a i n blnits a t ap a r t i c u la r l o c a t i o n a r e no t n e ce s sa r i l y a pp li ca bl e t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l s i t u a t i on s ,t h e i t e m s p u b l i s h e d w i l l be t h o s e b as e d on p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e a nd a r e r ec w n e n d e dPor c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n by u n i t s w h ic h , m y e n c o u n t e r s i n i l a r prob lems . Repor t so f c o r r o b c r a t i v e or c o n t ra r y ex p er i en c es ak e p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i r e d i n a r d er t h a t t h ev a l i d i t y of t h e i n d i c a te d b a t t l e l e s s o n rnay be de t e rmined ,

By command of Lieutanant General i 3 W L E Y :

c.W*-. R . U i O hC o l o n e l , AGDAd j u t a n t Genera l

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - - - - -I !EWGPOHTING AIV UdTANFRY H E ; G I i E i t T.

Note t The f o ll o wi n g s o l u t i o n t o t r a n s p o r t i n g en i n f r u s i n g o n l y t h e T of atehd cam-b a t u n i t 8 was worked ou t by t he 18 th Ia% Reg t ,

1. S i t u a t i o n . W t e r t h e b re ak -t hr ou gh ae w er e f a c e d w i t h t h e n e c e s s i t y of m o vi ngf or w ar d mare r a p i d l y t h a n f o o t t r o o p s c o u l d w al k i f we w ere t o k ee p p r e s s il r e o n a d i s -org ani zed enemy. There was no co rps o r army T a v a i l a b l e . A f t e r c r o s s i n g t h e s i n e,River we succe ede d i n u k i n g a r r angemen t s by which we co u l d move betw een 30 an d 35mi le s pe r day and s t i l l keep t h e men i n c o r d i t i o n t o f i g h t . P r i o r t o t h i s t ime w e haused a s many a s 108 Q! t r k s t o d o t h e same job.

2. B i e t h ~ d f t r a n s p o r t i n ^ t r o o p s . c o u nt e d t h e T of ou r a t c hd TD c o , 15+how bn, and 2 p l a t s o f med t k a a nd s e t up t h e f o l l o w i n g p l a n :

a. k a d i w b a t t a l i o n ( adv gd),( 1 ) R i f l amen rode t he 15 ki trks ( k i l o a d s and r o l l s d u p e d ) a nd t h e t r b a &

v e h i c l e s o f 2 t k p l a t s and %. TD p l a t .(2 ) Hv wpns co men rod e t h e i r own T .

b. Second ba t t a l i o n .

( 1 ) Rif lemen rod e th e wpes and T of t he FA bn of the CT.

( 2 ) Hv wpns c o men r o d e t h e i r o m T .c . T h ir d b a t t a l i o n ,The cn c o , AT c o , 2 p l a t s of t h e a t c h d TD (s ) , and a 15% how bc moved w i t h

t h i s bn . T he se o rg ns were a b l e t o c a r r y a l l of t h e r i f l e m e n o f t h e t h i r d b n .

3 . Adv an t ues . *Th is method of mo t o r i z ing t h e r e g t depends , of cou r se , on usingT of a t ch d u n i t s . I n t h i s d i v , i t i s n or ma l p ro c ed ur e t o a t t a c h t h e 9 n i t , 15%how a r t y , and t k a t o t h e CT an d t o a l w ay s a t t a c h t h e same u n i t s . H av in g t h e a t c h du n i t s c a r r y t h e f o o t s o l d i e r s f u r t h e r s m u tu a l u n de r s ta n di n g an d r e l i a n c e on e ac h o t h e r .An a d d i t i o n a l a d va nt a ge i a i n h a vi n g i n f r i f l e o r g ns a lw ay s p r e s e n t t o d ef en d the a r tu n i t s when ca ug ht by s u r p r i s e a t t a c k ~ . ~ - - s - 3 , 8 t h I n f R e gt i n m Board Report .


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I1 DESTROYXI.JGCAST STEEL PILLBCM TLTRKETS .* Ex p er ie nc e i n t h e B r e a t o p e r a t i o n s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e o n ly e f f e c t i v e method o f

s e du ci ng c a s t s t e e l t u r r e t s on p i l lb o x e s i s t o use a C-2 e xp lo s iv e cha rge of 18 159ar m are p l a c e d i n t h e e m br a su r e. None o f t h e d i r e c t f i r e wpns ( 3 . .guns and 15%how s) u s ed w ere a b l e t o p e n e t r a t e t h e s e t u r r e t s a nd t h e r m i t e g r e na d e s were i n e f f e c -t i v e b e c au s e o f t h e high p e r ce n t ag e o f s l a g i n t h e c a s t 8t e el .m - -2 5 th I n f D ~ T epor t ,

T o r e d ~ c e h e number o f g u id e s a nd r o u t e m a rk in gs an mmd PA bra i n I t a l y usedt h e f o l l o w i n g SOP: ' Excep t when marke r s i nd ic a t e a t h e r w i s e t h e a mi& a t a y s on t h e sssd,A t a @ Y qj u n c ~ k o n i t h e q u a l s c a d c o n d i t i o n s i t t akeb= he right-hszi f w k , Upon m -r i v a l a t a c r o s s r o a d i t c o n t i n u e s s t r a i g h t a h e . 9 6 , pbr r-,x$zc?ordinar,5r .nt--r-r-n,t;tio~.,q.g.

"

main t r a f f i c c r o s s r o a d s , o r an y p l a c e s where dor.:'::~L ruiy ~ r i s ~ , 5un~::c i c l dxop.prd,@--AG F Board Repor t .

I V HEPAIR OF 5i- U - F O U R CABLE.*The fol lowing method of s p l i c i n g sp ir al -ib cc.::ble was c ie v i~ e d . E ^ c F . : : . . ~ P i ' L e I ~ c k

of equipment fa x e c u t i n g reg%fm- f a c t c r y splices : 'OD eseh s . i i 2 ~ 04 .-'ria- tzreek p - ;Sack t h e r u b b e r i n s t i l a t i o r ; & b ou t s i x i n eh e ;s , a t % be ~ 7 3 ~ 6 : i;.. b r > % i e f i . a -t a c t . Then p e l back t h e s h i e l d over the r u b b e r iasu.l.e,&ion, exposing f h ~ ; ~ l r d u c & m r ; ~S p l i c e t h e conduc to r s a t s t a g g e r e d i n t r - r r a l s of . F d 2 ;:si Z f l xG. 1; P ) ; L ; . ~ s & ; aobd.trer!iic-5 t e r n Uni or, m e t h c x i . Corer t h e exposed d - e a of' 'i."e z o n c d c t c r s ; l % h sne .L-g;er off r i c t i o n t a 5 e e m is pre7eat.a t k e 8hi+?g.< f 'rc=- u $ - & i z g . @ t = h.+ : ~ h t ~ = ,i a x t x s a i ;os e side of t h e z h i e l d back s v 2 r r h e I r ~ u l t t i o n ?zr tP& e 2 ; i . r ~ l:n!?t$ , ~ f h e ;;jlice& a . e e w e ii; by wrapp ing a i t h 2 s i z b i j g %ire, The o $ h e r & i d . , , s f ", ,i-L,e& a.- : , b 3 , . .AAGGs l i p p e d o re r t h e s p l i c e d a r ea i n t h e saxe m.nner, :has .$vi~~ig t 5 d o u b l j s h i e l d ,S o l d e r t c g e t h e r t h e t v ~a y e r s ~f s $ i e k Z a . i?r,2p t k ~a y e r r ni' b l a c k rabber , ~ u b c ; a ~ -i z i r i g t a p o ve r t h e s p l i c e and v i l l e e ~ i z e ~ r trout L h : r z ; y ~ u i a u L + : ~ ~ ' ~ ~ - - s i g , IjL Gorya.

V FROhT LINE CCNbiUhICATIOK3 FQR C U P S L ; I A I Y O I i U'FFICEI-iS,

Y'o g ive th e ca r ps I n 0s c a m f r a n f r o n t l i n e p o s i t i o m a. system of red: o ca rew i n g SC R 1938 and SCR 506s has been se t up by s i g bn, The u s e o f s i m p l e r e n o t ec o n t r o l s y s te m s w hi ch t h e bn has developed mk5s B t p o s s i b l e t o o p er a t e th e a e t a e ve nf r u n f m hole6.a--Sig 0 , XIX Corps.

AIR BURS15 ON C-L P I U G X Z 5 .

immediate ly upon the demol i t i on o f a cap tur ed pi l l bo x by our e-s the enemyi n v a r i a b l y c o v e r s i t w it h a r t y f i r e f u z e d f o r a i r b u r s t s . The qu icksess and accuracyof t h e s e f i r e s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e f i r e d a t a ha s be en g r e v i o u e l y p re pa re d. n- -C 0, 4 7 thI n f R e g t .


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TWELFTH ARMY CROUP

BAT TLE EXPERIENCES

No. 6 5 14 OCT 1944

* B a t t l e E x p er i en c e s* a r e p u bl i sh e d r e g u l a r l y by t h i s h e a d q u a r t er s t o e n ab l eu n i t s i n t r a i n i n g t o p r o f i t f r a n t h e l a t e s t c a sb a t e xp er ie nc e s of o ur t r o op s n orf i g h t i n g t he Germans i n E ur op e. A lth ou gh t h e e x pe r i e n c es of c e r t a i n u n i t s a t ap a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i o n a r e n ot n e c e ss a r i l y a p pl i ca b le t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l s i t u a t i o n s ,t he i t ems pub l i shed w i l l be t h o s e b a s ed o n p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e a n d a r e r e c a m e n d e df o r c a r e f u l c o n s i de r a t i on by wits which may e n c o u n t e r s i m i l a r p ro bl em s. R e p a r t sof c o r r o bo r a t i ve o r c o n t r a r y e x p er i en c e s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i r e d i n o r d e r t h a t t h ev a l i d i t y o f t h e i n d i c a t e d b a t t l e l e s s o n may be d e t er m i ne d .

By canruand of Lieutenant General B W I E Y I

0.8-C. H a W ~ NC o l o n e l r Am

Adju t an t Gene ra l

N ot e; N e u t r a l i z a t i o n of a s t r o n g p i l l b o x , by a p a t r o l o f t h e 5 t h R an ge r Bn, was e f f e c t e dthrough use of ex plo s i = en d g a s o l i n e a nd o i l . C o ns i de r a bl e d i f f i c u l t y was e x p er i en c e da s i n d i ca t e d i n t h e f o l l o w in g e x t r a c t $ran a r e p a r t of t h e Bn Comds.

1. C o n s t ru c t i o n. a m e p i l l b o x c o n s i s t e d of a 1 2 @ t e e l dane s e t on a c o n c r e t e em

p la c em e nt a p p r o x im a t e l y 3 0 D n di a m e t e r. The s t e e l e x te n d ed 6 ' below ground t o t h e r oof th e co nc re te emplacement. There were 6 f i r i n g em br as ur e8 e a c h w i t h a 1 2 ' s t e e l do o r.The pi l l bo x was on a k no l l and ha d a r e a r e n t r a n c e w i th s t e e l do or s.

2. S u n f ir e i n e f f e c t i v e . * P i r e f r m lXlO yda wi th l 55mmSP guns and f r a n 3 0 0 yds w i th3* guns w a s i n e f f e c t i v a . Sane r o un d s f r a n 300 y ds s t u c k i n t h e t u r r e t b u t d i d noti p en e-t r a e .

3. F i r s t a s a a u l t . " A p l a t of 22 men made a d i r e c t a ss a u l t on th e box on 17 S e p t ,r e a c h in g t he o b j e c t i v e a t l 5 O O hour s . Sup2or t i ng p i l l bo xe s were engaged by 3 r guns.The enemy r e fused t o su r r en de r and a 40 l b cha rge o f C2 was p l aced i n t h e v i s io n embra-s u r e a d j a c en t t o t h e e n tr a n c e and f i r e d a t . 1500 hour s . ,in extreruely heavy =art b a r r a gc a us ed t h e p l a t t o r e t i r e a nd t h e damage f rc m t h e b l a s t c o ul d n ot b e a s c e r t a i n e d .

4- S e c o n d a s s a u l t . * A t 2140 hours the same day an 11 man p a t r o l , c o ve r ed by a n a r t yba r r age , moved up t o t h e p i l l b o x a ga i n . The p a t r o l c o n s i s t e d of 2 scouts wi th Tamnyt he p a t r o l l e a d e r , 4 men w i t h p i s t o l s e a c h c a r r y i n g 5 g a l l o n c a n s o f an o i l and g a s o li nm i x t u re , 2 men armed w i t h p i s t o l s e ac h c a r r y i n g a 40 l b c 2 d e m o l i ti o n c h a r g e , one m a nc a r r y i n g a 5 0 l b b e e h i v e c h a rg e , and one man w ith a Tommy gun a s re a r gu ar d. Each 52charge waa p l ac e d i n a f i r i n g e m b ra s u re , t h e b e e h i v e c h a rge was p l a c e d o n t h e s i d e o ft h e p i l l b o x , and t he o i l and gas p@med aro und and ove r th e box and i n t h e e n tr a nc e .The b l a s t was s e t o f f w i th an 18 s econd fu se , and t h e box burned f a r 40 minutes . dl1men r e tu rned s a f e ly.

- 1 -


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5. R e s u l t s . "The e n t i r e a r e a s u r re n d e r e d t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y and t h e f o l l o w i n g r e -s u l t s of t h e a s s a u l t s were d i s c l o s e d ; a . The 40 l b c h a rg e a e t i n t h e a f t e r n o o n blew

a 3 - foo t ho le t h rough the s he l t e r wa l l , c aus ing heavy damage t o t he cm cr e t e box andI d l l i n g 1 2 men i n s i d e .

b. The c h ar g es s e t i n t h e e m b ra su re s a t n i g h t , t o g e th e r w i t h t h e g a s o l i n e , d e st r oy e dt h e i n t e r i o r o f t he t u r r e t , c m p l e t e l y n e u t ra l i z i n g th e p o s it i o n and k i l l i n g 3 more men.

c. The 50 l b beeh ive cha rge had no e f f e c t on the t u r r e t .d. P r i s o n e r s t a k en f r cm a d j a ce n t i n s t a l l a t i o n s s t a t e d th e e f f e c t s of t h e r a i d were

t e r r i f y i n g and t h a t t h e y b e li e ve d a f l a w thrower and o i l bomb8 had been used. Theya l s o s t a t e d t ha t aa a r e s u l t of t h e r a i d s a l l p e rs o nn e l re ma in ed a l e r t e d on t h e o u t si d eof o t h e r p i l l b o x e s t o p r e v e n t s imi la r ac t ion . "

I1 P a = ASSST A I R AmY Cli3jE;HVL.W.

* I t i s d i f f i c u l t f a r our a r t y a i r QPs t o s ee our infa ntry men when th ey move c ro s s

c o un t ry o r i n s p l i t columns a l o ng r o ad s . I n a r d e r t o a s s i s t t h e o b s rs we have adopteds u c c e s s f u l l y t h e p r a c t i c e of h av in g a p a n e l c a r r i e d by t h e f i r s t sq d i n e ac h p l a t . Onone occas ion one fo o t of p ane l he ld up f r an a dugou t was s u f f i c i e n t t o enab le t he obs rt o s p ot OUT t r ~ ~ p ~ . ' - - L t , 29th FA Bn.

1. Hand menades on t rees . *A PW s t a t e d t h a t i n his a re a hand grenades were atchdt o t r e e s . The p i n s were a t c h d t o r o p e s l e a d i n g t o f o x h o l e e s o t h a t t h e g re n ad e s c ou ldbe d e t o n a t e d f r a n a c ov er ed p o s i t i 0 n . ~ - - 2 9 t h M v 6-2 Repor t .

2. C i v i l i a n a i d . .Trio l o s t Di of a carps un i t r e c e n t l y a c ce p te d an o f f e r f r a n ac i v i l i a n t o g ui d e them. H e l e d t h e m s t r a i g h t t o a German CP where they = re i n t e r r oga tedand in t e rned . They l a t e r managed t o e scape and r e t u r n t o our own l i ne s . The i n c i d e n ti l l u s t r a t e s t h a t a c m p l e t e l ac k of f a i t h i n c i v i l i a n s i s necessa ry fo r adequa te s secu r-i ty.0 --30 th Div C-2 Rep ort .

3. bJ-'3 Howitzers (10%~). "To c m e c t a te nd en cy of t h e M - 3 how t o e l e v a t e i t s e l fa f t e r a ro un d h a8 b e en f i r e d , we h av e made a -11 brake drum, approximate ly four inchesi n di a m e t e r , w it h s e l f- s n ub b i ng a c t i o n t h a t w i l l l o o s e n i t s e l f and i s a d j u s t a b l e . T h i sd e vi c e ha8 p ro ve d q u i t e s a t i s f a ~ t o r y . ~ - - 0 r d , 9 t h In . iv.

IV NO CIVILIAN IX515TUCE.

S e c t i o n 11 of B a t t l e E xp e r ie n c e s K O . 49 , d a t e d 26 Sep t 44, s t a t e d t h a t t he 3dArmd Div had r e p o r t e d s t u b b a r n r e s i s t a n c e frau enemy c i v i l i a n s an d s o l d i e r s on 17 j e p t44. A l e t t e r j u s t r e c ei v e d fr cm t h e d i v c a n d r s t a t e s t h a t no c i v i l i a n r e s is t a nc e wasobse rved by o r r e po r t ed t o him and he c o n s id e r s t h e r e p o r t e r r o n e o w .


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2 . ! o r "The a r t y sn d 8lm r n c r ts w e re v e r y e f f e c t i v e i n r e d u c i n g rccvementof ;ers.:r.:~ol o c t . s i d c . 2f p i l l b o x e s b u t i t vias t h e 4.2 cml m c jr t s, f i r i n g 1 5 0 y d s a h ea d o ft h e a s s a u l t c c s , w hich n o s t e f f e c t i v e l y re du ce d t h e eneng' f i r e d u r i n g o u r a s s a u l t . I tw ~ s d t r l e c e s s ~ . ~ r y o u u e b a n g a l o r e t o r r e d o e s o r w i r e c u t t e r s f c r t h e i vi re had b een ~ r e t t yw a l l t o r r, u l by t h e L .2 m o r t b a r r a g e . rp--Bn C O * 1 1 7 t h I n f .

i. 3 c ~ t r 1 1 c t i o n f c l i n e s * "When m i n e s o r e t o be, d e s t r o y e d near t h e f r o n t l i n e s t ne yr h c u l d b ? c 5 l l e c ' e d i n on e s p o t a nd blown a l l a t o n ce an d n o t b lown i n d i v i d u e l l y o r i ns m r l l ;;il.es. We have foun d t h ~ t s e r i e s of e x p lo s i o ns w it h t h e r e s u l t i n g b la ck snok ei n - ~ le s e n m y a r t y f i r e . .

2. S e c u r i t y f o r m ine c l e a r i n f i p a r t i e s . "t h e s b ee n fo un d n e c e s s a r y t o h av e s c o u t si n xi7rclr.ce an d t o t h e f l u n k o f m ine c l e a r i n g p a r t i e s f o r s e c u r i t y. T he enerqy f r e q u e r i t l ya t t e n i t s t c a mb ush m in e c l e s r b n c e p a r t i e s o p e r a t i n g away fr o m i n f e 1 e m e nt s . m - -R e ~ o r t of1 21 9t V ~ g r I%..

I . . m te n na r e p a i r . "U sed l e n g t h s of op en c i r c u i t t e l e p h o n e w i r e h av e be en f o u n dv n l u z b l e f o r r e j a i r i n g d aniaged a n t e n n a on t h e SCR 3 d 0 an d SCR 536 r a d i o s .

2. Map read in^ , m a p r e n d i n g i n s t r u c t i o n , e mp ha si ze d i n t h e com p l a t w h i l e i n! 3 - i e l ~ n d , a s be en i n v a l u a b l e . Our men now h av e c o n f i d e n ce i n t h e i r a b i l i t y t o r e e d m apsand c an g e t t o t h e r i g h t p l s c a s e a s i l y when u s i n g them.

3 . s i g n e l 8 u p y : l~ . "In o u r d i v w e h a v e f o u n d i t b e s t du r.in g c m b a t t o h a n dl e s i g n a ls u & , p l i 6 s h r c u g h corn c h a n n e l s . Bi con! 0 s s u b m i t r e q u e s t s t o t h e r e g t l corn 0 , who i nt u r n p a s s e s t hem on t o t h e d i v s i g n a l s u p pl y 0. The s u p p l i e s a r e p i c k e d up f r o m t h eh i ~ h e r n i t by t h e l ow er u s i n g t h e same ch an ne ls . The r e g t l S-4 d i ~ r e g a r d s orn r e -q u i s i t i o n s s u b m it t ed t h ro u g h S-4 h a n n e l s and t h u s a v o i d s d u p l i c a t i o n s . A d va nt ag es a r et h a t s i g n a l s u p p l i e s c an b e o b t a in e d a nd r e p a i r s e f f e c t e d more r a p i d l y . C r i t i c a l s i g n a ls u p p l y i t e m c an b e r e g u l a t e d mo r e e a s i l y b y t h e corn 0 s. "- -C C 4 7 t h I n f Re&.

VII SlGP!ALLTNG A I R C R r n

"r+wo p l n t s o f o n e c o w e re i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e enemy a n d had pu s h e d f o r w a r d r a p i d l y.S u d d e n l y o u r p l a n e s u pi -l ea re d o v e r h e a d o n s bombing a n d s t r a f i n g m i s s i o n . A h a s t y c h e c kr e v e a l e d t h a t no p an e l s o r smoke grenades w er e a v a i l a b l e . D u ri ng t h i s t i m e o ne bombe x pl o de d be hi nd t h e u n i t and t h e s t r a f i n g was c l o s e . One p l a t w i t h d re w o ne h e d g e r c r t ot h e rear, w he re t h e men i m m e d i at e l y s t r i p p e d o f f w h i t e u n d e r s h i r t s , w h ic h were u s e dw i t h V-mail f o r m s , e t c . , t o f or m a l a r g e U.S. i n t h e m id dl e of t h e f i e l d . On t h e n e x tr u n t h 9 u n i t r e c e i v e d R f r i e n d l y s i g n f r o m o ne of t h e p l a n e s a ad t h e bombing and s t r a f i n gwa s c o n f in e d t o a n a r e a w h e re i t di d t h e most good. ' - -Repor t o f 2d Rn, 4 7 t h I n f .

" A e r i a l p h o t ~ . : r a p h s r e i n t e r p r e t e d a nd a n n o t a te d i n i n k , and t h en r ep h o to g ra p he dt o p r o v id e our p l o t l e a d e r s w it h an e a s i l y r e a d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of German d e f e n s e s i nt h e i r a r e a s. " - - c /s , 2 8 t h D iv.

Ern


15/65

T W E L F T H ARMY CROUP

B AT T L E EXPERIENCESNo. 67 18 OCT 1944

* B a t t l e E x p e ri e n c e s* a r e p u b l i s he d r e g u l a r l y by t h i s h e a d qu a r t e rs t o e n a bl eu n i t s i n t r a i n i n g t o p r o f i t f r u n t he l a t e s t ccmbat e x p e ri e nc e s of o ur t r o o p s nowf i & t i n g the Germans i n Europe. d t h o u g h t h e e x pe ri en ce s of c e r t a i n u n i t s a t ap a r t i c u l a r l o c at i o n a r e n ot n e c es s a r i l y a p pl i ca b le t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l s i t u a t i o n s ,t he i t ems pub l i shed w i l l be those based on p r ac t i ca l expe r i ence and a r e r ecamend edf o r c a r e f l i l c o n s i d e r a t i on b y units which may encounter s i m i l a r problems. Repor t sof c o r r o b o r a t i v e o r c o n t r a r y ex p er i en c es a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i r e d i n o r d er t h a t t h ev a l i d i t y of t h e i n d i c a t e d k e t t l e l e s s o n ma y be determined.

By camand o f L ieu tenen t Gene ra l B U i l L E Y t

C , , . X L - dC. h. LANUQNC 0 1 0 l E 1 , AGD

Ad j u t a n t G e n e r a l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. U s e of ma o ~ ~ O W U D S o r brief in^ t ank c rews . * U n d e r p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o m , f i t hp l e n t y o f t i me f o r t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of our a t t a c k s a g a i n s t enemy f o r t i f i e d p o s i t i o n s ,

we f i n di t

i n v a l u a b l e t o us e 1 / 5, 00 0 map b lo wu ps i n t h e b r i e f i n g o f t k cr ew s. Theblowups a re made by hand and tak e f our t o t e n hour s , but da ta such as p i l l b o x l o c a -t i on s can be put on the n and shown t o t he crews very c le ar ly . a - -Capt , 70th Tk Bn.

2. Tank and an t i t a nk gun s ~ o t t i n ~v a r t i l l e r y p l an e s. "The a r t y I n p l an e s s p o tenemy tk s and AT guns and c a nm un ic at e t h e e x a c t c o o r d i n a t e s o f t h e i r l o c a t i o n s t o u s .Our t k c o ccm31-s keep one r e c e i v e r 0x1 t h e I n p l an e f r e qu e nc y f o r t h i s purpose ,*--Cap t , 70 th Tk an .

1. Time banbs . T h e Germans have l a i d e ff ec t i ve t r ap s by se t t i n g two t ime banbsf o r de to na t ion wi th in a f ew manen ts o f each o th e r. Cm one occasion two such banbs,

p la ce d under s i d ew al ks d i r e c t l y a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t f r m e ac h o t h e r , went o f f f i f t yseconds ap ar t . The second exp los ion , a s p lanned , caught sane personn el who had ru nt o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e damage a nd a s s i s t t ho% in ju re d by the f i r s t b las t.*- -WD Board Repor t.

2. Use of c l v i l i a n c l o t h i k . *That Germans have been sendin g pat ro ls dres sed i nc i v i l i a n c l o t he s a c r o s s t h e r i v e r and i n t o ou r a r e a mas e s t ab l i s h ed when we captu redsame of them i n t he ac t of changing c l o t he s . These so l d i e r s pose as p o l i s h a n d R u s s i a nworkers. *--Ex 0 , 3d Cav Gp.

3. Dumny t r i c k . *This i s a t r i c k t he Gerruans have used t o draw our f i r e d u ri ngthe day. They f i x up a dummy, f u l l y d re s s ed and in c l ud i ng a shiny buckle on the u n i -f m . Then they p ut i t , buck le showing , ha l f - exposed , i n a f axho le on t h e i r s i de o fthe r i ve r.* - -Ex 0 , 3d Cav Gp.


16/65

I 1 1 SIEGFRIED LIhX EXPE;kIENC;ET.

Ko te r Un i t a o f t he 2d Armd Div r e p o r t t h e f o l l o w i n g l e a s o n s l e a r n e d d u r i n g r e d u c t i o no f a l a r g e n umber o f p i l l b a x e s :

1. G r ~ a n i z a t i o n . a . *One r e i n f o r c e d c o o bs er ve d t h a t t h e m o r t s q d s an d t h e hvMG s ec t i o n s s l o a ~ d h e a d v a n c e o f i t s t wo a s s a u l t t ea ms . I t was a l s o n ot ed t h a t f la met h r o w er s were n o t a lw a y s n ee de d a n d p r e f e r a b l y s h o u l d h av e b ee n h e l d i n r e s e r v e . k c -c o r d i n g l y , t h e c o n c l u s i o n waa r e a c h e d t h a t t e a m o f th e f o l l o w i n g c a n p o s i t i o n w o u l dm a s t d e s i r a b l e :

A s s a u l t T e W U M ~ ~ ) - U Q - e @ g

One p l a t of med t k s ( w i t h t k d o z e r ) o ne p l a t of I t t k aOne p l a t of i n f , l e a s m o r t a qd o ne p l a t of i n f , l e s s m oA n a r t y FO i n a t k One p l a t of hvy MG

One p l a t o f eng r s w i t h f l am et h r o w e r s a n d d e m o l i t i o n s

I n f p l a t s 6 o mm m o r t s q d sgrouped as a b t r y w i t h8- p l a t

2 , T . A hvy h1G p l a t a nd t h e I t t k s w ere u se d a d v a n ta g e o us l y i n t h eQop-up*. A l l w i r e s h ad t o be c u t a nd a l l ca np ar tm en ta o f p i l l b o x e s c a r e f u l l y s e a r c h e d ,a s a t el e ph o ne o p e r a t a r or a r t y o b s r o f t e n at t em p te d t o h i d e a nd r a i n b eh ind t o d i r ef i r e .

3. Flame throwers, " A n o t he r bn d i s cove red an unu sua l method o f u s in g t h e f l amet h ro w e r f o r r e d u c i n g a p i l l b o x , The p i l l b a x would be c o ve re d wi t h f i r e i n t h e u s u a lm an n er , a nd t h e f l a m e t h r o w e r t e am b r o u g h t f or w a r d t o t e s t t h e f l a m e t h r o we r s a ne w h er eb eh in d t h e l i n e of t k s , b u t where t h e o c c u p a nt s of t h e p i l l b o x c o u l d s e e t h e f l am e .U s u al l y, t h e p i l l b o x would s u r re n d e r s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r . However* hvy a r t y f i r e o f t e nmade i t d i f f i c u l t t o g e t t h e f la me t h ro w e r team w e l l u p.

4. F l a n k i n g a c t i o n . ' O u t fl a n k in g was f a d o be t h e f a s t e s t method of r e d u c t i o nwhere there was n o t a c o n c e n t r a t i o n of p i l l b o x e s . One a s s a u l t p l a t c o n c en t r a t e d on t h ep i l l b o x a n d w a s c ov er ed by t h e o t h e r a s s a u l t p l a t . One s e c t i o n p l a c ed hvy f i r e on t h ee m b ra s ur e s w h il e t h e o t h e r s e c t i o n moved ar o un d an d p u t hv y f i r e i n t o t h e b ac k o f t h ep i l l b o x . When t h e p i l l b o x s u r r e n d e r e d , i t a a s s e a l e d t e m p o r a r i l y by t h e t k d o z er ,E n g r a f o l l o w u s a n d w el d t h e d o o r s s h u t a s as h av e f o u n d t h a t d o z i n g o r b l o w in g t h eh a n d l es o f f t h e d o a r e i s i n su ff i c i en t . . * - -H epa r t f r a n 2d mmd Div.

I V THE M-10 TANK B T R O Y E H

1. m u n i t i o n f o r M-10. * I n p l an n in g f o r woods f i g h t i n g i t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h eb a s i c l o a d o f 3" am f o r th e LI-10 TD be modif ied t o i n c l u de a m a j o r i t y o f kP o r APC.The use of HE i s g r e a t l y l i m i t e d by t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t r e e bursts o n f r i e n d l y t r s ,

2, 50 c a l i b e r m a c hi ne m n s m ou nt ed on M-10s. Woun t ing t he .5O c a l MG on t h e r if or wa rd s e c t i o n of t h e t u r r e t o f an M-10 TD f o r u s e a g a i n s t p er s o n n e l h a s pr ov ed v a l -

ua bl e. When t h i s gunw a s

emp lo yed a g a i n s t i n t r e n c h e d enemy t h e y s h o r t l y s u r r e n d e r e d t oo u r a cc anpanying i nf ,

3. a ~ l o y m e n t f i n f a n t r y a n t i t a n k Runs, *The i n f 57mm AT guns s h o u l d be k e p tw e l l fo rw ar d be hi nd t h e i n f and a s t h e a t t a c k d e v e lo p s , a s s i g n e d t h e m i s s i o n of s e t t i n gup f l a n k an d r e a r r o a d b l o c k s . T h i s a l l o w s t h e TDs t o f o l lo w up g i v i n g d e p t h t o t h eAT d e f e n s e a n d a t t h e same t im e p r e s e r v i n g t h e i r m o b i l i t y, * - - C o t 773d TD Bn,

ENDk


17/65

TWELFTH ARMY CROUP

BATTLE EXPERIENCESNo. 68 19 OCT 1944

*~,;ttJ.e n r g e r i e n c e s r are p u b l i s h ed r e g u l a r l y by t h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s t o e n a b leu n i t s i n t r a i n i n g t o p r o f i t f mm t h e l a t e s t c o d a t e ~ e r i e n c e s f our t r o o p s nowf i g h t i n g t h e Germans i n wl-ope. Although the experiences of c e r t a i n u n i t s a t ap a r t i c i l l a r l o c a t l o n a r e n ot n e c e s s a r il y a p p li c a bl e t o a l l units i n a l l s i t u a t i o n s ,t h e j telns p u b l i s h e d w i l l be t hos e based on p r a c t i c a l expe r i ence and a r e recormtendedf o s careful c o n s i d e r a t i o n b y u n i t s w hi ch may e n c o u n t e r similar problems. Hepor ts3 Y - ~ - - ~ * o b o r a t i v e r c o n t r a r y e xp e ri en c es a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y desi red i n o rd er t b t t h eY - ? - , < - - - f h e i n d i c a t e d b a t t l e l e s s o n may b e d e te rm in ed .

By comaan6 ci' Lieu t enan t Gene ra l aRhDIgY:

c. l-C. fie L m o n iColonel , AGD

Adju t an t Gene ra l- - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -I WmHIP EPISODE.

"Cos B and C w e r e a t t a c k i n g a g a i n s t h e a v y o p p o s i t i o n * By a f t e r n o o n t h e CO and twop l a t l d r s of Co C were c a s ua l t i e s and on ly two p l a t s o f t he co r ema ined . The co comdrof Co B took command or t h e two p l a t s and w i t h t h e s e a nd ths remnants of h is co to&t h e bn o b j e c t i v e . When t h e G e m n s c o u n te r a t t a c k e d, t h e two p l a t s o f Co C w e r e i s o l a t e dan d Go B surrounded. Go B h el d t h e i r p o s i t io n u n t i l o rd er ed t o r e t r e a t . The co comdrt h e n l e d a n a t t a c k t i r e l i e v e t h e o t h e r two p l a t s , d u r i x which he p e r s o n a l l y h o c k e dout two MCs. A f t e r r e a c h i n g t h e two p l a t s he r e o rg a n i z e d an d f o u g h t h i s way back t o t h eb n a r e a , m a g i r i g t2 brirg a l l t he wounded with h i b n - - R e ? o P t f r o 2 3 5 th % a d Div.

n 't Wil e g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e S i e g f r i e d L in e a p l a t was g iv en t h e m i s s i o n o f h o c k i n g o u ta b un ke r s i t u a t e d o n a s t e e ~ nd heavi ly wooded h i l l . The p l a t p roceeded s lowly i n l i n eo f sqd columns or. a 50 yd f r o n t w i th s co u t s ou t 20 yds. The p la t idr m d p l a t sgt a c t e da s t h e c e n t e r s c o ut s t o f a c i l i t a t e c o n t r o l . Upon r e a ch i n g t h e e dg e sf the woods about75 y ds f ro m t n e ~ u l l k e r h e p l a t h a l t e d . T h re e C e m n s were nalkirag a long the edge o ft h e woods bu t t h e p l a t h e ld i t s f i r e u n t i l d i sc o ve r ed e I t t h e n s h o t t h e t h r e e Germansand rush ed th e bunker. 'Mo Germans ou ts id e prompt ly sur r ende red and two grenades throwni n t h e e n t r a n c e of t h e b un ke r br o u gh t a bo ut t h e i m me di at e s u r r e n d e r of t h e g a r r i s o n o f22 men. 'r'he e l emen t o f su rp r i s e b rough t abou t t h e r e duc t ion o r t h e bunke r w i thou t as h o t b e i n g f i r e d by i t s crewen--2d Bn, 47 th Inf.

I11 EXTRA AMWR ?LrZTE FO H CAR Id-8.

n A r e i n f or c i n g p l i t e of a n m m r o n th e belttom of the M -8 ermd c a r , i n s t a l l e d b yo u r o r d c o , h a s pr o ve d of v a l u e , I n one i n s t a n c e on e of t h e se c a r s , p a r t i a l l y re io -f o r c e d , r a n o v e r a m i n e w i t h t h e r e s u l t t hi lt t h e two men i . ; - dnt p r o t e c t e d by t h i sa m r were o n l y s l i g h t l y in j ur e d , whereas t h e two t u r r e t m- w i t h no added pro-tez=

t i on , we re k i l l ed .# --C0 5 t h HcnTr.


18/65

R NAZI ANTITANK TACTICS.

The 7 t h A d i r h a s r e c e n t l y e n c o u n t e r e d a t y p e o f German d e l a y i n g p o s i t i o n d e-s ig ne d t o d e s t r o y t h e l e a d i n g t k s o f an armd column and c ause con fu s ion and de l ay,The p a r t i c u l a r s e t- u p h a s be en e n c ou n te r e d r e p e a t e d l y an d t h e d i r has e v i d e n a e t h a tthe Germans have been s t u d i o u s l y ~ r a c t i c i n g nd p e r f e c t i n g t h e t ec hn iq ue . As e h o mi n t h e d i a g r a m be lo w, a c o v e r e d and p e r f e c t l y c am ou fl ag ed f o x h o l e f o r a two man ba-zooka team i s n o rma l l y d u g i n a s e m i - c i r c u l a r s ha p e a r o un d t h e c o r n e r o f a h o us e o rb u i l d l n g near ( 5 t o 50 y d s ) a r o a d , A c am ou fla ge d e s c a p e t r e n c h l e a d s f r o m t h e r e a rof t h e b az oo ka e q l a c e m e n t t o a n y n e a r b y c o v e r s u c h a s w oo ds, g a r de n s h r u b b e r y, or add i t i o n a l b u i l d i n g s , K B r e p l ac e d i n a V f o r m a t i o n w i t h t h e o pe n e nd o f t h e V f rom

30 9 t o 400 y da f r o m t h e r o a d i n t h e d i r e c t i o n f r om wh ic h o u r a p p ro a c h i s expec t e d ,When the co lumn i s p r e ce d e d by a d i sm o un te d p o i n t , f i r e i s w i t h h el d u n t i l t h e ba zo okateam i s c e r t a i n of k n oc ki ng o u t t h e l e a d v e h i c l e s . When t h e bazooka f i r e s , a l lopen up o n t h e r em a in de r o f t h e c olu mn , n o t ~ r i n c i p a l l y o c a ua e c a s u a l t i e s , b ut t ocause confus ion and make i t d i f f i c u l t t o a s c e r t a i n f ro m where t h e b azooka f i r e h a scome. Due t o t h e e x c e l l e n t c am ou fl ag e of t h e p o s i t i o n s and e s c a p e t r e n c h a n d t h e c o n -f u s i o n a a u s e d by t h e c r o s s - f i r i n g M3s, i t h a s b een f ou nd e x t r e m el y d i f f i c u l t t o d e t e r -d n e t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e r e s i s t a n c e . A p o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n c f f s r e d by a member o f t h ed i r , i s t o ha ve f o o t p a t r o l s , p r e c e d i n g t h e a r m o r, a dv a nc e v ii t h two c o l l ~ m n s n e a c hs i d e of t h e r o a d , a t d i s t a n c e s of 20 yds and 70 y d a - f r o m t h e r o a d ,

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19/65

TWELFTH ARMY CROUP

B AT T L E EXPERIENCESNo. 69 2 0 OCT 1944

* B a t t l e E x p er i en c es . a r e p u b li s h ed r e g u l a r l y by t h i e h e a d q u a r t e r s t o e n a b l eu n i t s i n t r a i n i n g t o p r o f i t f r a n t h e l a t e s t c an ba t e xp er ie nc e8 of our tr oo ps nowf i g h t i n g t h e Germans i n E ur op e. l ll th ou g h t h e e x p e r i e n c e s of c e r t a i n units a t ap a r t i c u l a r l o c a t io n a r e n ot n e c e s s a r il y a p pl i ca b le t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l s i t u a t i o n s ,

, th e i tem pub l i shed w i l l be those based on pr ac t i ca l expe r i ence and a r e recaumendedf o r c a r e f u l i c o n s i d e ra t i o n by u n i t s n h i ch may encoun te r s m i l a r problems. Report8of c m r o b a r a t i v e o r c o n t r a ry e x pe r ie n ce s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y de s i r e d i n o rd e r t h a t t h e

v a l i d i t y o f t h e i n d i c a t e d b a t t l e l e s s a n may be d e te rm i ne d .

By camnand of Li eu te na nt Gen era l B R B D U Y I

C. R . LANDON

Colonel . AGDAdjutant General

I Porn I u m F 6 H I P .

Examples of good l ead e r sh ip have been p re sen ted i n p rev ioue i s s ue s o f Ba t t l e Expe r i ences ,The f o l l ow i n g i n c i d e n t s , i l l u s t r a t i v e of po a r l e a d e r s h i p . rere r e p o r t e d b y an i n f b ncar& and may be o f equa l va lue i n t he f a rma t ion of a p i c t u r e of t h a t q u l i y.

1. g o o r d i s c i p l i n e . a. " ~ the midpo in t of a long foot march by an i n f bn theb n a d j u t a n t p as s e d t h ro u gh t h e c olum n i n h i s r s h i c l e on a r d e r s o f th e bn candr. AShe passed thro ugh the column one can& c a l l e d , 'Do you hare t o br in g th a t ---- j e epth rough he re? . La t e r t h e ad j u t a n t was a g a i n c a l l e d f ar wa rd t o b i l l e t t h e b n ar d ashe paseed the t r s t h e same c o c aa d r c a l l e d , 'I know th a t ---- bn drxsn't know what ii s d ai ng . W a r e p ro ba b ly l o s t a g ai n ." When t h e a d j u t a n t r e t u r n e d t o take t h e c oca ndr t o h i s area he r e fus ed t o go , whereupon the a d j u t a n t t ook the exe cu t ive andp o i n te d o ut t h e a r e a t o him.

b. during t h e CHEZBOURG campaign t h e bn du g i n on a m e e t o n . h i c h t h e enemywae accura te ly r eg i s t e r ed . The bn c d r dec ided t o move the cos fo rward t o lower groThe co ccmdr mentioned above bel iev ed t h i s t o be dangerous and showed marked hesita-t i o n and h i s h e s i t a t i o n c on ti nu ed i n t h e f a c e of a d i r e c t order. The bn candr assumedcomrpgnd of th e co and d ir ec t ed th e sec ond i n canmand t o move t he u n i t fo rward . The coccmdr r e t i r e d t o t h e r e a r . T h i s o c c ur r ed i n t h e p r e se n c e of the 0s and men and wasl a r g e l y responsible f o r t h e d e c l i n e of t h e co. ?he co ccmdr was r e l i e v e d .

2. Poor iudaement, "During t h e advance on L E S I Y , a c o was o rde red t o fo l low ther o u t e of a n o t h e r c o t o a c e r t a i n po i n t and t h e n s u i n g s t o t h e o b j e c t i v e . Witho ut r c nt h e c o ca P dr t o o k a n o th e r r o u t e a c r o e e o pe n t e r r a i n w i t h o ut d e p l o yi n g and r a n i n t oab ou t 100 Germans. sa ne 40 c a e u a l t i e s were i n c u rr e d b e fo r e t h e r e s i s t a n c e c o u ld beby-passed. Upon rea ch in g th e ob je c t im t he c o ccmdr p laaed moat of h i s men and hi sC P on a CR. E a r l y the n e xt m o rn in g German a r t y f i r e f e l l o n t h e CR and i n f l i c t e d t e nca su a l t i e s among the massed pe reonne l . Because o f poor l e ad e r s h ip , l a ck of r cn , f a i l -ur e t o use ccxunan sense and f a i l u r e t o obey o r d e r s , t he c o l o s t 50 men. The co ccmdrras r e l i e v e d . "


20/65

I I m L O M 6 E N T OF THE 1 5 5 1 ~ 1 UN SELF-PRaPfZLUD.

i. %e 15% gun SP ehauld be employed by d i re c t a t t achment o f a b t r y t o the d i va r t y. There ehou ld be ca r e fu l eva lua t io n of r eques t s fo r i t s f i r e and an ample a l low-a nc e of tim e f a r t h e b t r y c an d r t o s e l e c t p o 8 i ti o n s .

2. * In d e c i di n g a s t o i t 8 employment the fol low ing fa ct or s should be considered8

a. The no ise of the wpn and the maximum rate of march of20

miles per hour.b. I t s l im i te d r a t e of f i r e due t o t he d i f f i c u l t i e s of l o a d i n g w it h ou t e l e v a t i n gthe tube.

c. I t s h igh s i l h o u e t t e i n f i r i n g po s it io n .d. The abso lu te l ack of p ro tec t ion f a r th e c rews f ran S A f i r e . The gunner i s

p a r t i c u l a r l y v u l n er a bl e d ue t o h i s open p o e i t i o n on t o p of the tk .e . The huge muzzle bl-t which draw8 co un ter ba tte ry f i r e . * - 4 0 , 196th FA Gp.

1. u t e r n a t e r a d i o l i n k t o b a t t a l i o n s . *We h ar e ob ta in ed YCR 6 1 0 r a d i a s f a r u s ewithin our AT and c n c o s, I n a d d i t i o n t o p r o v i d in g l o ng e r r an g e ca n f c r t h e s e co e ,t h i s a l s o p e rm i ts a p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a t e meam f o r t h e r e g t t o c o n t ac t t h e b ns . When

the cn co F 0 i s a t t h e bn CP, the cn co channel can be used t o reach th e bn CO.

2. Transfer of wire f ran DW-& r e e l 8 t o DR-8 r e e l @ . . We improvised a means Pmt r a n s f e r r i n g our W-130 wire f r m th e DR-46 t o the m i a s by usi ng a captured Germanp ack r e e l u n i t , ean e p a r t s of a r e e l u n i t RL-39 frcm a CE-11, and a b icyc le sp rocke tand chain. The bn a a n Os co l l ec t the empty ~ ~ - 8 snd send them t o the re g t l wire aec-t i o n f a r r e f i l l . . - 4 0 , 47th I n f m g t .

.Our p a t r o l e r e p a r t t h a t i n wooded or h i l l y t e r r a i n t h e enemy w i l l a l l o w t h e l e a dman t o came through th ei r l i n e s and when th e o th er member8 of t h e p a t r o l can be ob-s e r v e d t h e J e r r i e a s t a r t s h o u t in g , w h i s tl i n g , and f i r i n g a Xew r i f l e s h o t 8 f r u n e i t h e rf lan k. The pa tr ol lead er inrnediate ly get 8 the impression t h a t h e i s surrounded andendeavcrs t o p u l l ou t , sanet inme lea v ing cas ua l t i e s and wi th h i e pa t r o l d i so rgan ized .During such action, the enemy i s c a r e f u l n o t t o di e cl o ea h i e p o e i t i o n s by f i r i n g a ut o-mat ic rpml usua l ly he w i l l r e l y on a few r i f l e s h o t s t o c r e a t e t h i s co nfu ei on ,a- -2 d Bn,47th IrU.

1, p i e ~ l a c e m e n t .We have adapted th e procedure of di gg in g new gun p o s i t i o n sbefore d i s p la c in g the gun, I n f a t mooing e i t u a t i o n s t h i s r e i m p r a c t ic a l b u t whent h e re i a t im e , h al f t he s qd goes t o t h e new p o s i t i o n , l ~ s r i n g h e o t he r h a l f t o manthe gun, Time f c r emplac ing i s thu s c u t t o a minimum.

2. s i t i q g . .AT guns ehould a lways be placed ae re ra l hundred yda from the roadt he y a r e c o v e ri n g t o o b t a i n f l a n k i n g f i r e , b e t t e r c am ou fl ag e, an d s a f e t y fran Gennar,a r ty f i r e which usua l ly f a l l s a long the road..--C0, AT Co. 115 th In f.

END

- 2 -


21/65

T WELFTH ARMY CROUP

No. 7 0

BATTLE EXPERIENCES21 OCT 1944

' B a t t l e B cp er ie nc es * a r e p u bl i sh e d r e g u l a r l y by t h i s h e a d qd a r te r s t o e n a b le u n i t si n t r a i n i n g t o p r o f i t f ro m t h e l a t e s t c ombat e x p e ri e n ce s o f o u r t r m p s now f i g h t i n g t h eCernans i n Europe, h l th o ug h t h e e x p er i e n c e s ~ f c e r t a i n u n i t s a t a & a r t i c u l a r l o ca t io na r e n ot n e c e s sa r i ly a g pl ic s b le t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l s i t u & t i o n s , t h e items pub l i shed mbe those based on pract ica l exper ience and are recommended for careful consiheset ion by

uni ts whioh may encounter s i n l l a r ~ r o b l e m s . R e p o r t s o f c o r r o b o r a t i v e or c o n t r a r y ex-p e r i e n c e s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s ir ed i n o r d e r that t h e v a l i d i t y sf th e i n d i c a te d b a t t l ele ss on may be determ ined ,

& cornand of Eieutenhnt General W L F Y :

Colonel , AGDka j u t ant General

.Leadersh ip i e based on knowledge, F i r s t , ?very 0 and man musr; h o w h i s j o b --t h i s y i e l d s f a i t h i n e ac h o t h er , S ec on d, e ve ry man m a t r e a l i z e t h a t h i s 0 s and NCOaknow thei r jobs -- t h i s g i ves conf idence i n command. Th i rd , ' e ach must h o w h i smiss ion and the miss ion d t h e u n i t -- whf ch g i v e s cori6Y:nuPty sf e f f o r t r e g a r d l e s s o flosses . The f i r s t i s obta ined i n t ra in in g , the eecond i n lllaneuvers and cambat , andt h i r d by c a r e f u l b r i e f i n g s n d or i en ta t io n on the g round , Reau l t s o f auch b r i e f in g wereshorn i n a r ecen t o pe ra t ion i n which 200 Germans were k i l l e d a n d 80 0 c ap t ur e d a t a c o s tof 16 cas ua l t i e s . After each engagement cr i t iques should be h e l d i n e a ch p l a t f o l lo w e dby one for the os,*--% CC, 6 t h Armd Div,

11 mRWm OBSERVERS

1. roper use of a r t i l l e r y . 'One of th e FO's most im po rt mt jobs i s t o g e t a c r ot o infantrymen t he ty pes of ta r g e ts on which he can gi ve them the mxianun eugport ,A f t er a l i t t l e c onbat e x p r i e n c * t h e in fan tr ym an l e a k t h e ' tr u e v alu e o f a r t y andd o ea n 't c a l l f o r s up po rt u n l e s s t h e t a r g e t ' m e r i t s i t . iIe then dm an ' t want t o wastevaluable am t h a t he h o w 8 he m y need more on some other target,

2. # ' Innocent bva tande rsw a t t he Obse rva t ion Pos t . ' R i l l meaning i nfa ntr ym en whoat tempt t o crowd about t he O p t o ob serve t he r e s u l t s of t he f i r e c r t o s t e a l a l o o k .th rough the BC t e l e scope must l e a r n t h a t t h e y e r e i n v i t i n g . f i r e f ro m t h e enemy. OP8a r e hi gh on t h e p r i o r i t y l i s t o f e n e q t a r g e t s and t h e i m po rt an ce of t he i r camouf laged i s c i p l i n e ca n ' t be o v e r - s t r es s e d .

3 . A m or al e b u i l d e r. a w i n g h ea vy s h e l l i n g fr om enemy b t - 7 s t h e 2 7 can g ive th

men a b oo st i f . h e c an t e l l them t h e t y p e of s h e l l s t h e enelqy i s us:ng and where they'r


22/65

coming from. I t a l s o h e l p s t o know t h a t h e i s t h e r e s en di ng i n t h e s h e l l r e h o r t s a nd p r e -paring t o r e tu r n t h a t f i r e many t ime s over."--Capt, 11 1t h FA bn.

1. IToblem. th e problem of coo rd ina t ing t he i n f advance wi th t he l i f t i n g of c lo s e -i n a r t y f i r e h a e been s o lv e d i n s e v e r a l ways b u t t h e r e i s ge ne ra l agreement on two po in ts .F i r s t , t h e m ethod u s ed i s depe ,~den t on t h e p a r t i c u l a r s i t u a t i o n and s uch f a c t o r e a s t h et yp e of t e r r a i n , l i g h t c o n d i t i o n s , a v a i l a b i l i t y o f ma ps , and t h e d eg re e of t r a i n i n g o f t h ein f i n fo l lo wing a r t y f i r e . Second, t he method o f coo rd ina t i on must be s imp le and ca re -f u l l y worked ou t by the a r t y and in f c m dr s and the in fo rma t ion d i s semina ted t o all t r o o p s .

2. So lu t ion s . "Fo l lowing a r e s o m e methods that have been used:a. ~ r t y O i n fo rms Lnf ao comdr when l a s t vo ll ey i s on the way and he i n fo rms the

p l a t l d r by SCR 536 . Thie i s dependent on a l l SCR 5368 being i n good working o rd er andp r e s e n t s t h e i m p o r t a n t pro bl em of q u i c k l y n o t i f y i n g e a ch man i n t h e p l a t .

b. F i r i n g t h e l a s t one o r two v o l l e y s a s h i g h b u r s t s (t i me f i r e ) . T h i s i s dependentupon t i me f i r e no t b e i n g p a r t o f t h e c o nc en 'L ra ti on i t s e l f , u pon in f oben not being auto ff by t r e e s o r h i l l s , and upon ab se nc e o f t r e e e i n t h e i mp ac t a r e a t o c a us e a i r b u r s t s .

c . L i f t i n g f i r e on a c l o s e l y c o o r d i n a t ed t im e s c h e du l e . T h i s i s n o r m a l l y p r a c t i c a -b l e o n ly f o r p r e p a ra t o r y f i r e s up t o about H p l u s 1 0 o r H p l u s 15.

d . The u s e o f a b lo ck o f s c h ed u l e f i r e s m o di f ie d t o f i t t h e a c t u a l r a t e o f a dv aa ceby repea t ing f i r e s , when n e c e s s a r y, o n c a l l . T h i s a g a i n p r e s e n t s t h e ;roblam o f n o t i f y -i n g a l l t r o o ps o f c ha ng ee i n t h e s ch ed ul e.

e . Des igna t ion by a r t y FO of i n f f r o n t l l n e l o c a t i o n s d ur in g t h e a dv an ce , u s i ng1 :10 ,000 mp s wi th f i e l d s numbered. Th i s i s dependent on having ac cu ra te maps a va i l ab lem d t he t ime i n which t o number them.

f . F i r i ng o f co lo r ed o r wh it e smoke i n one of t he l a s t two vo l l eys . Th i s has mv-e ra1 d i eadvan tages :

( 1 ) The o n l y e a s i l y d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e c o l o r e - - r e d , v i o l e t , and y e ll o w have o t h e r im-por t an t u ses . Green i s n o t e a s i l y d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e , and w hi te i s e a s i l y c o n f u s e d .

(2 ) The enemy ca n f i r e w h i t e s moke i n t o an a r t y c o n c e n t r a t i o n .(3 ) Eslemy i s w a r n e d t h a t t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n i s l i f t i n g .( 4 ) Colored smoke cannot be seen du r i ng d a cness or a t duek and da m.

3. A d d i ti o n al a i d s . . D e s ir a b le f e a t u r e s i n any method include:

a . I f pos s ib l e , more than one sys t em of ramiug.b. Xnf p l a t l d r s having t h e i r men organized w el l ahead of t ime t o permi t movingforward wi thout de lay.

c . Use of wire t o forward p l a t s when poss ib le ." - -TI11 Corps ' 0s .

The f o l l o w i n g c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f a r e 2 o r t f r o m t h e 6 2 8 t h TD Bn i n d i c a t e s t h a t even a textreme ranges the German blark V I ( T i ge r ) t k i s vul ner abl e t o t he M-10 TD. A pla t comdrr e p o r t s t h e fo l lo w in g r e s u l t s , w i t hi n a 30 m in ut e p e r i o d , of a r e c e n t a c t i o n i n Germany:

a. "No 1 gun h i t i t s f i r s t t k a t a r a ng e o f 1 8 u3 yd8. The enemy crew abandoned thek and fo ur more round s of ATC were f i r e d a t i t , t h r e e of which coul d be seen t o bounce

o f f t h e f r o n t p l a t e . The f o u r t h r ou nd h i t t h e gun s hi e l d and r ico che ted down through

th e to p of th e tk . Two rounds of A P C BDF were the n f i r e d which exploded on th e f r on t oft h e t k . A second t k a t th e same range was h i t w i th two rounds of A P C BDF which causedt t o burn. Both eneqy t k s were fa c i ng d i r e c t l y toweird th e gun that knocked them out.

La te r a t h i r d t k was knocked out by a h i t on t h e s i d e from a range of 3030 yda.b. nNo 2 gun knocked out one t k by g e t t i n g th re e h i t s wit h an AX i n r e a r o f t he

t k a t a r a n g e o f o v er 3200 yds.c. *No 3 gun knocked out one W VZ: t k w i t h t h r e e A F C h i t 8 i n t h e s i de a t a range

o f 190 0 yd3.m,.

- :&


23/65

TWELFTF! ARMY CROUP

2 2 OCT 1944

'Bat t le j sxper iencesw a re p u b li s h e d r e g u l a r l y by t h i s h e a d qu a rt e rs t o e n a bl e u n i t si n t r a i n i n g t o p r o f i t from t h e l a t e s t c o d a t e w e r i e n c e s of o u r t r oo p s now f i g h t i n gt h e Germans i n m o p e . A lt ho ug h t h e e x p e r i e nc e s of c e r t a i n u n i t s a t a p a r t i c u l a r l oc a-t i o n a r e not n e c es s a r i l y a pp li ca bl e t o a l l u n i t s i n a l l s i t u a t i o n s , t h e i t- p u b l i s h -ed w i l l be tho se based on p r ac t i c a l expe r i ence and a re r ecommended f o r c a r e f u l cons id-

e r a t i o n b y u n i t s w hi ch m y e n c ou n te r s i m i l a r p ro bl em s. R e p o rt s of c o r r o b o r a t i v e o rc o n t r a r y e xp e ri e nc e s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i r e d i n o r d e r t h a t t h e v a l i d i t y of t h e i n d i -c a t e d b a t t l e l e s s o n may be d e t e m i c e d ,

6. R. ISLNWNColone l , AGD

Ad j u t an t Gene ra l

I COMPANY ADMUJISTRATION

1. P roblem. ' C on s id e ra b le d i f f i c u l t y h a s b ee n e x pe r ie n ce d i n o b t a i n i n g c a s u a l t yi n f o r m a t i o n a nd s t r e n g t h f i g u r e s be ca us e of c a s u a l t i e s among 1 s t s gt s . When ev acu ate d,th e necessa ry i nformat io n and rec ord s of te n went wi th them and t ime was l o s t i n g e t t i nt h e s e r e c o r d s b ac k. In o t h e r c a s e s , t h e 1st sg t was used a s a p l a t l e a d e r a n d , t h er e -f o r e , s l i g h t e d a d m in i st r at i on .

2. Solution. *As a remedy the bn sgt major and hi s c l er k now keep complete r a s t e r so f a l l c os i n t h e bn. They make d u p l i c . ~ t e o p i es o f a l l r e p o r t s a nd k eep t h e s e r o s t e r sup- to-date . I t i s t h e n p o s s i b l e f o r t h e s g t m a j o r , when t h e 1st s g t 1s a c a s u a l t y, t ot a k e o v e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h a t co u n t i l a n ot h e r NW can be acqua in t ed wi th t her o u t i n e . I n c a s e s i n w hi ch t h e co i s s o s ep a r a t e d t h a t a r e p o r t i s i m p r a c t i c a b l e , t h es g t m j o r c an gc ahead and submit oce based on the bes t ava i l ab le informat ion. Th issys t em has been q u i t e e ff ec t ive , " - -1 15 th Inf Regt.

"When vfe r e c e i v e r e p o r t s o f flit t r a j ec to ry w-pns be ing f i r e d f rom any g iven d i r ec -t i on we make a con tou r s tudy o f t he .map and s e l e c t p os s ib l e l o c a t i o n s f o r t h e gun..Arty f i r e i s t hen p l aced on th es e l ocn t ions . We hsve been ex t r eme ly suc ces s fu l i ns i l enc ing such guns . " -Reg t l C O 7 9 t h Div,

I11 RADIO DISCIPILIG

#We need .mre r ad io d i sc ip l i ~ l e . hben o l d t i m e r s sli:, up on t h i s . I ns d q l ~ i t ea c o n v e r s s t i o n w i t h a J e r r y on e day u n t i l he s l i p p d u p o n t h e c a l l sign. ' --Capt,1 1 t h Inf,


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" i n e n we p a t r o l t o wa r d i mp o r t a n t t e r r a i n f e a t . m e s we s e n d e i t n e r a n ST8 390 o r SC253 6 w i th t h e p a t r o l d e p en di ng on t h e r a ng e . If' t h e p s t r o l r e s c h e s an i m p o r t a n t l o c a l i t ywe can d i r ~ c t t t o r em ain w h i l e W d e c i d e wh et he r t o r e i n f o r c e i t . A s a r e s u l t we havenever hl-d t o f i g h t f o r arm i m p o r t a n t p o i n t t h a t we na -~ e nce he ld .*--Regt l Ex 0 , 7'3thIn f Div.

V ATTACE;ITG T O E S I N WOODS

#We f i nd t h : . . t enemy t k s i n woods g e n e r a l l y f i r e f ro m p r e p a r e d a n d c a m u f l s g e d p o s i -t i o n s . we g e t a s c l os e a s we can wi th our i n f and r e g i s t e r o u r m r t s w i t h HE s h e l l int h e v i c i n i t y of t h e t k . Then we c h a w e t o smoke s h e l l and b l i n d t h e t k s whi l e w e c l o s ei n w i th bazookas end bayonet s . We u se t h e same s y st em on h o s t i l e s t r o n g p o i n t s i n mo ds .'- - R e e l CO , 7 9 t h Inf Div.

*We u s e a f o r w a r d wi r e h ea d t o a s s i s t i n s e r v i c i n g o u r wi r e l i n e s . I t i s manned bytwo men and i s p l ac e d i m m ed ia te ly i n r e a r o f t h e p a c t where the reg t l l i n e d iv er ge st o t h e v s r i o u s bn 1 0 c a t ~ ~ o n s . U s in g t h i s s y st e m we c a n d e t e r m in e m r e q u i c k l y t h e e x a c tl oc a t i on o f a b reak ." -- Heg t l CO , 79 th Inf Div.

V I I SALVAGE

We have s e t u? a r e c l a m a t i o n sqd w hi ch s e a r c h e s o u r z o ~ ~f a c t i on a f t e r w e havepassed through. A s a r e s a l t we h w e r e c l a i m e d more t h a n e no ug h m a t e r i a l o f a l l c l a s s e st o make up f o r t h e b a t t l e l o s s e s , n ot i n c l u d i n g damaged m a t e r i a l , - t h s t we s u s t a i n m n - -R e g t l r;x 0 , 73 th In f D ive

V I I I W W I N G BY RrSWCBEZhT OFFIC%TE

"Replacelnent 0 s h , lve been found weak i n map r e a d i x on th e ground. They a rei n c l i n e d t o p ay t oo m c h ' a t t e n t i o n t o w3rks of man, p s r t i c u l ~ r l y o ad s and t r a i l s oand not enough t o n a t ~ m s l e r r a i n f e a t u r e s a n - - R e g t l hx O p 4 t h Islf Div.

'Div o r d i n a r i l y a t ta c h e s a p l a t o r co of eng r s t c t h e r eg t . From them we a t t a c ha m in e sw ee pe r d et ac hm en t t o t h e r e s e r v e c o o f t h e bn t o c l e a r t h e way f o r v e h i c l e s .This sys tem h a s saved a l o t o f j e e p a n d a m b u 1 a n c e s . ~ - R e g t l h% O * 4 t h I n f D iv e

"In - e n e c le - r in g o p r a t i o ~ i s ny Tres which ce nnot be s earch ed due t o te rn2oraryo b s t a c l e s s h o x l d be m r k e d . T h e wsrning shol. tld not be removed lm t i l th a t a re a hasbeen sc-isched. On on e occasi.o:a a wrecked jee? was remved and a t r k a t e n, -te d t oc r o s s t h e a r e a i t h.3 oecu,?iede It s tr u c k a T-mine which th e wreck had covered."--A f t e r Act ion 2.eporc. 29.5ttl m g ? - Bn.


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f i YEL ,TTH ARMY CROUP~ - - z -

B AT T L E EXPERIENCES

K B at t1.e Experiences*

a re p u b ~ r hes ra@larPy by t h i s h e a d q u w t e r s t o enableu n i t e i n t r ai n in g t o p r o f i t frcm $he l a t e a t e m b a t e xp er ie nc es of atx' t r ~ a p a owf i g h t i n g t h e Germans i n Europe. A lthough "ce expe r i ences of e e r ~ a i n ~ m t s t ag a r t i c u l a r l o e a t i o n a r e n ot m c e s s a r i > g a p pl i ca b le t o e l l m-nts :n e l l ~ i t u a t i ~ m ,the i t ems pub l i shed w i l l be t h w e besed m 2 r ~ c t i c a l x p r i e ~ c s & =a secaannerdeZfo r c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n b y units vhiza m y encoun te r s imi l a r p r o b l e m . Repan%aof c m r o b o r a t i w QT contrary ex;&rAaLGes &s p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i re d in order %hat 5 kv a l i d i t y of t h e in d i c a t e d b a t t l e l eaaon m y be determined.

Note: The f i r s t d e t a il e d re p or t of? ex tens ive use of an t ipe r so nne l mines and booby t r a pby American troops ccmea fran CQ A of 297th Engineer Bn ( C ) which was atta ch ed t o th e4th Cay group dur ing the p e r i d

17S e p t o 2 Oct, 194.4. The Cav group m a occupying a

wide f ron t and made fr e e use of booby t r a p s .

1. proce dure. Mare than 100 booby tr ap s of var iou s type8 were s e t and ~ l a i n t a i n e dunder cl os e su pe rv isi on of the two p l a t candra. Traps were checked da il y. Exploded oneswere re pl ac ed and changes made t o conf orvl t o ch an ges i n t h e f r o n t l i n e o r t o p ro vi de fs p e c i a l s i t u e t i o m , I n c e r t a i n s p e c i a l l o c a t i o n s , t h e t r a p s would be i n s t a l l e d a t duskand removed a t dawn,

2. L o ca ti on . The t r a p s = r e p la ce d on r o a d s , t r a i l s and p a t h s l e a d i n g f r ~ n h ef r o n t * and n e ar g a t e s a n d s i m i l a r t r a f f i c : b o t t le n e c k s. On a number of occas ions t r aps

were l a i d a t s p e c i a l l o c a ti o n s a f t e r a t e e t i c a l b u i l d u p d e s i g n e d t o cause th e enemy t osend pe r sonne l t o the po i n t s s e l ec t ed . For example , a p a t r o l would e s t a b l i s h e o n t a c twit h the enemy du rin g da yl ig ht , They would th en pl ace a l i n e o f t r a p a a t t he p o i n t fromwhich contact waa es tabl ished and w ith dr aw s l i g h t l y a t d u sk . They capi ta l ized on the ob-ser ved h ab it of th e enemy of sending s p e c ia l p a t r o l s t o i n v e s t i ga t e p o i n t s f k c m which whad made contact with them. I n a number of *ca ses , booby tr a p s were placed i n tem por milyabandoned German l o c a t i o n s , P r eq u en tl y w it h g o d r e s u l t s .

1, The bean can. An ordinary iuo. 2 @an was loaded wi th t h e e pounds of dynamitep res sed aa ha rd a s poss ib l e wi th 6Dd n a i l s a l o n g th e i n s i d e e dg e of t h e can, The c e n tof t h e c a n was k sp t c l e a r of n a i l s t o p er mi t i m e r t i n g th e f i r i n g d e v ic e . These were


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* M t t l e a p e r i e n e e s s -6 pu';'_.i s h s 2 reg:niar.by 'o y Znia h e a d q ~ a r t e r s o e n a b l eu n i t s i n t r a i n i n g t o prof P f r x ;-',ie ,at.est e m b a t expet-:en~es of s u r.oopa now. .P i g h t i r g t h e Gemens in. E::t:;~-e . !.:.;.,:::.~.xh.- $ h e e x p e r i e ~ . c e s f c a r t e l n u n i t s a t tip a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i cn a r e ~ o e eces3a~IL:; a ~ g i i c a b i e o a l l a n i t s i n a l l s i t u a t l o r ~ s ,th e i t e m p ut fl is he d w i l L be thoz ; -':-;as;.% a;* ; r a c t i c a l axperiecce an d are r e c a m e n d o 2f o r c ar e fu l c o n s i d e r e e i ~ s ~ l r m i s > - ' . : :::h laay encounter s i r r i i l a r problems, Report8o f c a r r o b o r a t i v e a- ontl-ary C J E ~ ~ T . : . ~ ~ ; C ~ S a r t i c u l a r l y d e e i r e d i n a r d e r t h a t t h ev a l i d i t y of t h e i n d i c a t e d b s . & t l e h eas or. may be determined.

C. R e AIuDOBC o l o ~ L , GD

Ad j u t a n t G e n e r a l

"Al l I t s of the bo t ake t h e i r turn a s FOe w i t h t h e id i n t a c r v of 4 d a y s d u r a t i o n .B%ry candrs can on ly be s p a r e d f a r two day tours . The bn candr and s t a f f v i s i t W s andi n f bne i n t h e l i n e . P e r s o n n el of t h e FO p a r t i e e w e r o t a t e d s o t h a t ev en th e canoneerg e t up w i th t h e i n f . T h i s c r e a t e s a h i g h u n i t s p i r i t , a p ro fo un d r e s p e c t f o r t h e h ar djob of the i n f , and m k e a e a c h man p e r s o n al l y r e a l i z e t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r a c c ur a t e s h o o t-ing,*--Report of l i Ot h FA a n ,

I1 UJE OF WHITE PHOSYHORUS S b E L B .

The use of vp t o mark i n i t i a l r a i d s Par ground and a i r ob ar s should be d i s c o . u a gi n medium FA bns. 'w i th r e a s o n a b l y s c c u e e i & . % i a l d a t a , a n d by n o t i n g t h e t i m e off l i g h t f r a n t h e r an ge t a b l e s t h e ze2;:m S>u- s t an u u a l l y be p i c k e d o a t . Excessiveuse of IPP f u r m a r k i n g i n i t i a l r u d a s o t ~ n l y s waeteful. b u t a dd s t o th e o b er st d i f f i -c u l t i e a by i n c r e a s i n g t h e b a t t l e h s z s , ".-=.,?e;j~rt of 227th F A B n ( 1 5 5 1 ~ ~ow) .

1. O r ~ a n i z a t i o a , #Is e r r a i n t h a t i s poop. f u r n o r m a l use o f 8 b m mor ta a eystemof employing 4 a r t s in b a t t e r y, ccnr;rrc:i:,adl i r m an , q C b h a s b e e n q u i w effect ive; wFO s , with SCR J3008, o p e r a t e with t h e 1:c;zwwd r i f l e c o s, %he t h i ~ d e c ti o n of t he p l a tfurnishea the necessary FOs ani i rad io - ; ~ , r a t . o r s .

2.. Advantages. nusing t h i s metnod i t has b e e n p o s s i L ~ e o keep t h e mwts between309 and 1000 yds t o th e rear, where they Braw very l i t t l e enemy fire. T b i a d i s t a n c emakes i t p o s s i bl e t o cover a wise s e c t o r 02 f i r e , w i thou t mox6ng base p l a t e s and r e -r e g i s t e r i n g fran new p o s i t i o n s . Four ao r t a have been f o u n d

battle experiences 6

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