to;;a! moore - u.s. army 46th field artillery battalion wwii · pdf fileill . a9t:i.on .....

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-"" AU'rJh OG INF. DIV SIllQItET IlA!tlih $0 1944- ....... - ........ 11'IITI,Al,S _'....."""'1"_,_,-",,,___ liJilA.DIiUJUi'f'JiRS 46th Arti.Uery Bt;l:bta.;UQn AFTER AQi'lO.NAG,UNST TI'l]1 JilISiMY ItEli'GR'l' 1?ilIriod 1. N'G';' 1944 'to 30 I{OT 194.4 1. . a.. To;;a! etf'\!lct:i.NIlI stX'ength 34 2Warran"b O,f:t'iMr$ 468 m:N! (.l) Beog 1l'U.' g.Q:f' period (2.) JiJnd of period 34 Qf'£ieers2 Warral'l,t Ott':1oe:r$ 4'75 llllVL b. Killed. ;in e.et1on ... 1Ilone. Wounded in action 2nd.,t,t Clinton 0 Wainwright, .Ptc Leonard 13 MOore Mi$fling. ill a9t:i.on .. W.QllG. a. Rep lae$l1wnts , eap:b (frarit 'I'Johnson,. 2:nd Ltli i:lathfUl. A Aranovitz .. Willie D BJ1yIJA,. Sgt Leon L lVlo:rgan", Pi'os Sh$l'l:rI.Qft It John 'Vf Martin" Johli J Tu'ehtitrd. (J J Kowalski. Walter E Meuiek:, Pvts Oharl.as A Sohuster,' JeWElll 0 lla:vililil JolmG Illaue.sl!' Robe1"ii Combs.. .. Retburnlllu t.o duty . .' S/sgts G :81a.ok,ll Virgil Givin.. Carroll 0 Shouse, Sgt lI:rnli}stl T/4$ J¢hn .' It 'Gan'Pl'l_r Jr" Ste;rl.ing .JenkinsJr. 'l'hUl?'l)lOnd lIH$€lk" 0,,1 At'thur J A¢ri., !fa lob.l°ti GipsQ'tl., Pic J Holbrook., Robert J Kiehm., J:iirb 'Walter tl Sohrewsb\1r;v. ENEMY " . the early part 01' t;ha period, aotion was the tHune ilt$it has be9ndtlring the pre... ceding period., The eneD\Y continued with, his poliey ot:reUeving high CJ,uali ty the a;reaa.nd replao;;ill!!; '\!\r1th d&:f''1:n1tely ·croops. Aooord:h');g to lneaZ'ltl",V' interx'ogatlon, the our inrmBdia.tezsturbo.r consisted of of:' perMnnel phy:sio.a;I. 9Iili> oompauy was entirely of m.ell.,with.s-t;omach¢Uorders" \ .. flIsumablytQ eas·Q1he p:robl&1ll. Qf' prepar:l.ng:f'QQ<l. tn 0Etrta..in way h .. 'fltera;ln mU\1 hl,1;tl. mO.re ; en0llljY thla,n GJl).US, as it tilled all the! ei1:t1m\V 1'ox .. ha.les. and dugolxtsneitr "thE) o:f his rne.eh11l6 g;'Unsunstr'\l'iaea.bl@ beeause :of" rust, and they posse$$$:fl,\ t60 . tf:YW to replaoe them f.ol' ¢leaninlt.' .'. . .' .' E}nenw art:i.1l.ery .Wli.\.lil modera,tely a.et1Y6 J although th!i1 prepollcieX'i'i.l.lloe o·;f tho artil16:ry was moUnted in fortsl F<\r:rt· 5'OmtlW. I"Qrt _ .For'!:, l,,'!ser being the onO$ in our immedia.te ,Vicinity,., .,..,apO!u;; .lII.Qt+nted ;i.ntnesa tort3 Wf.ll.·e Qt' the a.,06mmud 1.00mm oaliber with an , Ol'.'lCl.!.l,.l\!;\..Qna.1 f(9 _ Fr6n.1\ .phOlh ·1'11e whUe o"'beta.Q).e to ou:r operatio;nst ha.d boe:p.d.wna.iect in previou, a.crtiQll 'co, thepolttt whl1lll'e they Wl.\li"e n,1i) long0'r ' more' tbatn, to def'end, with had,' one by bun . ei,t.her. from wear or dirElot hit,.. llea.vy $6r1a.1 bOlnbardm.$!l;t. had penetrated theIJe • ;fortJi. ·aitl.d artill&t'Y' bAd done euo1J.g;h !laJjlQ.j5$ to thil well Qotl&tructed " and /;'l·Qme of the usel.ess .. fiOWeVf;H:., ot"\';hl.& was known at the tinte ot' the operations.. ofnumetQ.'U$ 'lOmm 8l' .a.tl;d . .Al'g'Uns,.a. .few (nWlRerunlcnown}88:mm. dual pUrpO;;H.l I1!UJ:+G" and 13.,Q1ij,$.-light. flalr;;,\utf3d as. direQt f1re weapl:lll;I$Ql1 some 160mm howi.1;tiers were acrt.iv!9, lMlQ. a 1'",105 llitIl \VfJre Onabai:r{;;lll.1.1onof: Q.1d \.1,.916') 76.2_ gUlUl owrl'un.Ona attempt was made to turn these gUXlS on the with the atoQk,s ot Ion'llll.\U1.it;1.on I'Jf!.pt.ured,. but.llloaj; or piaoeswere l!U}k;ine; tir.inl5 .1ocl';:a.6U1Q. 8it:11:1:;13. ny oom:petriel<)l). Witll, most artilloryi::hef(>6 pi$oE.le \1e.:re archaic; .. wii;;ll, wheel$, box tr(1.il.s and. limitad.-.utt traverse,. .!the ;pieoes ware bY' traeked vehio16lf, of whio.h many were dell;tl"oyed and the LJieeel$, remained in position,' i'iring until tho h-.d. t.o. r.ElBort to in1'et;n:l:;ry t&crttiQs, :ehe enemy destrQyed. -the Qi' Qra:r1,illel'Y p\lIfo:re departing hurriedly from the., areJil. of Nlet..!l:he prlllviol,ts h"-r;h l?ercientai@,Qf dlkd-. noted ;ttl. :bh1e .Ammunition, eonsililting:Qf Ii tremendous quan.itiY or S11Uit;U arm$ and m,ortaralnmun;j. tion .' plus ""V(i1.r.:l.,ous types of al"tilleryammuni-Cion were ol:!tpin.u'ed by the lOth tn in BoiaL' I

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AUrJh OG 6T~ INF DIV SIllQItET IlAtlih $0 l~OVI~MfllllR 1944shy~~ - 11IITIAlS_1__-___

liJilADIiUJUifJiRS 46th lI1el~ ArtiUery BtlbtaUQn

AFTER AQilONAGUNST TIl]1 JilISiMY ItEliGRl 1ilIriod 1 NG 1944 to 30 IOT 1944

1 PERSO~lN~li a Toa etflctiNIlI stXength

34 Otticent~rs 2Warranb OftiMr$ 468 mN(l) Beog1lU~ingQf period(2) JiJnd of period 34 Qfpoundieers2 Warrallt Ott1oer$ 475 llllVL

b Killed in eet1on 1Ilone

Wounded in action 2ndtt Clinton 0 Wainwright Ptc Leonard 13 MOore

Mi$fling ill a9tion WQllG

a Replae$l1wnts eapb (frarit IJohnson 2nd Ltli ilathfUl A Aranovitz Willie D BJ1yIJA Sgt Leon L lVlorgan Pios Sh$llrIQft It Oabbag~ John Vf Martin Johli J Plu0in~ Tuehtitrd (J Ne~sUn~lVIEJb$r J Kowalski Walter E Meuiek Pvts Oharlas A Sohuster JeWElll 0 llavililil JolmG Illauesl Robe1ii Combs

Retburnlllu to duty Ssgts Yj~lliam G 81aokll Virgil Givin Carroll 0 Shouse Sgt lIrnlistl LilliXlY~ T4$ Jcenthn

It GanPll_r Jr Sterling JenkinsJr lhUll)lOnd lIH$eurolk 01 Atthur J Acentri fa lobldegti GipsQtl Pic ~lilliam J Holbrook Robert J Kiehm Jiirb Walter tl Sohrewsb1rv

ENEMY ~)l the early part 01 tha period aotion was the tHune ilt$it has be9ndtlring the pre ceding period The eneDY continued with his poliey otreUeving high CJuali ty troopsi~ the areaand replaoill tll~un r1th dampf1n1tely ~nferior middotcroops Aooordh)g to lneaZltlV interxogatlon the $n~ i~ our inrmBdiatezsturbor consisted of ~baM$ilioll of perMnnel withstlm~ physioaI tiereG~s 9Iiligt oompauy was 61mpOIJE~d entirely of mellwiths-tomachcentUorders

flIsumablytQ easmiddotQ1he problamp1ll Qf preparlngfQQltl tn 0Etrtain wayh flteraln ~d mU1 hl1tl mOre middot1)~tptltl1e en0llljY thlan GJl)US as it tilled all the ei1t1mV 1ox hales and dugolxtsneitr thE)

line$~il4~~~iJentlere(leome of his rneeh11l6 gUnsunstrliaeabl beeause of rust and they posse$$$fl t60 tfYW to t~mPorarily replaoe them fol centleaninlt

Enenw arti1lery Wlilil moderately aet1Y6 J although thi1 prepollcieXiillloe omiddotf tho artil16ry was moUnted in fortsl Fltrrtmiddot 5OmtlW IQrt t~Alen _ For lser being the onO$ in our immediate Vicinity eh~ apOu lIIQt+nted intnesa tort3 Wfllmiddote Qt the a06mmud 100mm oaliber with an OllClllQna1 f(9 _ Fr6n1 phOlh middot111e fOlt~ whUe presentinias~r1oua obetaQ)e to our operationst had boepdwnaiect in previou acrtiQll co thepolttt whl1llle they Wllie n1i) long0r more tbatn SOQ~tenmiddotain to defend with IlIhelt~rs Th(i)w~ap01lS had one by on~J bun e~i1Ul)at$d either from wear or dirElot hit lleavy $6r1a1 bOlnbardm$lt had penetrated theIJe bull fortJi middotaitld artillamptY bAd done euo1Jgh laJjlQj5$ to iampll(3al~middot thil well Qotlamptructed and lmiddotQme of the ~un$ useless fiOWeVfH n~ne othlamp was known at the tinte ot the operations

~nemy artil1e~f co~sietGd ofnumetQU$ lOmm 8l atld AlgUnsa few (nWlRerunlcnown88mm dual pUrpOHl I1UJ+G and 13Q1ij$-light flalrutf3d as direQt f1re weapllllI$Ql1 ~rQund tar~Ert$ nasidet1~$e some 160mm howi1tiers were acrtiv9 lMlQ a 1105 llitIl how1t~t$ VfJre id~ntieied Onabairlll11onof Q1d 1916) middotRu$d~ 762_ gUlUl weralQQel~d ~d owrlunOna attempt was made to turn these gUXlS on the ~)]lell1yen with the consid~rabl6 atoQks ot IonllllU1it1on IJfptured butllloaj or tll~ piaoeswere lUkine tirinl5 1ocla6U1Q 8it11113 ny oompetriellt)l) Witll most ~11eml artilloryihef(gt6 pi$oEle 1ere archaic wiill WQ~Qn wheel$ box tr(1ils and limitad-utt traverse the pieoes ware d~a_ bY traeked vehio16lf of whioh many were delltloyed and the LJieeel$ remained in position iiring until tho on~WS h-d to rElBort to in1etnlry tampcrttiQs ehe enemy destrQyed -the equ~pmmt Qi ampeIT~lr6l b~ttaUQruii Qrar1illelY plIfore departing hurriedly from the areJil of Nletlhe prlllviolts h-rh lercientaiQf dlkd- W~unot noted ttl bh1e pe~~iQdbull

Ammunition eonsililtingQf Ii tremendous quanitiY or S11UitU arm$ and mortaralnmunj tion plus V(i1rlous types of altilleryammuni-Cion were oltpinued by the lOth tn in BoiaL lXQpit~l

I

Reprodu-fromthUnclassified ID~fssTt HOldings of the Natio~alArchives

southe$st of Me1lz In bhi$ dUInp2~1000 rQunt1a of 15mnm phosgelle shells were tuen in addition bo thou6ands of rounds of high explosiv~

Knovvn enemy elements in oorraobJ [una of Iiorts Somroy st fHaise 1)r101l 1 Ler LA1sne Des BordesLalvalhere and Qut)ulea

o 131is01161$ captured -middot4

3 OlJR OPlllRATIONS - ~~ot mos=ti Cifthe period the 46th FA Bn oontinued its normal miuion of d1r66t

sUPllOrt of che 10th Illtllntry~ F9rshort JlioQ$ the battalion was in general sUPJilQrt of the 5th Infantry ~ilision e1ul95th Infantry Dividon

Dtu~ng the first pine days ~centti1)1l period I11e only tir1ng done by the batital10n was with the two eaptl1led Iillilmm dual purpose guns fheae WfJapQUS _10 fQtI1lU to be VifX7 diffloult to emplaoe tUltll diifi-oult to lIIlWuVer TllEt oQ11lplltrce _ pons ~nd bog1es wil$h 12000 PQundil~ andpljme movere had to _ bOXlowlld from the 21st FA Bll to lllQV$ the p1eoes irdo P0sitiol The flat tl~jotory 01 this we~pon makes lIlultable podt1ons diffiouli tQpoundhu1 espeoially to bE) ul0d in close support The gUll hesbeell lound t(ll besurplj~lng~yeQurato $IIon at long ranges liUld rood eiteot flU b6llen repQried Oilll destruq~1on llUs$1ons 1hesE)weapQns were emplaced just below tne orost of a hill 11t order tQnaINJ9 low minimium elevatioa 6n10liiowmber 1944 tn 80-bh Inf 1)111 all(l 6th Armd Div on our rieht (I1lQuth)i

attackedtQ the est aoro$$ the Se111- RiVlt3r The enenw h6l11 antioipated an $ttMk4 but had no id$a whEtrEI it would take plao9 and althou(h ho W93 praporad M Muld nGlt hold agairust the oontlnued li(rmbardment of artillery and heavy pOnbflns A thorough CQuotEllbattery plenwas made and followed and mtlst of the Etnel11Y artillery whi0h managed to iire on our roroea wa$ either in forts or 011 self-propelled carrjllgt[es A very few rounds Iame from towed weAPonS and then only from ~C)ngmiddotraYlges middotThea1r $uiiort or 10 N01r11mber 1944 in the form oi~ heavy bombing on vlllaglluJ and forti1shycations only two thousand ylUds frorn the forward el$rrtents Wafgt tutrumental n Il ap6$dy oapture af the~1P points lab~z io the attaolc fhe bomb pattern fell aquareliv on nhEt targats our ab$elVEH~ could~ijid(J and was follolllea by TOT~ fXom $middote~ral batcaUQns

On 11 NovenfbEtt 194~ the loth tnfantry abtaoked to the ltIaat aerus tl1 $WOllell

Beille IHVEll ThiB rilrer normally not lItQre thcfOlty yards Wjtie was in $Otlle p1aoes approMhing bwp thou lis width em surroundin tampround wl)~ tot) soft tel VIlt~le mOyeIJ1ent Blid~6S weleiltruot0d and tho artUlftry d1poundplacId aOrOlU the river ~~ 15 November 1944 to remain olQse ~nough to I3UpPOrt tho enliluintli flttteks witht1tn~ fire Th~ soft ground Qaue()d by heavy Idna _6 (iI serious ob6tlt()t~ but by thlll til oflT1nehe$ and other expeiiients m~v~rnent to and from gtll podigtiona wa a~HH)tllllisho$)4 The battalion fireQ a great diJlAl in thilii posltion ne~r (JhelQinot but morlll forward positions had to 00 founc1 8l$ the attack Wii5 prQoe~1ng l6tpidly A few mines and llUIl1Y bloWn bridges and culverts oaused nome delay~ N1Cht haraiHlinamp tir~$Wer I$liver ed abnoet eveuro)r~r llitht in the iorHl of TOTs ~d singleguI1$ firing Seurolwral time$ each hourl$uo011IHive Qa1t1cnls U the v101nlty of Fa leIS Goin4 ViIill and itttilry W$$

OUC31lpied in litlpport of the attaok on Metz The baal1on was re oi(HJdab Vuiltllt1$ t1Ulesduting this operatiQn by the Ust A in (lfJ5 Rowh 377 FA Bs (Hi5 HOW) 243 FA En (811 and 240 now) I1ld the 284 FABn (105 now)

l~eather tluXil)g this period was oharaaterized by haze or tog EHren o~ day when the sun $hoQ i grQund haze whioh made observation on the round 1mp08s1h1lt9 d air Observation ditliQult 1a ill ted until ~roUrJd noon eaoh day rlh~ poliey of sendb11t at least tw~ tQlwlilrd oblierver parties with eaoh auult battalion liH)metimtt$ 9$$8amp oQ$ervars to spend two w~eks in the front line area witb ~lailY ettaoks The strain was [~reat but this polioy had the advamptltat~ of pellllitt1ng the ba1gttalion to deliver fire on a llUiUt11nll1rl number of tareurogt01s It wu nothing untuualto be fbing 011 three targetaat once and observers wer~ often reterred to re~rlrQrGittg unils haec-use this battalion was engaged

Xhe battalion in position iIlthe vioinity of Pluery was able toreaob all escape route2evampilable to the enemy and several timeliJ COJlVQys were destrayed on on roada by fl1tl1g first using fuze quick and as personnel ran tor tloVel firing again using time fmiddotU2Hi) Enemt batteries in the Sablon area of Me-tit Wample neutxoalhed quiQ~ly with time fire and later preetdon adJuatmentli were 0$111i8d out on the pieces IUI the rem91n(1~r of the Grewe actempted tomen th piEtct)s in prepQretion for lQovemeni or to restune firinC

lI~ear of our arampil1ery oaused at ene~ $1rtillery bedtalion oomxnal1der to visit hi6 batterie$ by bioyn~ f1e divulftf9d lh1s inil)mation aiter aepture by the 10th or with the elCpllUletion that a vehiole tr6qu$ntly drew l1r0 and shells oound not be heard sJJoachine above the noise or the motor

ltU~~um U$O Qt m(j3$$d poundlxoll11 WU )Ddo thl(mg~ut tl)l$ lI~~lgt~~U~Ol~t wLtth dllilmiddotfIllIJtu~ull ~1middotletot tor tht f)ll~~ lh(t low trade ltgtfila~Qli)pj l34l-tl 1)1 the 1ii11)IJIV bthfSl fillAldlttterulo

01 jiff~Z 1n inllltlY ~06es bJQk$ sndtiIUl tJiftex lit ilQlI11 oolaQ~lrtrtiQllffjll n~~l them bull ar(lamp 1000 11~lItfjr $ 10~tmiddot fJt Camppyprior to a hi 6ttflQkJ(o~(I_r$ P1QOdQD th$ ViOlj)l ~ bull middot

~J lalremy had previousl1 been Qbsbull ~d(tigg1rl~ tn this ~Jet nd whcn tb$ hInt wry Qnte~fraquodth$ WQQ(l_f nQ oppouit1orJ w$Bl$i JI)centi~V titlamptl liJld WQmiddotund(~d Wllr~ iauIMl

Opera-t1olt h thiJ4 tYPIll fJt~lrin (roUblfi olq ydbhpoor tU~Gii and hl~h wat$r tabl$) u~Uimiddot11Ii)ult durin-It protrltQted lJA1aY WlliriQGlsand 1ihb lnitb61ton tOWlfj thattho yeneVirampflI -olopea ot hUlf w1im middotllttlt17G thO i1l)1( $~middotaQon f1i ~lowth fi [l~aa$ ~a~the bes1i tlQtAb1fJn 41J~ilIlIa )1Joar etwllam$ ~utirol1 tto $ofh ftnd W(ltSllIolli4l1y it tfit$ ~ln ClIfmiddotW$ aXiI -ton- affQr4ol11 the PlotoQ-Lionmiddot ot t r-bly ctrl f~holfrQU Log vere UI~Q bablbulllll1 blacuu$e theap~Qo 00 not ~lW$tltfiei$ui ~h~ragfJ tth~6Q lo~s ltre11I) plAQod iJl tho eotlI(nlio~ Eiemilllrol In (lU j)($1tlon tho round ifu~~n 00 _on for trttil logatltll p~llwnU (U4~llio~nt bwing t~~ and th ~winchoabl ()pound th~ prilJl1 Itovor wae run Qtt alftlQtit tu-ll 1~ltth m4 bY~lW1~ f)~ atr~utind a~hekblo()k ulSed il9 Qtlohor th ifJQ(I hy ita ~_ axl-Q b(oka this l0qtdlOd t14 Jr~4gt(illl~~l fit tiltl

pi~ moveit in tllO late posit1lI)n butslnae oGuntothilttterj1 tiEU~ V1Xmiddoty rarliI it l~$ bull 1fI)t ~Otu~ dQloQ ~ cUuasorous 11taOti1~~~(

~~~ $1JfPLY JkJD lkVaClJATION

middotmiddotmiddotmiddota-middotluppl iio_I ampXO$pt tor shQrtage OfOOltaLll $iamp~lu Qt tiren rutd majigtl oampl1h$J _~it~(ln dtdngA~at~Q pf)riodeClubull it ~id~ -amp di1l1I11l1 2l~gul$lly

5 RiCr~lJ~JiDATlOLSmiddot bull l81$1QOOllIIlElindEtIi that iolopeleuiollJl ilI this typo Q tfflrain c 1l unlt1tumiddot w~~thF (ul~cl1tirin$ Ukamp bhQmiddot8e pl0vlQQalydamp$c11bect the fQliQw1nl~ (JqutfiNlout bQ olUlppUtfilot1fili1iid the tollowiltg r~lmiddot$QtioQ I1dh0lifJd to in ox-i19l that o$(~rloy ot~ firttamp 0$ k0pt at e h1l1l st~nttrd

middotmiddotamplllSt 1t 11 raCOWl6nded that llrJ~t tOlJad artlllerv be~qup~d with two Wioluir mtliius pel $oeti0n D~u$1onB sU4luld bill about ft rab by 4 f$Qc lh~uu mlill~i W0Uld l)e U$IQ fOXsuptlort IiJt the whEt$l$middot in tirJtig 1 $ubtitut491 itt Aftn4~l$ 1$ th$d~0l _11 lllJplJei (in th$ bAd ()t~ tQ~ pOl 6ampUn AaJt 1_ bJt tlue G~ ltllyen+ t)ne hatt~ry Qf thb battS1tlion ~u USitlfj thellu~ cliLptui~d 11lutB at prasor1lit Witlt grMltHyfLluults

Beoflnd1t is lfJQQl1llnanuod 1lmt trrdl l(l)S At leuurt poundive ftlrlbt lonl1 prflfmiddot~ltlhlif $qUtlr~ U1$J~ bit middot U$$(1 in Il will lttug trail p1t

rnirdi ~ th4l1r middot amp_$ fl1Jltq liif lqiag tho line of rdghtlng Qf thfJI IJMlolm1o t oleiIlQQP1ll paflJ)llil~l to 1h01iJiltl Qt a1ltUn rstakfMl bill madl0 0QP tblJ pr~nllts tn errors oflui3i51d by )fIr(G8 Qltl(Jmiddotcjcmahtfts or ttjplaOoraGlt flit hil pteQth 111$ ftystfitmo( laying On tho flU at$k$ Z(ttfllXlngb rbo aw$ Ilt$lCQ aliU1 -lG4Ylug Qn chllt t6r Dtf~lElmiddot1i1i UQtIlL~lltmiddotQ(ror~ bQ~lMQ 4 4lMufpoundt) Ulamiddot~lol)llltb~l 4a1l enlw rOtnd1ul at~htampJn aud ~~Qe6mitQtia too ~ 411 1igth~ rOIQrd~r I a 1i r (Jij l~X libullbulldEldWh~Jl t hi ~ bfllJl~ilQf hflOt NQ81Qh reg lJrln~r leJIG t )il)w~lQite lPiC~f~~2i1 011 OJl Nl 1nuiIgitllilry potnt vJ~~h the t~r sttJrOOlW h(l~ the tli$t~rl04t bQWentl~o 1ntiUmiddotfS~otlGuaaQ th~ nee) l1middotI~e w1iit~t 3ivtint) flQLnta l1t1~~~U0IiHito $tfliio lV9 ~at oi lh$ 1QblmlliI of lating Ii(louailolr QQ reJ5M)middotltllidilpl~vO)~llt Ul1e rf4~u_tl4Qd t~rQQ~durfiij fihouU be u4i14 Q~ at li~hI fl)r Qthtil iiJ1ulllt$ MIn a dhtiill1t ~lI~1) po1mt QiJl ~t be uISGd

6 UlllJyenmiddot Ql~ iJlfJJt QiiIilLY4-l1QNI$ )0amp ann~ 111

JAiilliW i

$ t kOW

Camppt ltjGthF(Ij liu

~~

Reprodu-fromthUnclassified ID~fssTt HOldings of the Natio~alArchives

southe$st of Me1lz In bhi$ dUInp2~1000 rQunt1a of 15mnm phosgelle shells were tuen in addition bo thou6ands of rounds of high explosiv~

Knovvn enemy elements in oorraobJ [una of Iiorts Somroy st fHaise 1)r101l 1 Ler LA1sne Des BordesLalvalhere and Qut)ulea

o 131is01161$ captured -middot4

3 OlJR OPlllRATIONS - ~~ot mos=ti Cifthe period the 46th FA Bn oontinued its normal miuion of d1r66t

sUPllOrt of che 10th Illtllntry~ F9rshort JlioQ$ the battalion was in general sUPJilQrt of the 5th Infantry ~ilision e1ul95th Infantry Dividon

Dtu~ng the first pine days ~centti1)1l period I11e only tir1ng done by the batital10n was with the two eaptl1led Iillilmm dual purpose guns fheae WfJapQUS _10 fQtI1lU to be VifX7 diffloult to emplaoe tUltll diifi-oult to lIIlWuVer TllEt oQ11lplltrce _ pons ~nd bog1es wil$h 12000 PQundil~ andpljme movere had to _ bOXlowlld from the 21st FA Bll to lllQV$ the p1eoes irdo P0sitiol The flat tl~jotory 01 this we~pon makes lIlultable podt1ons diffiouli tQpoundhu1 espeoially to bE) ul0d in close support The gUll hesbeell lound t(ll besurplj~lng~yeQurato $IIon at long ranges liUld rood eiteot flU b6llen repQried Oilll destruq~1on llUs$1ons 1hesE)weapQns were emplaced just below tne orost of a hill 11t order tQnaINJ9 low minimium elevatioa 6n10liiowmber 1944 tn 80-bh Inf 1)111 all(l 6th Armd Div on our rieht (I1lQuth)i

attackedtQ the est aoro$$ the Se111- RiVlt3r The enenw h6l11 antioipated an $ttMk4 but had no id$a whEtrEI it would take plao9 and althou(h ho W93 praporad M Muld nGlt hold agairust the oontlnued li(rmbardment of artillery and heavy pOnbflns A thorough CQuotEllbattery plenwas made and followed and mtlst of the Etnel11Y artillery whi0h managed to iire on our roroea wa$ either in forts or 011 self-propelled carrjllgt[es A very few rounds Iame from towed weAPonS and then only from ~C)ngmiddotraYlges middotThea1r $uiiort or 10 N01r11mber 1944 in the form oi~ heavy bombing on vlllaglluJ and forti1shycations only two thousand ylUds frorn the forward el$rrtents Wafgt tutrumental n Il ap6$dy oapture af the~1P points lab~z io the attaolc fhe bomb pattern fell aquareliv on nhEt targats our ab$elVEH~ could~ijid(J and was follolllea by TOT~ fXom $middote~ral batcaUQns

On 11 NovenfbEtt 194~ the loth tnfantry abtaoked to the ltIaat aerus tl1 $WOllell

Beille IHVEll ThiB rilrer normally not lItQre thcfOlty yards Wjtie was in $Otlle p1aoes approMhing bwp thou lis width em surroundin tampround wl)~ tot) soft tel VIlt~le mOyeIJ1ent Blid~6S weleiltruot0d and tho artUlftry d1poundplacId aOrOlU the river ~~ 15 November 1944 to remain olQse ~nough to I3UpPOrt tho enliluintli flttteks witht1tn~ fire Th~ soft ground Qaue()d by heavy Idna _6 (iI serious ob6tlt()t~ but by thlll til oflT1nehe$ and other expeiiients m~v~rnent to and from gtll podigtiona wa a~HH)tllllisho$)4 The battalion fireQ a great diJlAl in thilii posltion ne~r (JhelQinot but morlll forward positions had to 00 founc1 8l$ the attack Wii5 prQoe~1ng l6tpidly A few mines and llUIl1Y bloWn bridges and culverts oaused nome delay~ N1Cht haraiHlinamp tir~$Wer I$liver ed abnoet eveuro)r~r llitht in the iorHl of TOTs ~d singleguI1$ firing Seurolwral time$ each hourl$uo011IHive Qa1t1cnls U the v101nlty of Fa leIS Goin4 ViIill and itttilry W$$

OUC31lpied in litlpport of the attaok on Metz The baal1on was re oi(HJdab Vuiltllt1$ t1Ulesduting this operatiQn by the Ust A in (lfJ5 Rowh 377 FA Bs (Hi5 HOW) 243 FA En (811 and 240 now) I1ld the 284 FABn (105 now)

l~eather tluXil)g this period was oharaaterized by haze or tog EHren o~ day when the sun $hoQ i grQund haze whioh made observation on the round 1mp08s1h1lt9 d air Observation ditliQult 1a ill ted until ~roUrJd noon eaoh day rlh~ poliey of sendb11t at least tw~ tQlwlilrd oblierver parties with eaoh auult battalion liH)metimtt$ 9$$8amp oQ$ervars to spend two w~eks in the front line area witb ~lailY ettaoks The strain was [~reat but this polioy had the advamptltat~ of pellllitt1ng the ba1gttalion to deliver fire on a llUiUt11nll1rl number of tareurogt01s It wu nothing untuualto be fbing 011 three targetaat once and observers wer~ often reterred to re~rlrQrGittg unils haec-use this battalion was engaged

Xhe battalion in position iIlthe vioinity of Pluery was able toreaob all escape route2evampilable to the enemy and several timeliJ COJlVQys were destrayed on on roada by fl1tl1g first using fuze quick and as personnel ran tor tloVel firing again using time fmiddotU2Hi) Enemt batteries in the Sablon area of Me-tit Wample neutxoalhed quiQ~ly with time fire and later preetdon adJuatmentli were 0$111i8d out on the pieces IUI the rem91n(1~r of the Grewe actempted tomen th piEtct)s in prepQretion for lQovemeni or to restune firinC

lI~ear of our arampil1ery oaused at ene~ $1rtillery bedtalion oomxnal1der to visit hi6 batterie$ by bioyn~ f1e divulftf9d lh1s inil)mation aiter aepture by the 10th or with the elCpllUletion that a vehiole tr6qu$ntly drew l1r0 and shells oound not be heard sJJoachine above the noise or the motor

ltU~~um U$O Qt m(j3$$d poundlxoll11 WU )Ddo thl(mg~ut tl)l$ lI~~lgt~~U~Ol~t wLtth dllilmiddotfIllIJtu~ull ~1middotletot tor tht f)ll~~ lh(t low trade ltgtfila~Qli)pj l34l-tl 1)1 the 1ii11)IJIV bthfSl fillAldlttterulo

01 jiff~Z 1n inllltlY ~06es bJQk$ sndtiIUl tJiftex lit ilQlI11 oolaQ~lrtrtiQllffjll n~~l them bull ar(lamp 1000 11~lItfjr $ 10~tmiddot fJt Camppyprior to a hi 6ttflQkJ(o~(I_r$ P1QOdQD th$ ViOlj)l ~ bull middot

~J lalremy had previousl1 been Qbsbull ~d(tigg1rl~ tn this ~Jet nd whcn tb$ hInt wry Qnte~fraquodth$ WQQ(l_f nQ oppouit1orJ w$Bl$i JI)centi~V titlamptl liJld WQmiddotund(~d Wllr~ iauIMl

Opera-t1olt h thiJ4 tYPIll fJt~lrin (roUblfi olq ydbhpoor tU~Gii and hl~h wat$r tabl$) u~Uimiddot11Ii)ult durin-It protrltQted lJA1aY WlliriQGlsand 1ihb lnitb61ton tOWlfj thattho yeneVirampflI -olopea ot hUlf w1im middotllttlt17G thO i1l)1( $~middotaQon f1i ~lowth fi [l~aa$ ~a~the bes1i tlQtAb1fJn 41J~ilIlIa )1Joar etwllam$ ~utirol1 tto $ofh ftnd W(ltSllIolli4l1y it tfit$ ~ln ClIfmiddotW$ aXiI -ton- affQr4ol11 the PlotoQ-Lionmiddot ot t r-bly ctrl f~holfrQU Log vere UI~Q bablbulllll1 blacuu$e theap~Qo 00 not ~lW$tltfiei$ui ~h~ragfJ tth~6Q lo~s ltre11I) plAQod iJl tho eotlI(nlio~ Eiemilllrol In (lU j)($1tlon tho round ifu~~n 00 _on for trttil logatltll p~llwnU (U4~llio~nt bwing t~~ and th ~winchoabl ()pound th~ prilJl1 Itovor wae run Qtt alftlQtit tu-ll 1~ltth m4 bY~lW1~ f)~ atr~utind a~hekblo()k ulSed il9 Qtlohor th ifJQ(I hy ita ~_ axl-Q b(oka this l0qtdlOd t14 Jr~4gt(illl~~l fit tiltl

pi~ moveit in tllO late posit1lI)n butslnae oGuntothilttterj1 tiEU~ V1Xmiddoty rarliI it l~$ bull 1fI)t ~Otu~ dQloQ ~ cUuasorous 11taOti1~~~(

~~~ $1JfPLY JkJD lkVaClJATION

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5 RiCr~lJ~JiDATlOLSmiddot bull l81$1QOOllIIlElindEtIi that iolopeleuiollJl ilI this typo Q tfflrain c 1l unlt1tumiddot w~~thF (ul~cl1tirin$ Ukamp bhQmiddot8e pl0vlQQalydamp$c11bect the fQliQw1nl~ (JqutfiNlout bQ olUlppUtfilot1fili1iid the tollowiltg r~lmiddot$QtioQ I1dh0lifJd to in ox-i19l that o$(~rloy ot~ firttamp 0$ k0pt at e h1l1l st~nttrd

middotmiddotamplllSt 1t 11 raCOWl6nded that llrJ~t tOlJad artlllerv be~qup~d with two Wioluir mtliius pel $oeti0n D~u$1onB sU4luld bill about ft rab by 4 f$Qc lh~uu mlill~i W0Uld l)e U$IQ fOXsuptlort IiJt the whEt$l$middot in tirJtig 1 $ubtitut491 itt Aftn4~l$ 1$ th$d~0l _11 lllJplJei (in th$ bAd ()t~ tQ~ pOl 6ampUn AaJt 1_ bJt tlue G~ ltllyen+ t)ne hatt~ry Qf thb battS1tlion ~u USitlfj thellu~ cliLptui~d 11lutB at prasor1lit Witlt grMltHyfLluults

Beoflnd1t is lfJQQl1llnanuod 1lmt trrdl l(l)S At leuurt poundive ftlrlbt lonl1 prflfmiddot~ltlhlif $qUtlr~ U1$J~ bit middot U$$(1 in Il will lttug trail p1t

rnirdi ~ th4l1r middot amp_$ fl1Jltq liif lqiag tho line of rdghtlng Qf thfJI IJMlolm1o t oleiIlQQP1ll paflJ)llil~l to 1h01iJiltl Qt a1ltUn rstakfMl bill madl0 0QP tblJ pr~nllts tn errors oflui3i51d by )fIr(G8 Qltl(Jmiddotcjcmahtfts or ttjplaOoraGlt flit hil pteQth 111$ ftystfitmo( laying On tho flU at$k$ Z(ttfllXlngb rbo aw$ Ilt$lCQ aliU1 -lG4Ylug Qn chllt t6r Dtf~lElmiddot1i1i UQtIlL~lltmiddotQ(ror~ bQ~lMQ 4 4lMufpoundt) Ulamiddot~lol)llltb~l 4a1l enlw rOtnd1ul at~htampJn aud ~~Qe6mitQtia too ~ 411 1igth~ rOIQrd~r I a 1i r (Jij l~X libullbulldEldWh~Jl t hi ~ bfllJl~ilQf hflOt NQ81Qh reg lJrln~r leJIG t )il)w~lQite lPiC~f~~2i1 011 OJl Nl 1nuiIgitllilry potnt vJ~~h the t~r sttJrOOlW h(l~ the tli$t~rl04t bQWentl~o 1ntiUmiddotfS~otlGuaaQ th~ nee) l1middotI~e w1iit~t 3ivtint) flQLnta l1t1~~~U0IiHito $tfliio lV9 ~at oi lh$ 1QblmlliI of lating Ii(louailolr QQ reJ5M)middotltllidilpl~vO)~llt Ul1e rf4~u_tl4Qd t~rQQ~durfiij fihouU be u4i14 Q~ at li~hI fl)r Qthtil iiJ1ulllt$ MIn a dhtiill1t ~lI~1) po1mt QiJl ~t be uISGd

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ltU~~um U$O Qt m(j3$$d poundlxoll11 WU )Ddo thl(mg~ut tl)l$ lI~~lgt~~U~Ol~t wLtth dllilmiddotfIllIJtu~ull ~1middotletot tor tht f)ll~~ lh(t low trade ltgtfila~Qli)pj l34l-tl 1)1 the 1ii11)IJIV bthfSl fillAldlttterulo

01 jiff~Z 1n inllltlY ~06es bJQk$ sndtiIUl tJiftex lit ilQlI11 oolaQ~lrtrtiQllffjll n~~l them bull ar(lamp 1000 11~lItfjr $ 10~tmiddot fJt Camppyprior to a hi 6ttflQkJ(o~(I_r$ P1QOdQD th$ ViOlj)l ~ bull middot

~J lalremy had previousl1 been Qbsbull ~d(tigg1rl~ tn this ~Jet nd whcn tb$ hInt wry Qnte~fraquodth$ WQQ(l_f nQ oppouit1orJ w$Bl$i JI)centi~V titlamptl liJld WQmiddotund(~d Wllr~ iauIMl

Opera-t1olt h thiJ4 tYPIll fJt~lrin (roUblfi olq ydbhpoor tU~Gii and hl~h wat$r tabl$) u~Uimiddot11Ii)ult durin-It protrltQted lJA1aY WlliriQGlsand 1ihb lnitb61ton tOWlfj thattho yeneVirampflI -olopea ot hUlf w1im middotllttlt17G thO i1l)1( $~middotaQon f1i ~lowth fi [l~aa$ ~a~the bes1i tlQtAb1fJn 41J~ilIlIa )1Joar etwllam$ ~utirol1 tto $ofh ftnd W(ltSllIolli4l1y it tfit$ ~ln ClIfmiddotW$ aXiI -ton- affQr4ol11 the PlotoQ-Lionmiddot ot t r-bly ctrl f~holfrQU Log vere UI~Q bablbulllll1 blacuu$e theap~Qo 00 not ~lW$tltfiei$ui ~h~ragfJ tth~6Q lo~s ltre11I) plAQod iJl tho eotlI(nlio~ Eiemilllrol In (lU j)($1tlon tho round ifu~~n 00 _on for trttil logatltll p~llwnU (U4~llio~nt bwing t~~ and th ~winchoabl ()pound th~ prilJl1 Itovor wae run Qtt alftlQtit tu-ll 1~ltth m4 bY~lW1~ f)~ atr~utind a~hekblo()k ulSed il9 Qtlohor th ifJQ(I hy ita ~_ axl-Q b(oka this l0qtdlOd t14 Jr~4gt(illl~~l fit tiltl

pi~ moveit in tllO late posit1lI)n butslnae oGuntothilttterj1 tiEU~ V1Xmiddoty rarliI it l~$ bull 1fI)t ~Otu~ dQloQ ~ cUuasorous 11taOti1~~~(

~~~ $1JfPLY JkJD lkVaClJATION

middotmiddotmiddotmiddota-middotluppl iio_I ampXO$pt tor shQrtage OfOOltaLll $iamp~lu Qt tiren rutd majigtl oampl1h$J _~it~(ln dtdngA~at~Q pf)riodeClubull it ~id~ -amp di1l1I11l1 2l~gul$lly

5 RiCr~lJ~JiDATlOLSmiddot bull l81$1QOOllIIlElindEtIi that iolopeleuiollJl ilI this typo Q tfflrain c 1l unlt1tumiddot w~~thF (ul~cl1tirin$ Ukamp bhQmiddot8e pl0vlQQalydamp$c11bect the fQliQw1nl~ (JqutfiNlout bQ olUlppUtfilot1fili1iid the tollowiltg r~lmiddot$QtioQ I1dh0lifJd to in ox-i19l that o$(~rloy ot~ firttamp 0$ k0pt at e h1l1l st~nttrd

middotmiddotamplllSt 1t 11 raCOWl6nded that llrJ~t tOlJad artlllerv be~qup~d with two Wioluir mtliius pel $oeti0n D~u$1onB sU4luld bill about ft rab by 4 f$Qc lh~uu mlill~i W0Uld l)e U$IQ fOXsuptlort IiJt the whEt$l$middot in tirJtig 1 $ubtitut491 itt Aftn4~l$ 1$ th$d~0l _11 lllJplJei (in th$ bAd ()t~ tQ~ pOl 6ampUn AaJt 1_ bJt tlue G~ ltllyen+ t)ne hatt~ry Qf thb battS1tlion ~u USitlfj thellu~ cliLptui~d 11lutB at prasor1lit Witlt grMltHyfLluults

Beoflnd1t is lfJQQl1llnanuod 1lmt trrdl l(l)S At leuurt poundive ftlrlbt lonl1 prflfmiddot~ltlhlif $qUtlr~ U1$J~ bit middot U$$(1 in Il will lttug trail p1t

rnirdi ~ th4l1r middot amp_$ fl1Jltq liif lqiag tho line of rdghtlng Qf thfJI IJMlolm1o t oleiIlQQP1ll paflJ)llil~l to 1h01iJiltl Qt a1ltUn rstakfMl bill madl0 0QP tblJ pr~nllts tn errors oflui3i51d by )fIr(G8 Qltl(Jmiddotcjcmahtfts or ttjplaOoraGlt flit hil pteQth 111$ ftystfitmo( laying On tho flU at$k$ Z(ttfllXlngb rbo aw$ Ilt$lCQ aliU1 -lG4Ylug Qn chllt t6r Dtf~lElmiddot1i1i UQtIlL~lltmiddotQ(ror~ bQ~lMQ 4 4lMufpoundt) Ulamiddot~lol)llltb~l 4a1l enlw rOtnd1ul at~htampJn aud ~~Qe6mitQtia too ~ 411 1igth~ rOIQrd~r I a 1i r (Jij l~X libullbulldEldWh~Jl t hi ~ bfllJl~ilQf hflOt NQ81Qh reg lJrln~r leJIG t )il)w~lQite lPiC~f~~2i1 011 OJl Nl 1nuiIgitllilry potnt vJ~~h the t~r sttJrOOlW h(l~ the tli$t~rl04t bQWentl~o 1ntiUmiddotfS~otlGuaaQ th~ nee) l1middotI~e w1iit~t 3ivtint) flQLnta l1t1~~~U0IiHito $tfliio lV9 ~at oi lh$ 1QblmlliI of lating Ii(louailolr QQ reJ5M)middotltllidilpl~vO)~llt Ul1e rf4~u_tl4Qd t~rQQ~durfiij fihouU be u4i14 Q~ at li~hI fl)r Qthtil iiJ1ulllt$ MIn a dhtiill1t ~lI~1) po1mt QiJl ~t be uISGd

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