Lesson-7-scouting-and-patrolling

idea what these overlay symbols mean, PLEASE go back to Lesson 2 of the map reading course, and
review the course on Operations.]
Important note: Almost no topographic map in war time will be up to date, particularly as to details of trails
and vegetation. You will generally have to do a ground reconnaissance before taking a patrol past the
OPL. We will revisit this point shortly.
Enemy forces: Elements of the 426 Volksgrenadier Regiment have recently moved to the
front of the 175th, east of the UPATOI line. Precise locations and dispositions are unknown.
Tasking: 2nd Battalion S-2 has directed Easy Company
to send a reconnaissance patrol across the UPATOI line at
1500 tomorrow to observe and report on enemy activity and
placements vicinity GRID 118922. Oral report from local civilian
indicates that the 426 has been reinforced by two SP AT 3
guns of the Hetzer type covering the east-west road.
The CO of Easy decides to give this job to 2nd Platoon,
currently in reserve. This is a common practice, since it does
not take soldiers off the line and allows the patrol leader to
prepare the patrol in relative peace and quiet. This is a price we
pay for being in reserve.
The platoon leader selects 3rd squad for this mission because
the squad leader, Sergeant Pebble, has served in his positions
for over six months, a local record; and because he is
known as a steady patrol leader. There may be a lesson here.
Sergeant Pebble protests that his squad drew the last three
patrols, and he’ll be damned before he lets his guys get
screwed again. The platoon leader is patient and understanding,
and offers to take the patrol out himself. Sergeant Pebble, horrified at the prospect of sacrificing
his men for nothing, departs to prepare his squad, cursing under his breath. The lieutenant is
learning fast.
So let’s follow Sergeant Pebble as he does his duty.
The Hetzer is a massproduced
armored selfpropelled
antitank weapon
based on the Skoda Pz38(t)
(t for “Tschechoslowakei”).
As tank losses in Russia
mounted, the Germans mastered
the ability of massproducing
AT weapons from
cereal boxes and rubber
bands; the Hetzer is a sturdy
and reliable product of Germany’s
industrial flexibility.
The warning order. Sergeant Pebble gathers his squad and lets them know what they will be
doing, and to prepare while he does a visual reconnaissance and starts coordinating with the forward
platoons. They’ve done it before, so the briefing is probably brief and light on details they
already know. And probably laced with profanities. The squad sings a stanza of “How f----d are
we now?” and the patrol leader snares a map at company HQ (see map) and visits the 3rd platoon
leader (see map) to coordinate. Then he finds a covered and concealed route to visit the two OPs
on the OPL to take a peek at the area beyond.
Q: Why does the patrol leader visit the line platoon leader(s)? A: Because he is taking a
recon patrol beyond the outpost line, moving out of the security zone. The line platoons
and the OP’s have to be in on the joke, or the patrol might be brought under fire by
jumpy soldiers. This counts as an essential coordination step. Don’t forget it or blow it
off.
3 Self propelled antitank.
6