Chemical Mortar Companies

Field artillery officers were impressed by the amount of effective fire produced by a chemical mortar company as compared to that of an artillery unit. Maj. John D. Tolman, who commanded the 8zd Chemical Mortar Battalion from 26 April until the close of the Luzon Campaign, disclosed that infantry commanders felt they could not "properly accomplish [their] mission [without] 4.2-inch mortar sup-... 

The over-all shortage of chemical mortar battalions and the higher priority of other theaters prevented shipment of these units to the Central Pacific Area until the arrival early in May 1944 of the 88th Chemical Mortar Battalion. Four months later the theater activated the 189th Chemical Mortar Company (Separate). The only other mortar units in CENPAC were the 71st and /ad Chemical Mortar Battalions which did not reach Hawaii until mid-i94y, too late to see action before the war ended. ... 

On 21 April a mortarman from the 91st Chemical Mortar Company played a prominent role In repulsing a Japanese attack on the Skyline Ridge positions of the 7th Division. Here is a graphic account of this action ... 

On 22 January 1945 the fourteen mortar boats left Pearl Harbor for Iwo Jima where they were joined by the LCI (M) s which had seen action at Lingayen Gulf. Four CWS ofiicers from the 189th Chemical Mortar Company accompanied the Pearl Harbor contingent, attached for the operation to the mortar group—five units of six ships each. 

The Chief, CWS, felt that chemical mortar battalions would provide the most effective means for large-scale retaliation on the ground and that such battalions should be activated on the general basis of one per division. Although the Army Supply Program had provided for a total of 28 battalions by 1944, by May 1942 only 4 chemical battalions and 3 separate chemical mortar companies—one each in Panama, Hawaii, and the United... 

The demand for company officers for chemical mortar battalions had the effect of pointing up the whole CWS officer procurement program. More junior officers were needed for chemical service units than for chemical combat units yet the ideal toward which the officer candidate aimed was the platoon leader of a chemical mortar company. If he could measure up to this job, he was assumed to be capable of filling any CWS assignment in the grade of second lieutenant. 

Activated ai the 2d Separate Chetnlcal Company, 24 Feb 20. Convened as the 1st Chemical Battalion (Separate) Co A, 30 AprJl, Again converted as the 9lat Chemical Mortar Company, 12 Mat 42. Set Columns 11 and 12. This is the only conversion known of a chemical mortar battalion during World War 11. 

The CWS used white phosphorus as a filling for shells, rockets, bombs, and grenades, all of which the armed forces employed extensively in World War II. Artillery and chemical mortar companies hurled shells to set fire to enemy held buildings and cane fields, to drive enemy soldiers from fortified positions, to unnerve enemy troops, to support infantry attacks, and to shield flame thrower operators. Naval vessels threw WP at shore installations on Saipan, Eniwetok, and other places to support amphibious assaults. The Army fired a sizable portion of the two and one-half million 2.36-inch rockets filled during the war to screen operations, to start fires, and to wound and unnerve the enemy. Airplanes dropped WP bombs on enemy installations to start fires or aid infantry. For infantrymen and... 

FUSA Chemical Section, devoted maximum attention to supply and to the needs of the chemical mortar battalions. It also meant the provision of supply support and tactical advice for the smoke generator units which were heavily employed by TUSA, especially in its river crossings. As a result of experience in these tasks, the TUSA Chemical Section found that the one chemical depot company attached could not handle all supply requirements. It recommended that two such companies be assigned, and more important still, that CWS should have far more transportation for the depot company, the smoke generator, and the mortar units. The CWS could not operate its own supply system, which it did with very little help from other supply services, and at the same time shift men and equipment in a fast-moving war without greatly Increased transportation. The chemical section suggested addition of a truck company to the Army for CWS... 

The ist Platoon, 2ist Decontamination Company, received an extra amount of training because the 3d Division had detailed plans for the use of ground smoke during the initial phases. The additional work for the platoon, and for a detail of two officers and thirty enlisted men from the 3d Chemical Mortar Battalion which augmented the division s smoke troops, was aimed at producing physical hardness, self-reliance, and proficiency in tactics of the infantryman. 

Upon entry in combat each of the mortar battalions was composed of 1,010 men 36 officers, i warrant officer, and 973 enlisted men, distributed among a headquarters, a headquarters company, a medical detachment, and four weapons companies. Each company had 2 platoons, each platoon z sections, and each section 3 squads. On the basis of one mortar per squad, the battalion complement of mortars was 48. Transportation of the battalion consisted of 88 a -ton trucks and 36 vehicles of varying smaller sizes. Chemical mortar carts were present in case of rough terrain. Side arms for the battalion included 820. 43-caliber automatics. ... 

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