Beall this article was just recently published in the 2nd armored division hell on wheels bulletin for july 2010. Medical detachment, 70th tank battalion ww2 us medical. The tank battalion was the main offensive striking force of an armored division. Company c of the original battalion consisted mainly of battery d, 5th field artillery, the only army unit with a continuous history from the revolutionary war. The medical detachments parent organization was the 70th tank battalion the oldest and most experienced independent tank battalion in the eto, initially formed from 1st battalion, 67th infantry regiment medium tanks then stationed at fort george g.
Like the 11th, the 22nd battalion consisted of a headquarters and headquarters company, three medium tank companies, a light tank company and a service company. In addition, its attached tank destroyer battalion had towed guns. The 702nd tank battalion had a special tank company that was the favorite of general george patton. Tank driving experience program the american heritage museum. After action report 702nd tank battalion, aug 44 thru may. A regiment in a german division was known as an infanterieregiement, or more commonly at this time in the war as a grenadierregiment. I am leading my company of m36 tank destroyers of the 702nd tank destroyer battalion. Each regiment had a pak antitank company with three 7,5 cm pak 40 antitank guns. The 319th infantry regiment with c company, 702nd tank battalion was sent up the left flank towards heiderscheid. After action report 702nd tank destroyer battalion, june 44. The tank destroyer units were formed in response to the german use of massed formations of armored vehicles units. Properly, however, it was the 72d tank battalion heavy. The rest of the regiment was filled out with recruits coming from grenadier ersatz bataillon 396, stationed in nordheim. Allied action in southern holland 2nd armored division.
The car was hit by a tank destroyer from the 702nd us antitank battalion, while the tiger driver, rudi kaiser, died. See more ideas about d day, world war ii and world war. Additional information, the seven o deuce was activated 15. The 773rd tank destroyer battalion also claimed to have destroyed 1 panzers, with the 702nd tank destroyer battalion claiming 103. Mar 07, 2020 properly, however, it was the 72d tank battalion heavy. The gun crews, unlike their selfpropelled counterparts, had no protection against smallarms fire, and could easily be driven back by a squad. Us 1st armored division grant tank at kasserine pass the. This information was provided from personal records kept by lt. He arrived in theater in february 1944 and was assigned to company b, 702 tank battalion red devils. Apr 16, 2019 741st tank battalion in world war ii, dday to veday. Cyclone died of wounds 23 november 1944, germany age. The first sergeant or top kick of this company was. The retreating tf disney was on the brink of annihilation when the m36 company of the 702nd td rushed for the rescue, and knocked out enough german tanks to discourage a further attack. Zarlenga sm2c uss vinton aka 83 attack cargo ship signalman.
The 317th infantry regiment with a company, 702nd tank battalion supporting, went nearly due north through the valley leading to welscheid, scheidel and kehmen. This raised area was used by tankers of the 754th to paint the tank moniker. One of the first tank destroyer battalions to be organized in the united states army, the 634th tank destroyer battalion less the pioneer company, was activated at camp claiborne, louisiana on 16 december 1941 from the antitank batteries and antitank platoons of the 59th field artillery brigade of the 34th infantry division. These metal beasts are all business, designed to go over most obstacles with ease and destroy anything. Company b of the 702nd tank battalion was a significant boost to the.
Sargent of the headquarters, company b, 709th tank battalion. Company b, 702nd tank destroyer battalion hometown. The 702nd brigade support battalion is organized with a headquarters and headquarters company, a supply company, a maintenance company, a medical company, and 4 forward support companies. His son, david has been so kind as to share his memories of his father, along with his dads mementos of the war. M36 jackson tank destroyer from btry c, 702nd tank destroyer battalion, 2nd armored division on dugin ramp used to provide elevation for hurling shells at long range enemy targets in this case across the roer river on december 16, 1944 on december 16, 1944 german armor and infantry slammed into american lines beginning the infamous battle of the bulge. United states army, 717th tank battalion record 1946. Infanterie regiment was formed primarily by the survivors of grenadierregiment 546 from the ost front. Us m36 jackson tank destroyer from btry c, 702nd tank. Jose noel delgado, a health care specialist with c company, 702nd brigade support battalion, stands with the lakewood city council, his chain of command, the chief of police, the fire chief and mary healey after receiving several awards at lakewood city hall, lakewood, wa. These battalions were temporarily attached to infantry, armored, or airborne divisions according to need, though at least one battalion 745th tank battalion spent the entire war in europe attached to one division. The battalions three companies were distributed among the infantry regiments. Sergeant phillip schromm of san mateo, california, who had been an a company driver but transferred to headquarters company, was killed by a mortar shell while leading a reconaissance patrol. Id was considered a large division because it retained the standard nine battalions, while a majority of all other german. After action report, 709th tank battalion, july 44 thru.
The tank destroyer battalion was a type of military unit used by the united states army during world war ii. Draftees and enlistments brought the battalion up to its full strength of 700 officers and men. Distributed to the 702nd tank destroyer battalion and 195th antiaircraft battalion. For example, by the end of january, 1945, the 47 th infantry regiment which fought in france and germany had lost well over 100% of their strength to battle casualties, where men were either killed, wounded, missing, or taken as prisoner of war. See more ideas about tank destroyer, wwii and ww2 tanks. Id had three infanterieregimenter infantry regiments, each with three infanteriebataillone infantry battalions. Air support was out if question due to the bad weather. Home world war ii operational documents after action report 702nd tank destroyer battalion, june 44 may 45. The casualties suffered by a typical american infantry regiment serving in world war ii were horrendous. Combined arms capabilities of the us armys 80th infantry division. Army tank battalion, the 193rd, supporting an infantry battalion of the 27th division, suffered extremely from a lack of tankinfantry coordination during a oneday attack.
The reconnaissance company of the tank destroyer battalion was made up of three reconnaissance platoons and one pioneer. Thats right, 702nd armored infantry battalion, it was a component of the 1st armored division in the 50s, circa early 50s, 1951. My uncle wilfred minielli was a member of the 749th tank battalion in world war ii. The destruction of the 193rd tank battalion axis history forum. The unit was organized in one of two different formsa towed battalion equipped with antitank guns, or a mechanized battalion equipped with armored selfpropelled guns. What if every truck driver suddenly decided that he didnt like the whine of those. The 702nd tank battalions special tank unit by bill.
After action report, 709th tank battalion, july 44 thru april. There were a few men in the company then and the details of the day was guard duty, hauling coal to. Im trying to identify the owner of an ike jacket with a tank destroyer patch on the left shoulder. I was discharged on september 10, 1945 at camp mccoy, ws. Wwii signal corps photograph collection the battle of kasserine pass, which began on february 14, 1943, was one of the worst, if not the worst, tactical level defeat suffered by american mechanized forces in history. For the first week, until jeeps and drivers arrived. B company, 702nd tank battalion played a vital role in holding that sector. Find people you served with from 702nd transportation battalion. After action report 702nd tank destroyer battalion, june. Shonts was awarded the silver star posthumously for gallantry in action on october 4, 1944 in germany. Home world war ii operational documents after action report 702nd tank battalion, aug 44 thru may 1945. July 3, 1944 712th tank battalion world war ii oral.
He was a tank driver in c company, 73rd tank battalion. Driver of the lead tank is identified as t5 stanley nortavage of company b, 702nd tank battalion the red devils. World of tanks on console is a freetoplay, teambased mmo dedicated to strategic armored warfare in the mid20th century. Coan was made the xo of alpha company in dong ha and his replacement was 2ndlt. Some veterans of the 712 th tank battalion say that william schmidt of c company. He said they called her our courageous virgin, the second. Link is to site by larry stevens in memory of his father, pvt.
There were thirtytwo men under my command, all good hardworking men. Jim coan during his tour in vietnam as the platoon leader of 1st platoon, alpha company, 3d tank battalioncourtesy of jim coan, sept. Abmc headquarters 2300 clarendon blvd, suite 500 arlington, va 22201 phone. American drive to the moselle warfare history network. Weaver t5 cpl 691st tank destroyer battalion c company driver charles j.
M36 jackson tank destroyer from btry c, 702nd tank destroyer battalion, 2nd armored division on dugin ramp used to provide elevation for hurling shells at long range enemy targets in this case across the roer river on december 16, 1944. Jan, 2014 thats right, 702nd armored infantry battalion, it was a component of the 1st armored division in the 50s, circa early 50s, 1951. The car was hit by a tank destroyer from the 702nd us anti tank battalion, while the tiger driver, rudi kaiser, died. Im looking for anyone who may have been in this company battalion with him. The attack will go on the 317th infantry regiment in world war ii. The word heavy had nothing to do with the tank, but, rather, described the to and e of an infantry divisions tank battalion which had three companies of 22 tanks each. Fort knox company b started out as company h of the 81st armored regiment of the 5th armored division, on august 28, 1941, stationed at fort knox. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 709th tank battalion, july 44 thru april 45. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website. Army 702nd transportation battalion army veteran locator. Army tank battalion, the 193rd, supporting an infantry battalion of the 27th division, suffered extremely from a lack of tank infantry coordination during a oneday attack. The next unit up in the battalion is the medium tank company. His son, david has been so kind as to share his memories of his father, along with his dads mementos of. Separate tank battalions were military formations used by the united states army during world war ii, especially in the european theater of operations.
The destruction of the 193rd tank battalion axis history. Jan 07, 2010 b company, 702nd tank battalion played a vital role in holding that sector. Nelson honorably served the 702nd tank battalion, 80th infantry division in w. I know the 702nd tank destroyer bn was attached to the 2nd armored division for the duration of the war. Ii as a driver in service company, a company and possibly battalion maintenance. Stapko of milwaukee, wi from staff sergeant john j. A few days before christmas 1944, i am leading my company of m36 tank destroyers of the 702nd tank destroyer battalion. Second armored division booklet published 1945 distributed to the 702nd tank destroyer battalion and 195th antiaircraft battalion. The battalion was operating under the light tank battalion table of or ganization and consisted of three tank companies.
On the 11 april task force crater composed of company a 602nd t. Normal complement called for approximately 700 men and 40 officers. Formed as an independent tank battalion, designated 702nd tank battalion, its members quickly gained the name red devils for their exploits in the famed tennessee maneuvers. Thus tank companies of the heavy battalion had four platoons each the medium tank battalion of the armor divisions, on.
Home units unit photo galleries702nd td battalion envelope addressed to miss sally k. Tank destroyer battalion how is tank destroyer battalion. The next morning, the 317th, along with a company, 702nd tank battalion. The 601st tank destroyer battalion, which fought in north africa, italy, and europe, claimed to have knocked out 155 tanks and selfpropelled guns. Separate tank battalions were military formations used by the united states army during world. The royal tiger panzerkampfwagen vi ausf from the 3rd company of the 511th heavy tank battalion, shot down near the city of kassel, germany, april 1945. Army tanks, three were stopped by mines or road hazards and five were shot by japanese anti tank guns enroute to the village objective. The battalion consisted of three medium tank companies usually a, b and c and one light tank company usually. It closes with and destroys enemy forces, using fire, maneuver and shock effect. Destroyed royal tiger tankman rudy kaiser relicsww2. Morin, ben b company, 192nd tank battalion 398 morin, marty 1st battalion, 41st armored infantry regiment, 2nd armored division 727 morin, raymond v. Additional information, the seven o deuce was activated 15 december 1941 at fort benning, georgia. An early war us medium tank company was made up of 3 tank platoons containing 5 lee tanks, and an hq platoon with 2 more lee tanks, and 1 jeep and 1, m2 halftrack.
Company a, 702nd tank destroyer battalion, attached to cc a moved across albert canal to assist in moppingup operations north of the canal from the 14 to the 16 sept 1944. Army tanks, three were stopped by mines or road hazards and five were shot by japanese antitank guns enroute to the village objective. The tank destroyer battalion was a type of military unit used by the united states army during. Other attachments included the 702nd tank battalion, lt. M36 of the 702nd tank destroyer battalion engaged in indirect fire duty, 16 december 1944. Camp campbell was also the home of the 12th and the 20th armored. Armor identified as part of the 1st armored division. The two crawling tank battalions were caught in the open, the deep mud made flanking maneuvers impossible.
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