SCOUTING AND PATROLLING
Patrolling in the Jungle An officer with considerable experience in jungle patrolling gives this advice:
“Patrols are most likely to give away their presence in an area by their footprints.
“Shine from the smallest metal surface, such as a belt buckle, or a watch, must be avoided. A luminous watch constitutes a real danger.
“A white skin is most conspicuous, and the practice of some patrol members marching stripped to the waist is inviting trouble.
“Dark clothing is essential.
“Any noise, such as talking, coughing, spitting, etc., has to be treated as the greatest of all dangers.
“A man on patrol must learn to move silently, making every possible use of natural cover.”
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Don’t Forget the “Where”! Colonel Liversedge, U. S. Marine Corps, New Georgia: In many cases patrol leaders were able to report what they saw, but not where it was seen. In general, such information was valueless as locations could not be plotted on a map or aerial photo. This should be emphasized in training programs and is worth a special directive.”
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——or the “What”! Seventh Army Report, Sicily: “Men must be taught to recognize what they see when they are scanning the landscape. Unless properly trained they will not recognize enemy gun emplacements, strong points, and machine-gun nests.”
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Patrol Tips Staff Sergeant Richard E. Deland, Infantry, Sicily: “I was not taught to observe properly nor how to use the message blank.
“Position and camouflage are more important than I learned in the States. In training bear down on cover and concealment; bear down on the avoidance of the blundering approach, on patrols, on fire and maneuver—which are equally important.
“Battles move slowly; patrols can’t dash about.
“My battalion, instead of using ‘Scouts Out,’ used a full squad in wedge formation to do the job.”
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Size of Patrols Lieutenant Colonel W. A. Walker, Tank Destroyer Battalion Commander, Tunisia: “Many men were lost in Tunisia by using squad patrols. The Germans used stronger patrols and just gobbled them up. A patrol should be either a sneak patrol, small enough to escape detection, or a combat patrol, large enough to fight its way out of difficulty. Never allow one man to go out alone.
Say It With Pictures! “The value of hasty sketches illustrating reconnaissance reports was proved many times during this campaign, but it is difficult to get such sketches out of untrained personnel. All reconnaisance personnel should receive sketching training.”