![]() All plans and orders in connection with this operation and loading were kept in a locked room under guard to which only officers classified for the purpose had access. A signal detachment with a comparable number of radios to those of the 2nd Armored Division was installed prior to the loading dates and took over all radio traffic of the division so as to present unchanged radio activity. This rearrangement of the camp was accomplished under cover of darkness and concurrently with the departure of troops being loaded. The vacated bivouac sites were taken over by personnel remaining behind and in construction of dummy tents and other installations, so as to present a picture of an unchanged bivouac. Necessary mass personnel, ships guard, billeting parties, advance CPs, etc, were brought to the ships’ side in small groups so as not to attract attention to loading being conducted. ![]() ![]() All loading of personnel, except for small details, was accomplished at night. These guns were included in the AAA Artillery protection of the ship and were fired under the supervision of and at the direction of Naval gunnery officers on board. To overcome this, organic weapons of the division were loaded on decks with favorable locations to completely cover respective ships. Inspection of ships and craft indicated generally insufficient AAA protection. training equipment was prepared for shipment, vehicles were waterproofed, ships and craft loaded in accordance with the mounting schedule prescribed by the 7-A. This exercise had considerable benefit to those who participated but due to the relatively small scale of the operation it was of limited value to the division as a whole. This excluded troops of vehicles on the two troop ships, the seven Liberty type store ships, twelve LCIs and fire LCTs. Due to the lack of shipping, only approximately 80% of the assault units and about 75% of the armored vehicles could participate. Secrecy as to hour and place of landing was maintained until the convoy put out to sea. Elaborate preparations were made along the selected beach, such as wire, obstacles, enemy in position with flares, ammunition, etc. A practice landing was conducted on June 17 to June 19 which was intended to be a full-scale rehearsal. Little attention was paid to this practice loading by Naval officers except by very junior officers, and no comments were made concerning the weight limitation of the LSTs.Ĭ. The final solution of unloading LST’s was to use LCT’s with sides out and transhipping the vehicles, an unsatisfactory solution at the best, slow and laborious in a calm sea and a most difficult task in the dark or with a sea running. Considerable lost of time resulted while various types of equipment for unloading LST’s were tried out under the direction of the Navy and FAITC. ![]() Difficulties were experienced with the unloading of the LST’s and LCTts since the draft of these vessels was not suited to the gradient of the beaches in the vicinity of Arzew. Amphibious training utilizing the facilities of the FAITC included instruction and practical work in waterproofing vehicles, loading various types of craft and ships, and landing exercises. All guns were test-fired, and tactical exercises using ball ammunition were conducted. During the period of May 16 to June 19, intensive physical hardening training was conducted which included violent exercises, calisthenics obstacle courses, rope climbing, forced road marches, etc. This movement was made without incident except for that shortage of rail equipment, the interruption of rail service for two days by flash flood near Meknes, Morocco, and heavy traffic both rail and road delayed the concentration. ![]() Car crews and necessary command groups moved with their respective commands by rail or road. Track vehicles, except lightly loaded H/T, moved by rail from Port Lyautey, and all other vehicles moved overland. An average train density of 2 500-ton trains daily was allotted to the division for the move. Pursuant to orders CG, IAC, the 2-AD moved from Rabat, French Morocco to the vicinity of FAITC (Fifth Army Invasion Training Center) located in Oran, Algeria (Port aux Poules), by rail and motor beginning April 22 and closing May 22. Document Source: Historical Record, Operations of the US 2nd Armored Division, Kool Force, Operation Husky, Sicily, World War TwoĬoncentration, April 22 to July 22, 1943. ![]()
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