7th Army Resources Wanted (1 Viewer)

[Peter Reuss]

My son's 8th grade English class was just assigned a 3-5 page paper on any subject relating to WWII (they may not get WWII history in HISTORY class, but at least they'll get some in English)!!

He would like to write about the anti-tank companies of the 44th Division, 324th Regt of the 7th Army (since my grandfather was KIA in that company).

I know there are some major tomes which would provide enough for a 1,000 page paper, but that's more than he needs. Does anyone know of websites which might help him out? We may need to expand a bit beyond the AT company to describe the kind of fighting the 324th would have endured.

Any help would be appreciated!

Pete

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Peter

try some of these links if you know the unit (ie) Company D 1st Battalion 66th Armored Regiment, that your grandfater was in then you should be able to look on line and find out some information. You might also be able to find out which cemetary he is in here and get the exact row plot etc. If you need some more help let me know.

Dave

http://efour4ever.com/44thdivision/buchen.htm

http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=../units/324th Inf.Reg.htm

Here is a bit of info on the 44th INFANTRY DIVISION



The division insignia consists of two blue figure 4's back to back on a golden orange circular background within a blue border. The colors are those of the House of Nassau, whose Dutch settlers inhabited what is now New York and New Jersey, and are used because the division was organized from National Guard units of this region.



[page 170]



COMMAND AND STAFF



Commanding General

15 September 1944 Maj. Gen. Robert L. Spragins
29 December 1944 Brig. Gen. William F. Dean
19 March 1945 Maj. Gen. William F. Dean

Assistant Division Commander

15 September 1944 Brig. Gen. William F. Dean
5 January 1945 Col. Robert L. Dulaney
31 March 1945 Brig. Gen. Robert L. Dulaney

Artillery Commander

15 September 1944 Brig. Gen. W. Beiderlinden

Chief of Staff

15 September 1944 Col. Marlin C. Martin
10 December 1944 Col. George E. Martin

Assistant Chief of Staff G-1

15 September 1944 Lt. Col. Gordon S. Lee

Assistant Chief of Staff G-2

15 September 1944 Lt. Col. Herbert Snyder
25 April 1945 Maj. Thomas C. Sheehan, Jr. (Acting)

Assistant Chief of Staff G-3

15 September 1944 Lt. Col. Leon L. Hagen

Assistant Chief of Staff G-4

15 September 1944 Lt. Col. Russell C. Harpole

Adjutant General

15 September 1944 Lt. Col. Edward Doherty

Commanding Officer, 71st Infantry

15 September 1944 Col. Ercil D. Porter

Commanding Officer, 114th Infantry

15 September 1944 Col. Robert R. Martin

Commanding Officer, 324th Infantry

15 September 1944 Col. Thacher Nelson
25 October 1944 Col. Kenneth S. Anderson



[page 171]



STATISTICS



Chronology

Inducted 15 September 1940
Arrived ETO 15 September 1944
Arrived Continent (D+101) 15 September 1944
Entered Combat: First Elements 17 October 1944
Entered Combat: Entire Division 24 October 1944
Days in Combat 190



Casualties (Tentative)

Killed 1,008
Wounded 4,650
Missing 434
Captured 19
Battle Casualties 6,111
Non-Battle Casualties 7,637
Total Casualties 13,748
Percent of T/O Strength 97.6



Campaigns

Northern France

Rhineland

Central Europe



Individual Awards

Distinguished Service Cross 15
Legion of Merit 2
Silver Star 260
Soldiers Medal 4
Bronze Star 1,515
Air Medal 98



Prisoners of War Taken 41,747



COMPOSITION

71st Infantry

114th Infantry

324th Infantry

44th Reconnaissance Combat Battalion [i.e., Troop (Mechanized)]

63d Engineer Combat Battalion

119th Medical Battalion

44th Division Artillery

156th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

217th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

220th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)

157th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)

Special Troops

744th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company

44th Quartermaster Company

44th Signal Company

Military Police Platoon

Headquarters Company

Band



[page 172]



ATTACHMENTS



Antiaircraft Artillery

398th AAA AW Bn (SP) 22 Oct 44-24 Nov 44
895th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 25 Nov 44-18 Apr 45

Armored

749th Tk Bn 23 Oct 44-15 Feb 45
772d Tk Bn 26 Mar 45-9 May 45

Cavalry

45th Rcn Tr (45th Div) 20 Nov 44-22 Nov 44
117th Cav Rcn Sq 26 Apr 45-9 May 45

Chemical

83d Cml Mort Bn 1 Nov 44-15 Nov 44
2d Cml Mort Bn -25 Dec 44
Co B, 96th Cml Mort Bn 2 Dec 44-
96th Cml Mort Bn 18 Apr 45-9 May 45

Field Artillery

242d FA Bn (105mm How) 21 Oct 44-28 Dec 44
45th Div Arty 21 Oct 44-21 Jan 45
79th Div Arty 23 Oct 44-25 Oct 44
59th Armd FA Bn 7 Nov 44
45th Div Arty 9 Nov 44-17 Nov 44
242d FA Bn (105mm How) 5 Dec 44-7 Dec 44
494th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 5 Dec 44-7 Dec 44
493d Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 19 Dec 44-14 mar 45
494th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 26 Dec 44-6 Jan 45
493d Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 2 Jan 45-6 Jan 45
423d Armd FA Bn (10th Armd Div) 21 Jan 45-10 Feb 45
63d Div Arty 3 Feb 45-6 Feb 45
493d Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 11 Feb 45-16 Feb 45
693d FA Bn (105mm How) 12 Feb 45-14 Mar 45
494th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 14 Feb 45-16 Feb 45
495th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 14 Feb 45-16 Feb 45
64th Regiment d'artillerie Coloniale (Fr 2d Armd Div) 20 Feb 45-26 Feb 45
283d FA Bn (105mm How) 11 Mar 45-13 Mar 45
522d FA Bn (105mm How) 26 Mar 45-30 Mar 45
933d FA Bn (155mm How) 27 Mar 45-29 Mar 45
937th FA Bn (155mm How) 27 Mar 45-29 Mar 45
686th FA Bn (155mm How) 27 Mar 45-30 Mar 45
17th FA Bn (155mm How) 3 May 45-8 May 45
93d Armd FA Bn 8 May 45

Infantry

157th Inf (45th Div) 25 Nov 44-27 Nov 44
253d Inf (63d Div) 31 Dec 44-6 Feb 45
255th Inf (63d Div) 19 Jan 45-6 Feb 45

Tank Destroyer

813th TD Bn (SP) 23 Oct 44-31 Oct 44
776th TD Bn (SP) 31 Oct 44-21 Nov 44
776th TD Bn (SP) 25 Nov 44-9 May 45



[pages 173-174]



DETACHMENTS

(Attached to)

Engineer

Co C, 63d Engr C Bn 4th Div 9 Apr 45-18 Apr 45

Field Artillery

44th Div Arty 79th Div 17 Oct 44-24 Oct 44
44th Div Arty 45th Div 12 Mar 45-21 Mar 45
44th Div Arty 3d Div 24 Mar 45-27 Mar 45
44th Div Arty 45th Div 30 Mar 45-1 Apr 45

Infantry

114th Inf 79th Div 17 Oct 44-24 Oct 44
71st Inf 79th Div 18 Oct 44-24 Oct 44
324th Inf 79th Div 19 Oct 44-24 Oct 44
2d Bn, 324th Inf Fr 2d Armd Div 22 Nov 44-28 Nov 44
324th Inf VI Corps 8 Apr 45-10 Apr 45
324th Inf 4th Div 10 Apr 45-19 Apr 45
2d Bn, 324th Inf 10th Armd Div 19 Apr 45-21 Apr 45



[page 174]



ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS



DATE CORPS ARMY ARMY GROUP
Assigned Attached Assigned Attached
26 Aug 44 Ninth ETOUSA
30 Aug 44 Ninth 12th
5 Sep 44 III Ninth 12th
10 Oct 44 (-) Ninth 12th
14 Oct 44 XV (Sup & Opn) (-) (-) 6th (Sup & Opn)
17 Oct 44 XV (Sup & Opn) Seventh (Sup & Opn) (-)
18 Oct 44 XV (Sup & Opn) Seventh (Sup & Opn) 6th
22 Nov 44 XV (Sup & Opn) Seventh 6th
25 Nov 44 XV Seventh 6th
8 Apr 45 (-) Seventh 6th
15 Apr 45 XXI Tng Seventh 6th
17 Apr 45 VI (Opns) Seventh 6th

(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.



[page 175]



COMMAND POSTS



DATE TOWN REGION COUNTRY
15 Sep 44 St-Germain-de-Tournebut (1 km S) Manche France
15 Oct 44 Luneville Meurthe-et-Moselle France
24 Oct 44 Croismare Meurthe-et-Moselle France
19 Nov 44 Veho Meurthe-et-Moselle France
20 Nov 44 Avricourt Meurthe-et-Moselle France
21 Nov 44 Heming Moselle France
22 Nov 44 Sarrebourg Moselle France
23 Nov 44 Lixheim Moselle France
3 Dec 44 Drulingen Moselle France
7 Dec 44 Diemeringen Moselle France
13 Dec 44 Montbronn Moselle France
22 Dec 44 Siltzheim Bas-Rhin France
24 Dec 44 Herbitzheim Bas-Rhin France
25 mar 45 Munchof Rhineland Germany
27 Mar 45 Lampertheim Baden Germany
29 Mar 45 Viernheim Baden Germany
31 Mar 45 Babenhausen Hessen Germany
3 Apr 45 Alzenau Bavaria Germany
5 Apr 45 Kassel Kurhessen Germany
8 Apr 45 Unter Altertheim Baden Germany
16 Apr 45 Greussenheim Bavaria Germany
17 Apr 45 Simprechtshausen (vic E) Wurttemberg Germany
18 Arp 45 Waldenburg (vic W) Wurttemberg Germany
19 Apr 45 Michelfeld (vic W) Wurttemberg Germany
19 Apr 45 Oberroth (vic N) Wurttemberg Germany
20 Apr 45 Wildgarten (vic W) Wurttemberg Germany
20 Apr 45 Lorch (vic N) Wurttemberg Germany
21 Apr 45 Goppingen (vic) Wurttemberg Germany
23 Apr 45 Bad Ditzenbach Wurttemberg Germany
23 Apr 45 Gross Almendingen Wurttemberg Germany
24 Apr 45 Erbach Wurttemberg Germany
26 Apr 45 Burgrieden Wurttemberg Germany
26 Apr 45 Pless Bavaria Germany
27 Apr 45 Ottobeuren Bavaria Germany
28 Apr 45 Nesselwang Bavaria Germany
30 Apr 45 Reutte Tyrol Austria
4 May 45 Nassereith Tyrol Austria
4 May 45 Imst Tyrol Austria



[pages 176 (thru 16 Apr 45)-177]

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Peter

here is a bit more info on the AT Weapons. and see the link at the end. There is a lot of info at sites like wikipedia and links to many good refernce sites on the web. Enjoy
Dave

US Army
Under organization from April 1942, each infantry battalion had an anti-tank platoon with four 37 mm guns (1/4 ton trucks, better known as jeeps, were authorized as prime movers) and each regiment an anti-tank company with twelve (towed by 3/4 ton trucks). Each of the four divisional artillery battalions possessed six anti-tank guns, combat engineering battalion nine pieces (towed by M2 halftracks); in addition, divisional headquarters had four (towed by 3/4 ton trucks) and divisional maintenance company two.[7]


A 37 mm gun on a M5A1 Stuart tank
Although an earlier organization included divisional anti-tank battalion (two companies of 37 mm guns and one company of 75 mm guns), in December 1941 AT battalions were removed from divisional structure and reorganized as independent tank destroyer battalions; their towed guns were replaced with self-propelled ones as soon as the latter became available.[8]
In 1942, the first airborne divisions were formed. According to their organizational structure of October 1942, an airborne division had 44 37 mm anti-tank guns: four in divisional artillery (AA/AT battery of parachute field artillery battalion), 24 in AA/AT battalion, and eight in each of two glider infantry regiments; parachute infantry regiment did not have anti-tank guns. In practice, airborne divisions often had only one glider infantry regiment and therefore 36 guns.[9]
37 mm guns were also issued to the infantry regiments of the only mountain division formed in the U.S.: the 10th Mountain Division.[10]
Finally, U.S. armored division under organization from March 1942 possessed a total of 68 37 mm anti-tank guns. Of those, 37 belonged to armored infantry regiment (four in each company an one in regiment HQ); 27 to armored engineer battalion; three to divisional train and one to division HQ.[11]
The experience of the M3 in the North African Campaign was completely different. The gun was not powerful enough to deal with late production German Panzer III and IV tanks. After the nearly disastrous Battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943, reports from some of the involved units mentioned 37 mm projectiles "bouncing off like marbles" from the turret and front armor of German medium tanks and proclaimed the gun "useless unless you have gun crews with the guts to stand and shoot from 100 yards".[8] The Army was initially uncertain if these reports reflected the obsolescence of the weapon, or whether unrefined tactics and lack of experience were to blame. Yet on 26 May 1943 a new organization had the M3 replaced by the 57 mm Gun M1 (the U.S.-produced version of the British 6 pdr gun),[note 1] with Dodge 1½ ton trucks as prime movers. Only by spring 1944 did the 57 mm gun reach the battlefield in large numbers.[8]
Meanwhile, the Italian campaign was launched, and M3 guns saw action from the day of the Sicily landing on 10 July 1943. That day the 37 mm guns demonstrated once again both their effectiveness against pre-war tanks—when they helped to repel an attack by Italian Renault R 35s—and inability to cope with modern threats in a subsequent encounter with Tiger Is from the Hermann Göring division. The Italian theater had a lower priority for reequipment than Northwest Europe, and some M3s were still in use in Italy in late 1944.[18]
By mid-1944, the M3 had fallen out of favor even with airborne troops, despite their strong preference for compact and lightweight weapon systems. The Airborne Command had rejected the 57 mm M1 in the summer of 1943 claiming its unfitness for airlifting[19] and the Table of Organisation and Equipment (TO&E) of February 1944 still had airborne divisions keeping their 37 mm guns. Nevertheless, the 82nd and the 101st, were reequipped with British-manufactured 6-pounder gun (57 mm) on carriage Mk III (designed to fit into the British Horsa glider) for the Normandy airdrops. This change was officially introduced in the TO&E of December 1944.[20]
The M3 was phased out of U.S. service soon after the end of the war.[5]
Variants
• Test variants:
o T3 - the first prototype.[1]
o T7 - a prototype with semi-automatic horizontal sliding block breech.[2]
o T8 - a prototype with Nordenfelt eccentric screw breech.[2]
o T10 - standardized as M3 (1938) - an adopted version, with manual vertical block breech.[1][2]
• Model variants
o M3 towed version, manual breech.
 M3A1 (1942) - version with threaded barrel end to accept a muzzle brake, which was never issued.[1]
o M5 (1939) - tank mounted variant with shorter barrel.[21]
o M6 (1940) - tank mounted variant with barrel of the original length and with semi-automatic breech.[21]
• Carriage variants:
o T1, T1E1 - prototypes.[1]
o T5, standardized as M4 - first adopted version.[1]
o M4A1 (1942) - carriage with improved traverse controls.[1]
o In 1942, the Airborne Command requested a version with removable trails. A prototype was tested, but in 1943 the project was dropped as unnecessary.[1]
At least in one case, Fifth Army Ordnance in Italy fitted the gun experimentally with fifteen 4.5 in (110 mm) aircraft rockets, in five clusters of three, mounted above the shield.[22]
Variants of the M3 should not be confused with other 37 mm guns in the U.S. service. Those other pieces included M1916 infantry gun of French design (these were later used extensively as subcaliber devices for heavy artillery.),[23] M1 antiaircraft autocannon, M4/M9/M10 aircraft-mounted autocannons, M12/M13/M14/M15 subcaliber guns.
[edit] Self-propelled mounts


37mm Gun M5, as mounted in Light Tank M2A4.


37mm GMC M6 with improvised machine gun mount.
Two tank gun variants were developed based on the barrel of the M3. The first, initially designated M3A1 but renamed M5 on 13 October 1939, was shortened by 5.1 in (130 mm) to avoid damage to the tube in wooded areas. Later, a variant with a semi-automatic breech (with empty cartridge ejection) was developed. This variant—initially designated M5E1, adopted as M6 on 14 November 1940—received a full length barrel. The tubes were interchangeable, but replacing M5 with M6 and vice versa would result in an unbalanced mount and was therefore prohibited.[21] These guns were mounted on several models of tanks and other armored vehicles:
• Light Tank M2A4: M5 in mount M20. The recoil mechanism, protruding beyond the gun mask, had to be protected by an armored casing.[24]
• Light Tank M3: M5 in mount M22, in late production vehicles M6 in mount M23. These mounts were fitted with more compact recoil mechanism, eliminating the need for the protective casing.[25]
• Light Tank M3A1, M5: M6 in mount M23.[26]
• Light Tank M3A3, M5A1: M6 in mount M44.[26]
• Light Tank (Airborne) M22: M6 in mount M53.[27]
• M3 series medium tanks (as a secondary weapon): M5 or M6 in mount M24.[28]
• Heavy Tank M6 (as a secondary weapon): M6 in mount T49.[29]
• LVT(A)-1 "amtank": M6 in mount M44.[26]
• 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T22 - eventually Light Armored Car M8: M6 in mount M23A1; the competing designs 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T43 / Light Armored Car T21 and 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T23 / Light Armored Car T23 mounted the same weapon.[30]
• Armored Car T13.[31]
• Armored Car T17: M6 in mount M24.[32]
• Armored Car T17E1 in the "Staghound Mk I" configuration: M6 in mount M24A1.[33]
• The first pilot of the Armored Car T18: M6. The production variant T18E2 received the 57mm M1.[34]
• Armored Car T19: M6 in mount M23A1.[35]
• Armored Car T27: M6 in mount M23A1 modified.[36]
• Armored Car T28 / M38: M6 in mount M23A2.[37]
• British Humber Armoured Car Mk IV: M6.[38]
Versions of the gun in turret mounts were also used in the Medium Tank T5 Phase III (T3 barrel, mount T1),[39] in the Medium Tank M2 / M2A1 (M3 barrel, M2A1: mount M19),[40] and in the 37mm Gun Motor Carriage T42 (mount M22).[41]


Soldiers of the U.S. 3rd Infantry on maneuvers, 1942. Their Willys / Ford jeep is fitted with M3 on a pedestal mount.
In addition, M3 on different pedestal mounts was mated to a number of other vehicles resulting in an assortment of 37 mm gun motor carriages. Only the M6 reached mass production.
• 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T2 (Bantam jeep).[42]
• 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T8 (Ford 4x4 "Swamp Buggy").[43]
• 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T13, T14 (Willys 6x6 "Super Jeep").[44]
• 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T21 / M4 / M6 (Fargo 3/4 ton 4x4 truck).[45]
• 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T33 (Ford 3/4 ton 4x4 cargo carrier).[46]
• M3A1E3 Scout Car.[47]
• The gun was sometimes mounted on M2 Halftrack,[48] M29 Weasel[5] and on the 1/4 ton Willys MB / Ford GPW jeep (see photo on the right).

Here is a link that has a lot of good general information about various formations in the US Army in WWII. You will find a place on the sidebar where you can check out other formations.

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/usarmy/cavalry.aspx

 

[Peter Reuss]

Awesome! I suspect that Ben's dad will enjoy this paper more than Ben will