After Action Reports and Interviews
399th Armd FA Bn. - S-3 Report - April 1945
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H E A D Q U A R T E R S
399TH ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION
APO 258, U. S. ARMY

S-3 AFTER ACTION REPORT
Period 1200 4 April to 1200 4 May 1945

1. Front Lines at End of Period:
    Does not apply.

2. Location of Troops: Hann Munden.

3. Information of Adjacent Units and Supporting Troops.
    Does not apply.

4. Operations for the period:

  4 Apr The Bn moved to an assembly area in LANGENEICKE on Div Arty order, the movement taking place at 1545 4 Apr. Closed in LANGENEICKE at 1615 less A Btry who closed about 1800. The Bn set up a perimeter on the town. Reconnaissence is in process the morning of the 5th for positions to the W. One gun has gone forward. Orders were received to the effect that we would move as part of CC B. Forward observers reported to the supported units. No casualties during the period.
    No ammunition expended.
  5 Apr The Bn received orders to move from LANGENEICKE and moved out at 1148 5 Apr arriving at position arteas at 1300 - (EBEINCHAUSEN). We were reinforced by the 275th AFA. Two preparations were fired, one on LOHNE at 1540 and one on BAD SAFFEN at 1800 - after which the supported units entered LOHNE. Prisoners were taken as a result of the preparation, A mission was fired by us and the 275th on fortified field emplacements and AA. Prisoners were taken during the night as a result of the fire. No counter btry received, no casualties. Preparations are being made for displacement forward. (348)rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  6 Apr Bn displaced by echelon to position in SCHALIERN starting at 1325, closing at 1436. From SCHALIERN B Btry went to T.F. DUTCH - the Bn displaced to positions in NEUENSESEKE at 1925 and closed at 2100. No missions were fired during the night. Preparations were made up for ARTFUL, not fired. March order was received at 0755 7 Apr to displace to positions W. No missions were fired during the period 0755 to 1200 7 Apr. Bn enroute, tieing in with 49th during march. No counter btry received, no casualties. (48)rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  7 Apr Bn was enroute from 1200 to 1430 at which time we occupied positions in OST ONNEN. Remained in OST ONNEN until end of period. Quite a bit of activity in the SOUTHERN sector of the CONIN(?) the late afternoon. Preparation was fired on WEST ONNEN, prior to the assault on the town. During the night we fired R & I missions with ARTFUL sharing the fires. Representatives from the Chemical Mortar Co, Co C were attached at 0930 8 Apr and are going into position in WEST ONNEN. Plans have been drawn for a preparation on WERL using our Bn, ARTFUL, and the Chemical Co. No counter btry received, no casualties.
(933)rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  -1-
 

  8 Apr The Bn was in position at EAST ONNEN during part of the period displacing at 1830 on the 8th to positions E of WERL. A preparation was fired on WERL prior to the assault of the town. The Inf. and Tanks were on the tail of the fire. We displaced at 0730 9 Apr to positions S of HOLTUM supporting elements of the CC who were advancing W to UNNA.
(1543) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  9 Apr Bn displaced to positions in HEMMERDE at approx 1830 - to give closer support to the fwd elements. Observed missions were fired for FO's and Air. Interdiction fires were fired by the 995th during the night of the 9th and early morning of the 10th. Our Bn fired missions for fwd Observers while advancing W toward UNNA. Positions were picked up in STOCKUM for future occupation.
(196) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  10 Apr Bn supported the attack of CC B on UNNA. Displaced to poaitions in present area at 1300 10th Apr. The 398th FA Bn was put in G/S reinforcing our fires. A counter attack was broken up by our arty twice during the period. The Bn marked UNNA for an air strike at dusk. At about midnight CC A went thru CC B. We reverted to G/S reinforcing the 398th. A preparation was fired from 0615 to 0650 on 11 Apr. We fired missions for the 398th. We resumed G/S of CC A while 398th displaced at 1130.
(922) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  11 Apr One Bn remained in G/S of CC A reinforcing the fires of 398th. A displacement from HOCKUM to the E edge of UNNA (97.9-26.9) was accomplished by 1625. Registration was made on two points. At 1700 alerted to move with CC B at 1200 12 Apr to NE vic ALFELD, GERMANY.
(38) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  12 Apr Bn left UNNA at 1150 12 Apr for operations in the E. Advanced partier were ahead. Bn closed in new area, WOLFENBUTTLE, at 0830 13 Apr. Bn billeted in the new area with preparations made for patrolling an area assigned by CC B.
No ammunition expended.
  13 Apr Remained in concentration area in WOLFENBUTTLE until 1700 at which time we received orders to prepare to move to position in vic of HALBERSTADT. Advanced parties left before the Bn. Bn closed in positions at 2400 13 Apr. On the morning of the 14th the Bn received its sector to cover. The firing btrys displaced to new positions farther S, each one having a certain sector to cover. Preparations were also made for positions positions another Bn to come down to reinforce our fires. No firing during the period.
No ammunition expended.
  14 Apr Bn was in position S of HALBERSTADT, the firing btrys were in position to support the defense of the CC B sector. Btrys operated under Btry Control for firing. Preparations were made to receive a reinforcing Bn. The reinforcing Bn closed in their position about 2400 14 Apr. Fwd observers are with front line elements. Registration has been completed on check points. Survey is in for a Bn position area when it is possible to operate as such.
(76) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  -2-
 

  15 Apr Bn remained in present location, B and ? btrys moved to positions in LANGENSTEIN at 0900 16 Apr. Registrations were completed. During the night of the 15th and morning of the 16th one btry fired H & I missions. An enemy patrol broke thru near the Bn position - we fired on the location and broke up the activity of the patrol. Maint of equipment continued in the Bn.
(358) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  16 Apr Bn remained in present location firing observed fire for ground observers and air observers. H & I missions were fired during the night. Maintenance of equipment continued as well as could be expected under circumstances existing. Bn cleared out edge of woods with direct fire, enemy digging in and firing on our vehicles.
(429) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  17 Apr Bn remained in present position, supporting the advancing elements of CC B. H & I missions were fired during the night. Preparations were made for an attack and holding action by the Inf, that the Bn was to support.
(360) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  18 Apr Bn remained in present area. H & I missions were fired during the night. Close support fires were fired by fwd observers. Air strike tgt was marked for the air. Maintenance of equipment continued.
(398) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  19 Apr Bn remained in present position supporting the action of the fwd elements. During the night H & I missions were fired on BLANKENBERG. Bn fired on BLANKENBERG during the morning reinforced by the 405th FA Bn. A TOT was fired on BLANKENBERG after the air strike. Maintenance continued as best it could under the present conditions.
(431) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  20 Apr Bn remained in position in LANGENSTEIN for the period giving supporting fires to fwd elements. Bn fired a preparation BLANKENBERG prior to the occupation of the town. No H & I firing during the night. Orders were received late 20th that we would displace to vic of BLANKENBERG.
(119) rds 105mm ammunition expended.
  21 Apr Bn in position in BLANKENBERG after displacing from LANGENSTEIN. No missions were fired. March order was received at 0030 22nd, for a movement W. The Bn moved from BLANKENBERG at 220530 and enroute for the duration of the period.
No ammunition expended.
  22 Apr
      to
  4 May		 Bn arrived in new area (HANN MUNDEN) at 1500 on 22 Apr after completing a very well regulated road march. The Btrys within the Bn went to their respective areas as part of MGSG, which is now the mission of the Bn.
Reconnaissance was made by all Btrys for routes and towns within the Bn boundry. All towns were visited by Btry Cmdrs and all Burgemeisters were contacted. Patrols were initiated immediately after reconnaissance and have continued day and night to date. Suspects have been picked up and put in arrest in Bn jail. Close liason has been kept with Mil Gov.
  -3-
 

A plan was drawn up for the safeguarding of vital installations with the Bn area 24 hour guards have been maintained on such installations.
    Plans have been drawn up for the evacuation of Russians, Polish and French people to their respective countries. A DP camp is now under the Bn coordinated with the British Mil Gov personnel. The date has not been set as yet for the movement of the various nationals. Some trouble has been encountered with them, but all is well under control and operating as smoothly as possible.
    Btrys located in HANN MUNDEN are Hq and Hq Btry, A Btry and Svc Btry. B Btry is located in BENTERODE and C Btry is detached from the Bn under Div Arty control in GOTTINGEN, with the mission of guarding a jail that is full of military and political prisoners who are being held for higher Hq questioning and trial.
   

For the Battalion Commander


S/Matthew A. Oliver, Jr.
MATTHEW A. OLIVER, JR,
Major, F.A.,,
S-3