Grenadiers Tank Destroyers

The_Chieftain: 6. The organization is small, compact and self-contained. It is extremely mobile and has tremendous short range destructive fire in its grenades and medium range fire power in its weapons. It comprises a total of 19 officers and 267 enlisted men, or one-half the number of officers and less than one-third of the enlisted men in the present tank destroyerbattalion. The initial cost of one battalion and the cost of maintenance is negligible in comparison with the heavy tank destroyer battalion, while its destructive power, except for long ranges, is equal to or greaterthan that of the heavy battalion. Its tonnage is only 98 tons ofrolling stock as compared with 1,150 tons in the heavy battalion. One .50 caliber grenade weighs 2-3/4 pounds as compared with 37 pounds for one round for the 3 inch gun. Tonnage is a vital consideration in overseas shipment due to the shortage of bottoms. Since this organization is especially adaptable to the type of warfare in the far Pacific theater of operations it can beimmediately made use of and tested in battle. ' 7. In the focus-of-power grenade we have the greatest tank destroying force yet devised. The problem is to put that power onthe hostile tanks. This is accomplished in the proposed organization. 8 . For the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed battalion see Tab H. 9. The value of the grenadier battalion can best be determined by means of a series of tactical problems or controlledmanuevers. The purpose of these problems will be to determine: a. The soundness of the tactical doctrine outlined in Tab D, b. The tactical efficacy of the proposed organization in stopping or interfering with the forward advance of hostile tanks, c. Its value in tank hunting tactics, d. Changes, if any, in the provisional organization.   III Action Recommended: 10. That action beinitiated to organize a provisional battalion of  grenadiers inaccordance with Tabs A,.B and C· for extended service test. Draft of' letter initiating this action is contained in Tab I                                                                                                                 S. H. Negrotto                                                                                                                 Lt Colonel, Infantry PRECIS OF TACTICAL DOCTRINE FOR TANK DESTROYER BATTA.LION, GRENADIER I. CHARACTERISTICS 1. The grenadier battalion is intended to perform those missions which are net suited to the heavy tank destroyer battalion. It combines tremendous close-in fire power with great speed and maneuverability. Its strength lies in its surprise action and its ability to operate over terrain inaccessible to or denied heavy weapons· and larger vehicles. It is primarily concerned with finding and destroying enemy tanks and mechanized units. It is especially adaptable for night operations, jungle warfare, street fighting, combat in woods, and for surprise action and distant reconnaissance. The main striking force is the grenade, therefore the range limit of its primary weapon is 400 yards, yet in its machine guns and rifles it has effective fire power against light tanks and mechanized units .at ranges up to 1500 yards. The skillful use of terrain is a decisive factor in its successful employment.   II. MISSION 2. The battalion will normally fight within the framework of the division or other units to which it is attached. It is organized to carry out independent antitank operations in which case .it may or may not be reinforced by motorized infantry or cavalry. Its mission is: a. To assume the role of the heavy battalion in jungle warfare, street fighting and in the destruction of tanks and mechanized units in wooded areas. b. To lay in ambush athwart the known axis of the tank attack and smash individual tanks as they come within range. c. To capture critical terrain features for the guns of the heavy battalion and deny them to the enemy. 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 forces 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 one by one. 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. For close-in reconnaissance missions. j. To protect the front and flanks of columns on the march or in bivouac areas. k. On a wide front to supplement the ground warning and reconnaissance service of the heavy battalion. l.  For tank "stalking and destruction" in obscure situations or in isolated terrain or terrain inaccessible to vehicles and guns of the heavy battalion.   III. DEPLOYMENT 3. The great speed and maneuverability of the battalion permits it to move practically anywhere ·on the battlefield. where a reasonable amount of cover or concealed routes of approach are available, and the relative silence of its vehicles when running permits it to approach, undetected, to within close range of the enemy objective.· a.  The battalion normally deploys with two companies ·in the assault echelon and one in reserve with the headquarters remaining with the reserve. b. The company normally deploys with two platoons in the assault and one in support. c. The platoon deploys with both sections in the assault. d. The unit of fire is the "killer car". It deploys for action with two rifle grenadiers to the front and flanks of the car. These are supported by machine gun fire (grenade or ball ammunition as the situation dictates) delivered from the car or all four men deploy as rifle grenadiers. All elements take advantage of cover and concealment.   IV. PERSONNEL AND TRAINING: 4. In combat the battalion 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. · Methods of scouting and patrolling and skill in the use of its weapons form the basis of training for the battalion. Page from FM 23-30 showing aiming technique.    RECONNAISSANCE 5. The great speed and wide ranges over which the hostile armored forces operate places an unusually heavy burden on all echelons of command and particularly on the antitank elements. Timely warning to the tank destroyer battalion to meet an unexpected thrust is of the greatest importance. While the tank destroyer battalion will act initially on information furnished from the higher headquarters it nevertheless is responsible for gathering its own information and for providing its own security. The grenadier tank destroyer battalion must be indoctrinated with the necessity of acting aggressively and on its own initiative in a changed or new or unseen situation. 6. It may be charged with a wide range of reconnaissance missions such as watching over railways, and roads, and of assisting in the placing of antitank obstacles. In all of these operations it is responsible for its own security and for transmitting information of vital importance to the next higher command. 7. It must be prepared and trained in cooperation with ground and air reconnaissance am in the transmission of important reports.