[Lone Sentry: Ch. 8. Supply and Evacuation | FM 6-20: Tactical Employment - Field Artillery Field Manual]
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FM 6-20: Tactical Employment
Field Artillery Field Manual, War Department, February 5, 1944
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from a WWII U.S. War Department Field Manual. As with all field manuals, the text may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the contents of the field manual. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]


CHAPTER 8
SUPPLY AND EVACUATION

Section I
AMMUNITION SUPPLY

112. GENERAL. Details of supply procedure are covered in FM 100-10 and 101-10. For duties and responsibilities of artillery commanders and staffs in supply, see FM 6-100 and 6-101.

113. CLASS V SUPPLY.

a. General. The supply of ammunition for large units is ordinarily on a credit basis. Distribution is normally made by battalion ammunition trains operating directly from army supply points to battalion position areas.

b. Estimate of requirements. The artillery officer of the echelon conducting the operation makes the estimate of ammunition requirements. He confers with the G-4 and the ordnance officer of the echelon in drawing up his recommendation. He maintains close liaison with them to insure prompt and appropriate changes in allocations, to recommend initial locations and changes in locations of ammunition supply points, and to make certain that adequate stockages are maintained at the supply points.

c. Allocation. The force commander allocates artillery ammunition upon recommendation of the artillery officer. The allocations depend on amount available, type of operation, the missions assigned to the different subordinate echelons, and, in some cases, on the proportion of credit that is to be retained as a reserve.

d. Information on ammunition supply. Artillery commanders must promptly transmit to their staffs and subordinate commanders information concerning—

(1) Allocations.

(2) Location and hour of opening of ammunition office and supply point.

(3) Procedure in drawing ammunition.

(4) Restrictions as to routes or time of drawing.

(5) Amounts to be dumped at gun positions.

(6) Time of submission of ammunition reports and the periods they are to include.

e. Haulage of ammunition. The artillery ammunition supply plan must provide sufficient ammunition to enable the unit to execute all required missions from a given position, displace with its normal loads intact, and leave little, if any, ammunition behind. Haulage plans should permit delivery to the unit of all ammunition that it will expend prior to displacement.

f. Ammunition dumps. The order prescribing the establishment of an ammunition dump includes its location and the amount of ammunition to be stocked there. Prior to prescribing that dumps be established, the artillery commander obtains the approval of the force commander. The location should be beyond the range of hostile light artillery.

g. Ammunition reports. Ammunition reports are of great assistance in the preparation of estimates of ammunition requirements, stockages at supply points, traffic, and transportation needs. The reports detail the ammunition status at the beginning of the period, the receipts and expenditures during the period, and the balance on hand at the close of the period. Consolidation of reports is made at each echelon headquarters prior to forwarding a report to the next higher artillery commander. A copy of the consolidated report is furnished to the echelon G-4 and to the ordnance office. Reports are expedited if battalions are required to submit a report of expenditures only.

Section II
MAINTENANCE AND SALVAGE

114. MAINTENANCE. Corps ordnance repair units inspect damaged artillery matériel and either repair or replace it. Division ordnance units are usually equipped to furnish only inspection service and to make minor repairs of artillery matériel. First and second echelon maintenance of motor transportation are functions of the combat unit (FM 25-10). Higher echelon maintenance is performed by the ordnance (FM 9-5). Damaged vehicles, after inspection, are either repaired or replaced.

115. SALVAGE.

a. General. The prompt salvage of equipment which has been abandoned on the battlefield and in bivouac areas, exploitation of captured supplies, and utilization of waste materials are important measures for conservation of military resources (FM 100-10). Salvage points are designated in administrative orders and are operated by the quartermaster. Unit commanders are responsible for the collection of salvage within their areas and for its delivery to salvage points. The S-1 section compiles and forwards reports of captured and salvaged materials. The S-4 section is charged with collection and delivery to the salvage point. Salvage operations must never be permitted to impede normal combat or supply functions.

b. Salvage of ammunition. The difficulties of ammunition supply make it imperative that ammunition left in abandoned positions and supply installations be salvaged. When an artillery unit must abandon ammunition upon displacing, the munitions officer reports the amount and location to the munitions officer of the next higher echelon.

 


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