September-October - Air Defense Artillery

;;.f5 AAA PLANc.JING FOR \VATERBORNE INVI\SION 55
pendent circulation. Certain paragraphs will be long and airborne forces and the Force AM units. Indi-
detailed to insure coordination; the extent of this detail will cate on whose order these will chanoe under what
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appear later. conditions, and what changes are contemplated.
The fonn that follows is patterned on the five-paragraph Subheadings for each successive phase may be
form. In all honesty I must admit that I have never used it used.
for various reasons; but I am not convinced that I used a b. Scales of defense at each phase, in detail for the
better one. It should be remembered throughout that only assault, in general for subsequent phases.
the AAA will give careful study to this plan. Other ele- c. Passive Air Defense. Refer to PAD plan, or if
ments will have voluminous instructions of their own to this is an AA responsibility in your Hq, include
read, therefore be sure to have points of interest to them in- instructions to all units, or preferably, publisl
eluded in other plans where they will be seen by those in- separately.
valved. This applies especially to Navy and Air Forces. It d. Rules for AA fire and restrictions to aircrafl
is difficult to include in this form the successive phases of (agreed, of course with Air, Navy and G-3)
the operation, yet it is desirable that as complete a picture Refer to separate publication or, Iif short or nOl
as possible be given since subordinate units can then plan separately issued, include here.
more intelligently. e. Instruction on employment of AAA 'weapons ir.
"1. a. (l) Enemv Ground Forces-Refer to G-2 Esti- Seacoast, Antitank and Field Artillery roles.
mate 'and current G-2 reports. Give brief 4. Refer to Administrative Orders. Give' summary oj
essential items as ammunition and rations to be car.
summary.
(2) Enemy Naval Forces-Refer to N-2 Estimate ried, etc. Show breakdown of battalions into assaull
and current G-2 and N-2 reports. Give brief and follow-up echelons.
summary. 5. Refer to Signal Annex and SOL Give details 01
(3) Enemy Air Forces-Refer to A-2 estimate of AAAIS and A\VS coordination and operation. Sho\\
supporting Tactical Air Command. Sum- frequencies allotted where these are not part of lowel
marize essential information under enemy air echelon block. Show proposed CP locations aRoa'
capabilities, probable reaction to the opera- and, if known, ashore."
tion and probable maximum and sustained INSTRUCTIONS
efforts.
b. (l) Brief statement of support by any adjacent
Ground or Naval Forces not in the operation
(or give reference). Special detail on AAA
if it affects this operation.
(2) Plan of support by Air Forces other than by
that directly supporting the operation. Give
all available useful details.
2. a. Mission of this Force.
b. Organization of the Force to include Divisions
and any smaller units making separate landings
as Rangers, Airborne Troops and Raiding Parties.
Show all AAA as organized for the assault.
c. Rate of build-up of Divisions, AAA, and smoke
units.
d. Scheme of maneuver of Task Force. Give details
on Airborne elements.
e. Air Support Plan. Refer to plan of Air Commander
and summarize principal points. Show
rate of build-up including airfields and dates.
Give details on AVVS.
f. Naval Plan. Give reference and essential details,'
as Ship Signals for alerts, responsibilities for coast
defense, balloon servicing, etc.
g. Smoke Plan. Refer. to Chemical \Varfare Plan.
Give details on smoke.
3. a. Assign responsibilities for M defense to each
subordinate unit, i.e., Corps, separate Divisions,
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\~lith the plan form used above it is not convenient t<
include all the detailed instructions that are necessary te
insure complete coordination. Accordingly, Operations o~
other memoranda will be issued on at least the followinr
subjects: '
a. Rules for AA fire.
(l) Restrictions on Aircraft, Army and Navy.
(2) Restrictions on AAA, Army and Navy.
(3) Special rules for ports, airfields, etc.
b. Preinvasion Training.
c. Consolidated list of excess equipment authorized t,
AAA units.
d. Reports required on AAA Activity.
THE AFTERMATH
After all the hectic planning you will climb on a boat ani
fine day, and find your work is mostly finished. You'll thinl,
of a dozen details that might go wrong. It is unlikely you'll
be able to do anything about them en route. But it is we~
to devote a lot of thought to the subject, not worry, but con,
structive thinking. Because some things will go wrong ane
they can each be improved if not remedied after landing i
forethought has been devoted to them. Try to arrange te
have a jeep with you when you debark or you'll have troubl4
getting around. You'll get little information initially unles
you go after it. Keep your thinking fluid and avoid ru~
And may you have successful if not happy landings.