Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) Libraries MCoE HQ Donovan Research Library

Fort Benning, Georgia

Report date: 13 May 1944 Title: Tank Destroyer at Anzio Abstract: Suggestions on Tank Destroyer employment in Anzio-

Bridgehead produced by the Headquarters, 1st United States Army, Artillery Section

Number of pages: 9 Notes: From the former MCoE Armor Research Library’s documents collection relocated to the MCoE HQ Donovan Research Library, Fort Benning, GA. Document#: 801 A 6 Classification: Unclassified; Approved for public release

33 k*yI19"4

The sawer, to the qwtlnthat Cfolow we adiotnteci 4 ColoMwl1. b. Jsoty 'mn2 4q. They are the result of a vUIt & sbtntetin tn

to~, ti Asia wilatter April awvl esrly My39.

A. All. tsttaltl aws nal2mdrsp switobbosyd tn the tw. ofthe bettalim -1he. wjarterz, nd eh -iazV e!stroyor CotVsrk insoecactroattobboani *tra lattalica are utfliza a 6-tirap s.rtshboard In their

lcofor the 594, the WsI# tin 701, the &5, a&dtUe 63b0 K did rot see thA(Z. *The 601, tM W5# VArK!the 636, oat isoquipad v4th a total of 4 It tloxou u ea pocial It us. I we isA* lat 2$ tt.dIzn£II ltDO d it eou~lbe that the other N attBiON

ios ave titl q ,as I 4an not quttin Us dinettyan to -wtifrpcossession.For wire, it apis anm that cashbattJaJlnvwand e oh cbtac dorrof'qw moap@ Is using stout 3.0to 32 tin of to, orhave tha Int I t Of husN& LW wee.Thesitatozat', toth fruitsU iS-he4"l41s toiM .. ause -miwvly withrndio ocnumatlsmhold to thn absolute

i4AMMfbr3' plwCOaf DetOIWaw wl acee oin trwttl& lnt'navtion entimwrtm xw.2o #an uw, it aavrsthnt the fo~lott adioUal eqni4fimtIn neddIn a battelW2.eof T~

I#A.ma 14172, )2.dnmp for battalionv~~~~-vrdfrspA;sentAtweofot'the ramoWVorvw

b. a -14 71j, toirepfor each Z1(Dotaw. ~o(2 isto2Llem intheir nrt train arma are* tlslga'0gwitehlcard fow teom tire ofto rrs.r ealulanM to otest vwtse.eat reyr seamted in the train area.

tis is very it. Ad, but tlom not apply to 71)v used as artS-lwy.)

"'Po

a. W.,$94645,t$56 3oaLts6a ify~oswfre. The 63t G.0reortsta f72,00CC)rnvk fin Mrd 95% 'aoscved fins.haU aim b. Vl7tkt report ype. as 4 tU y &" tug thratnut onemo

a. h2it me the wily sttalian rodtit hff urP eMI sa W o t a obxierved froftp daa. ds ittaU ) on hsvt U hni5 u

tn u.than sa etherittA-lims xiUSitoLtary 'idssL mand hPfAsIIflew atlitAU)eXjtY4'x ttthoik flroa ar *rtt t # ntlyI afirms tt4ih rare tm lrb a art;*-od t j;O~ dtAP44 4 V . V jke4j~j

3.* ( t aemrUirmtioi of osrtaweo f Anita. uin~Aionin artilePw~ t fr o rt, fW'r s aar I"ivieturn.

Aa.Ant-At a tin are twyrted not to ei'dtam- uaInAy artilleYrysff Of say Aa-rtxin divls mIn Italy. In the Moth, t4th,he 3d ±yiajuV tn fl Attaflon ~dortwahe Vbfl0?SStROI*EI to

th Dvi r, mo4.,orthe0 4tta,doorof a*n L'Visioa. In 4W S i

but 1w, Jxi 7Wseotionlto aidhi. stnbho atctteitireDiviionnt t udI TV ttailnn tCorvlr-er roprtc rr AntitaaRtincto

In t4be 4vi~ tn.

b. The V I 0- o pi atualy tar a&a JtitanktimctnnWtco ztatW if G tn volny, fxa '44umaM &good Ajorwt cn oer

tit.ts>#Wttunat-AsQt tank US(4L*W bapis,*Uizttn, rw ar4 ay, ~ut eet~j~ Luon a soesbssFthebrary2dthi eto spcninvlabo t~wtna the"sitn,4%zst

~eocmr 'Q, ' nilfoit iS col*tfa in ir I nnift 'cntt

In 'ick rid show I1tmork rajuined -tooerdiza tenCas tinkpn.

1wd6tn frAtiak4eese1b-Crra e pwSsn odeto forcaeproerautiart&JJWWtby eluse uoate of the ivislcazt tr UM m2h, at

alsow u to Ai ne401 enit of T h i t IDV ISI>n

eLf b to Ii" t t * "'t AW r nti-

4 ~m ltt* Matenmhe.elatve ar-0 ftzevlapropefl e n Toin, dTI atat tewoervrprtorfra ±134 r17? lmr8-jd

to0per ia rn active audoreliabletype o DiPvison.

selfrcnl )l Ith e crvvr tin *sm 3cU (ofrite f tire

b. kxcht: e Ia no1pro*tn~tionto4.giretohhercrf4ws",GD affwords *Cmpqmsty, 'tNbmtaws how u; al artilleryftfire islaid on thn towteo un',the ns san notrita tin p;I m sIn on 10thecrew a ratl dnes nutUe gum.

an ~ vuiy nole atw tttmgto at o-t th. 1;ov un ?rav'iit -~n ' i~l ~ 94 Spcx10 " ; -i-'~I 2

adjoitvo Ap;A*P kiW1 Oee on A-WI a lhavy matnmata",. T,n at:v- ltD)±vIsttEvnre I*T no& I ,i m* itoza'w-Js. 'the ;4U;ttuh ref". tI I

c-, mr 2 or 3 ty*,21oe&3 over WO tofl jgm, pttSr kiichavt 'fvr vhaden oppsYr~tii tyto sta u4nt 'dkt ir c rcms~-tima1n. .)n V*tbe

b IaidW0- t tct".4& k%'ew OcC LJ ae~mhea asWp vlecacs tenhrooasiaa, the i5 had 'M A4v-twwun Orhavlti their ia4anW y uE out

;Itku ritho ounci lktd d u itca 1 etpo4I t hey wou l Jvs 4 r.xo-tribLI, ly tm- n VO Aiplty Uquir i how * h 17-rm dc 10t~hey I14Aonly10 t-o 12 1l.

4~w,; ,oad gun.xloaemvur £ 2LrxI tat Uthare c wYt c "S~A'$flfinj8 I4,1w'thle to-n& wepan.

()i~ltn to -*tulasmbi Lityo.C Ie m i'a

4snr ltt41b ftt sritb&A, ; quire'.6 awn be t; &Lievtidf'i~~~~4~~ or'w LkL&n ;tic1ba 4 n t-t0 ,o njJKmot

'artillery 44A U-441ou' 1 ;AcOWx4$Mqtawjitie±n

(3) 2 V)rols;cCtr nt. xivKr tr joa

an Os flLAL±V doe-s. 4* w 'tct 'tlt s--apoier, ich senabl's SMaet o ~i :~* rSO.a aftr it- 4A Ui -6ttt L i inr±%cmn

(5) e 2Used pr-aeticcOIp ezohwdly as oniaartttoy,42 s as~ 1. uY expeWActed -re e i. tptVwee-t *44ce of

art, IiWiler*A&A' fiat.t' Vf

n60 Ae)atWiWI xseqpo wt oB.tiV~411 torppotan s:-zn W, sutrikiwmV11(o nxriv. in tI tho~ut.r* The 2M0 i

thnonUj ydislike' for theftdtoowig rc'asu

sew y.4%~aidsb1Jzr fox hoh *zthte C

whenhil ~s~et tovs-lot ccisttosiz akdugrt e v4%th neolptr

t .'1 1 o d:thre 76w 1" uhmr '+. my:rth t r -

7. , > .Mtt anndt 'u anil+-bk, + fr thtre apn+ a Ca tatta+: r'ete ir +.t. ureA,? a:.< o7 ,op- i-:.tnity, tr ? r

a.4 th fur *sAls' 'taAeqAc.laon;IO t-tYwe 0 + a. tnttt n th 7r anitan anti ", re anti.o r0 lr Ir-0r.)

m+ a- e .iin "1 ,"tb TIth _J54 t efUse. 714-rArzeebi;-C mlws$ut

r~ntoi~ henf :zn o .rbtat~a.

eoo JUT -AM.OThu Ins'the pri4. fravorite tardintirtanks *K-mept for thr LOnt thelw a1,on Coi: .nn--ra atl l t 'Ar the P

t* The1w 601st teal tttfor"', t4 l V I anTi PeiAthe APWitk te ewtmr, (asftthe Mvv tr1 irtamecz ot'ft and KVF, .

oit I *'jthnfvit , rtxt fArV a irirvns saen5v) 1o frI rnrs . t+dn , t h atha-the -'a-em- d Th t l)ie

e.• isoremt-ie itch the tztfir S l v ry iuttdnf teir -d-,oVnts as themy ut ac-1w t -v&3eba t ka mwr0,44cheatiat

ctitan marrand thebmitts are qiLe (!L:%ivult far an LtseerrticUP* 80t'N3 W'fl~kWfor t5purpfs#, h*nt-, isC n

t. Starstanall(ibdaing stae,,)* 125 r~msa4' o(f mival Istia-si-ullftr the 3-aliacb 5 a ve obaisv-4 and l'fttLeddlWth 3e Uich -ulrj-U,,emes *o-.noabUePirixw in the 3..inch *,t* 4. ,,.4atklia l SdW atott

'9UjY2 lAI

b. 70t -de aoes i*1 oIs y (Thu battaliIw f tred ox' iWi~est f~ev amdIr m"a *imot i ts ot~lthan MWattallm in the I AwM .) The sey k h thq hav aperf±orid

to date h" w exrewly seio le.

0 6th i - i.mlsl ral tarti. ,llwydw@1.survey#but psvewml Oma ony i s ervw r Ci a pli. wwk,

4. d oot - tiluin doeiL at battolon s. (Omuamy ty 1Athmbs tra I butyOt has t*. n ,)

e 7% th ld w ys do ar l r, ilery.

fo 636tW W"- *..be I Ir fl.e A tlo ws OLW oP"s lto mkOmm o hm y-At f*b. ne t psebw i.s. of a ah platoon as a 1Ao wtcwitht t dreto,

g.aott em dso l ive n a sumw frori a

gum ,alty ha. alimpys tved for at I",'%!v4 w&&L' fr*rU oy artifl-JWy Lt~as- awtllainr, s&uthey haveswt haid to '9vyinPeypii Fws

CCU!RORRW 3 $Auust 149.0 HOW a"h Lum£0Uso T A* DOW Uanto far prspu-ION i

A. Usm.Vyt fmr bawes Ing nolwduad 4 Cresthe i1) wt al ev rm3 to 12 heAws 14-umst~o prpare tAeir data.*lovw the sibastin ris ahstabilized,;ast at the ps'somt t.F.v prepuiwoa of data to f l"Ieis aLxwot

*zs1uasiwly thabp4oatla* of a K. As the ,situatim Is veitbIsId, X! "* W w)are ta-m eepytw~bom alIn the 1best battalion s aplievw7 14mhours. This my differCfrom tt C2,hiutU Is a &8t-nwud r-tales litt jd 4"D "1 *,a.lemV, to &I, a ly rs~roo1orstr

W 0 (A 0 *"ay teya qarm t's1at4~A mfor am Aalitim?

A. All lttaliems1.rpt thbs 636th reso.rt no trmubU ith glttlsga t4. tiibt vy 1taloassa Ut t ekmaa" Uktell Theu*net ottoisaeutyaw~ts

the ruwatiom ix± tleiloyazul eLmv &9WotA iste fadte gaoiUis ad -e

~E~1

120. 0 . 'n --ank bntr ,tr Artilery iU ted in a F!t41ArtiLleyrole, t ii, tin arwniaintafr eanbtiA"iP r at v eroyurbttaioAaeeci i w. art ni nft antry 'sit, or do thq niikoe the frifEa FieU ArtieybattaiA m au Dea cttww 4to sner than a bat-ts I ve da an a ild Artillery role?

A* ForTVxI$ ilsin the primary .intteT~qi mra mmtines tkr-i e04of the i4vlln to tdsh it In s tceVrtmhe tisUartillery rr~s 9 tiay funtion in - of tnyvu trer tn kevbiot Arthl-

ias tin ]Ibttallo is n and twi o nocotao*apart at tn iivflstn Artfle.ryf i 1t abtlity to anantely delivr fire,feh -tank 14 ofl'CG ind 4 iui;With an FA 3ittsicin* Th DCornz any aitais a ste~ o at it pisteos ?flti nflW sithinwire -crsnttonr to i th t IAttalo to rmceiveatnlms and to mblethe Field Artillmy to nan twe of' am~ lwabsrvertoa tbe ca-atta

bw ithr dit) o vjm to he'.'an* As the1visin &rtilm'ry Ceim**uac N" iourt areI in 1the TDttt&a, the th hlsian Artlmery

d 1ie tht4)ofaL t t ib owh1 lsttt alioncidmtat with I Jrao"tta c xe fcthtinlovoh o i c*act"%slly- ineach ID kstta teo In lan t ust ane othe primmary aim tmeA V@44yis inthe. l0tiree Lie rol e n mted lingto

Ato 36 ga,pthen ,sbb is tea tinily flap trotal dto tie comr-dimatlon of cx- Coan, of7 t2 tmnw* The Liviadon tti t> d,,r,:c4 .lsAdirect

tw~o. so in this 'awy avtsiothesS tin A,-ttalmoaf t a their onWun Xn nsMw tae i.a#&UG 44* n a ay w arvsvi z briaL tlmfir bartiLmwy il.uiwis siaolor a!urero

t*I~istealalthat fois e teztatou ±ronote .of7 a converuatiz; ttth COIOD*4 Jacobyrremting his obrervations in the ntavio b Lt~ce

1*Ji angthe types otf tir emlzjeob4 the dolt artillesry in thisBtbiLhStdei tatiaaare tU fllwings

a. s4SOO - tis ois the .d oult Of' tin a,'4Ml'used in SWi-th the exaeption tht each tt faws G vo1leys.

b i. Thi tiIs.pwl Insilencing UG nan artillery

3. art mt perto is aboe tir T/,.)strengthe . %hqalso lavemore thae the TA allowanceof equsipiert. Atillry avwvitirn 1r..platioL). 11W axtfltws 4x--ie t i.-Very ulbatto. adt Lb tn ue& .,little ifatal by the artillery.

plam Tee pnes re z atw;--igndto Ili unit., but toreglaly anileSal to thin. Ittue l the -40m noe" f~xwpnt 6kargtngg the vtllnwrne wey little awsif r o xsdtz uae Jair riLsfor Sen t alssionasd quite'a bit of t inttngn.Gospmttlyalnits aare ea"I ver

JAUVO sets of the et wtaa Snyta L i". I= flunite thep'isteetw ab of 'lties appearsto b m b etin criwn of then'-10s*Allmtt

w wadi"int~ix n ustir ' qupnmtg as a vr cult there 1z t;rsxow dmforwltg rmbs*

5.o At Lsit ol t tatgsIoline veicl Imn nh Ywe orally thando the Aniti pndveicls.s , alt. Ps&Jing UtoOvWrtheir 440.-Appanlnt4 te atom <31 :,-AwhwILI rIf bey tS\43 sthingevemr their lhtadoo

6"m -erwiarlu V Is a very eaCntiw agatiti.1 aps.

xeuive.

(1)~ t Nbvto Qy13 Jun 44

1.0 Wattaetled Ilua u o received Stibe' alt,.

2. Towremnosrlmawndnouretatir a equ tot, psrtielywith rererence to immaph 1.

/t!

tftA InE ttIn] iree~

,3. -oe t units a,aw~r to beavc, .th"I Jt~tbegta. Tay also havemore -Uan the /F allowanoe of equipment* Artillery amuniti n in plentie.rule ibe artillery wiren t is very elaborate. adlo is used little ifat ally t a rtillery.

4* Iank destroyer battalions have authority to call for Air 0. ?.

plsnA. 1hese lane are nit asvId Kd to 1b 1)uito, but are rem,.ularly avail-wale to them. 'atteries in the 41Os need frequent charging ; th vahiclos

, r- little and forward unit 6se their radios fPr somi trarsrin.ion*nv quite a bit of listening. Consequwntly, all units are demanding nuar-

ous caring sets of the type known as '"iny Tim". In T) units the greatestnuWm .r of casualties ap 'ears to Ve among the drivers of the WlOs. Allunitomakm modification of their equipment; an a resilt there is a tremendous 3eiandfor welding rods.

5. Al11 units clairA +hat nsoline vehicles burn much more e lthani, th rfiesel wered vehicles. Vany units are -placing tons ovr.r their UI¢ .

Aarertlzj crcws feel muc sfer if they have something over their heas.

'A orn >,ark V is a ry c Vecti .e antitank eapon.

Colonel, FAExecutive.0r

;,!. - 7 -