fa support of iii corps dec 1944

8/13/2019 FA Support of III Corps Dec 1944

1/149

F I E L D A R T1 I -L ERY SUPPOR T FOR I I I CORPS ATTACK18 - 26 DECEMBER 1944

A t h e s i s p r e s e n t ed t o t h e F a c u l t y o f t h e U. S . f h r r n ?Cornmanil and G e n e r a l S t a f f C o l l e g e i n p a r t i a lf u l I i l l m e n t o f t h e r eq u i r e m e n t s f o r t h ed e g r e e

M k S T E H OF M I L I T A R Y A RT A ND S C IE N C E

B YGREGORY V . MORTONB . A . , Th e D e f i a n c e C o l l e g e , 1968

F o r t Leavsnwor t h , Kansas1985A pp ro v ed f o r pub1 i c r e l e a s e , d i s t r i b u t i o n i s u n l i n i t e d


2/149

MASTER OF MI LI TA RY ART AND SCIENCETHESIS APPROVAL PAGE

Name o f Ca nd i da t e : G r e go r y U. M o r t o nT i t l e o f T h e s i s : FIELD ARTILLERY SUPPORT FOR

I 1 1 CORPS ATTACK 18 - 26 DECEMBER 1i t.)

A ppr ov ed by: ,

, T h e s i s C om m it te e C h a i r m i n, Member, Gr adu ate Fact i l t;.

M em ber, C o n s u l t i n g f -acu i t y

A cc ep te d t h i s 7 t h day o f June 1985 by :

, D i r e c t o r , G r adua t e IDegrr eP h i l i p l J . B r oo k es , Ph.0. P ro gr am s

The op i n i o n s a n d c o n c l u s i o n s e x p r e s s e d h e r e n a r e t h os e oft h e s t u d e n t a u t h o r a nd d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y r e p r e s e n t t i ev i e w s o f t h e U. ;. A rm y Command a n d G e n er a l S t a f f C o l l ~ r g e ra ny o t h e r g o ue rr lm e nt al a g en c y. ( R e f e r e n c e s t o t h i rr j t u d ys h o u l d i n c lu d e t k f o r e a o i n a s ta t e m en t . )


3/149

FI EL D ART ILL til iY SIJPPORT FOR 111 CORPS ATTACK 18 - 25DECEl lBEH 184.1 by Gregory U . Mor ton , USA, 152 pages .T h i s s t i i d y i s an h i s t o r i c a l a n a l y s i s o f t h eem p luy m r n t of t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y d u r i n g t h e I 1 1 Coi -p ia t t a c k t o r e 1 t ev e t h e A m er ic an s o l d i e r s s u r r o un d e d < i tBASTOGNE. Tha d o c t r i n e a nd t r a i n i n g o f t h e f i e l da r t i l l e r y u n i t s i s examined . T h i s e x a m i na t i on i s IJ ied t oev a l ua t e t h e empl oymen t t e c h n i q u e s u s ed by I I C o r p c i

a r t i l l e r y . The d ev elo pm en t a nd m a t u r a t i o n p r o ce s s c r f t h eI C o r p s a r t i l l e r y i s t r a c e d f r o m i t s f i r s t comba,te x p er i en c e a t M e t z t h r o u g h i t s e m pl oy m en t d u r i n g t he .i n1 t i a l stage:: o f t h e B a t t l e o f t h e B u l g e . T h i s s l L ,d rd i s c u ss e s t he p re -w ar t r a i n i n g , d o c t r i n e o f t he p e r i o d ,and dev e lopm en t and u s e o f t h e F i e l d A r t i l l e r y G r o u F .A c t i o n s ta k en hy 111 C or ps p r i o r t o a n d d u r i n g t h e a t t x ka r e a n a l y z e d i n r e v i e w t h e i r e mp lo ym en t t e c h n i q u e s a ndc om p li an ce w i t h t h e d o c t r i n e o f t he p e r i o d .Among t h e l e s s o n s d e m o n s t r a t e d by t h i s s t u d y a r e :t h e a d h e r e n c e t o a s t a n d a r d s e t o f emp loyment p rocedure : ;and ~ ~ m ~ p l i a n c ei t h d o c t r i n e was e f f e c t i u e i n t h i s b a t t l e ;f i e l d a r t i l l e r y u n i t s s h o u l d be e mp lo ye d as b a t t a l i o n F iizeu n i t s ; c u r r e n t d a y f i e l d a r t i l l e r y m e n s h o u ld p r a c t i c e it11t he s t a n d a r d t . r c t i c a l m i s s i o n s ; l o c a l p r o c e d ur e s t h a tv i o l a t e d oc tr t l , l e s h e u l d be a v o id ed ; f i e l d a r t i l l e r ? u n i t cs ho u l d t r a i n W I t h t he m an euv er u n i t s t h e y w i 1 1 s u p p o - t .The s t u d r c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e s t a n d a r d i z e d s e t D fe m pl o ym e nt p r o t : e d u r e s u s e d b y I Corps, and a throumahu n d e r s t a n d i n g o f d o c t r i n e , c r e a t e d t h e f l e x i b i l i t y

n e c es s ar y f o r he employment o f t he f i e l d a r t i l l e r , , d u r i n gt h iz . b a t t l e .

- i I i -


4/149

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

F i r s t a nd f or e mo s t u nd er t h i s h e a d i n g I must l i s t m yw i f e Janet and o ur two c h i l d r e n , J u l i e an d Nanc y. I t i so n l y t h ro u gh t h e i r u n de r s ta n di n g t h a t I was ab le t o comple tet h i s s t ud y . They gave me t h e i r m o s t p r e c i o u s g i f t - t i m e .

M y comm ittee chai rma n, LTC John Hix son wasi n st r um e nt a l i n h e l p i n g t o d e f i n e and n ar ro w t h i s t o p i c . Hehas n u r t u r e d and gu id ed t h i s e f f o r t w i t h p a t i e n c e a n dund ers tan d in g . LTC John Ma r t i n p r o v i d e d c r i t i cal commentsand se rv ed as an e x c e l l e n t sound ing board . COL C l ay tonF r e e a r k a c c e p t ed t h e t a s k o f s e r v i n g a s a c o n s u l t i ng f a c u l t ymember on ve r y sh o r t n o t i c e . H i s comments w e r e i n s t r u m e n t a li n f o c u s i n g t h i s s t u d y a nd p r o v i d i n g m os t welcomeencouragement. I am most a p p r e c i a t i v e o f t he u n t i r i n ge f f o r t s o f C a r o l Ramkey, a r e se a rc h e r w i t h t h e Combined A r m sR es ea rc h L i b r a r y . She was m ost h e l p f u l , a nd a t t h e r i s k o fo v e r l o a d i n g h e r a l r e a d y busy schedu le , I h i g h l y recommendh e r t o any one c o n d u c t i n g r e s e a r c h a t F o r t L e a v en w or th . M r .L e s M i l l e r , o f t he M o r r i s Sw et t L i b r a r y , F o r t S i l l ,Oklahoma, was k i n d enough t o l e n d me documen ts t ha t en ab ledt h i s s tu dy t o b e c ond uct ed . W i th o ut h i s h e l p , t h i s p r o j e c tco u l d no t have been comple ted .F i n a l l y , I d e d i c a t e t h i s s t ud y t o t h e memory o f ac i t i z e d s o l d i e r , p r o fe s s io n a l a r t i l l e r y m a n , and p ro ud m e m b e ro f C B a t t e r y , 17 7th F i e l d A r t i l l e r y B a t t a l i o n - m y f a t h e r ,John Ravaud Mor ton .

- i v -


5/149

T A B L E O F CONTENTS

THESIS APPROV;+L - - - - - - - - - - - - - - i ii i i- - - - - - - - - - - - -BSTRACT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - i vCHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CH APT ER F I V E

PLATE ONE

A P P E N D I X ONE

APPENDIX TWO

A P P E N D I X T H R E E

A P P E N D I X FOUR

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

- 1

- 9

- 3 1- 5 1- 72- 85- 86

1 1 1

1 1 8

1 2 6

1 3 2

D I S T R I B U T IO N L I S T - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 3 8

V


6/149

CHAPTER ONE

A t t h e T h i r d Army A r t i l l e r y C on fe re nc e a t BODW I E S S E E , GERPIGNY, 38 May 1945, Oenera l George S. Fat tons a i d . . .

I t h i n k t h a t i n e v a l u a t i n g a r t i 1 l e r y , thr,p r o o f of t h e p u d d i n g i s i n t h e e a t i n g . We wonth e war And i t was l a r g e l y won by t h e a r t i l l e r - ) , .I t h i n k i t i s v e r y i m p o r t an t t h a t YOU now r e c o r don pape r wha t YOU d i d ( n o t what you t h i n k youd i d ) , so t h a t t h e a r t i l l e r y i n t h e n e x t w a r c a rs t a r t o f f w he re y o u s t o p p e d . ( 1 )

I t i s i n t h i s s p i r i t t h a t t h i s s t u d y h a s b e ena t e m pt ed .

The purp l i se o f t h l s s t u d y i s t o a n a l y z e t h eemployment o f I : i e l d a r t i l l e r y (FA) a s s e t s by t h e 111C u r p E . d u r i n g I I J - 26 December 1944. D u r i n g t h i s t i m s ? t;~e1 1 1 C or ps was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c o n t r o l a n d e mp lo ym en t o f 25d i f f e r e n t f i e l c l a r t i 1 l e r y b a t t a l o n s . The m et ho ds tJ


7/149

T h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y C ha pte r w i l l d i sc us s whop a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e a t t a c k , t h e m e t ho d o lo g y u s e d i n t h eres ea rch , t he assumpt i ons upon wh i ch t he res ea rch wascon du cte d, d e f i n i t i o n o f t e r m s , a nd th e o r g a n i z a t i o n an ds i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e s t u d y .

The f o l l o w i n g FA u n i t s w e r e a s s i g ne d t o 1 1 1 Corpsd u r i n g t he p e r o d c o v e r e d b y t h i s s t u d y an d p a r t c i p a t e di n t he a t t a ck t o r e l i e v e BASTOGNE:

Hq and Hq B a t t e r y , I Corps A r t i l l e r y

288 t h FA Ob se rva t i o n 6n

17 7 th FA 6n (155mm H)

253rd FA 6n (185mm H )

2 7 4 t h FA Bn (185mm H)

776th FA Bn (155mm H )

1 9 3 r d Fa Group6 9 6 t h Ar mo red FA 6n (105mm H )179th FA 6n (155mm H )

-2-


8/149


2l13rd FA G r o u p17 6 t h FA En (4.5'' 0 )731st FA Bn (155mm 0 )

482nd FA Group5 6 1 s t FA Bn ( 1 5 5 m m G)559th FA En (155mm G)578th FA Bn ( 0 H)

4134th FA Qroup5 1 2 th FA Bn ( 1 8 5 m m H)752nd FA En ( 15Smm H)

4 h Armo red D i v i s i o n A r t i22nd FA En (1B5mm H)6 6 t h FA Bn ( 1 0 5 m m H)94th FA En ( 1 0 5 m m H)

1

2 6t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n A r t i l l e r yI B l s t FA Bn ( 1 8 5 m m H)182nd FA Bn ( 1 0 5 m m H)188th FA En ( 1 5 5 m m H ); 63rd FA En (185mm H)


9/149

8 8 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n A r t i l l e r y3 1 3 t h FA Pn (185mm H)314th F A Bn (185mm H)3 1 5 t h FA Bn (155mm H)9 6 5 t h F A Bn (185mm H) ( 2 )

T h i s l i s t i n g does n o t r e f l e c t t he o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r combat .T h e r e c o r d s o f some o f t h e s e u n i t s w e r e u s e d a s p r i m a r ys o u r c e s f o r t h e a n a l y s i s . o f emp loyment techn iques , tac t i c . .a n d p r o c e d u r e s . A s o f 188881A D c c 44 o n l y t w o o f t h e seb a t t a l i o n s ( t h e 6 9 6t h a nd t h e 1 7 7 th ) were a s s i g n e d t o 111Co r ps . Ove r t h e n e x t e i g h t day p e r i o d a l l o f t he se u n i t sw e r e a t t a c h e d t o 1 1 1 Corps. Many o f t h es e u n i t s movedg r e a t d i s t a n c e s , i n some c a s e s m or e t h a n 158 m i l e s . T heemployment o f t h i s v a s t am ount o f f i e l d a r t i l l e r y i s t h ef o c u s o f t h i s s t ud y .

H i s t o r i c a l r e s e a r c h m et ho do lo gy was u se d f o r t h i ss t u d y . The p r i m a r y s o u r c e s w er e A f t e r -A c t i on r e p o r t s ,u n i t j o u r n a l s , u n i t s t a n d i n g o p e r a t i n g p ro ce du re s , a ndo f f i c i a l d oc um ent s, s t u d i e s a nd r e p o r t s . S ec on da rys o u r ce s i n c l u d e d m ag az in e a r t i c l e s , news paper r e p o r t s o ft he a c t i o n s , a nd p r o f e s s i o n a l j o u i - n a ls o f t he p e r i o d .Pub1 i s h e d bo t jks w e r e o n l y u se d f o r a n o v e r a l 1 r e v i e w o ft h e a c t i o n a nd w er e n o t p r i m a r y s o u r c es f o r d e s c r i p t i o n so f t he a c t i o n s .

-4-


10/149

T h i s s t i i d y do es n o t a d d re s s t h e e n t i r e s p e c ' t r m o fcombat ac t ior l ' : i t ake n by t h e I Corps . I t i s l i m i t ? d t oan a n a l y s i s o+ the employment o f t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r , andt he e f f e c t o i t h a t e m p l o y m e n t on t h e b a t t l e f i e l d . t i ss p e c i f i c a l l y I i m i t e d t o an a n a l y s i s o f the employmei t t o f25 FA b a t t a l i c i n s 1 i s t e d p r e v i o u s l y .

T h i s s t u d y h a 5 b e on o r g a n i z e d a r o u n d t h e h y p o t he E i ist h a t t h e e m p lo ym en t o f t h o artillery d u r i n g t h i s but t ) , : .was e f f e c temp 1 o m e na p pl i c a b i 1s t a n d a r d i z

ue due t o th e s t a n d a r d l z a t i o n o f p r o c e d u r e s a ndt e c h n i q u e 6 a n d t h a t t h es e t e c h n i q u e s h av et y t o t he modern b a t t l e f i e l d . T h i st i o n a l l o we d 2s d i f f e r e n t FA b a t t a l i o n s t o t ie

assembled i n d, v e r y s ho r t p e r i o d o f t i m e a n d h a v e


11/149

d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e c o n n o t a t i o n s t h e y c a r r y t od ay . Whent he f o l l o w i n g t e rm s a r e u se d i n t h i s s t u d y t h e y w i l l havet h es e d e f i n i t i o n s :

" D i r e c t S u p po r t - D i r e c t s u pp o r ta r t i l l e r y i s r e t a i n e d u nde r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h ea r t i l l e r y commander, b u t o p e r a t e s p r i m a r i l y w i t ha nd f o r t h e s u p p o r t e d u n i t . I f t he maneuver o ft h e s u p p o r t e d u n i t makes i t n e c e s s a r y f o r t h ed i r e c t s u p po r t a r t i l l e r y t o d i s p l a c e t o p r o u i d ep ro pe r s u p p o r t , t h a t a r t i l l e r y d i s p l a c e s w i t h a u tp o r t sr d e r f r o m- i t s h i g h e r h e a d q u a r t e r s an d rt h a t i t i s d o i n g so.G e n e ra l S u Da o r t - G e n era l s u pp o r t a r t i lr e t a i n e d u n de r c o n t r o l o f t he h i g h e r a r tcommander f o r e m pl oy m en t a n ywh e re i n t h eo f o p e r a t i o n o f t h e u n i t a s a w h o l e .

e r y i sl l e r ys e c t o r

A t t a c h m e n t - When an a r t i l l e r y u n i t i s a t t a c h e dt o a ny o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e h i g h e r commanderr e 1 i n q u i sh e s d i r e c t c o n t r o l o f t h a t a r t i l l e r ya n d i t becomes as m uch a p a r t o f t h e u n i t t ow h i c h i t i s a t t a c h e d a s a r e t h e o r g a n i co r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h a t u n i t .p e in f o r c in g - An a r t i l l e r y u n i t g i v e n t h em i s s i o n o f r e i n f o r c i n g t h e f i r e s o f a no th er u n i te s t a b l i s h e s l i a i s o n w i t h t h a t u n i t and g i v e s t her e i n f o r c e d u n i t p r i o r i t y i n c a l l i n g f o r f i r e s .I t r e m a i ns u nd er c o n t r o l o f t h e h i g h e rcommander.G e n e r a l S u D D o r t / R e i n f o r c i n q - A c o m b i n a t i o n o ft h e g e n er a l s u p p o r t a nd r e i n f o r c i n g m i s s i o n s .The a r t i l l e r y i s m a i n t a i n e d u nd er t h e c o n t r o l o ft h e h i g h e r a r t i l l e r y commander. The u n i ta s s ig n e d t h i s m i s s i o n r e s po nd s t o c a l l s f o r f i r es u p po r t f r o m t h e r e i n f o r c e d a r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o nf i r s t . The u n i t w i t h t h i s m i s s i o n i 0 p o s i t i o n e don th e b a t t l e f i e l d by t h e h i g h e r a r t i l e r rcommander. (3)

Th e re m a i n d e r o f t h e t h e s i s i s o rg an ze d i n t o f o u rC h a p t e r s . C h a p t e r Two d i s c u s s e s t h e d o c t r i n e o f 1944 , thef u n c t i o n i n g o f g r o up h e a d q u a r t e r s , a n d t h e b e g l n n i n g s o f

-6-


12/149

s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n a s r e f l e c t e d i n p re -w ar t r a i n i n g . 3 ha pt erT h r ee c o n c er n < t h e p r e - a t t a c k p ha se , t h e r e - o r g a n i z a t i o no f t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y , t h e movement t o c o n t a c t ar idh i s t o r i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s among u n i t s . C ha pt er F ou ra n a l y z e s t h e a t t a c k p ha se o f t h e b a t t l e , t h e Corpsemp 1 o m e n p r c l cc d u r e s, h i s o r i cal r e a t onsh i p a amor'gu n i t s a n d t h e e mp lo ym en t o f a t t a c h e d a r t i l l e r y by e z c hd i v i s i o n i n v o lv e d . C ha pt er F i v e i s d e v o t e d t o summary andconc 1 u s i o ns .

T h i s s t u d y s h o u l d b e o f v a l u e t o f i e l d a r t i l l e r y m e ni n p a r t i c u l a r , a n d combat t h e o r i s t s i n g e n e r a l . T h er a p i d i t y o f m ovement on t h e modern b a t t l e f i e l d w i l l aga inp os e p r o b l e m s : . i m i l a r t o t h os e f a c e d by I Corps .Namely: How do we assemble and employ t he f i e l d a r t i l e r ys u p p o r t f o r a t ~ t a ~ . s i u e o u n t e r o f f e n s i u e a g a i n s t a n crrlemywho h a s h a d c o n s i d e r a b l e S.UCCBSS i n a s u r p r i s e a t t a c k ? Wec o u l d w e l l be f a ce d w i t h e mp lo y i n g f i e l d a r t i l l e r y i i c i t , ,who do n o t have l o n g -t e rm s u p p o r t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t ht he a t t a c k i n g q r o u n d g a i n i n g arms.

" I t i s p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p or ta n t t h a to p e r a t i o n s a n d m e th od s o f c o r p s a r t 1 1 e r ie s a r i tr e c o r d e d and s t u d i e d . . . " (4)BY t r a c i n g t he m p l o y m e n t o f t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y u n i t ; i na m a j o r b a t t l e t :h is s t u d y m ak es a s m a l l b e g i n n i n g a{: ohatB G L e n t z s u g g e s t s .


13/149

CHAPTER ONE ENDNOTES

1. George S . P a t t o n , J r , as q u o t ed i n XI1 C o r p sA r t i l l e r y i n Combat , (Regensburg, Germany,U S A r m y , 1 9 4 5 ) , p . i .

2 . US A r m y , F i e l d A r t i l l e r y an d TanK D es t r o y er W eek lygummarr # 2 1 . 1 8 G B l A D e c - 242488A Dec 44 ,( A P O 463, 25 December 1Y44), p . 1 .

3 . W i l l i a m J . L e w i s , LTC, R e i n f o r c i n g A r t i l l e r y ,M i l i t a r y Rev i ew 3 4 , J an u ar y 1 94 4, p . 5 6 .

4 . John M . L e n t r , B G , X I 1 C o r p s A r t i l l e r y i n Combat ,(Regensburg, Germany, U S A r m y , 1945) , p . i .

-8-


14/149

CHAPTER TWO

T h i s Ch ap te r d i s c u s s e s t h e d o c t r i n e o f 1944. Thep u r p o s e o f t h i s d i s c u s s l o n i s t o e s t a b l i s h a base . forc om pa ri so n w i t h t he a c t i o n o f t h e b a t t l e t o f o l l o w inl a t e r C ha pt er s . P r e s e nt e d f i r s t i n t h i s Ch a p t e r i s ;no u e r u i e w o f f i e l d a r t i l l e r y d o c t r i n e , t h e n th e s p e c i f i cf u n c t i o n s r e l a t e d t o n o n - d i v i s i o n a l a r t i l l e r y . A f t e re s t a b l i s h i n g t h e d o c t r i n a l b as e, an e xa mp le o f how t h ed o c t r i n e was a p p l i e d f o l l o w s . T h i s C ha pt er a dd re s' se s

p re -d ep lo ym en t t r a i n i n g as w e l l a s c om bat e x p e r i e n c e s .

l h e r o l e o f t he f i e l d a r t i l l e r y h a s a lw ay s been oneo f s u p p o r t t o I h e m ane uu er ar ms . T h i s was t r u e f r c m i t,;i n c e p t i o n a nd i n t o W o r l d War 1 1 -

" I t c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e a c t i o n o f t he en t i i - 6 ,f o r c e by g i v i n g c l o s e and c o n t i nu o us f i r es u p p o r t t c : , i n f a n t r y ( c au a l r y ) ( a rm o re d ) u n i t s ridb y g i v i n g de p th t o c ombat by c o u n t e r b a t t e r yf i r e , f i r e on h o s t i l e r e s er v e s , f i r e t o r e s t r i c tmovement5 i n r e a r a re a s, a n d f i r e t o d i s r u p tcommand aqenc i e s " . 1 >

I t s h o u ld be n o t e d t h a t t he w r i t e r s of d o c t r i n e o f t h e1940's r e c o g n i z e d t he s p e c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een t h emaneuuer un i t s .and the r s u p p o r t i n g a r t I 1 e r y . Ther i? *la:,n o a t t e m p t t o d e sc r ib e r o l e s or m i s s i o n s t h a t w o u l d i ? ac lone t o b e l i e v e t h a t a r t i l l e r y was i n t e nd e d f o r i n d e p e i d e n ta c t i o n . T he do ct im en te c o n c e r n i n g d o c t r i n e o f t h e pe r. is >da r e c a r e f u l t o c l es cr i b e t he r o l e o f t he a r t i l l e r y ir,


15/149

s u p p o r t t e r m s . However, t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n w a 5 n o t i n t e n d e dt o demean t h e a r t i l l c r y c a p a b i l i t i e s . I t w a s r e c o g n i z e dt h a t t he a r t i l l e r y was a p o w e r f u l a nd d e v a s t a t i n g weaponsys tem.

The sys tems oby t h e i r r an ge , mob

t h e p e r1 i t y and

od were c l a s s i f i e d p r i m a r i l yf i r ep ow e r . A r t i l l e r y

c l a s s i f i e d a s l i g h t w a s g e n e r a l l y o f 1 0 5 m m a nd s m a l l e r .T he se s y s t e m s w er e i n t e n d e d t o be u s e d by t he d i v i s i o n s i nc o n t a c t a s t h e i r p r i m a r y d i r e c t s u p po r t a ss e t s . L i g h ta r t i l l e r y was h i g h l y m o b i l e and c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a h i g hr a t e o f f i r e . Medium a r t i l l e r y i n c lu d e d b o t h t h e 4.5 i n c hgun and the 155 mm h o w i t z e r . I t was l e s s m o b i l e , h a d al o we r r a t e o f f i r e , b u t d e l i v e r e d g r e a t e r d e s t r u c t i v epower . Heavy a r t i l l e r y o f t he p e r i o d was t h e 155mm gun,t h e 8 i n c h h o w i t z e r an d l a t e r i n t h e w a r t h e 24Bmm cannon.Once a g a i n , a s i n t h e ca se o f t h e medium a r t i l l e r y , whatwas s a c r i f i c e d i n m o b i l i t y a nd r a t e o f f i r e w as made u p byi n c r e a s e d e x p l o s i v e p ow er o f t h e a mm u ni t io n . The c h a r tbe low show t he range and d e s t r u c t i v e pow er o f e a ch t y p e ofsys tem.

WEAPON C A L I B E R R A N G E WE I GHTH o w i t z e r ( M 2 ) 1B 5mm 12,150 yds 33 l b sHowi tze r (M1918) 1 5 5 m m 12,400 ydc. 95 l b sHowi t z e r ( M 1 ) 155mm 16,350 yds 95 l b s

-10-


16/149

Howi t z e r ( M 1 )Gun CM2)GunGun

8 " 1 8 , 5 1 8 yds 288 It,s155mm 28,188 yds 95 lbr ;4.5" 28,588 yds 55 l b i .

( M i ) 1SJmm 25,715 yds 95 l b s .

D o c t r i n e d i d n o t a d dr es s each t yp e o f a r t i l l e r ys y s t e m s e p a r asu i t e d t o p a ri t was b e t t e ro r h ea v y a r t i

e l y . I iowe uer, eac h t yp e o f weapon was be5.ti c u l a r r o l e s . For e xa mp le , w h en ev er p c s s i b l et o o rg an i z e t he a r t i l l e r y so t h a t t h e meilliuml e r y c o n c e n t r a t e d on t he c o u n t e r b a t t e r r

m i s s i o n . T h i s l e f t t h e d i r e c t s u p p o r t a r t i l l e r y ,g e n e r a l l y t h e s m a l l e r c a l i b e r weapons, a v a i l a b l e t o t heu n i t s i n d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h t h e enemy. The d i v i s i o i s o ft h e t i m e d l d n o t h a ve a g r e a t d e a l o f m ed iu m o r h ei rv va r t i l l e r y o r g a i l i c . G e n e r a l l y , each d i v i s i o n h ad o r i l f oneb a t t a l i o n of m ed iu m a r t i l l e r y . B ec au se t h e m ediu m a ndhe a v y a r t i l l e r y were a s s l g ne d t o g r o u p s o r t h e Co rp sa r t i l l e r y , t h e d o c t r l n e e mphas ized once a g a i n th es u p p o r t i n g role o f t h e a r t i l l e r y . I n t h i s case t h es u p p o r t was p r o v i d e d by t h e m ediu m a n d h e av y b a t t a l i c i n s t ot h e i r f e l l o w a r t i l l e r y m e n o f t he d i v i s i o n b a t t a l i o n st h r o u g h t h e u s e of s t a n da r d t a c t i c a l m i s s i o n s .

T h e m i s s i o n s of t h e a r t i l l e r y were s l i g h t l yd i f f e r e n t t h a n th e o ne s o f t o d a y . T h ey h av e a l r e a d y b ee nd e f i n e d i n C h a p te r One, b u t t h e y b ea r r e p e a t i n g he r e for.

-1 1 -


17/149

c 1 a ru s u aEven

t y ' s s aK e. T he m i s s i o n o f d i r e c t s u p p o r t was onel y a s s i g n e d t o a b a t t a l i o n o r g a n i c t o a d i v i s i o n .t ho ug h t he a r t i l l e r y was n o t o r g a n i c t o a r e g i m en t

( o r t h e c om bat command o f an a r m or e d d i v i s i o n ) h a b i t u a la s s o c i a t i o n s we re f o r me d be tw ee n r e g i me n t s i z e d u n i t s an done a r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n . I t w a s common t o f i n d t h e sameFA b a t t a l i o n s u p p o r t i n g t h e same ma ne uv er u n i t t h r o u g h o u ta c am pa ig n. D i r e c t s u p p o r t b a t t a l i o n s w er e m an eu ve re d a sn e c e s s a r y by t h e i r commander t o p r o v i d e t h e b e s t s u p p o r tf o r t h e s u p p o r t e d u n i t . Even t ho ug h i t : i s p o a . s i b l e t o seed i v i s i o n a r t i l l e r y u n i t s l i s t e d un de r a Co rp s a r t i l l e r y ,t h i s i 0 n o t m ea nt t o s u gg es t c o n t r o l . The C orp s a r t i l l e r yd i d n o t c o n t r o l t h e f i r e s o f t he d i r e c t s u pp o r t u n i t s .However , t h e f i r e o f t he d i v i s i o n a r t i l l e r y u n i t 5 c o u l d beu s e d ' . . . o n a n y t a r g e t when o r d e r e d by t h eC o r p s Comm ander...or when t h e C o r p s A r t i l l e r y

Commander, through h i s k n ow l ed g e o f t h e f l o w o fb a t t l e , i s c o g n i z a n t o f t he f a c t t h a t c e r t a i nb a t t a l i o n s o f d i v i s i o n a r t i l l e r y a re n o t b e i n ge m o lo re d . t h e i r f i r e s c a n a n d s h ou l d be u t i l i z e db y ' h i m t o r e i n f o r c e t h ef r o n t w he re r e i n f o r c e m c ni 5 a m a t t e r f o r t h o r o u g hm u t u a l c o o p e r a t i o n . " ( 2 )

I n t h i s ma nne r, t h e C or ps A r ti n f l u e n c e o ve r t he u n i t s w i t h

i r e on p o r t i o n s o f t h es a r e i n d i c a t e d . T h i su n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d

1 1 e r y Commander e x e r t e d somea d i . re c t s u p p o r t m i s s i o n .

T h e m i s s i o n o f g e n e r a l s u p p o r t a l l o w e d t h e Corps A r t i l e r yCommander t o e x e r t d i r e c t i n f l u e n c e . T h i s m i s s i o n wasa s s i g ne d t o t h e medium an d h ea vy a r t i l l e r y . I t wa s t h e

-1 2


18/149

m e t h o d by wh i i :h t h e C o r p s A r t i 1 1 e r y Commander co u 1 d w e i gh tany p a r t i c u l a r . p o r t i o n o f t h e zone o f a c t i o n .

W ei gh t c o u l d a l s o be a p p l i e d t h r ou g h t h e u se o f t h er e i n f o r c i n g m i s s i o n . T h i s m i s s i o n wa5 unique becau5.e au n i t t h a t p er fo rm ed t h i s r o l e answered c a l l s f o r f i r e 1:roma n o t h e r FA u n i t , n o t f r o m a maneuver u n i t d i r e c t l y . . T b ~ i sm i s s i o n was c o ns i de r e d t o b e s e co n da r y t o t h e p r i m a r ym i s s i o n o f g e n e r a l s u p p o r t . The m i s s i o n o f g e n e r a ls u p p o r t / r e i n f o r c i n g was a b l e n d o f t he two d i s t i n c tm i s s i o n s . The a r t i l l e r y commander c o u l d Keep a s t r i n g on a b a t t a l i o n a nd s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w e i g h t t he ma in a t tack :by a s s i g n i n g t t l is . m i s s i o n .

The mani i . i l go es so f a r a s t o sa y t h a t t her e i n f o r c i n g u n i t w i l l

. , . answer a l l calls f o r f i r e f r o m th er e i n f o r c e d u n i t w hen answer ing such c a l l s w i l ln o t i n t e r i e r e w i t h i t s p r i m a r y m i s s i o n . . . ( 3 )

A t t a c h m e n t o f i n d i v i d u a l FA b a t t a l i o n s o c c u r r e do c c a s i o n a l l y . Howeuer, mo re o f t e n a d i v i s i o n w o u l dr e c e i v e t h e a t t a c h m e n t o f a g r o u p. A t t a ch m e n t ga ve t hed i v i s i o n f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l I t y f o r the groups employmc,nt , t oi n c l u d e f u l l t a c t i c a l a n d admin s t r a t i v e c o n t r o l o f t h eu n i t . When a t t a c h e d t o a d i v i s on, t h e g r o up s b a t t a l i o n sc o u l d be u s ed t o p e r f o r m an y o f t h e s t a n d a r d m i s s i o n s .

-13-


19/149

The s t an d a r d t a c t i c a l m i s s i o n s o f d i r e c t s u pp o r t(DS), g e n e r a l s u p p o r t (GS), r e i n f o r c i n g ( R ) and genera ls u p p o r t / r e i n f o r c i n g (GSR) f o rmed t he bas i s f o r employmento f th e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y and d et e rm in ed how th e a r t i l l e r ywas o r g a n i z e d f o r c om ba t. I n a d d i t i o n t o th e t y pe s o fm i s s i o n s , t h e 19 44 d o c t r i n e was a1n.o s p e c i f i c o n t h em e t h o d s o f o b s e r v a t i o n , f i r e d i r e c t i o n and c o o r d i na t i o np r o c e d u r e s t o b e u se d.

The mo st s p e c i f i c m et ho d o f o b s e r v a t i o n d i s c u s s e d i nt h e d o c t r i n e o f th e p e r i o d i s t h a t c o nd uc te d b y f o r w a r do b s e r v e r s . T he se o b s e r v e r s w e r e a l l o c a t e d on a b a s i s o fone team pe r maneuver company. They u s u a l l y came f r om th ed i r e c t s u p p o rt b a t t a l i o n . A no th er so ur ce o f fo r w a r do b s er v er a s s e t s was t he F i e l d A r t i l l e r y O b s e r v a t i o nB a t t a l i o n . No rm al l y each C o r p s was as s i gn ed ano b s e rv a t io n b a t t a l i o n . T h i s b a t t a l i o n was c ap ab le o fl o c a t i n g enemy b a t t e r y p o s i t i o n s , p r i m a r i l y t h ro ug h use o fsound and f l a s h r a ng i ng , a d j u s t i n g a r t i l l e r y andc o l l e c t i n g i n t e l l i g e n c e . T h i s l a s t f u n c t i o n was r e a l l y asub-set o f i t s a d J u s t i n g f u n c t i o n . C e r t a i n l y one o f t hec a p a b i l i t i e s o f anyone a d j u s t i n g a r t i l l e r y was t o s e e t heb a t t l e f i e l d and t he re by c o l l e c t i n t e l l i g e n c e . A l l f o r w a r do b s e rv e r s s u p p o r t i n g a maneuver u n i t w e r e c o o r d i n a t e d b y al i a i s o n o f f i c e r . T h i s l i a i s o n o f f i c e r was u s u a l l y l o c a t e di n t he maneuver b a t t a l i o n o p e r a t i o n c e n t e r . H i s p r i m a r y

-1 4-


20/149

r e s p o n s i b i 1 i v was t o i n s u r e t h a t t h e f o r w a r d o bs er lr er *sd i d n o t f i r e can f r i e n d l y t r o o p s . He a c c o m p l is h e d t l i i s - b ym o n i t o r i n g c a l l s f o r f i r e a nd I n s u r i n g t h a t t a rge t ;r e q u e s t e d we re i n f a c t enemy l o c a t i o n s . L i a i s o n o f i i c r r s ,as w e l l a s f o r w a r d o b s e r v er s , w er e a l s o r e s p o n s i b l e f o rp r o v i d i n g ad v i c e o n t h e employment o f a r t i l l e r y t o t h e i rs u p p o r t e d u n i t co mm an de rs . (4)

The o v e r a l l o b s e r v a t i o n e f f o r t was e s s e n t i a l l y a t w op r o n g e d a p p r o a c h . O n t h e o n e h a n d t h e . f o r w a r d o b s c ? r J e r sa n d t h e 1 i a i s o i r o f f i c e r s were r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p r o v i d i n gt h e c l o s e s u p p o r t f o r t h e m an euv er f o r c e s . The l onge rr an ge o h s e r v a t ~ n n s s e t s , i . e . sound a nd f l a s h a nd a ra s s e t s , we re r r s p o n s i b l e f o r i d e n t i f y i n g an d n e u t r a l z i n gt h e enemy a r t i l l e r y . (Th e u se o f t h e s ou nd a n d f l a s t is e c t i o n s i n t hc o b s e r v a t i o n b a t t a l I o n c o u ld w e l l s e r i e ? ist he h a s i e o f art i n t e r e s t i n g study, a s c @ u l d t he role o ft h e c u b a i r c r a f t i n f i e l d a r t i l l e r y o b se rv a t i on . )R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e me t ho d o f t a r g e t a c q u i s t i o n , a l l t : a r Q e t swere p r oc es se d i n t h e f i r e d i r e c t i o n c e n t e r ( F D C ) .

F i r e d i r e c t i o n c e n t e r s we re o r g a n i c t o eac h t v pe c f fa r t i l e r y b a t t a l i o n .

F i r e D i r e c t i o n i s t h e t a c t i c a l c o m m a n d 0 fone o r m ore a r t i l l e r y u n i t s , f o r t h e p ur p os e oi:b r i n g i n g t h e i r f i r e t o b e a r u po n t h e p r o p e rt a r g e t s at t h e p r o p e r t i m e . ( 5 )

-15-


21/149

GroupsP r i marb a t t a l

a nd C or p s a l s o had f i r e d i r e c t i o n c en te rs .l y t h e s e we r e u s e d t o mass t h e f i r e s o f s e v e r a lo n s on one t a r g e t , a n d t o a t t a c k d eep t a r g e t s . T he

p r m a r y m e an s o f commun i c a t on be ween f i r e d i r e c t i o n sc e n t e r s was w i r e . T h i s c om mu ni ca ti on n e t i n c l u d e d t h eC or ps a r t 1 l e r y FDC, any Group FDC i n th e Corp s zone, andt h e FDCs o f t h e d i v i s i o n a r t i l l e r i e s . R a d ioc om mu ni ca ti on d u p l i c a t e d t h e w i r e a s much a s p o s s i bT h i s s y s te m o f c om mu ni ca t i on was c r i i c a l t o t h e a bo f a l l t h e a r t i l l e r y t o mass on one t a r g e t . The

e .1 i tr

c o n c l u s i o n s on t h i s t o p i c r ea ch ed by t h e Th e G e ne ra l B o a rdi nc 1 uded:

. . . t h e a b i l i t y t o m ass q u i c k l y a n da c c u r a t e l y t he f i r e s of many f i e l d a r t i l l e r yb a t t a l i o n s on a s i n g l e t a r g e t was q u i t ef r e q u e n t l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s u c c e s s o f ano p e r a t io n . . . t h e r e was n o s u b s t i t u t e f o r masseda r t i l l e r y f i r e s . . . t h e s e f i r e s p l a y e d a m aj orr o l e i n t h e a dvan ce o f o u r t r o o p s an d i nb r e a k i n g u p a nd d i s o r g a n i z i n g enemyc o un t e r a t t a ck s . . . t he se f i r e s w ere c a r e f u l l yc o n t r o l l e d an d r e a d i l y s h i f t e d t o t h e d e s i r e dl o c a t i o n . . . t he se f i r e s we re a v a i l a b l e , on s h o r tn o t i c e , d u r i n g a l l h o u r s o f t h e da y an d n i g h tan d i n a l l k inds . o f w e a t h e r . ( 6 )

These c o n c lu s i o n s r e f l e c t n o t o n l y o n t h e FDC d o c t r i n e b u ta l s o on t h e r a t h e r s t r i n g e n t r e q u i re m e n t s p l a c e d on u n i t sf o r c o o r d i n a t i o n o f f i r e s .

The c o o r d i n a t i o n e f f o r t was p r e s c r i b e d f ro m maneuverb a t t a l i o n l e v e l a l l t he w a y t h r o u g h C o r p s . I t i n c l u d e ds uc h t h i n g s a s:

-1 6-


22/149

" S e n d i n g o f 1 i a i s o n de ta ch me nt s t o i n f a n t i - yb a t t a l jaras and ass ignment o f m i s s i o n s t o f or wa i- dobserver:Yi n f a n t r y commanders, 1 i a i s o n o f f i c e r s , and a i l -and a r t i I l e r y o b s e r v e r s . " ( 7 )

T h e u n i t s , b o t h f i e l d a r t i l l e r y a nd maneuver, p l an n e dnumerous co nc en t r a t ion s . The va lu e o f these pre-ar.r armedt a r g e t s was t h a t each b a t t a l i o n w i t h i n range c o u l d computef i r i n g d a t a. From t h i s d a t a i t was a s im p le m a t t e r t os h i f t t o t a r g e t s o f o p p o r t u n i t y n e ar by t he c o nc en tr at it sf )l o c a t io n . T h i s i s one o f t h e p r i m a r y r e a s o n s so mucha r t i 1 l a r y was a v a i l a b l e on such s h o r t n o t i c e .C o o r d i n a t i o n p r o c e du r e s w e r e s p e c i f i c , b u t n o t so d e t a i l e das t o p r e c l u d e a l 1 f l e x i b i 1 i t y . A s w i t h o t h e r p o r t i m E o ff i e l d a r t i l l e r ; . , d o c t r i n e t he emphas is Wac. a lwa ys or1 2j o i n t e f f o r t t)t?tween the s u p p or t in g f i e l d a r t i l e r y , tndt h e s u p p o r t e d o r i i t a .

S ince i t was n ot e xp e c te d t h a t f i e l d a r t i l l e r r wo u ldc a r r y o u t i nd ep en de nt a c t i o n s , t he u n i t s h ad t o beo r g a n i z e d i n s i ~ c h manner t h a t t hey c o u l d p e r fo r m t t e i i -

t h e m aneuver u n i t s . T h i su p p o r t i ng r o l e s f o ro r g a n i z a t i o n was b u ia r t 1 1 e r y o r g a n i c t ot o p r o v i d e th e d i u i sweak r e s i s t an ce . ( 8 )

t around t h e d i v i s i o n a r t i l e r y . Thea d i v i s i o n was t he min imum necessa ryon w i t h a r t i l l e r y su p po r t when f a c i n gWhenever t h e s i t u a t i on exceed l?d t h i s

- 17 -


23/149

weaK resistance s tate additional artillery wa s allocatedfrom C o r p s assets. Th e divsional artill ery habit uallyperformed the direct support role. Corps artillery wa snormally forme d into gro ups and then the group wa sattached to a Division or i t was assigned one of thestandard missions. All the u n i t s of t h e group would havea commo n mission. The group was by no me ans a permanentstructure.

What follows is a chronological listin g of the groupassignme nts for one Corp s artillery battalion over thecourse of its European Theater assi~nment. his 1 isting isincluded to giue some indication o f the fluid natur e of an

a r group.ssignment to any particu

The 177th Field A r t l l e r r Battalion arrived on thecontinent on 21 July 1944. Getween its arrival and thetermination of ho stilitie s i t was assigned o r attached tothe fo llowing Co rps and Groups:

DATE GROUP CORPS21 JUL 44 STH FA GP xx28 AUG 44 ATTCH'D 943RD xx

FA B N3 SEP 44 264TH FA GP xx5 NOV 44 ZB4TH FA GP 1 1 1

-18-


24/149

18 DEC 441 9 DEC 44 ATTCH'D 4TH

ARMORED D I U- - - -6 DEC 44

I111

I61 JAN 45 193RD FA GP 11122 JAN 45 183RD FA GP 1111 2 FEB 45 183RD FA GP U I I I12 MAR 45 203RD FA GP UIII6 2 APR 45 416TH FA GP xx0 9 APR 4 5 5TH FA GP xx22 JUN 45 220TH FA GP THIRD ARMY :9)

As i s d e m o n s t r a t e d by t h i s c h a r t , i t was n o t unusua.1 f o r au n i t t o m ove a i -ou n d q u i t e a b i t . T h i s p a r t i c u l a rb a t t a l i o n was a s s ig n e d t o 7 d i f f e r e n t g r o up s i n 3d i f f e r v n t C o r p - i i n t he p e r i o d o f a y e ar . T h i s cascb i s n o tu n u su a l , i n f a r : t , i t + e xp er ie nc e i l l u s t r a t e s th e r r i l , ? n a tth e e xc e p t i on . The same phenomena i s a l s o s e e n wh e ne x a m i n in g t h e r e c o r d s o f t h e g ro u ps .

Be low i y , a c h ro n o l o g i c a l l i s t i n g o f t h e b a t t e a l o n sa s s i g n e d t o t h e 4 0 4 t h FA Group d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d 18 Ciug 44t h r o u g h 1 Jan 45. (The f i r s t t im e t he b a t t a l i o n i s1 i s t e d , t h e c a l i b e r o f the weapon i s n o t e d i n p a re n t b 8 e s e sf o l l o w i n g t h e i i n i t d e s i g n a t i o n . )

DATE BATTALIONS ASSIGNED CORPS

- . I 9-


25/149

18 AUG 4421 AUG 44

28 AUG 44

11 SEP 44

25 SEP 44

09 OCT 44

10 DEC 44

20 DEC 44

01 J A N 45

558TH F A (155mm H)176TH F A ( 4 . 5 " G )512TH F A (105mm H)731ST F A (155mm H )P74TH F A 155mm H )176TH F A512TH F A775TH F A ( 4 . 5 " G )974TH F A176TH F A775TH F A ( 4 . 5 " G )P74TH F A176TH F A512TH F A775TH F A974TH F A512TH F A775TH F A974TH F A51ZTH FA752ND F A (155mm H )512TH F A752ND F A949TH F A (155mm H)2 7 3 R D F A (155mm H )512TH F A

X I IX I I

X I I

X I I

X I I

X I

1 1 1

1 1 1

X I I

-20 -


26/149

752ND FA ( 1 0 )A s with the 177th Battalion, the 484th FA Group hzd manyand varied assig nmen ts in a very short period o f time?. I ntheir. case t h e y controlled P different battalions in 2different Corps in a period of 4 months.

Th e twc, pre vio us tsts demon strate the flexibilitythat the group headq uarte rs gave the Co rp s in orgariizingthe field artillery. Gr oup s we re orig inall y desigrled muchike a current briyade head quart ers. Tha t is, i t was a

tactical headquarters with no batta lions organic 1 : c i tThe primary function was to assign missions for tacticalemployment of attached battalions, exercise firedirection , an(l supervi se trei n ing of at ta ch ed bateal ions.

"The flexibility of the ne w organtzationmakes i t readi ly possible to form tasK forceswithout reorganltatlon of u nit s or disruption ofthe old f ixe d regimental orga nizat ion and at tt.esame time permits a masstng of mean s as requiredby the situation." (12)

'The original pUnited States, train

entperations as a ndifficulties, ;hdifficulties, t hEngland, another

an wa s for the groups to form in theand then dep loy to a theater ofty. However, due to training

pment schedules, an d a myriad o f o t h e rsel dom occurred. Upon arrival in

attempt w as made to form group s and


27/149


28/149

commanders the n ec es sa ry weapon t o m e e t r ap t dmov ing m d h i g h l y m o b i l e w a r f a r e . " ( l 4 )

A s no te d above, each Corps Commander dev elopv d h i sown idea ; on how th e g ro up s h o u l d be employ ed.

"The I Corps A r t i l l e r y h a b i t u a l l ya t ta c he d a l l n o n - d i v i s i o n a l 1 i g h t b a t t a l i o n s l od i v i s i o n s and, when t he a v a i l a b l e a r t i l l e r yp e r m 1 t t ed , an a d d i t i o n a l 155mm how i t ze rb a t t a l i o n was a l s o at ta c he d t o an i n f a n t r yd i v i s i o n . A g ro up c o n s i s t i n g o f two 155howl t ze i - b a t t a l i o n s , one 195 mm gun b a t t a l i o nand one 3 i nc h h o wi tz e r b a t t a l i o n r e i n f o r c e d thef i r e s o f each i n f a n t r y d l u i s i o n a r t i l l e r y . Ag ro up c o i i s i s t i n g o f one 4 .5 i n c h gun b a t t a l i o nand one 155mm gun b a t t a l Ion (s e l f - p r op e l le d)r ei nf or cv ad th e f i r e s o f an a rm or ed d i v i s i o n . 11159 mm hcJWi t z e r b a t t a l o n was a t t a c h e d t o t hel a t t e r q'oup when i t w a 5 a v a i l a b l e . A l l oth6.ra r t i l l e r y was i n g en er al s up po rt ." ( 1 5 )

T h i s i s an a c r u ra t e d e s c r i p t i o n o f how the 1 1 1 C o r p ' idep loyed i a r t i l l e r y d u r ln g t he a t t ac k commencing 22December 1944.

Even though the gr oups were never in te nd ed t o haveo rg an ic b a t t a l i o n s , I t was expec ted t ha t a group wouldt r a i n w l t h c e r t a i n b a t t a l i o n s a nd t he n d ep lo y t o combatw i t h th es e same b a t t a l i o n s . The d o c t r i n e w r i t e r s 0.F thep e r i o d d i d n o t e n v i s i o n t h e v a s t amount o f s h i f t i n g amongg r oups th a t eve n t ua l l y occu r r ed . However as t he w a rp r o g r e s s e d t h i :j s h i f t ng f r om one g r oup t o ano ther becamethe norm.


29/149

T he ea se w i t hg r e a t p a r t a r e s u l tg i ve n t o each b a t t aa d m i n i s t e r e d by t h e

r e s u l t s s e rv e a s a t y pa d mi n i s t e r ed th e t e s t sCamp Hood, Te xa s. Du r

w h i c h t h e s e s h i f t s were made w a s i no f t he u n i f o r m i t y o f t h e t r a i n i n gi o n. The r e c o r d s o f t h e t e s t sArmy G ro un d F o r c e s b o a r d r e f 1 ec t t h i s

u n i f o r m i t y . Each b a t t a l o n a nd g ro up was p u t t h r o u g h as e r i e s o f r i g o r o u s e x a m i n a t i on s b e f o r e b e i n g r a t e d ass a t i s f a c t o r y i . e . c om ba t r e a d y . The 4 8 4 t h FA Group t e s t

c a l examp le . The 464 th wasd u r i n g t h e p e r i o d 17-26 A p r i l a tng t h e s e t e s t s t h e 7 72 nd a nd 773rd

F i e l d A r t i l l e r y B a t t a l i o n s were a t t a c h e d t o th e Group. TheGroup h e a d q u a r t e r s w as r a t e d " s a t i s f a c t o r y " a nd eac hB a t t a l i o n was r a t e d " v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y " . The t e s t si n c l u d ed t a c t i c a l employment a s w e l l a s t e ch n i c a l f i r ed i r e c t i o n p r o c ed u r es . Had i t n o t b e e n for t h es t a n d a r d i z a t i o n o f t h i s t e s t i n g t h e s h i f t i n g o f b a t t a l i o n samong groups wou ld n o t have been accompl i s he d w i t h su cha pp ar en t ea se . T o g i v e t h e r e a d e r an a p p r e c l a t i o n f o rd e t a i l o f t h e s e t e s t s , A p p e n d i x O n e c o n t a i n s t h e r e s u l t so f t h e 4 8 4 t h FA G ro up t e s t .

b a t t adoc rt h a t

The em pl oy me nt o f t h e g r o u p s a nd t h e i r a t t a c h e dio ns i s a good example o f t h e a d a p t a b i l i t y o fne t o t h e n ee ds a nd c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f w ar . The f a c th i s p r o c e d u r e w as f o l l o w e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e war i s a

t e s t a me n t t o i t s v a l i d i t y . I n l a t e r Ch a p t e r s i t w i l l b e

-24-


30/149

d em on st ra te d how t he f l e x i b i l i t y o f group employmer t wasm ea ni ng fu l i r i p r o v i d i n g t i m e l y an d s u f f i c i e n t a r t i l e i - - rf i r e s u p p o r t .

The c c ln c lu d i ng p o r t i o n s o f t h i s C h ap te r d es crs ma l l p o r t i o n o f t he a c t i o n d u r i n g t he a t t a c k t o r e

b e ai eve

BASTUGNE c o n d u c t e d by t h e 4 t h Ar mo re d D i v i s i o n ( A D ) . The4 t h A D was on- o f t he d i v i s i o n s a t t a c h e d t o 111 C o r 3 s .T h i s a c t i o n d kb pi ct s d o c t r i n a l e mp lo ym en t o f t h e f i e l da r t i l l e r y .

T h e 4 t h AD was on t he l e f t f l a n k o f t h e 1 1 1 ICorp :.a nd h a d t h e m i s s i o n o f o pe n i ng a c o r r i d o r i n t o BASTOGNET.The a r t i l l e r y w i t h t h e D i v i s i o n was o r g an i ze d as f o l l o i d s :( A d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s io n o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l bsp r e s e n t e d i n C hapter.. F o u r )

Combat Command A - 6 6 t h FA (105mm H) ( o r g a n i c ) :2 7 4 t h FA (105mm H, a t t a c h e d

f r o m 111 Co rp s )Combat C.ommand B - 22nd FA (105mm t i ) ( o r g a n i :) ,

253rd FA (105mm H, a t tac :h ,?df r o m I Corps.)

Combat Command R - 9 4 t h FA (10Jmm H ) ( o r g a n i t : ) ,B t r y C , 1 7 7 t h FA (155mm I-Ia t t a c h e d f r o m I Corps ) ( 1 6 )

-25-


31/149

402nd FA Group -(attache d to Div)

This organization is typi

heat0Di val 1

561st FA (155mm G)559th FA (155mm G )578th FA (8 H) ( 1 7 ) .

al for this period of t h e w r .I t refl ects that the light artill ery ( t h e 105mm's) wasattached to the division and that one group of medium and

y artillery wa s assigned a mission of general supporthe Corps with a furthe r missio n of reinfor cing thesion Artillerr. Communi cations were established amongthese firing units and the Division Artillery

Headquar ters and the Group Headquarters. (18) The forwardobservers assigned to the maneuver co mpanies were from theorganic artillery battalions and no additional observerswere assigned by Corps..


32/149


33/149

38 or 45 m i n u t e s , b u t t h e i m p o r t a n t p o i n t i s t h a t d u e t oadherence t o t h e e mployment p r a c t i c e s p r e s c r i b e d i n t h ed o c t r i n e a s i g n i f i c a n t amount o f a r t i l l e r y was a u a i l a b l ei n a v e r y s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m a . T h i s exam ple d e m on s t ra t e st h e c o o r d i n a t i o n b etween maneuver a nd a r t i l l e r y u n i t s a sw e l l a s among a r t i l l e r y u n i t s . I t a l s o shows th e a b i l i t yo f t h e a r t i l l e r y t o q u i c k l y mass f i r e on a s i n g l e t a r g e t .I t d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e i m p or t a n ce o f a l i a i s o n o f f i c e r a ndt he s h a r i n g o f f i r e d i r e c t i o n d a t a among u n i t s .

T he m os t i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n t h a t t h i s e xa mp lei l l u s t r a t e s i s t h e s pe ed an d a cc u r a c y w i t h w h i c h t h ea r t i l l e r y f i r e c o u l d be d e l i v e r e d . T h i s f i r e came f r o m anumber o f b a t t a l i o n s i n a number o f d i f f e r e n t l o c a t i o n s .I t i s a r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e c o n s i s t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h ep e r i o d ' s d o c t r i n e . I t i s a t r i b u t e t o t he s t a n d a r d i z a t i o ne f f o r t t h a t b e g a n w i t h t h e Army G ro un d F o r c e s t e s t s b e f o r et h e w a r .

T h i s h a s been j u s t one s h o r t , c o n c i s e e xa m pl e o f t h eemployment o f t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y . The n e x t C ha pte ra dd re ss es how t h e c o n s i s t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e d o c t r i n ea s s i s t e d i n t h e p r e - a t t a c K p ha se o f t h i s o p e r a t i o n .C h ap t er F o u r d i s c u s s e s t h e a t t a c k p h as e a n d C h ap t er F i v ei s t h e s umm ary a n d c o n c l u s i o n s o f t h i s s t u d y .

28


34/149

CHAPTER TWO ENDNOTES

(7)(8)( 9 )

( 1 8

( 1 1 )( 1 2 )

1 3)( 14 )

US War D ep ar t m en t, F i e l d A r t i l l e r y Tactics ,Employment , FM 6-28, 1944 , p . 1 .

US War D e p a r tm e n t , F i e l d A r t i l l e r r T a c t i c s - g g-& ,uues o f D i v i s i o n A r t i l l e r y a ndHiaher: A r t i l l e r y E c h e l o ns , FM 6-186,1944 , p . 49.

i b i d . , p . 9.FM 6-28, pp. 18-28.i b i d . , p . 30.The G en er al Bo ar d, R e p o r t on S t u d y o f F i e l d

A r t i i . e r Y C m e r a t i o n s , u n d a t e d , p . 1 8 6 .FM 6-28, p . 26.FEl 6-160, p . 2.T h i r d Army, F i e l d A r t i l l e r y a nd Tank Dest roxQ:

O pe ra t i on Summary Aua us t 1P44 - June945 , 1 94 5, p . a l l .

4 8 4 t h FA Group, H i s t o r y o f H e a d a u a r t e r s a n dH e a d a u + r te r s B a t t e r y . 4 0 4 t h FA GroUDL- 9944 lP 44 , pp . 2-3.

FM 6-188, p . 5Y.T he G ene r a l B oa r d , Rep o r t on t he S t ud y o f F i c J d

A r t i l l e r y G r o u g , u n d a t e d , p . 3.i b i d . , p p . 7-8.The G en er al Bo ard , F i e l d A r t i l l e r y G ro ug ,

- 29-


35/149

u n d a t e d , p . 8 .( 15 ) The Gene ra l B o a r d , O ~ e r a t i o n s p p . 163-164( 1 6 ) Cap t H a r o l d V. M c C o y , as c i t e d i n 4 t h A rmo red

D i u i s i o n , R e l i e f o f B a s t o s n e , u n d a t e d ,p . 1.

(17 ) T h i r d A r m y , O p e r a t i o n Summary , 25 Decembersummary, p . 1 .

(18) C a p t H a r o l d U . M c C o y , as c i t e d i n 4 t h ArmopedD i v i s i o n , R e l i e f o f Ba s t o s n e , u n d a t e d ,p . 1 .

( 1 3 ) i b i d . , p . 2 .(ZB) 4 t h A rmo red D i v i s i o n , R e l i e f o f Ba s t o p n e ,

u n d a t e d , p p . 1-11.( 2 2) i b i d . , p p 7 - 8 .

- 30 -


36/149

CHAPTER THREE

T h i s C h :i pt er s e t s t h e s c en e f o r t he b a t t l e t h a t tcsoKa r o u n d HASTOGNE, BELGIUM, 22-26 December 1944. To

a p p r e c i a t e thtr c o m p l e x i t i e a o f f i e l d a r t i l l e r y empl~,ymenti n t h i s b a t t le , , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o b e g i n w i t h what :he

l e .n i t s w ere dc8ing p r i o r t o t h e b a t

The d i s c u s s i o n h e r e a f t e r w i 1 d e p i c t a b r i e fo v e r v i e w of t h e 5.i t u a t i u n b e tw e en 1 0 a n d 18 December .T hes e pa r a m e t e r s hav e been c hos en bec aus e t h ey des c : r i b+ rt he i n i t i a l c il inbat e x p er i e n c e o f t h e 1 1 1 C o r p s a r t i l l e r y .Some o f t h e 25 b a t t a l i o n s r e f e r e n c e d i n C h ap te r One A i l 1be p l a c e d i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p o s i t i o n s an d t h e i remployment dees0:r ibed. T h i s Ch ap ter w i l l add r es s on1 I 1 1o f t he se b a t t a i i o n s b ec au se i t was n o t u n t i 1 t h e ac:t.Jala t t a c k t h a t X I [ C or p s c o n t r o l l e dr e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e f i e l d a r t it h e h i s t o r i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s ( o rr e p o r t e d a nd f I n a l 1 y the movemennew zones o f a ( - t i o n .

w i 1 1b a t tc on t

A b r i e f cop l a c e t h e me f i e l c l . In e n t o n 15

a l l t h e b a t t a l i o n s Thel e r y w i l l be des c r bed ,l a c K t h e r e o f ) w i 1 1 t reo f t h e s e u n i t s t c l . h e i r

e r v i e w o f t h e I C or ps b a t t l e e x pe r i e n c e si n t h e p r o p e r p e r sp e c t i ve on theI C or ps h e a d q u a r t e r s a r r i v e d on t heSeptember 1944. I t s f i r s t m i s s io n , w h i l e


37/149

a s s i g n e d t o N i n t h Army, was t o manage th e r e c e p t i o n a n dp r o c es s in g o f a l l t h e s o l d i e r s o f t h e 1 2 t h A r m y Group ast h e y a r r i v e d o v e r t h e be ac h es a t N or ma ndy . T he C o rp s

p er fo rm ed t h i s m i s s i o n u n t i l 1 8 October , when i t wasa s s i gn e d t o th e T h i r d Army. The d o c t r i n e o f t he p e r i o dr e q u i r e d t h a t a r t i l l e r y n ev er be K ep t i n r e s er v e . Eventh o u g h th e Corps A r t i 1 l e r y d i d n o t h ave any f i r i n g u n i t sa t ta c he d , t h i s p o l i c y ap p l i ed. T h e r e f o r e , t h e CorpsA r t i l l e r y H ea dq ua r t e r s was d et ac he d and a s s i g n e d t o t h e XXC or ps A r t i l l e r y H e ad qu a rt e rs . The 111 C or ps a r t i l l e r y m e ns e r v e d a s a back-up f i r e d i r e c t i o n c e n t e r f o r the XXCorps. ( 1 )

On 5 December, 111 C or ps r e c e i v e d i t s f i r s t combatm i s s io n d i r e c t i v e f r o m T h i r d Army. T he m i s s i o n w as ,

" ( 1 ) t o r e 1 e v e XX C orps o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t yi n t h e M e t z ( F r a n c e) a r e a ( 2 ) t o r e l i e v e t h e5 t h D i v i s i o n w i t h e le me nt s o f t he 8 7 t h I n f a n t r yD i v i s i o n a nd c o n t a i n t h e r em a i n i ng Met z f o r t sw i t h o u t d i r e c t l y a s s a u l t i n g any m a j o rf o r t i f i c a t i o n ; a nd (3) t o b e p r e p a r e d t o r e c e i v ea d d i t i o n a l t r o o p s a n d a dv an ce o n Ar my o r d e r . "( 2 )

The f o r t s a t MET2 h ad been by-passe d by t h e T h i r d Army i ni t s d r i v e t h r o u g h F ra n ce a n d w er e b e i n g s e c u r e d by t he 5 t hD i v i s i o n . The r e l i e f o f th e 5 t h D i v i s i o n by t h e 8 7 t hDi vth eD i v

s i o n was n o t c o mp l et e d u n t i l 8 December. E lemen ts o f8 7t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n a r r i v e d , r e l i e v e d the 5 t hs i o n a nd c o n t r o l o f t h e a r e a pa ss ed t o 111 Corps .

-32-


38/149

C o n t r o l o f t h e 111 C o r p s a r t i l l e r y d i d n o t p a ss t ot h e 111 C:orp. a t t h i s t i m e . I n s t e a d , t h e 2 4 4t h F i e l dA r t i l e r r B a t t a l i o n , u s i n g c a p t u r e d German weapon.3, wasa s s i g n e d t o ca:induct a p r o g r a m o f h a r a s s i n g f i r e . ( Th e meno f t h e 2 4 4 t h i 3 a t t a l i o n h a d not r e c e i v e d t h e i r howl t z e r sy e t . ) I n a m w e t h a t was t o become c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , o f t h e111 Corps , i r l c l e e d o f t h e e n t i r e T h i r d Army, t he 8 i ' t l 1I n f a n t r y D i v i . : i o n was o n l y a s s i g n e d t o 111 C o rp s u n ' : i l 9December. The 2 6 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n r e l i e v e d t h ee le m e n t s o f t h e 8 7 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n a n d was o f f i c i a l ya s s i g n ed t o t he I 1 1 C o r p s on 12 December. (3)

I n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s f ro m T h i r a A r m y ,n o d i r e c t a s s a u l t s we re made o n t h e f o r t . T he i n t e n t biast o s e a l o f f t h e r e m a i n i n g Germans a n d a w a i t a s u r r e n d e rb r o u g h t a b o u t b y l a c k o f f o o d a nd ammuni t i o n , The p l a nw as s u c c e s s f u l a n d o n 13 De ce mb er t h e g a r r i s o n o f 5 1 1o f f i c e r s and 1 . 1 1 5 men s u r r e n d e r e d u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y , :4)

What ef+cbct d i d t h i s h a ve on t h e e v e n t u a l o p e i -< t t i o n sc o n d u c t e d by 1 1 1 Corps near BASTOGNE ? T h i s t y p e G . Ff l e x i b i l i t y ancl c o n s t an t s h i f t i n g o f r e s o u r c e s w as iXh a l l m a r k o f t h e 1 1 1 C or ps . T he y w e re a s s i g n e d a r a t t e rs i m p l e m i s s i o n o f s u r r o u n d i n g a f o r t a nd e n c o u r a g i n g t h ?d e f e n d e r s t o s u r r e nd e r . Even th ou gh t h i s was a r e l z ~ t i u e l y

-33-


39/149

easy combat m is s i o n , th e Army commander saw f i t t o s w i t c ht h e i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n p e r f o r m i n g t he t a sk . T h i se x pe r ie n ce c e r t a i n l y s t o o d 111 C or ps i n g ood s te a d f o r t h e

p e r i o d t o come w hen d i v i s i o n s w o u l d b e s w i t c h e d ev en mor er a p i d l y . The i m po r t an ce a l s o l i e s i n t he f a c t t h a t f o rt h e i r f i r s t c om ba t m i s s i o n t h e 1 1 1 Co rp s wa s a s s i g n e d am i s s i o n o f r e l a t i v e l y l o w r i s k . T h i s gave them t h eo p p o r t u n i t y t o g e t co mb at e x p e r i e n c e w i t h o u t a g r e a t d e a lo f e x p o s u re t o c a s u a l t i e s , The e x p e r i e n c e m us t h av e b ee ni n v a l u a b l e f o r t h e c ommander a n d t h e s t a f f . I t was achan ce t o e x e r c i s e t h e i r d u t i e s i n an a c t u a l combats e t t i n g , r a t h e r t h a n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d u t i e s t h ey hadb ee n p e r f o r m i n g . H e a d q u a r t e r s a nd H e a d q u a rt e r s B a t t e r y ,I C o r p s A r t i l l e r y d i d n o t p a r t i c i p a t e i n t he r e d u c t i o no f t h e MET2 f o r t s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e y t o o w er e g a i n i n gv a l u a b l e e x p e r i e nc e u nd er t h e t u t e l a g e o f XX Corps .

The XX C o r p s f o l l o w e d t h e same s t y l e o fi n d o c t r i n a t i o n t o combat f o r t h e I Co r p s A r t i l l e r y m e n .A s n o t e d p r e v i o u s l y , Hq an d Hq B t r y , 111 C orp s A r t i l l e r yw a s a s s i g n e d t o t h e XX Corps on 16 O c t o b e r . Th e y d i d n o ta r r i v e i n t h e XX C or ps zone o f a c t i o n u n t i l 29 O c t o b e r .The o f f i c i a 1 r e c o r d s do not r e f 1 ec t i n d e p e nd e n t a c t i v i tro f t h e I C o r p s A r t i l l e r y u n t i 1 1 6 D ec em be r. D u r i n g t h e25 O c t o b e r t o 1 6 Dece mb er t i m e f ra m e t h e y o p e r a t e d u n d e rt h e c o n t r o l o f XX C or ps . T hr ou gh ou t t h i s p e r i o d t h e

-34-


40/149


41/149

282nd FA Bn < 1 8 5 m m H ) D i r e c t Su p po r t, 6 t hCaval r y Group

177th FA Bn (155mm H) General Support ,Reinforce 282nd FA En

696 th F A Bn (lB5mm H) At tach ed 6 th ArmoredD i v i s i o n ( 6 )

What the above data demonst rate i s the ma tu ra t io nprocess o f the 111 Corps A r t i l l e r y . The o r g a n i z a t i o n f o ri B December i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n ot e s i n c e 111 Corpsa r t i l l e r y d i d n o t r e v e r t t o Corps c o n t r o l u n t i l 15December. ( 7 ) XX Corps a ss ig n e d t h i s a r t i l l e r y t o 111Corps and then assigned 111 Corps a r t i l l e r y t he m i s si o n o fs u p p o r t i n g i t s own pare n t o rg an i za t i o n . By 15 December w ecan see a more d o c t r in a l approach t o the employment of thea r t i l l e r y asse ts . 111 Corps was ass igned a number o fb a t t a l i o r 1 5 and i n th e p e r i o d o f t h ree days t ask o rgan i zedthem i n a manner t h a t wou ld se t t he pa t t e rn for theemployment of the a r t i l l e r y w i t h i n t h i s C o r p s . A 1 5 0 no teth a t i n these same th re e days changes w e r e made i n theu n i t s a ssi gn e d. The t ask o rg a n i za t i o n o f 18 December w a st y p i c a l o f the way 1 1 1 Corp s em plo ye d i t s va r i o u sa r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n s . T h e 183rd Group had t w o mediumb a t t a l i o n s a t ta ch e d and was a ss i g n ed a m i ss i o n o f genera ls u p p o r t f o r t h e C o r p s . The 282nd, a 1B5mm b a t t a l i o n , wasass igned a m i ss i o n of d i r e c t s u p p o r t t o one o f the Corps

-36-


42/149

m an eu ve r e l e m e n t s a n d g i v e n t h e 1 7 7 t h , a m ed iu m b a t t a l i o n ,t o r e i n f o r c e i t s f i r e s . The C o rp s a r m o r e d d i v i s i o nr e c e i v e d t h e : armored f i e l d a r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n , t he 6SL6th.

B Y t hebeen i n combat he c o n t r o l o

8 t h o f December t h e I I C or ps A r t i 1 e l - y h a d5 8 d ays , a l l b u t t h e l a s t t h r e e da ys u nd ert h e XX Corps. T h e i r p e r i o d o f t u t e l i i g e w a s

m ar k ed by r a p i d a nd f r e q u e n t s h i f t s i n a t t a c h e db a t t a l i o n s . rh er w er e r e q u i r e d t o s u p p o r t b o t h a rm cl re da nd i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s . They g a i n e d v a l u a b l e ex p er i e n ce i nt h e lessons o i c om ba t. A 6 we s h a l l se e b y t h e i rp e r f o r m a n c e a t EASTOGNE, t h e y l e a r n e d t h e i r le s5 on .c &elP r i o r t o t h e EASTOGNE o p e r a t i o n t h e C o r p s u nd e rw e nt i t ?m o st r a d i c a l r e o r g a n i z a t i o n , b o t h o f maneuver an d co lnbats u p p o r t e l em e nt s . T he y h a d a c ha nc e t o p r a c t i c e t h e i rr e o r g a r i i z a t i on t e c h n i qu e s a f t e r compl e t i on o f t h e i r m i s s i or1 a t MET;.

A f t e r t h e c a p i t u l a t i o nCorps was l e f t w i t h n o comba

o f t he l a s t MET2 f o r t , 1 1 1m i s s i n . T h i s r e s p i t e was,

n o t t o l a s t l o r t g . On 16 December th e Corps., now w i t b i t sa r t i l l e r y r rt ta l :h e d , w as a s s i g n e d a new m i s s i o n a n d newc o m b a t f o r c e s lo c o nd u ct t h a t m i s s i o n . I Co rp s Wac,d i r e c t e d t o

assume command o f t h e 6 t h A r m or edD i u i s i o n , t he 42n d I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n , u pon i t sa r r i v a l a t M e t i , and te mp or ary command o f t he

- 37-


43/149

6 t h C a v a l r y Group ( r e i n f o r c e d ) . I t f u r t h e rd i r e c t e d t h a t 1 1 1 Co r p s ( 1 ) c o n t i n u e i t s p r e s e n tm i s s i o n s i n Me tz ; ( 2 ) ma i n ta i n maximum p r e s su r ea g a i n s t t h e enemy i n t h e a s s i g n e d z on e (3)d r i v e t h e enemy E a s t o f t h e Saar R i v e r w i t h i nt h e C o r p s z on e on c o m p l e t i o n o f r e f i t t i n g t h e26th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n and on Army o r de r ; ( 4 )s e i z e a n d s e c u r e a b r i d g e h e a d a c r o s s t h e S aa rR i v e r i n t h e C o r p s z on e on Ar my o r d e r ; a n d ( 5 )a dv an ce N o r t h e a s t a nd s e i z e N e u n k i r c h e n ( s i c ) onA r m y o r d e r ." 8 )

The C or p s t a s k o r g a n i z e d t h e a r t 1 1 e r y a s shown p r e v i ous l Yu n d e r t h e 18 December l i s t i n g . T h i s m i s s i o n was + a t e dn e ve r t o be comp le ted .

On th e e ve n i n g o f t h e 1 8t h , w h i l e p l a n n i n g f o r t h ea t t a c k t o wa rd s t h e S aa r, t h e C or ps was n o t i f i e d o f t h eGerman b r e a k t h r o u g h i n t h e A r d en n es . A t 2 260 h o u r s t h a te v e n i n g t h e C o r ps C h i e f o f S t a f f d i r e c t e d t h a t t h eh e a d q u a r t e r s b e moved n o r t h t o s u p p o r t an e x p e c t e d m i s . s i o no f a t t a c k i n g t he s o ut h er n f l a n k o f t h e German s a l i e n t . ( 9 )

Once ag a i n th e I 1 1 Corps had new maneuver e l em en t sa ss ig ne d. The 8 8 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n and t h e 4 t h A rm o re dD i v i s i o n w ere a t t a c h e d on 19 December p e r v e r b a l o r d e r s o ft h e Commander, T h i r d A rmy. The se e l e me n ts j o i n e d th e 2 6 thI n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n a l r e a d y a s s i gn ed t o t h e Co r p s .t h e 4 t h n o r t h e 8 0 t h d i v i s i o n s w er e engaged a t t h e t i m e o ft h e i r a t t a c hm e n t . The 26 th was i n assemb ly a r e a s a r o u n dMET2 c o n d u c t i n g t r a i n i n g . T he C or p s h e a d q u a r t e r s mov ed t oARLON, BELGIUM on the 20 th and p re pa re d f o r the a t t ac k .

N e i t h e r

-38-


44/149

The 8 0 t h a n d th e 4 t h b eg an t h e i r m a rc h es t o t h e ARLONr e g i o n on o r d e r s o f t h e T h i r d A rm y. The 4 t h a n d t h e f ? @ t hd i v i s i o n s c l o s e d on a s se m b ly a r e a s n ea r ARLON on t he 2 l s t .The 2 6 t h D i u i i j i o n h a d c o m p l e te d i t s moue by 2318 hoJr5. ont h e 2 8 t h . By l a t e i n t h e e u e n i n g on 21 D ec em be r t h ? z t a g ewas s e t f o r t i l e a t t a c k t h a t w ou l d t ak e p l a c e e a r l y m t h em o r n i n g o f 22 De cem ber. T h re e d i v i s i o n s w e re i n p l . i c e a ndt he p l a n n i n g t o r t h e a t t a c k w as i n f u l l sw ing . A l l o f t heD i v i s i o n s h a d c o m p le t ed l o n g r o a d m arc he s, A S had t t l eC o rp s H e a d q ua r t er s . T h i s d e s c r i p t i o n , o f t he s ce ne l o r t h em aneuve r e l e m e n t s c om p le t e , t h e m ovem en t s o f t h e f i e l da r t i l l e r y u n i t s t h a t s u p po r t ed t h l s a t t a c k a r e d e s c : r i b c d ,

O n 19 December 1 1 1 C or ps r e c e i v e d P new f i e l da r t i I l r ? r y b a t t a l i on s . A l l o f t he se b a t t a l i o n s ha d b se na c t i v e l y engaged i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i u e zon es o f a c t i o n .T he y ha d b ee n ' w p p o r t i n g t h e XX Cor ps and i n some c:a';est h e X I 1 Cor ps . 1 1 1 C or p s o r g a n iz e d th es e f i e l d a r t i IPI'.Yu n i t s i n t h e t o l l o w i n g manner :

"A f i e l d a r t l l l e r y g r o u p , w i t h t h re e f i e l da r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n s , was a t t a c h e d t o t h e 2 6 t hI n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n ; a f i e l d a r t i l l e r y g r o u p w i t ht w o f i e l d a r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n s was a t t a c h e d t ot h e 8 0 t h I n f a n t r y D i u i s i o n ; a nd two f i e l da r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n s (a r m or e d ) w ere a t t a c h e d t ot h e 4 t h A rm o re d D i u i s i o n . The r e m a i n i n g g r ou pw i t h f o u r f i e l d a r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n s , one o fw h i c h was an o b s e r v a t i o n b a t t a l i o n , w as r e t a i n e cby I 1 1 C or p s A r t i l l e r y . ' ' ( 1 1 )

- 39 -


45/149

B y a t t a c h i n g th e b a t t a l i o n s and g ro up s t o th e d i u i s i o n s ,the Corps p r o v i d e d th e d i v i s i o n s w i t h th e most f l e x i h i l i t yf o r the employment o f the FA.

The c h a r t b e l w d e p i c t s t h i s n ar ra t i v e accoun t andshows the u n i t s pr ev io us ass ignments . Chapter Four w i l lshow how u n i t s a t t ache d t o t he D ius io ns w e r e employed.

U N I T S M I S S I O N FROM

4 t h Arm ore d D i v i s i o n253rd FA Bra (185mm H)274th FA Bn (lB5mm H )

2 6th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n193rd FA Grnup

179th FA Rn (155mm H )696th FA Bn (185mm H )

( T h is b a t t a l i o np r e v i ou s l y ass ignedt o 1 1 1 Corps)


8 0th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n404th F A Group


A t t a ch e dA t t a ch e d

A t t a ch e dA t t a ch e dA t t a ch e d

A t t a ch e d

A t t a ch e dA t ac hed

X I 1 C o r p sXX Corps

XX CorpsX I 1 Corps6 t h A r m dD i v i s on

XX Corps

X I 1 C o r p sX I 1 C o r p s

- 4 6 -


46/149


47/149

H i s t o r i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s between f i e l d a r t i l l e r y a ndmaneuver u n i t s ha d l i t t l e o r n o e f f e c t o n w h i ch f i e l da r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n was a s s ig n e d t o a p a r t i c u l a r FA g ro upor m an eu ve r e l e m e n t. T h i s w a s n o t t he f i n a l o r g a n i z a t i o nw i t h w h i c h t h e C o rp s c o n du c t e d t h e e v e n t u a l a t t a c k o n t h e22nd. BY th en th ey had r e c e i ve d even more a r t i l l e r ya s s e t s . A s w i l l b e s ee n i n C h a pt e r F o u r , t h e C o r psw e i g h t e d t h e d i v s i o n h a v i n g t h e must su c ce s s w i t h t h i sa d d i t i o n a l a r t i l e r y . B e f o re any f i r m p l a n s c o u l d b e madeo r t h e a t t a c k c on du ct ed , a l l o f t he se u n i t s h a d t o makes u b s t a n t i a l r o a d ma rc he s. The d i s c u s s i o n t h a t f o l l o w sd e t a i l s some o f those moues.

Space d oe s n o t p e r m i t , n o r n e c e s s i t y d i c t a t e ad i s c u s s i o n o f a l l o f t h e se moves.:. I h av e s e l e c t e d some o ft h e more i n t e r e s t i n g s h i f t s t o d em on st ra te t h e ab i i t y o ft h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y t o r es po nd t o r a p i d l y c ha ng in gs i t u a t i o n s . T h i s d i sc u s s i o n w i l l a l s o show how thea r t i l l e r y was a b l e t o q u i c k l y change m is s io n s . A s wasn o t e d e a r l i e r , a l l o f t he f i e l d a r t i l l e r y u n i t s were newt o t h e Co r p s o n 19 December except t w o . A c c o r d i n g t o t h eCorps a f t e r a c t i o n r e p o r t , a l l o f t h e u n i t s h ad c l o s e d ont h e i r r e s p e c t i v e a ss em bl y ar e a s by 21 December. A1 1 o ft h e u n i t s were a c t i v e l y engaged when n o t i f i e d o f t h e i rs h i f t t o t h e 1 1 1 Corps . (13)

-42-


48/149

The 2531.d A r mo r ed FA B a t t a l i o n was s u p p o r t i n g t h e8 7 t h l n f a n t r r D i v i s i o n a n d was l o c a t e d ne ar t h e s o u th e r nb o u nd a ry o f t h e XI1 Cor ps . I t was abou t 15 m i l e s s o u t h o fSAARBRUCKEN, GERMANY (S ee P l a t e 1 ) . I t s m i s s io n a t t h ?t i m e o f n o t i f i c a t i o n t o moue was g e ne r a l s u p p o r t t o X I 1C orp s w i i : h a . t u r t h e r m i s s i o n o f r e i n f o r c i n g t he 8 0 t t iI n f a n t r y [ ) i v ie : io n u po n i t s commi t tment . Upon i t s i i r r i i a li n t h e a . ss em bIr a r e a d e s i g n a t e d f o r Combat Command E : ,


49/149

t h e mD i v i sg roup

s s i o n o f g e n e r a l s u p p o r t f o r t he 2 6t h I n f a n t r yo n. T h i s w as a c han ge i n m i s s i o n , l o c a t i o n , a n da t t a c h m e n t . ( 1 5 )

The l a s t e x am pl e o f t h e change i n m i s s i o n s , l o c a t i o nand maneuver a f f i l i a t i o n s i s t h e 4 6 4 t h FA Gr ou p. T h i sg ro up h a d t h e 5 1 2 t h a n d t h e 7 52 nd b a t t a l o n s a l r e a d ya s s i g n e d when o r d e r e d t o move t o t h e n o r t h . I t r e t a i n e dp o s s e s s i o n o f t he se b a t t a l i ons when i t came u n de r co n t r o lo f t h e 111 Corps . I t w as t h e o n l y g ro up a s s i g n e d t o 1 1 1C o r ps t h a t K e p t t h e same b a t t a l i o n s a t t a c h e d . Wheno r d e r e d t o march , i t was i n g e n er a l s u p p o r t t o t h e X I 1C o r ps an d w as l o c a t e d 12 m i l e s SW o f SAARBRUCKEN (SeeP l a t e 1 ) . Upon a r r i v a l i n t he 1 1 1 Corps zone i t w a sa t t a c h e d t o t he 8 0 t h I n f a F t r y D i v i s i o n . ( 1 6 )

The se th r e e e xa mpl e s o f t h e t y p e s o f s h i f t s made i nt h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y a ss e t s a r e i n c l ud e d t o g i v e t he r ea de ran a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s o f t h e s i t u a t i o n .The 111 C orp s, r e l a t i v e l y new t o comba t, was r e sp o n s i b l ef o r a s s i g n i n g m i s s i o n s and c o n t r o l l i n g n i n e new f i e l da r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n s i n a v e r y s h o r t p e r i o d o f t ime . Theb a t a l i o n s h a d t o c o n du c t a rd uo us r o a d m ar ch es o v erd i f f i c u l t t e r r a i n w i t h o u t t he b e n e f i t o f r e co nn ai ss an ce .Eac h u n i t s h a r e d t h e r o a d m ar ch e x p e r i e n c e as w e l l a sc ha ng es i n t h e i r m i s s i o n a n d s u p p o r t e d m an ue ve r e l e m en t .

-44-


50/149

E s s e n t i a l l y , t he T h i r d Army formed a new C or ps an d s h i f t e di t 5 d i r e c t i o n o f a t t a c k 98 d e g r e e s . A s h a s been r e l a t e dab ove , t h i s :; l i ift i n d i r e c t i o n r e q u i r e d s u b s t a n t i n l moueson t he p a r t o i : v i r t u a l l y a l l t h e u n i t s a s s i g ne d.

These moves were made w i t h su ch a pp are n t eas.ep r i m a r i l y due t o a well d e v e l o p e d a n d w i d e l y un de r ; l:o odmovement p r oc ed ur e . None o f t h e documents r *eviewetJ f o r .t h i s s t u dy g o i n t o an y d e t a i l on t h e s p e c i f i c s o f t l e 1 1 1C o r p s m ove t o ARLON. T h i s i s n o t r e a l l y s u r p r i s i n g s i n c et he C or ps h a d m ore i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s t o c o n c e n t r a t e ond u r i n g t h i s t i i ne t h a n p u b l i s h i n g o r d e r s a nd a nn ex es . Onec an im ag ine t k l t ? f r a n t i c t e l e p h o ne a n d r a d i o messagr?s t t 8 a tmust hibum?O C C l J l ' r e d d u r i n g t h i s moue n o r t h . The s mo oths h i f t v f t h e s e f o r c e s f r o m SAARERUCKEN t o ARLON i s m . r e ar e f l e c t i o n on t he T h i r d Army t ha n on I Co rp s. The Cot-psknew w h at b a t t xd i d n o t c o n t r o l

l h c on1t h i s move i s brArms.

i o n s t h e y w o u l d e v e n tu ao r p l an t he m ov e r nen t o f

m e n t i o n o f t h e p l a n n i n

IY e c e i v e , I )u tt he se u n i t s .

c o n d u c t e d f c l rG e n e r a l P a t t on , Commanding Genera l , 7h i r d

" I t I c. n o t e wo r t h y t h a t a1 1 t he o p e r a t i o n s ,i n c l u d i n g p l a n s f o r a t t a c k e x e c u t e d on 22ndDecemher , were done by p e r s o n a l c o n f e r e n c e or Ibyt e l e p h o ne , a nd t h a t t h e h i g h l y c o m p l i c a t e d r o a dand s u p p l , ~movements were o n l y m a d e p o s s i b l e byt h e o l d and v e r y e x p e r i e n c e d G en era l S t a f f o ft h e 3 r d Ai-ms an d t h e h i g h d i s c i p l i n e an d

- 1s-


51/149

a p p a r e n t 1 yCorps A r t is u b j e c t o f

d e v o t i o n t o d u t y o f a l l t h e u n i t s i nu ol ve d. "( 1 7 )T he Q e ne ra l S t a f f o f t h e T h i r d Army h a d a g r e a t d ea l t o dow i t h t he smooth s h i f t o f t h e s e f o r c e s . T h e X I 1 Corps

had a good p l a n a l s o . The movement o f t h e X I 1l e r y t o t h e i r new p o s i t i o n s n e a r ARLON was t h ean Army Ground F o r c e s R e p o r t p ub 1 i s h e d an 3

945. A copy o f t h i s r e p o r t i s i n c l u d e d asTwo t o t h i s s t u d y . The u n i t s t h a t we re d et a ch ed

dt h e i re r y

Ja n u a r yAppend ixf r o m t h e X I 1 C or ps a n d a s s i g n e d t o t h e 1 1 1 Corps wouh ave f a 1 o we d s i m i l a r p r o c e d u r e s a s t h e y h an de d o v e rr e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o t h e r e m a in i n g a nd i n co mi ng a r t i lu n i t s .

T h i s C ha pt er h a s d e s c r i b e d t h e scene j u s t p r i o r t ot h e s t a r t o f t h e a t t a c k on 22 December. The manner i nw h i c h I Corps o p e r a t e d i n t h i s t i m e s e t t h e s t ag e furthe manner i n w hi c h t h e y w ou l d o pe ra t e f o r t h e r e s t o f t h eb a t t l e . The C or ps h a d be en c o n s i s t e n t i n t h e w a y i n w h ic hi t o r g a n i ze d t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y f o r combat . I t h a dp r a c t i c e d r a p i d and f r e qu e n t s h i f t s i n maneuver u n i t s asw e l l a s f i e l d a r t i l l e r y a ss et s . F i n a l l y , t he Corps ha db e e n a ss i g n e d i t s f i r s t r e a l combat t e s t . T h i s t e s t w o u l dex ami ne t h e i r s t r e n g t h s a nd d e t e r m i n e i f t h e i r p r o c e d u r e sare sound .

-46-


52/149

Chap t e r F ou r w i l l d i s c u s s t h e a t t a c k p ha se a ndC h a pt e r F i v e wi 1 1 d ra w c o n c l u s io n s . a b ou t t h i s s t u d y ; h u ta t t h i s p o i n t i t i s p o s s l b l e t o p o i n t o u t some t e n t a t i v ef i n d i n g s .

1 . I n < I 1 t h e d o c um e nt s r e v i e w e d f o r t h i s r it t i dyproblem ; a r e ne v er s u r f a c e d . E i t h e r t h e u n i t s w ere a b l et o c o m p l e t e t h i s s h i f t w i t h o u t p ro bl e ms o r t h e y wei-(8 j u s tn e v e r i n c l u d e d i n o f f i c i a l r e p o r t s .

2. Evein though I C or ps was r e l a t i v e l y new t ocombat , i 1: h ad a l r e a d y e x p e r i e n c e d r a p i d ch an ges i nm i s s i o n s a nd a s.s ig ne d u n i t s b e f o r e i t e mb ar ke d on t h i sp r o j e c t . Under t h e XX C o r p s i t h a d e x p er i me n t ed w i t h t heway t o o r g a n i z e t he f i e l d a r t i l l e r r f o r combat a nd h>w t oc o n t r o l i t . They w er e c o m f o r t a b le w i t h th e o p e r a t i n )p r oc ed i i r ?s the:., deve1 oped.

3. 'The f a c t t h a t a l l o f t h e s e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y u n i t sh a d u nd ev go ne 5 t a n d a r d i z e d t r a i n i n g was a s i g n i f c a n ' :b e n e f i t . A l l L i n i t s u n d e r s to o d t h e i r a s s i g n ed m i s s i o r s andi t Wac. a m a t t e r of c o m p l e t i n g them, n o t a m a t t e r o fi n v e n t n g p r o ce d u r e s .

4. The o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r c om bat d e s i g n e d by t h e 1 1 1C or ps r e f l e c t s th e t y p i c a l p r o c e d ur e s t h a t t h i s C or ps ur jed

-47-


53/149

t h r o u g h o u t t h e r em a i n d e r o f t h e w a r . I t a t t a c h e d t h ear mo red a r t i l l e r y t o t h e armo r d i v i s i o n an d r e i n f o r c e d t hef i r e s o f t he i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s w i t h 155mm a s s e t s .

Now on t o t h e a c t u a l a t t a c k i t s e l f

-48-


54/149

CHAPTER THREE ENDNOTES

I f Cor.(os, A f t e r A c t i o n R e po r t . Dec 44 , 31Decenhe r 1944, p . 1 .

i h i d . , 11 2.i t i i d . , 1 : . 3.T1.ii.d A r m y , F i e l d A r t i l l e r y a n d Tank D es t r o y2 y

O p e r a t i o n s S u m m a r y , 20 November 1944, p . 2.T h i r d AI.ITIY, F i e l d A r t i l l e r y a n d Tank D e s t r o y e r

O o e r a t i o n s S u m m a r y , 11 December 1944, p . 1 .T h i r d Army , F i e l d A r t i l l e r y a n d TanK Drstro.fx.elL

ODera t i ons Summary , 11 December 1944, p . i and18 December 1944, p . 1 .

T h i r d ArLmy, D a i l y A r t i l l e r r I n f o r m a t i o n;;urnmarl;.: , 15 December 1944, p . 2.

11; CorFl ,, A f t e r A c t i o n R e po r t . D ec 4 4 , 31[ )ecembr r 1944, pp . 4.

i b i d . , p p . 5-7.i b i d . , p . 8.i b i d , p . 7.T h i r d Army, D a i l y A r t i l l e r y I n f o r m a t i o n

Summary , 20 December 1944, p. 2.1 1 1 C orps -, A f t e r A c t i o n R e D o r t. D ec 4 4 , 31

December 1944, p . 9.Summers, f?uher t R . , e t . al ., A rm or a t B a s t o q i e

May 194 '? , Append ix UI, No. 4, p . l i v .

-49-


55/149

( 1 5 ) 4 t h A rm or ed D i v i s i o n , A f t e r A c t i o n ReDo r tDec 44 , u n d a t e d , n o p a ge n u mbe rs

( 1 6 ) 111 C o r p s , A f t e r A c t i o n R eDo r t , D e c 44 , 31December 1 944 , p . 9 .

( 1 7 ) T h i r d Gr m y, N o t e s on B a st o a n e O p e r a t i o n ,J a n u a r y 16, 1945 , p . 4 .


56/149

CHAPTER FOUR

T h i s Ch'apter d e s c r i b e s t h e a c t i o n s by t h e f i e d

a r t i 1 l e r . . y u n i t s o f 1 1 1 C or ps d u r i n g t he p e r i o d 22 - 26December. 1 9 4 4 . T h es e d a t e s c o n s t i t u t e t h e p e r i o d w lien IC o rp s co n d u c t e d t h e a t t a c K t o r e l i e v e BASTOGNE. l h 6 - 2 6 t ho f D ecember i5, a n a r b i t r a r y d a t e . I t h a s bee n c h o w nbecause on t h a t d ay e l e m e n t s o f t h e 4 t h A rm or ed D i v l s i c mmade c o r l t a c t w i t h t h e b e l e a g u e r e d d e f e n d e r s o f BA STt IGNi .111 C or ps c o n t i n u e d t h e a t t a c k l o n g a f t e r t he 2 6 t h ,h ow eve r. T hi i s t u d y en ds on t h e 2 6 t h be ca us e t h i s p e r i o do f t i m e w e l l d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e e mp lo ym en t o f t h e f i e l da r t i 1 1 e r y .

T h i s C h a p t e r b e g i n s w i t h a d e x r i p t i o n o f F i e l dO r d e r # 1 pub1 I s h e d b y I 1 1 Co rp s o n 21 December 1944. l 'h I SF i e l d O rd e r e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i n i t i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n f o rcombat f o r a l l t he e le m en t s o f 111 Corps . No a t t e m p t h a sbeen made t o d e s c r i b e a l l t h e combat a c t i o n s o f t h ed i v i s i o n s d u r i n g t h i s b a t t l e . Such a d e s c r i p t i o n C O J l C lc o n s t i t u t e t he f ocus . o f a d e t a i l e d s t u d y . T h i s C ha p t ? rw i l l d e s c r i b e t he a c t i o n s o f t h e d i v i s i o n s a s t h e y p i r t a i nt o t h e e inp lo yrnt nt o f t h e i r f i e l d a r t i l l e r y a s se t s . Theo u e r v i t r w o f t t i 5 . b e m pl oy m en t o f t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y t )e ,a insw i t h a d c p i c t i c m o f 1 1 1 C o r p s as a w h o l e a n d c o n c l u d r sw i t h t h e d e s c r f p t i o n o f t h e FA employment by t h e t t r r J re


57/149

d i v i s o n s .

1 1 1 Corps ha d e s t a b l i s h e d a Command Pos t a t ARLON byt he e v e n i n g o f 20 December . They knew wha t f i e l da r t i l l e r y b a t t a l i o n s t h e y w o u l d r e c e i v e a n d were i n t h ep r o c e s s o f c r e a t i n g t h e i r f i r s t F i e l d O r d e r . T h i s F i e l dOr d e r i s appended t o t h i s s t u d y a s A p p e n d ix T h r e e . T hef o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n h a s been e x t r a c t e d f r om t h a t F i e l dO r d e r .

The m i s s i o n o f t h e C o r p s was t o ad va nc e N o r t h i nZone i n d i r e c t i o n o f S T . U I TH a t H-Hour t o d e s t r o y a nyenemy e n c ou n te r ed . T he 8 0 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n was on t h er i g h t f l a n K a n d i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e a t t a c k a n d d e s t r o ym i s s i o n , was t o p r o t e c t t h e r i g h t f l a n k a n d m a i n t a i nc o n ta c t w i t h t h e X I 1 C or ps . The 2 6 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n ,i n t h e c e n t e r o f t he C o rp s z one , w as t o a t t a

fa support of iii corps dec 1944

Documents