duced from lheVnclassified I Declassified Holdings of lhe"NationaIArchives'
Annex 1 Hea.dquarters ' After action 46th Field Artillery Battalion against the enemy report. EECOHD Q2 J.f.YEN'TS 1 October 4 October 1944 No incidents. 'the period 117. ApproXimately 1600 rounds 'were ex:pended,,'C0nsiderable enemy activity was evident, chiefly patrols. 'n:tv",Arty TOTS were frequently fired on these wi th good effect. Infiltrat,ion into wooded 'areas near our MLR was, evident and concentrations of" enemy troops was prevented by frequent ar',:t1k.tllery:,.' TOTs. On the 4th of Ootober A CO relieved L CO in tll-e rlJne. Balance of IstBN joined 11th INF for atta.ok on Fort were also sent to the 19th FA BN to coordinate fires to support 1st EN on this This battalion was out of range to support attack. Two forward observation parties accompanied the 1st BN, lOth INFo 5 October 19411 - 6 oc'tobsr 1944 Fires oontinued normal. Ammuni tioD was restrioted however, and harassing fires were reduced. 41 missions. were fired, expending 637 rounds" ,((:, Ootober 1944 Visibility was exceptiona.lly good and ta.rgets were plentiful. 27 were firsd",;expending 509 rounds against infantry in the open, enemy artillery, mor.tars, and vehicles. Five Div Arty TOTs a.s harassing missions were 1,l,J.Ar:,;the morning on probable t,a.rgets before the haze lifted.. Lt l<'lorr:tson, ABTRY, with forward observation party (Cpl Mc 'Guire, 'Tt,iSZobel and Pvt;,Paul W Thompson) was reported missing at 2100 hours during attack on Fort Driant. It is believed they were captured along with .00 HQ J B CO, 16th lNF'. :"," 8 OC tobel" 191.4 Lt Col Robert L BruDzell assumed command of the Battalion effective 1200 hours. Lt 'Col James R Johnson was assigned to 5th Div Arty as 8-3. From 0615 to 0710 seven protective fires were delivered for LN3 against strong enemy patrols. Observation continued to be good and twelve mis slons observed by air and ground OPs were fired. At 1300 hours S/8gt Young reported from "e tl OF tha.t approx:tmately a regiment of enemy infantry carrying white bags were observed well dispersed In viCinity of 87.4-55.3. They were out of range for us, but the mediums fired. The troops scattered, and no further activity was observed. A total of 23 missions were fired expending 334 rounds. 9 October i944 Visibility wa.s poor a.nd targets were limited. At 2030 hours this Battalion was rel,nford'ed by ARMD FA BN (2 batteries) fired covering fire for a strong patro_l :f',rom the 3rd BN, Ipth INF, wJ1.1ch had the mis sion of captu.!llng prisoners for 'information. The pat,rol ran into heavy fortlf.ications anJi.returned without prisonsers. '14 missions were fired expending 275 rounds. . 10 October 1944 Beginning at 0435 hours, Div Arty fired a. sertes of eight TOTS in ,>I harassing missions against targets throughout the Division ssctor. ", VisibiJ::ity waS poor ans only 2 observed missions were, fired. 21 ,missions. includ f l18 ha.rassing, were :e'ire&, eXpend,ing 473 rounds.' , ", -1'" , R;PJiUced the .. . J1! Q. li If. 1: 11 Oc tober 191j)+ Beginnlng today ammunition allowances are drastically l"educed. Drastic orders no firing wlthouttheir clearance and then only in the event of action from the proposed target causing damage to friendly elements. Battalion continued to fire in support of lOth INF. An es .... timated platoon of Tanks were reported in area. of LN3 and f1red upon. Rounds expended for day 188.]\.1188i.on8 13. 12 October 1944 Ammunition allowances again held to 150 rounds .. Battalion fired on counterattack at 1715 hou,rs with gO,od effect. Action took place in 3rd BN t lOth INF sector. Enemy used 3 platoons with automa'tlc weapons and suffered many casualties. Rounds expended 398. Missions Bat talion was subject of photographs made by Div Arty Photo team. Picturt'6 were made by 1st Sec, Btry A firing, and of S/Sg't Sullivan's OP detail. FDC also photographed for history and publicity purposes. 13 October 1944 Very little activity again today. At 0015 hours, this EN with the 50th FA BN fired TOT on a group of enemy working in woods atLN02 sector. 10lth CAN 00 and IMF mor"i.jars disrupted work and TOT which followed is ' reported to have driven enemy out of area BN continued improving prima.ry and alternate pOSitions whioh are o dug in. Rounds expended 43. Missions.5. 12+ October 194,4 '1'he EN is still restric ted to firing missions of the most urgent nature with its own guns, but two units are now being flred freID our 818 th TD "EN CO E maintaines its. own FDC, and CO l3 '735 TK BN, attached to loth INF is now in position, firing through FA BN FDd. OPs report that our reduced artillery activity bLas made the enemy 'bolder, and he now shows himself more often. Missions fired, none. Rounds expended, none. ' 15 october 1944 ( . Ammuni tion restrictions still prevent" our firing on any but the most urgent missions. A platoon of TKO from CO' B 735th TK EN is now to be fired tbrough our l,I'DC, but registration and proper organization of position is delayed. Hounds expended, none. lJIissions, none. 16 OC tober 19J+2t CO of TICS from 735th 'rK EN fired 25 miSSions, 335 rounds both ob sered .ani unobserved. Visib1li ty limi ted number of observed missions, however good effec t was noted on several targe ts of opportuni t.y. TKS' located in an area without defilade were Observed and fired upon by enemy artilleryI ca.using 'rKS to move o 17 October 19 l J.4 Initial reconnaissance and orientation of and 8-2 of 358th FA BN was conducted today by CO. 8-3, and 8-2 of 'th.iS BN. It is planned 'for this unit to relieve us soon.. Missions, none. Rounda . expended.., none" TKS again do all firing from our FDC,beca.use of our ovm ammunition restrictions. They did not fire until later in th.e day beca.use,of difficulty moving them on soft wet ground. Visibility is poor, and observed missions a.re few in number .. f.Ussions fired. by 735th TK BN, CO B, 24. Rounds fired 335. ' 18 Ootober 194.lj. ' Visibility during late morning and in the afternoon permitted. a few observed missions which were dlrected against the bolder activl.ty of the enemy in our sector'. All missions were fired by the tanks, or chemical mortars attached to the 50th FA EN, 1st and 2nd Platoons, CO B, 8lst CNL BN are now assigned the mission of reenforcing our and appropriate technique and momenclature are quickly under stood and used by our comput,ers. Sequence of commands is different, but these mortars are fired on both observed and unobserved missions with exoellent effect. Mortars have an ammunition allotment including 50 7/q P. Wi th the aSSignment of these eight MOR'rS the EN can now fir'e from the OPLR deep into enemy terri tory wi t.hou.t any dead spaoe, hereto... fore preventing olose in :hres, Th9 attached IrKS have a flat trajectoried 75mm M3 GUN and their minimum elevation has preventes fires in close support. Missions --0C- .Attached TKs Chemical Mortars 21 19 00 tober1944 Minor activity on either side of the lines today. Tanks firedt:balbh observed and unobserved missions today. CML MORTS from CO B, 81at milL, BN also f:).red on targets close to friendly infantry elements, through our FDC. Mortars were attached to 46 th FA BN today. IvIisslons Rounds Attached TKs "-25""- -203 Mortars 16 180 20 October 1944 This day is taken up in preparatit:m for the relief of the BN by the 358th FA BN and. the conduct of fire of our a.tt.aohed weapons. Lt, Col Sewall, CO, l"1/il,;J" Marl{le I B-3 and other _staff offlcers of the 358th F'A En w.ith the battery Qommanders of that unit arrived at apprOXimately 1100 hours and made preparations to guide their unit into Ute posi tiona now ocoupied by the 46th' FA BNo During the day the enemy eVidenced considerable activity in the open, apparently feeling sSlfe from OUI.[' artillery since it has not fired for several days. Friendly aircraft were seen to drop Safe Conduct leaf... lets to the enemy in forward areas, and "C'I organic reported intense honae and vehicular activity on the road between Augney and Metz. Attached tanks were adjusted on this road and fire for effect was delivered with both HE and \'/P ammo on call, when activity wa.s greatest. Because,of the ha.ze and. great range, effect could not be defini tely determined. Enemy artillery increased. in .activi ty today a.nd guns in F'ort Sommy fired for the first time in several days. CIVIL IDR'l'S f'ired on suspected enemy outpoats and OPs .At dark the guns wera ooupled and all equipment l'oaded in prepa.ration for the maroh to an assembly area in the vicinity of Abbey 5te .Marie. The . night march was a.ccomplished with one slight accident, which damaged the radiator of the 3rdSeo, B BTRY prime mover when the vehicle ran lntothe muzzle of- the howitzer ahead. Bivouacwa.s made and. personnel prepared. for the march to the EN Trainlng Area. Distance marched 9 miles. Sta:rting at 1100 hours today the BN used. its ownweapou's for the first time in many days, firing 100 rounds of IVI84 SInk BE Ammo for praotice purposes . This ammo has not been used in our operations against. the enemy so far. Missions .ROUndS 'Attached Tanks _. . 200 Chemical Morta.rs 13 180 105s (46 FA BN) 6 100 BE Ma4- Sm,k. -3- , i I .-It' .-. .... t> ... ,,' ,,', -._", '."-', ". -, .. - ....... the J)nclassified I DeClassified Holdings of the National Arohives .
21 october 1944 starting at 060Q, BN moved out of assembly area in order A, B, C, HQ, SV a.nd atta.ched AM. March wa.s made via Thia.ucourt, Chambley, and Harville, to Xivry - Circourt where the EN 1s bivouacked tn but1dings, wi th vehicles and howi tzars In surrounding fields, Preparations 1J/ere made to clean equtpment and. refit comple tely in thl a area in addition t.o conducting training of a. refresher nature, and orienting replacements. March completed at 1145. Distance marched 62 miles. IJlaj s/Sgt Shouse and Capt. Hoge, with the key personnel remained behind until 1400 houra to assure efficient turnover of installations of this unit to the 358th FA EN. For the Battalion Commander: I ,1,
London Gazette 38190 Despatch On Operations in Hong Kong 1941 Dec.8-25, by Major-General C. M. Maltby, General Officer Commanding British Troops in China PDF