As organized, the Provisional Battalion was not equipped with new high velocity anti-tank weapons but with 75mm split-trail guns which were still in the supply system from the first world war. At the time of its organization, roughly 90% of the members of the Provisional Anti-Tank Battalion were from Kansas. The 135th Field Artillery was actually the Division Artillery of the 35th Infantry Division. Of the three firing elements, the 161st and the 127th Field Artillery Battalions were from the Kansas National Guard. In addition, support personnel to include a medical detachment (a total of 10 men) and additional clerical and ordinance personnel were included in the unit. The 35th Infantry Divisions Provisional Anti-Tank Battalion was formed in June 1941 under this concept from elements of the 127th, 135th and 161st Field Artillery Battalions. The Anti-Tank Battalions were to be equipped with towed 37mm guns, in preference to self propelled pieces. The tank destroyer motto was “Seek-Strike-Destroy” which adequately describes their proposed mission, that of aggressive reconnaissance. According to army doctrine, tank destroyer units were to be fast moving elements which placed a bare minimum of their guns in fixed position and held a maximum in mobile reserve. In the wake of the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1940, the War Department pressed for the mass employment of towed high velocity anti-tank Guns as a major defense against tanks. The American Army decided to counter enemy armor with high velocity guns which ultimately became known as Tank Destroyers. To be more specific, the successes of German armored units in both Western and Eastern Europe made the German panzer units seem almost invincible.
The formation of this special purpose battalion was in keeping with an army wide reorganization, prompted by a major reaction to German strategy in 1939-1941. Among the reorganizations, was the formation of the Provisional Anti-Tank Battalion of the 35th Division. As training progressed, the 35th Infantry Division went through a series of reorganizations to better structure the unit for the requirements of modern warfare. Troops from all four states began arriving at Camp Robinson right after the first of the year and the process of organizing and training the 35th Division began. Once there elements of the Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri Guard would together form the 35th Infantry Division.
In the days that followed, units from all over the state reported to their mobilization stations in preparation for the move to Camp Joseph T. With Christmas only a few days away, on 23 December 1940 the Kansas National Guard was mobilized for a years training duty by President Franklin D.
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