GUIDE FOR RECONNAISSANCE

of

LANDING BEACHES

1942

GUIDE FOR RECONNAISSANCE OF LANDING BEACHES

SECTION 1

GENERAL

1.    Information desired.

a.    Hydrographic conditions offshore (seaward from breaker line).

b.    Hydrographic conditions inshore (from breaker line to shore line).

c.    The immediate beach.

d.    The terrain immediately inland from the beach.

e.    Terrain on the flanks of the beach.

f.    Other important terrain features at a distance from the beach.

g.    Any other local conditions worthy of note.

2.    Secrecy. The necessity for secrecy must be considered in every case. It is realized that frequently it will not be possible to take photographs or make sketches on the ground of landing beaches. This will entail sketches compiled from memory reinforced by descriptive notes.

3.    Selection of beaches. It is only desired to obtain information on those landing beaches which give access to avenues of approach to important points or critical regions of the particular area concerned.

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SECTION 2

PHOTOGRAPHS

4.    Photographs.

a.    The vast detail pictured in photographs makes it desirable that photographs of beaches be obtained whenever possible.

b.    Photographs should be taken from boats or ships from the seaward as well as from the landward side. Some of the pictures taken from the boat or ship should include the skyline in order that identifiable landmarks may be obtained.

c.    Photographs taken on shore should be taken from the flanks of the beach as well as from the rear.

5.    Marking of photographs.

a.    The reverse side of the photographic print should carry a notation giving:

(1)    Location from which the picture was made.

(2)    Date and hour picture was made.

b.    The picture side of the print should carry an arrow indicating north.

c.    Small circles with identifying words or brief notes, may be employed to locate or identify important features.

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SECTION 3

SKETCHES

6.    Sketches. As a supplement to photographs or as a substitute when photographs are unobtainable a sketch in both plan and panorama should be furnished.

7.    Accuracy and detail.

a.    The sketch should be as accurate and in as much detail as circumstances permit. The scale employed should be large, preferably one inch to two hundred yards, although a larger or smaller scale may be employed. In any case the scale employed should be clearly indicated on the sketch.

b.    The sketch should contain the following information :

(1)    Portions of beach not suitable for landings(in RED).

(2)    A notation on surf conditions, stating the height of the surf from trough to crest.

(3)    The distance offshore at which the surf firstbreaks.

(4)    The angle at which the surf strikes the beach (whether the crest of the roller is parallel to the beach or at an angle to the beach). The prevailing wind and state of tide at the time of observation should also be included.

(5)    Any data obtainable on the effect of wind and tide on surf conditions should be noted.

(6)    The location, nature, and extent of natural and artificial obstructions offshore from the beach.

(7)    The nature of the bottom where landing craft will ordinarily beach should be indicated as sand, mud, gravel, rock, as the case may be. In case of mud or uneven bottom, indicate whether it will be possible for a laden infantryman to traverse the distance from the point where the landing boat grounds up to the solid ground on the beach.

(8)    Indicate on the sketch a line joining points offshore where the water has a depth of three (3) feet. Indicate accurately the distance from the shoreline to the three (3) foot depth line. ALSO INDICATE THE STATE OF THE TIDE AT THE TIME THE OBSERVATION IS MADE IN ESTABLISHING THIS THREE (3) FOOT DEPTH LINE. If this cannot be done accurately, set forth the date and exact time at which the observation was made so that the state of the tide can later be determined from the tide tables.

(9)    Indicate the nature of the soil of the immediate beach, whether sand, gravel, rock, mud, etc. Further indicate the practicability of traversing this immediate beach by foot troops, tanks, tractors, and wheeled vehicles.

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(10)    Indicate the distance and direction from the water line to the nearest point where cover or concealment can be obtained from hostile fire and view.

(11)    Indicate by form lines the nature of the terrain on the flanks and in rear of the beach line to a minimum distance of 500 yards.

(12)    Indicate by conventional signs the nature of vegetation or cultivation encountered within this region.

(13)    Indicate by conventional signs the location of all roads and trails in the vicinity of the beach.

(14)    Indicate by conventional signs and with suitable notations any military installations or fortifications observed that can fire upon or observe activities on the beach and its seaward approach.

(15)    Indicate estimated elevations of all heights dominating the landing beach on both flanks and in the rear.

(16)    Indicate the presence, nature, location, and extent of any natural obstacles in the vicinity such as swamps, rivers, lakes, dense forests, cliffs, precipices, etc.

(17)    Indicate all artificial obstacles such as wire entanglements, tank traps, etc.

c. Refer to sample sketch in Section 6 for a method of sketching details prescribed in the preceding sub-paragraph.

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SECTION 4 DESCRIPTIVE MATTER

8. Employment of descriptive matter.

a.    Descriptive matter should cover the information contained in Section 1 Paragraph 1.

b.    Descriptive matter should be used fully in conjunction with both sketches and photographs to elucidate the pictorial matter on them.

c.    Descriptive matter should set forth all information on military installations and troop disposition in the vicinity of the landing beach.

d.    Descriptive matter should also contain all information available from local sources pertaining to normal conditions of tide, wind, and surf. Deviations from normal conditions that were observed during reconnaissance should be especially noted.

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REPORT FORM FOR BEACH RECONNAISSANCE

Date:______________________

Location of Beach:

Length of Beach (in yards):

Width of Beach (in yards):

Length of Portions of Beach Suitable for Landing:

Length of Portions of Beach NOT Suitable for Landing:

Vertical differences between high & low tide (in feet):

Recession of water line between high & low tide (in yards) :

Location of 3-foot depth line at low tide:

Character of bottom from 3-foot depth line; can it be negotiated by infantrymen and wheeled vehicles:

Location of sand bars and reefs on approaches to beach with depths of water over each at high & low tide:

Sorties from beach (roads & trails) with nature of each (width, grade, & surface):

Nature of soil on beach:

Known defensive positions, extent & nature:

Obstacles in water or on beach, type, extent, & location:

Mines in water or on beach, type, extent, & location:

Nature of vegetation on beach & immediately inland:

Average height of waves (different seasons of year):

Do small boats land on this beach:

Remarks:

NOTE: Use Sketch in connection with report.