BRITISH ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2

 CONTENT OF ORDERS

INFORMATION

1.  Enemy.

2.  Own Troops.

i.    Situation

ii.   Intentions of the higher commander

iii.  Plan of the formation

iv.  Boundaries

More conveniently shown on a trace

v.   Action of artillery of flank formations

vi.  Additional artillery placed under command of the artillery commander issuing the order

INTENTION

3.  Short general statement of the artillery plan.

METHOD

Use of paragraphs 4 - 10 and their sub-paragraphs depend on circumstances and the type of operation, guidance was given on which elements were required in what circumstances

4.  Allotment and control of the artillery.

5.  Preparatory.

i.   Reconnaissance including patrols

ii.   Preliminary moves and rendezvous, including times, routes, pace

iii.  Allotment of O.P. areas or sites

More conveniently shown on a trace

iv. Allotment of air O.Ps.

v.  Allotment of gun positions or areas

More conveniently shown on a trace

vi. Methods of occupation

vii. Zones

More conveniently shown on a trace

viii.Registration

ix.  Alternative, temporary and silent positions

x.   Local protection

6. Tasks.

Often best shown on traces or task tables 

In attack

i.    Artillery preparation, including harassing fire

ii.   Method of support, including ammunition to be expended

iii.  Counter-battery

iv.  Anti-tank

v.   Light anti-aircraft

In defence

vi.  Harassing fire, including ammunition allotment

vii. Defensive fire, including method of response and ammunition allotment

viii.Anti-tank

ix.   Light anti-aircraft

x.    Counter-battery

xi.   Plan for reinforcing a front attacked by fire from other fronts

xii.  Planned support of counter-attacks

7. Forward moves in attack.

i.    Decentralization of units to lower formations

ii.   Method of support after end of timed programme

iii.  Forward reconnaissance

How done

iv.  Establishment of O. Ps. forward

v.   Forward moves of batteries including routes

vi.  Areas allotted

More conveniently shown on a trace

8.  Rearward moves in withdrawal

i.    Reconnaissance parties, including place to report, route, time

ii.   Decentralization of forward units

iii.  Rearward moves of batteries including route, rendezvous, and guides

iv. Areas allotted

More conveniently shown on a trace

v.  Re-centralization in rear areas

9.  Survey.

i.    Tasks in order of priority

ii.   Grid to be used, permanent, corps, etc

iii.  Allotment of troops

iv.  Zones of observation for flash-spotting and sound ranging

v.   Time available

vi.  Location of report centres

vii.  Where R.E. information can be obtained

10. RAF

i.    Allotment of arty/R and time to begin

ii.   Allotment of reconnaissance areas, call signs, and frequencies

iii.  Calls to be sent in order of priority. Responsibility for answering air calls

v.   Scale of ammunition expenditure

vi.  Arrangements for allotted batteries pre-arranges shoots

vii. Photographic demands

ADMINISTRATION

Paragraphs 11 iv., 13 - 17 may be issued separately

11.  Ammunition

i.    Dumping

ii.   Supply

iii.  Special shell

iv.  Location of A.P. or R.A.S.C. sub-unit concerned

12. Wagon Lines - Area or location

13. Supplies - Supply point and times

14. Petrol - Petrol point and times

15. Ordnance - Location of workshop and recovery post

16.  Medical - Location of D.S. C.Ps, R.A.P.

17.  Traffic Control - Routes

INTERCOMMUNICATION

18.

i.   Location of artillery H.Q. issuing the orders and time of opening

ii.  Location of H.Q. formation or unit supported

iii. Orders for location and moves of subordinate H.Qs.

iv. Method of communication to be employed

v. Wireless - special orders

vi. Communication to cooperating units or formations

vii. Liaison - how done

viii.Synchronization of watches

x.  Code names, call signs, etc

Usually issued separately

19.  RAF

i.    Method of communication to aerodrome or advanced landing ground

ii.   Allotment of wireless tenders, if any

iii.  Location R.A. H.Q. ground set

iv.  Orders to pilot to listen to R.A. H.Q. wireless tender when available

DISTRIBUTION

Of the orders

Information

1.  Enemy

2.  Own Troops

Including location of HQs of other arms

3.  Outline Plan

Intention

4.  Role of regiment or battery

Method

5.  Zones
     (a) Fire
     (b) Observation
     (c) Anti-tank

Normally the bearings of the left and right arcs

6.  OPs to be established

7.  Tasks

8.  RVs

Rendezvous for 'O', 'G', Bty HQ parties and Gun Groups if not previously ordered.  See detailed establishment tables linked from 'Organisations' for their composition

9.  Regimental/battery areas

10. Shoot down to

Minimum range required, determined by local crests at gun positions.

11. Routes

12. Track discipline

13. Registration

Policy and degree, eg silent only or range and record DF targets.

14. Regiment or battery zero line

15. Survey

Tasks, priority, accuracy, timings

16. FOOs

Outline, see separate detailed orders below

17. Air co-operation
      (a) Arty/R
      (b) AOP

18. Time to be ready

19. Time and place of issue of final orders for fire plan

Administration

20. Ammunition

Including movement of ammunition group

21. Wagon lines

22. B Echelon

23. Petrol and supplies

24. Medical

Location of RAP, MDS, etc

25. EME

Location of LAD, recovery vehicles, etc

Intercommunication

26.  RHQ

Location

27. Signal lay-out

28. Light signals

29. Liaison with other units

30. Sychronize

Time, everyone ensures their watches are set to the same time.

Any Questions?

Invited

Tactical Situation

1.  Information

Enemy and own troops

2.  General plan of attack

3.  Role of unit FOO to support and location of their HQ

4.  Zero hour

5.  Location of batteries and OPs

6.  Zero lines and zones

7.  Future moves of artillery

8.  Likely forward OPs

Task

1.  Delegation of control

Batteries available

2.  Restrictions on ammunition expenditure

Scale to be used

Communications

1.  Wireless, line and visual

2.  Signal personnel available

General Arrangements

1.  Means of transport

2.  Kit and rations

3.  Time to stay out

Reliefs, etc.

Any Questions?

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