Separation
VI Corps
CG Gen Lucian K. Truscott, HQs & HQ Co, VI Corps
Combat Command CG Gen Aimé M. Sudre, Combat Command Sudre, 1st French Armored
Attached 1st Co 9th Regiment des Chasseurs d’Afrique; Detachment 2/661 Co, (Ordnance) Réparation Engins Blindés; 66th Ammo Co (-) and Detachment 705th Co, Fuel Supply
Field Artillery
HQs & HQ Battery, VI Corps Artillery; HQs & HQ Battery, 6th Field Artillery Group; HQs & HQ Battery, 35th Field Artillery Group; HQs & HQ Battery, 36-FAG; 2-FAOB; 36-FAB (155-MM GUN); 59-FAB (SP)(105-MM HOW); 69-FAB (SP)(105-MM HOW); 93-FAB (SP)(105-MM HOW); 141-FAB (155-MM HOW); 634-FAB (155-MM HOW); 937-FAB (155-MM HOW); 938-FAB (155-MM HOW); 976-FAB (155-MM GUN), and 977-FAB (155-MM GUN)
Anti Aircraft Artillery
HQs & HQ Battery 35-AAA Brigade; HQs & HQ Battery 5-AAA Group; HQs & HQ Battery 68-AAA Group; HQs & HQ Battery 105-AAA Group; 68-AAAGB (Mobile); 72-AAAGB (Mobile); 106-AAA-AW Bn (SP); 107-AAA-AW Bn (Mobile); 108-AAAGB (Mobile); 216-AAAGB (Mobile); 433-AAA-AW Bn (Mobile); 441-AAA-AW Bn (SP); 443-AAA-AW Bn (SP); 451-AAA-AW Bn (Mobile); 534-AAA-AW Bn (Mobile); 895-AAA-AW Bn (Mobile); 102-AAA Barrage Balloon Btry (VLA); 103-AAA Barrage Balloon Btry (VLA), and 104-AAA Barrage Balloon Btry (VLA)
Armored
191-TB; 753-TB, and 756-TB
Tank Destroyer
601-TDB, 636-TDB, and 645-TDB
Cavalry
117-Cav Recon Squadron
Chemical
2-Chem Bn Motorized (- 1 Co); 3-Chem Bn Motorized; 83-Chem Bn Motorized (- 1 Co); 6-Chem Depot Co; 11-Chem Maintenance Co, and 21-Chem Decontamination Co (-3 Plats) (Smoke)
Engineer
343-Engr General Service Regt; 344-Engr General Service Regt; Charlie Co (Bailey Bridge), 378-Engr Bn (Separate); Dog Co (Treadway Bridge), 378-Engr Bn (Separate); 1st Plat 424-Engr Dump Truck Co, Contact Platoon 469-Engr Maintenance Co; Survey Platoon 661-Engr Topographic Co, and 6617-Engr Mine Clearance Co.
Military Police
206th Military Police Co
Medical
2nd Auxiliary Surgical Group; 14 General Surgical Teams; 3 Shock Teams; 1 Gas Team; 3 Orthopedic Teams; 2 Thoracic Teams; 2 Neurosurgery Teams; 3 Dental Prosthetic Teams; 2 Maxillofacial Teams; 10th Field Hospital; 6703rd Blood Transfusion Unit; 11th Field Hospital; 11th Evacuation Hospital (Semi-mobile) (400 bed); 93rd Evacuation Hospital (Semi-mobile) (400 bed), and 95th Evacuation Hospital (Semi-mobile) (400 bed)
Ordnance
HQs & HQ Detachment, 43-OD Bn; HQs & HQ Detachment, 44-OD Bn; HQs & HQ Detachment, 45-OD Bn; 14-OD Medium Maintenance Co; 45-OD Medium Maintenance Co; 46-OD Medium Maintenance Co; 87-OD Heavy Maintenance Co (FA); 261-OD Medium Maintenance Co (AAA); 3406-OD Medium Automotive Maintenance Co; 3408-OD Medium Automotive Maintenance Co; 3432-OD Medium Automotive Maintenance Co; 64-OD Ammunition Co; 66-OD Ammunition Co; 680-OD Ammunition Co; 143-OD Bomb Disposal Squad; 144-OD Bomb Disposal Squad; 145-OD Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad, and 146-OD Bomb Disposal Squad
Quartermaster
46-QM Graves Registration Co (-1 Plat); Platoon 549-QM Laundry Company, and 3426-QM Truck Co
Signal
1st Signal Center Team; 57th Signal Bn; 3201-SIS Detachment; 4 Detachments, 163rd Signal Photo Co, and Detachment A, 117th Radio Intelligence Co
Naval
3 Naval Combat Intelligence Teams; Naval Gunfire Liaison Personnel, and 15 Naval Shore Fire Control Parties.

Separation
3rd Infantry Division
CG Gen John W. O’Daniel. Organic Units HHC & Special Troops 3-ID; – 3-MP Plat; 3-Sig Co; 3-QM Co; 3-CIC Det; 3-Recon Troop (Mez); 703-OD Light Maintenance Co; 10-ECB; 3-Medic Bn; 7-IR; 15-IR; 30-IR; HHB 3-ID Arty; 9-FAB (105-MM HOW); 10-FAB(105-MM HOW); 39-FAB Bn (105-MM HOW), and 41-FAB Bn (155-MM HOW).

3rd Infantry Division (Beach Group)
36th Engineer Combat Regiment; 1st Naval Beach Battalion; 72nd Signal Company (Special); Detachment, 207th Signal Depot Company; Detachment, 177th Signal Repair Company; HQs & HQ Detachment, 52nd Medical Battalion; 376th Medical Collecting Co; 377th Medical Collecting Co; 378th Medical Collecting Co; 682nd Medical Collecting Co; 1st Plat & HQs Detachment, 616th Medical Clearing Co; Detachment Boat Guards; 157th MP Prisoner of War Detachment; 706th MP Prisoner of War Detachment; 790th MP Prisoner of War Detachment; Detachment, 377th MP Police Escort Guard Co; Able Co 759th MP Bn; 1st Platoon 21st Chemical Decontamination Co (Smoke); Detachment 63rd Chemical Depot Co; 3rd Platoon, 450th Engineer Depot Co; 69th OD Ammunition Co; Detachment 77th OD Depot Co; Detachment 977-OD Depot Co; 3407-OD Medium Automotive Maintenance Co (DUKW); 6690th Regulating Co; HQs & HQ Detachment 530-QM Bn; 4133-QM Service Co; 4134-QM Service Co; 4135-QM Service Co; 4136-QM Service Co; 3277-QM Service Co; 3357-QM Truck Co; 3634-QM Truck Co; HQs & HQ Detachment 52-QM Bn (Mobile); 3333-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3334-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3325-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3336-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3353-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3355-QM Truck Co (DUKW); Section 3856-QM Gas Supply Co; 1 Platoon 93-QM Railhead Co; 332-AAF Beach Detail, and 111th Beach Section, RAF.

Separation
36th Infantry Division
CG Gen John E. Dahlquist. Organic Units HHC & Special Troops, 36-ID; 36-MP Platoon; 36-Sig Co; 36-QM Co; 36-CIC Det; 36-Recon Troop (Mez); 736-OD Light Maintenance Co; 111-ECB; 111-Medic Bn; 141-IR; 142-IR; 143-IR; HHB, 36-ID Artillery; 131-FAB (105-MM HOW); 132-FAB (105-MM HOW); 133-FAB (105-MM HOW); 155-FAB (155-MM HOW).

36th Infantry Division (Beach Group)
540th Engineer Combat Regt; 48th Engineer Combat Bn; 8th Naval Beach Bn; 74th Signal Co (Special); Detachment 207th Signal Depot Co; Detachment 177th Signal Repair Co; HQs & HQ Detachment 56-Medic Bn; 885-Medic Collecting Co; 886-Medic Co; 887-Medic Co; 89-Medic Clearing Co; 1st Platoon 638th Clearing Company; Charlie Co 759-MP Bn; 1 Section 377-POW Escort Guard Co; Detachment Boat Guards; 192MP Provisional POW Detachment; 601-MP Provisional POW Detachment; 3rd Platoon 21-Chem Chemical Decontamination Co (Smoke); Detachment 63-Chem Depot Co; 1st Platoon 450-Engr Depot Co; 603-OD Ammunition Co; Detachment 77-OD Depot Co; Detachment 977-OD Depot Co; 3405-OD Medium Automotive Maintenance Co (DUKW); Detachment 6690th Regulating Co; 1 Section 3894-QM Gas Supply Co; 2nd Platoon 94-QM Railhead Co; HQs & HQ Detachment 53-QM Battalion (Mobile); 3337-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3338-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3339-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3340-QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3354QM Truck Co (DUKW); 3356-QM Truck Co (DUKW); HQs & HQ Detachment 259th QM Bn; 3286-QM Service Co; 3287 Service Co; 3288-QM Service Co; 3289-QM Service Co; 3299-QM Service Co; 3300-QM Service Co; 3427-QM Truck Co;
3360-QM Truck Co; AAF Beach Detail, and 111th Brick Section, RAF.

Separation

45th Infantry Division
CG Gen William W. Eagles. Organic units HHC & Special Troops, 45-ID; 45-MP Platoon; 45-Sig Co; 45-QM Co; 45-CIC Detachment; 45-Recon Troop (Mez); 700-OD Light Maintenance Co; 120-ECB; 120-Medic Bn; 157-IR; 179-IR; 180-IR; HHB, 45-ID Artillery; 158-FAB (105-MM HOW); 160-FAB (105-MM HOW); 171-FAB (105-MM HOW); 189-FAB (155-MM HOW).

45th Infantry Division (Beach Group)
40th Engineer Combat Regt; 4th Naval Beach Bn; 71st Signal Company (Special); Detachment 207th Signal Depot Co; Detachment 177th Signal Repair Co; HQs & HQ Detachment 58th Medical Bn; 388th Medical Collecting Co; 389th Medical Collecting Co; 390th Medical Collecting Co; 514th Medical Clearing Co; 2nd Platoon 616th Clearing Co; Baker Co 759th Military Police Bn; 1 Section 377th POW Escort Guard Co; Detachment Boat Guards; 133rd POW Provisional Detachment; 175th POW Provisional Detachment; 191st POW Provisional Detachment; 3rd Platoon 21st Chemical Decontamination Co (Smoke); Detachment 63rd Chemical Depot Co; 2nd Platoon 450th Engineer Depot Co; 682nd OD Ammunition Co; Detachment 77th OD Depot Co; Detachment 977th OD Depot Co; 3487th OD Medium Automotive Maintenance Co (DUKW); 3633rd QM Truck Co; Detachment 6690th Regulating Co; HQs & HQ Detachment 147th QM Bn (Mobile); 829th Amphibian Truck Co; 830th Amphibian Truck Co; 831st Amphibian Truck Co; 832nd Amphibian Truck Co; 1 Section 3894th QM Gas Supply Co; HQs & HQ Detachment 240th QM Bn; 3250th QM Service Co; 3251st QM Service Co; 3252nd QM Service Co; 3253rd QM Service Co; 4053rd QM Service Co; Platoon 94th QM Railhead Co; 3425th QM Truck Co; AAF Beach Detail, and 110th Beach Section, RAF.

Separation

Groupe French Army B
CG Gen Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. HQs & HQ Co French Army B 162/27 (-)
French Second Army Corps
CG Gen Edgard de Larminat. HQs & HQ Co, Second Army Corps 75. 1st French March Infantry Division, CG Gen Diego Brosset; 1st French Armored Division (-2 CC) CG Gen Jean Touzet du Vigier; 3rd French (Algerian) Infantry Division, CG Gen Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert; 9th French (Colonial) Infantry Division, CG Gen Joseph Magnan; 2nd French (Algerian Spahis) Recon Regiment; 1st French Group (Tabors Morocco); 3rd French Group (Tabors Morocco); 4th French Group (Tabors Morocco)
Field Artillery
HQs French Artillery Group; Detachment 1-FAOB (US); 1st French Colonial (Levant) Artillery Regiment; 3rd Group 65th French Artillery Regiment
Anti Aircraft Artillery
Detachment HQs & HQ Btry, 34-AAA Brigade (US); 62-AAA Gun Battalion (US); Detachment HQs & HQ Btry 80-AAA Group (US); 893-AAA-AW Battalion (SP)
Tank Destroyer
French Chasseurs d’Afrique; 7th Regiment Chasseurs d’Afrique; 3rd Regiment Chasseurs d’Afrique
Engineer
Engineer Topographic Co #31; 101st Engineer Regiment
Military Police
521st Company Highway Regulation; 2nd Company 11th Group of the Garde
Medical
401st Evacuation Hospital, Reanimation, Blood Transfusion #413/3; 405th Evacuation Hospital; 432nd Medical Battalion; 451/1 Advanced Depot; 422nd Field Hospital
Ordnance
HQs 651st Ordnance Battalion; Company 652/1 Light Maintenance (Equipment); Company 652/2 Light Maintenance (Vehicles); Company 652/3 Light Maintenance (Vehicles); 64th Ammunition Company; 65th Ammunition Company
Quartermaster
1st Battalion 8th Regiment Pioneers Tirailleurs Sénégalais; Mess & Supply #323; Mess & Supply #325; Supply Company (Fuel)
Signal
61st Communication Battalion (Army Corps); 6693rd Signal Detachment (Provisional) (US); 3 Detachments 163rd Signal Photo Company (US); 806th Construction Battalion; Detachment Group Army B; Exploit Company 827/1; Radio Listening Unit 828; Military Telegraphy Group 829; Transmissions Detachment 810; Transmissions & Technical Detachment 841. Transportation 11th Company, Transport Group 501

MAAFXII TACMediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force CG Gen John K. Cannon
XII Tactical Air Command CG Gen Gordon P. Saville. 1st Fighter Group (P-38) (on loan to MATAF Aug 12/20 1944); 14th Fighter Group (P-38) (on loan to MATAF Aug 12/20 1944); 27th Fighter Group (P-47); 57th Operations Group (P-47); 79th Fighter Group (P-47); 86th Fighter Group (P-47); 324th Fighter Group (P-47); #251 Wing RAF (Supermarine Spitfire IX); #322 Wing RAF (Supermarine Spitfire IX); #324 Wing RAF (Supermarine Spitfire IX); 47th Bombardment Group (A-20 Havoc); 111th Recon Squadron (F-6A Mustang); 415th Night Fighter Squadron (Beaufighter VI); #225 Squadron RAF (Spitfire V); II/33 Escadrille (Spitfire V); Quartieme Escadre (P-47); 57th Bombardment Wing; 310th Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell); 321st Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell); 340th Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell); 5th Recon Squadron (F-5 Lightning); 23rd Recon Squadron (F-5 Lightning); #682 Squadron RAF (Supermarine Spitfire XI); 42nd Bombardment Wing; 17th Bombardment Group (B-26 Marauder); 319th Bombardment Group (B-26 Marauder); 320th Bombardment Group (B-26 Marauder); 31e Escadre (B-26 Marauder); 31st Fighter Group P-51 Mustang (Escorts/Airborne); 325th Fighter Group P-51 Mustang (Escorts/Airborne)

CG Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Lloyd 63rd Fighter Wing; #326 (GC 2/7 Nice) (Spitfire V and IX); #327 (GC 1/3 Corse) (Spitfire IX); #328 (GC 1/7 Provence) (Spitfire V and IX); 417th Night Fighter Squadron (Beaufighter VI); VOC-01 (F-6F Hellcat)(TBF Avenger); 350th Fighter Group; 345th Fighter Squadron (P-39 Airacobra); 346th Fighter Squadron (P-39 Airacobra); 347th Fighter Squadron (P-39 Airacobra); #272 Squadron RAF (Beaufighter X); 414th Night Fighter Squadron (Beaufighter VI); #256 Squadron RAF (Mosquito XII and XIII); #153 Squadron RAF (Beaufighter VI); #458 Squadron RAAF (Wellington XIV); #36 Squadron RAF (Wellington XIV); #17 Squadron SAAF (Ventura V); #45 Squadron (Supermarine Walrus); #14 Squadron RAF (Marauder I, II and III).

Provisional Troop Carrier Air Division CG Gen Paul L. Williams. 50th Troop Carrier Wing (C-47 Skytrain); 439th Troop Carrier Group; 440th Troop Carrier Group; 441st Troop Carrier Group; 442d Troop Carrier Group; 51st Troop Carrier Wing (C-47 Skytrain); 60th Troop Carrier Group; 62nd Troop Carrier Group; 64th Troop Carrier Group; 53rd Troop Carrier Wing (C-47 Skytrain); 435th Troop Carrier Group; 436th Troop Carrier Group; 437th Troop Carrier Group; 438th Troop Carrier Group.

NaziArmy Group B CG Gen Johannes Blaskowitz. 19. Army CG Gen Georg von Sodenstern. Group Weise CG Gen Friedrich Wiese. IV Luftwaffe Field Corps; 716.Infantry Division; 198.Infantry Division; 189.Infantry Division; LXXXV Army Corps. 338.Infantry Division CG Gen Baptist Kneiss. 244.Infantry Division CG Gen René l’Homme de Courbiére. LXII Reserve Army Corps CG Gen Hans Schaefer. 242.Infantry Division CG Gen Ferdinand Neuling. 148.Reserve Division CG Gen Johannes Baessler. LXIV Army Corps CG Gen Otto Fretter-Pico. (Note, Corps swapped units with the IV Luftwaffe Corps in September, 159.Reserve Division; Army Reserve; 11.Panzer Division). Group Wietersheim CG Gen Wend von Wietersheim. 157.Reserve Division; 158.Reserve Division (was in transition forming the 16th Infantry Division).

Map

Gen Lucian Truscott commanded the assault troops of the VI Corps during Operation DragoonA significant asset, frequently overlooked or falsely attributed solely to the quality and competence of senior leaders, that was critical in performing this amphibious landing so successfully was the collective experience of the planners. The VI Corps staff and US assault divisions gained their experience in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. Coincidentally, the 30-IR (3-ID) was the only Army unit to have had any amphibious training prior to 1940. As Corps Commander, Gen Lucian K. Truscott indicated his G-4, Col E.J. O’Neill, and other staff members, had a vast experience in over-the-shore maintenance, which was gained in operations from North Africa to Anzio. This level of experience is probably the key ingredient that enabled the successful mounting of such an enormously complex undertaking in such a short period of time.

Extraction from Line in Italy

The Italian Campaign and other factors which prohibited any final decisions being made on Operation Dragoon made the identification of available units difficult. Although by June 16, the Army troop list was fairly complete, the order of withdrawal from Italy had not been decided. Time was a key element because previous estimates stated an absolute minimum of 38 days would be required to take a unit from the front, then train, refit and load out. During the initial planning phase, when it was assumed that a two-division assault would take place, the two American divisions would be mounted in the Naples area and two follow-up divisions would be mounted from Sicily and North Africa. However, as planning continued, the withdrawal of any US forces in Italy was dependent upon the battle being fought there. Divisions could not be taken from Italy until the capture of Rome at the earliest, and troops could not be diverted from any other theater. When the go-ahead was given for Dragoon by AFHQ, and forces could be withdrawn from Italy, naval ships, craft, and cargo aircraft were not in the theater to effect the removal. These assets had to be rushed back in order to meet the designated target dates. The VI Corps consisting of the 3-ID, the 36-ID, and the 45-ID, was mounted from Naples. The Combat Command of the 1st French Armored Division has mounted from Oran. The follow-up force of two Corps of seven French divisions was mounted out of TarantoBrindisi, Oran, Corsica, and Naples.

Gen Alexander Patch shakes hands with Gen O’Daniel after his review of 3-ID troops in Naples. O’Daniel assumed command of the US 3-ID on the Anzio beachhead on Feb 17, 1944. Patch was assigned to the US 7-A in the Mediterranean after having served in the Pacific. He relieved Gen Patton who commanded the 7-A  in Sicily

Training for Dragoon

The initial success and rapid advance of the invasion of southern France can be attributed to the training received for the operation. The time available for training was limited because of a number of factors. However, the principal combat elements of the three American sub-task forces did undergo three weeks of refresher training in amphibious landings. The 36-ID and the 45-ID received their training at the Invasion Training Center in Salerno, Italy. The 3-ID was trained by its own Division Commander in Pozzuoli, Italy. A key element during this limited training was that both American and French units had prior combat experience. This was to be very important because of the limited training time available. The service units available had also worked with the divisions nominated for Operation Dragoon. The Naval and the Air Force units of the Mediterranean Theater had participated in a number of amphibious operations in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. The training was designed to be as realistic as possible and it concentrated on preparing the forces for the actual problems of landing. The forces were trained in the use of new equipment and coordination between different services, and a review of modern warfare.

Amphibious Training Center Salerno Italy

The Invasion Training Center at Salerno was a key element in the training process. Officers from Dragoon units were trained in waterproofing and they, in turn, conducted schools to train other officers and key NCOs in the 7-A service units. The center was moved from Port aux Poules, Algeria, to Salerno, Italy, during the spring of 1944. The Salerno site proved to be a realistic training base, and it helped develop an appreciation for the necessity for proper preparation. The site was not only valuable because of its proximity to the sea, but its mountains proved excellent terrain for patrolling, wire and radio, as well as map and compass training. Sufficient ranges also were available for firing all types of weapons. Terrain models also were used to train soldiers. A key ingredient in the training was that the welfare of the soldiers was taken into consideration. As much rest and recreation as possible were provided during the training, considering the situation.

LST’s line Naples’ docks loading elements of US VI Corps’ main infantry divisions, the 3-ID, the 36-ID and the 45-ID, for Operation Dragoon. All three divisions had previously embarked from Naples for Anzio. The trucks are queued to back through the massive doors of the ship

Infantry training was given in demolitions and amphibious assaults, as well as a review of basic infantry warfare. In addition to specialized training, the infantry schedule included road marches, close order drills, and calisthenics, as well as bayonet and gun drills, chemical warfare training, and various other subjects. Not only were the troops being trained, but their equipment was also brought up to standard. Artillery training concentrated on amphibious landings. This consisted of the loading and unloading of 105-MM (HOW) in DUKWs (amphibious trucks) on both land and water and using A-frames to unload the howitzers. Naval and shore fire control parties were organized and trained to accompany infantry battalions to assist them prior to the artillery units going into action. Tank training involved the adaptation of tanks for use in amphibious operations. This proved very effective. However, one part of the training that did not go well was range firing. Field Artillery units were not able to secure adequate ranges and therefore went into combat without ever firing a round of 105-MM at a target. Engineer units went through very rigorous training because they were the crucial link in neutralizing enemy defenses. A majority of the engineer units had a great deal of combat experience and were veterans of amphibious operations. This proved to be important since they were able to assist in the training of infantry, artillery, and other branches in demolitions, mine warfare, and the passage of obstacles.



1
2
3
4
5
Previous article509th Parachute Battalion S3 Journal – Italy (November 1943)
Next articleOperation Dragoon – Planning