September-October - Air Defense Artillery

One peak requirement will come after the capture of the
firstport or ports, when there will be shipping lying off
;the beaches as well as in the ports. It is desirable that the
heaviest possible defense be present in the port for the first
enemy raid. Other peak requirements will occur when airfield
construction permits bringing in medium bombers,
Jnd subsequently, perhaps, heavy bombers. Other peaks
maybe discovered as the operation is projected forward. An
experienced officer must supervise carefully this projection
t of the operation and consultation with G-3 and Air as to
robable eventualities must be continuous.
The final requirements having been determined, close
~ liaisonwith the next higher headquarters AA Section must
be maintained to obtain the best units available and to ar-
range for their being made available in time to permit neces-
~ ary training, and, if necessary, their employment in conccntration
and embarkation
barkation.
areas, prior to their own em-
l For
. The Divisions making the assault will undergo certain
special training. For any part of this training that involves
I:\AA, the latter should participate. This is especially true
of amphibious training. The planning at each echelon will
begoing on at the same time as the training, especially near
the end, and the Corps Brigade Hq and the Division Group
Hq should be with their respective Corps and Divisions
during the training and planning phase. Since more AAA
will be attached initially to each assault Division and probably
to the assault Corps than they normally employ, not
all of it can usually be attached during the entire training
period. For preliminary training for RCT's in a Division a
hattery of A\V or SP per RCT will suffice. For Division
training the SP or A\\' Bn and the Gun Bn should be available
per Division. For the rehearsals, all AAA involved in
the phase being rehearsed should take part.
the assault elements.
TRAINING
AAA PLANNING FOR \V ATERBORNE INVASIOK 53
.\11the above will be influenced by so many factors, prin- All AAA that'will be required to land over beaches must
'pallythe expected enemy air effort in the target area, that be given amphibious training to include waterproofing of
If should be used with caution. It was a sound basis in the equipment, loading on appropriate craft (do not confine
''l{lediterranean Theater in early 1944. this to one type), unloading under various conditions, firing
The final requirements must be found by more detailed from craft (AA and shoreward), Field Artillerv and assault
IOrestigation. The operation must be projected ahead and firings, emergency expedients for every probabl~ emergency,