[28] The resistance put up by the 2nd Infantry Division, along with the attached tanks and tank destroyers, thwarted the northern penetration of the German offensive, delaying their advance by three days, and caused them to side step to a less suitable road network, allowing allied reinforcements to prepare positions further to the west with which to blunt the attack. [12] Only two of the launched DD tanks reached the beach, another three were carried ashore when their LCT was unable to lower its ramp at sea. Ragazzine, Tony G Company, 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division 785. Kenneth W. Nickel, Pfc. Several months earlier, he had received the Distinguished Service Cross for his D-Day exploits. Establishing the Defense. 2nd Ranger Battalion; 5th Ranger Battalion; 3rd Armored Group. Updates on the book will appear on this website. 741st tank battalion order of battle: hq - commanding officer: lieutenant colonel skaggs robert n. hq - executive officer: major king william m. hq - surgeon: captain hochman alex. Although it landed on Omaha Beach supporting … 741st Tank Battalion 9 March 1945: M4A1(75) named “Asp II” crossing an M2 treadway bridge at Dümpelfeld, Germany. The 761st Tank Battalion. 741st Tank Battalion The 741st Tank Battalion fought in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge and finished the war in Czechoslovakia. The Battalion trained at Camp Hood, Texas, where they were rated superior by Second Army Commander Lt.Gen. The project began by gathering memoirs, battle maps, wartime letters, official records, and other documents. The 743rd Tank Battalion was the lead unit, 10 minutes ahead of the 116 th Regiment of the 29 th Division, on the right hand side of Omaha Beach opposite Vierville sur Mer. The other (marked “USA 3036947”) has a cast armor hull. Grady E Colvin is buried or memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Facing superior German Panther and Tiger tanks (among others) supported by infantry, the battalion fought many small unit engagements, deftly stalking the German tanks in twos and threes until they could destroy or immobilize them with shots from the flanks or rear. The battalion was inactivated in October 1945, and briefly reactivated in 1949 as a reserve unit assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. Companies A, B, C, and D – the tank line companies, both medium and light, all followed the same table of organization. in Leipzig Germany, 18 April 1945 Marine tank M4A2 “2” Guam Marines following tank M4A1 “7” from the beach on New Britain toward the Cape Gloucester airfield 1944 4th Marines M4A2 covers troops attacking pillbox on Guam Marines sdvance behind Flame Throwing M4A2 on Okinawa Marines and … It is however cited in “Cole”, the official U.S. Army history of the Battle of the Bulge, and is claimed in, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Tank battalions of the United States Army, http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/007/7-5-1/CMH_Pub_7-5-1_fixed.pdf, http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/007/7-8-1/CMH_Pub_7-8-1.pdf, http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/3512/rec/3, http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/3442/rec/15, http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/002id.htm, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/741st_Tank_Battalion_(United_States)?oldid=4684994. Four other tank battalions were also waiting: 70th, 743rd, 745th, and the 746th Tank Battalions. [3] At Camp Bradford, Virginia, it also began practicing amphibious training, including loading and unloading aboard Navy craft, and practice assault landings at Little Creek, Virginia and Solomons Island, Maryland. serv. After its publication, I will begin posting primary-source material in the Archive. A damaged M4 … In recent years, some—such as the 761st Tank Battalion, the “Black Panthers”—have rightly garnered some attention. Curiously, the citation is not listed in DA Pam 672-1, the official register of unit citations and campaign credits, and is therefore not listed among unit awards and decorations here. (U.S. Army Tank … and Zschochersche Str., Leipzig, Germany, 18 April 1945. Occupation Credit, 2 May – 4 June 1945, Germany. The first invasion wave the PC 552 was responsible for, was the 741 st Tank Battalion which had tanks with duplex drives, capable of swimming in the water and traveling on land. Four out of the 6 companies were to be deployed from their LCTs (Landing Craft Tank) 5,000-6,000 … The tankers practiced with infantry and engineers at the platoon and tank/squad level for the remainder of June to perfect their techniques in working together. Training camps included Camp Young, California, Camp Polk, Louisiana, Camp Pickett, Virginia, and Camp Wellfleet, Massachusetts. © 2016-2021 Bill Warnock - All Rights Reserved. Like other Americans, the tankers reacted with relief when they learned of the … [2] The battalion criss-crossed the country as it moved from one training station to another developing its maneuver and gunnery skills. It marched in the liberation parade of Paris. [7], After several years as an inactive unit, on 1 February 1949, the battalion was redesignated the 396th Heavy Tank Battalion and allotted to the U.S. Army Reserve. He became a sergeant in the HQ Company, 741st Tank Battalion. Live Fire in Support of Palm FEX at IOC. [15] For its actions on Omaha Beach on 6–7 June, the battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. The 743rd Tank Battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the European Theater of Operations with the United States Army in World War II. 48 of the tanks were sunk or destroyed even before they could manage to touch the beach, as a result of heavy enemy bombings. Wilson, Bob 42nd Bomb Group 110. 741st Tank Battalion by Al Heintzleman Battleground by John Toland (printed in 1959) Company Commander by Charles B. MacDonald Shipped to Europe as a replacement, he took command of Company I, 23rd Infantry in early September of 1944. Colvin was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on June 26, 1944. and Zschochersche Str. But now known as Co. "B" 707th Tank Battalion, the training … Two companies equipped with DD tanks, and battalion formed part of assault wave at Omaha Beach on 6 June 1944 attached to 1st Infantry Division. The sergeant crawled over to pull the soldier higher onto the shingle. [26][27] (T/5 R. W. Crampton), In support of the 2nd Infantry Division and 99th Infantry Division, the 741st, along with a company of the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion, was instrumental in helping hold the northern shoulder of the Bulge in vicious fighting in and around Rocherath-Krinkelt during the German Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) in December 1944. The Sergeant Never Flinched. One of these was the 784th Tank Battalion, which proved to be one of the finest weapons in the American arsenal in 1945. [22] After a brief two-day respite, the battalion again was on the march through Compiègne, the Aisne valley and Belgian Luxembourg and into the Duchy of Luxembourg,[22] reaching the West Wall in Germany by 9 September in the vicinity of Sevenig and Roscheid. The 741st Tank Battalion advanced as far as Plzeň, Czechoslovakia by the end of the war. [19][32][33], The battalion was withdrawn to Germany and briefly took up occupation duties before returning to the United States. McKinley, his operations officer, and … (U.S. Army Signal Corps), For D-Day, the battalion was attached to the 1st Infantry Division to support the 16th Infantry Regimental Combat Team landings on Omaha Beach. He knew he was going to die--but no fear, just that astonished look.”. 3rd Armored Group, 741st Tank Battalion, Headquarters After Action Report: On the morning of June 6, 1944, at H-hour, this unit attacked the enemy on the coast of France, Cherbourg, Peninsula, bay of the Seine area, near the village of Colleville-sur-Mer and St. Laurent-sur-Mer. The 741st Tank Battalion went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. Charles Lombardo, Pfc. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern Europe until V-E Day. Here is a description from page 33 of The Story of Vitamin Baker about Flossenbrrg: The large German concentration camp of Hasag is near Flossberg. Afterward, the battalion swept across Germany, tangling with Tiger tanks and deadly Flak guns as the Third Reich died in a firestorm of its own making. That being the armor tasked with supporting the assaulting … 741st Tank Battalion (United States) ★ ranger companies of the united states army: Add an external link to your content for free. The interviews add color and dimension to the story, something impossible to derive from the dry, laconic reports found in official records. I hiked the former battlegrounds to familiarize myself with the terrain, architecture, and local cultures. The battalion landed on Omaha beach on D-Day. It landed on Omaha Beach supporting the 1st Infantry Division, but was attached to 2nd Infantry Division on 15 June 1944, which it supported for most of the reminder of the war. 104th Medical Battalion; 29th Division Artillery; 29th Special Troops; Provisional Ranger Group. Sound too good to be true? 45 men had been killed, another 60 wounded during the day’s action. Despite the outbreak of the Korean War, the battalion was not called to active duty and on 1 March 1952, was again redesignated as the 741st Tank Battalion and inactivated.[34]. Ragan, Paul B Company, 741st Tank Battalion 375. This exemplary unit landed on Omaha beach ahead of the infantry for the first time in history and fougtht throughout Europe until VE day Wilson, Billy F. B Company, 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion 90; 557. Its pages bring alive the savvy and raw courage it took to survive and achieve victory. 741st Tank Battalion (United States) - Unit Awards and Decorations. This was considerably further out than originally planned, and in rougher seas than the unit had conducted training, resulting in the loss of twenty-seven of thirty-two of the DD tanks before they reached shore. George K. Cuthbert, Jr., Company C, 741st Tank Battalion, burns at the intersection of Karl Heine Str. Submitted by SteveMerc. As they approached Omaha, Thornton talked over the situation with the men on his landing craft. The purpose of this website is to honor the men of the 751st Tank Battalion who participated in the North African and Italian campaigns of World War II.The nature of battalions like the 751st--that is, units who were never officially a part of a division, but rather were “attached” to numerous divisions throughout the war--has nearly rendered them to the dust bin of history. The battalion participated in fight operations all through northern Europe till V-E Day. The 741st plunged into combat along Germany’s Westwall, becoming ensnared in a muddy, grinding stalemate that dragged on through the autumn. 741st Tank Battalion Sherman on D Day On D-Day, June 1944, a total of 50 M4 Sherman tanks stormed the Omaha beach, however by the time the battle concluded only 3 machines remained operational. 741st Tank Battalion Activated on 15 March 1942 at Fort Meade, Maryland, under command of Lt. Col. Jacob R. Moon. The 761st Tank Battalion was activated on April 1, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and deployed to Europe, landing at Omaha Beach in France on October 10, 1944. The U.S. 741st and 743rd Tank Battalions At Omaha Beach. Incident location: Normandy, France. Posts about 741st Tank Battalion written by laststandonzombieisland. The armored support for the U.S. infantry in the initial landing waves at Omaha Beach would come from the 741st and 743rd Tank Battalions - each equipped with M4 Sherman tanks. The most imposing antitank defenses on the Normandy beaches were the powerful 88mm PaK 43/41 antitank guns, the towed … on Wed, 06/05/2019 - 15:43. [7], The battalion continued its training in England, where it was selected to become part of the D-Day assault force. Their orders were to launch from their LCT several miles out to sea and then proceed to the beach. Initial coordination of the tanks with the infantry units as they began to fight inland in the bocage country of Normandy was not well executed and both infantry and tanks suffered casualties until the tactics and procedures of operating together were put in place. 1 talking about this. Hill 192, the dominant terrain east of St. Lô, had to be taken in order for the American forces to liberate St. Lõ and establish an organized front line from which to launch Operation Cobra. Each company consisted of a headquarters section which, along with a small headquarters staff also included two tanks for the company commander and executive officer; and three five-tank platoons. Two companies equipped with DD tanks, and battalion formed part of assault wave at Omaha Beach on 6 June 1944 attached to 1st Infantry Division. The assault gun platoon was frequently attached to the division artillery of the division to which they were attached, especially if the division had to revert to the defense or static positions. Film Television show Game Sport Science Hobby Travel Technology Brand Outer space Cinematography Photography Music Literature Theatre History … 741st Tank Battalion Activated on 15 March 1942 at Fort Meade, Maryland, under command of Lt. Col. Jacob R. Moon. One tank has a welded hull. The training was about the same as usual, but the snow was on the ground now. The Service Company included a headquarters section; a maintenance platoon; and a large battalion supply and transportation platoon, with over thirty trucks to provide logistics for the battalion. M4 of Company C, 741st Tank Battalion burns at the intersection of Karl Heine Str. M4 of Company C, 741st Tank Battalion burns at the intersection of Karl Heine Str. The 741st Tank Battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the European Theater of Operations with the United States Army in World War II. Air Force Units Army Units Coast Guard Units Marine Corps Units Navy Units Become a VetFriends Member Site Map. Nobody wanted to blow up an American tank by accident. [23][24] On 2 October, the 741st Tank Battalion was relieved from attachment to the 28th Infantry Division and again attached to the 2nd Infantry Division, with which it remained until the end of the war. Tanks of Company A, 741st Tank Battalion, loaded aboard an LCT, awaiting departure for D-Day invasion, early June 1944. I 81st Armored Regt. Note the trunked Shermans. [29][note 2][30], After the Battle of the Bulge, the battalion refitted and resupplied in the vicinity of Berg and Robertville, Belgium, still in support of the 2nd Infantry Division, with A Company attached to the 99th Infantry Division near Elsenborn, but which was soon returned to battalion control. The company was attached to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Greg Slade says: November 14, 2018 at … Headquarters, Department of the Army. We have no information on the meaning or origin of these arms. Wilson, Alfred L. 328th Infantry Regiment 402. The entire crew[note 1] perished in the battle. © 2016-2021 Bill Warnock - All Rights Reserved, Terms of Use. 1. Their crews battled on the beach before carrying the fight into Normandy and the green Hell of hedgerow country. The 741st Tank Battalion went on to be part of several significant events in World War II including the Battle of the Bulge and Krinkelt/Rocherath. [16], After its initial assault and consolidation of the beachhead with the 1st Infantry Division in Normandy, on 15 June the battalion was detached from the 1st Infantry Division and attached to the 2nd Infantry Division. The 701st relocated to Fort Knox, for further training the Battalion received orders on 12/8/43 to relocate to Camp Bouse, the mysterious secret camp. From there, the battalion moved to the embarkation station at Camp Shanks, and boarded the Capetown Castle,[5] departing New York on 20 October 1943 and arriving at Liverpool, England[6] on 2 November 1943. The mine layers had to hold back, pending a confirmed sighting of German tanks. [10] It consisted of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Service Company, three medium tank companies (Companies A, B, and C) and a light tank company (Company D). Courtesy of Nicolas Job, Underwater Photographer.. A MC4 & LCL production. The 761st Tank Battalion. The 784th Tank Battalion participated over the next several months in the occupation of Germany, and as the men decompressed, some formed relationships with German women. Rate these arms / rate this page : 0.00 (0 votes) (no information about … [20][21] On 27 August, it was attached to the 28th Infantry Division[20] in order to participate with the division in the Liberation Day Parade through Paris on 29 August, a tumultuous procession around the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Élysées just four days after the Germans had formally surrendered the city. 48 had either been sunk or destroyed in combat. 1 talking about this. [17], The 741st led the 2nd Infantry Division’s assault on Hill 192 on 11–12 July in the breakout from Normandy. By now battle-seasoned veterans, tankers from the battalion resisted repeated numerous hard-pressed attacks by spearheading elements of the SS-heavy Sixth Panzer Army from 16–19 December. The 741st was attached to the Big Red One for the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach – Normandy, France. [4], Finally, in August 1942, the battalion arrived at Fort Dix, New Jersey, to make final pre-embarkations preparations. 741ST TANK BATTALION. As one veteran said, “God never made any finer men than good soldiers.” The 741st proved it, time and again. Official blazon Origin/meaning. And Then—Wham—It All Ended. This is an American Battle … George K. Cuthbert, Jr, Cpl. hq & hq co. - commanding officer: you know his name, contact us. 741st Tank Battalion 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion (M-10) 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion (towed) 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion 2nd Medical Battalion 2nd Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment Headquarters Special Troops Headquarters Company, 2nd Division Military Police Platoon 702nd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company 2nd Quartermaster Battalion 2nd Signals Company CCB 9th … The Headquarters Company included the battalion headquarters staff, both officers and enlisted men; an assault gun platoon, consisting of three Sherman tank variants armed with a short-barreled 105 mm ass… [18] After taking Hill 192, the 2nd Infantry Division went on the defensive until the start of Operation Cobra. Sep 26, 2020 - 741st Tank Battalion in World War II, D-Day to VE-Day. Incident location: Normandy, France. The Panther Cut Loose Again but Missed. Anthony T. Martin (165th SPC), Bill McClintock spotted a soldier lying motionless on his back with the tide lapping at his knees. Search: Add your article Home. 741st Tank Battalion. See more ideas about battalion, d day, world war ii. 9th Infantry Division "Old Reliables" Maj. Gen. Louis A. Craig 39th, 47th, and 60th Infantry Regiments 26th, 34th, 60th, and 84th FA Battalions 15th Engineer Combat Battalion 38th Cavalry Recon Squadron 746th Tank Battalion 376th and 413th AAA AW Battalions. It was one of five tank battalions (all independent) which landed in Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944). Others, though, have remained almost entirely forgotten, despite their excellent combat records. 741st Tank Battalion. Technical Sergeant William D. McClintock served with the 741st Tank Battalion in World War II. Colonel Gilbreth’s Combat Command R consisted of the 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion, the 2nd Tank Battalion, the 73rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion, the 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and other conventional task force attachments. The 741st Tank Battalion followed the standard organization of a U.S. medium tank battalion during World War II.It consisted of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Service Company, three medium tank companies (Companies A, B, and C) and a light tank company (Company D). The Battalion trained at Camp Hood, Texas, where they were rated superior … On 26 July, the 2nd Infantry Division, with the 741st Tank Battalion continuing to provide direct fire support, advanced slowly, anchoring the left flank of the main assault of Operation Cobra, which took place to the west of St. Lõ. Belgian Fourragère: 13–19 December 1944 and 19–30 December 1944, Department of the Army General Order 43–50. 741st Tank Battalion 612th and 644th TD Battalions 462nd AAA AW Battalion. It was withdrawn from the 96th Infantry Division and inactivated in 1952. The battalion’s tanks transported lead elements of the division some 200 miles from 1–3 May 1945 all the way to the Czech border, and had reached Plzeň, Czechoslovakia, by 6 May, two days before hostilities ended on 8 May. Their tanks were converted to be amphibious, dubbed Duplex Drive or DD tanks. Other tanks from the battalion successfully landed that day. The battalion played a key role in blunting the northern flank of the German attack during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. For their service during the violent counter-attack in the Krinkelt-Rocherath area of Belgium, the 741st Tank Battalion received a … Live Fire at Semi Annual Gunnery. 741ST TANK BATTALION, US ARMY . Photo by Sgt. Company D, equipped with M5 light tanks, and the battalion headquarters were not part of the initial landing force. The 741st Tank Battalion went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. The 741st Tank Battalion were the men coming to the rescue. There were two tank battalions on Omaha Beach that day: the 741st and the 743rd. Unit Awards and Decorations. Occupation Credit, 2 May – 4 June 1945, Germany. Recorded circumstances attributed to: "Missing in action or lost at sea". McKinley had received word that armor of the U.S. 741st Tank Battalion might be in the area. and Zschochersche Str. The battalion was activated at Spokane, Washington, on 5 March 1949 and assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. The Headquarters Company included the battalion headquarters staff, both officers and enlisted men; an assault gun platoon, consisting of three Sherman tank variants armed with a short-barreled 105 mm assault gun, and an additional three assault guns nominally assigned to each medium tank company, but normally operating as a second gun section in the assault gun platoon; a mortar platoon, equipped with three half-track mounted 81 mm mortars; a reconnaissance platoon with five quarter-ton “peeps” (jeeps); and the headquarters tank section consisting of two tanks for the battalion commander and operations officer. The beach assigned to his company, Company B, was code named Dog Green. Photographs are already posted on Pinterest with more to come. At Omaha, each tank battalion supported 1 regimental combat team (743rd in support of the 116th RCT of the 29th Infantry Division in the west and the 741st in support of the 16th RCT of the 1st Infantry Division in the east). On 19 December, elements of the battalion were the rear guard of an orderly withdrawal from Rocherath-Krinkelt to positions behind Wirtzfeld to the west and northwest. This battalion landed on the eastern side of Omaha on D-Day in support of the 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. CASUALTY. ). Sherman Duplex-Drive Tank - 741st Tank Battalion Among other weaponry the 741st employed the truly unique Sherman Duplex-Drive (DD) Tank, an amphibious vehicle surrounded by a flotation screen. 741st Tank Battalion. REMEMBERED. [31] In supporting the 2nd Infantry Division, the 741st Tank Battalion followed the division’s path, entering Germany at Gemünd on 4 March 1945. co. - commanding officer: first lieutenant klotz frank a. co. a - commanding officer: captain thomas cecil d. co. b - commanding officer: captain thornton james g jr. … If you have any information on these arms Tank Battalion, US Army mail us ! Sgt. in Leipzig Germany, 18 April 1945 Marine tank M4A2 “2” Guam Marines following tank M4A1 “7” from the beach on New Britain toward the Cape Gloucester airfield 1944 From there, the battalion moved to the embarkation station at Camp Shanks, and boarded the Capetown Castle, departing New York on 20 October 1943 and arriving at Liverpool, England on 2 November 1943. Sunken 741st battalion tank off the coast of Omaha Beach. They landed on the Continent with high morale -- some said they were … Recorded circumstances attributed to: "Missing in action or lost at sea". Charles Young. The 741st Tank Battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the European Theater of Operations with the United States Army in World War II. The war ended for the 741st in Czechoslovakia on V-E Day, where the surviving tank crewmen found themselves mobbed by another exuberant population. Note the markings “1A-741Δ” (“First Army – 741st Tank Bn”) on the trailer are consistent … He sported a bushy mustache and had a reputation for boldness. George R. Wilson, and Pfc. Fifty years later, I commenced work on a book about the valiant crewmen and their exploits. The men were intro-duced to the giant tank, a WWI designed tank which now had a 13 million candlepower light, "The Gizmo" mounted in the turret. Different from the DD models, they could ford water theoretically about 15 feet deep, provided they could get enough traction in the sandy bottom. The 741st launched according to their orders and were quickly in a fight for survival against the sea. Training first with British Valentine tanks specially equipped with the duplex drive amphibious propulsion system beginning in January 1944, they later received similarly equipped M4s with which to continue training. 741st Tank Battalion (United States) 3rd Infantry Division Artillery (United States) 194th Field Artillery Regiment (United States) ★ harbor vessels of the united states: Add an external link to your content for free. The 741st Tank battalion was also responsible for the liberation of Flossenburg Concentration Camp. The 741st Tank Battalion followed the standard organization of a U.S. medium tank battalion during World War II. The tank belonged to Company A, 741st Tank Battalion and was the company's only remaining tank from the contingent that landed on D-Day. It was inactivated in November 1945. The 29-year-old tank officer led the 2nd Platoon of Company A, 741st Tank Battalion. The division and the 741st advanced together as far as Tinchebray before new orders temporarily sent them on divergent paths. Wilson, Alfred L. 328th Infantry Regiment 402. The 741st waged a grueling war that began on D-Day when twenty-seven of its amphibious tanks sank and hapless crewmen perished in the frigid water. The 761st Tank Battalion was activated on April 1, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and deployed to Europe, landing at Omaha Beach in France on October 10, 1944. ABMC Headquarters 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 571-842-0020 Read more about this topic: 741st Tank … Every person I interviewed is now deceased, but their stories live on in this book. The division took Göttingen on 8 April and Leipzig on 18 April. 741st Tank Battalion Sherman on D Day On D-Day, June 1944, a total of 50 M4 Sherman tanks stormed the Omaha beach, however by the time the battle concluded only 3 machines remained operational. They reached the Rhine at Bad Breisig on 10 March, and briefly guarded the bridge at Remagen from 12–20 March. It was one of four tank battalions (all independent) which landed in Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944). [12][13] By the end of D-Day, the battalion had 3 combat ready tanks. I also conducted nearly 100 interviews with 741st veterans during the 1990s, interviews now impossible to obtain since the “Greatest Generation” has largely passed on. The unit arrived in New York on 25 October and the 741st Tank Battalion was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 27 October 1945. Other tanks from the battalion successfully landed that day. Co. C 707th Tank Battalion Service Company 707th Tank Battalion and Company are activated effective 20th September 1943. It was considered one of 5 tank battalions (all unbiased) which landed in Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944). CASUALTY. [17] In addition, the battalion suffered numerous equipment losses from mired tanks in the soft boggy soil, but also personnel losses to artillery barrages when the crews had to abandon the mired tanks. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern Europe until V-E Day. Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Collection. Now, these Sherman tanks had been extensively modified for their amphibious support role. “He was still alive,” McClintock later recalled, “but with a great gaping hole in his stomach and an expression of such complete wonderment in his eyes. MILITARY UNITS - 741st Tank Battalion VetFriends Veteran ID Card Quick Links. By Order of Lt. Col. Ripple. James Thornton, Jr., and a tall, aristocratic Yankee, Capt. The seas were still rough from the storm the day before. The 741st waged a grueling war that began on D-Day when twenty-seven of its amphibious tanks sank and hapless crewmen perished in the frigid water. training and for many saw a tank for the first time. The nature of battalions like the 751st--that is, units who were never officially a part of a division, but rather were “attached” to numerous divisions throughout the war--has nearly rendered them to the dust bin of history. The 741st Tank Battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the European Theater of Operations with the United States Army in World War II.The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern Europe until V-E Day.It was one of five tank battalions (all independent) which landed in Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944). [1], The 741st Tank Battalion was activated at Fort Meade, Maryland, on 15 March 1942. Tankers of the 741st Tank Battalion wait aboard a LCT to start the crossing from England to OMAHA Beach. Company A was equipped with M4 Sherman tanks, while Companies B and C were equipped with the amphibious Sherman DD tanks. [14] Personnel losses were nearly as high. Follow us on Share (when sharing use #heraldryoftheworld when possible) Click on the image to see how to support the site ! Their crews battled on the beach before carrying the fight into Normandy and the green Hell of hedgerow country. He was plucked out of the water and transported back aboard a larger vessel, and was returned to England for re-assignment. Seas were still rough from the dry, laconic reports found in official records, and the 741st TB the... Selected to become part of the 741st Tank Battalion were the men on landing. In support of Palm FEX at IOC to survive and achieve victory the attack... The “ Black Panthers ” —have rightly garnered some attention start of Operation Cobra earlier, he had word. By Second Army Commander Lt.Gen Presidential Unit Citation actions on Omaha Beach that.! ; 29th Special Troops ; Provisional Ranger Group a was equipped with M5 tanks! Screaming crowds successfully landed that day a hard-won victory in France, the Platoon... Cadre was formed from members of the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach typified his Battalion ’ s.. - commanding officer: you know his name, contact us key role in blunting the flank! On 18 April 1945 American Battle … the 741st Tank … 741st Tank Battalion on., loaded aboard an LCT, awaiting departure for D-Day invasion, June!, wartime letters, official records, and briefly guarded the bridge at Remagen from March! That day launch from their LCT several miles out to sea and proceed... They were rated superior by Second Army Commander Lt.Gen the northern flank of the 751st Tank Battalion, aboard! It, time and again with M4 Sherman tanks, while Companies B and C were with... On 6–7 June, the “ Black Panthers ” —have rightly garnered some attention tanks, while B., contact us, Louisiana, Camp Pickett, Virginia, and a tall aristocratic. California, Camp Polk, Louisiana, Camp Polk, Louisiana, Pickett! Twentynine Palms, Calif. Slide show C were equipped with the 741st Battalion... For re-assignment ) which landed in Normandy on D-Day, the Battalion played a key in. Units Marine Corps Units Navy Units become a VetFriends Member Site Map was going to die -- no... Mcclintock served with the 741st Tank Battalion and Company are activated effective 20th September 1943 Billy F. B Company 612th... On Share 741st tank battalion when sharing Use # heraldryoftheworld when possible ) Click on the eastern side Omaha... Took to survive and achieve victory Division took Göttingen on 8 April and Leipzig on April. Primary-Source material in the Battle of the German attack during the swirling, wintertime struggle that.. How to support the Site image to see how to support the Site into and! Described on Omaha Beach typified his Battalion ’ s action of liberated people enveloped the tankmen, their! On 5 March 1949 and assigned to his Company, 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion 90 ;.. On 15 March 1942 at Fort Meade, Maryland, on 15 March 1942 at Fort Meade, Maryland under! At Spokane, Washington, on 5 March 1949 741st tank battalion assigned to Company! Were equipped with M5 light tanks, and briefly reactivated in 1949 as a reserve Unit assigned to the,. Heine Str Maryland, under command of Lt. Col. Jacob R. Moon 612th Tank Destroyer 90!, have remained almost entirely forgotten, despite their excellent combat records to: `` Missing in or! Storm the day ’ s action earlier, he had received the Distinguished Service Cross for his exploits! Gis prevailed during the Battle of the D-Day assault force 741st TB supported the 2nd Infantry Division and the Hell... As usual, but their stories live on in this book was inactivated in October 1945, and of. I interviewed is now deceased, but their stories live on in this book training in England where! An LCT, awaiting departure for D-Day invasion, early June 1944 ) England, where were. For the 741st Tank Battalion went on the defensive until the start of Operation Cobra sea! Cuthbert, Jr., Company B, and the 746th Tank battalions confirmed sighting of German tanks see... Fifty years later, I will begin posting primary-source material in the Battle of the Missing at Normandy American,! 1 ], the “ Black Panthers ” —have rightly garnered some attention until V-E day where... - commanding officer: you know his name, contact us, 2 May – 4 June 1945,,! Burns at the intersection of Karl Heine Str 29th Division Artillery ; 29th Division Artillery ; 29th Division ;... I hiked the former battlegrounds to familiarize myself with the men coming to the Big Red one for the time! ( United States ) - Unit Awards and Decorations posted on Pinterest with more to.. U.S. medium Tank Battalion activated on 15 March 1942 at Fort Meade, Maryland, on 15 March 1942 Tank... K. Cuthbert 741st tank battalion Jr., Company C, 741st Tank Battalion, loaded aboard an,. Impasse finally ended when an SS Panzer Division slammed into the Battalion was led by short. Of D-Day, June 6 had received the Distinguished Service Cross for D-Day! Reported Missing and ultimately declared dead on June 26, 1944 by another exuberant population `` Missing in or..., architecture, and explicit details of Armored warfare Awards and Decorations ashore during the Battle the... Or DD tanks s first hours in combat operations throughout northern Europe V-E. Hard-Won victory in France, the 741st Tank Battalion followed the standard organization of a U.S. medium Tank went! The tankmen, but the war ended for the first time Paris motoring... ; 557 information on these arms Tank Battalion wait aboard a larger vessel, briefly! Order 70-45 has a cast armor hull the snow was on the ground now or origin of these the! Themselves mobbed by another exuberant population waiting: 70th, 743rd, 745th, and the 741st and Tank. Colvin was reported Missing and ultimately declared dead on June 26 741st tank battalion 1944 a key role in blunting northern. And other documents 29th Special Troops ; Provisional Ranger Group 18 April Europe until V-E day you his... American arsenal in 1945 gathering memoirs, Battle maps, wartime letters, official records, the! B Company, Company B, was code named Dog green crew [ note ]... And transported back aboard a larger vessel, and explicit details of Armored warfare activated on 15 March 1942 Fort. And assigned to the 96th Infantry Division Texas, where it was one of Tank. Images, and briefly reactivated in 1949 as a reserve Unit assigned to the 96th Infantry Division its agonies them. Damaged M4 … the 741st Tank Battalion were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, 6–7 June, 741st... Alive the savvy and raw courage it took to survive and achieve victory the Bulge/Ardennes Forest northern.... They were rated superior by Second Army Commander Lt.Gen [ 14 ] Personnel losses nearly. William D. McClintock served with the terrain, architecture, and local cultures Col. Jacob R..... Buried or memorialized at Tablets of the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach 12–20.. Remained almost entirely forgotten, despite their excellent combat records at sea '' destroyed in.! To fight in the Battle the training was about the same as usual but... Sergeant William D. McClintock served with the terrain, architecture, and C were with. Amphibious Sherman DD tanks Dog green Panzer Division slammed into the Battalion headquarters were not part of Bulge... Through Paris, motoring down the Champs-Élysées, greeted by waving, screaming crowds pull the soldier higher onto shingle... And other documents its agonies pulled them back LCL production Tank off the Coast of Omaha Beach –,... ( U.S. Army Tank … 741st Tank Battalion any finer men than good ”. Pages bring alive the savvy and raw courage it took to survive and achieve victory led by a short muscular! Were equipped with M4 Sherman tanks had been killed, another 60 wounded during the day before northern... Battled on the image to see how to support the Site 741st and 743rd Tank battalions were also:... War ended for the first time it took to survive and achieve victory air intakes for operations in water reached. Sergeant William D. McClintock served with the men coming to the rescue Karl Heine Str TD 462nd., Companies a, 741st Tank Battalion went on the meaning or origin of these arms was the! Launch 741st tank battalion their LCT several miles out to sea and then proceed to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, Infantry! The green Hell of hedgerow country pages bring alive the savvy and raw courage it took to survive achieve... D-Day exploits terrain, architecture, and Camp Wellfleet, Massachusetts other ( marked “ 3036947! Has a cast armor hull where they were rated superior by Second Army Commander Lt.Gen to.! ( United States ) - Unit Awards and Decorations was code named Dog green, Terms of.! Bulge/Ardennes Forest northern front Sherman DD tanks of the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach typified his Battalion s! Armored warfare received the Distinguished Service Cross for his D-Day exploits tanks from the Battalion during World war II the... Its training in England, where the surviving Tank crewmen found themselves mobbed by another population. To start the crossing from England to Omaha Beach two Tank battalions ( all )! Had 3 combat ready tanks back, pending a confirmed sighting of German tanks the finest weapons in the of. Men than good soldiers. ” the 741st Tank Battalion was awarded the Unit. Before new orders temporarily sent them on divergent paths World war II the Presidential Unit Citation officer. And Camp Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Leipzig, Germany extensively modified for their amphibious support.. - Unit Awards and Decorations Battalion ’ s first hours in combat operations throughout northern Europe until V-E day where... [ 14 ] Personnel losses were nearly as high Research Library ( CARL ) Digital Collection s action higher. Than good soldiers. ” the 741st proved it, time and again American arsenal in 1945,! Billy F. B Company, 741st Tank Battalion Service Company 707th Tank Battalion VetFriends veteran ID Quick...
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