ARMOR, January-February 1992 Edition

56 Pages·2007·2.4 MB·English

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I
Tank Tra
The “good-byes” are outnumbering the VI1 Corps 3d AD
“welcomes. ” 8th ID 1-35 Armor
Putting our reduction in force in perspective, 3-35 Armor 4-8 Cavalry
Secretary of the Army Michael P.W. Stone said, 4-32 Armor 3-8 Cavalry
“Over the next few years, the Department of 1-69 Armor 4-69 Armor
Defense will reduce its work force by more 4-34 Armor 3-7 Cavalry
workers than GM would if it closed down its en- 4-7 Cavalry 4-70 Armor
tire U.S. operation.” The specifics: 4-66 Armor 2-66 Armor
-cut about 250,000 soldiers, NCOs and offi- 3-66 Armor 6-40 Armor
cers by 1995 2d ACR
-cut about 100,000 civilians by 1995
--close 81 bases and 7 of 14 ammo plants in We will miss these 13 tank battalions and five
the U.S. cavalry squadrons, but we will not forget them
-Close or turn over some 160 sites over- or what they have done.
seas. For those who remain in uniform and in the
Armor Force, the challenges will remain. It’s a
For the next couple years, tankers, and caval- new world in which we must operate - one
rymen who have served proudly and with great that we helped create, and it calls for quality
devotion and professional acumen, will be leadership and top-notch people. Secretary of
among the hundreds of thousands who will re- Defense Dick Cheney summed it up. “There will
turn to civilian life. They are victims not of in- be good careers available for top quality peo-
competence but of their own mission accom- ple. It will be more competitive than it’s ever
plishment. They and those who came before been before, it will be tougher to get in, and
forced the end of monolithic Communism and there will be higher standards to stay.”
thus wounded their own raison d’etre. This club has become more exclusive. Those
I can’t think of a more difficult time to be a who stay should feel proud of their accomplish-
commander. All must counsel each and every ments and more than a little lucky.
man in the unit to help him make the choice to For those who go on to other things, you can
stay, retire, or strike camp. And some must take great pride in knowing that you made a
case the unit colors for perhaps the last time. It difference. Your being here helped to change
is fitting that we salute the great units that have the world, and your large footprints attest to
served our nation with distinction for many where you’ve been. You’ve mattered. You’ve
years, which have passed or will pass out of counted. We’ve been proud to serve with you.
the Active Force but not out of the memories of Thank you and Godspeed.
those who wore their patches or unit insignia: -PJC
By Order of the Secretary of the Army: Official:
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GORDON R. SULLIVAN MILTON H. HAMILTON
General, United States Army Administrative Assistant to the
Chief of Staff Secretary of the Army
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ARMOR
The Professional Development Bulletin of the Armor Branch PB- 17-92-1
Editor-in4 hief
MAJOR (P) PATRICK J. COONEY
Features
Managing Editor
JON T. CLEMENS 7 “Super Sixers” Were In Heavy Contact
During Most of WWli Campaign in Europe
Commandant
MG THOMAS C. FOLEY 10 Abrams Vehicles Fires: An Analysis of FY91
by Gregory M. Skaff
ARMOR (ISSN 0004-2420) is published 12 The 823d at Mortain: Heroes Ail
bimonthly by the U.S. Army Armor Center, 4401
by Dr. Charles M. Baily and Mr. Jay Karamaies
Vine Grove Road, Fort Knox, KY 401 21.
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Disclaimer: The information contained in 19 The Mounted Breach “Making it Work”
ARMOR represents the professional opinions of by Captain Watter A. Ware
the authors and does not necessarily reflect the
official Army or TRADOC position, nor does it 24 A Leap of Faith
change or supersede any information presented by Colonel Lon E. Maggatt
in other official Amy publications.
Official distribution is limited to me copy for 33 The Battie-Focused Combined Arms
each armored brigade headquarters, armored Training Strategy (CATS): Armor
cavalry regiment headquarters, armor battalion by Colonel Joseph D. Molinari and Mike Kelley
headquarters. armored cavalry squadron head-
quarters, reconnaissance squadron head- 40 Reserve Component Enhancement Training
quarters, armored cavalry troop, armor company, by Major Jimmy Jones
and motorized brigade headquarters of the
44 Integrating IPB into Paragraph Three
United States Amy. In addition, Army libraries,
Army and DOD schools, HQ DA and MACOM (And Other OPORD Briefing Techniques)
staff agencies with responsibility for armored, by Captain Gregory P. Rowe
direct fire, ground combat systems,
organizations, and the training of personnel for 47 Dust Clouds on the Horizon, Thoughts of the Future
such organizations may request two copies by by Command Sergeant Major Kurt G. Bensch Jr.
sending a military letter to the editor-in-chief.
49 COFT Matrix: What Do the Numbers Mean?
Authorized Content: ARMOR will print only
by Command Sergeant Major Jake Fryer and Paul D. Foran
those materials for which the U.S. Amy Armor
Center has proponency. That pmponency
includes: all armored, direct-fire ground combat
systems that do not serve primarily as infantry Departments
carriers; all weapons used exclusively in these
systems or by CMF 19-series enlisted soldiers; 2 Letters
any miscellaneous items of equipment which 2 Contacts
armor and armored cavalry organizations use
4 Commander’s Hatch
exclusively; training for all SC 12A. 128, and
6 Driver’s Seat
12C officers and for all CMF-19-series enlisted
52 Bustle Rack
soldiers; and information concerning the training,
53 Books
logistics, history. and leadership of armor and
armored cavalry units at the brigaddregiment
level and below, to indude Threat units at those
levels.
Material may be reprinted, provided credit is
given to ARMOR and to the author, except
where copyright is indicated.
January-February 1992, Vol. CI No. 1
Improving Reserve Training nate five years from now with each maneu- lead the various combined arms elements
ver team starting a repetitive process that of the combined arms teams."
would see them undergo a two-week NTC- The purpose of this effort is to:
Dear Sir:
type experience at the company/team -argue that the Armor School and Cen-
In a recent letter to the editor of the Army level." Thereafter, every three to five years, ter should take the lead in the develop-
Times (14 October 1991) I argued that that company would repeat the process of ment, and then operation, of the proposed
there was a need to adopt a long-term plan train-up, followed by an intensive training Reserve Component training center. As the
for the development of qualified combined evaluation at a company-level Reserve proponent for mounted warfare, the Armor
arms leaders in the Reserve Components. I Component training center. In this manner, Center is the obvious choice for develop-
suggested that, "Such a plan would pick up we would be requiring the company/team ment of the requisite program of instruction
today with an emphasis on individual, crew commander, through simulations, self and and scenarios to train the Reserve Compo-
and platoon proficiency and would culmi- schoolhouse study, to learn to manage and nent maneuver warriors of the future.
- (Note: Fort Knox Defense Switch Network (DSN)
DIRECTORY Points of Contact prefix is 464. Commercial prefix is Area Code 502-
624-XXXX).
ARMOR Editorial Offices U.S. ARMY ARMOR SCHOOL
Edi tor-in-Ch ief Commandant (ATZK-CG)
Major (P) Patrick J. Cooney 2249 MG Thomas C. Foley 2121
Managing Editor
Assistant Commandant (ATSB-AC)
Jon T. Clemens 2249
BG James L. Noles 7555
Editorial Assistant
Vivian Thompson 2610 Deputy Assistant Commandant (ATSB-DAC)
Production Assistant COL Dwight A. Beck 1050
Mary Hager 2610 Command Sergeant Major
Contributing Artist
CSM Jake Fryer 4952
SPC Jody Harmon 2610
Maintenance Department (ATSB-MA)
COL Phares E. Noyes 8346
MAILING ADDRESS: ARMOR A'ITN: ATSB-AM. Fort
box. KY 40121-5210. Command and Staff Department (ATSB-CS)
COL John B. Sylvester 5855
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS: To improve speed and accu-
Weapons Department (ATSB-WP)
racy in editing, manuscripts should be originals or clear copies, either
typed or printed out double-spaced in near-letterquality printer mode. COL E. G. Fish I1 1055
We also accept stories on 5-1/4" floppy disks in MultiMate. Directorate of Training Develop.ments (ATSB-TD)
Wordstar. Microsoft WORD, WordPerfect, XyWrite. Xerox Writer,
COL Joseph D. Molinari 7250
and ASCII (please include a double-spaced printout). Please tape cap-
tions to any illustrations submitted. Directorate of Combat Developments (ATSB-CD)
COL Edward A. Bryla 5050
PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS: Report delivery problems or
changes of address to Ms. Connie Bright, Secretary-Treasurer, P.O. NCO Academy/Drill Sergeant School (ATZK-NC)
Box 607. Ft. box, Ky. 40121 or call [phone], FAX (502) CSM John J. Beck 5150
942-6219.
Reserve Component Spt Div (ATZK-PTE)
UNIT DISTRIBUTION: Report delivery problems or LTC William S. Richards 5953
changes of address to Ms. Mary Hager. DSN 464-2610, commercial: Directorate of Tohl Armor Force (ATZK-TF)
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[phone]. Requests to be added to the free distribution list Readiness FAX 7585
should be in the form of a letter to the Editor-in-Chief. COL Dennis H. Long 7809
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ARMOR HOTLINE DSN 464-TANK TRADOC System Manager
(The Armor Hotline is a 24-hour service to provide assistance with for Armored Gun System (ATS B-TS)
questions concerning doctrine, training, organizations, and equipment COL Eugene D. Colgan 7955
of the Armor Force.)
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2 ARMOR January-February 7992
Sequence of Events
Platoons Company HQ
options that might be viable. If evehide Recovery
Draw equipment Prepare OPORD" h this brings those options out for .Log Reports
Road mrch issw OPORD" discussion, then it has served -Other basic individual and crew skills-
OCCUPY AA LOGPAC
Pre-conhat inspectbn one of its critical purposes. The
key is that whatever training 2d Year
Passage d En- Rewive raporb
Hasty an& Observe training plan is adopted, it must result in -Defense
.Breach the development of competent .Obstacle plans and emplacement
Adions on the Ob.
AAR Anend AAR combined arms leaders. .Range cards
Reconstkution LOGPAC The basic concept of the Re- .Fire plans
Receive h issue OPORD
Hasty defense serve Component Training Cen- *Plt fire commands
ter (RCTC) is to establish a fa- .Fighting positions
Prepare defense ~ l o p ~ m p a n y
-Fire plans fire plan cility with professional trainers .Camouflage
.Range cards Observe platoons and OPFOR. so that approxi- *React to air attack
-PMCS Synchronize hly
'SIC. LOGPAC mately every five years each *NBC skills
maneuver platoon and com- *MILES refresher
Defend
ReoDnstitution LOOPAC pany/troop would receive the in-
AAR - tensive training that only such a 3d Year
Road march read
to ambush center could provide. -Gunnery
occupy AA The training cycle of a two- -Flex drills - how to react to changing siiuations
Troop laading procedures
week Annual Training would and orders-from either the offense or defense
Repeat Monday Issue OPORD" consist of one week of platoon -Company-level sandtable drills
Repeat Tuesday Issue OPORD" training and one week of com- -LOGPAC operations
Night Mend pany/team-level training, culmi-
AAR nating with a combined arms 4th Year (Refreshep
ORcevceurpty to A CA o-np PaMnyC SC ohn ttrrodc p leading procedures live fire exercise (CALFEX). The -Fire plans and commands
sequence of events is shown at -Basic formations
Passage d Znss
Hasty attack left. -Call for fire
-Breach There are several keys to -NBC skills to include actual decon
.Defile Drill
Adions on the objective making these two weeks of in- -MILES
Reconstitution tensive training successful. The -Live fire platoon defense
AAR first key would be the quality of -Company-level maneuver training
MOM to ddense sector the observer-controllers and
Hasty defense their ability to teach as well as Throughout these five years, there is a
-Fire plam
critique. The second key is the need to continue to use UCOFTs and other
.Barrier plan
-Flex phn train-up, not only of the pla- training devices to maintain individual and
Defend toons and companies, but also crew gunnery skills and also to integrate
Decontaminate (1 PR) of the battalion and brigade gunnery refresher training into each year's
Reconstitution
staffs as they command and activities.
AAR
Road march to live fire area controVsynchronize the entire The focus on platoons and companies
Receive FRAGO for attack process. The train-up cycle should allow all of the support units to be
Hasty defense
.Upload ammo should consist of very specific gainfully employed and trained if properly
tasks and drills that synchronized by the parent brigade head-
Live lire defense (offense for better units)
Road march to MATES crews/squads/platoons should quarters. In this process, we would train
Begin turn-in master during the preceding these units and headquarters to perform
TumidRetum to home station years. These critical tasks, by their wartime tasks.
year, are shown below. The challenge for the Armor Center is to
"AARs will bs conducted and corrections made to the OPORDs take this idea and turn it into reality by re-
before they are issued to platoons.
1st Year fining the training plan, identifying a loca-
tion for the RCTC, developing and costing
-suggest the elemenis that such a train- -How to conduct a rehearsavuse a sandtable the training resources necessary - equip-
ing program might include. -Troop leading procedures- set the standards ment, personnel, targets, ammunition, etc.
-Offense - and then selling the Total Army on the
This is not to argue the merits of the .Breach drills (demolitions) concept. To not evaluate this concept is to
issue of whether the Reserve Component .Formations do a disservice to the RC leaders of tomor-
(RC) leaders of today have the requisite .Rules of engagement row.
skills to synchronize the maneuver battle of Call for fire It is my hope that this letter will begin this
tomorrow. This assumes that there is a .Use of terrain process.
need, as noted above, to train the future .NBC skills
leaders of RC armored and mechanized .Spot reports BRUCE B.G. CLARKE
forces in the future, and that the com- -MILES COL, Armor
pany/team level is the most appropriate -Reconstirution Carlisle, Pa.
culmination level of a five-year training -First Aid - Combat Lifesaving
plan. Obviously, there are numerous other *PMCS Continued on Page 50
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ARMOR January-February 1992 3
MG Thomas C. Foley
Commanding General
U.S. Army Armor Center
Myth and Reality
When I last spoke to you in this col- that we will have 14 fewer tank bat- promotion rates as before. Branch
umn, I said that we would examine talions and two fewer division cavalry qualification opportunity rates will re-
our strategies for Combined Arms squadrons in 1996 than we had in main high. This will be true for com-
Training in the future. We do that in 1991. Most of these reductions will pany grade and field grade officers as
the article by Col. Joe Molinari and occur by the end of 1992. The myth is well as tank commanders, scout and
Mike Kelley (p. 33) that clearly lays that the quality of our smaller Army cavalry squad leaders, and platoon
out our CATS strategy as it applies to and this smaller Armor Force will sergeants. Tough, realistic training
the Total Armor Force. But personnel somehow be reduced. Not so! With a and assignments that will challenge
and force structure, driven by the re- smaller force, for example, unit rota- you mentally and physically to the
duction in size of our Army, have tions to the Army’s key training cen- depths of your being will continue,
moved to the front of everyone’s ters, such as the NTC at Fort Irwin and our smaller Army of the future
minds, spawning myths and rumors and CMTC at Hohenfels, will con- will be an even better Army.
about the future. tinue and may become even more fre- Improved technology will continue
There should be no doubt in quent and of longer duration. Oppor- to benefit the Total Armor Force. The
anyone’s mind by now that we, in the tunities to do the same tough, realistic lessons of DESERT STORM are well
Army in general and the Armor Force training that paid off so handsomely understood. We are taking steps to
in particular, are entering a period of during Operation DESERT STORM solve the identification friend or foe
significant change. In the Army of the will continue, and soldiers and leaders problems that our forces faced. We
year 2000, the Total Armor Force will at all levels will be challenged as are ensuring that our forces get inex-
look significantly different and will be never before. pensive, but high quality navigation
significantly smaller than it is today. There is a myth that the Army, and aids compmble to those used during
Now is the time to separate myth and Armor Branch, are no longer viable DESERT STORM. The MIA2 tank, a
rumor from reality on downsizing the alternatives for soldiers seeking a fighting machine with great potential,
h Y . long, productive and fulfilling career is being run through a series of rigor-
The reality is that a large portion of of service to the nation. Not so! Com- ous tests, and the competition among
the Army is going away. Many units mand opportunity rates in our smaller contractors to produce the new Ar-
stationed in Europe and the United Armor Force will be the same, if not mored Gun System for our light
States have already deactivated, and better. Lieutenants entering active Armor and Cavalry units has already
many more will be deactivated in the duty, and those currently in the force, started and is sure to be intense. These
next 12 months. For the Active Com- can expect the same challenging as- are but a few of the technological im-
ponent of the Armor Force it means signments, career oportunities, and provements awaiting the Total Armor
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4 ARMOR January-February 1992
1
~ ~~~ ~
Force. Rest assured that the quality of of them should have been notified on seled about their various options for
training and equipment in our smaller or about 7 Nov 91. The FY92 board both voluntary and involuntary sepa-
Army will remain high. will convene in April or May of this ration. The fact is the Army, and we
Another reality facing us is the very year and will consider primarily offi- in Armor, are committed to treat all
sensitive issue of personnel cuts. It is cers in YG 89. Current plans are for those separated, whether voluntarily
indeed sadly ironic that our victory another retention board in FY93 that or not, with care, concern, compassion
during the Cold War is now forcing will consider officers of YG 90. Al- and respect. Our soldiers, victors dur-
us to trim from our force so many of though it is too early to be certain, we ing the decades of the Cold War and
those who worked so hard to achieve believe the non-select rates for these DESERT STORM, deserve nothing
victory. We project that the active two boards to be about the same as less from Armor commanders.
Armor Force of the year 1996 will at the FY91 board. Another reality facing the Armor
most number 3,838 officers and For junior enlisted soldiers, reduc- Force is that we will have a greater
19,437 enlisted men, down from tions will come from tougher reenlist- reliance on a highly trained and ready
5,409 and 25,909, respectively, in ment standards, normal attrition, and Reserve Component and a greater per-
FY91. These reductions are signifi- lower accession levels. First-time drug centage of our force quartered in
cant. The hard reality is that in order offenders, for example, will be sepa- CONUS. A smaller Active Compo-
to meet the FY96 goals, the Army has rated, as will Alcohol and Drug Abuse nent implies a greater reliance on Re-
decided to hold a series of Selective Prevention and Control Program fail- serve units that are trained, equipped,
Early Retirement Boards (SERB) and ures. Soldiers on the overweight pro- and ready for any contingency any-
a Reduction in Force (RIF). The gram and those who are recurring where in the world. Virtually every
SERB will examine primarily the files APlT failures will be barred from re- Armor leader will have as one of his
of officers with more than 18 years of enlistment. QMP' zones for sergeant top priorities to contribute to the
service who are not on a promotion now begin at eight or more years of peacetime training and mobilization
list, and the files of sergeants major active federal service. Your reenlist- readiness of the Reserve Component
with basic active service dates be- ment counselor or chain of command of the Total Armor Force. Armor
tween 31 Aug 63 and 31 Aug 67. can tell you more about the specifics today is already at the forefront of
These boards began 15 Jan 92. The of these programs and others. Though several new initiatives to enhance RC
RIF Board, which will meet 10 Mar these culling actions will be painful, readiness to fight, and the continuing
92, will examine the files of officers the Armor branch strategy and expec- development of these initiatives will
in Year Groups 1978 and 1982, pri- tation is to keep the very best leaders be one of the key tasks for the future.
marily majors with a date of rank and soldiers on active duty. This goal A greater percentage of our force
from 2 Jul 89 thru 1 Mar 91, and cap- is the responsibility of each of us. quartered in CONUS will mean
tains with a date of rank from 2 May Now, you must understand that the greater stability for you and your fam-
85 thru 1 Sep 86. We expect that Army is providing a very generous ilies, less frequent PCS moves, and a
Army-wide nearly 750 majors and package of benefits for those who growing opportunity to approach a
700 captains will not be selected for separate either voluntarily or involun- real regimental system. Morale, wel-
retention, and that Armor's share will tarily. For example, separation pay is fare, and recreation programs at Army
be about 100 officers, or about 50 more generous than ever before. If installations still will be fully staffed
from each year group. It is important you choose to leave the service rather and funded. Better on-post housing
to note that restricted files will be in- than become selected to leave, there is for married soldiers and enhanced bar-
cluded for examination by the board. a 50 percent kicker to your separation racks life and post activities for single
Right now there are no other RIFs pay. See your chain of command to soldiers continue to be of great con-
phnned for other ranks during FY92. determine if it applies to you. Also, cern to Armor commanders world-
Reductions among more junior offi- the Army has a program titled the wide. The commitment to taking care
cers and enlisted soldiers will be ac- Army Career and Alumni Program of you, our great soldiers, and your
complished through lieutenant reten- that, among other things, has a job as- families is a top priority.
tion boards, tougher reenlistment stan- sistance center. Furthermore, there are I am personally committed to ensure
dards, normal attrition, and lower ac- a variety of other separation benefits that the quality of the future Total
cession levels. that your chain of command can dis- Armor Force remains high. You, the
The FY91 lieutenant retention board cuss with you. The point is that every victors of the Cold War and Operation
considered officers primarily from Armor soldier must go over his files DESERT STORM, deserve nothing
Year Group 88. A total of 705 offi- with his chain of command to deter- but the very best. There will be no
cers, including 59 Armor officers, mine if he is at risk, and soldiers de- more Task Force Smiths! FORGE
were not selected for retention, and all termined to be at risk must be coun- THE THUNDERBOLT!
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ARMOR January-February 7992 5
CSM Jake Fryer
Command Sergeant Major
U.S. Army Armor Center
Like Saying Goodbye
To an Old Friend
I’ve been taught all my life that the the historic events that have occurred ago won’t necessarily be the way we
Soviet. Union, and Russians in gen- since that date - it’s almost like say- need to do it now or in the future. On
eral, are bad people with unwhole- ing goodbye to an old friend. a recent visit to the National Training
some values and selfish intent. As our Armored Force becomes Center, I spent a day with the oppos-
My entire military career has been smaller, we need to focus on different ing forces of the 177th Regiment, ex-
focused on the Soviet threat, their types of doctrine, training, leader de- ercising “Krasnavian” doctrine. When
equipment, soldiers, leaders, training, velopment, organization, material, and I queried a young scout serving as TC
and doctrine. My institutional training, soldiers to meet the challenge of our of a VISMOD M551 representing a
operational assignments, and self-de- new threat. We need to be receptive BMP how it felt to be a Knsnavian,
velopment programs have always to change - to new ideas and con- he summarized it by saying, “It’s a
been orientated on Soviets, and cepts. What we did 5, 10, 15 years changing world.”
they’re the primary reason American
Armor existed.
...
I vividly remember the evening of 9 From the 19K Desk
November 1988 when the liberties in
then East Germany were initiated.
Armor Branch is seeking high-quality platoon sergeants for duty as ob-
While serving as the regimental com-
server-controllers at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.
mand sergeant major of the 11th
If selected, the soldier will be observer-controller qualified at team level in
ACR, the regimental commander,
a performance-oriented environment. He will then become an armor or scout
COL John Abrams, rang my doorbell
platoon tniner for training rotations that last 28 days, from equipment draw
and said, “There’s something going
to turn-in, conducting about 12 rotations a year. After completing two years
on, and we need to get to headquar- as an O/C, soldiers are eligible for selection for duty in the Project Warrior
ters quick.” The events that occurred
program, then moved to Fort Knox for instructor duty at the Armor Center.
that evening and throughout the week-
Eligible NCOs must be SFCs in PMOS 19D/19K, 110 GT, 80 SQT, with a
end authenticated to me significant
minimum of two years of successful platoon sergeant time, preferably im-
change for a soldier who throughout
mediately before assignment as an O/C. For more information, contact CSM
his entire career carefully watched the
Witte, Operations Group, NTC, at DSN 470-5096, or SFC Laney, Armor
“bad guys” through barbed wire and
Branch, at DSN 221-9080.
obstacles. We’ve all been skeDtica1 of
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6 ARMOR January-February 1992
6TH AD TANKS PASS COLUMN OF PRI~S~ ONERS~ ON- T HE AUTOBAHN IN MARCH 1945.
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50th Anniversary 6th Armored Division
“Super Sixers” Were in Heavy Contact
During Most of WWlI Campaign in Europe
General Orders, Headquarters Ar- men joined up, bringing the total ing continued. MG Robert W. Grow
mored Force, activated the 6th Ar- strength to more than 15,000. The took command of the 6th in May
mored Division at Fort Knox, Ken- Unit Mobilization Training hogram, 1943, bringing his aggressive new
tucky, on 15 February 1942. A few along with US0 shows and War Bond ideas for the role of armor. He would
hundred officers and enlisted men drives, filled the first months. But command the “Super Sixth” for the
from other armored units formed the soon, the 6th took part in the VI11 remainder of its training and in com-
core of the new unit. The 6th was or- Corps,M aneuvers in Louisiana. There, bat. In September 1943, the 6th reor-
ganized under the original armored di- the “Super Sixth” received its first M4 ganized as a light armored division
vision table of organization, with two medium tanks. In September 1942, the amid rumors of overseas deployment.
tank and one infantry regiments. In 6th returned to Camp Chaffee and Word came on 31 December 1943
March 1942, the division moved to picked up three artillery battalions. that the 6th was headed to Europe.
Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, where more Early in October, the “Super Sixth” The division spent January 1944 load-
moved by rail to California’s Mojave ing and moving to Camp Shanks,
Desert. For five months, the division New York. After processing and a
World War II Campaigns lived in the desert and trained, with an pass in New York City, the men of
emphasis on offensive operations. The the 6th loaded onto eight ships and
Normandy progressive training stressed funda- sailed for England.
Northern France mentals and included corps-level ma- After an uneventful voyage, the
R hineland neuvers. “Super Sixth” arrived at Liverpool
Ardennes- Alsace In March 1943, the 6th moved to and Bristol, England, and Glasgow,
Central Europe Camp Cooke, California, where train- Scotland in February 1944. Men and
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ARMOR January-February 1992 7
OREU UMSlRN
t
I 68th Tank Banalion anerriidri enters Hvraricines. rrarirx
Command A invested the city. Unfor- tacked on a broad front through the
tunately, logistical constraints held the lOlst Airborne Division at Bastogne,
r 6th stationary in Brittany until Sep- Belgium, to expand the Bastogne
-= tember 1944. However, the “Super Pocket. However, the 6th attacked
Sixth” had demonstrated the value of alone, and German resistance, com-
armor in a rapid advance. bined with counterattacks, stalled the
In September 1944, the 6th joined thrust after only limited gains. On 4
MG ROBERT W. GROW LTG Patton’s Third Army and re- January 1945, the division pulled back
lieved the 4th Armored Division in to more defensible terrain to face re-
equipment quickly moved by train to the Nancy-Luneville area. Im- newed German attacks. Despite the
the Oxford-Stratford-Cheltenhama rea mediately, the division fought a bitter harsh winter weather, the “Super
of Englarid. Units spread out and bil- action in the Gremecy Forest. MG Sixth” held its ground and slowly
leted in the villages throughout the Grow constantly sought to refine and drove the Germans back. By 26 Janu-
area. For five months, the division improve his division. He increased his ary 1945, the 6th had pushed the Ger-
continued ,to train and draw equip- infantry strength by turning all 57mm mans back behind the Siegfried Line.
ment. In June 1944, the division went anti-tank gunners into riflemen and all Although the 6th was overdue for a
on alert, and in July loaded onto light machine gun squads into rifle rest from combat, it remained in the
ships. On 18 July 1944, the first cle- squads. At the same time, the “Super line. MG Grow used a minimum of
ments of the 6th landed across Utah Sixers” perfected close coordination troops to secure the front and empha-
Beach and assembled at Le Mesnil, in their attacks on strong prepared po- sized refitting. On 7 February 1945,
France. sitions. the division attacked across the Our
On 27 July 1944, the division at- In November 1944, the division at- River and established a bridgehead.
tacked through the 8th Infantry Divi- tacked as part of an army-wide offen- In two days, the engineers constructed
sion to clear the heights near Le sive to occupy the west bank of the a bridge, and armor crossed the river.
Bingard. Moving quickly, the “Super Rhine River. The German defenders Although the Germans had prepared
Sixth” crossed the Seine River, seized were aided by the heavy rains and strong static defenses, the “Super
Granville, and linked up with the 4th mud. Despite fierce resistance and de- Sixth” continued east and penetrated
Armored Division at Avranches. termined local counterattacks, the the “West Wall” into Germany. By
There, the division received orders to “Super Sixth” crossed the Seille River March 1945, it had forced a bridge-
seize the port of Brest. Once an attack and cleared out the Nomeny area. head across the Prum River.
penetrated the enemy defense, the Then, the division advanced in four During the the night of 3 March
tankers exploited into Brittany. By- columns to establish a bridgehead 1945, elements of the 90th Infantry
passing strong resistance, the division across the Nied River. By December Division relieved the 6th. After 221
swiftly moved to Brest, and Combat 1944, the 6th had reached S m - days of consecutive combat, the
guemines and adopted a defensive “Super Sixth” became SHAEF Re-
posture. serve. Then, on 8 March 1945, the 6th
Late that month, LTG Patton or- was assigned to LTG Patch’s Seventh
World War II Commanders
dered the “Super Sixth” north to help Army-
blunt the German Ardennes offensive. At about this time, the semi-monthly
MG Wm. H.H. Morris Jr.
February 42 - May 43 In two days, the division disengaged, Armored Attacker made its debut.
moved north, and relieved elements of Many of the “Super Sixers” felt that
the 9th and 10th Armored Divisions Stars and Stripes overlooked their ex-
MG Robert W. Grow
May 43 - July 45 on the south shoulder of the “Bulge.” ploits, and they started their own
On New Year’s Eve 1944, the 6th at- newspaper.
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a ARMOR January-February 1992