Operation Husky order of battle

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Operation Husky Order of Battle is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in the campaign for Sicily, July 10 – August 17, 1943.

Contents

[edit] Allied Forces

Allied Forces Headquarters - Mediterranean
Supreme Commander: General Dwight D. Eisenhower

[edit] Allied Naval Forces - Mediterranean

Commanded by Admiral Andrew Cunningham

  • Western Naval Task Force
    Commanded by Vice Admiral H.K. Hewitt
  • Eastern Naval Task Force
    Commanded by Vice Admiral B.L. Ramsay

[edit] Allied 15th Army Group

Under the command of General Sir Harold Alexander.

[edit] U.S. 7th Army

Commanded by Lieutenant General George Smith Patton.

Waiting to Load Tanks in La Pècherie French base in French Tunisia.
U.S. and British troops landing near Gela, Sicily, July 10, 1943.
[edit] U.S. II Corps

Commanded by Lieutenant General Omar Nelson Bradley.

[edit] U.S. Provisional Corps

(HQ activated 15 July)[1] Commanded by Major General Geoffrey Keyes.

[edit] British 8th Army

Generals Montgomery and Patton Discuss Allied Operations in Sicily.

Under the command of General Bernard Law Montgomery. The British 46th Infantry Division formed a floating reserve, but did not participate in the Sicily campaign.

Army Troops

[edit] British XIII Corps

Commanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey.

  • 105th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 6th Army Group Royal Artillery
    • 24th Armoured Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 98th Armoured Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 111th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 66th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 75th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 80th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
[edit] British XXX Corps

Commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese.

  • 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 5th Army Group Royal Artillery
    • 57th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 58th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 78th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 64th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 70th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 11th (Honourable Artillery Company) Royal Horse Artillery
    • 142nd Armoured Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

[edit] Allied Air Forces

At the time of Operation Husky, the Allied air forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theaters were organized as the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) under Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder. The major sub-command of MAC was the Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF) under the command of Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz. NAAF consisted primarily of units from the United States 12th Air Force (also under Spaatz), the US 9th Air Force under Lieutenant General Lewis H. Brereton, and the British Royal Air Force (RAF). In addition to NAAF, Middle East Command, AHQ Malta, RAF Gibraltar, and No. 216 (Transfer and Ferry) Group, were major sub-commands of MAC under Tedder who reported to the Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower for the Allied NAAF operations, but to the British Chiefs of Staff for the RAF Command operations. AHQ Malta under Air Vice-Marshal Sir Keith Park provided key air support during Operation Husky. A Desert Air Task Force consisting of B-25 Mitchell medium bombers (12th and 340th Bombardment Groups) and P40 Warhawk fighters (57th, 79th, and 324th Fighter Groups) from the U.S. 9th Air Force operated under Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham's Northwest African Tactical Air Force and these groups moved to airfields on Sicily soon after the invasion. In the MAC organization established at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, the U.S. 9th Air Force was a sub-command of Middle East Command under Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas.[13][13][14][15][16]

[edit] Mediterranean Air Command (Allied)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Headquarters at Algiers, Algeria[17]

Principle Sicilian targets of the Northwest African Air Forces for Operation Husky.

[edit] Northwest African Air Forces

Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz, Headquarters at Maison Carree, Algeria[17]

[edit] Northwest African Strategic Air Force

Major General James H. Doolittle,
Headquarters at Constantine, Algeria[17]

See also: Northwest African Strategic Air Force
  • 5th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)
[edit] Northwest African Coastal Air Force

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd, Headquarters at Algiers, Algeria[17]

See also: Northwest African Coastal Air Force
Source[19][20]
British Units American Units
RAF Units 52nd Fighter Group
Lieutenant Colonel James Coward
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Units
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance 		81st Fighter Group
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Gordon

Oran, Algeria Sector:
92nd Squadron, P-39 Airacobra 1st Air Defense Wing:
91st Squadron, P-39 Airacobra
93rd Squadron, P-39 Airacobra
Bone, Algeria Sector: 350th Fighter Group
Lieutenant Colonel Marvin McNickle
2nd Air Defense Wing:

No. 153 Squadron, Beaufighter

 480th Antisubmarine Group
Colonel Jack Roberts

Notes:

  1. The 1st and 2nd Antisubmarine Squadrons were assigned to NACAF for administration and placed under the operational control of United States Navy Fleet Air Wing 15 of the Moroccan Sea Frontier commanded by Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry
  2. Air Ministry was asked to provide two additional Wellington squadrons.[clarification needed]
[edit] Northwest African Tactical Air Force

Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, Headquarters at Hammamet, Tunisia[17]

See also: Northwest African Tactical Air Force

Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst

Air Commodore Laurence Sinclair[22][23]

For Operation Husky, No. 242 Group, originally a component of NATAF in February 1943, was assigned to the Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF). At the same time, Air Headquarters, Western Desert became known as the Desert Air Force. All of the fighter units of Desert Air Force formed No. 211 (Offensive Fighter) Group commanded by Air Commodore Richard Atcherley on April 11, 1943 in Tripoli. The 99th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the XII Air Support Command on May 28, 1943 and subsequently attached to the 33rd Fighter Group.

[edit] Northwest African Troop Carrier Command

Brigadier General Paul Williams, Tunisia

See also: Northwest African Troop Carrier Command
51st Troop Carrier Wing
Brig. Gen. Ray Dunn		 52nd Troop Carrier Wing
Colonel Harold Clark		 RAF Detachment
60th Troop Carrier Group
Lt. Col. Frederick Sherwood

10th Squadron, C-47
11th Squadron, C-47
12th Squadron, C-47
28th Squadron, C-47

 61st Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Willis Mitchell 		No. 38 Wing

Air Commodore William Primrose
62nd Troop Carrier Group
Lt. Col. Aubrey Hurren

4th Squadron, C-47
7th Squadron, C-47
8th Squadron, C-47
51st Squadron, C-47

 313th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel James Roberts Jr.

29th Squadron, C-47
47th Squadron, C-47
48th Squadron, C-47
49th Squadron, C-47
Albemarle towing a Horsa glider.
64th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel John Cerny

16th Squadron, C-47
17th Squadron, C-47
18th Squadron, C-47
35th Squadron, C-47

 314th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Clayton Stiles

32nd Squadron, C-47
50th Squadron, C-47
61st Squadron, C-47
62nd Squadron, C-47
NATCC - No. 38 Wing - Horsa Glider (1943).
Information in table taken from:

1) Participation of the Ninth &
Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian
Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical
Study No. 37, Army Air Forces
Historical Office Headquarters,
Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1945.

 316th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Jerome McCauley

36th Squadron,[25] C-47
44th Squadron, C-47
45th Squadron, C-47

 Information in table taken from:

2) Maurer, Maurer, Air Force
Combat Units Of World War II,
Office of Air Force History,
Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983.

In mid-1943, to facilitate transport and supply operations for Operation Husky, the USAAF 315th Troop Carrier Group (34th & 43rd Squadrons) had been sent from England to Tunisia and assigned to the Mediterranean Air Transport Service which along with NATCC, was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command.

[edit] Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing

Colonel Elliott Roosevelt, Headquarters at La Marsa, Tunisia

[edit] Northwest African Air Service Command

Brigadier General Delmar Dunton, Algiers, Algeria[17]

See also: Northwest African Air Service Command
[edit] Northwest African Training Command

Brigadier General John K. Cannon,
U.S. APO 525[17]

See also: Northwest African Training Command

[edit] Air Headquarters Malta

Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, Headquarters at Valletta, Malta[26]

See also: AHQ Malta

Notes: SAAF=South African Air Force; Det.=Detachment.

[edit] No. 216 (Transport and Ferry) Group

Air Commodore Whitney Straight, Headquarters at Heliopolis, Egypt[26]

See also: No. 216 Group RAF

[edit] RAF Gibraltar

Air Vice Marshal Sturley Simpson, Headquarters at Gibraltar

See also: RAF Gibraltar

[edit] Middle East Command

Air Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas Headquarters at Cairo, Egypt[17]

See also: RAF Middle East Command
[edit] No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group

Air Vice Marshal Thomas Langsford-Sainsbury, Headquarters at Alexandria, Egypt

See also: No. 201 Group RAF

No Wing assignment: 701 Naval Air Squadron (FAA), Supermarine Walrus

Note: RAF=Royal Air Force; RAAF=Royal Australian Air Force; SAAF=South African Air Force; FAA=Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy); Det.=Detachment

[edit] Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean

Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul

See also: Air H.Q. Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean
No. 209 (Fighter) Group
Group Captain R.C.F. Lister		 No. 210 (Fighter) Group
Group Captain John Grandy		 No. 212 (Fighter) Group
Air Commodore Archibald Wann		 No. 219 (Fighter) Group
Group Captain Hon. Max Aitken
No. 46 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighter No. 3 Squadron SAAF, Hurricane No. 7 Squadron SAAF , Hurricane No. 46 Squadron RAF, Beaufighter
No. 127 Squadron RAF, Hurricane/Spitfire No. 33 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 41 Squadron SAAF, Hurricane No. 74 Squadron RAF, Hurricane
No. 89 Squadron RAF, Beaufighter No. 80 Squadron RAF, Spitfire No. 238 Squadron RAF, Hurricane
No. 213 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 94 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 335 Squadron RAF, Hurricane
No. 274 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 108 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighter No. 336 Squadron RAF, Hurricane
No. 123 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 451 Squadron RAAF, Hurricane
No. 134 Squadron RAF, Hurricane
No. 237 Squadron RAF, Hurricane
No. 1563 Met. Flight, Gladiator
No. 1654 Met. Flight, Gladiator

Notes:
SAAF=South African Air Force; RAAF=Royal Australian Air Forces; Det.=Detachment; Met.=Meteorological.

[edit] U.S. 9th Air Force
See also: 9th Air Force

Major General Lewis H. Brereton, Headquarters at Cairo, Egypt[17]

[edit] Axis Forces

[edit] Armed Forces Command

Commanded by Generale d'Armata Alfredo Guzzoni

[edit] German

  • 15th Panzergrenadier Division
    Commanded by Generalmajor Eberhard Rodtfrom June 5. One third of the division (a reinforced infantry group) was attached to Italian XVI Corps and the rest to Italian XII Corps until the activation of XIV Panzer Corps on 18 July.[27]
    • 215th Panzer Battalion-17 Tiger I tanks
    • 104th Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 115th Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 129th Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 33rd Artillery Regiment
    • 315th Anti-Aircraft Battalion
    • 33rd Pioneer Battalion
  • Luftwaffe Panzer Division Hermann Göring
    Commanded by Generalleutnant Paul Conrath. Attached to Italian XVI Corps until the activation of XIV Panzer Corps on 18 July.[27]
    • 1st Panzergrenadier Regiment "Hermann Göring"
    • Panzer Regiment "Hermann Göring"
      • 1 Panzer Battalion "Hermann Göring"
      • 2 Panzer Battalion "Hermann Göring"
    • Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion "Hermann Göring"
    • Panzer Artillery Regiment "Hermann Göring"
    • Panzer Pioneer Battalion "Hermann Göring"
    • Anti-Aircraft Regiment "Hermann Göring"
  • 382nd Panzergrenadier Regiment
  • 926th Fortress Battalion

[edit] Italian 6th Army

Under the command of Generale d'Armata Alfredo Guzzoni.[nb 1]
German Army Liaison Officer: Generalleutnant Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin

[edit] XIV Panzer Corps

Activated 18 July[29] to take command of 15th Panzergrenadier Division, the Hermann Göring Division, the newly arrived 1st Parachute Division and the 29th Panzergrenadier Division which started to arrive in Sicily 18 July.
Commanded by General der Panzertruppe Hans-Valentin Hube.

  • German 1st Parachute Division
    Commanded by Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich. The 1st Parachute Regiment was held in reserve at Naples. Commenced arrival by air on 12 July[30]
    • 3rd Parachute Regiment
    • 4th Parachute Regiment
    • 1st Parachute Machine-Gun Battalion
    • I/1st Parachute Field Artillery Regiment
    • 1st Parachute Pioneer Battalion
[edit] Italian XII Corps

Commanded by Generale di Corpo d'Armata Mario Arisio, then Generale di Corpo d'Armata Francesco Zingales on 12 July

  • 26 Mountain Infantry Division Assietta
    Commanded by General Francesco Scotti, then General Ottorino Schreiber on July 26.
    • 29th Infantry Regiment
    • 30th Infantry Regiment
    • 17th "Blackshirts" Legion
    • 25th Artillery Regiment
    • CXXVI Mortar Battalion
    • Engineer Battaion
  • 28 Infantry Division Aosta
    Commanded by General Giacomo Romano.
    • 5th Infantry Regiment
    • 6th Infantry Regiment
    • 171st "Blackshirts" Legion
    • 22nd Artillery Regiment
    • XXVIII Mortar Battalion
    • Engineer Battalion
  • 202 Coastal Division
    • 124th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 142nd Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 43rd Artillery Group (26 batteries, ad hoc regiment)
  • 207 Coastal Division
    • 138th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 139th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 51st Artillery Group (12 batteries, ad hoc regiment)
  • 208 Coastal Division
    • 133rd Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 147th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 28th Artillery Group (6 batteries, ad hoc regiment)
  • 136th Coastal Infantry Regiment
  • Palemo Harbour Garrison
  • 10th Bersaglieri Regiment
  • 177th Bersaglieri Regiment
  • Corps Artillery
    • 30 batteries
  • Battlegroups
    small battlegroups build up from corps units for tactical action.
    • A
    • B
      • Semoventi Battalion HQ
      • Coy R-35 Tanks
      • Coy Semoventi L-40
      • 2 Coy Coastal Infantry (motorized)
      • Plt Bersaglieri (motorcycle)
      • Btry 75/27
      • Sect AA 20/65
    • C
      • Tank Battalion HQ
      • Coy R-35 Tanks
      • Coy Coastal Infantry (motorized)
      • Coy AT 47/32
[edit] Italian XVI Corps

Commanded by Generale di Corpo d'Armata Carlo Rossi.

  • 4 Infantry Division Livorno (Initially held as Army Reserve[32])
    Commanded by General Domenico Chirieleison.
    • 33rd Infantry Regiment
    • 34th Infantry Regiment
    • 28th Artillery Regiment (with 3 AA batteries, the standard was 2)
    • Semoventi L40 Battalion
    • Engineer Battalion
    • Assault Battalion
  • 54 Infantry Division Napoli
    Commanded by General Giulio Cesare Gotti Porcinari.
    • 75th Infantry Regiment
    • 76th Infantry Regiment
    • 173rd "Blackshirts" Legion
    • 54th Artillery Regiment
    • Engineer Battalion
  • 206 Coastal Division
    • 122nd Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 123rd Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 146th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 44th Artillery Group (14 batteries, ad hoc regiment)
  • 213 Coastal Division
    • 135th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • Catania Harbour Garrison
    • 22nd Artillery Group (12 batteries, ad hoc regiment)
  • XVIII Coastal Brigade
    • 134th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 178th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 9 artillery batteries
  • XIX Coastal Brigade
    • 140th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 179th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 4 artillery batteries
  • Corps Artillery
    • 19 batteries
  • Battlegroups
    • D
      • Tanks Battalion HQ
      • Coy Renault R-35 (R-35)
      • Coy MG on motorcycles
      • Coy AT 47/32
      • Coy Infantry
      • Btry 75/18
      • Sect AA 20/65
    • E
      • Coy R-35
      • Coy MG on motorcycles
      • Coy AT 47/32
      • Coy Coastal Infantry
      • Btry 75/18
      • Sect AA 20/65
    • F
      • Coy R-35
      • Coy MG on motorcycles
      • Coy AT 47/32
      • Coy Coastal Infantry
      • Btry 75/27
    • G
      • Blackshirt Battalion HQ
      • Plt R-35
      • Coy AT 47/32
      • Btry 75/18
    • H
      • Coy Fiat 3000
      • Coy AT 47/32
      • Plt mortars
      • Btry 75/18
[edit] Navy Garrison

The major harbours Garrison were under Navy, they weren't under 6th Army but under General Guzzoni who was also the chief of Joint Command.

  • Augusta-Siracusa Harbours
    • 121st Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • Navy Battalion
    • Air Force Battalion
    • 24 artillery batteries (coastal and AA batteries included)
  • Trapani Harbour
    • 137th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 12 artillery batteries (coastal and AA batteries included)
  • Messina-Reggio Calabria Harbours
    • 116th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 119th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • Blackshirt Legion
    • Cavalry Battalion (on foot)
    • 55 artillery batteries (coastal and AA batteries included)

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

Footnotes
  1. ^ On 17 July Guzzoni delegated tactical command to Hube of any areas containing German troops. On 30 July Guzzoni gave Hube command of the whole front[28]
Citations
  1. ^ Molony, p. 108.
  2. ^ Molony, p. 81n.
  3. ^ Molony, p. 177n
  4. ^ Molony, p. 102n
  5. ^ Molony, p. 152n.
  6. ^ Molony, p. 79n.
  7. ^ Molony, p. 95n.
  8. ^ Molony, p. 94n.
  9. ^ a b Molony, p. 117n
  10. ^ a b Molony, p. 115n.
  11. ^ Molony, p. 82n.
  12. ^ Molony, p. 234n.
  13. ^ a b Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983, ISBN 0-912799-03-X).
  14. ^ Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953).
  15. ^ Howe, George F., Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West, Center of Military History, Washington, DC., 1991.
  16. ^ Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters, Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 1945.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Secret Document 161, Location of units in the Royal Air Force, 34th issue, July 1943, Royal Air Force Museum accession number PR02859.
  18. ^ No. 242 Group was originally a part of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force but later[when?] transferred to NACAF
  19. ^ Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1945
  20. ^ Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II Office of Air Force History, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983.
  21. ^ http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/orman.html
  22. ^ a b Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1945.
  23. ^ a b Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983
  24. ^ http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/page.html
  25. ^ http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/316th.html
  26. ^ a b Secret Document 161, Location of units in the Royal Air Force, 34th issue, July 1943, Royal Air Force Museum accession number PR02859.
  27. ^ a b Molony, pp. 43-45.
  28. ^ Molony, p. 44.
  29. ^ Molony, p. 43.
  30. ^ Molony, p. 93.
  31. ^ Molony, p. 45.
  32. ^ Jowett & Andrew (2001), p. 4

[edit] References

  • Juno Beach Centre - Canadian Army units in Sicily
  • Costanzo, Ezio (2008). The Mafia and the Allies: Sicily 1943 and the Return of the Mafia. Enigma Book, New York. 
  • Costanzo, Ezio (2003). Sicilia 1943. Lo sbarco alleato. Le Nove Muse Editrice, Italy. 
  • Hoyt, Edwin P. (2007) [2002]. Backwater War: The Allied Campaign in Italy, 1943-45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978 0 8117 9982 3. 
  • Jowett, Philip S.; Andrew, Stephen (2001). The Italian Army 1940-45. 3: Italy 1943–1945. Oxford: Osprey Military. ISBN 1855328666.  p.3 to p. 6
  • Molony, Brigadier C.J.C.; with Flynn, Captain F.C. (R.N.); Davies, Major-General H.L. & Gleave, Group Captain T.P. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO:1973]. Butler, Sir James. ed. The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume V Part 1: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and The Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-845740-69-6. 
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