Mechanised War

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 13 (Supplement)

Mechanised War

MOTORISED UNITS IN AMERICA ■■ / A remarkable demonstration has been provided in the United States of the value of mechanised transport of an army." A . motorised military unit, comprising ' 9200 men and 1000 tons of equipment and supplies, was transported along 326 miles of country irOads by 1108 motor .vehicles in the wonderful ; time of 12h.'65m,' The occasion was the breaking ol nainp after military manoeuvres in North Texas, the whole division rolling along the roads in a column 40 miles Jong,*to its destination at San Antonio. IHeavv guiua were included in the cava Icade, these units being drawn behind high powered motor trucks. Orders were wirelessed to regimental commanders from mobile radio outfits accompanying the column. The early average speed set was oU miles per hour. By 7.45 a.m., the head of the column was 52 miles out from the bivouac area. After lomm. rest, whistles blew and the long column moved forward once more. A halt tor fuel was called at noon. A fleet or petrol tankers poured fuel into the tanks of trucks, etc.. at the rate of bu gallons a minute. The vehicles were refuelled at the rate of 87 every 1U minutes. During the stay, the troops, with their faces masked in dust, munched their sandwiches. After a halt of 80mm., the column moved on again. By 4 p.m. the cav cade had travelled 254 miles, and 12hrs. 55m ins. after breaking camp, had reached its destination. The average ppeed of the great bulk of the column was almost 25 miles per hour, and included all Jitops. There were only two slight accidents during the motorised march, and of the 50 odd vehicles that ffell out of line, most of them for minor repairs, the majority rejoined the column after attention by the mobile maintenance brigade. , . , - All told, the 1108 motor vehicles consumed some 40,000 gallons of petrol dU Although the initial speed of tho 40 miles long column was 30 miles per hour on sections of the route during the afternoon run, the average speed was stepped up to 35 miles per hour, and still the huge cavalcade retained its formation, lhe achievement is regarded as one of the most successful and' remarkable motorised marches in military annals.