NiJMBER 5
Rank and file
in combat:
What
they’re doing
How t/icy do it
INTRODUCTION
~The purpose of “Combat
Lqons”
is to give
to our
officers and enlisted men the betiefit of the battle
experi-.
ences of others.
To be of maximum benefit
these
lessons
must be disseminated withouf delay.
They do not neces-
sarily represent
the carefully considered views of the War
Department;
they do, however,
reflect the actual
experi-
ences of combat and, therefore, merit careful reading.
For
this
reason, also, no single issue can cover many of .the
phases of combat;
lessons will be drawn from the reports as
they
are ,received
from the
theaters
and
quickly disseminated
so that others nny
The
suggestions which are made or implied are not intended
to
change
the tactical
doctrine by which our Army has been
trained
but
rather
to elaborate
thevxm.
Much
of the
subject matter has been covered
in training literature,
but
the comments
show that shortcomings
continue
to mani-
fest themselves on the battlefield.
The paramount
combat
lesson
learned
from
every
operation
is the vital importance of leadership. Our equip
ment,
our supply, and, above all, our men, BE splendid.
Aggressive and determined
leadership
is the priceless
factor
which
inspires a command
and upon which all success in
battle depends.
It is responsible for success or failure.
Landing on Leyte.
co
7-S
Page
SECTION
I-LEADERSHIP..
_.
_. _.
.
1
SECTION
II-NORMAL
OPERATIONS..
.
11
Notes on Attacking.
11
The Tank-l
f
t T
non ry earn..
20
Air Support of Armored Columns..
27
:
ngmeers.
.
30
econnaissatice.
32
Notes on Patrolling..
35
Antiaircraft Artillery.
37
Field Art.11
I cry.,
39
Exploits of Cub PI ones..
42
Medical Matters..
44
C ommunications..
45
Infantry Weapons..
49
Liaison Officers..
52
Motor Movements..
:.
53
SECTION
III-AIRBORNE
OPERATIONS.
55
SECTION
IV-AMPHIBIOUS
OPERATIONS.
59
Normandy,
59
An Amphibious Tank Battalion
in Action..
6