CHAPTER VI
Conclusions
Supply was no great problem to the company commanders of the 709th Tank Battalion. The Battalion S-4 brought the supplies to the company area each night. Light tanks were used at times to carry supplies forward and also to evacuate the wounded. In the operation the tank companies kept on hand 2 days reserve rations, one and a half days oil and gas, and one day of fire in ammunition.
During the battle of HURTGEN FOREST the 709th Tank Battalion discovered that some infantry officers were not acquainted with the capabilities and limitations of armor. On one occasion the infantry requested that tanks attack at night over unreconnoitered terrain. In the town fighting in HÜRTGEN the tankers felt that had the infantry preceded the tanks by 3 or 4 houses the infantry would have been well supported and tanks would not have been lost to enemy bazookas.
The abundance of German artillery made it expeditious for the noise of movement of armor to be covered by artillery fire in front of the area. German artillery fire also hampered the movement of infantry commanders while directing the attack. One Infantry battalion commander found that by using a light tank as a mobile command post he could more effectively control his companies in the attack.
The winter conditions adversely affected the normal operation of equipment. Tank turrets had to be worked constantly to prevent them from freezing in the cold weather. Tank tracks would freeze to the ground and break if the tanks were not moved frequently. A great deal of difficulty was experienced with sights and periscopes freezing over. Frost on the drivers vision slot was particularly troublesome as it blinded the driver when buttoned up and made him entirely dependent for directions on the tank commander.
Prior to the HÜRTGEN action 19 AN/VRC-3 (tank SCR 300) radios were installed in tanks of the 709th. They were used successfully in operation with the infantry. Radios frequently went out during the operation but quick repair by skilled communications personnel minimized the problem.
