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of this narrative. The units were commanded by a colonel, who was known as the CBU (Commander Bombardment Units), he was responsible for the organisation, training and deployment of the units. His office was at COHQ where he acted as adviser to the CCO (Chief of Combined Operations) and the naval and military commanders-in- chief on policy. Each individual unit was commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel RA, who was termed the CBLO (Chief Bombardment Liaison Officer), and worked on the staff of the naval task force commander. He assisted the senior artillery officer of the force and the force gunnery officer in the co-ordination of the fireplan. He had an adjutant, who remained ashore to carry out administration and supply of the unit in action.
The unit was designed to support an assault corps, being divided into three troops, one for each assault division. Each troop was commanded by a Major RA, known as the SBLO (Senior Bombardment Liaison Officer, and he had under his command: 1 Captain RA SOB (Staff Officer Bombardment) 7 Captains RA BLO (Bombardment Liaison Officer) 7 Captains RA FOB (Forward Officer Bombardment) 7 NCOs, qualified as TARA 1 Sub-Lieutenant RNVR. Combined Operations Signals Officer 1 Petty Officer, telegraphist 23 Ratings, telegraphists. When the troop is in action with an assault division they are deployed as follows: Assault Bn HQ Assault Bn HQ Assault Bn HQ Assault BnHQPartyFIPartyF2PartyF3PartyF41FOB1FOB1 FOB 1 FOB 1 TARA 1 TARA 1 TARA 1 TARA 2 Telegraphists 2 Telegraphists 2 Telegraphists 2 Telegraphists Reserve Bn HQ Reserve Bn HQ Assault Bde HQ Assault Bde HQ Party F5 Party F6 1 FOB 1 FOB 1 TARA 1 TARA 3 Telegraphists 3 Telegraphists Reserve Brigade HQ Party F7 1 FOB 1 TARA 3 Telegraphists Assault Divisional HQ SOB Party 1 SOB 1 Petty Officer. Telegraphist 6 Telegraphists. (3 in reserve) 7 BLOs. Deployed to bombardment ships SBLO. Located on board the Landing Ship Headquarters The SBLO remains on the headquarters ship all the time, and is responsible for allocating the FOBs to their battalions and the BLOs to their ships. He works in the combined support control room of the Landing Ship Headquarters, and assists the CRA in the co-ordination of the fireplan. He controls the naval bombardment, attaching ships to the FOBs with due regard to the type of shoot any particular FOB is likely to have to carry out, allocating the larger ships to the most formidable sector.
Should a FOB with a small ship attached, ask for a larger calibre of gun for any particular shoot, the SBLO must decide if he can make the necessary alterations, and issue instructions to those concerned. He is a nerve centre of information, as he will get information which is sent in direct, from each battalion headquarters on the divisional front. This he must filter and pass on, making out frequent sitreps so that the BLOs can keep their maps up to date, and so that FOBs may know what is happening on the remainder of the divisional front. He is in a position to afford a great deal of help to both the naval and military
commanders, and can also usually assist in keeping an up to date bombing line for the RAF. He can arrange for mutual support between sectors, if his flank FOBs can observe, or switch extra ships with air observation onto any particular part of the front.
Directly divisional headquarters land, the SOB goes ashore with the CRA, and he then acts as a forward link for the SBLO. He takes control of the FOBs, making any necessary alterations in their dispositions as the battle continues. He will arrange reliefs, if all parties are not in action, and keep the parties supplied, sending replacements for casualities as far as possible. He is now the information and liaison link with the military commander, arranging for any further fire plans that may be required of naval bombardment. The communications within the troop are fairly simple, consisting of three main waves. Spotting Wave (SW). This is a direct link between the FOB and his bombarding ship. Each FOB has a frequency allocated to him and his ship will contact him on this wave. It is used primarily as a shooting wave and an information wave between the FOB and his BLO. Bombardment Calling Wave (BCW). This is the most common wave to all the units of the troop. It is used for all general information and sitreps. The SBLO orders attachments and any alterations in the disposition of his troops on this wave. Information goes direct to divisional headquarters and assault force headquarters on this channel. It is the only means of contact with an unattached FOB. Assault Force Auxilary. This is a naval wave and connects all bombarding ships in the force to the LSH, so that information and shot reports can be sent by BLOs to the SBLO.
Naval ratings are used as operators by the unit, as they are working to the normal communication ratings on the ships, and so naval W/T procedure is used. For shooting purposes a special bombardment code is used, designed for speed in W/T operation, but information messages are sent in clear or in the normal military codes. The FOB is an OP officer and his TARA, who is his OPA, acts as his relief or replacement should he become a casualty.
The FOB and two telegraphists land with the battalion headquarters, the TARA and the third telegraphist land with the battalion transport, and join the FOB, as soon as possible, bringing up the equipment the FOB and his two telegraphists cannot carry in the jeep or White scout car the party is allocated. For communications the party will have two 68R sets and a 22 set, which are all crystal controlled. The 68R sets are in fact modified 18 sets and are manpack sets. They also have a 38 set for contact with the battalion headquarters and 2 D5 telephones with one mile of cable. They have spare batteries for all sets and a small charging plant for charging their wet batteries. They carry an aldis lamp as an alternative means of communication. Other wise they are equipped as an OP party, with a bren gun to reinforce their personal weapons. They have cooking utensils and any special equipment that is necessary for
12 | Amphibious Bombardment Association