Operation Husky order of battle

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Operation Husky order of battle is a listing of the significant military and air force units that were involved in the campaign for Sicily, July 10 – August 17, 1943.

Allied forces[]

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

Allied 15th Army Group[]

The Allied 15th Army Group was under the command of General Sir Harold Alexander.[1]

U.S. Seventh Army[]

Waiting to load Tanks in La Pècherie French base in French Tunisia.
American and British troops landing near Gela, Sicily, July 10, 1943.

The U.S. Seventh Army was commanded by Lieutenant General George S. Patton.

U.S. II Corps[]

The U.S. II Corps was commanded by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley.

U.S. Provisional Corps[]

(Headquarters activated on 15 July 1943)[2] Commanded by Major General Geoffrey Keyes.

British Eighth Army[]

The British Eighth Army was under the command of General Sir Bernard Montgomery. The British 46th Infantry Division formed a floating reserve, but it did not participate in the Sicily campaign.

Army Troops

  • 2nd Special Air Service
  • No. 3 (Army) Commando
  • No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando
  • No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando
  • Three companies of 2nd/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
  • 2nd/4th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
  • 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
  • 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment
  • 7th Battalion, Royal Marines
British XIII Corps[]

The XIII Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey.

  • 105th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 6th Army Group Royal Artillery
  • XIII Corps Troops Royal Engineers[3]
      • 56th Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 576th Corps Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
      • 577th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 578th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  • 5th Infantry Division[4]
    Commanded by Major-General Horatio Berney-Ficklin (succeeded by Major-General Gerard Bucknall on 3 August[5]).
    • 13th Infantry Brigade
    • 15th Infantry Brigade
    • 17th Infantry Brigade
    • 91st (4th London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 92nd (5th London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 156th (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 52nd (6th London) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 18th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 5th Reconnaissance Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps
    • 7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (machine gun battalion)
    • 5th Divisional Engineers
      • 38th Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 245th Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 252nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 245th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  • 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division[6]
    Commanded by Major-General Sidney Kirkman.
    • 69th Infantry Brigade
      • 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
      • 6th Battalion, Green Howards
      • 7th Battalion, Green Howards
    • 151st Infantry Brigade
    • 168th (2nd London) Brigade
    • 74th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 90th (City of London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 124th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (machine gun battalion)
  • 50th Divisional Engineers
      • 233rd (Northumbrian) Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 501st (London) Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 505th Field Company, Royal Engineers
      • 235th (Northumbrian) Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  • British 78th Infantry Division[7]
    Commanded by Major-General Vyvyan Evelegh.
  • 1st Airborne Division
    Commanded by Major-General George F. Hopkinson. This unit did not participate as a division.
    • 1st Airlanding Brigade[8]
    • 1st Parachute Brigade[9]
      • 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
      • 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
      • 16th (Parachute) Field Ambulance
      • 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery
      • 1st (Airborne) Divisional Provost, Corps of Military Police
  • British 4th Armoured Brigade[10]
British XXX Corps[]

The XXX Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese.

  • 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 57th (Home Counties) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 58th (Sussex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 78th (Lowland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 64th (London) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 70th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Honourable Artillery Company)
    • 142nd (Royal Devon Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 1st Canadian Infantry Division[11]
    Commanded by Major-General Guy Simonds.
  • 1st Canadian Tank Brigade[11]
  • British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division[12]
    Commanded by Major-General Douglas Wimberley.
    • 152nd Infantry Brigade
    • 153rd Infantry Brigade
      • 5th Battalion, Black Watch
      • 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
      • 5/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
    • 154th Infantry Brigade
      • 1st Battalion, Black Watch
      • 7th Battalion, Black Watch
      • 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
    • 126th (Highland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 127th (Highland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 128th (Highland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 61st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 40th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 1st/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (machine gun battalion)
    • 7th Battalion, Royal Marines (under command 19 to 29 July)
    • 274th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    • 275th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    • 276th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    • 239th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  • 23rd Armoured Brigade[13]
    HQ 23rd Armoured Brigade HQ fought as Arrow Force in mid-July with 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (from 152nd Brigade) under command together with elements of 50th RTR and 11th (HAC) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery as well as an Anti-Tank battery and a machine gun company.[12]
  • British 231st Infantry Brigade[14]
    • 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
    • 165th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 300th Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery
    • 352nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
    • 295th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    • 200th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps

Allied Mediterranean Naval Command[]

The Naval forces were under the command of Admiral of the Fleet Sir. A Cunningham and was divided into several Task Forces.[1]

Covering Force[]

The role of the covering force was to prevent the Italian Navy from attacking the invasion forces.

Eastern Naval Task Force[]

Eastern Naval task Force transported the Eastern Task Force (8th British Army) and provided Naval gunfire support.[1]

Western Naval Task Force[]

The Western Naval Task Force transported the Western Task Force (7th U.S. Army) and provided Naval gunfire support.[1][15]

  • 8th U.S. Amphibious Force
    Command by Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt.
    • 80.2 Escort Group
    • Shark Force
      • Dime Force, Task Force 81, commanded by Rear Admiral John L. Hall Jr., USN
        The Dime Task Force landed the U. S. Army First Division (reinforced) and attached units near Gela, Sicily.
      • Cent Force, Task Force 85, commanded by Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN
        The Cent Task Force landed the U. S. Army Forty-fifth Division (reinforced) and attached units near Scoglitti, Sicily.
    • Joss Force, Task Force 86, commanded by Rear Admiral Richard L. Conolly, USN[16]
      The Joss Task Force landed the U. S. Third Division (reinforces) and attached units near Licata, Sicily.
      • Task Force Organization
        • 86.1 Cover and Support Group, Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose, USN
          • Cruiser Division 13
          • Destroyer Squadron 13
          • Nine LCG(L) British
          • Eight LCF(L) British
        • 86.2 Landing Craft Group, Commander L. S. Sabin, USN
          • LST Groups Two
          • LST Groups Three
          • LST Group Six
          • LST Division Seven (less LSTs 4 and 38)
          • LCI Flotilla Two
          • LCI Flotilla Four
          • LCT Group Thirty one
            Less LCTs 80, 207, 208, 214
            Plus LCTs 276, 305 311, 332
          • LCT 12 British LCTs
          • HMS Princess Astrid
          • HMS Prince Leopoid
        • 86.3 Escort Group, Commander Block, USNR
        • 86.4 Joss Assault Force, Major General Truscott, USA
          • U. S. Army Third Division (reinforces) and attached units
        • 86.5 Train
        • 86.6 Force Flagship
          • USS Biscayne (AVP-11)
        • 86.9 Joint Loading Control, Captain Zimmerli, USN
    • Kool Force (Floating Reserve)

Allied Air Forces[]

At the time of Operation Husky, the Allied air forces in the were organized as the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder of the Royal Air Force. The major subdivisions of the MAC included the Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF) under the command of Lt. General Carl Spaatz of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the American 12th Air Force (also commanded by Gen. Spaatz), the American 9th Air Force under the command of Lt. General Lewis H. Brereton, and units of the British Royal Air Force (RAF).

Also supporting the NAAF were the RAF Middle East Command, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF Gibraltar, and the No. 216 (Transfer and Ferry) Group, which were subdivisions of MAC under the command of Tedder. He reported to the Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower for the NAAF operations, but to the British Chiefs of Staff for RAF Command operations. Air Headquarters Malta, under the command of Air Vice-Marshal Sir Keith Park, also supported Operation Husky.

The "Desert Air Task Force" consisting of American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers (the 12th and 340th Bombardment Groups) and P-40 Warhawk fighter planes (the 57th, 79th, and 324th Fighter Groups) from the 9th Air Force served under the command of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force. These bomber and fighter groups moved to new airfields on Sicily as soon as a significant beachhead had been captured there.

In the MAC organization established at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, the 9th Air Force was assigned as a subdivision of the RAF Middle East Command under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas.[17][18][19][20]

Mediterranean Air Command (Allied)[]

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder had his headquarters in Algiers, Algeria.[21]

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

Lt. General Carl Spaatz had his headquarters for the Northwest African Air Forces in Maison-Carrée, Algeria[21]

Northwest African Strategic Air Force[]

Maj. General James H. Doolittle, in command of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force, had his headquarters in Constantine, Algeria[21]

  • 5th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)
Northwest African Coastal Air Force[]

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd also had his headquarters in Algiers.[21]

See also: Northwest African Coastal Air Force
Source[23][24]
British Units American Units
RAF Units
  • No. 13 Squadron, Blenheim bombers
  • No. 614 Squadron, Blenheims
  • No. 36 Squadron, Wellington medium bombers
  • No. 253 Squadron, Hurricane fighter planes
  • No. 274 Squadron, Hurricanes
  • No. 313 Squadron, Hurricanes
  • No. 500 Squadron, Hudson light bombers
  • No. 608 Squadron, Hudsons
  • , Halifax and Ventura bombers
 52nd Fighter Group
Lt. Colonel James Coward
  • 2nd Squadron, Spitfires
  • 4th Squadron, Spitfires
  • 5th Squadron, Spitfires
  • 414th Night Fighter Squadron, Bristol Beaufighters
  • 415th Night Fighter Squadron, Beaufighters
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Units
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance 		81st Fighter Group
Lt. Colonel Michael Gordon

Oran, Algeria Sector:
92nd Squadron, P-39 Airacobra fighter planes
1st Air Defense Wing:
91st Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
93rd Squadron, P-39 Airacobras

Bone, Algeria Sector:
  • No. 32 Squadron, Hawker Hurricanes
  • No. 87 Squadron, Hurricanes
  • No. 219 Squadron, Beaufighters
 350th Fighter Group
Lt. Colonel Marvin McNickle
  • 345th Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
  • 346th Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
  • 347th Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
2nd Air Defense Wing:

No. 153 Squadron, Beaufighters

480th Antisubmarine Group
Colonel Jack Roberts
  • 1st Squadron, B-24 Liberator patrol planes
  • 2nd Squadron, B-24 Liberators

Notes:

  1. The 1st and 2nd Antisubmarine Squadrons were assigned to NACAF for administration and placed under the operational control of the U.S. Navy Fleet Air Wing 15 of the Moroccan Sea Frontier commanded by Rear Admiral (United States) Frank J. Lowry
  2. Air Ministry was asked to provide two additional Wellington patrol squadrons.[clarification needed] Asked? This is supposed to be an accurate historical document. Many things get asked for, but many less get provided.
Northwest African Tactical Air Force[]

Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham had his headquarters in Hammamet, Tunisia[21]

See also: Northwest African Tactical Air Force
  • ;Desert Air Force

Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst

  • ;XII Air Support Command
    Maj. General [25][26]
    • 27th Fighter-Bomber Group (USAAF)
      Lt. Colonel John Stevenson
      • 522nd Squadron, A-36 Mustang ground attack aircraft
      • 523rd Squadron, A-36 Mustangs
      • 524th Squadron, A-36 Mustangs
    • 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (USAAF)
      Major Clinton True
      • 525th Squadron, A-36 Mustangs
      • 526th Squadron, A-36 Mustangs
      • 527th Squadron, A-36 Mustangs
    • 33d Fighter Group (USAAF)
      Colonel William W. Momyer
      • 58th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 59th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 60th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 99th Squadron, P-40, Detached
    • 324th Fighter Group (USAAF)
      Colonel William McNown
      • 314th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 315th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 316th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
    • 31st Fighter Group (USAAF)
      Lt. Colonel Frank Hill
      • 307th Squadron, Spitfires
      • 308th Squadron, Spitfires
      • 309th Squadron, Spitfires
    • 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, P-51A Mustangs
  • ;

Air Commodore Laurence Sinclair[25][26]

    • No. 3 Wing SAAF
      • 12 Squadron SAAF, Boston light bombers
      • 21 Squadron SAAF, Baltimore light bombers
      • 24 Squadron SAAF, Bostons
    • 33d Fighter Group (USAAF)
      Colonel William W. Momyer
      • 58th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 59th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 60th Squadron, P-40 Warhawks
      • 99th Squadron, P-40, Detached
    • 47th Bombardment Group (U.SA.A.F.)
      Colonel Malcolm Green, Jr.
      • 84th Squadron, A-20 Havoc
      • 85th Squadron, A-20 Havocs
      • 86th Squadron, A-20 Havocs
      • 97th Squadron, A-20 Havocs
    • 31st Fighter Group (U.S.A.A.F.)
      Lt. Colonel Frank Hill
      • 307th Squadron, Spitfires
      • 308th Squadron, Spitfires
      • 309th Squadron, Spitfires
    • 12th Bombardment Group (USAAF)
      Colonel Edward Backus
      • 81st Squadron, B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
      • 82nd Squadron, B-25 Mitchells
      • 83rd Squadron, B-25 Mitchells
      • 434th Squadron, B-25 Mitchells
    • 340th Bombardment Group (USAAF)
      Lt. Colonel Adolph Tokaz
    • No. 225 Squadron RAF, Spitfires
    • No. 241 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes

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 later made a part of the 33rd Fighter Group.

Northwest African Troop Carrier Command[]

United States Paul Williams, in Tunisia

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

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

61st Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Willis Mitchell
    • 14th Squadron, C-47s
    • 15th Squadron, C-47s
    • 53rd Squadron, C-47s
    • 59th Squadron, C-47s
 No. 38 Wing

Air Commodore William Primrose

62nd Troop Carrier Group
Lt. Colonel Aubrey Hurren

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

313th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel James Roberts, Jr.

29th Squadron, C-47s
47th Squadron, C-47s
48th Squadron, C-47s
49th Squadron, C-47s

An Albemarle towing a Horsa glider.
64th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel John Cerny

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

314th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Clayton Stiles

32nd Squadron, C-47s
50th Squadron, C-47s
61st Squadron, C-47s
62nd Squadron, C-47s

Information in table taken from:

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

316th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Jerome McCauley

36th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains
44th Squadron, C-47s
45th Squadron, C-47s

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.

To help carry out transport and supply operations for Operation Husky, in mid-1943 the American 315th Troop Carrier Group (34th & 43rd Squadrons) had been flown from England to Tunisia. There it was assigned to the , and along with NATCC, this was a subdivision of the Mediterranean Air Command.

Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing[]

Colonel Elliott Roosevelt had his headquarters at La Marsa, Tunisia

Northwest African Air Service Command[]

Brig. General Delmar had his headquarters in Dunton, Algiers.[21]

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

Brig. General John K. Cannon,
U.S. APO 525[21]

See also: Northwest African Training Command
Air Headquarters Malta[]

Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, the commander of Air Headquarters Malta, had his headquarters in Valletta, Malta[27]

No. 216 (Transport and Ferry) Group[]

Air Commodore Whitney Straight, Headquarters at Heliopolis, Egypt[27]

See also: No. 216 Group RAF
RAF Gibraltar[]

Air Vice Marshal Sturley Simpson had his headquarters in Gibraltar

See also: RAF Gibraltar
Middle East Command[]

Air Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas Headquarters at Cairo, Egypt[21]

See also: RAF Middle East Command
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), Walrus Air-Sea Rescue

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

Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean[]

Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul

See also: Air H.Q. Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean

Group Captain R.C.F. Lister
Group Captain John Grandy
Air Commodore Archibald Wann
Group Captain Max Aitken
No. 46 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighters , Hurricanes , Hurricanes No. 46 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
No. 127 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes and Spitfires No. 33 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes No. 41 Squadron SAAF, Hurricanes No. 74 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 89 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters No. 80 Squadron RAF, Spitfires No. 238 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 213 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes No. 94 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes No. 335 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 274 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes No. 108 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighters No. 336 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 123 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes No. 451 Squadron RAAF, Hurricanes
No. 134 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 237 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 1563 Met. Flight, Gloster Gladiators
, Gladiators

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

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

Major General Lewis H. Brereton had his headquarters in Cairo, Egypt[21]

  • IX Advanced Headquarters in Tripoli, Libya[21]
  • IX Fighter Command Headquarters in Tripoli[21]
  • IX Bomber Command Headquarters at Benghazi, Libya[21]
    • 98th Bombardment Group, B-24D Liberator II
      • 343rd Squadron, Lete Airfield, Libya
      • 344th Squadron, Lete Airfield
      • 345th Squadron, Benina Airfield
      • 415th Squadron, Benina Airfield
    • 376th Bombardment Group, B-24D Liberator II,

Axis Forces[]

Armed Forces Command[]

Commanded by Generale d'Armata Alfredo Guzzoni

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.[28]
    • 215th Panzer Battalion-17 Tiger I tanks
    • 104th Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 115th Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 129th Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 33rd Artillery Regiment
    • 315th Antiaircraft 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.[28]
    • 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"
    • Antiaircraft Regiment "Hermann Göring"
  • 382nd Panzergrenadier Regiment
  • 926th Fortress Battalion

Italian 6th Army[]

The Italian 6th Army was under the command of Generale d'Armata Alfredo Guzzoni.[nb 1]
German Army Liaison Officer: Generalleutnant Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin

Italian XII Corps[]
  • , Generale di Corpo d'Armata Mario Arisio, from 12 July: Generale di Corpo d'Armata Francesco Zingales
    • 26 Mountain Infantry Division Assietta, General Francesco Scotti, from 26 July: General Ottorino Schreiber
      • 29th Infantry Regiment
      • 30th Infantry Regiment
      • 17th "Blackshirts" Legion
      • 25th Artillery Regiment
      • CXXVI Mortar Battalion
      • Engineer Battalion
    • 28 Infantry Division Aosta, General Giacomo Romano
      • 5th Infantry Regiment
      • 6th Infantry Regiment
      • 171st "Blackshirts" Legion
      • 22nd Artillery Regiment
      • XXVIII Mortar Battalion
      • Engineer Battalion
    • 202 Coastal Division, General Gino Ficalbi
      • 124th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 142nd Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 43rd Artillery Group (26x batteries, ad hoc regiment)
    • 207 Coastal Division, General Ottorino Schreiber, later General Augusto De Laurentiis
      • 138th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 139th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 51st Artillery Group (12x batteries, ad hoc regiment)
    • 208 Coastal Division, General Giovanni Marciani
      • 133rd Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 147th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 28th Artillery Group (6x batteries, ad hoc regiment)
    • 136th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • Palermo Harbour Garrison, General Giuseppe Molinero
    • 10th Bersaglieri Regiment
    • 177th Bersaglieri Regiment
    • Corps Artillery
      • 30x batteries
    • 1st Tank Company "Fiat 3000" (Fiat 3000 tanks), static defenses at airfields
    • Mobile Groups, were small battlegroups build up from corps assets for tactical action.[30]
      • Mobile Group "A", initially at Paceco, Lieutenant Colonel Renato Perrone
        • XII Tank Battalion "L" Headquarter
        • 4th Company, CII Tank Battalion "R35" (Renault R35 tanks)
        • 1st Company, CXXXIII Semovente Battalion "47/32" (Semovente 47/32)
        • Coastal Infantry Company (motorized)
        • Artillery Battery (75/27 mod. 06 guns)
        • Anti-aircraft Artillery Section (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
      • Mobile Group "B", initially at Santa Ninfa, Lieutenant Colonel Vito Gaetano Mascio
        • CXXXIII Semovente Battalion "47/32" Headquarter
        • 6th Company, CII Tank Battalion "R35" (Renault R35 tanks)
        • 3rd Company, CXXXIII Semovente Battalion "47/32" (Semovente 47/32)
        • 2x Coastal Infantry Companies (motorized)
        • Bersaglieri Platoon, on motorcycles
        • Artillery Battery (75/27 mod. 06 guns)
        • Anti-aircraft Artillery Section (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
      • Mobile Group "C", initially at Portella Misilbesi, Lieutenant Colonel Osvaldo Mazzei
        • CII Tank Battalion "R35" Headquarter
        • 5th Company, CII Tank Battalion "R35" (Renault R35 tanks)
        • Coastal Infantry Company (motorized)
        • Anti-tank Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns)
Italian XVI Corps[]
  • , Generale di Corpo d'Armata Carlo Rossi
    • 4 Infantry Division Livorno (Initially held as Army Reserve[31])
      Commanded by General Domenico Chirieleison
      • 33rd Infantry Regiment
      • 34th Infantry Regiment[32]
      • 28th Artillery Regiment (with 3x AA batteries, the standard was 2)
      • IV Semoventi Battalion "47/32" (Semovente 47/32)
      • Engineer Battalion
      • Assault Battalion
    • 54 Infantry Division Napoli, General Giulio Cesare Gotti Porcinari
      • 75th Infantry Regiment
      • 76th Infantry Regiment
      • 173rd "Blackshirts" Legion
      • 54th Artillery Regiment
      • Engineer Battalion
    • 206 Coastal Division, General Achille d'Havet
      • 122nd Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 123rd Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 146th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 44th Artillery Group (14 xbatteries, ad hoc regiment)
      • CXXXIII Semovente Battalion "47/32" (Semovente 47/32)
    • 213 Coastal Division, General Carlo Gotti
      • 135th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • Catania Harbour Garrison, General
      • 22nd Artillery Group (12x batteries, ad hoc regiment)
    • XVIII Coastal Brigade, General Orazio Mariscalco
      • 134th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 178th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 9x artillery batteries
    • XIX Coastal Brigade, General Giovanni Bocchetti
      • 140th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 179th Coastal Infantry Regiment
      • 4x artillery batteries
    • Corps Artillery
      • 19x batteries
    • Mobile Groups, were small battlegroups build up from corps assets for tactical action.
      • Mobile Group "D", initially at Misterbianco, Lieutenant Colonel Massimino D'Andretta
        • CI Tank Battalion "R35" Headquarter
        • 3rd Company, CI Tank Battalion "R35" (Renault R35 tanks)
        • Infantry Company
        • Machine Gun Company, on motorcycles
        • Anti-tank Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns)
        • Artillery Battery (75/18 mod. 34 howitzers)
        • Anti-aircraft Artillery Section (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
      • Mobile Group "E", initially at Niscemi, Captain Giuseppe Granieri
        • 1st Company, CI Tank Battalion "R35" (Renault R35 tanks)
        • Coastal Infantry Company
        • Machine Gun Company, on motorcycles
        • Anti-tank Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns)
        • Artillery Battery (75/18 mod. 34 howitzers)
        • Anti-aircraft Artillery Section (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
      • Mobile Group "F", initially at Rosolini
        • 2nd Company, CI Tank Battalion "R35" (Renault R35 tanks), minus 1x platoon
        • Coastal Infantry Company
        • Machine Gun Company, on motorcycles
        • Anti-tank Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns)
        • Artillery Battery (75/27 mod. 06 guns)
      • Mobile Group "G", initially at Comiso
        • Blackshirt Battalion Headquarter
        • 1x platoon from the 2nd Company, CI Tank Battalion "R35"
        • Anti-tank Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns)
        • Artillery Battery (75/18 mod. 34 howitzers)
      • Mobile Group "H", initially at Caltagirone, Lieutenant Colonel Luigi Cixi
        • 131st Tank Infantry Regiment Headquarter
        • 2nd Tank Company "Fiat 3000" (Fiat 3000 tanks)
        • Anti-tank Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns)
        • Artillery Battery (75/18 mod. 34 howitzers)
        • Mortar Platoon (81/14 mod. 35 mortars)
Navy garrison[]

The major harbors garrisons were under command of the Italian Navy. Hence, they were not part of the Italian 6th Army, but under the command of General Guzzoni, who was also the Chief of Joint Command.

  • Augusta-Siracusa Harbours, Rear Admiral Priamo Leonardi
    • 121st Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • Navy Battalion
    • Air Force Battalion
    • 24x artillery batteries (coastal and AA batteries included)
  • Trapani Harbour, Rear Admiral Giuseppe Manfredi
    • 137th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 12x artillery batteries (coastal and AA batteries included)
  • Messina-Reggio Calabria Harbours, Admiral
    • 116th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • 119th Coastal Infantry Regiment
    • Blackshirt Legion
    • Cavalry Battalion (on foot)
    • 55x artillery batteries (coastal and AA batteries included)
XIV Panzer Corps[]

Activated 18 July[33] 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., General der Panzertruppe Hans-Valentin Hube.

  • German 1st Parachute Division, Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich. The 1st Parachute Regiment was held in reserve at Naples. Commenced arrival by air on 12 July[34]
    • 3rd Parachute Regiment
    • 4th Parachute Regiment
    • 1st Parachute Machine-Gun Battalion
    • I/1st Parachute Field Artillery Regiment
    • 1st Parachute Pioneer Battalion
  • German 29th Panzergrenadier Division, Generalmajor Walter Fries. Commenced arrival in Sicily 18 July[35]
    • 129th Panzer Battalion
    • 15th Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 71st Panzergrenadier Regiment
    • 29th Artillery Regiment
    • 313th Antiaircraft Battalion

See also[]

  • Operation Husky

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[29]
Citations
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Niehorster, Leo. "World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations". Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  2. ^ Molony, p. 108.
  3. ^ Richard A. Rinaldi, Royal Engineers, World War II at Orbat.com Archived 2014-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Molony, p. 81n.
  5. ^ Molony, p. 177n
  6. ^ Molony, p. 102n
  7. ^ Molony, p. 152n.
  8. ^ Molony, p. 79n.
  9. ^ Molony, p. 95n.
  10. ^ Molony, p. 94n.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Molony, p. 117n
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Molony, p. 115n.
  13. ^ Molony, p. 82n.
  14. ^ Molony, p. 234n.
  15. ^ "World War II War Diaries, 1941-1945, JOSS Operation Plan No. 118-43". Fold3. June 20, 1943. pp. 9–11. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  16. ^ "World War II War Diaries, 1941-1945, JOSS Operation Plan No. 109-43". Fold3. June 20, 1943. p. 612. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  17. ^ 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).
  18. ^ Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953).
  19. ^ Howe, George F., Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West, Center of Military History, Washington, DC., 1991.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Jump up to: 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.
  22. ^ No. 242 Group was originally a part of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force but which was later[when?] transferred to NACAF
  23. ^ 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
  24. ^ Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II Office of Air Force History, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983.
  25. ^ Jump up to: 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.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Secret Document 161, Location of units in the Royal Air Force, 34th issue, July 1943, Royal Air Force Museum accession number PR02859.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b Molony, pp. 43-45.
  29. ^ Molony, p. 44.
  30. ^ Faldella, Emilio (1956). Lo sbarco e la difesa della Sicilia.
  31. ^ Jowett & Andrew (2001), p. 4
  32. ^ 34th Regiment at Gela
  33. ^ Molony, p. 43.
  34. ^ Molony, p. 93.
  35. ^ Molony, p. 45.

References[]

  • Juno Beach Centre - Canadian Army units in Sicily
  • Bovi, Lorenzo (2013), Sicilia.WW2: foto inedite (in Italian), Siracusa, Italy: Morrone, ISBN 978-88-97672-59-3
  • Costanzo, Ezio (2008). The Mafia and the Allies: Sicily 1943 and the Return of the Mafia. New York: Enigma Book.
  • Costanzo, Ezio (2003). Sicilia 1943. Lo sbarco alleato (in Italian). 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 978-0-8117-3382-3.
  • Jowett, Philip S. (2001). The Italian Army 1940-45. (3) Italy 1943–1945. Men-At-Arms 353. illustrated by Stephen Andrew. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-866-6.
  • 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 1-84574-069-6.
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