Appendix November 1944

During the month the Battalion fired its 10,000th round, which went out at 1159 and 30 seconds, 24 Nov. While there was a relatively small number of observed fire missions, consistent with the general nature of Corps Artillery missions, some of that number were notably interesting. One instance in the following:

At 1000 hrs, 8 Nov a mission of destroying a hedge, which obstructed the infantry, was assigned. Fire was delivered which, obliterating the hedge, disclosed a pill-box behind it. During the firing a machine gun emplacement, a bunker and an armored vehicle were revealed in the immediate vicinity. The first was destroyed, the second received several hits, at least two being in the interior, and the armored vehicle was splintered by fragments. The total expenditure was 31 rounds.

Approximately 175 rounds of hostile artillery fire fell in the area during the period, resulting in total damage of two wounded and one vehicle damaged. The heaviest concentration consisted of 150-mm and 170-mm, which fell in "C" Battery area during a period of just less than an hour on the morning of the 14th. No damage whatever was caused to personnel or materiel.