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Chapter III On 8 January1944, the Rangers left New York harbor on HMS Mauretania, -- destination, SECRET. A slight accident took place, and HMS Mauretania collided with a freighter and had to be towed back into the harbor for repairs. However, repairs were made with the speed that only war can achieve, and the Mauretania with the Rangers, was on its way on the following day. On 18 January 1944, the Mauretania docked at Liverpool, England after crossing the ocean unescorted, on a trip uneventful except for radio submarine warnings which necessitated a deceptive zig-zag course. 19 January 1944 and a trip by rail, found the Fifth Ranger Battalion in Leominster, England, there to continue its Camp Forrest training, only even more vigorously. It was here at Leominster, that orders were received, changing assignment of the Rangers from ETOUSA to VIII Corps, on 22 January 1944. On 1 March 1944, the Rangers left Leominster, England for a month of training in Scotland, -- site of the British Commando Training, -- a month that the Rangers have never stopped discussing, -- a month of the most difficult marches and problems, the most tiring training that any soldier has ever experienced. It was this training in Scotland that the Rangers believe brought them through the Invasion of France and all the difficult assignments that followed. The hills of Scotland proved to be more than anything that had been encountered in former Ranger training, and here Rangers were made or lost. On the coast lines of Scotland, Amphibious landing operations were practiced daily, -- assault landings on beaches specially prepared with barbed wire, beach obstacles and ever type of anti—assault landing device that our Air Corps had been able to photograph on the beaches of Normandy, plus every device that G-2 could conceive. Upon completion of infiltration of this maize of defenses, the battalion practiced the art of reassembling at rallying points, for the continuation of the attack. Too much can not be said for the Scotland training. To it, many of the Rangers owe their lives and their success. From Scotland to England, -- 3 April 1944, -- to the Assault Training Center at Braunton, England. Here a change of command took place, -- Major Max F. Schneider replaced Lt. Col. Owen E. Carter who had left the battalion in Scotland. Also a change in attachment, -- V Corps instead of VIII Corps. At Braunton, the Rangers took the Assault Course, under the direction of the Assault Training Center. Training included fire and movement assaults on strongpoints and hedge hogs, combined Naval Operation landings, study of mines and demolitions and street fighting. From 27 April 1944 to 5 May 1944, the Battalion took part in “Fabius” exercises, -- Amphibious Maneuvers including embarkation on LCAs, assault landings, land campaigns that followed the landings and training in every phase of operations expected to be encountered in the Invasion of France. Movements that followed, took the Rangers to Swanage, England on 6 May 1944, -- where training in Cliff scaling with ropes and steel ladders was received: -- to Dorchester, England on 17 May 1944, and finally to the last point in England, -- Weymouth Harbor on 1 June 1944, where the Rangers boarded the HMS Prince Leopold and HMS Baudouin. Five days were spent aboard ship, briefing and completing preparations for assault landings on “D” Day, at first announced to be 5 June 1944, but due to bad weather, changed to 6 June 1944. |
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