Here is a fascinating transcript of a marine tank company's radio chatter, taken by a US destroyer offshore during the fighting on Okinawa. You can find this on page 64 of Michael Greens M4 Sherman at War.
Troops_and_M4_Sherman_tanks_of_10th_Army_advancing_on_Okinawa
"This is Red Two, Red One; heartburn says that he is ready to start shooting at those pillboxes"
"Tell Heartburn I can't receive him. You will have to relay. Tell him to give us a signal and well spot for him"
"Red Two wilco"
"Heartburn, raise your fire. You're firing right into us"
"That's not Heartburn, Red Two, That's a high velocity gun from our left rear. I heard it whistle. Red One out."
"Red Three, this is Red One. Can you see that gun that's shooting into us?"
"Red One, I think that's our own gunfire."
"Goddamnit, it's not, I tell you. It's a high velocity gun and not a howitzer. Investigate or there on your left. But watch out for infantry; they're right in there somewhere"
"Red Two, tell Heartburn down fifty, left fifty"
"Red Two wilco"
"Red Three, what are you doing? Go south west!"
"I'm heading south west Red One."
"For Christ sake, get oriented. I can see you, Red Three. You are heading are heading northwest. Fox Love with hard left brake. Cross the road and go back up behind that house"
"But"
"I don't know why I bother with you, Red Three. Yellow One, take charge of Red Three and get him squared away. And get that gun; it's too close."
"Red One from Red Two, Heartburn wants to know if we are the front lines"
"Christ yes we're plenty front right now"
"This is Red Two, artillery on the way"
"Red one wilco"
"Red One from Yellow One. I can see some Japs setting up a machine gun about 100 yards to my right"
"Those are our troops Yellow One, don't shoot in there"
"The man at my telephone – I think he's an Officer, – says we have no troops in there."
"Yellow Two, go over there and investigate. Don't shoot at them; that man at the telephone probably doesn't know where the troops are. If they're Japs, run them over."
"Yellow One, wilco."
"Go ahead, Yellow Two. What in God's name are you waiting for?"
"I'm up as far as I can go and still depress my machine guns."
"The hell with your machine guns! I told you to run over them! Run over them, Goddamnit; obey your orders!"
"Yellow Two, wilco"
"Yellow One, what have you to report on that machine gun?"
"Red One, a Jap stood up and threw a grenade at us so I gave him a squirt."
"Did you run over that gun like I told you?"
"No. Red One, we put an HE into it and wrecked it."
"Christ, won't you people ever learn to conserve your ammunition…"
"Red One from Green Two, I'm stuck between two trees."
"Green Three stand by him. After the infantry has cleared up around there, get your assistant driver out and tow him clear."
"Green Three, wilco"
"While you're waiting, Green three, keep an eye out on that house on your right. I see troops coming out of there with bottles in their shirts."
"Can I send my assistant driver over to investigate?"
"Stay in your tank"
"Yellow One, from Red Three, where are you going?"
"Red One from Green Four. I am moving out to take out a pillbox the infantry pointed out I will I will take care of it and let them catch up."
"Where is it, Green Four?"
"In that clump of bushes to my right."
"Can you see it? It is all right to fire? Wait Green four"
"Green Four wilco"
"Green Four, you better not fire. The 4th Marines are over there somewhere."
"Run up on the box and turn around on it"
"It's one of those coconut log things. It looks like it my be to strong to squash. Is it all right if I fire into the slit?"
"Affirmative, but be careful, wilco"
"Red One, this is Hairless. We've got some Japs bottled up in two caves in Target Area Four Baker. We'd like you to leave two tanks to watch them."
"You know damn well that's infantry work. We're a mobile outfit, not watchdogs. Put your saki drinkers in there."
"Ok Harry, Red One out."
"All tanks start ‘em up. Move out now. Guide right and form a shallow right echelon. As soon as we hit the flat ground around the airfield, spread out to one hundred and fifty-yard interval. Alright, move out, move out
Wolfhag
