Code A-23 "Company in Assault of a fortified beach" was a late addition to training to fill a gap between section and battalion exercises.
R E S T R I C T E D
UNITED STATES ASSAULT TRAINING CENTER ETOUSA
13 November 1943
EXERCISE - CODE A-23:
:
ASSAULT COMPANY :
COMPANY IN ASSAULT OF FORTIFIED BEACH ASSAULT COMPANY
1. Situation.
a. The area on Baggy Point, fortified as indicated on sketch map (attached), is assumed to be a portion of the German held coast of Northwst Europe. It is part of "Red Beach", which is assumed to be approximately 1200 yards long. The water line is marked on the ground by a line of white and yellow poles.
b. Pillboxes and open emplacements are manned, but enemy reserves have been temporarily immobilized by preparatory bombardment and our paratroops. The strength of the garrison of Red Beach is unknown, but is estimated to be a reinforced platoon.
c. Your battalion has been ordered to make a daylight landing on Red Beach, assault and overcome the beach defenses and push inland to seize the battalion objective. The battalion is landing with two companies in the assault wave, your company on the left. Four 4.2-inch chemical mortars under battalion control, will lay smoke from H-5 to H Hour. Boat formation No. 4 will be used.
d. Your company, with 8 M4 tanks attached, will assault the beach defenses on its front, seize the beach exit and cover the landing of the support company.
e. Landing will be from LCVP mock-ups at H Hour. Tide will be about half tide and rising. High water mark is about 75 yards higher up beach from water line.
f. Problem terminates when company has overrun and destroyed beach defenses and moved off beach.
2. Requirement.
a. Company Field Order and fire plan.
b. Assault of area by company.
3. Control.
a. Control Officers will not permit group rushes by any assault sections when such movement would be under flanking or enfilading fire from a pillbox not buttoned-up or put out of action. Individual crawling will be permitted at all times, however.
b. Control Officers are authorized to assess casualties. Individuals so designated will remain in place, and take no further part in action.
c. Control communications will be as follows:
(1) Company command nets will be established. The Chief Control Officer will have one SCR-536 on same frequency as the company net. Control Officers will use the tactical net.
(2) Orders to "Cease Fire" will take priority over all other communications.
(3) Hand signal projector - Yellow Flare - "CEASE FIRING"
R E S T R I C T E D
RESTRICTED
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Fire limits are indicated by red flags on both flanks and by a yellow flag near the center. Troops to left of yellow flag will fire between left red flag and center yellow flag; and troops to right of center yellow flag will fire between it and right red flag. Tanks may fire within entire area bounded by flank rd flags.
2. Sand bag wall on seaward side marked by a black and white flag will not be fired at by any weapons.
3. Bangalore torpedoes may be used against wire as necessary. All troops will take normal precautions when bangalores are fired.
4. When first bangalore is blown by an assault section, all supporting and small arms fire of that assault section will cease, other than rifle grenade AT, flame thrower, demolitions and smoke and offensive grenades.
5. A Red Range Control Flag is located on the hill due east of the area. If this flag is lowered, all firing will cease.
6. Although aircraft have been warned to stay out of the area, individuals will withold fire of all weapons when such firing endangers aircraft.
7. On emergency orders to Cease Firing, which may emanate from Company Commander, Company Officers or from Control Officers, all firing will cease and the exercise will halt in place until Chief Control Officer gives order to Resume Firing (See Sig. Comms.).
8. Unit commanders are responsible for the correct laying and firing of weapons under their control.
9. In the case of actual air attack by enemy aircraft during the exercise, all units and spectators will disperse and take cover, and all weapons possible will be brought to bear on the aircraft.
10. All personnel will be warned that practice mines and booby traps will be used in the exercise.
11. Under no circumstances will participants touch or handle duds. All duds will be reported to Section Commanders, who will notify a Control Officer. The Control Officer will mark its location with a red flag, record the type and location of each, and report the information to the Chief Control Officer after the exercise.
12. No action or movement will be permitted by any unit commander contrary to the order of a Control Officer.
RESTRICTED
COMMON ERRORS IN EXECUTION OF EXERCISE
1. Watches not synchronized.
2. Bunching and failure to use cover properly.
3. Ammunition expended too rapidly.
4. Smoke grenades used improperly.
5. Sections become so engrossed assaulting their assigned pillboxes that they disregard fires from other pillboxes enfilading and flanking their advance.
6. Sections advancing through fires of pillboxes which have not been reduced.
7. Troops firing outside safety limits.
8. Rifle grenades fired at excessive ranges.
9. Pins not pulled from rifle grenades.
10. Only one embrasure attacked in pillboxes having two embrasures.
11. Flame throwers operated at excessive range.
12. Demolition men not in place for action when flame thrower placed flame in embrasure of pillbox.
13. Demolition men working on down wind side of flame thrower.
14. Demolition charges improperly placed.
15. Igniters not pulled on demolition charges.
16. More than one charge placed in embrasure at a time.
