Night Combat
Appendix I

Eight Week Night Training Schedule
for a Tank Company

US Army



Note. All training to be conducted during hours of darkness, unless otherwise indicated.

ParticipantsWeapons TrainingFiring Practice Combat Training
First Week
Entire company: Note. Specialized training for tank and truck drivers and radio operators is not included in this unit training schedule. Looking and loading of weapons; preliminary marksmanship on transition range. - Observation and sound detection exexcises; night orientation by the moon, stars, compass, and prominent landmarks; terrain appreciation and utilization; ranger tactics; estimating distances; concealment and entrenching in the dark.
Second Week
Entire company Automatic rifle and machine gun. First rifle practice under searchlights. Orienting exercise, including practice under Very signed lights and unobserved approach to target; vision exercise; judging distances by sound and sight; estimating velocity; terrain appreciation.
Tank gunners Turret weapons operation (machine gun and tank gun). - -
Third Week
Entire company Machine gun Second rifle practice under searchlights. Close-in antitank combat.
Tank gunners Turret weapons operation - Tank, weapons, and equipment inspection and preparation for action.
Tank radio operatorsMachine gun.--
Tank driversPistol.--
Truck drivers Rifle and/or submachine gun.--
Fourth Week
Entire companyMachine gunMachine gun practice under searchlights. -
Tank gunnersTurret operationAiming practice with stationary and moving targets; turret machine gun practice.Target Identification and designation; Identification of enemy tanks under varying conditions or visibility.
Tank radio operatorsMachine gunBow machine gun.-
Tank driversPistolPistol.-
Truck driversCarbine and machine gunRifle.-

ParticipantsFiring PracticeCombat Training
Fifth Week
Entire companyMachinegunOutguard duty; security patrolling; sentry duty; relieving sentries; defense against raids; patrol missions.
Tank crews (including radio operators). Turret and bow machine guns Night march; road reconnaissance; road marking; Moving into an assembly area and protecting same.
Sixth Week
Entire company-Close combat; establishing contact; defense against raids; reconnaissance missions; close-in antitank combat
Tank crewsFirst Pistol exerciseDriving by directional gyro and compass; armored security patrols; protective measures against mines and antitank guns; defending disabled tanks against partisans and close-in antitank weapons.
Seventh Week
Entire company.-Night exercise; security and defense against Infantry and tank attacks; close combat in towns and forests.
Tank crewsGeneral firing practice, Including tank gun; Second Pistol exercise. Counterattack (Including regrouping and security until armored infantry elements have organized themselves for defense in newly taken positions; defensive and offensive fighting against tanks and antitank weapons.
Eighth Week
Entire companyGrenade throwing exerciseNight maneuver emphasizing defense of strongpoints
Tank crewsTank gun firing practiceExtended problem with night-day-night march (road and arose country); regrouping of platoons for counterattack at night; combat against tanks, antitank wespons, and artillery, Immediately followed by defense against tank supported infantry counterattack.


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