YTC Commander provides keynote speech
Lt. Col. Timothy Matthews, YTC Commander, was the guest speaker at the 23rd annual commemoration of the men and units associated with a top secret World War II-era test program of the Canal Defense Light (CDL) on February 9.
In his well-received speech, Matthews drew connections between the historical events of then to the current role that the Yuma Proving Ground and the Yuma Test Center provide today.
Proudly pointing out the important role his test center has in testing for six of the top eight priorities of Army modernization, he held the crowd of nearly 200 in rapt attention.
His personable style and special brand of humor made the speech all the more enjoyable.
Located northeast of Quartzsite, Ariz., the town of Bouse hosted the 9th and 10th Tank Groups, and the local railhead lent its name to the top secret base within the Butler Valley. The site was selected due to its remoteness and the ease in which activity could be constrained within the secured operational area. It was also hoped that the activity the Army could not hide from prying eyes would be thought of as just another unit preparing for the on-going maneuvers at the Desert Training Center / California – Arizona Maneuver Area. (DTC / C-AMA).
What some have called the “attack by illumination” was always seen as a one trick pony, easily countered. Therefore secrecy for what would likely be a one-time employment of the tactic was absolutely essential. Many say that the secrecy maintained was second only to the atomic bomb.
The CDL was based on an M3 Lee tank. This tank was modified by removing the 37 mm gun and turret on top, leaving the 75 mm cannon in the side sponson box. A special turret was built to contain a special Arc Light that produced 13 million candlepower. A polished parabolic mirror projected the light through a slit in the turret. A special shutter was installed that opened and closed 6 times per second, producing a strobe light effect which was thought to produce disorienting effects. In addition, colored filters would alter the perception of distance to the tanks. The idea was that the defenders would be rendered senseless, allowing for an easy penetration of their defenses
followed by an exploitation by a larger, follow-on force.
A demonstration was put on in England for Generals Dwight Eisenhower and Jacob Devers. They were impressed enough to recommend that the American Army should adopt a similar program. Beginning in February 1942, a scant two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, American troops would receive their basic training at Camp Rucker with advanced operational testing and crew training within General Dever’s Armor Center at Fort Knox. Strict security procedures were developed that would follow the Soldiers all the way to the CAMA to their new home at Camp Bouse, established in August 1943.
The program was cancelled once the 9th and 10th Tank Groups arrived in England. The tank battalions were converted to medium tank battalions, many designated as “special” while the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion came under the operational control of Gen. Omar Bradley, who used them as his own version of a quick reaction force throughout the war in Europe.
During a tour and terrain walk of the actual Camp Bouse location the day after Matthews’ speech, Luis Arroyo, chief of the YTC Training Exercise Management Office accompanied Museum Curator Bill Heidner in order to pave the way for future training opportunities. Thiryfive car loads of people also made the trek as John Bennet of the Bouse Chamber of Commerce shared first- person accounts of Veterans and locals who had previously been regular attendees of the annual Commemoration. With a blessing from a La Paz County Supervisor and the Chamber of Commerce of Bouse, the effort to develop a staff ride – like training event will commence so that personnel from YPG and other tenants and visiting training units may benefit from learning about Operation Cossack, the developmental training mission at Camp Bouse.