American tank destroyer battalions often supported allied troopsincluding british, french, and brazilian unitsin italy, as well. Original wwii photo negative tank battalion soldiers destroyer army posing us 3. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops. Tank destroyer battalions of the united states army. Our military patches make an excellent addition to your collection or a great gift. It also has the unusual distinction of being one of the few american units to fight in all three major campaigns against nazi germany north africa. Company c, 894th tank destroyer battalion, knocked out four enemy tanks and an antitank gun which the german crew was manhandling into position. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website. Get the best deals on tank destroyer patch when you shop the largest online selection at. It was turned into a towed td bn they had m10s before the reconversion. 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. Wwii 661st tank destroyer battalion rocker patch ww2. A history of the 814th tank destroyer battalion, 19421945 is the name of the excellent history of the 814th tank destroyer battalion, written and published in 1995 by 814th reconnaissance company veteran calvin c.
Reorganized as a towed battalion in december, 1943. The 802 nd td was inactivated on 1 december 1945, two days following its return to the states. Contains a detailed history of this tank destroyer unit in the european theater in world war two, many photos, drawings and a complete battalion roster by company. This means they were equipped with the 76mm m6 antitank gun towed behind an m3 halftrack instead of the selfpropelled m10 tank destroyer based on the m4 medium tank chassis. Tank destroyer units were broken into three groups, brigades, groups and battalions. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 776th tank destroyer battalion. At 1600, when the force of the enemy attacks showed signs of weakening, the 1 london scottish 168 brigade, supported by tanks of the 46 royal tanks, launched a.
The 601st tank destroyer battalion was a battalion of the united states army active during world war ii. Rupert macpherson at camp shelby, mississippi, the patch features a winged black skull with four white highlights, red tongue, and yellow lightning bolt bordered in black, on tan wool. The 631st tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the second world war. This site is dedicated to the brave men who served in the 821 st tdbn my father, ciro gippetti was a member of the 821 st tank destroyer battalion. Wwii tank destroyerthird army ike jacket uniforms u. The tank destroyer units were formed in response to the german use of massed formations of armored vehicles units. The 761st were known as the black panthers after their units. Wwii tank destroyerthird army ike jacket posted in uniforms. An informal history of the 776th tank destroyer battalion. This index lists the army units for which records are available at the. M10 and m36 tank destroyers 194253 new vanguard book 57 steven j. Wwii army armor corps tank destroyer tank killer division 4 wheel patch no glow.
The unit was organized in one of two different formsa towed battalion equipped with anti tank guns, or a mechanized battalion equipped with armored selfpropelled guns. I know the 702nd tank destroyer bn was attached to the 2nd armored division for the duration of the war. Tank destroyer battalion patches flying tigers surplus. Fought in area of maknassy and ferryville, tunisia. The tank destroyers were formed as a counter force to massed formations of. 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. The battalion came into being as a result of a need in the united states army for a fighting element so equipped and trained as to effectively combat and destroy the panzer korps of the wehrmacht of adolph hitlers germany. In september 1942, the entire battalion was moved by rail to the newly formed tank destroyer center, camp hood, texas, to undergo advanced unit training in tank destroyer tactics, after progressing thru the infiltration course, street and village fighting to platoon and company tactics, a battalion field problem was finally held and. The 602nd tank destroyer battalion was originally formed 26 march 1941 as the 2nd infantry division provisional antitank battalion. The 612th tank destroyer battalion was a unit of the united states army during world war ii.
It deployed into normandy on 31 august 1944, equipped with towed 3 antitank. Wwii third army history of operations europe infantry. The 631st tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the second world war the battalion, originally composed of troops from the 31st infantry division, was activated on 15 december 1941 as part of the general reorganisation of the antitank force. Committed to battle 20 february 1943 at kasserine pass in tunisia. The tank destroyer battalion was a type of military unit used by the united states army during world war ii. 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 antitank force. Tank destroyer ssi and insignia page 6 army and usaaf. Early war tank battalion patches were bare armored corps patches, with no unit markings at all. Arrived at gourock, scotland, on 5 august, 1944, and at utah beach on 31 august. The tank destroyer battalions were all organized with 3 companies, each company was equipped with 12 guns, for a total of 36 in the.
I have had the privilege of meeting many of the members and their wives and you could not find a greater group of people. Make offer original ww2 802nd tank destroyer battalion vetaltered patch off uniform glows. Performed reararea duties in france, luxembourg, and germany for the duration of the campaign as part of third. The cadre of two officers and seventythree enlisted men were from the 631st tank destroyer battalion. 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. Tank destroyer battalion united states military wiki fandom. Links are provided for any other web based information we are aware of. The tank destroyer units were formed in response to the german use of massed formations of. This uniform, as far as im able to ascertain with my limited knowledge base, is from a t4. In april 1944, the battalion departed for the eto, where it would participate in the normandy and four other campaigns. Kopcsak, all american football end in 1931 and 1933 and division artillery g3 became the executive officer.
The 761st tank battalion was an independent tank battalion of the united states army during world war ii. The untold story of the men of the legendary 601st tank destroyer battalion general military victor failmezger. Home units unit photo galleries631st td battalion while training in texas, a platoon from company a of the 631st, was tasked with building a bridge over a creek. Additional information, on 21 december 1941, a provisional antitank battalion of the 76th field artillery brigade was activated as the 776th tank destroyer battalion.
Tank battalion patches us army patches army unit patches and army regiment patches flying tigers surplus. Books and research materials specifically about the 814th tank destroyer battalion. Patch, tank destroyer battalion quartermaster inspector. You can literally trace the steps of your wwii veteran. Seek, strike and destroy, the history of the 636th tank destroyer battalion unit history book. Rather than providing the history of the tank destroyer forces as a narrative, i felt it would require a lot less reading, and be easier to find specific dates, if it was done in timeline form. Activated 15 december, 1941, at camp blanding, florida. The battalion participated in five major campaigns normandy, northern france, rhineland, ardennesalsace, and central europe, primarily with the 1st infantry division.
Book 8 infantry regiments 163rd regiment tank destroyer battalions box 14041567. The 802 nd tank destroyer battalion was formed on 15 december 1941 at camp shelby, mississippi. The item up for bid is an original wwii 661st tank destroyer battalion patch. Dedication page to the extraordinary men of the 899th tdb. This patch will be sold with all the other patches i recently purchased in about 10 patch albums. Original ww2 802nd tank destroyer battalion vetaltered patch off uniform glows. It deployed into normandy on 31 august 1944, equipped with towed 3 antitank guns, and spent the next eight months on reararea security duties with third army. Us tank and tank destroyer battalions in the eto 194445. After action report, 776th tank destroyer battalion. According to us tank and tank destroyer battalions in the eto 194445 from osprey publishing your grandfathers td battalion was a towed td battalion.
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. The 633rd tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the second world war the battalion was activated on 15 december 1941 as part of the general reorganisation of the antitank force. This site is dedicated to him and all the brave men of the 821 st tdbn. Landed in italy in late october 1943, located in vicinity of pignataro in the migniano sector as of december. Sounds simple but three key points would complicate it. Page 6 of 22 tank destroyer ssi and insignia posted in army and usaaf.
Im trying to identify the owner of an ike jacket with a tank destroyer patch on the left shoulder. It was the first of the newly formed tank destroyer battalions to see combat, and the only one to fight as a pure tank destroyer force. Tank destroyer force small hat pin military uniform. The 661st tank destroyer battalion has a proud history. Army doctrine held that tanks did not fight other tanks but supported infantry. Presented to members of 631st tank destroyer battalion. Research a wwii veterantrace his steps through the war. On 15 december 1941, the unit became one of the first four designated as a tank destroyer. The 601st td battalion first saw combat in north africa and later on sicily and in italy. Sergeant joseph sowinski 631st tank destroyer battalion.
714 843 1441 291 1101 705 121 464 566 642 1208 1155 552 1557 193 303 1546 22 105 1046 281 3 250 527 1294 664 1102 1 1373 1282 1055 1420 369 9 1451 189 562 1230 269 9 1390