India
Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines traces its lineage to Item Battery, 3rd
Battalion, 12th Marines. The 3rd
Battalion, 12th Marines was created on 22 July 1942 at New River Marine Base,
North Carolina. Third Battalion
included Headquarters and Service Battery, George Battery, How Battery, and Item
Battery. The battalion was armed
with M1 75mm Pack Howitzers with each battery manning four (4) howitzers.
The battalion and all of its firing batteries were attached to the 23rd
Marine Regiment.
Item Battery trained as part of the battalion in support of
the 23rd Marines. January 1943
found the battery participating in landing exercises with the 23rd Marines in
the Chesapeake Bay. This training
site was necessary as German U-boats roamed the coastline of present day Camp
Lejeune. Over the following months,
3rd Battalion underwent various reorganizations.
On 20 February 1943, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines was re-designated 3rd
Battalion, 14th Marines at the New River Marine Base, North Carolina.
Shortly thereafter on 1 March 1943 the 1st Separate Pack Howitzer
Battalion was re-designated as 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines.
The battalion was located at Pago Pago, American Samoa.
The Marines of Item Battery, equipped with the pack howitzers, trained as part of the battalion with 3rd Marines in such evolutions as landing exercises in the Updu Island Group. By May 1943, the battery and the rest of 3rd Battalion joined the 12th Marines as part of the 3d Marine Division in New Zealand. The battery deployed to Guadalcanal in July 1943 to prepare for the assault on Bougainville.
Bougainville would be the first combat test for the Marines of Item
Battery. On D-Day, 1 November 1943,
Item Battery landed as part of the 3rd Combat Team.
Battery “I” worked hard and distinguished itself this day by being
the only battery in position ready to support the 3rd Combat Team on D-Day.
Upon landing, the battery pushed 150 yards inland without prime movers
and was in position by 1700. By
1810, the battery registered and conducted intermittent fire missions throughout
that first night. The Marines
participated in the Bougainville campaign until late December 1943. The
Bougainville terrain required extensive work by the artillerymen to prepare
their positions for firing. Often
the Marines would cut trees and clear fields of fire and then construct log
platforms to enable the pack howitzers to fire. Item
Battery provided superior artillery support to their infantry brothers during
the conflict. Notable
On 30 March 1944, the battalion was re-designated the 75mm Pack Howitzer
Battalion, 4th Marines. The next
day saw the reincarnation of 3rd Battalion and Item Battery when 5th Battalion,
12th Marines re-designated as the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines.
The battery employed the M2 105mm howitzers (later to be known as the
M101A1). Upon leaving Bougainville and returning to Guadalcanal, Battery “I”
and 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines would undergo further reorganization.
While at Guadalcanal the battery underwent training in preparation for
their next mission, the assault on Guam. During
this period, the battery worked with a new piece of equipment, the amphibious
truck known as the DUWK (called “ducks” by troops).
The DUWK was capable of transporting a 105mm howitzer from ship to shore
and then serving as the howitzer’s prime mover if needed.
Third Battalion was in Direct Support (DS) of 3rd Marines for the Guam
operation.
Item Battery landed on W-Day, 21 July 1944 and was fire capable by 1640.
The battery supported the 3rd Marines’ drive inland, helping to secure
the beachhead for a further push inland. During
the battle for Guam, Item Battery participated in notable actions.
During the early morning hours of 26 July 1944, the battery fired as part
of the battalion in repulsing the 54th
Keibitai’s attack against elements
of the 3rd Marines. While these
fire missions were being conducted, infiltrators attacked "I" Battery
as well as other batteries of the battalion.
With help from two (2) Sherman tanks, the batteries defeated the
infiltrators while continuing to support 3rd Marines.
No howitzers were lost during this action.
As the campaign for Guam pushed inland, Item Battery constantly displaced
and moved to maintain forward positions capable of supporting the 3rd Marines.
Often these moves covered distances of 5,000 yards or more.
These moves are notable due to the batteries having only 50% of their
prime movers in which to conduct the displacements! (The lack of prime movers
was due to the reduce shipping space.)
The final large-scale action of the campaign (9 August 1944) required the battery to mass its fires with the other batteries in order to strike a large likely enemy tank site. Item battery and other Marine artillerymen were highly praised for their performance during the campaign. Most ground commanders stated, “… Artillery was the most effective weapon employed during the operation.”[ii] The 3rd Marines Special Action Report for the operation stated that, “… for close support, there is no substitute for Artillery.”[iii] Item Battery could take just pride in their contribution to securing the island. The battery contributed to the regiment’s total of 36,827 105mm rounds.[iv] Guam was declared secured on 10 August 1944.
As in previous combat actions, once the objective was secure it was time
to move to a base where replacements could join the unit, and to train for the
next mission. Thus, Item Battery returned to Guadalcanal.
While at Guadalcanal, training included field exercises twice a week, one
field exercise with infantry and tanks, and two regimental field exercises.
The Forward Observer and Liaison sections participated in these exercises
as well as one infantry-artillery field exercise. Training on local security,
camouflage and complete occupation of positions were stressed.
Third Battalion was assigned a General Support/ Reinforcing (GS-R)
mission as its normal supported unit, 3rd Marines, was designated as the Corps
reserve for the operation. Battery
“I” landed its four (4) 105mm howitzers on 28 February 1945.
By 1800, the battery was ready to fire missions.
Typical fire missions for the battery included Preparation, Harassment,
Close Support, General Support, Counter-battery and Registrations.
During the night of 3 March, the battery fired an emergency barrage
(something like a Final Protective Fire) for elements of the 9th Marines.
Another common mission included “Rolling Barrages”.
In these missions, 3/12 would mass the fires of the battalion on a point
and shift fires 100yds forward of the supported infantry and continue to fire
for eight minutes and then “roll” again.
This would last for 24 minutes or longer.
The battery also conducted missions in support of the 4th and 5th Marine
Divisions. Unlike on Guam, where
numerous displacements were conducted, Battery “I” never displaced while on
Iwo Jima (not even one survivability move was undertaken).
With the struggle for Iwo Jima nearly over, Item Battery was ordered to
secure from firing missions at 1800 15 March 1945, and to deliver its ammunition
to the 4th Battalion, 12th Marines. On
16 March, the battery embarked aboard the SS Sea Runner to return to Guam.
Battery “I” as part of 3rd Battalion helped the battalion fire 23,431 rounds during operations on Iwo Jima.[v] While helpful to the effort in achieving victory, the 105mm howitzers were not as effective against the well-prepared Japanese defenses. This was beyond the control of the Marine artillerymen who continued to work hard in providing requested support.
On Guam, 3/12 prepared for the invasion of Japan.
The dropping of atomic bombs in early August canceled the plans for
invasion. Item Battery, as part of
the 3rd Battalion, was disbanded on Guam on 31 August 1945, and the Marines were
distributed throughout the rest of the regiment.
Battery “I” would remain non-existent until 5 September 1952 when it
was reactivated as part of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines at Camp Pendleton. It
was at this time that it probably became known as India Battery.
The battery was equipped with 105mm howitzers.
In August 1953, the battery deployed to the Fuji-McNair Combat Range in
Japan as part of the 12th Marine Regiment.
In 1954, the battery trained in Okinawa.
Later that year the battery as part of 3rd Battalion transferred to
Hawaii as part of the 1st Marine Brigade. India
Battery trained and served in Hawaii until ordered for service in Vietnam.
India Battery provided innovated fire support in 1965.
The Battery Commander, Captain D. N. Harmon, developed an artillery plan
with the help of local village chiefs. India
Battery would register in concentrations on avenues of approach into the
villages assuring villages of accurate fires around their perimeter.[viii]
Major General Lewis Walt noted that this program had favorable effects.
“The survey concentrations target areas have a definite deterrent
effect against the enemy, and have greatly increased the relations which our
Marines enjoy with the Vietnamese people in our combined fight against the Viet
Cong.”[ix]
India Battery supported various units and occupied numerous positions
during fighting in Vietnam. Eventually
batteries would occupy and operate from firebases throughout Vietnam. In July
1966, India deployed six (6) howitzers and 73 Marines to a valley four miles
Southwest of Dong Ha. From this position, the battery provided artillery fires
in support of the 4th Marines, 5th Marines, and 1st Force Recon Company all of
which were engaged in Operation HASTINGS. On 27 July, Battery “I” fired
Harassment and Interdiction (H&I) missions when a forward observer with 3rd
Battalion, 5th Marines called in a mission.
The battery quickly responded and eventually fired 134 rounds on an enemy
convoy that resulted in numerous casualties.
Shortly thereafter, another forward observer called in an immediate Fire
for Effect (FFE) mission and India responded with equal quickness and accuracy.
After concluding these missions, India returned to firing its H&I
missions.[x]
28 July found India Battery supporting a recon patrol that had discovered
a large enemy base camp. The
battery would fire over 13,000 lbs of High Explosive (HE) and cause significant
damage to the enemy. The patrol
leader who called in the mission stated, “…artillery is just like having a
guardian angel.”[xi]
The work for the battery was far from finished.
Later that night the battery repulsed several probing attacks by the
enemy and one (1) gun eliminated an enemy machine gun with direct fire.
After the attack, India resumed firing H&I missions throughout the
night.
In 1967, India Battery, under the command of Captain Antonio Mediavilla,
occupied positions around Khe Sahn in support of elements of the 9th Marines.
In addition to its 105mm howitzers, the battery manned two (2) 155mm
towed howitzers (M114s) and two (2) 4.2-inch mortars (M30s).
The battery fired numerous missions in support of patrolling operations
around Khe Sanh. After leaving the
Khe Sahn area in April 1967, India Battery occupied areas in Quang Tri.
One action in 1967 found India Battery engaged in a counterfire mission
when the battery came under attack. Viet
Cong forces scored direct hits upon two (2) howitzers killing three Marines and
wounding 14. India fired more than
100 rounds in silencing the enemy weapons.
Late 1967 and early 1968 continued to see India Battery jumping around
the country in support of various units conducting numerous operations.
Such examples include India being attached to 1st Battalion,
11th Marines and participating in Operation OSCEOLA at Quang Tri.
On 20 January 1968, India Battery resorted back to 3rd Battalion, 12th
Marines control and helped provide Direct Support to elements of 3rd Marines.
Typical of the vast numbers of rounds fired by artillery in Vietnam, the
following figures show the numbers of rounds 3/12 fired during January 1968.
India Battery was instrumental in achieving such large numbers of rounds
fired. 3/12 fired 137,179 HE; 4,323
WP; and 1,685 Illumination rounds.[xii]
February and March 1968 found India Battery and 3/12 supporting
Operations OSCEOLA II, SALINE II and NAPOLEON in Direct Support of 3rd Marines.
The quantity of rounds fired is similar to January’s totals.
These types of operations continued for India Battery throughout its time in Vietnam. India Battery finally concluded its service in Vietnam in 1969 when 3/12 deployed back to Okinawa.
India Battery continued its service to the United States from various
locations throughout the world after Vietnam.
Eventually India Battery would be equipped with six (6) M198 155mm Towed
Howitzer in the early 1980s. Furthermore,
in 1986 India Battery would become part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) for
artillery units. This program would
reduce the number of permanently stationed Marines on Okinawa and instead deploy
battery size units from Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, and Hawaii to maintain
full strength artillery battalions (2/12 and 3/12) located on Okinawa.
In the late 1980s, India Battery was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th
Marines in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During
the 1980s, India would continue to train vigorously by conducting Combined Arms
Exercises (CAX), and deployments to Norway for Battle Griffin as well as
deployments to Okinawa for its UDP cycle. This
operational cycle continued until world events unfolded into conflict in the
Persian Gulf.
Upon India Battery’s return to the United States, it continued to train
and deploy to Okinawa in support of the UDP system.
India Battery remained assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marines until
August 1994. At that time, India
Battery was assigned to 5th Battalion, 10th Marines.
This realignment was done to bolster the number of firing batteries the
artillery battalion had to support the UDP cycle.
Fifth Battalion, 10th Marines
changed its support from providing batteries for Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs)
to providing batteries in support of UDP. In
August 1994, India Battery Marines demonstrated their flexibility and capability
by deploying as security teams aboard Coast Guard cutters in support of Haitian
operations. India Battery made its first UDP deployment to Okinawa originating
from 5/10 in June 1995. India Battery continues to deploy to Okinawa on a
rotating basis every two (2) years (from June-December 1995, 1997, 1999 etc.)
When back in the United States, India Battery maintains a vigorous
training program in conducting CAXs, and deployments to Puerto Rico, Norway and
other parts of the world.
India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines has a storied history that Marines of India Battery have worked hard to earn. From Bougainville, Guam, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf the reputation of India Battery is one of which its Marines can be proud. It is the duty of current and future Marines to uphold the great tradition provided to them in the name of India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines.