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LESSONS
The major lessons emphasized by this operation are as follows:
1.
An attack of a strongly defended river line requires careful and deliberate
planning.
2.
Weather and its affect on operations must always be considered. This is
particularly true in river crossings.
3.
Careful rehearsals with the supporting engineers must be made prior to a river
crossing. This is particularly important when the infantry has not had a recent experience in such
an operation and when the river line is strongly defended.
4.
When the attack has jumped off in a night river Crossing, a regimental
commander can do little to influence the action until daylight. Therefore, the initial missions
given the leading battalions must carry them well into the day.
5.
If the psychology of the enemy is conducive to the use of such tactics, the
bypassing a small groups of the enemy will allow these small groups be eliminated more easily
and will insure the arrival of the bulk of the combat elements on the objective at an earlier time.
6.
The defenses of a command of any size must be integrated into a unified defense.
No matter how good the positions of the component units may be, the defense of the larger unit
is materially weakened if the smaller unit positions are not welded into one integrated defense
plan.
7.
Security guards must be frequently inspected to ensure that they are alert in
performing their assigned mission.
8. There is an irreducible minimum in the amount of supplies required by units in
combat. This minimum must be delivered to the combat units at all costs, even if other combat
units have to be used to ensure delivery.
9.
Supporting artillery must have communication from front to rear, even if this
means that the infantry must share their means of communication.
10.
The value of a counterattack can be increased immeasurably if it strikes the
enemy at the correct moment.
11. A mine field containing adequate quantities of antitank and anti-personnel mines can
be an extremely effective obstacle when it is covered by fire. This is true of a large minefield
even when it is only lightly defended.
12.
When there is any possible danger of enemy sympathizers in front-line areas, the
civilians should be evacuated or closely controlled.
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