This was the very backbone of the Assault Training Center’s whole doctrine. It comprised of thirty infantrymen, divided into eight teams, each one trained in particular skills and together, practised to work as a self-contained unit.
Amphibious operations were new to nearly every soldier attending the Center, so alongside the usual safety regulations for waterborne operations, it was considered essential to give instruction on how to wear combat equipment while aboard landing craft, in the event they should find themselves in deep water and need to get rid of their equipment.
Training Memorandum ASLT – 18 listed what each soldier should carry, including :-
Pack, field, less bed roll, meat can, knife, fork.
3 pkts "K" rations, to be carried in field pack3 bars "D" .. .. .. .. ..5 (or 6) grenades, fragmentation and smoke.*96 rounds, M-1 ammunition to be carried in belt and bandolier.First Aid Packet, to be carried on belt.Canteen, cup, cover, on belt.Rifle, M-1Bayonet and Scabbard.Gas Mask to be carried as prescribed below:Cover, protective, gas, to be carried in gas mask.Ointment .. .. .. .. .. ..These articles are carried in the following manner until soldier reaches the beach:
a. The life belt is worn under the equipment. The pack is slung in the usual manner, with the exception that the cartridge belt is left unbuckled. The rifle is then slung over the left shoulder, sling to the front and muzzle up. The sling is then slipped over the bayonet hilt and around the canteen bottle. The gas mask is then placed on the top of the pack with long strap to the left. The strap is wrapped around the muzzle of the rifle and hooked onto the left front side of the cartridge belt. The short strap is brought directly over the right shoulder and fastened to the right side of the cartridge belt. The equipment is now secured to the belt and can be readily disposed of by a shrug of the shoulders in case of a fall into the water. The chin strap of the helmet is buckled at all times.
The Assault Section was ... “ designed for frontal attack upon enemy fortified position, depending upon a system of coordinated fires to advance a highly specialized group to destroy the enemy fortifications. Enemy fires from other sources are neutralized by means within the section (mortar). The section is not designed for thorough mopping up but for breaching the enemy "crust" of defense”.
ORGANIZATION : Each Assault Section is commanded by a lieutenant, who is the section leader; he is assisted by a sergeant, second in command of the section. The section itself consists of the following sub-teams; riflemen, wire-cutters, rocketeers, flame throwers, mortarmen, machine gunners, and demolition men
SUBTEAMS OF THE ASSAULT SECTION IN ACTION : The subteams of the assault section are organized and equipped to advance the demolition party to the vicinity of the pillbox, where it puts the pill-box out of action by placing explosive charges in vulnerable portions of the pill-box. The assault team is loaded into an LCVP (landing craft, vehicle and personnel) in a prescribed order which will permit the members of the team to debark in the following prescribed sequence:
The Section Leader
The riflemen.........(96 rds for M-1) (75 rds for carbine)
.........(96 rds for M-1) (75 rds for carbine)The light machine gun team...(1500 rds)
...(1500 rds)The mortar team.........(36 rds)
.........(36 rds)The wire cutting team
The rocket team.........(36 rds)
.........(36 rds)The flame thrower team
The demolitions team
DEVELOPMENT UPON DEBARKATION : Immediately upon debarking covered by smoke from the chemical mortars firing from landing craft, the section leader and riflemen move straight to the front in a rough V formation with about ten yards interval and about five yard distance between riflemen. The light machine gun team and the mortar team deploy to the left in that order with similar intervals and distances, in
accordance with the procedure set forth in individual assault pamphlets. The wire cutting team, the flame throwing team and demolitions team initially deploy to the right in a similar fashion while the two launcher subteams deploy within the "V" about twenty yards apart and about twenty yards behind the section leader.
STEPS IN THE ASSAULT :
a. The section leader. Prior to the beaching of the landing craft, naval and aerial bombardment, have cratered the beach and full advantage of these shell and bomb craters is taken in the initial movements of the assault section. The assault section leader looks for the principal enemy fortification in his zone of action and for supporting enemy emplacements. He establishes communication with his supporting tank or gun by visual signal. He locates the elements of his assault section. Covered by the fire of the riflemen he moves forward locating possible points for breaching enemy obstacles, blind areas in the enemy fields of fire, etc. He causes routes to be marked out to these designated places by the riflemen, and he controls his section by prearranged signals, time schedules, phase signals, visual signals (usually arm and hand) and oral orders. The last two methods because of noise, smoke and difficulty of movement will be rarely successfully employed; emphasis must be laid on coordination of movement.
b. The assistant Leader. The assistant leader, a non-commissioned officer is the last man off the landing craft. He assists the section leader; is prepared to take the section leader's place, if the latter becomes a casualty; keep informed of the general situation at all times; and is particularly charged with the responsibility of locating covering fires from open emplacements and bringing mortar fire to bear upon such enemy installations.
c. The Light Machine Gun Team. The light machine gun squad takes position well to the flank of the assault section, where it can fire upon enemy installations taking care not to mask the fire of the supporting tank or gun. Should its fire be marked by advancing riflemen, the gun is moved to a new position from which the original target can be engaged. Short bursts of two or three rounds will be fired at the embrasure; however, the chief use of the machine gun will be in neutralizing fire from enemy open installations.
d. The Mortar Team. The mortar team moves to a position where it can bring fire on possible targets with maximum protection; they will receive orders from the assistant section leader to bring fire on open emplacements, but may direct fire on such emplacements at his own initiative. Fire is directed until the successful conclusion of the assault, when the mortar is prepared to fire on enemy concentrations and to break up enemy counterattacks.
e. The Rocket Launcher Team. The rocket launcher team moves up under the protecting fires of the riflemen, the machine gun and the accompanying tank until it reaches a position from which it can fire upon the embrasure. Rocketeers should take positions so that they are no nearer one another than twenty yards and where if possible communication can be established with the section leader. Fire is opened on the pillbox with armor piercing rockets to cover the advance of flamethrower and the demolitions party. When the flamethrower signals "I am ready", by arm and hand signal, the rocket fire is lifted. At the successful assault, the rocketeers advance to the next position or to attack a new pillbox as directed.
f. The Flame Thrower Team. The flame thrower team moves forward by short bounds, taking full advantage of cover, under the covering fires of the riflemen, the machine gun, the accompanying tank, and the rocket party until it reaches a point from which it can bring fire to bear upon the embrasure of the enemy pill-box. The assistant flame thrower keeps close contact with the demolition party, and when that party is in position to begin its assault, he signals to the rocketeer, "I am ready", by arm and hand or other pre-arranged signal, whereupon the rocket fire is lifted. The flame thrower party then opens with jets of one or two seconds and covers the placing of charges in the vulnerable points of the embrasure by the demolitions party.
g. The Demolitions party. Is "ball carrier" of the assault section for whom all the other teams do the "blocking". It works its way forward under the protective fires of the other weapons until it is ready to make the final movement to place the charges to destroy the pill-box. At this time, the leader of the party signals to the flame thrower party, "I am ready". The flame thrower then opens fire, and under the protecting jet, the demolition party places the necessary charge or charges in the vulnerable portions of the embrasure.
