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I 870 78 {07-
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AftO' CJBOWID J'ftOBS Bt.D
APllQ HA'1'O
c....1't by Col. G.B. De.,..., lilt)
are Yeral comment. oftl0... 01
'l'anII Ba'tallON, 'l'ank ntrq.r 1a"a11ona, aDd Tank OoIlPlDle.
1Ihlol1 "lat. , ...lou. t,-pea of...lo,.en', ene.., ..tlou
.... , ...... ef(tl1pMJ1t.
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Coat. .,. L1eut. 001. Geol'ge . Da.l.. Co.'n41na , /
tbe 760th 'raDk Bat"allon, rer,ard1ng the support of ,he "'h,
DlYlalon 4v1D& cTaIIU.I'T. 19,". .'\'''""
t1lle t.tM_'Uftot tM teft&1n and the .eather
oOD41tlona 4Ilr1ft8 the pel'104 the emploJ.ll8nt of tUlka 18 _
....po.albl. orpraotlcable. 'fhe "'Yement ot tanka ftII
""K_'.1;. road, aD4 ridge 11nea and oroaa oount"..ft-
__, ...., polllle_
j.:
..at of the uployment ot 'anke 1n th1a 1lnlt \\.0"
1Il _11.,..,aaDd. th.y wer. UHf. ..aoooap&nJ'laI gun. lnar' ::i ._)( . ,
.........,lJaf"'rr Satta11.... Ms1aenta. In nob ap - . ({!V
'..., ,_.M1a14' N tJlOIl 500 to 1100 'JUda 1.NU .t the ',- Cl ' I
1 I
ba.... ...'0.1;1_ fJ L I', nat...,'''''lemawheN tn. , ....-- the .
ot tM bat..,,.,. ap.1nat en..,_'I-tankgune, WheN heav, \(If<! JJ
.0...."""'"et -eIIT art1U.".,. ....b7 the ,......De', .
ea.... -..ong the Intan\l'J'. and where the '-DJr. aN)
...,.,.on1ng dlatano. ....D.eded tor tUNot t1ft/'
on ...,__'o.ats....pona
...t.a,be attaok ot the "'hDlyl.loD ..,...tbe
RAPIDO 81...., alt..tlve tank .uppo..from poaltlou...t 01
ta..1.,......,po.alble 411. to ,be toa and to ,be great
qua"'".,__whioh was 1qe4_ ft'0Bl lat.rapeatlano
4url.......,poct '9'lalh11"7. " 1. bel1.'9'84 tbat with
good ylalltUlq- u..taUflna troa..poaltlona occ1Iplec1
woul4 haft __Of lnftluabJ.. ..........to the Wantl'7 in
t)da 0'....'.... '") (, (v,,-C'l \j i,. .1,) '
Ibe pea.o.of tanka 1atbe aupportot 1
.. pen.....a.. t..tor whether 01- aM ,be tubare ...'uall.J
stnaatiN11lI>fV'.
,.....Uftl4DOt De puaba4 , 1nto po.lt1ou 1a
:: .,..SIaIuUJ UJ4 lett 1n .1lO11 poaltlcma at nS.Ih'. /
....""'1_the Yalue ot the 'anka 11"7 lW,..
.....,..s.."11t7 \0 4ell'9'er etteo'l.- ani &1..'h-.r
aM ,..., ifM tanka .hftl4__ to .11_., tl_.
wtUad.Nwa wltlaS.a latantl7 poelt1ona or tM int&Dtl7 aho1tl4
f'UdeIl....1_ te. the tanke.

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... '. . eel';""-
the So6ohe would peN!''-"t ...... to peUU.M \b'ItoqJl tMlIt
..'._11 of .'rongpoints and. tMIl tl'" up..... alt.
At alpt1'10_ and 88_gun. ,,1'. brnght up 01...
lta....harass Inatallatlon. 1n the rear ......
n.'D8JI1" hal anip.d .,our .-10" on un,- oec..l ....
'I'he 0....1n tne 10" cpE:r",t1ag 1n ....,.&1 anuba4 _ ....
11 I.,...'bell' ..hiolt. at all,lIMt. to .,014 Minc 1\1, .."
.....,. rltk tlN. 'fWO men weN woua4e4 b7 sniper tiN:wbeD
they rat..........1..... up in tl1e to ob.8ne. .
oar"10',were .bl.to reduce German .trona peta'.
b7 tlr1aC I lMhAPC and BB dalaJ in'o the Doua.. anel ._11 ..
n.rq a't.p'-'to tlhe was cut do.'bJ"8 1nch BE .. wi'll
tua.......ad .50 caliber .tt.....
a; ,.". The .e .oou'can are.'.111'"t
re.... ......l ano. on the eta. '."bepee.
tl.,.tl._ -.rabT groun4. ,
tneh APO-BDP proda....xo.llent r
"'10" ar. not .u1taltl. for olo.e .apport of Int..,.,-
while ........11 arma fir. due to the lAck or .,l.loa allt, 1D
the ____'te. tM tank command.,r. a.oomaenCl a 'uare' perl,..
___b rubber blook trunof the .-10 baa p"ft4
....".'..'01'7 tor an7 type of croa.-oOUll'1T _._11'. R_a"
....ta_U ....1 'rack. or the rubbe, oMftIOIl t7Pe
....mtAO 1mma41ate i .... ot "'1n7 Tim" ...,
....., to,. all,,10". On .,.:ral oooa,lou we baW
1, ...le'. enel'l17 action att.- '*"'1'7 t .. 11,,", de.piN
........_'0Jaarl1na radio eperat1oa. .
. ..... . - It 'MI* aeatJt07.ra aH to be UM. .a.aal.t PU.
"._......eouWoallber .10 mach1D.4t pJl .. __ted. 1D. tiM
...... , ..s.q ... 'Nllt.
OIn.....".Col. Van W. J71aD4. COl.nD41q OMtll'1'''
1.\1'.",..lattall_, ...lat 1v. to ,.....,10,..'ot '1'.. De.,..,.
111 ,he ftpport 01 rift......lag
... SUI1 gun aelt-pl"Ojl.u.41''- Del'...,.. Batlall..
1a tJw ."onfit .. rl'ftr erolns P"'''''&II lnteNat10a
..,lo,...n'. Firat the aa t ...YUlOl. aut_1' tu
. _,...,1...,,_AnlOHd Foro. ut4c.0.. the B&1lq
.,1.......be ,.N-OH1Di eaploJ1U8B' Of the tank aut"",.
wUl .... MDI1dere4a lth. hea...,.. beautUal17 a.ourat. I In.ob pa
",14Ml17 eu1'........la. plll bOaO" ....aplae_'....
..._ ..............tbe oroaaSJsa la _l.heM"mlper. _4
_biDe paDeN 111ft.. Oo""l'al7 to ,...raJ. oplnloD the .......
..t tl.,e1lben ill clo.....tr'm
t
!..IN,.."'- tf' t...
wi'h n.,h 4etUa4e and with CnS._ _aUffle'._ '0 .. v '"i
.ng..., 41 1D 'argeta. All Ie s- et the Batta110n.at ;'-
be ear.1'1:tl17 "sleteredon a 00'.- ...... poiDt and ......1 oUok
pout. in tu ..... Fol"WU'Cl ......r.placecl ..u. .. '
w1tll cmtIilOA'I._al.-a. u...1,l1ntt in 'liM .-_0' ,r,.if
the Wl1t; JiU&U .t1r Of the ...attallQD to .
beaJl em 'ese,.ot eppol'tun1t.7' aa4 OIl 1...,..enelD1 "I'ODI .,oat
Th... obn-ere Cab al'bJltrc1i.l"e.'0 Meon an,. ell..,. .!'mOr
which may be u4 in the lA1t;la1 etas..or oroa.lDc.
(Obner
t
,. not.: The abO_ eont. we" mad. An;el' ,he
ooaba' Inoldent10 tiiiIa iII8 of tbe lL\PIDO RIft! bJ ,he Nth
lDtantrr Dlv1alon th6 per10d 3an IOth-al.t, Whioh wa.
npporte4 by the .,.th.....J)eatroyer Battalion.)
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The tollowL'"l[ cQ1;r.nente by r,t. Col. Van J. Pyland, Com-
manding, 638 TD Battalion, relc.tlve to the Dual V18alO1l ot
Destroyer orantzat1ons s.re forwcrded ss oeine ot' 1.n-
tareet.
636th 'fA"I LE.::/fROYER E.A'fTALIOW
Office 01' tLe Batti:.llon Commander
APO 464, U. S. Army
'1 1""
'!'be primary 01" ti10 tank ('estro:ler is fl.'P;;Jarent
b7 ita name, that is against enemy armor. In ear-
..,.s.1tI out thie prlmt'.ry even In an offensive sltua-
1Jloa, .... tank destroyer seeks 1:j the explol tat ion of ter-
rala _nil .....to maintain nn advanta"e over itsheav1er
&1"110'" .....,he tank. in the occupation f'osi-
tiona,tl.:Ut8 Of' Tire avenues of anproach,
.c....laa and dug 1n t1 b.o.ve become fI tried and 80-
,..,...,tactl of "te.nk ldllers"
.... be'lrely:new :11(1 for the tenk hae
ba 'rled. and proven 111 th ': Ca!ll9al(,.n In Ite.ly. Thtl.t 18
It....eadan role as artillery. In that thie role ie
bJ: the tank t:HStroyer f1 :;rRt:'ter percentne;e
1t.. t In 1t 1.8 well to confllrer the ohera-
cst....t1 of the WClnon r:nd flOW it can be to t'it
both Its prs.ary flnd :secon(f:ry rd.l!s1one.
. !'he gN.teet 01 t:je tunl: ernploJ-
m*ni arC;l1le.,. 18 that it \'1111 not be Eos1 tloned and
r:;a4i In'tbe,.th 0:' the Hl';)ored attaok. ilIa 18
\ a.ou.td,. .,senitaland rIghtly rec<\_nlzed as tank des-
f
i
tl'O,.,r teet1... l'etto place the tank deetr,)yeJ- in thi8
I 4iNct fire position prematurel,. to expose It to un-
. casualties from enem,. f1re anc1 to 117.
tremendous fire power in 1'"ole as artl11er,-.
Sere 11 how the dual al.aloltoaa be suo-
. eN.ttlll,._ 'rbe fla' high veloc1ty'3- gun on
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the M-IO mount must be positioned behind very littlemask
so that the minimum elevation will enable it to fire at
close-in targets. The usual artillery piece will ocouPT
a position behind a mask rrom which a destroyer can only
be fired at its maximum ranges. This means that position.
suitable ror artillery are not usually suitable for the
tank destroyer.
On the other hand the destroyer's primary mission
demands that itbe further rorward near good routes and
olose to ita previously selected direot fire anti-tank
positions. So it is believed that if carefUl considera-
is given the tank destroyer in the selection of ita
indirect firing pOSition, that it perform its second-
ary role without danger to the successful accomnlishment
or its primary one. These the fundamental rules:
(1) That the indirect position be well
rorward and as ,near the probable avenue or approach of
eneB7 as the terrain permits.
(2} That this position afford at least
flash de.ttlade or conoealment,but a very low mask in or-
der to exploit the close as well as maximmn rnges of the
gun.
(3) That good routes lead from the indir-
ect position to the direct position.
(4) That the ammunition requirements of
the direct and primary mission be oonstantly in mind.
(5) TLat the capabilities of the :5 inch
SUD tlred indlreotly by forward observer methods, at t'air-
17 0108e ranges, using delayed fuse, at enemy pill boxes,
b.. and stone houseo be thoroughly understood.
Itthese rules are known ann nractloed the tank de.-
trap!'.anaccomplish its mission and completely justl-
r., 1ts ex1i1'tenoe and its extremely high cost to our govern-
ment.
In rule .tive (5) above the registering of one gun or
each platoon ot the battalion on a oommon base point and
olosingthe shears, enables the battalion commande'r to tire
one gun ormass the fires ot tblrtT-six in a very small
area with territic ettect.
VAN w. PYLP.ND
Lt Colonel, Infant17
Commanding
ifbS.
.s,Ual3 BECUI
- 2 -

etl!,
S S
rc:CRE-r
e...,1-
Is British MOST SECREl
vOPT. -JC
UlwU',,:,tJAhTBRS 1ftBAT'lALI01J
1st Armored negtment
2fl,U.'Z. ArItrf
, FelJruarr 191'
Action or lat Bs.ttal1on, 1st ANored on 'Jan31,l94'
MAP G.8., {l.S., Il
'
ALY 4229, 1/50,000 - 158 IV .
,.irat BattallCJn, First Armorec1 Regiment (-Co "A" - "13") moved at
0810 31, 1944 to ,..oo:rmo1ter 1n a northeasterly t:1rcet-
1. .0-..P871aea to vietn1t,. .t Station aampol.on,- to find
ot ad,y.... and type 01' op,",os1tlon. aOl:npan7 "C" 1st Ar>:1ored
Reg1m.." "apta1a Wickham R. Cartel', Oommandin6. went into position
1'ldp uF8'l8ltaat la.5 hI'S an,: prepared to ac!vanee on miss1on.
let (Bnti.h) Dlvlf:ion .forwar<1 unit, Duke of Welline;ton ne
e
l-
ment ws. eontaoted at tb:ls pOint, their advance elanenta were then
holdtfl(; _11 bill., )'lrst Bn. 1st .lrad Regt tOl'W&ro CP
at F86t1N.' "e", let Amd ReC.t moved rorward and Innedlate-
11' No.l'Qd amnll ams 1'1re from r1d(,e runnint'. through Ai'ter
killl", ... tta lnfantrrmen ant; driving them to the weat, a_-
pany "0 .. the northwest more 1nfantry and mortar
rlre. !b.l. w nducec1, and a 0.: the ravine J'\1l1nlng throuGh
FS6S&" ...... tOUlid until Oompan7 tiC reached F8'703'18. Worth 01' th1e
po1nt t'hJtee (I) oroea!ne.s were made. Dur1nc thIs tme artillery .ad.
alr-burate .ere coacentr.ted on Oompany "C". Compan7 C" to
hill P9I8 181 ael'mAn ID1'antry ot:r. time was then about 14S0
bra. Adyanoe wu 1&&4. to FS6838a tut was stopped bJ antl-timk tire.
COl'l'lp88f - atAr*l _ tb1$ hill unt1l dark, heaVT artIl1e1'7 and
small ANa rtR., At'lftnoe to north and nortbwest 'Wam atopped by antl-
tank t'1" r... JIlIN.aJid F8'19390, ODe taak was deetrOJed by thln .fire,
and eM t.a II1l1as..s. Compt;,ny "C" clectr0184 one German tank, type un-
knOInl, OompaD.7 tlB" battallon at hra but \laa at ,aatIO..
..t- OOSlll4 a. Ibad Battalion, 1st Arm6. a.it .as advancing at thl. tlme
1a .., aDd .a it was known tha.t the whole torce. ould. te withdrawn .
a' lYOO hr.. Pirst Buttallon was ordered to w1thcrBW to blvouae
a' 1'100 hr.. flda .a. accomp11shed and Datta110n elo,ecl in biYouae
t, IIOQO bra.
. \, 'hl. operation C" ldlle<1 an estlmt', ted aeventJ
, rtve ".) Germaa tDtaat.,..n, "tro78d a German tanks end a bout
i ..... ....ar.t lIPgull ,,,-., 1 btl-tank gUl'l (75Imn), ground.
IIlcnmt, and two.unidentlrle4 Wheel yehlel... .
Lt Olln DJaad h1s cr.w A1"e 1Id.1Dt; 1A .etlO1l aa. a result 01'
thea tank be1D& kIlo.ked out bJ CIenaB ,.btl-.,.. rlt-e
. /_/ Wl1.11am R. Tuck
A I'lED '1'RUE con.
I', WILI.IAlt R. TUCK
. .aJor, 1st Bn. 1st A.R.
leI H. R. Collier
ItI H. R. COLLIRR :om:nan4
1Da
..'OJG, U A.
Aset Adjutant. I='''ua's B.,. I
-... r, IS 1 MOST SECREi

,
U S SEeR.-
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equal. British }I.O:l S::CRE1
OOMPA'RY ft._ FIRST AIUlOJ:tE.L' l.,EJrr
APO 251, %Postmaster W.Y., N.Y.
4 j;'ebrua17 1964
Company History, Company nAft, let Bn., 1st Armot-ed Reg1meJlt
The following 18 a hlstory of the combat activities or 00 wA-,
1st A1W. Rest CoverlD(; the period .trOll 1230 hr. lane 29, 1944 '02200
hour. :_.81,
OIl.. drDlDg ot: Jan. 29, 1944 the Company VlflS well established
in a bl....area approximately six:mil Inland l'rom the t 0WIl of An-
zio, Ita17.. 'reparatlona been completed tor an anticIpated
combat at8.'.at;a1n8t the German torceswho were attempt1nc to attack
the Amari...Jthj.J'fq beacbbead around AMio, the CompallJ' was orienta-
tect onVUt. 81,...tlon &ltd alerted toDlove on a forty rive m1nute notice
, 12M hr. on that day, Maj. Will1am R. Tuck, Battalion Oamn..-n-
d...,la'BIl., called the Company Com111cnder to Lis Poat, aDd
i.au.! the l'olloWing orders I
"At 11'1 ,-our Co;;'.pany is to be detached :l'rom the Bn. and attach-
ed. 0... "A", F1rst Amloreel D1Yislon, under cc::nmand or =
001. It. IaIbert .'fou ..Fe to work With 00. "13" Slst Ren Bn., and are
tlo nnport wlth 1'1" their .forward patrols on a Hen mIssion. You
are topu.h on inan aggressive manner aM aret 0 reoonno1ter the area
Borth-ea.' ..rar a. 13 Move ou, 1mmedIt.t.e1y and make con-
ta" with co. WB" Slst Ren at 1300 hra. Good Luck",
The entire CompanJ' under command ot Capt. Gerald If. DaUe7,
moved out 1n the order at lJUS hOUrS. Second platOOll, act-
ing as ftnolntW, 1I1'1der the command. or la' Lt Wayne B.Yale, Firat
pIntoon under commarld or 2nd. Lt Ralph I. Rothwell, 'l'h1rd platoon un-
der oommand or 2nd. Lt lohn Viatklna, aad the comPaD7 maintenanoe and
caaunand sectloD UDder 1st Lt James Cor," the Bn assault gun platoon
oons1sting ot tbr8, '15mDa how. and their haU'-traek 1IIIIIRU11tloD e...
riel's, under oCllJBband ot 1st Lt lo'reelan4 l)aub1n were at tho tall ot
tho column to be used to support our tire on 01.11 tram tbe Co. Cam-
mander.
At 1300 hrs the Comparl'J haltecl att he prearranged. place aM oon-
taot was made by its00 with Capt. D1x, CO, Qompanr "D" Slat Ren.
Arrantem0nts and the plana Cor the mIssion
were laid and dinGussed. The plan involVE/d work1!l[ north ot" our prea-
6nt area, strik1ng into the German linea, deter..1n1nG their campos1-
t1.on, ntrEmcth and etr;;118 points, maldng a deta1lecl atud., ot their
det'el)ces, and rt)T')ort1l1t..., th1s 1m-ormatlon to the Combat OennaDd.
! '
\." ...
\ At about 1::'30 hra the entire roree moved out. It oone1ste4 ot
,00. "B-, Blst Ren Bn., with attached platoon 0;:: the leth Engr DB.,
.. snc tIds eompanJ. Approximately three miles our Jump orr pos1-
tion, onemy urt111ery upon us the form 01 llr and
#.
r
"
.....
.. :\
.' ....1' 1

0 1,. Or tJPfl.',.qual to oz-


'. M'I-' t"r Ivf"id .... .... t. "'10.0 h.N .. t,:",40 tlr8t ".auil,s..or tbe
ro?,ge t'v'nn t.;a. 1'1'.. "ftl,btt
tlnn.:_ 0: ,, ... 1 Of '-be..(!:t;lIn'&J.ttell ""
:: ;....,,;.J eo.. ,,::;tt alato "')oa.,!'he I 7. \ '.;l. "I. ;H\ lil ;; t '1.(; 1J (iJv..l(Jptd, .DII !,
tJe!.:oa t3 ,',:e'" on ..tl. tLll .t\l't. .... a Q.)tlft.
;: .:;t "', t t 1 .... r'!c'o;:.;;t
.tt1.00 ::n 01"'..1 .Mi.1JW ,@;un J 1ro.
%'1'",'" ;;.tt:.,,!.rH' tl".m\ mG 0ttI" lert rlsalt.. 1., iO,.
11fiQ.!.e(l ""'1 our tl"., 6174 ar; C. ' A.:".
C:.:.r. taifJ<t. --.11 e.l1tO'r'wtllN ObI:eMfH! 1n :1'-::" O\lr
tl!!ftk. Lt t;'.U::1nc:, "l.. rlr.t Q: Mrwdthe ..l.Jaeht.
. ..... ,.,; _""",.. ....," 1'.' ,'.:, .".,. AI!'. t1. f'! t ......"..... ,..--"'.......
. ;,,.;:- .
.. "' ............... ;;tY .. .. t 't>''G' " ........ -: .,.:. '1..\....,1. "'}" (" t \'.. .,., ):.... '1It ., ......'to, ..L___
;;..: 1 u''''..,( ....y _:"'., '. '___ '.;. rl#.-J _l",...:, .j.... .. ",... .. '.', ___ ....0.
;.....t(): fJf t tlf 18" t;m.., ..leo
.. t.' e!rt:.re on W. ?O#1t tl,: th'.'t en., .
'...111fX!.
'!-:.)(:;;:': t!,"l ()h ..; O\Uj.. t..Lr;.t tt. \! ,',
::111', !t en rSf"I",_ to 4(rnu' IU'l t 1'l"::l:;"
':.!on. r:;;!er O:'ct!l'lS t"ro. "'S.i, .
Equal. British MOST SEC
e D.S.' SECRET e
W.'d..1ded to grnp
the tanks in a .hreo field, or1a& all41N." ...'0 place ......
:11ne gun outpost 25 "d. in tront or ev.1"J ,_...., 40 what ma1a-
tenance was neoessary and get :some muon ne.ded aleep. file 0.0. aDd
Platoon Leaders maGe a 41eraounted atucty ot' the ground and.
po.1t1"".. ...'" we were loon in for S Elorrowf'ul lesson, top
aoen as the Company spreae out to take up their positiona, the aort
ground Gave ....ay unCi.x the weippt 0:: the tanks. About tbree.i'oul'tha
of tho tanke Wtlu-.e mired down and itwas not until 4.::'0 the next sorn-
1no t.bat the laet tank was :pulled on to sale ground.11}.l.8 teat
acoomp11sbed witb tho aid or two T-2 reoover, vehioles, one ot-whioh
.lao down, and with.the ad.de,: s1d oi' eften of the seventeen
,_oables, tled. end on to the d1satlect vehicles. Needloss to
t.. 11" an7, received either i'ood or Bleep slllce the JtDllP ot:: time.
Dur!ng tala time ene..'1f7 t"le1,: Art. os. t tel'1 kept a conetunt barr5lL8
around oUr area. ThIS Br1tlobi'orcee o.t t!.L$ Sti.!!'le th"te were l1Iak1ng
an attack not far trom our pOSitions, on O\Al' rit..ht rlank. 'lbe ao1s.
oi' their attack, the counter-batter7 and the l'iring o.!.' our on
SWUJ-. terr1fle. All the n1ght the sky was ablue with
.1'1ou.8 oolored Ve.". I'lstols, both on the slde and. on our OWD
.. ,he iteaterpart 0;1:" the u1"tlt l)om(:l lone enemy pll".nes 1'lft oyer
ear area, dropping flares boh1nd us, over 1n the British Beotor.
an,. 1-,.Noaoel bombs ..ere dropped and v. row SIl'l&11 boml s. For-
tunate17 N not 1110 1n our littlegroup, and 80 no
d.amage Waa doae.
At 0300 bra....Jan. 30 I VIaS ol'(;.cred to r00ert to Col.
.t; iJC"Aft IIq. tJpon &ll'I'i \'in". t:.ere we le:lrne,_; tLe no
lcmger alL:nod on the reconnaissance tut woul(: work vi!tL the
act 1 1n n cooralnated attack t\<..ainst the pOl!Sltions
".'bed. eacoUlltere4 the prevlou:l dny. At thc.t tim; we tolu. that
woul4 work on the le1't Oi' the_;:;d n., l')rotect that t'lank
oiletheyadnoed.
Upon arr!vin.; haal:: tlt mJ nrea.atout 0<;;.,1[', the cCJnps.ny ware
al.ertec1 aD4 given the plan wit"!l oreel'S tbl"t we w0111d proceed ut dawn
and .zte8oh t.he cros. roacp- aLout 500 yes rron' our poel t10n !tun ewa.1t
the arrival of "11" Co. t..n(1 "1" Co. .At dm'ln we a6vp..need, took up pos1-
t10na and va1ted - .nd ,:ra1ted. a'c,otlt 0'110 Lrs the sky beCL'lle
hllwi'llmortar .0"wh1ch eoemed to Stloot up !.nto the e.ir- at a .
rlrlo .'9 like a rocket, buret at stout 200 rt and 1'111ed the
alJt With denae saoke. 131 O'7lL hra 1twas to mskc out a
.vehiel. ten 7(18 ,._ With little ease of nd.n<1 we held our posit1ons
. to Me what would happen next. 'The ad. bn C.O., Lt Col Cole, wae con-
tacted and we learned. tt.;.c"l.t "n" 00. wac bog;:ed down much the emne wa,.
as we had teen. However aLout 01:lOO l"U"a Co. arrived and contact
.8S made. They took up their posit1ons, a1tC1 Capt 11111.emnrer, tne
G.'::., Lt nup'')ert tilG G.o. or "I" Co., nnd. Cnpt Dallel or "Aft Co eot
to-.:ether to plan our no:ct :move. By this t1mo the aaoke ,ac!"een Wo.e
tb.1ck thrt we h.(1 see1llC) eaOD. other, It beoam. s11ghtl,.
[,$ we tt<rned around. on til. !" .., .e eoul.dntt rlgure
out wr,'")so tanks "erewhere or where they weH. It WilS decided that
"H" Co. 'IIt.;",16 Ei;.'lvance in line ovor the 8ucoes1;1ve ridges, follod
by "I" 00. am2 "A" Co. would protect theil' left flank f rom anT
-o.. tant" t,,"ck ano would in- -I
British MOST SECREl 1
u.
. . ... _ _ & .... SL::CREl
on t:,;t the tine) flew cy-rt.- with
1ncrcut.e 01' enemy ll.rt. l'ire. Since Qarl 11lorn1nc.: trw enemy r...ad been
tne enti'1re area we "1'. .ow thatt be ftuaber ot'
tanks increased tl.;.(;) eneray poured more _beUe lat. area.. .Damage
..as s11eht (tnc; no oasualties on our ptlrt.
The attaok IltaJlted - but hHd. no beg;un. than Lt Col Gole
called in on the to hold our pos1t1.onf! anC: report: to 1:.1111 per.-
onally. Bo.:'ore r:;oin" so we t::-", f.Bsnult Crun plf.1to"')n in polll-
tlon on our r1...:,ht 1lnnk. TbE..t Inetce.c1 0.1 on as l,)laDfted
iJ8 attack nnt
l
destroy taf'..ks. The plan \fae for "ftW Co.
to :l.it l'rar. the t'ront." "lit Co. to n1f"-l,.. 1rOUll'.l their
r1C,ht flank, and 1:'01' "l" Co. to tnkl.:: tho left flnnk,.Rna 0.180 pro--
teet extr:"!6 lett rlallk from enemy o'.)untor-attaek.
OtT we went CbainI t1''1e "U" Co. pl'::Ihcd out CQut.-,lously,
ItI" Co. nnrl with If;." ,";0. on left flank. rio 110
rted to untan':,le nnu tal:::6 up pos1t1onl! than the enent'J laid
dom:l n LOl'.t.'':'.iic artillery carro.,_,e dlrectl,. on our positions. It'ld..
,)(J r0
1
" t!"i0 ,:roater ,art alI"-burste with Btlmm OOMO heavl.r.
"Dud" '.1C!'6 fOUl1i_ in tile which pltoved to te of tho l'7Qma
t1PEh As th.e attack pr'0t:;reeaed tl.... e /.rt. increased unt1l it
a point where i.oth t:,.o el-;'Y ant', t,\: were co'"eled with bursta.
for a t1."1e itWItS' extremely (a. r:!.cult to trflns:,'.1t, (:US '0 tt!E noise
e. n(7 the rooking.0.1' the tanh from tot) 0 L1to. In one In.sttll'lce Lt
.atk'1a. tank wtbrown un almost on its revr idlers - and looked
like a bucking btioneho., it AIt Co. BeEl:nect to take t11e Wi orst of the shel-
on .rlrat p1dS., the Gernan otservers liF.v1nc tlU- a.a4
wI- Companlea comln& over itant then adjuet1ng 1n on that r1dge 80
that just .ewe Nached 1tt :1ey bad itwell fired In. i;Vb.a the 1'1rat
dOft lhelle lande4 in our area we quickl,. backed out of tt, waited
unt1J, itstopped atld just flS qu1ckl,. l"etock our r>oa1t1one. lUst
we retook tru. the shelle landed behind us Whore we !W.d been. At;a1D
they e'ar-ted to se'UB 8.nd agaIn we ,1&,..00 the "Me. This cleveloped
into a contest beten the Germ::l,n otaor'Ver5 and L;unners and the tanks.
1lUt the tssnk.. won out .tor the Germans placed shell atter shell be-
hind ue., in 1'l-ont 0:' U8, on 81ther l.nd, c!1rectl} ovel"head. Prom
all this no men were hurt
..the 1I1tuatlon developed the campan;y moved .forward to
_at ridge. It...her. that we got a y1e.. or our eneJJq'.L1D1na
up .11 tanks on a r1<l1e, in turret 0..1'11&4...opened. l'ire OIl Co.
rire ordere on groupe of aneIl7 ln1'&ntPJ. The eDtire sector, 1nclud-
1rag houees where enaa,. troopere eeen J'\1Xln1n[ into and out of. l'he
bO,." had. a 1'leld day and beoame 10 ol\bros.eCS 1n shootlr1.8 to OUI'
t'ront that the,. com?letely foriot about hea., cOJ'lcentratlolUJ or
air-burets beine. laid down uVon us. The use or the field
ft. hib1J' .treed, ana they provec1 1nvaluable 1"01' move-
0nl,7.dunng partIcular ileaV)' Art. coneentrat1one d1d cor com-
l"1ander. 010 thell' turrets. l'ouDC 1t u ...sal')' to keen theIr.
open 01 tho time - to -
1'he eomT'l'.nr what \Vas d.eter.-rined as their tOinal ob-
Jective 01' nnd took up r'o::.ltlons to protect the flc.Ilk of
.: # U. S. SECRt:1
" . A.al
a
British MOST SECRE-e .
our tOTceo our with them eeem.ecl be partie.-
J l!;(rly slow - and. t-leir plana were 41azwupted Wilen they couldn't t'1ru1
t:1C e:1om,. tanka. l"or.the ..matildet- ot theda,. the o01llpany fired
upon targets or opportunity, all or 6\ 41..ouateduture,aDd des-
i,nn ted enam:l O.P.t II - or posairle o.P.t8 to the Medium t8.r.l::n w110
could r.aoh them with their ,tire.
A. a Whole th(; entll'e eompaDJ' kept as cool al9 lee dutt1n;,. the
onerat10118. 1J.'t11s a 8it::,n1tIcant po1nt - for it.baa been J1'18n1 monthe
81nce anT battle action hac: tal-ren place tor th8IJ, anti ""9.ny oj tie
MMl are newly trainee tanke:-.(":0 .have bAC!. r:::o battle experlenoe.
Again. the A:-t. ooncentrations encountered were of a heavier ne.tuN
than thoa. enooUDter.d 1n the Tunisien C&';:P61lp_ Ccmtrol or the
platoons ...excellent. In this respect part1'eular erf;d1t t:'met be
[,1van '0 lit Yale ror the of h1s platoon, -ainee itwas tM
forward .lea.Dt Its nose into enemy held.. terrI tol7'. L-t
Rothwell aDd. U Watkins, both new at,.BU-"S-, themselves credit
and established them.elves well. At no time dId either ot the three
Lta. t'all to carry out his assignment and each worked pert'eetly to
protect the adftllC8 of eaeh other by rire and movement. The radIo
and rad10 were excellent.
,be entire day. operation Q 91per-cub plane, of Q Car_-
er colop 0.. than either ours or the British, bear1nc ao ldent1-
rloatlos Whatsoever, observed. ThIs plane would c1pcle
....pO,itlona tm.e or .four t1mel, then ta.ke off. WIth1n Q 1'e" m.1a-
utea a hYJ barn..OX' enemy Art . would tallupon us. It .... DO'
noted untIl about 1600 ttl.&t this waa possibly an enem,. o.P. plane.
An to br11l8 this plane downhy rll'e wlta 1ssued by Capt lAl11e7
.. but no aOODer was the messnee trenSlll1tt.Cl than the plane dove
low over the tree. to our I'pont and. tehlnd tIle tTeraaa
lb... 'l'here 18 no doubt but that th1s was an enemy plane - diN.C-
lDt, fire upon us. A very clever Hun trick - that w&z-keciI
Along about 1700 t he order to wi tndt'e.w under cover ot.cr.arl-
., but fIrst to protect the witndrnwnl 01' the Medium tanka ...
111u.a. The Company was to tell lack thn.l tile eth Int. l1ne.........-hO
bad CCBH u, lat... in the afternoon to c()nso11riate-nie poallone we
tOOL' At 1,810 Jutathe third platoon vl!thdr6W wtth the car

three .ent into n1gbt det'ence in a prearrane;ed place alGftg
with lasault aDd the Oompan7 Hq. The platOOD8 r.
put intD position by Lt. Cort; who thPOt:tghOu. thie entire operation
.arried out hi8 duties as executive officer and "..alntenance
to a .uper1ol"' manner. Time and time a;nln he relieved. tho Ooap8.nJ'
OOMllUin4...Of tedI0 tIme taking, detEllls, and 1twae .sreetl:J tbftMe
error's thAt a.11 tanks eample-M4 the OpentlO1l4_
tn111c rl)tuMln..: to the b-lvouac ar, Lt RothWell, lead.lng h18
own "le.toon on UDavo1dal>lJ wala.4 li1to laiC. Brit-
ish "hast,." '.."'l1n& rleld. Lt Roth...ll' (I tank 'tlown up,
- 5 -
=fl.' 5.', SfeRIEJ:
British MOST SECi.dt
.
Upon re&chliaa blvout'!e Ol'ewe <;:.;f.lelsecJ U?, cleaneJ arms., re-
ple1'l1alle4 tbeu eXpended ar:n1Wlitlon and outpoeted the area t'or night
de1'enle. AIOR1 . about 2300 t:il'S the t1rDt !llember retired. tor sleep.
'!'bis nlrh.t spent on ::o1rJ.c, muon needed maintennnce, wh1c11 the
malntenaneotion 8. 1,ly lJ.llndled.
'!'be ... un Ft t (;a"'11 well rer1'6St..O(' Cree thelr ":rst
tew hours elMp sinCe etal'tin" end rt;c.dy to i'1uht _baln. Bowr
tlla ,ltuat1o.n chaftBed, nnd. !_t wne thr.. t t}".e eOl:ll"en7 YiOt!ld
holo.!. it. pe,l'1one and remaln. l.n reserve. 1:e1'e we sto1ed the en-
tire .sa,. b..... IlUbj.oted to onlJ' 1nteJfm1tte.nt Art, r1re. Tho men
rei'reshe(l,\beml ... with fo()C., slecr.> and all cleanod up, ,hayed,
r... nc1 once again pre.ented th(; presentable appear!H1Ce f'or which the .
let Arm Ky. 1. BOt.d.
A' 1;00 lu'e tba.t n1e,ht orders were ree.1ved to return to our
onglnal b1YOUao lathe and at.,. on tho alert 101' t'Uture opere-
tlou. . _reh 1n was uneventful and weB co.rried o:ft' in IlL!
manneI'. ' ....rilo alone the road, ell. main 8.4\tr, ').1' advr..... 1'lce anc:. or eupplr
was heavy_ But: tile column l'en".ained 1ntact and closed. !on l.::l.vouc.e a.re.,
':!itl1 all memMPa al'ld all present or accountet'!. t'or a1::out 2200
hours.
I_I Gerald Dallel
ItI ClEn.ilIJ)
Ca,t., let A.Ti.
CO:''!l!I.andill;.
.. .. ..: ""-D rwr:.11b
;-:' l:d\.l.<..... .AUU. v .....
I_I B.R. OOWER
ItI H.ft. ..
'"OJ". V.S.A.,
A, ...t.
.
-8 -
8. 8. !!@RI=*'
...... MOST SECRt;'.

Cut'PANY "e" dJ.[O;'iliD lu..'.L 1.!l:.LNT
,.. PO ::51 c/o PM, !'low York, Hew York.
At 0815 h0Ul"S JanunI'y- 31" 1044, I rece1vod an OI'f1er from En.
C.O. to my company as the loecln.. element of n torce wtllch was
to mc.ke a reconnaillsance in roree o:r en ere;. in tho v:lcl,'11ty or utaz!
di Ce.-::po1eone, Ita1y_ CI::O nortl: 0.1:' l.nzlo. Il'ho column
'w1 thout inc1dent to n "'; nt ap".!"ox1-r;(:'. tely one hall' ,..dle ehort
of' the I.'. Here \.';r: ;\"(',1'e l"ntl.l.er heavy enem1 e.r-
tillet"J rlre from wI.:- we ;'.'ere neVCir free for m.ore than $! few mIn-
utes at time dur1Db tho e:l.ttre As we pc ssee tne r.p. e-nd be-
gan' to fan out to take u"') proClGeiLnated poc1 i..1ons to it :urther
orders, tGere was a blt of nervous chatter over the l-OliiO, indicating
jitters. 'rhis, however, ;)Picted down by the we had
advanced BClme one thouson<J YCT'('lr ,: one into posttion just south
of the road at 861-3G6.
As went into Do[;'1 on t.ne !'ide crest on our t'irst 1
check point, the "-1- (.first), by Lt (j11n L. Dyer,
opened fire on a group or infantrymen in nne aroune Il r.ni&ll
fam hOU60 on tho opposite s1.de .:):' the road. A::)p8.rentl" t:lese Cennan
troops w()re completely 1 thGre wa!! general confusion
as they raced "'tal!ly into tt,c' .vee to escape tre machine gun tire
!loure" on them. lnto t>e hou was s grave mistake tor
the Jerr1ee, tr:ot:.e;h; i:ecaur:e ti:o tank gunners leean to tetlr r'!own the
houae w1th 3'7mm AnnoI' lbe tOl':'iJe had t(') be evacuated
ant:. of t:.e eneTllY euec:(;d ed ref! cbin,_ Q woo' ec1 draw a couple
01' . U r'..e.red [,"1:(1"'.1. r:;ven Glenn Curu' ":.ncllCm would.n' t
iH. ve t.;.uf ['c cr.3nce if.'.. trn. rc.cc.
Just e.s tl:t; t) :"ovr, ?n cmnc ove!' tn.a '1lt=.,cii1ne , uno
openE.d l.::-:\ on l'ro:"' r; r : 11 \"'j ...... ' c r " ;:,111top (:364-Z,71). h1il
was .ut moet Of t:-e t8.nJ...:f; t'or
it, LS 1: somet1?'1E'B ....HH:ln he .tlus.hes Il
l"St It-tt\7o11 :l.::;t ce:r:.'t resist t L.) I ('1dn't
try t::;.o b.... r': to r:t.:>p thern 'becQ.uce r had My reser-va platoon under my
thum: and t.iD.C: .:>Y: 01 t1"in 0;' the wbole terl"ain. 'I'rey worked
tLe 0\'01" U:ol"'ouc.:,hly 1::;, ter reported the enel"'lY mneli1ne
(,lu"'l.nere str:.yed with unttl the'Y were litlroll-y knooked ort
them.
At t.I::: I WQ(; to reconnoiter e wooded rc.v1:ne,
i'rol':1 DCZ'-370 to 1'01' ;:"u1tc;:,le crosf'ince. !"or t L :!!lirt
t::c !'IVLlc. Wt:\l:; c
1
ec!c:e,,11y a tttnlr bnrriel' Iln( tor this reflf!On the enemy
U:.( cLotsI'. t.:'..1;; OPl.':os1t.e l [;!ll: f()J:' malin line 01" l'Ct:1stance. Travel-
ing alonG our cice oJ:' e.!G rU"ine, we t'y."ss'ed rrtfllly Of the enem7 on
the orv:,os:lte1:nn!,. two away, who mel'ely into
- 1 -
" " .. , ...,.." i .. .
.. : .. . -:.: ,_-, r\. ...
I
, r.,'11tltrcnches w.e' \;c c-" 1.1. this time
...,vS'C'.....vlnu e cmolJ,nt 0.:.. ano morter 1'11'0, as
well as fome smnll tire, but itdidn't 188m to bother anyone
i'l!ucn. In root, rew, ifD,nj, tanka ever closed the turret lies
d:u.J1.r.(;., the day. t,.o all' . wer! too J!q t)e
fl'b..n a croe,1n: founc! Gt 869&'1e [(nr' &11ot>er 200 yctB
II. .ere quickly Q',;rOBS nnd on the Croon(] on the
'l'l:.e third h!!.(: ;Ben le!'t to cover ttle crol'3f:1ngs. !1B
I rea.hed the hlt;h e;round, the t 1'111toon .tr.d a.lreGd:; o!,cned
't'ire. 'lb. Se.ooo PlntoC'n l"clJ.cwcd mt;, RUTll, lef't to t>c ridge
and jo1ned the party. 1'her't.: att hi! t1::ne to te a GeneTal
retreat, for t!-:.ey m.u.sette b&f!8, coats, bat.,
blankets,. and .everything. '1'h8 company at.this time WI!!:' in -:->oeltlon
along a exten<l1llt.; lro:n 3C4-37. to K.ven the en8J1t7 troops
dliZ In tne line 850-:!oo t") were cominc out of I'OX h.ol08
and w1tb-d:N.w1ng to the reverse 810'98.
An OJ'dex- toJBOve to tne northeast to reconnoiter tor ")oenl11e
ol'O,elnga of ra1l1'oa6 tho vlc1n1tJ or 8'1-38'1 .8,3 reoe1vade
In the advance to ,his loc;'itton 'Wo over-ran moxthr con-
thre. US) abaadoned vy anc! 1'IlUct"i squi!lment. A.t
the hOUS8JUSt aout11 S'11-3L,7, infantry waeenco'.,mtered in Ifu\8 num-
..abando.aed antl-ts,nL 751& destroyed.
t.,;a.\.1on which followed. in the l'Z'orn ECt::t.!'lcast
to tbe re.11Na4brtdi;e.. I,t J-7er'fl tcrJr ,,"'as by c> nelf ..-ropel-
led. f:n".i..tank &11IIl wh1.C;'" i,ely L1t !tn, B.:'t on ::lre by
Frayne C.,,"nnan, Plnto:)n :::.erCGunt cf ;!'1rst toon. Let l'renn::n
made a moat effot'l tr) Lt O1e1', who ,':!th -r-vt C.ord ..
1n1er, was en to set out 01:' the tunk, but ene!il'y tank and ant1-te.nk
l'iro erovehSln ofr.flJ'hen to l"et:!.re, c';t L:r()nr..an placed.
! p tenl.: til' a poaltlon whe:'(:;, :le enemy lnnntryMan r.wc"!'
'0 until tL,e ';'Y';)llny we. ordered to \";1 thc!:r'c\'l! at dark-
rlecr.
I.t lJ.)na14 L. 'Bonawitz's CHmlOl', '1'-5 B. I'err1er.. , des-
two (2)J(as IV 'l'anla; one burned.
;c:.t J&'leaA. Gillespie's Pvt I"1nel-s J. "f.tf::On, C'.I!t.royed
two unicl'J:ti1:1cd whe.led veLlclGB, :.oth 01' 1; urne<i on the roa4

Au t1nta;tecl ....nty-.f1ve 11: yor:Jo"H'iolwcre In.r11ctecl
on the t 0:':: oocurJ'ea th<: '., emH'Rl v1:- 1:':.1 ty ,)! ;:.;tZlt6
(it 0&m.1l01......
\'Ihen force,,! towithdraw to t 1.0 hi....,h ground. at 866-37& bees.use
of intense oroasfire ,t'1'Qm 't;anlt5 end anti-tank buns, pUl"':,le t'lr,pea
wore i"lred 1'1 the and 1mzned.1ntaly we were 5utjectedtothe
h.,lt barrll,;,e ot a1r-burat I hAve e.er seen. Follow1llt.:. tt.4!s 'btl'll-
&nent7 1n'utryattempteA attack om- posit1on at 06C-Z75
but neve!' .ucoa.ded in coming cl08er than ata-3'S, "i .ere they were.
"inned down b'1 machine bun tlre t'rom our tanks. .\i.. my cirectionthe
En. Assault Gun under r.t Dtlu1;;1u, placed an excellent COD-
on on counter-attack was promptly finished.
The oomtpany- then withdrew along the axis of advance under the cover
of darkness.
- 2 -
......-w-- .. .-
,",
[:"I.'
. .,i.Ol ........ '.. "\"
. '1 j -'.r'..
.;. . .. - .' :
, .....
... .e .... 3:'" 1..
t't" 1
;.... :!. _ '... ..
.:. :e.. 1.-. [,. I '.', " ....', '.:i ..'.1'OJr' i..,'.' :,1' 2: ',:;,' : '...;.. '..' ., '....
----
. 1 '. s.71, ..
'"0 .Cf,f':' " ,
1:', tho
V,fjJ i.ret,. .
4. /:. It;"-'" ..' t, '. .",. .,," ... ,1 f' ". '.'. nt .... iie .. --...- .... '..'..'" L. ",.",.. t. of
, ;.;"...!:.,."- ........ '" __ ?'" =rv. ,..... t..' t;,..C ........... .> .,..... .L _
Cl:l:;;poleone, from two hundred Jards Ciate.nce t, does ::ot D;near to
be Ii tank barr1el". tb)t'!.;;:.h, s11t.htly sunken in place
5. (ill!..$il'l LattwI'Y ib ali &vproxl1";,ltel,
6. Tanks oan operate In area covered by thl. reconlla!EH:e,n.ce
".1'7 weti tner. -. __
7. LaSeG on present enemy stren,qtand di5posit1on t'0utl) c1' the 11ft.
I t'el1eve t a relnrorced tank ttlttali em c0111CJ t'rea.i( t,;}1rough the
lines in the sectot""Wlth CO;1'ptll'r:t1.ve ease.
/ t ..
(pj
......
.LJ ":.or
/"
/./ I
i...L......:.'
! ',II
A.

Ire';
,.,/ ;' ,.' : J
::..

&:gucaJa British MOST SECREl
--_.__.

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