743rd Tank Battalion
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The 743rd Tank Battalion was a US Army independent tank battalion in the
European theater The European theatre of World War II was one of the two main Theater (warfare), theatres of combat during World War II, taking place from September 1939 to May 1945. The Allies of World War II, Allied powers (including the United Kingdom, the ...
during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. It was one of five tank battalions (all independent) which took part in the initial landings of the
Invasion of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 ( D-Day) with the ...
(6 June 1944). The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern Europe until the end of the war in Europe. It was inactivated on 27 November 1945.


History


Activation and deployment

The 743rd Tank Battalion was activated at Fort Lewis, Washington on 16 May 1942 as the 743rd Tank Battalion (Light), drawing its initial cadre from personnel transferred from the 757th Tank Battalion. It was redesignated as the 743rd Tank Battalion (Medium) in October 1942. The battalion was equipped with medium tanks and trained the next year at Camp Young, California and Camp Laguna, Arizona.Robinson, pp.13–15 The 743rd embarked in New York on 17 November 1943 aboard the ''Aquitania'' and arrived at Monrock, Scotland on 25 November 1943.Robinson, pp.15–16741st Tk Bn Unit Journal Soon after its arrival in Great Britain, it was reorganized in a new table of organization: Companies A, B, and C organized as medium tank companies with the M4 Shermans. Company D was subsequently formed as the light tank company of the unit with a cadre from the medium tank companies and the 10th Tank Company,The 10th Tank Company was itself formed from Company C of the 70th Tank Battalion in February 1942.Jensen, p.10 and was redesignated the 743rd Tank Battalion on 2 December 1943.Robinson, p.16


Battle of Normandy

The battalion was selected to be one of the three tank assault battalions that would land with the first wave on D-Day. Companies B and C were given amphibious dual drive (DD) variant of the Sherman tank (16 in each) and began their special training in December 1943.Robinson, p.16 The battalion loaded into their assault craft on 2–3 June 1944 for the invasion landings. In the early hours of 6 June, the three medium tank companies, the headquarters tank section, and the assault gun platoon launched in their LCTs. However, given the rough seas, the battalion commander decided not to launch the DD tanks into the water to "swim" ashore and all were landed on to the shore from the LCTs.Robinson, p.19"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion June–September 1944", Companies A, B, and C journals, June 1944. The tanks supported the 116th Infantry Combat Team of the 29th Infantry Division assault of
Omaha Beach Omaha Beach was one of five beach landing sectors of the amphibious assault component of Operation Overlord during the Second World War. On June 6, 1944, the Allies of World War II, Allies invaded German military administration in occupied Fra ...
from Dog Green to Easy Green sectors. The first tanks, from Company C, arrived on the beach at H-6: 4 minutes late, but ahead of the infantry assault forces. Landing opposite the Vierville defences, Company B lost all its officers bar one and half its DD tanks; the other companies landing to the east fared better. Enduring losses from enemy fire, artillery, mines, and even the rough surf, the tanks finally moved off the beach to the vicinity of
Vierville-sur-Mer Vierville-sur-Mer (, literally ''Vierville on Sea'') is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy region in northwestern France. History World War II On 6 June 1944 (D-Day), the U.S. Army's 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infan ...
at about 2230.Robinson, p.19 Nine of the battalion's thirteen Distinguished Service Crosses awarded during World War II were awarded for actions on Omaha Beach on 6 June 1944.Robinson, p.27"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion June–September 1944", June 1944 As an independent unit, the battalion was used to support other formations; by 14 June, some or all of the battalion had been attached to the 29th Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Division, 30th Infantry Division, 3rd Armored Division, and had also provided support to the 5th Ranger Battalion.Robinson, pp.34–47 On 14 June the 743rd Tank Battalion was attached to the 30th Infantry Division, with whom they would remain for the remainder of the war in Europe, and supported the crossing of the
Vire River The Vire () is a river in Normandy, France whose course crosses the ''departments of France, départements'' of Calvados (department), Calvados and Manche, flowing through the towns of Vire, Saint-Lô and Isigny-sur-Mer, finally flowing out into ...
on 7 July 1944. On 24–25 July, located forward with the assault forces of the 30th Infantry Division near St. Lô, the battalion was among those hit when Allied aircraft dropped their bombs short of the intended targets. Although casualties were light inside their armored vehicles, the accompanying infantry suffered much heavier losses.Robinson, pp.61–65"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion June–September 1944", July 1944 Having begun the assault that created the breakout from Normandy, the battalion's pace quickened and, on 19–20 August, road marched 123 miles in 18 hours. By 3 September they had reached Belgium, on 12 September had crossed into The Netherlands and within another week were across the German border."S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion June–September 1944", August 1944, September 1944


Siegfried Line and Battle of the Bulge

Taking a brief respite from the dash across France and Belgium to refit and take on fuel, in October 1944 the battalion was again engaged in bitter fighting on the
Siegfried Line The Siegfried Line, known in German as the ''Westwall (= western bulwark)'', was a German defensive line built during the late 1930s. Started in 1936, opposite the French Maginot Line, it stretched more than from Kleve on the border with the ...
to the north of
Aachen Aachen is the List of cities in North Rhine-Westphalia by population, 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, 27th-largest city of Germany, with around 261,000 inhabitants. Aachen is locat ...
, Germany. Fighting continued until the end of November when offensive operations were halted in preparation for a new assault to cross the Roer River.Robinson, pp.96–115"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion October–December 1944", October 1944, November 1944 As the battalion caught its breath and recovered from the fighting, the offensive preparations were halted when the Germans counterattacked in the Ardennes on 16 December 1944. On 18 December, the 743rd Tank Battalion withdrew into Belgium to the vicinity of
Malmedy Malmedy (; , historically also ; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. On January 1, 2018, Malmedy had a total population of 12,654. The total area is 99.96 km2 which gives a population dens ...
, where they continued to support the 30th Infantry Division, which had also been reoriented to repel the attack. The battalion was primarily engaged by elements of the elite 1st SS Panzer Division and in a very confused tactical situation fought a series of hotly contested engagements around Malmedy,
Stavelot Stavelot (; ; ) is a town and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Francorchamps and Stavelot. It is best known as the home of Spa-Francorchamps Circuit a ...
, La Gleize, and Stoumont.Robinson, pp.124–130"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion October – December 1944", December 1944 Although the situation had stabilized by Christmas, the battalion remained in contact but did not go back on the offensive with the 30th Division until 13 January 1945.Robinson, pp.131–133


Advance into Germany

The battalion went into 30th Infantry Division reserve from 28 January to 3 February, at which time they road marched back into Germany, passing through Aachen and bivouacking near Röhe. Waiting for the floodwaters of the Roer River to recede, the battalion assaulted across the river on 23 February.Robinson, pp.144–149"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion January – May 1945", January 1945, February 1945. On 6 March, the battalion was withdrawn from the line in preparation for crossing the lower Rhine River. Company C of the 736th Tank Battalion, equipped with DD tanks, was attached to the 743rd, and led the assault across the Rhine on 24 March, with all 17 DD tanks reaching the east bank of the river. Companies A and C of the 743rd followed on Bailey rafts, with the remainder of the battalion following across a pontoon bridge the next day.Robinson, pp.153–155"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion January – May 1945", March 1945. The Germans put up a spirited defense near the crossing, but resistance crumbled by 29 March, and the 743rd began the race across Germany, largely following spearhead advances by the 2nd Armored Division.Robinson, pp.156–162 On 13 April 1945, the battalion liberated 2,141 concentration camp prisoners"Manifest List-Names of those Liberated at Farsleben Germany, April 13th, 1945"
Derived from files at Gedenkstätte Bergen-Belsen
from a train abandoned outside the small town of
Farsleben Farsleben is a village and a former municipality in the Börde district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to th ...
on the Magdeburg-Wittenberge rail line, about north of
Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...
. The train had originated at
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp Bergen-Belsen (), or Belsen, was a Nazi concentration camp in what is today Lower Saxony in Northern Germany, northern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen, Lower Saxony, Bergen near Celle. Originally established as a prisoner of war camp, ...
and had been intended to bring the prisoners further into Germany where they could be exterminated before the advancing armies could catch up to them."S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion January – May 1945", April 1945. However, the train was overrun by the 743rd Tank Battalion. One M5 light tank, manned by Sgt. (later Lieut.) George C. Gross, its crew and eight accompanying infantrymen provided security for the train and its liberated prisoners while the unit scrounged up provisions for them. With the assistance of the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion and other American units, food and lodging for the refugees were obtained from the surrounding German villages.Robinson, pp.162–163


Post war

Also on 13 April, the battalion reached the Elbe River, their "no advance" line. The battalion participated in one last battle as they supported the 30th Infantry Division in assaulting Magdeburg on 17–18 April. In this battle, the battalion suffered its final casualties of the war.Robinson, pp.163–167 The battalion immediately went into occupation duties, establishing an occupation government over 15 communities to the west of Magdeburg. The battalion was relieved at Magdeburg by British forces on V-E Day, 8 May 1945, and moved to
Quedlinburg Quedlinburg () is a town situated just north of the Harz mountains, in the Harz (district), district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. As an influential and prosperous trading centre during the early Middle Ages, Quedlinburg becam ...
to take up occupation duties there. Again relieved by the British at the end of May, the battalion again moved south to Mehltheuer and continued its military occupation duties.741st Tk Bn Unit JournalRobinson, pp.167–170"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion January–May 1945", May 1945. The battalion returned to the United States, landing at Boston on 26 November 1945.741st Tk Bn Unit Journal The 743rd Tank Battalion was inactivated at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, on 27 November 1945.741st Tk Bn Unit Journal


Unit awards and decorations

* Presidential Unit Citation, 6 June 1944, War Department General Order 85-44.DA Pam 672-1, p.363 *French
Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
: 6 June 1944, Department of the Army General Order 43–50, Attached to 29th Infantry Division.DA Pam 672-1, p.363 *French Croix de Guerre: 6 June 1944, Department of the Army General Order 43–50.DA Pam 672-1, p.363 *French Croix de Guerre: 15 June 1944, Department of the Army General Order 14–50, attached to 30th Infantry Division.DA Pam 672-1, p.363, Chg. 2, p.1 *Belgian Fourragère: 4–10 September 1944 and 17–25 January 1945, Department of the Army General Order 43–50 *Service Company –
Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC; pronounced ''muck'') is a mid-level unit award of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Army awards units the Army MUC for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding achievement or ...
: 1 February − 1 April 1944, General Order 100, 30th Infantry Division, 10 May 1945.DA Pam 672-1, p.363 *Headquarters and Headquarters Company – Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 May – 30 June 1944, General Order 129, 30th Infantry Division, 23 May 1945.DA Pam 672-1, p.363


Notes

;Footnotes


References


Bibliography


"1945 Manifest List-Names of those Liberated at Farsleben Germany, April 13th, 1945"
Derived from files at Gedenkstätte Bergen-Belsen * Cole, Hugh M. ''The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge''. Washington, DC: U.S. Army Center of Military History, 1993. * via Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Collection. *
"Unit Journal 741st Tank Battalion".
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"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion June – September 1944"
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"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion October – December 1944"
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"S-3 Journal 743rd Tank Battalion January–May 1945"
* Harrison, Gordon A. ''Cross Channel Attack''. Washington, DC: U.S. Army Center of Military History, 1993. * Headquarters, Department of the Army. DA Pam 672-1 ''Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register''. Washington, DC: U.S. Army, July 1961. https://web.archive.org/web/20090811141647/http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p672_1.pdf * Jensen, Marvin. ''Strike Swiftly! The 70th Tank Battalion from North Africa to Normandy to Germany''. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1997. * Robinson, Wayne. ''Move Out Verify: The Combat Story of the 743rd Tank Battalion''. Frankfurt (Main), Germany: 1945. * Sawicki, James A. ''Tank Battalions of the U.S. Army''. Dumfries, VA: Wyvern Press, 1983. * U.S. Army Center of Military History

. * Williams, Mary H. (ed.). ''Chronology 1941–1945''. Washington, DC: U.S. Army Center of Military History: 1989 * Yeide, Harry. ''Steel Victory''. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 2003. {{ISBN, 0891417826 * Robinson, Wayne. "Hell Has No Heroes" (Original Title: "Barbara"), Warner Paperback Library, 1972 (first published 1961) Armor battalions of the United States Army Tank battalions of the United States Army Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Battalions of the United States Army in World War II 1942 establishments in the United States