,1 I in T S I C I I A N C A IMFP A I G N as compiled from G-3 Journal for period July 10, 1943 - Aug 22, 1943. itsFICATION CHANGED TIO " CA, CELLED. BY AUTHOITY OF THE ADJUTANT GUA __-sGHA-m-xaGp YEC _/ 1%I 4' , I / ~-" - "i't 1Z, *1 M-,:· y . / 1" ; o^ oN l JULY 10, 1943 See Map No 1 (Opp page) The division landed beginning at 0425 on beaches shown on Map No 1, under supporting Naval gunfire. Zones of advance and objectives as shown opposite. 157TH RCT Landed on beaches Green 2 and Yellow 2, against light opposition; advanced inland. 1st Battalion captured S CRUCE, CAMERINA at 1445. 2nd Battalion captured DUNNA FUGATA at 1715, 2nd and 3rd moved on COMISO to positions shown on Map No 1. 179TH RCT Landed on beaches Yel'low and Green, 1st Battalion captured SCOGLITTI at 1400, 3rd Battalion advanced to positions west of VITTORIA, patrol of 45th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop entered VITTORIA about 1335. 180TH RCT Landings scattered from GELA to points three miles north of Red beach. Elements were assembled late in afternoon and advanced to vicinity Highway 115. Commanding General and G-2, G-3 and G-4 landed on beach Green at 0830. CP established at 367159. .rs~s~T~ l Yt" " GED 6~~~A CA.,CHO" 9 JULY 11, 193 Ma) Nor The advance of the division continued on July 11th. No contact was made with our adjacentunits, 1st Division on the left and 1st Canadian. Division on the right. 157TH INF 1st Battalion captured RAGJUSA at 0815B and the 3rd Battalion captured COMISO at 1015B and assisted the 179th Inf in the capture of COMISO airfield. In. the action at COMNISO, three Italian tanks were knocked out, our tanks received fire from 88mm guns. 192T-H INF Moved on COMISO airfield with two battalions abreast from VITTORIA, capturing the airfield at 1610B assisted by the 157th Inf. 180TH INF Met stiff resistance by elements of Herman Goering Tank Division and infantry elements and were unable to advance until late afternoon, when Highway 115 -was crossed. Positions northeast of the highway were held at end of day. Division Artillery supported the infantry advance. 171st Field Artillery Battalion received counter batterv fire without damape. 40th Engineer Regiment set up main beaches and dumps around SCOGLITTI. 19th Engineers began clearing COTMLISO airfield. Map No 2 shows moverent during the day and positions held at 2400B July 11, 1943. f E-;'T 4 J i 1 -~yt-~IAt:* L. j: 0- ^^-*---- : JULY 12, 19lF3 157TH INFANTRf- 1st Battalion moved to vicinity CHIARAMONTE. 2nd Battalion patrolling from positions north of CHIARMONTE. 3rd Battalion advanced from vicinity COMISO Airport to positions north of CHIARMONTE-BISCARI road. During the morning the airport and regimental CP were strafed. Contact was made with elements of the 1st Canadian in RAGUSA at 1145. 179TH INFANTRY Enemy strong point developed south of BISCARI-CHIARMONTE road. 2nd Battalion reported surrounded at 1715B, but was out of trouble by 1755. 180TH INFANTRY Enemy resistance reported to have collapsed in zone of 180th and the regiment advanced into BISCARI at 2000. One M VI tank knocked out in BISCARI. .CIYIT- .rt·r;·' FI "t-;-"1'7 9 *0 El'' JULY 13, 1943 .-----. ... i Map No 4 157TH INFANTRY Advanced from vicinity of CHIARMONTE to oositions south and west of VIZZINI against light resistance. 179TH INFANTRY Continued advance in direction GRAMAIICHILE to positions shown on Map No 4. 180TH INFANTRY Advance on BISCARI delayed by blown bridge on ACATE River. 00OOTH CA BN (AA) (AW) Shot down two JU-87 airplanes attempting to land on COMISO airport. CO B, 753RD TANK BN Supported advance of 180th Infantry. 753RD TANK BN (MINUS CO B) In assembly area ,in zone of 179th Infantry prepared to meet possible attack of reported enemy armored con- centration. qy 0 oitb vn- . 9 JTLY 14, '1943 Map No 5 157TH INFANTRY Reached line yellow prepared to organize defensive position. II Corps ordered 45th Division to hold line two miles short of Highway 124. Two British Armored Divisions to mtake attack direction VIZZINI - CALTAGIORONE. Contact made with British below--VIZjINI at 0900. Coor- dinated attack planned for 1200. 157th Inf received heavy artillery fire from direction GRAMMACHILE during night July 13-14. 79NTT IN ANTRY Continued advance against strong mechanized defense to oosition two miles south Highway 124. Organized- positions. 180TTI INFANTTRY Moved to positions under Qover of darkness for day- light attack on BISCARI airport. Airport was taken at 0630, complete surprise was obtained butstubborn hand- to-hand resistance was met. Counter-attack was driven off by fire of Heavy Weapons Company. Attack continued to positions shown on Map No 5. YI x CRA} ICPCs-Li INC IDENT JULY 11 1943 3rd Bn, 179th Inf (rei.nf) with: 1 plat Cn Go- plat -4.2 Cml Mtrs, 1 plat AT Co, and 1 plat 753rd Tk Bn - Qer- man counterattack at .0550, July 14 from North against "Kt Co with flanking movement to our right supported by Mark fixed bayonets supp orted bv plat of Cn Co forced enemy withdrawal to NE and N. "Ko Co successfully resisted counterattack and enemy failed to penetrate position. Durir:ng action 1 Mark IV knocked out by rifle eprenade - 1 4.2 phospherous she.l.l hit in open turr:et p IVbark tanl- and destroyed crew. C; -7 .. ., i - JJ LY - 194 3 Organized defensive nositAlon. west of VIZZINI. Britslh took VIZZ1NI at 0600, tnd entered GRAIMJACHILE at 1200. At 1522 the CT wa al1erted to move to area south and west of 1VA7AHROl tonIght. Organliz.d derfnglve positions two miles south of TmIIw-v; 12/ Advartnod to rnoitions, soujth CALTAGIROTTE. 2nd -- 'B3ttnliorn eornipel by three enemy tanks. durine the morrinr,. Co B, 753rd Tank Batt.elion in a fight three rniles fromr Bi'rCARI airport At 0900, 1I!D ,.~~~~~~~~~~~~.w-~~~~~8)1~~~~~~~~1 "Mm 9 ( 7r-7 16 19 - Division bePren rr.oei o Ter': eat:,t of '.'J.'I 157th RCT and 189th F'A 3ri startl.nr ft , 0600. 1 79Wth and 180th CTs held pre--ent roajlt ion lJntl 1 urIov re' by British passingr arofs front Prom ea ft to 'W-IIt, 45th Cav Rcn Tr. and 753rd Tk rrn f'ololwrevd 1i57thl Inf. At 2130 verbal or]ersa were ilsuoded to 0C 1J57th Inf to attack at 0400 17 July. Celz1 hlfh (-rou'lAl north of PIETRAPERZIA, supported by 15(8 thj iri(l 1 9tbh FA Bns and with Co 2nd Cml Bn; one Pl:t 451tlh Ctiv Rcn Tr; Co A, 120th Enpr Bn and Co C, 753rdI'[' ( I3n attached. A! - i~~r 9q i _ rlIIRa EYL*Y4Y _ 1F~f"~ JULY 17, 1943 Map No 8 1$72 IN\FANTRYAN Advanced to vicinity PIETRAPER.IA without meetin-g resistance. Advanpe delayed by blown bridge at point shown on Map No 8. Organized position 800 yards north and west of PFITRAP RZIA. Oral orders were issued CO 157th Inf to continue the attack during the hours of darkness, seize high ground north of CALTANISSETTA and to continue to S. CATERINA if not delayed by opposition. Division CP moved forward at 1630 to H1258. Balanoe of division continued ooncentration In zone behind 157th Inf. / '*. * -. * : * itf --- *- * - : Il * 9*c July 18, 193 . CMTWTnSAcA TA t 0g wNIthofut romistbnoQ, Movedn on feemokwi S* BATVINA wbleo wia ©nfewrtd at -1600B1, adv ale- 'H~ -Itw t NI ?~-' -': ^^w^g9~jw~~4W _- ,i .O \^ I m r^ II - I!W^ fj VtI^4A^-A4 M' \ U . - t^ .1 1ORA. 1 - I1 July.19. 1943 Ma No 10 '15,7th INF Advance wai held up North of S. CATERINA by enemy tanks and artillery fire. 179th lINF In assembly area S of CALTANISSETTA, one rifle platoon sent to S. CATALDO to guard large Italian QM Warehouse. 180th INF Moved by motors to ass-embly area S of S CATERINA, passed thru 157th Inf. Attack jumped off at 2000B a- gainst tanks and artillery fire. I-r. gy-i.=,-y-·-\f·qC·CU x scrUT'ILV vrrt ( i 1 f July 20, 1943 -....--- Ma p No 11 157th IrNF In assembly area S S. CATERINA. 179th INF -Moved by motors night of 20-21 July to assembly area 9496. 180th IHiF Atk in column of Bns against light Arty fire, reach- ed obj at 1030B prepared defensive position along line 9295 - 9297. Captured 15 prisoners, 1 90mm gun and 1 light Tk. Regt was ordered to continue atk to W prior to 1700B, secure RJ 7901. DIV CP Moved from CALTANISSETTA, opened at new location at 1725B. Et '3 July 21, 1943 ~-/Iflap No 12 l57th INTF Moved by marching to assembly area SE VALLELUNGA beginning at 1200B. 179th INF Moved by marching to position E of VALLELUNGA be- hind 180th Inf. Moved on CALTAVUTURO beginning at dark. 18Oth INF. Continued attack during night July 20-21, seized obj RJ 8002 at 0440B, organized position. In the attack captured 12 Light Tanks, knocked out 2, captured 60 pr'soners, including 1 Col, 2 Majs, 4 Capts, all Italian. Also destroyed 11 Scout Cars. Atk continued at dark with objectives ALIA and ROCCAPALUMBA, one company seized VALLE- D OLMO. DIV CP Moved to 0082 opening at 1530B. .---- l· I 04V*"*^ *'*^' *' . A . -fr '^ " : " - f * Thly 22, 1943 Map No 13 157th INF At 1800B commenced movement by motors and marching to cut coastal highway at junction with Hwy 120. 179th INF Moving on CALTAVUTURO against' light opposition, cap- tured that town t 1600B.