The following is Operational Instruction Number 5, issued
by the 270th Engineer Combat Battalion on February 14th. It details
the action the Battalion was to take in case of an enemy
counter-attack during the upcoming offensive.
SECRET
HEADQUARTERS
270th ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION
APO 461 U.S.ARMY
OPERATING INSTRUCTION
NO. 5
14 FEBRUARY 1945
PLAN FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM MERLEBACH
1. Upon receipt of warning orders that
attack of this vicinity by the enemy is imminent the following
action will be taken:
A. Bn Hq. and H/S Co. will:
1. Commence loading all equipment (personal and organizational) on
vehicles.
2. Gather all materials to be abandoned in one location for
disposal.
3. Dispose of all classified documents, not to be carried by
withdrawing troops, by the use of thermite grenades.
4. Load up on trucks ready to move.
5. Truck convoy will be made up with H/S Co. weapons carrier at
tail of column. S-3 weapons carrier will be second from rear of
column.
6. The .50 cal. MG will be mounted in the rear of H/S Co. weapons
carrier and will be manned at all times.
7. One bazooka team will be in the H/S Co. weapons carrier and one
bazooka team will be in the S-3 weapons carrier.
B. Members of the Recon. Section will immediately move
forward in the direction of the reported attack and report
progress on enemy by radio to Bn. Hq.
C. Reconnaissance Troop will immediately send out a
protective screen of troops to the north and North-East of
Merlebach.
D. Company C will assemble all troops not engaged in
barrier plan execution and deploy them, with available weapons in
the vicinity of Bn. Hq., these troops will, if necessary, perform
a holding action until Bn. Hq. has cleared the area.
E. Line Companies will prepare to execute barrier plan.
2. Upon receipt of alert orders from Recon. Section (when
attack of Merlebach appears immenent) the following action will be
taken:
A. Recon. Section will return to Bn. Hq.
B. Hq. and H/S Co. convoy will move out of Merlebach
over route A (see overlay) to Lixing Les-St. Avold. If route A is
not available for withdrawal, due to enemy action, the convoy will
follow alternate route B (see overlay).
C. Line Co. Hq. will move to Lixing Les-St. Avold.
D.M. Matheson
Major CE
Commanding
Official:
(Signature)
R.P. Murphy
Major CE
S-3
