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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
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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 . )
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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 .
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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 -
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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
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- 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
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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
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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 )
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949th FA Bn (155mm H )
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)
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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 .
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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
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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
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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 .
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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 .
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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,
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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
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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.
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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
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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 .
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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
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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 )
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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:
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" 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
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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
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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-
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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 )
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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..
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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
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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 ,
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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 .
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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
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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 .
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 )
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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)
949th FA Bn (155mm H )
8 0th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n404th F A Group
512th FA Bn (189mm H )
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
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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)
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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 : ,
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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 .
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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-
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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 .
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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
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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
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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 .
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( 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 .
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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
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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