After Action Reports and Interviews
80th Tank Bn. - S-1 Report - Feb 21-28 1945
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HEADQUARTERS 80th TANK BATTALION
APO 258, U. S. ARMY

S-1 JOURNAL
1500 21 Feb 45 to 1500 28 Feb 45
Maasbracht, Holland

21 Feb 45
1500   Assault Gun from Hq Co. fired 12 rounds direct fire at German O.P. - 755869 Mao: France-Belgium 1/25000 Sheet 37 S.E. 105mm Heat did not penetrate cement O.P.
1630 Assault gun ceased firing.
One Hq Co. Assault Gun attached to 405th FA Bn (C Btry) fired 21 rounds harassing fire at enemy positions in the triangle (Roermond, Linne & S. Odilenberg). Night harassing fire.
22 Feb 45
0700 Assault Gun Hq Co returned to bivouac area.
0800 'C' Co (-) attached to 405 FA Bn (12-75mm guns) for fire mission, support of Artillery. Fired harassing mission in triangle (Roermond, Linne & S. Odilenberg).
0830 C.O. & S-3 depart from C.P. to witness fire of 'C' Co.
1045 C.O. & S-3 return to C.P.
1300 C.O. departs from C.P. for CCR.
1310 Warning order received.
1315 Verbal Order received from CCR.
1350 C.O. returns to C.P.
1400 C.O. & S-3 depart from C.P. for Linne on reconn of firing position for Co. 'B'.
1600 C.O. & S-3 return to C.P. from Linne. 'B' Co., Aslt. Plt., Mtr. Plt. Attached to 405 FE Bn to register for supporting Arty Fire in triangle (Roermond, Linne & S. Odilenberg) as per warning order.
1800 C.O. & S-3 depart from C.P. to check Mortar position at Linne and firing position Co. 'B'.
1845 C.O. C.O. meeting at CCR.
2100 C.O. returns from CCR.
23 Feb 45
0530 B, C, & D Cos, each sent one Tk Driver to LVT School at 9th Army Headquarters.
0900 C.O. departs from C.P. for purpose of viewing firing. S-3 departs from C.P for Aandenberg.
1015 Msg from CCR.
1040 Msg to 'C' Co.
1045 C.O. returns to C.P.
1050 S-3 returns to C.P.
Msg to C.O.
1330 S-3 departs from C.P. for 'B' Co firing position.
Msg to 'B' Co C.O.
1430 S-3 returns to C.P.
Bn (-) Aslt & (-) Mtr Plts remained in same area. 'A' Co still atchd to 58th Inf. Overcast and Cold.
2000 Aslt Plt rejoined their Co at bivouac area. Orders issued to Cos. To sew patches on clothes and paint numbers on vehicles.
24 Feb 45
0800 Aslt Plt returned to firing positions Map: France & Belgium - Roermond (S) Sheet 37 S.E.
0815 Staff Officers departed from C.P. to view Sand Plot exercise at 53rd Engr, Hq.
0900 Staff Officers returned to C.P.
Officers and NCO's of Cos. attended Sand Plot exercise at 53rd Engr, Hq.
Hq, B, C, D, & Sv Cos. Sent EM to Allied Troop Theatre in Echt for compulsory film showing Non-fraternization.
1330 S-3 departs from C.P. with 'D' Co C.O. for firing positions occupied by 'A' Co.
1400 'D' Co. rec'd orders to relieve 'A' Co and atchd to 58th AIB effective 0800 25 February 1945.
1500 S-3 & D Co. C.O. return to C.P.
1530 Rec'd orders from CCR to relieve 'A' Co with another Tank Co 58th AIB.
25 Feb 45
  Overcast and Cold
0530 'D' Co moved out to positions occupied by 'A' Co. and attached to 58th AIB.
1030 'A' Co closed in bivouac area previously occupied by 'D' Co.
1330 S-3 departs from CP for 'D' Co firing positions.
1500 S-3 returns to C.P.
   
  (Note: Report from 1500 25 Feb 45 to 1600 27 Feb 45 is missing)
   
27 Feb 45
1600 'C' Co (-) relieved from attached to 405th FA Bn reverted to Bn control. Mortar Plt, relieved from mission of delivering supporting fires to 'C' Co 58th AIB from vic Linne triangle (Roermond, Linne & St Odilienberg) and returned to bivouac area. 80th (-) remained in bivouac area as CCR Reserve.
1845 C.O. & S-3 depart from C.P for CCR.
2100 C.O. & S-3 return to C.P. Operations Instructions #2 received.
2130 C.O. held meeting of Co Comdrs. Gave out info contained in Operational Instructions #2. March Order C-88, C-80, fwd ech CCR, C-58, D-8-, H-80, A-80, Sv-80, C-53 Det 78 Medics. Rate of March 10 MPH 30 yds between vehicles, no halts, Listening Silence.
28 Feb 45
0425 Battalion less 'B' 80th, with B-58th, C Co. 53rd Engrs, C Trp 88th Rcn, B (-) 78th Medics attached making up one Task Force of CCR departed Maasbracht, Holland.
0517 Passed I.P. (RR Crossing N. Susteren) Mileage 4.7
0810 Column halted.
1400 'D' Co became CCR Reserve in anticipation of contact with enemy.
1535 Column moved out. Halt due to bad going. Slow process over bridges erected by Engrs at Roer River.
2305 Task Force reached Tuschenbroich, Germany, SE of Wegberg. No difficulties encountered with vehicles.