HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH ARMORED DIVISION
Office of the Ordnance Officer
APO 258 U.S. Army
21 May 1945
ORDNANCE SUPPLY ACTIVITIES FROM 27 MARCH TO 13 APRIL
BATTALION COMMANDER'S NOTES:
INTERVIEW
Unit: Division Ordnance, 8 AD.
Source: Major Thoman E. Hall, Div Ord Officer
Interviewer: Capt Joseph Vasta
Place and Date of Interview: 18 May 45, Osterode, Germany
During the period of March 27 until April 13, the Ordnance Battalion was engaged in the preparation for the crossing of the Rhine River. During this time, it was known that it would be practically impossible to return across the river for supplies of all types, hence preparations were made for the transportation of extra gasoline, grease, and oil. This was to be used either for resupply, or in case a breakthrough was made, to aid in the exploitation. To accomplish this, the battalion constructed special racks to be mounted on four M25 tank retrievers, which approximately 8000 gallons of gasoline each. The gasoline in five gallons cans was placed in baskets which contained 500 gallons each. The cans could be unloaded either individually or in 500 gallon lots with the assistance of a wrecker.
Prior to the time of the crossing, the Ordnance Battalion checked all captured vehicles and trailers to be certain that all could pass over a treadway bridge. This was done in order to avoid any last minute jam up at the bridge.
In order to avoid the possibility of a vehicle stalling on a bridge and holding up an entire column, two wrecker and maintenance crews were trained on recovery on an actual pontoon treadway bridge: They were equipped with special cables, strong enough to handle any armored vehicle, which were strung all along the bridges, and could be attached with no delay. On the night of the crossing, the Ordnance Battalion wreakers were the first vehicles in the division to cross the Rhine. They remained on the far back of the river until the entire division had crossed. Fortunately, they were only required on three occasions (none of which were division vehicles), when they performed their task quickly and efficiently, and slowed the column for a bare minimum of time.
Before, during, and after the crossing, the Ordnance Battalion maintained very close Ordnance support. At no time was the supporting Ordnance company more than five miles behind the Combat Command, and frequently third echelon maintenance was performed within one mile of the front line units.
PARTS SUPPLY:
The period March 27 to April 13 during which time Rhine River was crossed was not an unusual period as far as the supply of spare parts was concerned. Approximately 300 extra tires were distributed to the units so that in case a breakthrough was made there would be no delay whatsoever in replacement of tires knocked out by shrapnel. No other extra parts were carried for this operation. All tank and artillery units were equipped with at least one extra bogie wheel per tank or M7.
AMMUNITION:
During the period of 27 March 1945 to 13 March 1945, Units of this Division were not able to maintain a complete Combat Load of ammunition. This was true only in connection with 105mm How. M48 ammunition.
The reason for this was due to a shortage of this ammunition in the A.S. P. this Division was assigned to draw its Class V Supplies from. Along supply lines and a shortage of transportation made it difficult for an adequate supply of this type of ammunition be shipped to the A.S. P.
At no time during this phase did the Units have less than 1/2 their Combat Load of this particular type of ammunition. Trucks from the Q.M. Truck Co. assigned to the Division were used to transport ammunition from the Depot located on West side of the Rhine River, some 140 miles distance.
No other difficulties were experienced during this phase. On the contrary, Class V Supplies were adequate and the flow of ammunition to the Units was handle in a smooth and efficient manner.
ORDNANCE SUPPLY:
During the period 27 March 1945 to 13 April 1945 while the 8th Armored Division was in operation West of the Rhine the following Ordnance supply procedure was in effect.
- Base load of N-65 Major items in the 130th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion was supplemented as high as 50% on fast moving items.
- Advance Issue Point maintained by Army managed to keep contact with front line units thus expediting combat vehicle replacements.
All Major items of Ordnance equipment were resupplied to the combat units within a 24 hour period.
THOMAS E. HALL
Major, Ord. Dept.,
Div. Ord. Officer.
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