Debarked vicinity of Cappaci, Italy, beginning 19 September, 1943. Light tanks extricated a mired M29 carrier (Weasel) and trailer. Company D was initially placed in 4th Infantry Division reserve. Not all the pages in the AAR are legible and it also contained a lot of entries pertaining to equipment statuses, personnel promotions, transfers and GIs reporting to the hospital. 20.) These were written by a former veteran of the 776th, during the 1970's, in response to questions he recieved from the author doing research for an upcoming book on U. S. tank destroyer forces. No content can be used unless consent has been given by TankDestroyer.net. [13] It was at this time also that the remainder of the battalion which had not landed on 67 June, consisting mainly of the service company and other support elements of the headquarters company dubbed the Battalion Residue, departed Bournemouth on 16 June, landed on Utah Beach the following day and linked-up with the battalion soon thereafter.[13]. At the time the 746th went into action at Normandy, the assault gun platoon was still equipped with standard M4 Sherman tanks. Later it became a major base and staging area for B-24 equipped 11th Bombardment Group, 30th Bombardment Group and the F-5 (P-38 Lightning) equipped 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. November 1: Accompanied by Filipino troops, the division supported by the 767 tank battalion was fiercely opposed by elements of the Japanese 20th Infantry Regiment,16th Infantry Division. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern Europe until V-E Day. The San Pablo airfield was secured on December 7. Company C Rosters, May and June, 1942 - Partial lists of enlisted personnel while the unit was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. [25], The battalion remained in defensive positions to the southeast of Eupen throughout the end of December 1944 and most of January 1945, with limited localized offensive operations while the front to the 9th Infantry Division's south was stabilized and restored after the German counteroffensive. [2] With such heavy losses in July, Company D was stripped of qualified tankers to fill out the crews in the medium tank companies.[3]. Then turning northeast, the battalion advanced about 30km per day, encountering continued sporadic resistance in the form of mined roadblocks, demolished bridges and mobile strong points. 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mecanized) . Ultimately, the 746th supported the 9th Division's crossing of the Roer in the 1st Infantry Division sector at Winden on 26 February, and attacked the German flank by advancing south toward Nideggen and Thum. Courtesy of Tom Hubred (*). B Company 776 Tank Destroyer Battalion In Combat, by James A. Montgomery - A detailed history with crew photos (including ID's, location and date), a company photo/roster, commendation letters and additional photos. Battalion received order to waterproof one platoon of medium tanks of B company. Photo Albums - A collection of photographs taken by James A. Montgomery who served in B Company. The 756th Tank Battalion was a tank battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War and, as the 73rd Tank Battalion, during the early Cold War. Companies A and C landed with the 3d Division at Fedala and assisted the Division in establishing and exploiting one of the first beachheads in the North African theater. During the Battle for Leyte Gulf (October 23-26), Dulag was used as an emergency airfield for stranded US naval planes due to out of fuel, battle damage or their carrier was put out of action. This is the only Japanese tank the battalion reported in the AAR. Tank battalions 571). Did you proudly serve in 76TH TANK BATTALION 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION? The GIs knocked out 6 of the tanks so 2 of them either had mechanical problems or became mired somewhere. Aided capture of Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Ulm, Germany, and crossed Danube in April 1945. After its capture a few days earlier, US engineers began to improve and widen the runway which later became a major base with revetments and taxiways on the sides of the landing strip. The color was more likely blue or black since red/white could been mistaken as a Japanese flag. 14.) Re-Union Booklets - These were sent to attendees following the actual reunions. The medium tank companies were equipped with. Appears to have been taken after the war in Germany or Austria. It served primarily as an attachment to the 9th Infantry Division, but fought alongside numerous other units as well. They were attached once again to the 3rd Armored Division on 24 November. The tanks were rearmed and maintenance performed while the crews got some chow and then sleep (if possible). 21, 1945, Central Europe..Mar. For the Leyte invasion, the 767ths Assault Gun Platoon was equipped with the M8 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC) based on the M5 Stuart tank chassis. Field and March Orders - Various orders issued between October 1943 and December 1944. November 19: The GIs broke up the attack using MG, mortar, and artillery fire. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; C Company supporting the 17th Infantry Regiment landed on Beach Orange 4 on the southwest corner of the island. 254 th Motorised Rifle Regiment - Klintsy - Tank company and an MR battalion; 59 th Tank Regiment - Yelnya - Tank battalion, an MRC; 8 th Combined Arms Army - Southern Military District - Novocherkassk. var addyede5f5022a62a30559ef44961cb36143 = 'info' + '@'; Used by permission. Courtesy of Tom Hubred. . Diaries - Maintained by Captain Willis F. Cole, Company A. On 15 August, it landed near St. Tropez as part of Operation Dragoon, attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, and pushed north through France along the Rhone Valley. On October 25, a TBM-1C Avenger and other US Navy planes are seen on the Dulag airfield. Headquarters, United States Forces European Theater, Office of the Theater Historian. [27] The discharge gates on the dam were demolished as the Americans approached and operations to the east of the Roer had to wait until the waters downstream subsided. This is probably the other side of the Type 89B above. 7.) Its next move was to Petit Port in May and to Magenta, Algeria, early in June, where it trained with elements of the Fifth Army Tank Destroyer school. Thank you for every other informative blog. [27][28], Though they had crossed the Roer, German resistance had not yet broken. The 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armored Regiment was first constituted on 13 January 1941 in the Regular Army as the 76th Tank Battalion. Pyramidal tents were setup in the battalion areas in Burauen. Provided courtesy of Colby Kenyon. Although the company fired rifles, bazookas, and mortars against the tanks, they still managed to escape. The field personnel (including 767th security detachments) and nearby units of the US 11th Airborne Division defended the airfields. Courtesy of Tom Hubred. Decal Sheet containing #28 Man O War: youve an ideal blog here! The first address you sent me is my buddy. Issued M10's while still in the States. The remainder of the battalion went to Fort Dix, New Jersey on November 28, 1942, for further staging. It was shipped to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds for evaluation and then was on display outside at the US Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen for about 60 years. In April 1980, B Company, 76th Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy) was reassigned here from Fort Meade, Md. One platoon of Company A was attached to the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. His son Tom has painstakenly scanned the four albums and provided them to us. Dec 17, 1942 - March 25, 1943..35 Pages, March 26, 1943 - May 31, 1943 Part 1..18 Pages Part 2..18 Pages, September, 1943 - Dec 11, 1943 Part 1..19 Pages Part 2..19 Pages Part 3..19 Pages Dec 18, 1943 - Feb 17, 1944 Part 1..24 Pages Part 2..24 Pages Part 3..26 Pages, 9.) November 22: After Carlson was secured, artillery was immediately brought ashore and was setup on the island to provide fire support for the landings on Kwajalein Island. Joined breakthrough of Hitler Line May 1944, entered Rome 4 June and joined drive to Arno River. 1-31, 1944.9 Pages (Includes casualty listing), Jul. (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. During WWI, Japan occupied the Marshall Islands which in 1920 were combined with other former German territories to form the South Pacific Mandate. November 3: It first joined the 3d Infantry Division after it left Fort Lewis on August 4, 1942, at Fort Ord, California, at it was there it took its first amphibious training. Between the planes is the nose of a LVT-4 amtrack which probably belonged to the 718th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. October 24: Band. They had advanced to the vicinity of the Lozon River west of St.-L by 25 July, when the Allied carpet bombing of German positions south of the St.-L-Priers road marked the beginning of Operation Cobra. Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian. Wonder why? Reorganized and redesignated 15 January 1948 as Headquarters and Service Company, 756th Heavy Tank Battalion. I went over this website and I think you have a lot of excellent info , saved to favorites (:. The US 7th Infantry Division was the only unit in the Pacific to use these checkered ID panels. The 756th Tank Battalion was a tank battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War and, as the 73rd Tank Battalion, during the early Cold War. Courtesy of Tom Montgomery. Soon after the move to Camp Pickett, on 22 October 1943, the unit was redesignated as the 746th Tank Battalion and adopted the organization in which it would fight throughout the European Campaign. At 0530 hours, about 50 Japanese soldiers launched an attack against the perimeter of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry, with light MG and rifle fire. Based on some of the photos this may not be true or it is a segregated tank battalion. An Informal History of the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Operational Reports/Unit Journals/Unit History - Operational Reports from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I took some screenshots. December 10: The 756th was activated as a light tank battalion on June 1, 1941, at Fort Lewis, Washington. D Company locations as listed: Soon thereafter, German resistance in western France collapsed, and the tankers road-marched in battalion formation due east across France and reached Bruyres-le-Chtel by early morning on 26 August. 24.) [2], In 1944, two companies of the battalion were re-equipped with DD tanks, specialised M4 Shermans designed for amphibious landings. A platoon from the 7th Reconnaissance Troop patrolled the road between Baybay and Damulaan and a platoon of 767th Tank Battalion Stuart tanks at Damulaan were the only US armor on the west coast of Leyte at that time. In other words, the tank crews were doing busy work and were assigned guard duty. Current Riedwihr, France, 26 January 19451st Lt Edgar R. Danby Allan, France, 27 August 1944Cpl John W. Davis Riedwihr, France, 26 January 1945Pvt Dual F. Dishner Allan, France, 27 August 1944Pvt Ascencion Esparza La Maison Rouge, France, 24 January, 1945S/Sgt Chester L. Estkowski Bamberg, Germany, 13 April 1945Sgt Leonard D. Froneberger Bennwihr, France, 23 December 1944Pfc Michael Gautieri Baccarat, France, 26 January, 19452nd Lt Wayne B. Henry Cassino, Italy, 27 January 1944Pvt Charles R. Johns Nurnberg, Germany, 17 April 1945Pvt Burdette W. Kinney Bennwihr, France, 23 December 1944Sgt Luther A. Kinsworthy Ste Die, France, 24 January, 1945Pfc Verner L. Kreitlow Castellonorato, Italy, 15 May 1944Pvt Merlin A. Kudick Rattelsdorf, Germany, 20 April 1945Cpl Donald E. LaDue Ste Anastastie, France, 17 August 19441st Lt Verus M. Langham Emmendingen, Germany, 2 January 1945Pvt Ruben B. Mapes Riedwihr, France, 24 January 1945Pfc John D. Mekus Riedwihr, France, 24 January 19452nd Lt Anthony F. Melfi La Maison Rouge, France, 24 January 1945Sgt Frank W. Mielcarski Quenoche, France, 10 September 19442nd Lt Andrew D. Orient Gonfaron, 24 August 1944Pfc David J. Orris Cassino, Italy, 5 February 1944Cpl William T. Payne Bennwihr, France, 23 December 1944Pvt William F. Pennetta Adelans, France, 15 September 1944T/5 Paul A. Saale Julian-Rupt, France, 13 October 1944Sgt Frank M. Schafer Holtzwihr, France, 25 January 1945T/4 Reuben C. Schipper Bennwihr, France, 30 December 9144S/Sgt Hamilton A. Smith Ste Anastastie, France, 17 August 1944Pvt Walter F. Smith Ste Anastastie, France, 17 August 1944T/5 Leak H. Smitherman Amaseno, Italy, 1 June 1944Sgt Walter C. Taylor La Maison Rouge, France, 24 January 1945Cpl Paul P. Tirpak Cassino, Italy, 27 January 1944Cpl Steve Vargo Allan, France, 27 August 1944T/4 Bernard C. Wammes Bennwihr, France, 30 December 1944T/4 Joe K. Wright Rome, Italy, 4 June 1944Sgt Eugene K. Wunderlich Cassino, Italy, 17 February 1944Cpl Ervin E. Zentz Mourmelon-le-Grand, France, 19 April 1944These four men were former B Company members killed in action while fighting later with A Company: 1st Lt Robert L. Gilman Collobrieres, France, 15 August 19442nd Lt James L. HarrisVagney, France, 7 October 19442nd Lt Jack Hogan Le Londe-les-Maures,France, 17 August 19441st Lt William H. Newman Le Lavendou, France, 16 August 1944, Website operating since January 26th, 2005. The M5 Stuart tanks of Company D were considered too light to be able to operate independently in the heavily compartmented bocage in Normandy, so the battalion commander decided to break the company up and attach one platoon from Company D to each of the medium tank companies, ostensibly as flank security. Instead, beginning in the early morning of 7 August, they found themselves in the path of Operation Lttich, a corps-size German armor offensive to split the First and Third Armies and relieve German forces cut off at Avranches. 13.) These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. Ive a project that Im simply now running on, and I have been on the This is my ad free non-profit blog of my research notes on military history since April 2018. The service company had operating: 12 2.5 ton trucks, 1 wrecker (10 ton), 11 1/4 ton trucks (Jeeps) and 8 Halftracks. B Company supporting the 184th Infantry Regiment landed on Red Beach 1 while A Company supporting the 32nd Infantry Regiment landed on Red Beach 2. Contact us. 76TH TANK BATTALION 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION Air Force Units Army Units Coast Guard Units Marine Corps Units Navy Units Become a VetFriends Member Site Map Search Veterans & Personnel Photos, Humor, Stories & More Military Records & Resources Reunions, Parades, & Events Online Catalog About VetFriends My Profile MetLife Veteran Insurance Discounts document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow my blog and receive email notifications of my new posts. 777th AAA AW Bn (SP) 22 Jul 44-29 Jun 45: Armored. The crew was trapped in their hot and cramped tank surrounded by the Japanese for over 8 hours. 2, Incl. The Headquarters Company included the battalion headquarters staff, both officers and enlisted men; an assault gun platoon, consisting of three Sherman tank variants armed with a 105 mm assault gun; a mortar platoon, equipped with three half-track mounted 81 mm mortars; a reconnaissance platoon with five quarter-ton peeps (jeeps); and the headquarters tank section consisting of two tanks for the battalion commander and operations officer. Four D company M3A1s landed on Beach Yellow 2 on Enubuj Island (Carlson). Lessons were learned the hard way as infantry and armor worked together against tough German resistance. U.S. 22.) On 5 July, the 746th Tank Battalion was attached to the 83rd Infantry Division to help repel a strong counterattack from the German 6th Parachute Regiment[15] toward Carentan in an effort to cut off the VII Corps from their supply lines to the landing beaches. Note barely visible in the background is probably a D Company M3A1 or M5A1 Stuart tank. Men of Armor is a multi-volume history of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion, in WWII. ABMC Headquarters 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-584-1501 The guy in this video does not know much about the tank. Courtesy of Tom Hubred. They set up in Fort von der Tann at Gaimersheim, on the north side of Ingolstadt, to carry out occupation duties, mainly guarding American military assets, and guarding prisoner of war and displaced person camps. It served primarily as an attachment to the 9th Infantry Division, but fought alongside numerous other units as well. Company C, supporting the 39th Infantry Regiment in division reserve did not cross until 10 March. Moved into line near Luneville on 30 October, 1944. Colonel Bedford H. Forrest was killed in action in France November 26, according, to word received by his mother Mrs. Mattie S Forrest of Saluda. Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian. Unit Citation Documents - In May of 1945, the 776th recommended that their A and C Company personnel be cited by the War Department for actions during the period March 17-19, 1945. Although the Japanese counterattacked every night, Kwajalein island was declared secure on February 4. Your email address will not be published. The 9th Infantry Division and with it the 746th Tank Battalion came out of the line on 15 November to become First Army reserve. [3][17] After the tactical situation had been restored, the battalion was once again given a brief opportunity to rest and refit. The tank coopanies of battalion trained with tho 349th, 350th nnd 551st Infantry Regiments of the 88th Inf!l.ntry Division on infantry.- tank cooporation. 21.) During the period from May 11, 1944 to June 10 the Battalion was attached no less than eleven times, each one for combat. The tankers prepared to support the 9th Infantry Division's planned crossing of the Roer in the vicinity of Urfttal, and Company B supported the 60th Infantry Regiment as they aided the 78th Infantry Division in taking the Schwammenauel Dam on 11 February. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [24], The 746th was organized to support an attack by the 9th Infantry Division on 17 December to consolidate their positions west of the Roer River. A censor had whited out the ladies and the lower half of the officer was blacked out. The ID panels were discontinued after this invasion. November 23-25: We raced volkswagens on our time off and we'd go to the range and shoot all day. These M8s of an unknown unit were supporting the US 1st Cavalry Division further north on Leyte somewhere near Talcoban. The battalion ended the war near Salzburg, in Austria.[3]. The M10s advanced along with the Shermans. The Japanese paratroopers were flown in Mitsubishi Ki-57 transports with a crew of 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator and radio operator) each carrying 10-11 paratroopers. If you are family or have information or photos for any of the men listed below, please contact me at my webmaster address: jdanby@756tankbn.com. "After Action Report, 746th Tank Battalion January - February 1945". If you can help us identify any of the men in the photos, please contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. 1) (*), Dec. 1-31, 194432 Pages (Journal - Pt. 44th Armored Infantry Battalion. Veteran L. Prickett, "Dear VetFriends, Thanks so much for your help! It participated in all phases of the drive on Rome. However, even in that role, the light tanks were considered ineffective. [34], On 10 July 1945, the battalion was relieved of assignment to the 9th Infantry Division. One tank was used for evacuation of stalled and disabled vehicles in the area. The tanks most likely were used in China in the late 1930s and then became part of the occupation force after the Japanese invaded Leyte in 1941-42. Its training stations were Camp Chaffee, Ark., Louisiana Maneuvers, the Mojave Desert, and Camp Cooke, CA. D Company HQ section (2 light tanks) reported to San Pablo for security. [13] This initial relationship with the 9th Infantry Division was to become a habitual relationship, and the battalion would maintain a close operating relationship with it for most of the remainder of the war in Europe. Sep 17, 2020 - Explore Philip Barnett's board "U.S. 76th Infantry Division", followed by 1,177 people on Pinterest. It was later redesignated as the 73rd Armor Regiment, and is perpetuated today by the 73rd Cavalry Regiment .
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