Autumn Forge, Sept.  1978... cont.
Planning is crucial to any operation, and during the operation itself plans are altered.  Here, B Co. Commander Capt. Estrada (right) goes over changes with 2nd Plt Ldr Lt. Shirk.  The Plt Ldr is wearing the issue summer coveralls with rank and name tapes applied.  The Company Cdr is wearing the British-issued chemical warfare NBC suit, which found its way into a number of NATO units at that time.  A close look at his left shoulder reveals the orange arm band worn by the "Opfor" troops.  The vehicle is an M-151 Jeep, the inheritor of the famous WW II Willey's Jeep.  Few know that during WW II, the Jeep was actually called the Peep, a term used extensively in combat reports but which never caught on.
The attack presses southward, the tank elements joined in combined arms teams with mechanized infantry.  During WW II, many units referred to this as being "married."   It is such combined arms action which leads to success in battle. 

"Orders were issued to the Company Commanders of the Task Force at 0900:  'The Force moves at 1100 to seize and secure a crossing of the Dortmund-Ems-Canal.  "C" Companies (married) will lead the Force finding a route that is passable keeping North of main road along canal...."
 
After Action Report, 81st Tank Bn (5th AD) Apr. 1945, in preparation to engaging the Clausewitz Panzer  Division.
The attack continues, resembling more of a pursuit.  Tanks and mechanized vehicles are rapidly deployed and move at full speed cross country.  The M-60a1 can do 20 mph over such terrain as depicted here.  Of course, the M-1 can go faster due to its excellent horsepower to weight ratio.  These photos graphically demonstrate the difference in the ground one finds normally in Germany versus what is found at churned up training areas like Hohenfels.  Major maneuvers such as Autumn Forge are conducted in the Fall, after German farmers have harvested their crops.  Nevertheless, maneuver damage can be quite heavy, both to those crops still in the field and infrastructure.
The attack begins to warrant unwelcome attention from enemy air units, both fast movers and helicopters.  As TF 2/32 halts to perform maintenance and to refuel, it is necessary to hide and camouflage vehicles.  Cutting branches for the vehicles was forbidden during these exercses... but done nevertheless by the crews. 

In the right photo, the tank commander (Sgt Strubble) in the forground wears the standard issue winter coveralls.  These were looser than the summer version, and considered more comfortable.  He is also wearing a hip holster for his .45 caliber M-1911 automatic, instead of the standard issue shoulder holster.
Tanks were pulled as far off of the back trails as possible, since aircraft could still see through gaps in the trees.  In a real conflict, this tank would have been pulled further into the woods and more foliage applied to the left sponson area.  Also, this photo clearly reveals the prominent orange "meatball" on the front slope.

Another aspect of hiding is that track and wheel marks must be worked over as to not be visible from the air... or to be made visible in an effort to mislead aircraft away from where tanks are really hiding.

With refueling over, the attack continues!



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