Evening star., 1941-07-06


AS the war in Europe has spread,
the value of all-mechanized fight
ing divisions to strike quickly and
effectively over all types of terrain
has been tested and proved. and
Uncle Sam now is rapidly forming
his own counterpart of the German
panzer divisions.
Thousands Of young men who
have grown to manhood during
the years when the United States
was assuming leadership of the
world in mechanical skill have
learned during the last year how
to operate and keep in operation
the hundreds of fighting vehicles
of the armored force ranging from
motorcycles to medium tanks.
Other Cadets Trained.
Vehicles of the lst Armored Di-
vision stationed here have travelled
approximately 9,OO0,O 900 miles dur
ing the year in tactical training
as cadres for other armored di-
visions were given basic training
at Fort Knox
Maj. Gen. Adna r. Chaffee, chief
OF the Nations armored forces and
daddy" of the plan for mechanical
units in the United States Army,
and his staff Of ofiicers-all sold"
on the value of such units-haVe
| worked out of the problems Of
establishing the divisions and get
ting them into operation.
Every man and officer of the
cadre which formed the 4th
Armored Division at Pine Camp,
N. Y, is graduate of the Fort
Knox school.
Fort Knox also is headquarters
Of the 1st Armored Corps, COM
manded by Maj. Gen. c. L. Scott
1t includes the 1st Division here
and the I'd at Fort Bennins, Ga.
The .lst Armored Division, under
the command of Maj. Gen. Bruce
Magruder, was expanded from the
old 7th Cavalry, mechanized brigade,
and attached organizations. The
old 7th was originally the lst Cav
airy, Oldest horse regiment in the
Army. and the 18th Cavalry.
Complete Fighting Unit.
An American armored division
is complete fighting unit as evi-
denced by the fact the 1st Division
is composed of the 1st Armored
Regiment 0ight, 18th Armored
Regiment 0ight, 69th Armored
Regiment (medium), 68th Field
Artillery Regiment, 9Th Infantry,
armored; 18th Observation Squad
ron, 18th Engineer Battalion, 47th
Medical Battalion, 47th Signal
Corps, 18th Quartermaster Corps,
18th Ordnance Corps and 9th Field
Artillery Battalion.
When the War Departments order
creating the armored force came
through last July, there were some
10000 men stationed here. Today
there are more than 10000 and In
few days 1000 selectees will be in.
Quoted at the armored force re-
placement center.
Since fully 80 per cent of the men
OF the armoured force are special
ists-mechanics, radio operators.
gunners and such-the first armored
force school was organized and
officers. enlisted men and selectees
from all parts of the country sent
here to study. The largest radio
school in the country is at the fort.
Because of the technical stress
of divisions, officers have found that
men with college or high school
educations or their equivalent are
best fitted for service.
12-Week Training Course.
The 1st Armored Division,
which by the way is looking for
snappy nickname to match the
I'd Divisions Hell on Wheels. +"
is composed of 12,700 officers and
men and has 5000 mechanical
vehicles, including tanks 0ight and
mediumD, trucks, motorcycles, scout
cars, armored cars, half track
armored cars, which are used as
scout cars and for hauling light
artillery pieces. jeeps and peeps.
The firing power of the division
consists of the Garand rifle, As
caliber pistols, submachine guns,
80 and so caliber machine guns
37-mm. guns, tanks and anti-tank
guns and anti-aircraft guns.
Every man in the division must
know how to handle all the vehicles
and guns. In addition, artillerymen
are required to operate rs and los
nm. mortars.
Raw recruits and selectees are
put through 12-week training
course at the replacement center
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