Talk:549th Engineer Light Pontoon Company

Summary information on Engineer Light Ponton Company
Following is summary information on an Engineer Light Ponton Company from the United States Government War Department Engineer Field Manual FM-5-5, Engineer Troops 11 October, 1943, available at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM5-5.PDF:

ENGINEER LIGHT PONTON COMPANY · 145. MISSION.-a. This combat engineer unit is organized and trained to transport and maintain its stream-crossing equipage; to construct floating bridges and rafts with this equipage; to guard and maintain completed bridges; to regulate traffic thereon; and to dismantle bridges and rafts. b. The construction of floating bridges and rafts is a function of light ponton companies assisted by general engineer troops. c. The other stream-crossing equipment listed below normally is turned over to divisional or corps engineer units for use in initial stages of the river crossing. Operations during that part of the offensive situation are fully discussed in FM 5-6. d. Attachment of light ponton companies to divisions engaged in stream-crossing operations will be made in accordance with the tactical situation. · 146. ORGANIZATION.-The light ponton company consists of a headquarters platoon, two bridge platoons, and a light equipage platoon. Its organization is shown in figure 14. (For details see T/O 5-87.)

1 147. EQUIPMENT.--. The company is equipped with basic engineer tool sets. b. Mechanical equipment includes a motorized air compressor, a truck-mounted crane, and tractor-mounted angledozers. c. Stream-crossing equipment, also stocked in engineer depots, is as follows: (1) Two units of M3 pneumatic bridge equipage or two units of M1938 10-ton ponton bridge equipage. (2) One unit of footbridge, M1938. (3) Twelve sets of infantry support raft. (4) Seventy assault boats M2. (5) Four ferry sets, infantry support. d. Signal equipment includes radios and telephones. (For details see current Tables of Basic Allowances.) · 148. TANSPonRTAjON.-The light ponton company has sufficient organic transportation for simultaneous movement of all personnel, equipment, and supplies. pistol. Supporting weapons include caliber .30 heavy machine guns and caliber .50 machine guns. accordance with principles stated in chapter.4. b. Unit training includes (1) Care and operation of transportation and heavy equipment assigned to the company, (2) Nomenclature, use, repair, and maintenance of bridge equipage and light stream-crossing equipage. (a) Training in use of pontoon equipage includes employment of outboard motors. (b) Training in repair of equipage is confined to repairs readily accomplished. (3) Frequent drills and field training in safe and rapid transportation of bridge equipage to crossing sites; in unloading and launching of equipage; in construction of bridges and rafts; in operational maintenance, care, guarding, and dismantling of bridges and rafts; and in loading of component parts on company vehicles. (a) Special effort is made in training to keep the bridge clear of drift and other floating objects, especial attention being given to anchor cables. 81 ENOINEER FIELD MANUAL (b) Training in guarding bridges is of vital importance to insure uninterrupted flow of traffic. (4) Training all personnel in road movements including- (a) Organization of column. (b) Movements under cover of darkness. (c) Secrecy and discipline. (d) Security. (e) Other fundamental principles prescribed in FM 25-10. (5) Training in concealment of vehicles. c. Combat training includes the use of individual and supporting weapons for local security. Proficient gun crews must be developed for employment of machine guns under defensive combat conditions. · 151. HEADQUARTERS PLATooN-This platoon consists of company headquarters and a service and repair section. a. Company headquarters-Officer personnel consists of the company commander and an administrative officer. Enlisted personnel handle routine administration, mess, and supply functions for the company. b. Service and repair section.-This section is commanded by a lieutenant. Personnel includes enlisted specialists for maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and heavy mechanical equipment, and operators of mechanized equipment and vehicles. x 152. BRIDGE PLiTOON-The bridge platoon consists of platoon headquarters and a ponton section. a. Platoon headquarters-The platoon headquarters supervises and controls activities of the ponton section, and is responsible for installation, maintenance, and operation of its field telephone equipment. b. Ponton section.-The ponton section transports one unit of bridge equipage. platoon headquarters, an assault boat section, a raft section, and a footbridge section. a. Platoon headquarters.-The platoon headquarters is responsible for the care and safe transportation of the equipage assigned to the platoon. b. Assault boat section.-This section cares for and transports M2 assault boats. D. Raft section.-This section cares for and transports the infantry support rafts and ferry sets. 82 ENGINEER TROOPS d. Footbridge section.-This section cares for and transports the unit of footbridge. · 154. DUTIE.--a. The light ponton company normally performs the following duties when in bivouac: (1) Maintains local security against hostile air and ground attacks. (2) Takes camouflage measures for concealment of transport and equipment. (3) Maintains transport and equipment ready for employment at all times. (4) Periodically tests equipment to eliminate parts which have deteriorated. (5) Reinforces engineer depot personnel. (6) Maintains or repairs roads near the ponton park. (7) Assists nearby engineer units in performance of their duties. b. The light ponton company normally performs the following duties when not in bivouac: (1) Route reconnaissance, and reconnaissance for ponton bridge crossings. (2) Moves its equipment forward to the site or sites of stream crossings, allowing ample time for moving out of bivouac and for approach march. (3) Unloads and conceals vehicles. (4) Constructs bridges and rafts using M3 pneumatic or M1938 ponton bridge equipage, and infantry support rafts. (5) Maintains and repairs floating bridges and rafts. (6) Operates raft ferries. (7) Guards completed bridge. (8) Regulates traffic on bridge. (9) Dismantles and loads bridge equipage on trucks and trailers. (10) Provides for hasty demolition of bridge. are discussed in FM 5-6, and technical details in TM 5-270, 5-271, 5-273, 5-275, and FM 5 10.
 * 149. ARMAMENT.-Indivldual weapons include carbine and
 * 150. TRAININ.--a. Individual basic and unit training is in
 * 153. LIGHT EQUIPAGE PLATOON.--This platoon consists of
 * 155. RCFEnsNcs. Operations of the light ponton company

African American Soldiers in the 12th Armored Division
After March 1945, the 12th AD had additional companies of combat infantry black soldiers assigned (usually designated as Company D) to the 17th, 56th and 66th Armored Infantry Battalions. The 12th AD had another 12 battalions, plus command and support companies and units. In December 1944, following the heavy losses during the Battle of the Bulge, General Dwight Eisenhower and Lt. Gen. John C. Lee decided to allow full companies of black soldiers that had been in support roles, to train as combat replacements. Thus there were 3 companies of black soldiers in 3 Armored Infantry Battalions in the 12th Division. The 549th were not among the combat companies of the 12th AD N0TABENE (talk) 20:54, 3 April 2015 (UTC)

Attachment to 12th Armored Division
There is no record in the U.S. Army Military History of the 12th Armored Division of the 549th being attached to the 12th AD. . Please provide citation here and in entry for 12th Armored Division (United States) that the 549th was attached to the 12th AD. Thank you. N0TABENE (talk) 20:54, 3 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Text questioned is verbatim from news source provided. Reference given here is from 549th's unit history:
 * "The 1st and 2nd platoons were attached to the 286th Engineer Combat Battalion at this time, where they reinforced 140 feet of DS Bailey Bridge with four bays of DD in the center near Murnau and completed 80 feet of DS Bailey Bridge at Bad Telz. Both of these projects were in general support of the 12th Armored Divisiom, Combat Commands A and B."
 * Yours, Wikiuser100 (talk) 21:55, 5 April 2015 (UTC)
 * 1. The text provided was not verbatim. Verbatim text is identical to the original source, not paraphrasal, and requires quotation marks to indicate the original source. Your citations contained neither. From citation on p. 22 of your provided reference, "The major task assignment was the transportation of more than 450 feet of DD (Double Double) by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd platoons in general support of the 12th Armored and 42nd Divisions on April 2 and 3rd. . Your entry here and on the 12th Armored Division page stated the 549th was attached to the 12th AD, but your source states that the 549th was attached to the 286th Engr Combat Bn, which was not part of the 12th AD. The 12th AD had the 206th Engr C Bn attached from 18 Mar 45-20 Mar 45, the 256th Engr C Bn from 14 Apr 45-21 Apr 45 and the 290th Engr C Bn from 21 Apr 45-4 May 45 . There is a significant difference between an attached unit and one merely providing "general support" in terms of "command and control".


 * 2. The reference cited is NOT an official unit history, e.g. from a recognized United States military history archive source. Your citation is incorrect inasmuch as the title is simply "549th engineer light ponton company (1946)", absent the alleged "company history" moniker erroneously attributed in your reference citation. There is no record the 549th was an attached unit of the 12th AD per references provided, nor in any official U.S. military historical record of the 12th Armored Division. N0TABENE (talk) 22:47, 15 April 2015 (UTC)

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