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COMPANY 'A'
On the night of 24 Jan 45, Company 'A' received orders to move out to arrive at Sierck by 0600 the following morning. On the night of the 25th Jan. the company received orders that 'A' Company would be an assault company, attacking at 0710 for a Combat Command 'A' mission. The company left Bierck at 0530, but due to the conditions of the roads did not arrive at the attack position until 0830. The 3rd and 2nd platoons moved by way of Nennig, the 1st platoon by way of Wies. The company organized along the road (028-052), knocking out 8 enemy dug in positions along the west slope of the ridge. The 2nd platoon on the right flank moved out supported by the 3rd and 1st to capture the initial objective (032-047). Objective was taken at 1130. Cpl Raymond Delameter was injured in the leg by artillery shrapnel on the assembly ridge prior to the attack. On the initial objective Lt. Julius Kling , Cpl Ralph Fiorio, and Pvt Fred Zink were wounded by bazooka fire which penetrated their tank. Lt. Kling received a compound fracture of the left elbow and a lacerated finger. Cpl Fiorio and Pvt Fred Zink received lacerations of the face. The tank was successfully withdrawn. During the entire operation all tanks accounted for a total of 155 enemy infantry plus an unestimated amount that may have been knocked out in the shelling of the woods (032-053). 8 MG positions and 1 mortar position were destroyed. One of our tanks was knocked out by enemy tank action, right track of tank being knocked off. A report we received at this time said that an enemy counter-attack was in progress, and Company 'A' was ordered to withdrew to the ridge (037-052). The company remained at this position until 1700 at which time the company was relieved by Company 'B' as our fuel was dangerously low. During the entire days operation the company was under constatn mortar and artillery fire, which seriously damaged one tank. The company retired to Sierck and remained there for the night.
On the night of the 27th Co 'A' moved out at 1000 and joined Co 'B' in the vicinity of (035-047), at 1100. 'B' Co moved out along the east-west road (Schl. Bubingen-Sinz) in the attack on the main objective (Vic. Sinz). Co 'A' moved out on the right flank of Co 'B' and joined Co 'B' at (049-043) knocking out 2 enemy Mark IV tanks and one AT gun on the way. Two of our tanks were knocked out by mines and two of our tanks were bogged down on the way to join Co. 'B'. The 2nd platoon was kept at (035-047) as rear and flank protection. After arriving at (049-043) Co. 'B' retired. From this position the company laid a heavy concentration of direct on the immediate first buildings in the town of Sinz and on the town proper and on the high ground east and north of Sinz. Co 'A' was then ordered to enter the town with the infantry attacking on their right flank. The lead tank moved down to the town to the first intersection (054-043), and was knocked out by enemy bazooka fire. The tank commander St. George Dunn and the loader Pfc Scarborough were thrown from the tank and both received wounds about the legs. The driver of the tank backed the tank up, turned it around and retired to the rear, carrying it to the bog, Pvt Catino, who was wounded in the arm, and Cpl Mac Williams, who was wounded in the leg. The tank commander of the first platoon moved his tank to the right of the road and was taken under fire by an AT gun, which was destroyed. The company reported to the Bn CO that the company was running low of ammunition and the Bn CO ordered Co 'B' to enter the town and Co 'C' withdrew to an assembly position (035-047). The Company remained their until the 28th Jan. The company then moved back to their original position of the 24th. Shortly after the company moved out, heavy artillery fire was placed by the enemy and Sgt Charles Schubele, 3rd platoon, received shrapnel wounds on the right arm.
2. Summary of operations 24th to 28th Jan 45, Co 'A'
SUMMARY: (26 Jan 45)
Losses: Vehicles:
3 Tanks knocked out (3 tanks retreived)
1 by bazooka fire
1 by artillery fire
1 by AP tank fire
Personnel:
1 officer, 3 men wounded
Effects on the enemy:
1 tank probably knocked out
155 Infantry killed or wounded
Undeterminable number of infantry fired on in the woods
While company was leading element and during 26 Jan
94 Prisoners of War sent to PW cage.
Summary: (27th Jan 45)
Losses: Vehicles:
3 tanks knocked out
2 by AT mines
1 by bazooka fire
(1 tank retrieved)
Personnel:
5 EM wounded
Effects on the Enemy:
2 Mark IV Tanks knocked out
2 AT guns (caliber unknown) knocked out
1 bazooka knocked out
Undeterminable infantry killed or wounded
AAR index
COMPANY 'B'
SUBJECT: Summary of Operations 26th to 28th Jan 45 (18th Tank)
TO: Commanding General, Combat Command 'A'
(Note: This entire report was one paragraph. It was edited for easier reading)
'B' Co left their bivouac at Pettite-Bettange and moved to the vicinity of Besch at 0730, 26th of Jan 45 and was held in reserve for the operation. The company was called into battle to relieve 'A' Co in their position in the vicinity east of Nennig (029-049). The company occupied this position at about 1700 and was provided security by one company of infantry consisting of 70 men for the night. We outposted our position during the night. The Co Comdr was called back to the Combat Command CP at 2300 and given the mission of supporting an infantry attack starting the next morning at 0900. One officer from the Engineers and one from the Reconnaissance was attached to the company to assist us in our reconnaissance of the east-west ravine (030-055) to (045-053) north of Schl. Bubingen-Sinz Rd in order to place an engineer bridge across this obstacle the next day.
At 0700 the next morning, 'B' Company was deployed along an 800 yard front with the second platoon on the right and the first platoon on the left with the third platoon in support. The infantry moved out in the attack at 0900. The company contacted the infantry elements on the right and left and assisted their advance by direct fire on the ridge (037-053) on the other side of the ravine. As soon as the attack had progressed across the eastwest road, the 3rd platoon was given the mission of reconnoitering the ravine to determine whether a crossing could be made. The platoon leader and the engineer officer reported that there was no feasible point of crossing this ravine as the sides were too steep and the woods too heavy.
At about 1030 our right flank platoon attacked two enemy tanks which were destroyed by Sgt Bishop and Sgt Duggett. At about this time a counter-attack of 7 enemy tanks was reported moving west on the east west road from Sinz to Schl.Bubingen. The second platoon and the first platoon were then moved into defensive positions along this road facing east. The second platoon was then moved east down along this road to meet the counter-attack. The Co Comdr then reported to the Bn CO that moving the tanks across the ravine was impossible, but that the company could continue to attack in the direction of Sinz and occupy the high ground northeast of that town. The Co Comdr then informed the second platoon leader who was already proceeding down the road of the change in the mission, and to have him continue on in that direction. The road was canalized by thick woods on either side of the point opposite Untersiebusch (045-045). At that point on the right was this shrubbery, passable by tanks, however, mine fields were suspected. At about this time Lt. Bolinger contacted 2 enemy tanks and destroyed both of them with no damage to himself or to his vehicles. During this time the company was under heavy artillery and mortar fire continuously. Lt. Bolinger continued down the road and at a point about 300 yards out of the woods on the ridge overlooking the terrain Southwest of Sinz, the 4th tank in the column was attacked and destroyed by AT gun at a point opposite Untersiebusch (045-045), resulting in three deaths and one injury, Sgt Dowd, Cpl Schell, Pvt Molner, and Pvt Seal who was hit in the mouth with a piece of shrapnel which went through his cheek and knocked out a couple of teeth. The AT gun was engaged by our tanks and destroyed.
There was a great number of enemy infantrymen in the woods on our left. They were taken under fire and possibly 100 to 200 were either killed or wounded. There was a number of bazookas in the woods and a number of automatic weapons that were destroyed, also one pillbox was destroyed. During the artillery barrage Sgt Bishop's tank was hit and the suspension system damaged and the bottom escape hatch blown off and the oil line broken. Sgt Bishop was told to retire but continued to move forward to assist his platoon leader, Lt. Bolinger. The loader on his tank, Pvt Richards, held his hat over the oil leak and Sgt Bishop's tank assisted in the shelling of the town of Sinz. At this point (045-045) the rest of the column attempted to move to the right as the road was blocked by vehicles hit by mines or AT guns and moving through the field to the right two tanks were knocked out by AT mines. However, the platoons continued through the fields and obtained the ridge (051-042) overlooking Sinz, and proceeded to shell the town and other targets of opportunity within that vicinity.
In moving through the mine fields on the right of the road, Sgt Duggett engaged one enemy tank and destroyed it with no damage to himself. From this ridge a German half-track was destroyed, a mortar position was heavily shelled, damage unknown, but the mortar firing ceased. Artillery fire continued during occupation of the ridge and 2 of the company tanks were destroyed by artillery fire. No casualties resulting. The following men received wounds upon evacuating their tanks. Pvt Currari was run over on both legs by a tank and Pfc Reinhardt was wounded in the leg and shoulder.
The company remained on the ridge for approximately an hour shelling the town. At this point the company was under intense artillery bombardment and the Co Comdr informed the Bn CO thet fuel and ammunition was nearly exhausted and requested permission to withdraw. During the entire operation the Arty FO, Lt. Drury, attached to 'B' Company did a splendid jpb of directing artillery support. 'A' company moved up and relieved 'B' company and the company retired to it's assembly point at approximately 1730 on the 27th of Jan 45.
SUMMARY:
Losses: Vehicles:
6 tanks knocked out
2 by arty fire
2 by AT fire
2 by AT mines
4 tanks retrieved
Personnel:
3 EM killed
1 officer accidentally injured
4 EM wounded
Effect on the Enemy:
5 tanks destroyed
1 half-track destroyed
150-200 Infantry killed or wounded
1-88mm AT gun knocked out
2 pillboxes containing heavy automatic weapons destroyed
1 mortar position neutralized
20 Prisoners of War taken
AAR index
COMPANY 'C'
SUBJECT: Summary of Operations 26th to 28th Jan 45 (18th Tank)
TO: Commanding General, Combat Command 'A'
Company 'C' was attached to 7th Armd Inf Bn for the operation north of Nennig, 25 Jan 45. Early morning of the 25th company moved up to assembly position at Apach.
On arrival of 1st platoon at Nennig, road through town was obstructed by a previously knocked out German tank. During the operation clearing the road, the tank of the 1st platoon backed into a stack of mines at the side of the road and detonated them. Tank was blasted and burned, injuring one officer (1st platoon leader) and 5 EM, also a considerable number of bystanding infantry.
Platoon Sgt, 1st plat, received the mission to sahell two houses (023-045) along the road toward the chateau in Berg at approximately 0815. He moved two tanks, which were later joined by another, into position at (025-043) and fired approximately 150 rounds at the building and at German infantry discovered in the AT ditch (0245-0455). It is estimated that 30 to 40 German infantry were killed or wounded by HE and cal .30 fire in the AT ditch. A squad of infantry was then carried to the two houses south of Berg. 1 tank had depleted its ammunition during the previously mentioned shelling, and the platoon sergeant went back to replace that tank with another. Battalion Commander of the 7th Armd Inf Bn moved two tanks to the buildings (023-047) to shell the chateau in Berg. Of the three tanks available for action, two became bogged down near buildings (023-047).
The 2nd Platoon Leader reported to the 7th Armd Inf Bn Comdr at houses (023-047). Their mission was to move in column with a squad of infantry following each tank up top the chateau, fire on chateau, and move back to present position. Platoon leader moved out (with no infantry or tanks following) on to the objective, hit a mine, and then noticing that the remainder of the platoon had not followed turned to come back, was hit by a bazooka and safely returned to former position. The tank was too seriously damaged to return to action. Bn S-3 mounted the second tank and took command of the platoon. One remaining able tank from the 1st plat was attached to the second platoon. At 1300 the platoon, with the S-3 in command, moved out to attack the chateau. The tank carrying the S-3 knocked out by a bazooka at junction (0245-0475). Bazooka team was fired on by a following tank. Bn S-3 was killed and four of the crew wounded. The platoon backed down the road and shelled the chateau with HE, AP, and WP - 125 rounds, In the same attack on the chateau another tank was knocked out and five EM were evacuated. The platoon continued as fire support for the infantry attack on the chateau.
3rd Plat moved to the buildings (023-047) at approximately 1400. The platoon was given the mission to move around the east side of chateau thence to support infantry attack by fire and to assist infantry to capture ridge east of the chateau. Platoon was composed of 5 organic tanks plus 2 second platoon tanks, 105mm How tank and arty FO's tank. Platoon moved out at 1600, fired on woods at (030-052) and at (036-047), at pillboxes, and at suspected armored vehicles. From the ridge at (037-049) platoon fired spasmodically for forty-five minutes expending approximately 175 rounds. Platoon was relieved from position at 2045.
Maintenance crew attempted to evacuate 3 vehicles north of Nennig but suffered 2 casualties from mortar fire. Company committed 15 tanks and 1-105mm How Tank, and 3 were knocked out due to enemy fire, and two became bogged due to terrain.
On the 27th of Jan Company 'C' moved to support Companies 'A', 'B', and 'D' through Wies and east along ridge south of Schl. Bubingen-Sinz Rd. When head of column reached (045-045), company was ordered back by Bn CO. Company moved back to ridge at (030-048) and later ordered to withdraw to assembly area.
SUMMARY: (25th Jan)
Losses: Vehicles:
3 tanks knocked out by enemy fire
2 tanks bogged down due to terrain
(4 tanks retrieved)
Personnel:
(2 Officers wounded, 13 EM wounded
Effects on the Enemy:
2 tanks knocked out
1 half-track knocked out
Estimated 200 infantry killed or wounded
SUMMARY: (27th Jan)
No casualties
No contact with the enemy.
AAR index
COMPANY 'D'
SUBJECT: Summary of Operations 25th to 28th Jan 45 (18th Tank)
TO: Commanding General, Combat Command 'A'
2d plat was sent up as holding force 251830 Jan 45. Made contact with Rcn Elms of 94th Div. Plat withdrawn 260715 Jan 45 when Co 'A' moved through for attack. Plat moved to RJ at 019056. After 10 minutes 4 tanks withdrew to 015026, behind AT ditch and dragon's teeth. 4 tanks were arranged in square with 2 tanks on each side of road. Tanks drew rocket fire at RJ. Counter-battery fired by artillery silenced rockets for rest of night. Plat withdrew to APACH 261815 Jan 45. No action taken.
3d Plat sent up to support 94th Div 251500 Jan 45. Made contact with Inf at 035045 at 1600. Drew mortar fire from unknown position. Drew rocket fire from unknown position, to the northeast. Plat was in line on right flank of medium tanks. Plat Ldr contacted S-3 of Inf and was told that his Plat was not needed. Plat withdrew under cover of darkness at 1845 to Apach. No action taken.
Co moved from Apach to Besch 271100 Jan 45. Then on radio call from CO, 18th Tank Bn, moved up to attack position at 030049. Co in column platoons in line. Followed Co 'A' in assault on Sinz, 1st and 2d Plats entered town. Leading tank of 1st Plat engaged in close combat with German tank. 2 shells ricocheted off this tank. Germans tank was destroyed. The same tank was hit in the rear by bazooka fire and burned. All crew members dismounted safely. 2 men were hit by rifle fire after dismounting - 1 on the right wrist, 1 on the right foot. This tank fired about 15 rounds HE, 4 rounds APC and several thousand rounds .30 cal. MG, firing at enemy tank and into buildings. Inf took about 25 prisoners forced from buildings by tankfire. 3d Plat at the same time was assisting the 94th Div. 1 bazooka, 3 light MG's and unknown number of Inf were destroyed in woods at 045046. 2d Plat moved to right of town and fired into buildings. No estimate of damage done. Tank attack discontinued because of darkness. 7th Inf moved into town to hold ground taken. Tanks withdrew to attack position at 1830. Withdrew to Frecning at 2045, Co drew Artyn rocket and mortar fire generally from north of town. Sniper fire forced everyone to stay buttoned up.
Total ammunition expenditure for Co: 45 rds HE, 10 rds APC, 7000 rds .30 cal MG.
Commentary: The 4 man crew in the M24 cuts down its effectiveness by the loss of the bow gunner or the loss of a cannoneer.
Summary:
1. Losses: Vehicles:
1 Tk knocked out from enemy Tk action.
Not retrieved.
Personnel: 2 EM wounded by small arms fire.
2. Effect on the Enemy: 1 Tk knocked out
25 PW taken
1 bazooka knocked out
3 LNG
Undeterminable number of Inf in woods and buildings.
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