The Army Ground Forces

 

THE AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING CENTER
Study No. 22

 

By
Capt. Marshall O. Becker

 

Historical Section, Army Ground Forces
1946

HEADQUARTERS ARMY GROUND FORCES
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
 
314.7 (1 Sept 1946) GNHIS [sic] 1 September 1945
 

SUBJECT: Studies in the History of Army Ground Forces

TO: All Interested Agencies

1. The history of the Army Ground Forces as a commend was prepared during the course of the war and completed immediately thereafter. The studies prepared in Headquarters Army Ground Forces, were written by professional historians, three of whom served as commissioned officers, and one as a civilian. The histories of the subordinate commands were prepared by historical officers, who except in Second Army, acted as such in addition to other duties.

2. From the first, the history was designed primarily for the Army. Its object is to give an account of what was done from the point of view of the command preparing the history, including a candid, and factual account of difficulties, mistakes recognized as such, the means by which, in the opinion of those concerned, they might have been avoided, the measures used to overcome them, and the effectiveness of such measures. The history is not intended to be laudatory.

3. The history of the Army Ground Forces is composed of monographs on the subjects selected, and of two volumes in which an overall history is presented. A separate volume is devoted to the activities of each of the mayor subordinate commands.

4. In order that the studies may be made available to interested agencies at the earliest possible date, they are being reproduced and distributed in manuscript form. As such they must be regarded as drafts subject to final editing and revision. Persons finding errors of fact or important emissions are encouraged to communicate with the Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, Attention: Historical Section, in order that corrections may be made prior to publication in printed form by the War Department.

BY COMMAND OF GENERAL DEVERS:

s/J. L. Tarr
J. L. TARR
Colonel, AGD
Acting Ground Adj General

1 Incl:
Historical Study

 

PREFATORY NOTE

In compliance with 1st indorsement, Hq AGF, 210.4/2(AGF) GNAGS (15 Jul 42), 2 December 1942 to WD letter AG 210.31 (26 Jun 42) MR-F-PS-M, 15 July 1942, Subject: "Appointment of Historical Officers," and subsequent instructions, Capt. Marshall O. Becker, Publications and Photo Division, Amphibious Training Center, was designated as Historical Officer and the preparation of a history was begun. With the cooperation of Brig. Gen. Frank A. Keating, who, upon the disbandment of the Amphibious Training Center on 10 June 1943 became Commanding Officer of Force Headquarters Section (Army), Amphibious Training Command, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, Capt. Becker was detailed for temporary duty at Headquarters, Army Ground Forces from 23 December 1943 to 17 January 1944 and completed the history under the supervision of the Historical Section, Army Ground Forces.

KENT ROBERTS GREENFIELD
Lt. Col., Inf.
Chief, Hist. Sect

9 March 1944

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
PREFATORY NOTE
i
I BACKGROUND
1
II ACTIVATION AND MISSION
5
III FROM BIRTH TO DEATH
10
IV ORGANIZATION
19
V EXECUTION OF TRAINING MISSION
31
VI TRAINING AT CAMP EDWARDS
49
VII TRAILING AT CAMP GORDON JOHNSTON
57
VIII EPILOGUE
71
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ILLUSTRATIONS
 
 NOT POSTED AT THIS TIME
Following page
BRIG. GEN. FRANK A. KEATING
"He Operated on a Shoestring"
6
"The Creed of the Amphibian Training Center"
6
COL. PETER T. WOLFE, Executive Officer
11
"The Maneuver Area Island was Swampy"
13
"Offshore Sandbars Interfered with Training"
16
Schematic Diagram of Channels of Commend and Coordination
18
COL. GEORGE P. LYNCH, Operations Officer
20
"British Officers Assisted the Infant"
26
LT COL. GERALD F. LILLIARD, Director of Staff Training Division
26
Organization Chart, Amphibious Training Center, Camp Carrabelle, Florida
29
"The Headquarters at Camp Edwards was Small"
33
"Outdoor Classrooms were Improvised at Edwards"
33
"Available Boats were Used to Capacity"
38
"Essential Construction was Delayed"
41
"Improvised Mock-ups Took the Place of Boats"
41
"Drivers were Trained in Outline Boats"
43
"The Staff Classroom at Edwards was Small"
43
"The Schoolroom at Carrabelle was no Improvement"
47
"Debarkation over a Simulated Ramp"
47
"Instruction in Cargo-Net Scaling"
51
"The Commandos were Tough"
51
"Every Attempt was made towards Realism"
53
"The Obstacle Courses were Rugged"
59
THE INFILTRATION COURSE
"Actual Combat would be Easier"
59
STREET FIGHTING
"Just Like Stalingrad"
62
BOAT FIRING COURSE
"Even Boats on the Rolling Sea were Simulated''
62
"Bullets Sprayed like Water from a Hose"
(Hip-firing of light machine gun on Battle Course)
64
"A Beautiful Target"
(The 38th Division Exercise was "unfortunate")
64
"Broken Boats Littered the Beach after the Storm"
68
"Barrage Balloons were used in the Exercises"
68
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