One of the latest antitank methods now advocated by the Japanese is the use
of remote-control land mines operated by engineer troops. These are men who
have been trained to function as an integral part of infantry antitank assault
teams. Known to the enemy as Close Quarter Combat Units, these teams have
been in a state of continual development in the Japanese Army since the
advent of tank warfare in the Pacific.
Instructions issued last summer to Japanese troops in the Southwest Pacific clarified
the duties of these units, and outlined controlled-mine tactics, in an apparent
effort to raise tank fighters to a status above that of arbitrarily organized
suicide squads.
The basic components of a Close Quarter Combat Unit are its so-called "land-mine
squads" and "destruction squads." These squads, of which there may be several in
the unit, may be supported in action by a "reserve squad" and a "covering squad."
The successful tactical employment of such a unit seems to hinge upon the part
played by the land-mine squads. These squads are composed of ten men
each, with a noncommissioned officer in command of each squad. Since they
must be experienced in minelaying, a good portion of the engineer strength
of a unit is likely to be included in its land-mine squads. One man in each
squad is designated as an "igniter"; presumably his is the responsibility of
exploding the controlled mines at the proper moment. Actually, a squad must
play a dual role: it not only lays and explodes the land mines, but must engage
hostile supporting infantry as the antitank assault develops. Consequently, each
squad is equipped with two, and sometimes three, light machine guns.
In preparing to attack hostile tanks, the land-mine squads plant remote-control mines
along a road, defile, or similar corridor through which the advance of tanks is
anticipated. These mines, usually electrically detonated, may be standard
Japanese antitank mines, prepared dynamite charges, or aircraft bombs
wired for detonation from a safe distance. It is interesting to note that the
Japanese have conducted large-scale experiments with bombs used in this manner
and claim that they are highly successful. When the mines have been laid, the
Close Quarter Combat Unit takes an ambush position in such a way that the
destruction squads can attack the tanks and the land-mine squads can engage
the supporting infantry.
After the hostile tanks and infantry enter the mined area, the designated
igniters explode the mines at a time when they will have the greatest effect, and the
mine squads engage the infantry, attempting to separate them from the tanks.
In the resulting confusion, and while the supporting infantry is supposedly
engaged, the destruction squads will rush the tanks with armor-piercing mines
and prepared explosive charges, to destroy tanks not disabled by the controlled
mines. Throughout this action the reserve squad and the covering squad give
support fire to both the mine and destruction squads. As the action
progresses, personnel of the reserve squad are used as replacements for the
mine and destruction squads as they are needed.
When the tank-destroying mission has been completed, the unit withdraws under the
protective fire of the covering squad.