AGF Study, NO. 8: Reorganization of Ground Troops for Combat

Annex IV

 

HEADQUARTERS
ARMY GROUND FORCES
Army War College
Washington 25, D.C.

320.2/6031(R)(21 Jul 43)GNGCT                                                                                                         21 July 1943.

SUBJECT: Orientation with Reference to Revised Organization.

TO:            Commanding Generals,
                  Second and Third Armies,
                  IV and XIII Corps,
                  II Armored Corps,
                  Airborne Command,
                  Antiaircraft Command,
                  Armored Command,
                  Desert Training Center,
                  Replacement and School Command,
                  Tank Destroyer Center.

GENERAL

1. The following information and comments are transmitted by way of orientation in connection with pending revision of the organization of large units.

2. The organization of combat and supporting service units is being revised extensively and necessary Tables of Organization and Tables of Equipment will be issued in near future. See paragraph 2, letter, Hq AGF, 320.2/185(R)(3 Mar 43)GNGCT, 3 March 1943, Subject "Reorganization of Units under New Tables of Organization." The purposes of this revision may be stated generally as follows:

    a. To economize manpower, in order that the overall needs of armed forces, of industry, and of agriculture may be met in the maximum degree.

    b. To permit available shipping to transport overseas a maximum of fighting power.

    c. To provide a more flexible organization, permitting full application of the principle of economy of force and massing of military might at the decisive point.

    d. To reduce headquarters and other overhead to speed up command. Command functions must keep pace with fast transportation and signal communication.

    e. To devote strength as fully as possible to elements which can be made effective offensively against the enemy and reduce those elements which are passively defensive.

ORGANIZATION OF LARGE UNITS

3. The army is a tactical and administrative unit. The revised organization contemplates that administrative functions be more extensive and complete than at present. In exercise of such administrative functions, the army should by-pass the corps in every way possible in order that the corps may devote itself so far as

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practicable to tactical and training functions. Corps currently in training in the United States are in general occupying themselves too much with administration. Army commanders must take the steps necessary to correct this condition. The reduced administrative procedure applied in some headquarters and headquarters detachments, special troops, could well be applied to corps. A separate corps will have a status similar to that of an army.

4. a. The corps will consist essentially of a headquarters and headquarters company, a signal battalion, headquarters and headquarters battery, corps artillery, and a field artillery observation battalion. Its functions will be primarily tactical. It will be reinforced according to the combat situation by divisions, groups of artillery, antiaircraft, tank battalions, tank destroyer battalions, engineer battalions, engineer companies, and reconnaissance squadrons. See Inclosure 1 as an example of what may be attached to a corps. In combat, according to the situation, non-divisional units (except reconnaissance squadrons) may be put under division control. In principle, they are passed on to divisions unless they may be employed effectively for more or less simultaneous support of more than a single division. Grouping battalions for training provides essential supervision of higher commanders. Such training must not preclude close association of battalions, and perhaps groups, with divisions for combined training. However, permanent attachments of battalions to divisions is undesirable since such action will prevent training in mass employment. See letter, Hq AGF, 353/2209 (1 Apr 43)GNGCT, 1 April 1943, Subject "Assignment and Training of Group Headquarters and Battalions of Tank, Tank Destroyer, and Antiaircraft Artillery."

    b. The artillery commander commands all reinforcing artillery received and not passed on to divisions and has the additional function of corps artillery officer. The corps artillery headquarters has a large staff. For training purposes, it will be advisable to use part of it to perform training functions of present corps artillery section, thereby permitting the artillery commander to devote his attention during training periods to considerable number of groups and separate battalions attached to the corps. In this way, the existing satisfactory organization for training may continue. (See paragraph 12, below.)

5. Orders to reorganize infantry and armored divisions under new Tables of Organization and Equipment will issue at a later date. The following information is furnished on the new organizations.

    a. The motorized division as a distinct organization has been eliminated. An infantry division can be transported by the attachment of a troop transport battalion consisting of six truck companies. It follows that the training of all infantry divisions will include development of a Standard Operating Procedure for motor movement and the execution of such movements.

    b. The infantry division has been reduced in aggregate strength by approximately 8 per cent and in fuel consuming motor vehicles by 14 per cent.

    c. The armored division will be reorganized into two combat commands or groups of flexible composition of self-sustaining tank and armored infantry battalions. The organic total strength includes three tank battalions and three armored infantry battalions. The artillery strength remains at three battalions. The infantry and artillery strength of the division, in comparison with the tank strength, will be increased greatly.

d. It is planned that all tank battalions with certain exceptions will be interchangeable - including those of armored divisions and of General Headquarters Reserve. The battalion will include three medium companies and one light company.

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Thus there will be a pool of tank battalions available for both support of the infantry and as replacement units of armored divisions. Similarly, a pool of armored infantry battalions is being organized so that replacement and reinforcing infantry units will be available for armored divisions. Again the reconnaissance squadrons of armored divisions and separate reconnaissance squadrons will be identical except for the number of reconnaissance troops, permitting interchange of such units as necessary.

    e. A new light division, suitable for amphibious, airborne, mountain and jungle operation is being tested. The aggregate strength of this light division is approximately 9,000 and its equipment varies with the type of operations in which it is to engage. There will be a minimum of transportation. The division will be on foot, with hand carts, except for those essential loads which cannot be transported in this manner. Such loads will be handled by pack animals or 1/4-ton trucks. Approximately 400 men will be subtracted from strength of the division when motor transportation is used.

    f. The radio intelligence platoon is being removed from division signal companies because it is felt that such activities pertain more properly to the corps signal battalion, at least until equipment for such operation has been developed more fully, its capacities measured and operational needs determined more completely than at present. Trained traffic analysts have been provided in the corps signal battalion to evaluate information obtained by the radio intelligence platoons. An effort is being made to reduce and simplify the set-up of signal equipment without sacrificing the essential effectiveness of signal operations.

    g. The division engineers will hold to a strength which some commanders may regard as too small. There is no lack of appreciation of the number of engineering functions or of the considerable overall strength of engineers needed. However, a division of whatever type is supposedly a mobile unit and nature and extent of engineer operations under such conditions necessarily must be limited. If and when operations do not move so rapidly, it is readily possible to introduce engineers from the corps and army, reinforcing or relieving the division engineers of functions which are beyond their capabilities. Bridge trains are excluded from division engineers because they are not needed under all conditions. The need of bridges can be foretold from maps, air photographs and ground reconnaissance and bridges can be provided by companies and battalions from the army.

COMMENTS ON ORGANIZATION

6. Staffs are being revised downward. They are to be provided solely for combat needs. Operations cannot possibly be swift and effective if staffs are large and clumsy. Lack of staff training and fitness cannot be compensated for by increasing size. The development of suitable Standard Operating Procedures lightens the burden of staffs and expedites operations. In general, field orders in maneuvers still are far too lengthy. The average formal mimeographed field order, prepared under conditions which would be impractical in service, can be replaced by messages of a few lines, expediting operations greatly and largely eliminating the frequent capture of elaborate orders by the opposing forces. Field orders should be oral or in message form habitually for all elements of divisions and frequently for the corps. The practice of assembling subordinate commanders for issuance of orders is pernicious, since it takes commanders away from their units at critical times and delays operations intolerably. Liaison officers should be used for dissemination of orders.

7. a. The revised organization takes extensive advantage of the pooling principle. For example, there are General Headquarters pools of artillery battalions,

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tank destroyer battalions, reconnaissance squadrons, antiaircraft battalions, engineer companies and battalions, armored infantry battalions, tank battalions; group headquarters for artillery, tank destroyer, engineer, cavalry, antiaircraft, armored infantry, and tank units; necessary and appropriate brigade headquarters; and service units. In general, group headquarters will be provided in the ratio of one to every three or four battalions; brigade headquarters in appropriate cases one to every three or four groups.

    b. Unlike the old regiment and brigade, which had organic battalions and regiments, the new groups and brigades have no organic units. Battalions, of any or various types, and in any number, may be attached to a group headquarters; varying number of groups to a brigade headquarters. See Inclosure 2 for examples of possible attachment of units to various types of group headquarters. The flexibility of the new organization makes it readily possible to form task forces to meet particular needs, thus effecting economy and permitting massing of means according to the situation. Except in the infantry regiment, battalions are self-sustaining, that is they are self-administering in the same sense as the regiment heretofore.

8. Organic antiaircraft and antitank defense of divisions is a moot question. It is entirely natural that division commanders desire such defensive means in strength sufficient to defeat all attacks. Provisions of this kind are impractical and unsound from the standpoint of economy of force. At the same time it is reasonable to furnish a limited defense organically and provide a pool of means sufficient to reinforce threatened points so as to afford full protection. The infantry has antitank guns, but the pool of tank destroyer units affords a more powerful reserve to meet a massed tank attack. Similarly, all units have organic antiaircraft protection in the form of caliber .50 machine guns on ring mounts of vehicles, but the major antiaircraft protection is in the form of self-propelled or mobile, automatic weapons, antiaircraft battalions assigned organically to a General Headquarters pool, which are highly suitable for this purpose. The employment of special pool units is a command decision, according to the situation.

SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE

9. All organic provisions for supply are based on the principles of paragraph 38, FM 100-10, 9 December 1940. The following comments are made:

    a. The army is being provided with abundant and flexible means of placing supplies within convenient reach of the transportation of using units, regiments, self-sustaining battalions, and small separate units.

    b. The army handles all supplies upon their arrival in the combat zone, using army personnel and transportation. It establishes and mans all supply points down to include those which deliver to using units. The using units need no personnel specifically detailed for loading the supplies and bring only transportation and personnel normally assigned to the vehicle to the supply point.

    c. Unit reserves of rations and water normally are confined to kitchen trucks and trailers. Resupply of both rations and water is by any available unit transportation.

    d. Unit transportation generally includes no provisions for a reserve of fuel and lubricants, except in the case of tanks or similar vehicles consuming large quantities. Motor vehicles in general have an adequate reserve in fuel tank and cans carried in vehicles. Resupply of fuel and lubricants is by any available unit transportation, in the discretion of the unit commander.

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    e. There is no change in the present system of ammunition supply. The reserve of ammunition of a unit consists primarily of hauling capacity of its vehicles. In general, the number of ammunition vehicles assigned a unit is based on hauling, rather than carrying capacities. The unit commander must see that ammunition vehicles are employed actively and continuously to the extent necessary to insure an adequate supply of ammunition at all times.

10. Adequate provision is made for motor maintenance, provided that all echelons are employed effectively. Admittedly, third echelon maintenance of divisions is inadequate of itself to handle all third echelon repairs under severe operating conditions. The excess of such repairs must be made by third echelon shops of army and when practical, by second echelon shops of units. When time permits and when scheduled maintenance services are not interrupted, it is greatly to the advantage of units to make all possible repairs within units, in order to avoid evacuating a vehicle with the attendant temporary loss of effectiveness. Accordingly, it is emphasized that maintenance echelons of units should be trained and practiced in making all repairs to the limit of their capacity in tools, parts, and skill. Unserviceable vehicles beyond third echelon repairs should be freely evacuated for replacement. The commanding officer of the third echelon maintenance unit of a division is ex officio motor officer of the division. His activities should extend beyond his own unit and include inspection of all maintenance elements of the division.

AUGMENTATION OF CORPS HEADQUARTERS

11. Orders are issuing directing reorganization of certain corps headquarters under Table of Organization 100-1, 15 July 1943. This reorganization will cause considerable reduction in corps headquarters. It is appreciated that corps headquarters in training in the United States have problems and responsibilities other than those of an army or corps in combat. Their units are comparatively dispersed geographically and there is a continuing need for close supervision and tests of training.

12. In order to meet the training requirements of corps assigned to armies, the following allotment is being provided:

    

INF

F A

ENGR

ARMD - TD

AA - AS

COLONEL

1
    
    
    
    

LT COLONEL

2

2    (1)

1*

1*

1*

MAJOR

2

1    (1)

1*

1*

1*

CAPTAIN

1

-    (3)

-   

-   

-   

TOTAL OFFICERS

6

3**(5)

2*

2*

2*

TOTAL ENLISTED MEN

4

6    (4)

3*

3*

3*

                (  ) Armored Corps.

                 * Only when no group headquarters of the type indicated is present. If one or more type group headquarters are present, corps commander may assign special staff functions to one or more officers of a group headquarters.
                ** Five officers for headquarters and headquarters battery, corps artillery can augment three allotted officers to continue existing training section of eight officers and current procedure.

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13. The following allotment, in addition to training allotment, is being furnished in order to provide adequate personnel for administrative requirements for corps operating directly under Army Ground Forces.

    

ENGR

SIG

AG

IG

JA

FIN

MED

ORD

QM

TOTAL

MAJOR

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

10

CAPTAIN

1

1

1

-

-

-

1

1

1

6

TOTAL OFF

2

2

2

1

1

1

2

2

3

16

TOTAL EM

3

4

7

2

2

3

3

4

7

35

FUNCTIONS OF ARMY AND CORPS

14. The following conception of functions is believed the most suitable under the pending organization and in view of the problems of armies and corps in the United States:

    a. In general, combat units in training in the United States will be assigned or attached to corps, service units to armies and separate corps.

    b. The army should absorb the maximum of administration, endeavoring in every possible manner to simplify procedures and eliminate paper work and reports. The army's role in connection with training should be general supervision of all units without duplicating or interfering with the more detailed supervision by subordinate headquarters.

    c. In accordance with letter, Hq AGF, 320.2/93(R)(15 Oct 42) GNGCT, 15 October 1942, Subject "Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Special Troops, Army and Corps," (as amended), each army and separate corps has been authorized certain headquarters and headquarters detachments, special troops, to direct and supervise both tactical and administrative instruction and training of its component units, with the exception of divisions, brigades and groups. Each group commander is charged with supervising training of individual units of the group, as well as of the combination as a team. Groups will not be attached to headquarters and headquarters detachments, special troops.

    d. The corps has the primary function of as close and frequent supervision of training as is possible in view of size of its headquarters and number of dispersion of its units. The more important training tests preferably should be conducted by the corps staff. See paragraph 7a, letter, Hq AGF, 319.22/22(1 Jan 43)GNGCT, 1 January 1943, Subject: "Conduct of Training." A separate corps combines the functions of army and corps.

    e. The tabular organization of army and corps staffs should be disregarded in connection with training inspections in whatever degree is necessary in order to utilize the entire staff as wholly as possible for training supervision. Activities of the headquarters should be reduced to a minimum, and all personnel sent to the field in connection with training and in capacities best suited to meet training needs. Particularly in the corps, it is important that organic staff compartmentation be overridden with this end in view and major proportion of all personnel be kept in the field. See paragraph 1, "Conduct of Training" referred to in d, above.

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15. Paragraph 2, letter Hq AGF, 320.2/187(R)(1 Mar 43)GNGAP-A, 1 March 1943, Subject: "Personnel Administration in 'Assigned' and 'Attached' Units," and all other instructions in conflict with the principles stated above are rescinded.

            By command of LT. GEN McNAIR:

J. R. DRYDEN,
Lt. Col, A.G.D,
Ass't Ground Adjutant General.

2 Incls:
   Incl 1 - Example of Possible Corps Organization.
   Incl 2 - Examples of Possible Attachment
                    of Units to Various Types of
                    Group Headquarters.

DISTRIBUTION :
    "A" & "H"

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