13.  FROM 1800, 2 MAR 45 TO 1800, 3 MAR 45 (D PLUS 12)

	(a)	During the night all units consolidated positions, established 
contact with the adjacent units, and maintained contact with the enemy.  
Activity along the Division front was limited to one (1) attempted counter-attack 
in front of BLT 2/24.  In the ensuing action four (4) Marines and twenty (20) enemy 
were killed, and the remainder of the enemy dispersed.   Mortar and artillery fire 
was at a minimum during the night.  This was attributed to the fact that the 
artillery counter-battery fire was immediate and accurate and the possibility that 
the enemy was making a withdrawal of his artillery and mortars to new positions.  
Direct support sips furnished illumination and fired harassing fires during the night 
in TA's 185 CDG, 202 GHLMQRVWX.

	(b)	The Division continued the attack at King-hour minus 75 (0630), 
King-hour being 0745, in accordance with VAC LANFOR Order No. 11-45, without 
artillery or naval gunfire preparation. VAC LANFOR, Division Artillery, and 3/12 
fired counter-battery fires on located and suspected mortar, rocket, and artillery 
positions from King-hour minus 75 to King-hour plus 30.  Boundaries and 
Objectives no change; Line of Departure - front lines at King-hour.

	(c)	RCT 24, on the left, with BLT's 3/24, 2/24, and 1/24 in line, attacked 
at King-hour minus 75 with orders to disengage at least three (3) companies from 
the front lines during the day.  By 1525 two (2) companies were in rear of the 
front lines as RCT Reserve.  The RCT made a slow advance against the enemy 
positions to its front.  The right and center battalions were able to advance to the 
top of a ridge line to positions indicated on the map, Progress of Attack.  During 
the period the RCT maintained contact with the 3d Division on the left.  In the 
late afternoon Hill 382 was completely secured.

	(d)	RCT 23, less BLT 2/23, and with BLT's 2/25, 325 attached, passed 
through RCT 25, within its present zone, at King-hour minus 75.  RCT 23, then with 
BLT's 1/23, 2/25. 3/25 in line from left to right and with 3/23 in reserve, continued 
the attack, holding with the battalions on its right and center.  In savage fighting 
against well-entrenched enemy and subjected to intense mortar fire, the BLT on 
the left was able to make a slight gain to the positions shown at the end of the 
period.  The reentrant, or pocket of enemy resistance, was isolated and, at the 
close of the period, was being contained and mopped up by two infantry 
companies, tanks, and halftracks.  Company "B", 2d Armored Amphibian Tractor 
Battalion, was attached to RCT 23.

	(e)	RCT 25, less BLT's 2/25 and 3/25, when relieved by RCT 23 reverted 
to Division Reserve.

	(f)	14th Marines.  2/14 was in direct support of RCT 23; 1/14 reinforced 
the fires of 2/14; 3/14 was in direct support of RCT 24, and 4/14 was in general 
support.  Neutralization and destruction fires were fired in support of assault units.  
VAC LANFOR artillery reinforced the fires of the 14th Marines on call.

		The air observers fired a total of nineteen (19) missions during the 
period, and when heavy artillery was required they fired VAC LANFOR artillery in 
the zone of the Division.  No sound ranging targets were reported during the 
period.  The total number of missions fired was 231.

	(g)	4th Tank Battalion.  Company "C" was attached to RCT 23; 
Company "B" was attached to RCT 24, and Company "A" was under battalion 
control.  At the end of the period thirty-six (36) tanks were operational, twelve 
(12) were destroyed, and eight (8) were damaged.

	(h)	Aviation.  CTG 52.2 continued to furnish air support. Seven (7) 
missions were requested and six (6) were completed.  VMO-4 flew seven (7) day 
observation missions.  Three (3) planes were operational at the end of the period.

	(I)	Naval Gunfire.  elements of CTF 54 continued to support the attack.  
The use of Naval Gunfire was limited because of the safety factors dictated by 
the locations of the front lines. In order to cover the difficult terrain in the Division 
zone, three (3) VOF spot planes were employed and one (1) DD with an NLO 
aboard closed the coast and successfully delivered direct fire in TA's 185, 219, 
201, and 202.  Gunboats fired 40mm fire in TA 185.  Four (4) DD's and two (2) 
gunboats worked with units of the Division.

	(j)	4th Engineer Battalion.  Company "A" was attached to RCT 25, with 
the 2d and 3d platoons attached to BLT's 2/25 and 3/25 respectively.  These 
platoons continued mopping up operations in TA 184.  Company Headquarters 
and the 3d platoon removed twelve (12) horn mines and one (1) terracotta mine 
from the roadway in TA 184 XW.

	(k)	All units were ordered to consolidate at 1700 and to be prepared 
to continue the attack on 4 March, 1945.

	(l)	Combat efficiency was estimated to be 50%.

	(m)	There was a slight change in the area of operations and it was 
believed that the Division was now fighting in the rear of the highly prepared 
defensive area in which the operations for the past three (3) days had been 
conducted.

	(n)	Weather and Visibility.  Weather was fair and visibility was good, 
with ceiling overcast 4/10, wind SE 15 knots.