Combat Lessons Number 1: Rank And File In Combat: What They're Doing, How They Do It - Free Audiobook
1/6Introduction
Combat Lessons Number 1: Rank And File In Combat: What They're Doing, How They Do It
SECURITY IN THE JUNGLE
THE SOUTH PACIFIC
SECURITY IN THE JUNGLE
In Bivouac Report of Commanding General, 43d Division, New Georgia Campaign: “Security in bivouac was a big problem in this New Georgia operation. The Japs conducted harassing raids against our bivouac areas with some success for a period of about a week. Our initial plan had been adopted on the advice of other units experienced in jungle warfare. It called for complete immobility at night, with grenades and bayonets as the only defense weapons. Gun crews were directed to fire only in the event of a major attack. However, we found that small parties of Japs were able to filter into the battle areas and cause some casualties without being seriously opposed.
“This situation was effectively corrected by using a close perimeter defense. Men occupying these perimeter lines were ordered to fire at known targets. Machine guns were so laid that final protective lines covered the perimeter. The nature of the terrain and the type of night tactics employed by the Japanese made the establishment of outposts for security purposes inadvisable as visibility was limited to a few feet from any given outpost. Two men occupied each foxhole, one remaining awake and alert to all activity in his vicinity. Within the perimeter, machetes were used from the foxholes against any enemy raiders who were able to penetrate. This system effectively discouraged night raids.
On the March “March security adhered to established doctrine except that distances between the elements of the column were greatly reduced. Extremely limited visibility and the difficulty of moving through the jungle off the trails nearly always prevented close-in security detachments.”
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About
This 1942 Army manual, published during the course of World War II, consists of quotations from soldiers in the field concerning their experiences. Its format is subject, soldier’s name, place, quote. “The purpose of ‘Combat Lessons’ is to give to our officers and enlisted men the benefit of the battle experiences of others. To be of maximum benefit these lessons must be disseminated without delay. They do not necessarily represent the carefully considered views of the War Department; they do, however, reflect the actual experiences of combat and, therefore, merit careful reading.” (from the Introduction by General George C. Marshall). Note: The text contains racist and other emotion-laden language common in wartime, i.e., ‘Jap’ ‘Heinie” etc. - Summary by david wales and book introduction
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