Troops in River Crossing Exercise

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 25, 30 January 1943, Page 4

Troops in River Crossing Exercise

“BATTLE’* FOR WANGANUI Dive-bombers roaring out of the skies, the rattle of rifle Are, the staccato chatter of the Bren gun and the crash of high explosives—these at dawn yesterday accompanied a “battle” for Wanganui in which troops from Wellington, Taran&lii, Wanganui, Mana, watu and Hawke’s Bay took part. Involving the crossing of the Wanganui River by two battalions of troops before dawn, and moving at a fast pace, the manoeuvres illustrated the high degree of co-ordination necessary in « modern army and the fitness of the men participating. For the purposes of the exercise it was assumed that a Japanese force had landed on the coast and had taken control of the Wanganui City area on the west bank of the river up to a point near the Aramolio railway bridge. The part of the enemy was played by area troops stationed in the Wanganui district; the defence troops were units of a brigade. To drive the enemy to the aca u dawn attack was carried out, the river being crossed in assault and folding boats. For purposes of reconnaissance and to form a minor bridgehead for the main body’s assault, parties crossed the river at three points at. 10 o’clock on Wednesday night. Two types of craft were used for the river assault. Folding boats manned by two sappers transported seven fully-equipped men, large assault boats carrying five sappers and 16 men. Crossing the river and roturni ing took each boat approximately five and a half minutes and two cbmpanies were transported in about 11 minutes. I i Using these types of assault boats, about 800 fully-equipped troops could be ferried over the river in an hour. The manoeuvres were extensive, involving the use of infantry troops and engineers and the theoretical support of tanks and artillery. While the first assault troops crossed the river a party of signallers was at work laying a submarine telephone cable connecting a position on the west bank to brigade headquarters, situated some distance back on the other side of the river. A.s dawn was lighting the sky the first assault boats left the east bank and made tne crossing in good time. Complete silence was necessary in this stage of the operations and the men moved about their work quickly but very quietly. A Taranaki regiment made the first crossing and formed a strong bridgehead on the opposite bank. It was followed by a Wellington-West Coast regiment, which passed through the bridgehead and took up positions on the right flank. At 4.30 a.m. the attack proper began and by five o’clock the enemy had been driven back beloiv Brunswick Road. A har-ty organisation was made by the attacking force when the intermediate objective of Brunswick, corner had been reached, and an

assessment of casualties was made. Wounded were evacuated to an advanced dressing station on the east bank of the river. Half an hour after the second phase of the attack had begun, at 5.15 a.m.. territory down to Kaikokopu Road, haP a mile below Brunswick Road, was in the attackers’ hands. The rattle of rifle fire awoke echoes along the river as troops clashed in street fighting in Aramoho township. Driving the invaders from the shopping area presented many difficulties, but was accom plished after fierce hand-to-hand fighting in which severe casualties were suffered by both sides. It was full daylight when the attackers advanced to a liu* represented by Virginia Road and Lowther Street. An overwhelming attack enabled the aggressor force to carry on to the last phase, which entailed the capture of high ground east, south and west of Virginia Lake. Here the battalions consolidated the ground won, fighting and reconnaissance patrols being sent forward to the limit of the objective. Commanding officers who directed the manoeuvres expressed the opinion that the exercise had been a valuable one and had gone as smoothly as was expected, although some of the troops had little previous experience in rivercrossing operations. The manoeuvres concluded shortly after seven o’clock yesterday morning and hundreds of tired and hungry steel-heliueted men gathered beneath trees in Lowther Street to enjoy a wellearned breakfast prepared by; the field kitchens. —t .