the field artillery journal - Fort Sill - U.S. Army

against the 3d Division from the opposite direction had to be
broken up. It was here that operational control went into action.
Massed fires, where required and when required, were
effectively used. One morning a preparation was laid down by
the equivalent of seven battalions on a front of 1,000 yards in
front of the 1st Brigade on Orote Peninsula. On this occasion
the infantry advanced about 500 yards without finding
anything living in front. While we were taking care of the
threat from the opposite direction, we were able to keep a
minimum of four battalions on Orote at all times.
SECOND PHASE SUMMARY
During the second phase, when we were attacking northeast
from the beachhead with two divisions in line, the artillery
problem became a little more difficult. Although we could
breathe a sigh of relief that we had but one direction of fire to
worry about, the difficulties of displacement, with our motor
transport reduced in half and with insufficient wire teams, were
considerable. The advance, which began at an even rate, became
faster and faster. 155 howitzers often had to displace well
forward of the pack batteries, since these latter could give close
support up to the last minute while the mediums had to jump a
good distance each time to avoid too frequent displacements. An
area would be picked out and the reconnaissance party would
find that the front lines were still engaged there. One 155
howitzer battalion went into position before the infantry were
done mopping it up, and killed nearly fifty enemy snipers while
attending to their regular fire missions.
Ammunition dumps in rear, with only the one precarious
route around Apra Harbor going from south to north and with
the mud impossibly deep, just had to be abandoned. An
ammunition ship was brought around to the very small channel
facing Agana. The DUKWs saved the day by working like
beavers and unloading her directly into the battery dumps.
If wire was out we used radio. To move one battalion the
Corps Artillery often had to borrow motor transport from all
the other battalions. Observation posts which were doing a lot
of business one day would be out of it the next.
Nevertheless, we managed somehow, and the "serenade"
was kept up day and night. At one time we massed seven
battalions, four of which were 155s, on one target in front of
the 77th Division. Infantry which went through that area
testified to the complete destruction of the target area.
When our sweating gunners had fired their last round and
began to overhaul their pieces, there was that in their beaming
faces which said, "The artillery has done its job."
"Long Toms" reached out to help batter the Nips at long ranges, on this sizable island.
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KEEP BEARINGS WRAPPED
Bearings are still among "the chosen few" at the top of the list of critical items used by the army.
Therefore, constant attention to maintenance practices in the use and handling of bearings is one of the
important duties of army personnel whose responsibilities involve operation and maintenance of
mechanical equipment on which they are used. And no less important than their proper use in service is
their handling before installation.
A common failing in this phase of operation is the tendency to take bearings out of the wrappers
before they are ready for installation, or to fail to wrap them when they are being stored.
An unwrapped bearing hasn't got a chance against its mortal enemies—sand, grit, rust, and
breakage—for it only takes a couple of grains of sand to score a bearing and turn it into a piece of scrap.
A bearing stored in a bin without wrapping is subject to a constant shower of particles of sand and grit
sifting down from items thrown in on top of it. A bearing placed on the running board of a vehicle or on
a dirty workbench can pick up enough grit in one instant to ruin it in short order. Moisture from the
hands will cause rusting as suerly as if the bearing were dipped in a pail of water, when there is no
protective wrapping.
There are, of course, numerous other danger points in handling bearings which are equally vital.
They must always be properly cleaned and lubricated, and in this regard it is essential that dry-cleaning
solvents and lubricants be clean. Lubricant containers should therefore be kept covered as much as
possible, to prevent dust and grit from settling and blowing into them. Hands, benches, rags, tools—
everything that touches the bearing—must be kept clean.
Lubrication Orders and instructions in technical manuals must be followed to the letter, so that
bearings are installed and lubricated properly.
Bearings are scarce—they must be protected. And the wrapping is one of the most important forms
of protection. A bearing that is unwrapped for any reason should be wrapped again before storing. A
bearing should never be issued unwrapped. Anyone who receives an unwrapped bearing should wrap it
before storing. Bearings must be kept wrapped at all times—right up until the time they are installed.