BIG-SCALE ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 190, 11 May 1942, Page 4

BIG-SCALE ATTACK

Offensive Operation By Brigade INFANTRY AND TANKS Tho largest concentration of modern British infantry support tanks yet seen in New Zealand was engaged in exercises carried out in the Northern Military District a few days ago, the principal operation of which, a brigade attack against an organized defensive position, was a practice of co-operation between infantry and support tanks. Zero-hour saw artillery begin the operation over «i fairly wide front of undulating country with intense fire simulated by the explosion of gelignite at various points being shelled. Shortly after, the first tanks appeared and came under anti-tank fire. The din of battle was produced with the whine and rumble of tanks, the sharper whine of the Bren gun carriers, the smack of blank rounds of small arms ammunition and the explosion of gelignite.

The technicality of modern warfare has never been more plain, in operations in New Zealand. Supply lines stretched for miles; there were firstaid sections, light aid repair detachments, engineers and a mass of other units subsidiary to the main force, each with a job to do. The operation was realistic, as were tho practices preceding it, aud conducted strictly in the, light of experience overseas in this war. Major-General 11. E. Barrowclough. D. 5.0., M.C., Northern Divisional Commander, his brigade commander in the exercise Brigadier G. Dittmer, D. 5.0., M.C., and senior and other officers of the tank units participating, had gained their experience on hard fields overseas, and brought it to New Zealand. Enemy Attacked.

Tlie operation assumed that an enemy force bad landed and won through to a compact position astride one of the main highways leading to Auckland. There it had dug in, waiting to make a junction with a further large force which, liad«landed. behind it. The divisional commander decided that a brigade should destroy this first force before the junction was made and ordered Brigadier Dittmer to attack. The lighting troops started, off from positions which had been occupied at night. The move was in complete darkness, without lights, and few mishaps resulted. Many taking part had little sleep before starting off, except what broken rest they could, get under trees, beside hedges, In vehicles and even under a shop verandah on piles of sacks left there by the shopkeeper. Tlie exercise was meant to be tough, and it was. Everybody was tested. Infantry, most of them wet through to the thighs, charged and crawled over a mile and a half of difficult country.

In the past New Zealand Army Tank battalions and the brigade groups with which they would operate have been separately trained 1 . "They have not hitherto carried out such an exercise as this in co-operation. This final exercise, the culminating operation of a fortnight's hard training together, will, it is hoped, achieve the result of firmly linking the participating artil--lery, tank and infantry formations. Tlie exercise was nob intended as a spectacular demonstration, but scientific, and a lesson of the utmost value against the day when what is taught might have to be done in actual wa rfa re. Damage to fences and pastures was unavoidable, but any battles fought in New Zealand will not be confined to unfenced, abandoned open spaces.