[362]
Appendix C
XIV Corps' Field Order No. 1,
16 January 1943

 

HQ XIV CORPS,
APO #709
1200 16 Jan 43

FO No. 1.
MAP: Gridded 8-sheet photomap, 1:15,000.

 

1. a. See current Summary.

b. See Operations Overlay.

2. This Corps, from present positions, will attack to the west at a time and on a date to be announced later, seize the high ground in the vicinity of (68.0-20l.8)-(67-200)-(65-l98) to the south thereof, and be prepared to continue the attack to the northwest.1 See Operations Overlay.

3. a. 2d Marine Division (less 2d and 8th Marine Regiments), one (1) Infantry regiment Americal Division attached, will attack to the west and seize that part of the Corps objective within its zone of action. It will maintain connection and contact with the 25th Infantry Division during the attack, will cover its left (south) flank, and will assist the 25th Infantry Division by fire in taking the high ground in the vicinity of (66.0-l98.5).2 It will protect the shore line from the MATANIKAU RIVER (excl) to the objective (incl) against any attempted enemy landing.

b. 25th Infantry Division will attack to the west and seize that part of the Corps objective within its zone of action. It will envelop or turn the enemy's right (south) flank and will protect the left (south) flank of the Corps.

c. The Perimeter Defense (less one (1) Infantry regiment Americal Division), with 2d and 8th Marine Regiments attached, will intensify patrolling to insure protection of air fields and rear installations of the Corps. It will extend beach protection to insure against possible enemy landings as far west as the MATANIKAU RIVER (incl). One (1) Infantry regiment will be kept immediately available for use by the Corps Commander in support of the attack or in defense of rear areas; it will be committed to action only on orders of the

1. The objective line ran from Hill 87 northeast to the beach.
2. Hill 87.

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Corps Commander. A second regiment of Infantry will be so utilized that it can be assembled in two and one half ( 21 ) hours for use by the Corps Commander.

d. 147th Infantry (-) will prepare to cover KOLI POINT AIR FIELD with two (2) rifle companies reinforced. The remainder of the 147th Infantry at KOLI POINT will await orders there in Corps reserve and will be committed to action only on orders of the Corps Commander.

e. Artillery.

(1) Americal Division Artillery, with 10th Marines (less two (2) battalions) (75-mm. Pack How), Battery A 1st Marine Amphibious Corps (155-mm How), and Battery F 244th Coast Artillery (155-mm Gun) attached, will support the attack of the 2d Marine Division. It will be prepared to reinforce the fires in the zone of action of the 25th Infantry Division with two (2) battalions of light artillery and one (1) battalion of medium artillery.

(2) Two (2) battalions 10th Marines (75-mm How) will remain on Perimeter Defense.

(3) 25th Infantry Division Artillery will be prepared to reinforce the fires in the zone of action of the 2nd Marine Division with two (2) battalions of light artillery and one (1) battalion of medium artillery.

(4) A fifteen (15) minute artillery, sea, and air preparation will precede the attack. Thereafter, artillery, without instructions from other headquarters, will promptly take under fire targets of opportunity.

f. 2d Marine Air Wing will support the attack and will engage targets of opportunity as indicated by organic air surveillance and this headquarters, paying particular attention to enemy artillery and concentrations of enemy troops. Requests for air-ground support missions will be transmitted to the AC of S. G-3, this headquarters.

g. Naval gunfire support, utilizing such naval vessels as are available, will be coordinated by the Corps Artillery Officer. This support will include an initial preparation of (15) minutes, commencing at H-5, in the areas (67.8-20l.8)-(67.5-20l.0) (66.8-200.2) and (67.8-201.8)-(66.2-200.0), followed by missions on targets of opportunity as far west as Visale Mission as indicated by air surveillance, shore surveillance, and this headquarters.3

h. (1) An artillery, sea, and air preparation of fifteen (15) minutes will precede the attack. Thereafter, these units will fire on targets of opportunity.

(2) Isolated points of enemy resistance will be contained and by-passed; they will be reduced later. Maximum use will be made of artillery and air support in effecting reductions.

(3) All Infantry units will keep their supporting artillery and the AC of S, G-3, this headquarters, advised of their locations at all times in order that targets of opportunity may be fired upon promptly.

4. a. Rations, gasoline, oil, and ammunition will be drawn directly from the ISLAND DUMP as long as practicable, thereafter from ADVANCE DUMP in the vicinity of (71.7-

3. The coordinates refer to points on the beach about 3,200 yards west of Point Cruz, to the ravine between Hills 93 and 92, and to the west slopes of Hill 92.

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200.0). The 25th Infantry Division will exhaust the WRIGHT ROAD DUMP prior to drawing from the ADVANCE DUMP.

b. Evacuation will be by divisions to Division Collecting Stations, thence by Corps to Clearing Hospitals.

c. Burial will be by the Quartermaster in ISLAND CEMETERY.

d. Prisoners of War will be sent to the rear by Divisions to Division Collecting Points, thence by Corps to ISLAND STOCKADE.

e. Main Supply Road: BEACH ROAD. Priority of use: combat troops, evacuation, supply.

f. Traffic Control: Divisions will maintain Military Police control of traffic as follows:

2d Marine Division: BEACH ROAD west of the command post 2d Marine Division (incl), and the MARINE TRAIL.4
25th Infantry Division: BEACH ROAD east of the command post 2d Marine Division (excl) to the perimeter, WRIGHT ROAD, and RUST TRAIL.5
Americal Division: All hard-surfaced roads within the Perimeter.
5. a. Signal Operations Instructions, Hq Island Command, 26 Dec 42.

b. Command Posts: to be reported to this headquarters when determined.

c. Strict radio discipline and cryptographic security will be maintained at all times by all units.

PATCH

RIDINGS
G-3

 

4. Marine Trail ran from the coast road southward along the east bank of the Matanikau to Hill 67.
5. Rust Trail ran from Marine Trail eastward over Hills 67 and 69.


page updated 16 November 2000


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