Battle Experiences 3

8/9/2019 Battle Experiences 3

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NO*. ,

Qttk ~ " r $ . m c g a * ' & &wpubUshed e&u l a ~ l yunl$s in *&nbg *a -p~ofi%,&I laOe,~t r-$f$&+iagQrbs + & m ~~W;& a%ao=h Rh& ex+rpert sular l m e t i ~ n re' not ne@easari&appQaebkthe i t am pbUshed &l'lj& w e w t i & gracticalmended PUE omeful ~onq$d&e.f;iaa;y w i + s @+ichmay

Fieports of o w a b o ~ ~ % $ ~ &,ani$& 13cpaYfrences a r ethat,3h %e,li$%&$ of B& ~8i&,s11;edb~+.t&q k s on may.

\

L m m Rm A BRZ~ ISE'OBSJRmt ~ ~ b i ihe. i tern bZos @a e ~ r 4 o f e d r a a r

after s brjef' pet:icd "heSiX mitt b Gaspa i

i .+b ,

L J n f z ~e~s"&,+ row ~qun t x y ~Nomnsndy has bo$n O~wi&o =&by certainthe wea%ast;$ :these %B &$@ $&~&sed howr wedease w i k h w h i ~ b he i6$823.k@yman*an' conoeal h W eof %he t a d w&$b' h i s dhorihrarrgei weepas, ei therti g ths t approach ?h+

b+ 3%f o% l ~ wha%the il-8 @ inf&n*ry s&a& a &&irewe&,.

' 1

2. BtiI+ery<hy,:gy1&t31 ssoyitr. - N O ~ I . X ~ ,n%$llexyp o d + t $& k -Iw probatwd by &nf&*p,. .Re a r L i g ~ y f ealim, however,- th%*-*h6~'$W1f mi3 t provi.de $he& Zwal securf yr- On o m occasion a &itisb.unit ecoonplllsbed t + i ~by i r ing a ir bursts.at a Fanee of less thenbD,g:$$@ t%repeZ advn l l c i ag hostk3.s i s ~ n t r y , The fire pws deso;ri%ii as ~e~Wemef$~f$&%?'

" Li

Ive I *

3e Co&roJ, of an$+i-aiper ao t i -v i t~ , . Talk about snipers - scjme d%%'*&- ~ e f : ~ a t i e &5s hatri*' k'crrrpe ad resd.&. h e of t h e s e is unjustified &d bd:*

criminate f irs at &mgiwy&rgefs, &cb f i r e , especially i n the d&&'.@~;r9s&frs@en+,ly causoa @a@a%heth~ &i r e by o$her t r oops , with d i s twb i ngd ~ , ~ &

dangerous regw&%gc mSpers ~Protxah e hcnmtered by other. snSgem T by ;s'W ' ~d i rec t and defini te pl* - not by 'a ~tliacriminatabmst of smll fee* .

(Botiea mig comn$ 9s felt, ~ a p p lpart icular ly t o s k t u a t i o n ~&cf$e @$3

**a r e stationary, I b 8hpd.d no t be infergrete8 to discowage %he sps9yiyg of s-pected sniper ~o c a t i o h s itb au%omatic ffw d w h g an advanceu)



11. b17DGliBOl;r FIGHTD\?G

(fll:te: Ci1 27-28 June 1944 experiments mere conducted designed t o fncreaset h e c.ciordinatioll beheen t a n k s and i n f a n t r y i n hedge r~w igh t i ng , . Ce r t a in e x-

t r a c t s Proci 2 Us. o. d i v i s i o n a l nemo r e g d i n g t h e s e exporinents a r e g i v en below..)

I, Breaching. o f hedgerows,. - It ~ m sound t h a t t an ks ecpippea with dozer

7clrLdas.Text3 PO: alvmys ~ b l e o e f f e c t beaches.. !?he f -llowing s ~ p p l e m e n t ~ yro-

cedlxre ws tdopted:2 -. gi.ree demoli t ion men qere a t ta c h ed t o e ac h squads m e s e came from t h e

su2; )or t p l~ tooi ;~ . . he denoLition c ha rge s mere prepared i n advance and place6 insandbags f o r conveaiense,,.

b,. Xacll c!ic?rgo co1:sis-t~ of 29 5 a u - p o ~ l ~ dlocks of TRT, To t h e c e n t e r

blcclr ebouf l f i vc fed$ of p r i m c o r d i s at.tached by a clove h i t c h . %le cllarge i s

t h e n p l s c e b i n t h e beg, locving ; - b a t four f e e t of t h e c o rd out;bide9 . B-cYooation

i s effect.ed by a prkie,? cor,sist)i lg of om l /2-pourd blo5.k -cf TIE with about t a ~f eek c.f p ; . l ~ ~ c ~ i ~ dopaectsd 'GO 5% by a c love h i tch , : a Nos 8 1 1 ~ 1 1 - e l e ~ t ~ i cZ F )

ei&i.t inches cf' safe ty f -&a, a , f u s e l i g h t e r ( l b t e : FIJULGerginaers con- .;.

s i d a r i t unnecess-y t o use th e 112-gomd block of ThT a s desc r ibed*. They say :t b a No, 8 c a p ( t e t s y l ) i s s u f f f c i c r b t o i r s w e de tone t icn if t h e p r i m c o r d i s

doubled or f o l d e d a r o u d i t t o i:nsure DS~~LIV.I coilr;zct between cap end p ~ i r n c o r d o .

cF. TWOh o l e s , z r e dug about six f e s t a p ~ r t nd about one - th i rd of t h e 'JJzYdom t h e ecbarIImerite These holes ere two f e e t deep and s e t a t a f o r t y - f i v e d e -

g r e e a n g l e s i %h h e h o y i z o ~ t a l l The c1:erges: w e p la ce d i n t h e h o le s . The ends-.

of t ho px imcord f rom th e c ha rge s a re j o ix t ed with a square knot* A p r i m e r i s ,

then p laced on t o p of each oliurge a d h e s g o i l replaced and tamped*

dc . Tais i_':kt>.odauses a breach vride enough f o r ar_y v e h i c l e s 4p d r i v e- .t h ~ o u g i l ~ .

( ~ o t o : R a 9 0 ~ b rom another divisior!. vjhich has. mad e similar t e s t s ska t e

t h a t two obm~;es f fiftj ~ o w d s aclr~,placed e ight fe e t ap ar t , have been found

necessa ry t o i n s u ~ e r a a t i a g a gag nide ehough for tab,.)

1, Gloves,. - Leather glovos m e d e s i r a b l e t o p r o t e ct hands of. men go ingthrough hedges f rom sc r a tc hes and inf ec t ions , .

20 S ~ ~ s p e i l d a r s ~ .&spenders ar e needed f o r B k ! m l u n i t i o n b e l t s aqd arebe ing inprovised f r o x off i c e r s t ~ e busponderso.

3 . Lipme p ~ ~ t ~ a .&e u n i t recornends tha t a sm l l s pm e p a r t s r o l l f o r

t h e BdJi a,nd IL-1, r i f l e s be c a r r i e d by tho pla toon guide or o t h e r designated man i nt h e plc toon t o provido i i ;~i :~diztaaplacemacts f o r pc r t s damaged i n b a t t l e .



%attle 2hperiencas" are published r e g u k l y by t h i s headquar ters t o enableun i ts i n t r e i n i rg to prof i t f ~ c mh a l a t e s t combat experiences of our t r ~opaowf igi?ti% t he G e r m 6 io Fmnce, Al.$hough t h e experience of ass ta in u n i t s at ap a r t i c u l a r l o c z t i o n are not nacossarf ly applicable t o all: u n i t s i n a l l s i t u a t i o n s

tho itens- g u b l i s b e d w i l l be those based on practical experionae and are- reaommenafop ~ ~ e f u lc)nsidexation by unita which &q encounter g i l p i l a r p r o b l e m , R e p o r t sof cdt'roborative or corltrery experiences WE : artfeularly desi red i n o rder thafL

t he va l i d i t y af tbe ind ica ted bet;tls keswn may be detsrnined,

I, '=T W IUdJ IN THE FfiX H O i THI&XS

E+ , &1ne of the II,. S. so2dicrqt #m %hctu@l%aebout h + s trekring, i n t he l i&of b 8 tU 3 aperisnc'e mre obtarified by ET, Edmb I Young through i n t e r d e w s witha n m w ~ i ~ ~ m d e dn general hospi ta ls . on 10-d July, 3.944. They are given i naubstanbid extract& from Ik, Y ~ u i g ~ ss p o r t . below,

2, i a Our men seemd t o k1e tsken by surprsse by t he gmaWl* ofsll$g@g Prora t r e e s and hedgerom. They adqted themelves quickly , hov~veat,w d

Sewned 2A proceed cautiously and t o f o r r e t out t h s n ~ i p z r a ,hi The sniper-hunting i-esulted i n firing a t some of our rn a r t i l l e r y

absxvers p ~ s% e dn t r e e s , To Rreveqt this, uni ts adopted the prackice ofm k i l l g trunks aE trees being used by bur pcrsorinel,

c* The mai. found that if they kepi t h s move it nas more d i f ' f i c d *

f o r anfpera t o pick +hem:o f f ,

3 l % d m ~ q ?hezards,. - P a r t i c u l m pnscix&ions regarding hedgerows- wereapecif$ed by var ious men aS follawa.:

a* 2liey rwd i l y concoaL p l l s o r t s o f booby traps; keep out of them a*

night ,ti, E x i s t i n g o p e n i n e my con te in !;rip-wire 1i n e s or may be zeroed i n by

h ~ . ( ; $ Lewczrpons j avoid them. Ibkke hole,

4.. D i s p e r s i ~ n c s Tvkz: %nded f o keep (:Lose togetlrsr u n d e r f i r e - t o f a l li n t o ditciies or s l i t %renck~ean bunches. :&is was mre apparent with men newto battl.ea



5. . bvemenk* - Ihe impetanee af beping on the W e nd of W ~ M Wrunning I tl a c r w h i n g p i t i o n am s t re s sed* . ~ t o p p l d g o w k ~~d gay@the

r>Iuamy a stationary -an8 ~ i e ra rge t *

6, * $everal m wished they ha4 received trainingrscogni m~fpom..

&@~men%,a - The t h nfan t ry Reginaent has found that the 60 m*ar

H$ be fired fwn the 34-3 r by means of t h e p e n%& launcher Bn-7and the Trazmntstirm genada adap.Ceit %Jsb Six inches of wire per shell an8 apair af pXieW are thg only Gdit ional materials needed*

21 &parationil. - me p$parat.ion is aa fol lws#

Remove hcremaeab $ram m a eTl+ ,b e Bend outmerd $he fb-r bf t h o @ma& adapter design& receive

$ha fragmentation g e n a h hand&+ +

,cg b e r t .i;hb I$-f the ao r t a s h e l l into the finger'e of %hep e n a d eadapter, ' The shsL1 n b ~ m ~ u y6 fired w i t h .the adaptor down as f a r as it goon the Launcher*

d f+ !E3& a pi,eoe of wire atow$ t h e t igs of t h e f ngars of theaaap-r,, bhw secufling shell t a t& adapter.

3 , Mathod.. +: %e r i T h nannalu i s f i r e d from t h e h o e l i w position withthe butt resting on the grDufldc M a,@& i &Q 1 I i v e a mfimum range of

WD h 1u arda; bOO ~$11 ive $ y a r d s range; w0 dB1 give 0 y ~ d 8 ta n g e .hm -10 f&o --lso be used aq%(a o f t e n f i rad. into thick hedgerow foliageb produce tree burstaA.- f ,

Uots: Clautio~ renadier t o gull s a f e t y p i n bsfoqe firing*

- 4. @$,a' D~e ' t o the mlativelq $ow force excrtea by t h e r i f l e gremaecastridge, t h e fuse d l1 & ~ w t b sot aran a;nd,,.Che shell d13. e dude Thisis especially true of lm-angle T i r e which will produce about 25%dud&

b

+

5 e @~h&.* &awacy has been h~proved, y use of a s i&t 3aqxclvibed b ythe nivimon ordnance Oohpany. It is at tached t o t he tacking skpey sfid escab-lisbes the angle of elevation* Direction is obta inea by s ighting mer %he b a r r 2

aRadio opcrctor replacements we pot trained in the usa d the s i r&& ! a

sign proco&ure used hera. Zhey aro being t ra ined I n t he use d the W r 3

fha combined Atmy arid Navy procedm,b-Com1unicatio~ OPficer, 9 th Divi&ione



FIRST U.S. ARMY GROUP

No. I I

BATTLE EXPERIENCES

3 0 JULY 1944

'@Battle xperiences" are published reguhrly by t hi s head-quarters to enable units ;hn t raining t o pro f i t from the latest

combat experiences of our troops n m fi gh ti ng th e Germans i nFrance, Although the q r i e n c e s of cer tain uni ts at a particu-la r location are mot necessarily applicable to d l ni t s i n a l l

sit uat ion s, th e items published wi l l be those based on pra ctic alexperience a d re recommended for careful consideration by units

which may encounter si mil ar problems. Reports of cor robo rativeor contrary experiences are par ticu larl y desired i n order that

the val idi ty of the Lndicated battle lesson may be determined.,

0WR N o mDmE t Gen, USA

Sormnanding

GERMAN INFANTRY-TANK DEFENSE.

The ViE Corps reports two diffferent typ3s of German infan try - tank defensesas described below:

1, b e of the types i s based on the movement and f i r e of tank s pr otec tedk y infantry,, Such a defense is frequently found s e t up a t an important cross-roads or road junction, Infantry digs i n along the hedges and a t other suitablelocations in th e immediate vi ci ni ty , The talks move out to varying distances upt o several. yards t o the f ro n t and f lank and occupy mutually supporting f i r i n gpositZcms, After f i r i n g from one of these posit ions they immediately move toanother.

2. The other type of defense i s based o1.1simulated movemen-It.and deception,Tanks s p e d about 100 yards apart and well camouflaged ar e dug in behind ahedgerow t~ be defended, The in fm tr y digs :in along the hedgeruw between the

tanks. I n executing the defense the Idark Ig tanks f f r e but do not move, Thecompany cormnander, in a Mark V, per iod ica lly moves ap and dom the road a d d i n gt o tb f'5z-s of th e fixed defenses.

I I oIE W ~ O I J T I O N S ,BDJES AND BOOBY TRAPS,

1, Demolition of Artillery Pieces, U n i t s of t h e V I I Corps report findingvar2a.m sizes of prepared demolition kits matie t o f i t i n to the barrels of %he

different types of ~ ertnan r t l l e ry pieces, These ar e packaged complete withdetonators and igniters and appear t o be standard equiprent in German a r t i l l e r yunitis;;, Thev reauire onlv a few minutes to connect.



2. Magnetic Antitank Mines. Magnetic antitank mines with the detonatorsand Pgnibrs i n se r t ed have been found in areas captured fm the Germans. Sameof these dries are armed without delay pe l le t s making them pa rti cu la rl y hazardousto baame.

3. Grenade Booby Traps. Geman grenades packed i n t he o r ig i n al baxes havebeen found in Normandy with one or more of *he grerzades rigged a s a booby trap.

. "Sn AMnes i n Sh ell Craters. German i'S1t mines have been encountered con-cealed i n shell c r a t e rs i n ~ o r m a n d ~ .

TROOP M-NT HANDLED BY G-4.

The V I T Corps and i t s subordinate units have employed experimentally a systemwhereb respo nsibil i ty f o r planning and conduct of tr oop movements i s assumed byt k G Section instead of G-3. The 0-4 of the Corps recommends the system. J3e

states that it re l ieves G-3 of movement msponsib i l i ty , avoids du pli cat ion of eff ort ,ard

lessens confusion and chances of error. G-3 ' s s o l e r espons ib i l i ty is to n o t i eG& mhat is to be moved, fm and t o where and *en.

TV , C?3%RVAnW CF EQUIPMENT.

'Supply Officers of t h e V I I Corps feel t he need of more emphasis i n tra in in g on

the conservation of unit amd individual equipmnt. The back of accountabi l i ty and

respons ib i l i ty for praper ty i n ba t t l e a reas , they say, i s causing excessive care-lessness which sometimes re&Q i n c r i t i c a l s ho rt ag es of items most i n demand,

v. mLOm OF T r n BOm GUN

Caution comes from the VII U S Corps t h a t when are mrldng closely w i t h

infantry great care x u s t be exercised in using the tank's bow gun, I ts low positionand other characteristics mke it a ser ious hazard t o infantry dm may be i n f r on tof the tank.



NO. 12 9 ULY 1944

"Battle Zxperience,sll a r e publ i shed regu l a r l y by t h i s heaaquar te re t o enableunits i n t r a i ni ng t o pr of i t f rom th e l a to s t combat exper iences of our t ro ops nowf ig ht- t h e & r c a s i n a t h o u g h t h e e xp er ie nc es of c s r t a i n u n i t s at a

P a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i o n are n o t n e c e s s a r il y a p p l i ca b l e t o d l nits i n dl s i t u a t i o n s ,

t h e i t e mrpubl i shed n i l 1 be tho se based on pr ac t i ca l exper ience and are recorn-

mended fo oaref 111 cons idora t ion br u n i t s ~ ; h i c hm y e nco un ter sirnilar problons.

Repor t s of corrob ora t ive or cont ra ry exper iences &re p a r t i c ~ l l a r l y es ir ed i n ordmt h a t t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h e i n d i ca t ed b a t t l e l es s on may be determined*

1 PARATROOPERS' ~~RESSIONSF IBDC;E90V/ FIGETING,( ~ o t e : The fol lowing cments a r e ext rac ted f r o m interviews publ ished by the

V I I L Corps im med iately a f t e r t b c Normandy invesio116 C o m n t s w ere a1 1 obtained

from o f f i c e r s a nd e n l i s t e d rnen of pmackute un i t s which took pa r t i n t he fi$ting.)

1, "Ii;eep Moving if you ant t o l iven-The outstand-in g impression seerns to

have been of- tho i inpor tmce of aggccssj.ve act io n and cont inuous, en er get ic for-w e ~ d ovement against the type of osp os i t io n offe red by the Germs+ E x m ~ h

folJLowff:

o h i g h t i n g , the Germns I t h i n k if we keep pushing them h a d

enough t;e n i l l . have a 1o t l e s s c a s - a c l t i ~ s han if ve j u s t sit t i g h t . "-Lt Col. T.J.V.Shenley,.

BA n & ~ ~ e ~ an hedgeron fight i r lg is due p a r t l y t o autoinatic meapons.

f i r e , but p r i n c i p a l . 1 ~ o a g g c ~ s i v e r ~ e s s , ' ~ - L t ,oe:.f l e r .

c . Uove f o rnard a g p e s s v e l y, The German i s a poor marksman ua.der

the bes t condi t ions , In the face of h ez vy f i r e and an t i g r sc s iv e e n e w h i s f i r e&cornea illef-fective. A heavs,. a r t i l l s r y bc r rage before t he j~inp-off t d l

p r o vi d e i n i t i a l i mp et us * The advance &hould then never be a llowed t o los e i ts

momentum, Dis pla y of courage and leader ship bjr of f i co rs u d bTCOs - i s iraperativc*

An of f i c e r vho ' h i t s t h e g roudfi fu rn i sh es ail example t o h is men and bolas upmo~enent , .~~- l . s tt , I r a 1 L il lg e.

d+n 1 t i s

ess en t i a l t o keep mo.ving f o r ~ a r d g gr es si ve ly a s lo ng a s 't h e r e s i s t an c e i s s p o t ty ; o t he rw is e t h e m t i l l e r y %illange i n on :roue # S U ~

when you move through th z hedgerows f a s t the Je rr y nill often abandon his gum

and equipment, BIcve r i& t in on bin. F ol lo w r i g h t a f t e r your a r t i l l s r y and you.w i 1 1 i nva r i zb ly ca t ch - h b isorganized. ft-C~pt. Ray crocko

e. We have l e w m d. t o keep mooira forward^. Sf t h e r e is anything the

Germans hate i t i s c lose f T $ t i a ~ . IT he ins yo3 dorn ~ i t . 5r l ipz r or machine gun

he xi11 ze ro i n oil you :;-ith mortzz and 68 a d hen you had better dig.



sn ip er s ha rdly ever open up on a large body of men, You have t o bc con-

s t a n t l y on the a l e r t f o r them but do not ev er 1 e t them make you h i t th e d i r t 0 .ICeep moving i f you want t o l i ve . List Sgt, &a Eo. icks..

f,. nIh in k sni pe rs should never hold up th e advance of a u n i t , D i s -pat ch one o r more men t o hunt him out and fo rg et about him. Snipers could never

c re a t e a s many c a sua l t i e s a s they causo by pinning you down u n t i l a r t i l l e r y

zeroes i n on you.. v-Capt. Ray Creek,.go. "Vhen caught i n the open by host i le a r t i l l e r y f i r e , g e t dov~sl n s t

b u t s t a y only as l o n g a s necessmy, 13b not bog down u n d e r a r t i l l e r y f i r e D " - 1 s t

Lt Rex G, Combso

2. B f z c t of bomn mortar.

The value of t h e 6om mortar was repea tedly s t ressed , p a r t i c u l a r l y

because i t Fas cla imed tha G e r m s s t a y under cover nhen morta rs a re f i r e d * Fol-

lowing a re sone of the comments;

ac. " !be 60m morta r i s of g re a t va lue because t h e Germans m i 1 1 st=,i n t h e i r f o x holes when i t s t a r t s f i r i ng . n-ls t L t , Rex G + Combs,.

bp. 'IGur squad should use a 60mm mortar i n c lose suppor t, a s t he

Germans s t a y i n t h e i r f o x h o l es ~ i h e nm o rt w f i r e startset'-1st Lto Gerald 2 ,

G u i l l e t. a nhh e f a c e of heavy autorratic and mortar f i r e and an a ggre s s ive

enemy, German f i r e becomes hig hly ine ff ec t iv e* h s a poor marksman a t b e s t e k

kt Lto Ca r l J. L i l l g e .

da Ykee b u r s t s ~ i t h~ i m nmor ta r a re very e f f e c t i v e . "-CoU. 2nd Bn-Pc h t I2f3. Bazooka a ~ d.. T c Grenadeb

ac '"I'?x bazoolca a i d t h e r i f l e gr en ad e a r e very e f f e c t i v e a g a i n s t

enemy d q n alo ng a t r e e l i n e , A k i t above the enplacemnt on a t r e e t ru n k i s

hi&lyeffec t ive*fI-C,0, 2 n d h Echt Inf..b, iBaz~okas hould f o l l o n t h e nu.tomtic xeapons of each sguad.

They are ve ry e f i e c t i v e a ga ins t machine gun p o s i t i o n s , "-1st Lte Gerald P, Gui l lo

4, ifcrack and Thum~"

Ifme Gerrnan machine p i s t o l ha s caused ou r men a l o t of t r o u b l e * Thepassage of tlie b u l l e t m h s a v i c i o u s ' c rackt behind you. This i s f o l l o m d by a

Less not iceable tthm.pl from t h e f r o n t , I have se en ent i r e squads take cover ,

th inking they were Tired on f'rorn behind, whou a c t u a l l y t h e eceqr was some distanc

t o t h e f r on t . Tho place t o lo ok f o r the W- f i r i n g i s to-d t h e ' t h ~ 'nd no

toward t h e "crackt,."-1st lit. Rex G,. Co~ilbs.

3 r. Deceptive Idlethod,

Germanssoilletknes employ t h e i r machine guns t h i s nay: One man w i l l

f i r e t r a c e r a m x i ~ i t i o n igh and ~ i l dnd a t t h e saxe t i x e another w i l l be laying

down p r e t t y e f f e c t i v e f i r e w it h B a l l anmunition, They use t h e t r a c e r s t omake

you t h i n k t h e i r f i r e i s wild, Tihen it i s ' notl "1st Sg-t-, &a go Ricks,

Battle Experiences 3

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