The battalion remained in position northwest of Zweifall to direct support of CCB.
All the guns of this battalion had fired between 3500 and 4000 rounds by this date. By comparative calibration it was determined that certain guns were shooting short and some over. The guns were grouped by comparative rangethose shooting long in Btry A, those in the middle range in Btry B, those shooting short in Btry C. This change was accomplished by leaving the M-7's in the same battery, but by interchanging the tubes, breed rings and breech blocks.
The battalion fired 27 missions this date: 5 harassing missions, 3 on enemy OPs, 1 on infantry in house, 1 on ack-ack battery, 1 on assembly area, 3 on infantry, 1 on personnel, 5 on vehicles, 3 on infantry and mortars, and 4 registrations. Total rounds expended this date-524. One vehicle was definitely destroyed by a direct hit. Possible ammo dump was hit in firing on house. Mortar positions were reported neutralized.
Today the New Summary issued by S-2 was enlarged to a battalion newspaper under the direction of Capt. Johnny W. Forston. Names being submitted by the men will be judged and the name selected announced 16 October-the man submitting the best name to receive a prize of 25 marks.
  • 13 October 1944
    The 3rd Armored Division continued in defensive positions conducting only patrol activities. Tank companies were held in readiness to employ with the 1st and 9th Inf. Div. Enemy activity consisted of intermittent artillery and mortar fire. At 1900 hours the Division area was bombed and strafed by an undetermined number of planes. Planes dropped flares about 22oo hours but no bombs were dropped.
    Operations Memo 1, Hq Div Arty, 3rd Arm Div, 13 October 1944, ordered a plan of rotating the artillery battalions in the division in order to conserve ammunition and in order to effect the greatest rest period for the men. Each battalion was to move forward for a two day period and carry out all tire missions starting 141200 October 1944. The non-duty battalions were to register each day conditions permitting-they would be called on for fire only, in case of emergency. Btry A fired heavy harassing and interdiction fires for Div Arty in the early morning hours from positions l000 yards southeast of Busbach. At 1000 hours one battery from the 45th Armd FA Bn relieved Btry A and Btry A returned to the battalion positions northwest of Zweifall.
  • 14 October 1944
    The 3rd Armored Division continued to maintain defensive positions conducting only patrol activity. Enemy activity consisted of intermittent artillery and mortar fire. Enemy air activity was reported over the division area from 2000 hours; however, only one casualty was reported by CCB. The battalion remained in position northwest of Zweifall. The 54th Armd FA Bn took over the fires for the division artillery at i2oo hours and the battalion went on a no fire status for 4 days. The battalion began a period of rest and maintenance. At 13oo hours 2nd Lt. James A. Hertz replaced 1st Lt. Joe M. Gafford at the OP in the 9th Inf. Div. sector at Krewinkle.
    Lester W. Hardgrove (formerly S/Sgt of Hq Btry) was commissioned 2nd Lt. this date and assumed duties as Liaison Pilot.
  • 15 October 1944
    The 3rd Armored Division continued to maintain defensive positions and rotated troops on the front lines. Normal patrol activities were carried out. Enemy activity consisted of intermittent arillery and mortar fire.
    Operations Memorandum No. 15, Hq 3rd Armd Div, 15 October 1944, ordered the division to continue to hold defensive positions on the line Diepenlinchen-Mausbach and to maintain contact with the 1st Inf. Div. on the left and the 9th Inf. Div. on the right.
    The battalion remained in position northwest of Zweifall on a no fire status conducting rest and maintenance. Because of poor visibility in the afternoon, the battalion was unable to register. Inside the hunting lodge, the Battalion C. P. personnel sprawled, reading paper backed novels from the S. S. O. The old man was asleep in his chair in his office. Four staff officers played bridge, listlessly. Outside it still rained-not hard-just the same as it had been drizzling for the last month. Down by the church, the movie flicked on and off with the usual "B" picture Hollywood could spare. Gun crews yawned and got up to put some coffee on the coleman stove Over in Swevice Battery, trucks were being winched out of 2-foot-deep streams of mud. Waiting-just waiting and raining.
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