Grenadiers Tank Destroyers

The_Chieftain: The Tank Destroyer Board archives contain a proposal, dated April of 1942, for a light tank destroyer battalion, known as Grenadiers. Obviously this battalion never made it to fielding, but as a little-known example of thinking near the beginning of TD branch’s existence, this should prove of some interest. The following memorandum was addressed to the President, Tank Destroyer Board, Temple, TX. My first observation is that unlike LT Bate, LTC Negrotto, IN, the author of the following, didn’t go straight to the General Officer Commanding. In fact, he went only one pay grade up. The other is that his proposal, though perhaps a little out of the box to us now, is by no means as far-fetched as the under-water M18.   Subject: Provisional Tank Destroyer Battalion (Grenadier). PROBLEM PRESENTED. 1. Reference my memorandum of March 4, 1942, subject same as above, organizational details (Tabs A, B, and C),  and precis of tactical doctrine (Tab D) for a provisional battalion of tank destroyer grenadiers have been prepared for consideration by the Commanding General of the Tank Destroyer Command. 2. At the outset of this paper it is desired to emphasize the following points: a. This is a proposed test project. b. The proposed battalion is not intended to supplant any organization now in the Tank Destroyer Command. c. All equipment required is now in mass production. d. Its tactical mission differs from that of the heavy battalion. e. Its surprise appearance on the battle field will have a tremendous demoralizing effect on the enemy. -   II. DISCUSSION. 3. The present tank destroyer battalion as now organized contains, to a lesser degree, all of the weapons in the proposed organization. The principal difference in the two lies in the tactical mission of each. The machine guns and grenades allotted to the various units of the heavy battalion are for use when the primary weapons are out of action. The primary weapon of' the proposed organization is the grenade, the secondary weapons are the .50 caliber machine gun and the .30 caliber rifle. In this connection it must be remembered that the grenade also is extremely effective against personnel in the open.The grenadier battalion with its own means and weapons is organized to find tanks and destroy them. The means of destruction is with the element which finds the hostile tanks. It is preeminently suited for jungle warfare,street fighting and for driving tanks and othermechanized forces from wooded areas, whereas the present battalion as now organized is not suited for this type warfare. In the initial stages of an operation it provides an excellent-means for developing the situation, or of clarifying an obscuresituation. Grenade, Rifle, Anti-Tank, M9A1 4. The proposed battalion is organized as a “Mosquito Fleet of the Tank Killers" to prowl aggressively the battlefield within its zone of actionand for distant reconnaissance. Its mission in general is: a. To assume the role of the heavy battalion in jungle warfare street fighting and in destroying tanks and mechanized units in wooded areas. b. To lay in ambush athwart the axis of the tank attack and smash the individual tanks as they come within range. c. To capture critical gun positions and hold them for the guns of the heavy tank destroyer battalion. d. For night operation in locating and destroying enemy tank rendezvous, fueling stations and forward supply installations. The speed and comparative silence with which “killer cars” operate make this battalion especially suitable for this type of operation. e. To exploit the successes of the heavy .battalion or armored divisions by mopping up remnants of tank or mechanized resistance. f. To act as a fast, hard hitting reserve. g. In case the hostile tank attack affects a break through to be used as a "mosquito fleet of killers" to literally swarm around -the hostile tanks and destroy them h. To be used on independent distant reconnaissance missions in which combat may be expected. Its speed, fire power, training and means of concealment, gives it-a wide scope of action on missions of this character. i. Close-in reconnaissance missions. j. To protect the front and flanks of columns on the march or in a bivouac area. k. On a wide front to supplement the ground warning service. l. "Tank hunting" in obscure situations or in isolated terrain, or terrain inaccessible to the heavy units.  5. The unit of fire is the "killer car". The "killer car" is a ¼ ton 4x4 truck without armor -(Tab E) or the 3/4 ton 6x6 Willys (Tab F) with armor over the engine and the drivers compartment and a gun shield. Each car carries a caliber .50 machine gun on a low pedestal for all-around fire. The crew consists of four men (one driver and .assistant machine gun grenadier, one machine gungrenadier and two rifle grenadiers. All are trained in the tactical use of the machine gun and the rifle). It deploys for action withtwo rifle grenadiers to the front and flanks of the car  (Tab G). These are supported by machine gun fire (grenade or ballammunition as the situation dictates) delivered from the car or all four men may deploy as rifle grenadiers. Its combat is characterized by bold and independent action. · It demands a high order of individual initiative, courage and aggressiveness.Each unit as well as the individual is trained to attack whenever in doubt.