Mission-type orders

[CV9040C]

To what extent did the US Army of WW2 use mission-type orders?

 

I found two essays on the subject:

General George S. Patton, Jr.: master of operational battle command. What lasting battle command lessons can we learn from him?

Patton, Third Army and operational maneuver.

 

When I read the conclusions of these essays it appears to me that Patton actually used what is today called mission-type orders, or at least the fundamentals.

 

Would you agree?

 

And what about other formations than those under Patton's command?

[Harry Yeide]

Patton on 1 August 1944 concisely told Maj. Gen. Robert Grow, commanding the 6th Armored Division, “Take Brest.” In five days, Patton added. I'd say so.

[Ken Estes]

Russell Weigley, the late dean of US military history said so in many ways in his Eisenhower's Lieutenants. I specifically

asked him that at lunch back in 1986 and he confirmed it, with great clarity. Of course, doing it with an expanded army trained on the fly left many imperfect officers to execute it and many an imperfect instrument for many officers capable of leading that way.

[Redbeard]

You can surely find a lot of "mission order" like thinking and execution in the WWII US Army, but it is still my impression that manoeuvring say a battalion or regiment required paperwork (with detailed instructions) far exceeding that of contemporary German army. A US Divisional staff also appear to be a big lump of meat(fat) on the Divisional tail.

 

Regards

 

Steffen Redbeard

[CV9040C]

Patton on 1 August 1944 concisely told Maj. Gen. Robert Grow, commanding the 6th Armored Division, “Take Brest.” In five days, Patton added. I'd say so.

I am not questioning that, but do you have a source? I am asking since I am writing an essay and if I write something like that I must give a source. I'm supposed to write about an example of maneuver warfare. I feel that Israel's victories and the "Blitzkrieg"-campaigns taste a bit too much vanilla. I am thinking about examining maneuver aspects of Operation Cobra, the Lorraine Campaign or the Battle of the Bulge.

 

Here's another interesting essay I read the other day:

The Lorraine Campaign: An overview, September-December 1944

It states that John Wood of 4th Armored Division used mission-type orders though it does not elaborate on how.

 

Thank you for your replies this far.

Edited December 30, 2007 by CV9040C

[Conall]

I am not questioning that, but do you have a source? I am asking since I am writing an essay and if I write something like that I must give a source. I'm supposed to write about an example of maneuver warfare. I feel that Israel's victories and the "Blitzkrieg"-campaigns taste a bit too much vanilla. I am thinking about examining maneuver aspects of Operation Cobra, the Lorraine Campaign or the Battle of the Bulge.

 

Here's another interesting essay I read the other day:

The Lorraine Campaign: An overview, September-December 1944

It states that John Wood of 4th Armored Division used mission-type orders though it does not elaborate on how.

 

Thank you for your replies this far.

 

What scale are you looking at re your essay? If it's the operational level (army/corps) then I would probably compare and contrast Manstein's winter counter-offensive in February-March 1943 with Operation Rumyantsev - the Soviet offensive recapturing Kharkov & the drive to the Dnieper in August - Sept 1943. Alternatively look at the August 1945 Soviet campaign in Manchuria. At the divisional level I would consider looking at Balck's handling of the 11th Panzer Division in the autumn of 1942 fighting in the Don & Chir (sp?) river bend - very well covered in Mellethin's Panzer Battles. At a lower level either Brigade or Battalion then I would consider looking at the Sinai/Golan on a compare & contrast basis in 1973 - notably the Israeli counter-attack in the Sinai (see Adan On the banks of the Suez). Alternatively you might consider the difference between 'H' Jones & Chris Keeble's handling of the battle of Goose Green in the Falklands (in particular see Spencer Fitz-Gibbons Not mentioned in Despatches: The history & mythology of the battle of Goose Green).

 

Lorraine while interesting is highly arguable - see John Rickard's Patton at Bay: The Lorraine Campaign for a perhaps less hagiographic view than usual.

 

Hope that helps & in the meantime enjoy the New Year celebrations.

 

All the best,

 

Tom

[Harry Yeide]

I am not questioning that, but do you have a source?

 

Martin Blumenson, Breakout and Pursuit, 370.

[CV9040C]

Martin Blumenson, Breakout and Pursuit, 370.

That's excellent. Thanks a lot!

 

Conall, I can choose for myself though I am leaning towards the operational-tactical level. I am supposed to discuss the connection between mobility and tempo in a historical example of maneuver warfare.

 

Happy new year to all of you!

[Rubberneck]

Don Vandergriff wrote an excellent article about JS Wood and 4th AD in Armor Magazine a few years back. In the September/October 2000 edition - focus is on how Wood did not have his staff produce any written orders, and just used verbal FRAGOS during their move across France.

 

One interesting note about 4th AD - the Division trained for 40 months before entering combat.

 

Probably the best example of mission type orders that I've read about in the WWII American Army.

[CV9040C]

Don Vandergriff wrote an excellent article about JS Wood and 4th AD in Armor Magazine a few years back. In the September/October 2000 edition - focus is on how Wood did not have his staff produce any written orders, and just used verbal FRAGOS during their move across France.

Thanks!

 

I have yet to read it but here's a link to the article:

Before There Was Digitization:

How MG J.S. Wood’s 4th Armored Division

Stormed Across France Without Written Orders