Quartermaster Supply Operations - US Army Combined Arms Center ...

R-E-S-T-8-I-C -T-E-D
CHAPTER 14
BEACH MAIFTENANCE SEFS AND BEACH FOLLOW-UP SETS
SECTION 1
CHARACTJ5?ISTT.CS AND USE
179. Bas1s.l In February 194k the Chief ~uartermest6r,
Eurogeon TTZXer of Operations, in planning for D-D~Y,
made arrangements with the Quartermaster, First iJnited
States Army, for the shipment to the continent of Class
I1 and IV supplies In sets which were to be amphibiously
paoked. The plan called for the shipment of the initial
supplies in sets that were to be skid-loaded, while the
follow-up supplies would be shipped in composite sets.
The inaintenmce during the early stages of tEo operation
was to consist of Quartermaster items essential to combet
and were to be gradually increassd in variety and quan-
tity as the operation progressed and the requirenents for
additional items arose. The plan was approved end placed
into operation.
180. Rescription and Composition.1
e. Skid-loading may be defined as a method of
loading in which the supplies are cratsd and mountad on
skids or runners, similar to thQse of e. sled, which enables
the load to be dragged or pulled over sandy terrain
with conrporative eese. The skids keep the supplies off
the ground, thereby ellmlnntin~ the possibility of dwge
from ground water.
b. Beaoh maintenance sets were composed of
selected quantities of sPsentiel Class II and IV supplies
loaded on akids, each set normally containing 23 skids,
These supplies were sesembled, loaded and shipped as a
cmposlta unit. Each set contalnad 75,000 man-days of
supply which we8 sogregstod, insofar a8 possible, like
oommodltles by skids. The londs were inaintalned on the
skids by tle utilization of open cratss built onto the
sklds. The supplies were safeguarded aqainst the elements
by tarpaulins over tho crates for additional protection.
?he beach mintenanoe set was therefore n composlte grouping
or essential supplies, loaded for fast movement and
segregated by commodities to fficilitote issue or Storage.
c. Foll.ow-up maintenance sets were similar to
ths beach maintenance sets, but were composed of a muoh
wlder selection of items. They were not skid-loaded, but
eaoh set contalned 450,000 man-days of supply.
181. Preparetion of Sets,
8, Approximately 61 beaoh maintenance sets were
assembled et five different depots in the United Kingdom
for delivery to the continent. The follow-up maintenance
sets were also asseinbled in the sbme depots. Supplies
were packed and shipped in oase lots if the difference
between the case lots and the amounts require&were less
than 10 percent either way.
- 119 -
R-E-S-T-R-I-C-T-E-D