On 11 April of 1945, the Headquarters of the European Theater of Operations sent out the last of its reports on the use of air defense radar to locate targets on the ground. The text that follows replicates, verbatim, the text of that document. The only changes made either fill out abbreviations, update punctuation, or split large paragraphs into smaller ones. Brief explanations can be found within brackets.
General
Detection of ground targets by radar has been carried on only at night due to the necessity of placing the apparatus in an exposed position to obtain a clear line of sight to the target area. This use of radar has proved of great value for night harassing fires on enemy supply routes. The comparatively accurate locating of targets has resulted in a substantial saving in ammunition, yet prisoners say that on several occasions the enemy has had to abandon the use of his main supply route. Troop concentrations as well as vehicular movement have been located in areas close to the front.
Communication and Liaison
The radar set, a corps artillery sniping gun, the switchboard of the direct support artillery battalion, and the nearest infantry regimental or battalion command post, are tied in on one wire line. Direct communication with the sniping gun is essential because of the fleeting-nature of the targets. The line to the direct support artillery battalion permits obtaining additional artillery support and passing on intelligence information to higher headquarters. The infantry command post passes on information quickly to the front line units, secures information of friendly patrols, and clears fire missions close to the front lines.
A separate direct line is run to the corps artillery battalion furnishing the sniping gun. The battalion furnishes an officer and sergeant who stay at the radar set and determine whether the target justifies the use of the sniping gun or the artillery battalion. When only the sniping gun is used they act as a fire direction center and send commands directly to the gun.
Results
On one occasion a friendly patrol was informed of the presence of an enemy patrol about 200 yards to their right. The enemy patrol was ambushed and two were killed and three captured.
On another occasion the radar picked up what was believed to be three self-propelled guns moving toward our lines. A battalion concentration dispersed them.
A convoy of some forty vehicles was picked up and artillery fire was placed on the area until all movement ceased.
Of the total artillery missions fired during February, nine percent were on targets located by radar. During a sixteen-day period of enemy inactivity in March [of 1945], fifty-two percent of the missions fired by the corps artillery were radar located.
Source
‘Immediate Report Number 103 (Combat Observations), 9 April 1945’ Immediate Reports of Combat Observations 130 to 1 Combined Arms Research Library
For Further Reading
I wonder what the “corps artillery sniping gun” was? Probably a 155 mm Gun M/M1A1 or a 155mm GMC M40, but an 8 inch Howitzer M1 would have worked too.