Army Maneuvers, Louisiana

Army Maneuvers, Louisiana, 1942. Infantryman advancing under cover of smoke screen. 

The Army inspectors were likewise impressed with the results of the training, sometimes to an extraordinary degree. To quote from the critique of a Second Army inspector of the 84th Separate Chemical Battalion, I was amazed to see the same men who were at the train three months ago, raw recruits, now men who put on such a good showing. I find the 84th Chemical Battalion gave a very enviable account of themselves.  

While the principal mission of the mortar battalions was the dispersion of toxic agents and smoke, the CWS was of the opinion that the battalions could be profitably used to fire high explosives in support of the infantry. Before any such assignment was possible two preliminary steps were necessary. First, the War Department would have to approve a military requirement for a high explosive (HE) shell for the 4.2-inch mortar, and secondly, the Army Ground Forces would have to be convinced that the 4.2-inch mortar could be used to advantage in supplementing the 105-mm. howitzer in close support of the Infantry. 

Although the chemical mortar battalions were activated by the Army Ground Forces and remained under AGF jurisdiction, the Chemical Warfare Service, as indicated above, retained a considerable interest in them. The CWS supplied most of their officers and cadres, procured their mortars and ammunition, and was responsible for the technical aspects of their training. The chemical mortar battalions were accepted in the theaters as stemming from the CWS, even though their early growth was nurtured by the AGF. 

With the appearance of the mobilization training program for the unit training of chemical battalions in January 1944, the platoon, company, and 

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The period 1900-1950 witnessed a significant expansion of military lands in the U.S., particularly to mobilize and train land-based and air-based forces (Army, Army Air Corps and Marine Corps) for combat in the European and Pacific Theaters of WWI and WWII. Two examples of this expansion were lands acquired to support the Louisiana Maneuvers in the southeastern U.S. in preparation for the land... 

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