NARRATIVE
"THE
STONE FOREST" (Steinwald)
"THE STONE FOREST" (Steinwald)
Increasing political unrest and economic turmoil within the WARSAW PACT has resulted in mobilization of Second Western Front forces. SACEUR responded by mobilizing both CENTAG and NORTHAG. As part of X Corps, the 23d Armored Division occupied GDP positions facing the immediate threat from the Second Western Front. This threat consisted of the 1st Guards Tank Army identified in assembly areas east of the Inter-German border around Marienbad. The United States began deployment of those heavy forces earmarked with Reforger missions. Based upon his mission analysis, SACEUR requested and received from the GSA immediate deployment of the 21st Infantry Division (LT). Upon their arrival in the theater, they were immediately assigned to CENTAG and attached to X Corps. Discovering that the light division arrived without augmentation, the Corps commander decided to attach the light brigades to his in place divisions believing this would ease support problems. The 23d Armored Division commander, also concerned with the missing augmentation and needing a stronger reserve, attached light battalions to his forward deployed brigades.
Major Batista, the Brigade S3, still couldn't believe the change in task organization. It was extraordinary--release a tank battalion and receive a light infantry battalion without a change in mission.
"The defensive sector would remain the same," the G3 had stated, without a waiver in his voice.
Throughout the S3's military education (Armor Officer Basic, Armor Officer Advanced Course, and Command and General Staff College), light forces were usually discussed only as an afterthought and never integrated into any combat scenarios involving heavy brigades. Now as the operations officer for the 1st Brigade, 23d Armor Division, he was expected to offer the commander some "feasible" courses of action concerning what to do with a light battalion of dismounted infantry. He wasn't even sure how many men or what types of weapons were in the battalion.
Major Batista arrived at the new BDE TOC site just as the last camouflage nets were put in place. He told SGM Cosby to round up the S2, assistant S3, and the rest of the planning staff and meet him at the barn. He knew he had about two hours before the old man would return from his visit with the battalions. In that time he had to assemble the facts and develop the courses of action for the commander's decision. After everyone arrived, he laid out the planning guidance and quickly issued instructions. Ignoring the assistant 3's comment on making the light infantry battalion replacements for the mech battalion's Bradley squads, Major Batista directed that he find out the organization, operational ready rate, and the capabilities and limitations of the light infantry battalion.
Grabbing the S4, Major Steinberg, who had just returned from the Forward Support Battalion, (FSB), the S3 read him in on the loss of 1-11 Armor and the gain of 2-74 IN(LT). The infantry battalion had recently arrived from CONUS and was in an assembly area within the Division rear area. Major Batista established Steinberg's first priority. He needed to find transportation so that once the old man selected the course of action, the infantry battalion could quickly be moved into position.
Steinberg immediately responded, "Hell, Bob, let them walk." Batista glared up from his notes saying, "They are at the division rear which must be sixty to seventy kilometers from here. Even if they were supermen it would take two or three days for them to walk here."
The assistant S3, trying to redeem himself from his earlier comment, chimed in, "If I remember right from Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the best they can do in twenty-four hours is twenty to thirty-two kilometers. That means it would only take them three and half days. Think we can get the enemy to wait?" Batista smiled and told the S4, "Just get the trucks."
The S4 began to realize that wherever they were transported, they would then be restricted to their organic transportation assets to move them about the battlefield. He wondered if these guys had any trucks at all.
As the staff departed the TOC, Major Batista began reviewing the present operation. The loss of 1-11 Armor stripped the brigade of its reserve and reduced its flexibility. Knowing the brigade commander, Colonel Madison's, standard guidance, he had to develop courses of action that had a task force size reserve and could maintain brigade level mobility and flexibility. Batista wrestled with the changes in METT-T caused by the attachment of the light battalion.
| "The
light infantryman is trained to kill the enemy, using the knife, bayonet, garrot,
and his bare hands, as well as the rifle and grenade. Each light infantryman
is an aggressive and skilled fighter who adds to his effectiveness through
teamwork and superior close combat tactics." |
Initially, the S3 considered assigning 2-74, IN(LT) to TF 1-10 Armor's sector and moving TF 1-10 to BP23.That would give the commander his counterattack force as well as give the infantry good close terrain that would enhance their defense. He eliminated this because of the high speed avenues of approach in the west of the brigade sector and felt that the enemy could use those avenues and bypass the light battalion's main defensive effort.
Secondly, Batista considered a change in task organization and deploying the three battalions abreast. He knew this violated COL Madison's guidance, but by having three battalions defend abreast, the sectors would be sufficiently narrowed so that 2-74 IN(LT) could handle the wooded area. The tank and mech battalions could then cover the high speed avenues in the west and east.
Finally, Batista decided that the G3 was wrong about the brigade sector. He didn't know the ground. The boundary had to be changed so the light battalion could occupy the Steinwald in order to deny that area to the enemy. The rest of the combat power in the brigade could cover the eastern avenue of approach and still maintain flexibility with a reserve. This became the third course of action, but to implement it COL Madison had to go to the division commander and get the western boundary changed.
Light Infantry Battalion Mobility in Restrictive Terrain Close Terrain and Limited Visibility can be Combat Multipliers for Light Infantry Conserve Strength of the Light Battalion due to the effects of soldier load and physical strain Maintain a TF Size Reserve |
COL Madison always had an easy wit and a fine sense of perspective. When Batista broke the news to him that 1-11 Armor was to be part of the Division reserve and a light infantry battalion was to be attached, Madison chuckled and said, "No Bob, I wanted a Bud Light!" Batista quickly said he wasn't fooling and filled in his commander on the new task organization and courses of action. COL Madison quickly grasped the situation and summarized the missions for the subordinate task forces.
Allow Enemy Controlled Success to Establish a Counterattack Opportunity
Light Infantry must Deny Enemy use of the Steinwald
The order would assign 2-74 a defense in sector centering on the Steinwald. Their mission would be to deny the enemy use of the Steinwald, and in so doing, protect the flanks of the task forces around Erbendorf. TF 1-91 would initially delay in sector allowing the enemy to penetrate up to the Erbendorf bowl where they would occupy a battle position next to TF 1-10. The combined effect of both task forces around Erbendorf would stop the enemy attack and create an opportunity for the brigade to go on the offensive.
Provide a Light Infantry Battalion External Transport Establish a Permanent LNO |
Madison said that he'd convince the General to change the brigade's western boundary. He then launched into his priorities for action. "S4, get those light guys up here before dark ... find out their support requirements and be able to outline their log needs when I get back from Division. S3, get graphics, the concept and an LNO to the XO... XO make contact with the light battalion commander, give him the overview and get him up and looking at the sector ASAP, leave the LNO there to begin working with their S3."
Incorporate the Light Battalion into the R & S Plan Prepare 1-11 AR for their Next Mission |
"S1 get strength authorization and status so we know what we're getting ... S2 start reviewing the reconnaissance and surveillance plan. I think we can really put these guys to work .... Most of all don't forget 1-11 AR, we have to give the division a solid force. I'm off to Division and want the facts when I get back in a couple of hours; let's get crackin."
LTC Rockcastle was elated that the deployment of the infantry battalion had gone so well. Morale was high and the brigade had done a superior job planning and executing the emergency deployment to central Europe. Although the training base established for a relatively new light infantry division was one for low intensity conflict, the LTC knew that as an infantryman, one bullet fired in anger at you was high intensity.
Waiting and wondering was always the hardest part of being in the Army. He had expected to be attached to a combat heavy division and wished that the brigade had conducted more CPXs and other training associated with operating in a mechanized environment. It had been years since he had seen a tank up close. He didn't believe that infantrymen could ride on Ml tanks like MacDonald had described in his book, Company Commander.
Numerous rumors ran rampant through the staff and Rockcastle knew that orders had to be issued soon before the excitement started to diminish. His XO thought that the battalion would be used in a rear area security mode. Rockcastle had never been in combat and only a few of his senior NCOs wore the Combat Infantryman's Badge. He did know that his battalion was well trained and wanted a mission which would allow them to prove themselves.
His thoughts were interrupted by a commotion outside the two GP smalls which served as the battalion TOC. Going outside, he spotted a LTC and a CPT held at bay by the TOC security squad. Asking the young NCO what was going on, it seemed that the visitors didn't have the password and couldn't identify themselves. Rockcastle and the unidentified LTC began sorting out the problem. LTC Horn identified himself as the 1st Brigade, 23d Armored Division XO and produced his S0I. It seemed that 2-74 IN(LT) had received its SOIs from their parent organization, 21st IN DIV(LT), and couldn't communicate within the 23rd Armored Division. Both Horn and Rockcastle made a mental note to get their CESOs to correct this potential disaster.
The two LTCs quickly got down to business while the brigade LNO found the battalion S3. The XO told LTC Rockcastle that the brigade staff would be getting with his staff to establish liaison, begin coordination and to start supporting them like an organic battalion. "The S4 will be here with transportation to get the battalion into sector before dark." He gave LTC Rockcastle the Brigade Commander's concept and they conducted a map recon of the proposed sector that the light battalion would occupy. A smile came over LTC Rockcastle's face as he called to the S3 and battalion XO. LTC Horn listened as Rockcastle gave his planning guidance. He could see the enthusiasm and feel the confidence from the light battalion commander and his staff. When Rockcastle had finished clarifying some details, LTC Horn suggested they take off to meet COL Madison in the battalion's sector.
Table
of Contents
Cast
of Characters
Narrative,
Part 2
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