Several of the more famous tank destoryer battalion were later reactivated as regular tank units. Research a wwii veterantrace his steps through the war. By this point, many men in the tank battalions were unhappy that they had no official recognition of their role as independent tank units and began to surreptitiously insert their battalion numbers onto their patches via pens or using a slightly darker shade of yellow for. Ssgt norris was assigned to the 656th tank destroyer battalion in the. The people section of this site includes biographies of td servicemen as well as a few other personnel that have some connection to the tank destroyer forces. Army doctrine held that tanks did not fight other tanks but supported infantry. Page 2 of 15 distinctive unit insignia reference posted in distinctive unit insignia unit crests. The records of the 163rd infantry regiment contain narrative histories.
The last tank destroyer battalion, the 656th, was disbanded at camp campbell, kentucky on 1 november 1946. Elements of the battalion served on the eastern, western, and italian fronts between 1943 and 1945. Additionally, personnel assigned as instructors to the tank destroyer school at camp hood wore a black felt triangle, point up, emblazoned with skull and crossed bones and the word instructor, all in orange. Tank destroyer battalion united states military wiki fandom. The 656th tank destroyer battalion participated in the rhineland and central europe campaigns. The tank destroyer battalion was a type of unit used by the united states army during world war ii. Dedication page to the extraordinary men of the 899th tdb. They were relieved from the line, and the 823rd withdrew to position in bihain, regne and fraiture, to begin a very welcome period of rest, maintenance, and reorganization. Disembarked at le havre, france, on 6 february 1945 equipped with m18s. The 9th armored division was cited for extraordinary heroism and gallantry in combat in the vicinity of waldbillig and savelborn, luxembourg from 1622 december 1944 during. The 9th armored division the phantom division was an armored division of the united states army in world war ii. Company a, 656th tank destroyer battalion, and the 60th armored infantry battalion were attached to combat command b, 9th armored division. The tank destroyer battalions were all organized with 3 companies, each company was equipped with 12 guns, for a total of 36 in the.
On 21 december, 1941, a provisional antitank battalion of the 76th field artillery brigade was activated as the 776th tank destroyer battalion. Thought i would show some variations of tank destroyer patches for my friend erwin. The following section provides individual pages for each unit and provides a short history along with everything we have on the unit, to this point. Arriving on the normandy coast in october, they moved to the metz, france, area, seeing their first action in late november. Army 645th tank destroyer battalion military patch. Disembarked at le havre, france, on 6 february, 1945, equipped with m18s. After action report, 609th tank destroyer battalion, oct.
Ssgt norris was assigned to the 656th tank destroyer battalion in the medical detachment company. This site is dedicated to the men that served our country in tank destroyers. This website is only in its very early stages, aiming to give a full spectrum of data on world war ii fighting units, including details on organization, commanders, and literature. I contacted captain ruggles baker, who formerly served in the 654th tank destroyer battalion, for possible information. The tank busters the history of the 607th tank destroyer battalion in combat on the western front. The battalion was activated on 15 december 1941 as part of the general reorganisation of the anti tank force.
The first tank battle company c, 55th armored engineer battalion, combat command b ccb 10th armored division was part of general pattons 3rd army advancing in the vicinity of the saarmoselle triangle, prior to the 16th of december 1944. The 823rd tank destroyer battalion, along with the 30th infantry division, were then granted a short respite. The m18 hellcat tank destroyer the campaign for the. Seek, strike, destroy, the history of the 636th tank destroyer battalion.
The 648th tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the second world war the battalion was activated at camp bowie on 6 march 1943, formed around a cadre drawn from the 628th tank destroyer battalion. It was activated in april 1942 as a segregated african american unit, deploying to europe at the end of 1944 and attached to 12th armored division. Us tank and tank destroyer battalions in the eto 194445 battle orders. Separate pages provide information on the two national groups that were formed by tank destroyer veterans, the tank destroyer association and the tank destroyer society.
In april 2001, i was researching the history of the 654th tank destroyer battalion in hopes of finding out information about my uncle, sergeant frederick g. The 395th infantry regiment was attached to the 9th infantry division effective at 1200 and designated as bridgehead reserve. Us tank and tank destroyer battalions in the eto 194445. Scarce world war ii us army unit history book 656th tank destroyer bat. The remagen bridgehead, march 717, 1945 world wars. The unit, commanded by ltc john meador, landed in england on the last day of december 1944. The tank destroyer concept envisioned the battalions acting as independent units that would. Heavy tank destroyer battalion, some of which were also attached to the 17th ss. Early war tank battalion patches were bare armored corps patches, with no unit markings at all. The battalion participated in five major campaigns normandy, northern france, rhineland, ardennesalsace, and central europe, primarily with the 1st infantry division. An m18 from the 603d tank destroyer battalion, combat command b, 6th armored division, guards an intersection in luneville, france, 22 september 1944.
The 827th tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the second world war. Distinctive unit insignia reference page 2 distinctive. The battalion, now wearing the distinctive tank destroyer patch, left camp hood on 16 december 1943 to participate in the second louisiana maneuvers. The 633rd tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the second world war. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 609th tank destroyer battalion, oct 44, jan 45. Like in europe, however, tactical use of m18s in the pacific deviated from the original tank destroyer concept, with the hellcat used more in infantry support and bunkerbusting operations. 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. Military units which supported or opposed the 100th infantry division. Activity of the 823rd tank destroyer bn during the bulge. The weather on december 16th and up until christmas was to the satisfaction of the germans and our air force could not give any support. History main page organization campaigns and battles medal of honor citations. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 656th t. The tank destroyer units were formed in response to the german use of massed formations of armored vehicles units early in wwii.
It remained on the southern coast of england for almost a month. Ever since i heard my great uncle paps james brown stories of when he served in the 9th armored division, 656th tank destroyer battalion, and i built my first tamiya panzer ii, i have been fascinated with wwii vehicles particularly the tiger i. Detachments from other units such as the 2nd armored medical battalion, the 656th tank destroyer battalion, the 482nd antiaircraft artillery automatic weapons battalion, the 1st armored ordnance maintenance battalion, the 9th armored engineer battalion, and the 89th cavalry reconnaissance squadron mechanized rounded out the combat commands. Smyth also established the first state headquarters public affairs section which became the 105th public affairs detachment. The 653rd heavy panzerjager battalion schwere panzerjagerabteilung 653. Along with his book, terry has many other items relating to wwi and wwii available for purchase. Us army units, book 8 boxes 14041567 163rd infantry. The unit was activated in 1942 and trained through the late summer of 1944. Donald was part of the 610th tank destroyer battalion, which was attached to the 80th infantry division.
Entered the line near friesenrath, germany, on 28 february. After early training on selfpropelled tank destroyers, it was converted to a towed battalion equipped with towed 3 anti tank guns in. The 635th tank destroyer battalion during the battle of. It deployed into france in april 1945, equipped with m18. One of his soldiers was a soldier of the 823nd tank destroyer battalion, sergeant john w. Authentic usaf japanese made vietnam war era patch 656th tactical hosp. I only have a few like the 704th tank destroyer battalion and 328th infantry regiment. Should patch worn by members of separate tank battalions. It was reequipped with m18 tank destroyers in march 1945. Tank destroyers after world war 2 combat mission archive. In honor of their world war ii service, the 9th was officially nicknamed the phantom division. Company a, 656th tank destroyer battalion, and the 60th armored infantry.
The 601st td battalion first saw combat in north africa and later on sicily and in italy. It is my hope that this site may bring together the families of these men to celebrate their accomplishments during wwii and in life. The 630th tank destroyer battalion was activated 15 december 1941 at ft. The 9th armored division the phantom division was an armored division of the united states army during world war ii. Tank destroyer ssi and insignia page army and usaaf. Both military bridges remained in operation throughout the day, and repair work. Fought in area of maknassy and ferryville, tunisia. The unit was organized in one of two different formsa towed. Army 645th tank destroyer battalion military patch rolling thunder. Sherman, who was a veteran of the 636th, the book has 243 pages and was published in 1986 by tom, who spent thousands of dollars purchasing unit records, which he then utilized while writing the book. It saw action during operation nordwind in january 1945, where elements of the battalion performed creditably. Retyped version with difficult to see photos, but it is a searchable document within adobe acrobat. It was equipped with ferdinand and later jagdtiger tank destroyers. History of the 628th tank destroyer battalion 19411945 19450607 the history of the 628th tank destroyer bn.
Tank destroyer units were broken into three groups, brigades, groups and battalions. Us tank and tank destroyer battalions in the eto 194445 battle orders zaloga, steven j. Acting adjutant 656th tank destroyer battalion apo 403. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 636th tank destroyer battalion, sept. Who we are want to volunteer schedule of events venturing crew. What caught my eye were the many articles he has posted, including a letter written by a donald a. The tank destroyers were formed as a counter force to massed formations of. 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. Usaf, 656 tacmed hospital, camp odonnell, 2 patches. The only unit with an authenticated shoulder patch separate from the black panther is the 802 nd tank destroyer battalion. Personal narrative this was written by a former veteran of the 656th, during the 1980s, in response to questions he received from the author doing research for an upcoming book on u. The 605th tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the world war ii the battalion was formed in march 1941 as the 5th infantry division provisional antitank battalion, and on december 16 was redesignated as the 605th tank destroyer battalion, in line with the reorganisation of the anti tank force. Vye was born in washington state in 1921 and died on august 9, 1944.
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