HEADQUARTERS CCA
8th Armd Div
APO 258, U. S. Army

AFTER ACTION REPORT
January 45

SUBJECT:

After Action Against the Enemy Report.

T0: :

Commanding General, 8th Armd Div.

In compliance with ltr Hq 8th Armd Div dated 26 Jan 45, subject same as above, submitted herewith is a summary of operations for CC A and atchd units during the period 1-31 Jan 45.

SECTION I - OPERATIONS

1-17 Jan 45 incl.

Maps:

GSGS Sheet 6404, THIONVILLE 34.11 NE 3, 4, and SW 5, 6, - Scale 1/25.000
THIONVILLE Sheet #XXXIV - 11, Scale 1/50,000
PONT-A-MOUSSON Sheet #XXXIII - 13, Scale 1/50,000
NOMENY Sheet #XXXIV - 14, Scale 1/50,000
Refer to French Road Maps for points TOTES to NOMENY.

On 1 Jan 45 Hq & Hq Co CC A, minus an advance party consisting of the CG, Ex O, S-3, S-4 and 15 EM, was preparing for movement to FRANCE, movement date set for 2 Jan 45. The advance party was in FRANCE making preparations for the movement of entire division to FRANCE week of 1-6 Jan 45.

Mvd early morning 2 Jan for SOUTHAMPTON, reaching and billeting for the night vic WINCHESTER, with plans to continue on morning of 3 Jan. Embarked from SOUTHAMPTON on LST, underway 032200 bound for ROUEN, FRANCE.

Met at ROUEN by members of advance party, mvd to prearranged billet at TOTES, arriving there night of 5 Jan.

Departed TOTES morning 7 Jan destination vic RIEMS. Hq CC A acting as advance party for div. Spent night of 7 Jan in SOISSON, left early morning of 8 Jan destination chateau in SEPT-SAULX. March from TOTES to RIEMS extremely difficult due to bad weather and road conditions.

During stay in SEPT_SAULX engaged in making arrangements for remainder of div, until arrival of div hq commandant.

Left SEPT-SAULX approx 1222100, marched to PONT-A-MOUSSON arriving there 130500. Again icy roads prevented speedy and efficient march column. Spent 13 Jan in town of PONT-A-MOUSSON, moving to chateau in MONTRICHARD approx 130600. Units under our control at this point: 7th AIBn, 398 FA Bn, 18th Tk Bn,D btry 467 AAA AW SP Bn.

Hq & Hq Co CC A mvd to NOMENY 141300. Units located as follows:
7AIBN - NOMENY; 18 Tk Bn - MANONCOURT; 398 FA Bn - ROUVES; D Btry 467 AAA AW Bn protecting bridge crossing PONT-A-MOUSSON.

Period 14 - 18 Jan 45 units engaged in preparation for immediate operations. Weapons test fired, vehicles snow camoflaged, and possible sectors of action studied. 1st Plat D Btry AAA AW SP Bn atchd 398FA Bn, remainder under Hq CC A control.

18 - 20 January 1945

Hq & Hq Co CC A with the following troops was alerted 181500 on   DivO:

      7 AIBn
      18 Tk Bn
      398 FA Bn w/1st Plat D Btry 467 AAA AW Bn atchd
      Co A 53 Engrs
      Co A 78 Med Bn
      Co A 130 Ord Maint Bn
      Tr A 88 Cav Rcn SQ (Mecz)
      D Btry 467 AAA AW Bn (- 1st Plat)

Atchd to XX Corps for a special mission with 94th Inf Div, per ltr, Operational Instructions, 8th Armd Div. Ordered to move to vic SIERCK (Q003945). Verbal march order given by CG CC A to Bn and Sep Co representatives 181700. March began 181830, units closing in assembly area vic SIERCK by 190800. Locations: Hq & Hq Co CC A, A Co 78 Med Bn, A Co 130 Ord Maint Bn, D Btry 467 AAA AW Bn (-1st Plat) in KOENIGSMACHER (U944995); 18 TK Bn KERLING (U996896); 7 AIBn RETTEL (U981947); 398 FA Bn w/1st Plat 467 AAA AW (D Btry) atchd HUNTING(U979915) A Co 53 Engr Bn METRICH (U956903; A Tr 88 Cav Rcn Sq SIERCK.

During this period units were active making plans and preparations for immediate action. Bn & Sep Co commanders engaged in personal observations, treeain studies and possible operational functions in proposed zone of action. General plan for usage of the combat command issued by 94 Inf Div.

21 January 1945

Hq & Hq Co CC A mvd to SIERCK approx 0830, and the 7 AIBn atchd to 302 Inf Regt effective 1835. Personnel continued to prepare for future operations.

22 January 1945

Co A 7 AIBn atchd to 302 Inf engaged in an atk with elms of 302 Inf on Nennig (023044). Co's B & C in reserve 1200 yds E BESCH (018031).
398 FA Bn w/1st Plat 467 AAA AW Bn (D Vtry) atchd displaced fwd to vic SW WOCHERN (031005-038008), in btry fire position prepared to support action with direct fires. Balance of D Btry 467 AAA AW Bn remained in protective position around SIERCK under control of CO 398 FA Bn.

23 January 1945

7 AIBn remained atchd to 302 Inf, A Co in NENNIGm B & C Co's withdrawn to vic SIERCK.

AG Plat Hq Co 18 Tk Bn atchd to 2nd Bn 376 Inf Regt effective 232000, mvd from assembly area KERLING to join position of 2nd Bn 376 Inf vic SCHLBERG
    FO 1 Hq CC A issued 230600.

24 January 1945

TF POINIER: 7 AIBn (- A Co) w/Co C 18 Tk Bn and Tr A 88 Cav Rcn Sq (- Det) atchd, mvd after dark to vic BESCH (014015) to assemblly area in preparation for atk.
    TF GOODRICH: 18 Tk Bn (- C Co) prepared to mv to frd assembly area prior to 250600 Jan.
    Co A 53 Engr Bn w/det Tr A 88 Cav Rcn Sq atchd, mvd after dark to assembly area N of NENNIG prepared to establish a minimum of 3 breeches in AT obstacle at SCHL, BERG (025046) area, pending establishment of bridgehead by 2nd Bn 376 Inf.

398 FA Bn in btry firing position SW WOCHERN.

FO 2 Hq CC A issued 1730.

7 AIBn released from atchd 302 Inf 2400.

25 January 1945

TF POINIER: Mvd from assembly area vic BESCH to launch atk on BERG (024046) 250535. Defeated enemy resistance thru town to final enemy barrier of defense, a chateau in N BERG (024048). 2nd Plat C Co 18 Tk Bn ordered in action in zone 0730. TF held BERG with exception of chateau by 1145. 3rd Plat C Cp 18 Tk Bn ordered in action to assist in final assault on enemy strongpoint approx 1430. TF surrounded and seized chateau, captured 33 prisoners, and remained in chateau. C Co 18 Tk Bn withdrew to position S NENNIG (022038).

TF GOODRICH: 18 Tk Bn (- C Co) astride Hwy N53 vic BESCH S to METRICH. D Co 18 Tk Bn mvd to assembly position astride Hwy N 53 N BESCH.

Co A 53 Engr Bn w/Det Tr A 88 Cav Rcn Sq prepared 2 breeches thru AT obstacle vic SCHL. BERG (025046) area.

398 FA Bn in direct support. Fired 2030 rnds in days action.

BERG taken and held as result of operations.

26 January 1945

Verbal order issued by CG CC A 260100.

A Co 53 Engr Bn w/Det Tr A 88 Cav Rcn Sq atchd from 252400 to 260500 prepared one breech in AT obstacle using treadway, E of WIES (023051). Mvd to vic NENNIG prepared to breech AT obstacle running generally from SINZ (058045) to SCHL. BUBINGEN (020055).

A Co 18 Tk Bn mvd thru 3 breeches in first obstacle approx 260830, reached initial obj (026051-033047) 0910. Mvd fwd to vic second AT obstacle found takk ditch to be 8' x 8' in depth and width. Encountered and killed unknown number of enemy vic obstacle. Withdrew to original position, remained until relieved by B Co 18 Tk Bn approx 1715. 1st Plat D Co 18 Tk Bn mvd to area vic 040044 early in afternoon, encountered no enemy, withdrew approx 1800. Locations of tank units end of days operations: Hq & Hq Co 18 Tk Bn BESCH; B Co 18 Tk Bn concentrated 029048; A Co 18 Tk Bn APACH (014965); D Co 18 Tk Bn SIERCK.

7 AIBn followed atk of C Co 18 Tk Bn in columns of co's, A Co, C Co w/AG's, B Co, MG & Mort Plats under Bn control. Unable to make further advance due to heavy arty, mort and small arms fire after reaching area 027052 by 1300, Bn dug in, waited relief by 2nd Bn 376 Inf. Relieved approx 1900. Locations end of days operations: Hq, A & B Co's NENNIG, C Co security for B Co 18 Tk Bn in initial obj.

398 FA Bn in direct support of action.

27 January 1945

18 Tk Bn with B Co leading began coordinated atk with 302 Inf at 0900.Atk in direction of SINZ, along NW-SE rd SCHL. BERG to SINZ. Reached a point 500 yds W SINZ, early afternoon, operating dangerously low on fuel and ammunition. A Co passed thru B Co, initiated atk on town of SINZ. D Co ordered to relieve A Co, mvd up into town gaining three houses, receiving heavy fire from flanks and direct front. Lost one light tank in town, held position until contact was established with 302 Inf elms, withdrew to area 026051-033047. Entire Bn in position ready to support inf atk with direct tank fire. Began evacuations of vehicles after dark in preparation for move to MANONCOURT.

7 AIBn in reserve during tank action. B Co ordered up to make contact with Inf elms 302 Inf vic SINZ approx 1700, for night atk on the town. Contact not established until 2300. Remained vic SINZ during night 27-28 Jan. Withdrew 281030. Battalion began move to vic MAILLY night 27-28 Jan.

398 FA Bn direct support of tank atk. Began move to vic ROUVES 2230.

Co A 53 Engr Bn and Tr A Cav Rcn Sq prepared to move to vic PONT-A-MOUSSON from NENNIG, morning of the 28th.

Received orders from XX Corps, released from 94th Inf Div, to return to original 8th Armd Div assembly area.

28 January 1945

B Co 7 AIBn withdrew from action vic SINZ 1030.

CC A and units enroute to and closed in following locations by 1400: Hq & Hq Co CC A - CLEMERY; 7 AIBn - MAILLY; 19 Tk n - MANONCOURT; 398 FA Bn - ROUVES; Co A 53 Engr Bn, Tr A 88 Cav Rcn Sq, A Co 130 Ord Maint Bn, A Co 78 Med Bn - PONT-A-MOUSSON.

29 - 31 January 1945

Separate companies and troop returned to Bn and Sq control.

CC A undergoing rehabilitation, cleaning, repairing and maintaining equipment. Hq & Hq Co CC A location: PONT-A-MOUSSON.

SECTION II - COMMENTS

1. GENERAL.

a. During the period 1-31 Jan 45 incl CC A mvd from TIDWORTH, ENGLAND to operation zone NENNIG, BERG AND SINZ, GERMANY, atchd to 94 Inf Div for period of action 22-28 Jan 45. Successful in assisting 94 Inf Div capture NENNIG, BERG and spearhead tank atk on SINZ.

 

S/Thomas V. Brooke
THOMAS V, BROOKE
Lt Col, Cav
Executive Officer.