The United States Army raised a large number of tank destroyer units during World War II.
For most of the war US Army doctrine called for tank destroyers to primarily operate as concentrated tank destroyer battalions during combat. These battalions were to be concentrated in regiment-sized groups and brigades when needed to combat large forces of enemy tanks.[1] However, combat experience in North Africa and Europe demonstrated that units larger than battalions were not needed. Tank destroyers were usually parcelled out to other units, and were rarely concentrated in battalions. The thirteen tank destroyer group headquarters dispatched to Europe never led massed units of tank destroyers, and nor did the 1st Tank Destroyer Brigade.[2]
Brigades[edit]
Two tank destroyer brigades were formed in November 1942.[3] The initial role of these units was to oversee the training of the large number of tank destroyer battalions that had been previously formed.[4] The 1st Tank Destroyer Brigade was dispatched to Europe in January 1944 and the 2nd Tank Destroyer Brigade was disbanded in the United States during March that year.[3] In August and September 1944 the 1st Tank Destroyer Brigade commanded the ad-hoc Task Force A which was tasked with seizing ports in Brittany. Its staff subsequently served as advisers in the headquarters of the Third Army.[5]
Groups[edit]
Twenty four tank destroyer groups were formed.[6] US Army doctrine called for at least one tank destroyer group to be attached to each corps and army.[7] In practice, tank destroyer battalions were usually attached directly to infantry divisions and there was no need for the group headquarters to command them. The tank destroyer group headquarters which were dispatched overseas were often used as advisers to corps headquarters to provide advice on anti-tank issues, or for other purposes, such as traffic management and controlling units in rear areas. Group headquarters only occasionally undertook combat missions.[8][9]
| Unit | Activated | Inactivated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Tank Destroyer Group | 30 March 1942, Camp Bowie, Texas | 5 November 1945, Germany | Served as VII Corps traffic control section |
| 2nd Tank Destroyer Group | 15 March 1942, Fort Sam Houston, Texas | 5 November 1945, Germany | Served as XIX Corps antitank section |
| 3rd Tank Destroyer Group | 30 March 1942, Camp Bowie, Texas | 22 November 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | Served as V Corps antitank section |
| 4th Tank Destroyer Group | 1 September 1942, Camp Hood, Texas | 26 October 1945, Fort Jackson, South Carolina | Served as XX Corps antitank section |
| 5th Tank Destroyer Group | 1 September 1942, Camp Hood, Texas | 5 December 1945, Camp Shanks, New York | Served as XV Corps antitank section |
| 6th Tank Destroyer Group | 1 September 1942, Camp Hood, Texas | 1 May 1946, Germany (redesignated 5th Constabulary Regiment) | Served as XIII Corps antitank section |
| 7th Tank Destroyer Group | 1 September 1942, Camp Hood, Texas | 25 March 1946, Germany | Served as VIII Corps antitank section |
| 8th Tank Destroyer Group | 13 October 1942, Camp Hood, Texas | 20 October 1945, Camp Bowie, Texas | Served as III Corps antitank section |
| 9th Tank Destroyer Group | 13 October 1942, Camp Hood, Texas | 1 November 1945, Camp Hood, Texas | Served as XII Corps Advanced Information Center |
| 10th Tank Destroyer Group | 13 February 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 25 May 1944, Camp Howze, Texas | |
| 11th Tank Destroyer Group | 20 February 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 25 May 1944, Camp Howze, Texas | |
| 12th Tank Destroyer Group | 27 February 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 1 November 1945, Camp Hood, Texas | Served as XVI Corps antitank section |
| 13th Tank Destroyer Group | 6 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 12 November 1945, Philippines | |
| 14th Tank Destroyer Group | 13 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 20 May 1944, Camp Campbell, Kentucky | |
| 15th Tank Destroyer Group | 20 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 25 August 1944, Camp Gruber, Oklahoma | |
| 16th Tank Destroyer Group | 3 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 10 November 1945, Camp Swift, Texas | Served as XXI Corps antitank section |
| 17th Tank Destroyer Group | 10 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 30 August 1944, Camp Swift, Texas | |
| 18th Tank Destroyer Group | 17 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 20 February 1945, Fort Knox, Kentucky | |
| 19th Tank Destroyer Group | 1 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 20 May 1944 Camp Rucker, Alabama | |
| 20th Tank Destroyer Group | 8 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 23 November 1945, Camp Gruber, Oklahoma | Served as United States Ninth Army Rear Detachment |
| 21st Tank Destroyer Group | 15 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 22 November 1945, Camp Shelby, Mississippi | |
| 22nd Tank Destroyer Group | 5 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 20 February 1945, Fort Knox, Kentucky | |
| 23rd Tank Destroyer Group | 12 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 26 October 1945, Fort Liberty, North Carolina | |
| 24th Tank Destroyer Group | 19 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 23 December 1944, Camp Hood, Texas |
Battalions[edit]
Each tank destroyer battalion was assigned 36 self-propelled or towed anti-tank guns. They also included reconnaissance and anti-aircraft elements.[10] From a high of 220 battalions, the number was reduced in April 1943 to 106 because of concerns over the value of the tank destroyer concept and competing demands for manpower. In late 1943, the War Department received permission to inactivate twenty-five tank destroyer battalions.[11]
The personnel from inactivating battalions were either assigned to existing tank destroyer battalions still in training, or to other types of units. Beginning in 1944, they were also assigned to nine non-divisional infantry regiments or the Replacement and School Command for retraining as infantry replacements. whereupon they were assigned to understrength infantry divisions still stateside, or were sent overseas as individual replacements.
Eleven tank destroyer battalions, one of which was overseas, were converted en bloc to other types of units that were more in demand, such as chemical, tank, armored field artillery or amphibian tractor units.
Campaign credit key[edit]
| Number | Campaign |
|---|---|
| 3 | Bismarck Archipelago |
| 13 | Leyte |
| 14 | Luzon |
| 15 | New Guinea |
| 17 | Papua |
| 21 | Western Pacific |
| 23 | Algeria-French Morocco |
| 24 | Anzio |
| 25 | Ardennes-Alsace |
| 26 | Central Europe |
| 29 | Naples-Foggia |
| 30 | Normandy |
| 31 | North Apennines |
| 32 | Northern France |
| 33 | Po Valley |
| 34 | Rhineland |
| 35 | Rome-Arno |
| 36 | Sicily |
| 37 | Southern France |
| 38 | Tunisia |
600s[edit]
| Unit | Activated | Inactivated | Campaigns | Vehicles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601st | 15 December 1941, Fort Devens, Massachusetts | 18 October 1945, Camp Shanks, New York | 23-26, 29, 34-38 | M3, M10, M36 | Redesignated from 1st Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 602nd | 15 December 1941, Fort Sam Houston, Texas | 23 November 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 25, 26, 32, 34 | M18 | Redesignated from 2nd Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 603rd | 15 December 1941, Fort Lewis, Washington | 15 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 24, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M18 | Redesignated from 3rd Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 605th | 16 December 1941, Fort Custer, Michigan | 4 November 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5 | Redesignated from 5th Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 606th | 16 December 1941, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri | 28 February 1945, Camp Hood, Texas | Redesignated from 6th Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion | ||
| 607th | 9 December 1941, Fort Ord, California | 27 October 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | Redesignated from 7th Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 608th | 15 December 1941, Fort Jackson, South Carolina | 20 December 1943, Camp Atterbury, Indiana | Redesignated from 8th Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion Personnel to 607th, 610th, 643rd, and 807th Tank Destroyer Battalions | ||
| 609th | 15 December 1941, Fort Liberty, North Carolina | 13 November 1945, Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky | 25, 26, 32, 34 | M18 | Redesignated from 9th Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion Additional cadre from 178th Field Artillery Regiment |
| 610th | 10 April 1942, Camp Barkeley, Texas | 7 December 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 25, 26, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | |
| 611th | 1 May 1942, Camp Polk, Louisiana | 20 February 1945, Fort Knox, Kentucky | |||
| 612th | 25 June 1942, Camp Swift, Texas | 27 October 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | |
| 614th (segregated) | 25 July 1942, Camp Carson, Colorado | 31 January 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5 | |
| 626th | 15 December 1941, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts | 20 December 1943, Camp Gordon, Georgia | Redesignated from 26th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion Personnel to 607th, 630th, 691st, 692nd, 774th, 806th, and 822nd Tank Destroyer Battalions, among others | ||
| 627th | 15 December 1941, Fort McClellan, Alabama | 10 April 1945, Hawaii | Cadre from personnel of 27th Division | ||
| 628th | 15 December 1941, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania | 14 November 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 25, 26, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | Redesignated from 28th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 629th | 15 December 1941, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland | 3 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | Cadre from personnel of 29th Division |
| 630th | 15 December 1941, Fort Jackson, South Carolina | 31 March 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | Redesignated from 30th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion Additional cadre from 128th Field Artillery Regiment |
| 631st | 15 December 1941, Camp Blanding, Florida | 15 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | Cadre from personnel of 31st Division |
| 632nd | 15 December 1941, Camp Livingston, Louisiana | 1 January 1946, Camp Stoneman, California | 13, 14, 15 | M10 | Redesignated from 32nd Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 633rd | 16 December 1941, Camp Forrest, Tennessee | 30 October 1945, Fort Liberty, North Carolina | 26 | M18 | Cadre from personnel of 33rd Division |
| 634th | 16 December 1941, Camp Claiborne, Louisiana | 29 November 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10 | Redesignated from 34th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 635th | 15 December 1941, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas | 27 December 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5 | Redesignated from 35th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 636th | 15 December 1941, Camp Bowie, Texas | 7 December 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 24-26, 29, 34, 37 | M10, M36 | Redesignated from 36th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 637th | 19 December 1941, Camp Shelby, Mississippi | 25 January 1946, Japan | 14 | M18 | Redesignated from 37th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 638th | 15 December 1941, Camp Shelby, Mississippi | 7 November 1945, Fort Benning, Georgia | 25, 26, 32, 34 | M18 | Redesignated from 38th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 640th | 19 December 1941, Camp San Luis Obispo, California | 13 January 1946, Camp Anza, California | 3, 14, 20 | 3-inch Gun M5, M10 | Cadre from personnel of 40th Division |
| 641st | 18 December 1941, Fort Lewis, Washington | 24 June 1944, New Guinea | 3, 15, 17 | Cadre from personnel of 41st Division Redesignated 98th Chemical Battalion | |
| 643rd | 15 December 1941, Camp Blanding, Florida | 6 November 1945, Camp Anza, California | 25, 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | Redesignated from 43rd Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 644th | 15 December 1941, Fort Dix, New Jersey | 3 December 1945, Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10 | Redesignated from 44th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 645th | 15 December 1941, Camp Barkeley, Texas | 30 October 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 24-26, 29, 34, 35, 37 | M10, M36 | Redesignated from 45th Division Provisional Antitank Battalion |
| 646th (segregated) | 15 May 1942, Fort Huachuca, Arizona | 1 May 1944, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania | |||
| 647th | 6 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 12 May 1944, Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi | Personnel to 125th Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 648th | 6 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 16 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | |
| 649th (segregated) | 31 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 24 April 1944, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Virginia | Personnel to Army Service Forces | ||
| 650th | 13 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 25 March 1944, Camp Bowie, Texas | Redesignated 425th Armored Field Artillery Battalion | ||
| 651st | 13 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 29 May 1944, Camp Howze, Texas | Personnel to 140th Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 652nd | 20 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 16 September 1945, Camp Shelby, Mississippi | |||
| 653rd | 20 March 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 10 May 1944, Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi | Personnel to 140th Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 654th | 15 December 1941, Fort Benning, Georgia | 13 November 1945, Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | |
| 655th | 3 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 10 April 1944, Camp Hood, Texas | Personnel to 493rd and 869th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Companies | ||
| 656th | 15 December 1941, Fort Benning, Georgia | 1 November 1946, Camp Campbell, Kentucky | 26, 34 | M18, M36 | |
| 657th | 10 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 10 April 1944, Camp Hood, Texas | Personnel to 493rd and 869th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Companies | ||
| 658th | 10 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 15 April 1944, Fort Ord, California | Redesignated 658th Amphibian Tractor Battalion | ||
| 659th (segregated) | 15 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 1 December 1944, Camp Livingston, Louisiana | Personnel to Replacement and School Command for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 660th | 17 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 25 May 1944, Camp Carson, Colorado | Personnel to 201st Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 661st | 17 April 1943, Camp Bowie, Texas | 10 February 1946, Camp Hood, Texas | 26, 34 | M18 | |
| 662nd | 1 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 17 December 1944, Fort Knox, Kentucky | Redesignated 662nd Tank Battalion | ||
| 663rd | 1 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 25 March 1944, Camp Bowie, Texas | Redesignated 426th Armored Field Artillery Battalion | ||
| 664th | 8 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 12 May 1944, Camp Maxey, Texas | Personnel to 125th Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 665th | 8 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 12 May 1944, Camp Maxey, Texas | Personnel to 125th Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 666th | 15 May 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 25 March 1944, Camp Maxey, Texas | Redesignated 427th Armored Field Artillery Battalion | ||
| 667th | 5 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 3 June 1944, Camp Maxey, Texas | Personnel to 125th Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 668th | 5 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 25 March 1944, Camp Maxey, Texas | Redesignated 427th Armored Field Artillery Battalion | ||
| 669th (segregated) | 19 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 15 November 1944, Fort Huachuca, Arizona | Personnel to 372nd Infantry Regiment for retraining as infantry replacements | ||
| 670th | 12 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 10 April 1945, Hawaii | M18 | ||
| 671st | 12 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 17 January 1946, Camp Anza, California | M18 | ||
| 672nd | 19 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 15 April 1944, Fort Ord, California | Redesignated 672nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion | ||
| 679th (segregated) | 26 June 1943, Camp Hood, Texas | 27 October 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 31, 33 | 3-inch Gun M5 | |
| 691st | 15 December 1941, Fort Bliss, Texas | 13 April 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | |
| 692nd | 10 April 1942, Camp Gordon, Georgia | 8 February 1946, Camp Swift, Texas | 25, 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 |
700s[edit]
| Unit | Activated | Inactivated | Campaigns | Vehicles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701st | 15 December 1941, Fort Knox, Kentucky | 29 October 1945, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri | 23, 29, 31, 33, 35, 38 | M3, M10 | Cadre from 1st Armored Division |
| 702nd | 15 December 1941, Fort Benning, Georgia | 3 October 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | Cadre from 2nd Armored Division |
| 703rd | 15 December 1941, Camp Polk, Louisiana | 3 January 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | Cadre from 3rd Armored Division |
| 704th | 15 December 1941, Pine Camp, New York | 24 October 1945, Camp Shanks, New York | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M18 | Cadre from 4th Armored Division |
| 705th | 15 December 1941, Fort Knox, Kentucky | 16 November 1945, Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M18 | Cadre from 58th Armored Field Artillery Battalion |
| 706th | 30 March 1942, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas | 14 April 1944 Fort Ord, California | Personnel to 539th, 540th, and 720th Amphibian Tractor Battalions | ||
| 771st | 15 December 1941, Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont | 1 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 26, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | Cadre from 71st Field Artillery Brigade Provisional Antitank Battalion (186th and 187th Field Artillery Regiments) |
| 772nd | 16 December 1941, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri | 24 December 1945, Camp Shelby, Mississippi | 25, 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | Cadre from 72nd Field Artillery Brigade Provisional Antitank Battalion (119th, 177th, and 182nd Field Artillery Regiments) |
| 773rd | 15 December 1941, Camp Shelby, Mississippi | 23 October 1945, Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia | 25, 26, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | Cadre from 73rd Field Artillery Brigade Provisional Antitank Battalion (144th, 160th, and 190th Field Artillery Regiments) |
| 774th | 15 December 1941, Camp Blanding, Florida | 29 October 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | Cadre from 74th Field Artillery Brigade Provisional Antitank Battalion (172nd and 174th Field Artillery Regiments) |
| 775th | 16 December 1941, Camp Forrest, Tennessee | 15 April 1944, Fort Ord, California | Redesignated 728th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. Cadre from 75th Field Artillery Brigade Provisional Antitank Battalion (168th, 181st, and 191st Field Artillery Regiments) | ||
| 776th | 20 December 1941, Fort Lewis, Washington | 25 November 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 29, 34, 35, 38 | M10, M36 | Cadre from 76th Field Artillery Brigade Provisional Antitank Battalion (183rd and 188th Field Artillery Regiments) |
| 795th (segregated) | 16 December 1941, Fort Custer, Michigan | 24 April 1944, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Virginia | Cadre from antitank troops of the 184th Field Artillery Regiment |
800s[edit]
| Unit | Activated | Inactivated | Campaigns | Vehicles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 801st | 15 December 1941, Fort Benning, Georgia | 29 November 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | Cadre from 101st Infantry Antitank Battalion (cadre from Headquarters, Headquarters Company, Medical Detachment, and Troops B and K, 121st Cavalry Regiment, New York National Guard) |
| 802nd | 15 December 1941, Camp Shelby, Mississippi | 1 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | Cadre from 102nd Infantry Antitank Battalion (cadre from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 3rd Battalion, and Companies I, K, and L, 14th Infantry Regiment, New York National Guard) |
| 803rd | 15 December 1941, Fort Lewis, Washington | 1 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | Cadre from 103rd Infantry Antitank Battalion (cadre from new units, Headquarters Troop, 21st Cavalry Division, and 41st Tank Company, Washington National Guard) |
| 804th | 15 December 1941, Camp San Luis Obispo, California | 10 December 1945, Camp Hood, Texas | 31, 33, 35 | M10 | Cadre from 104th Antitank Battalion (cadre from new units and Battery A, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, New Mexico National Guard) |
| 805th | 15 December 1941, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland | 2 November 1945, Camp Hood, Texas | 24, 29, 31, 33, 35, 38 | M3, 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | Cadre from 105th Infantry Antitank Battalion (cadre from Headquarters Troop and Headquarters Detachment, 22nd Cavalry Division, Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Troop and Troops B and C, 122nd Medical Squadron, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and Troops B and C, 122nd Quartermaster Squadron, and Antitank Platoon, Headquarters Company, 112th Infantry Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard) |
| 806th | 15 March 1942, Camp Gordon, Georgia | 12 January 1946, Camp Anza, California | 34 | M10 | Cadre from 638th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
| 807th | 11 March 1942, Camp Cooke, California | 22 September 1945, Camp Hood, Texas | 25, 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | Cadre from 826th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
| 808th | 27 March 1942, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas | 26 September 1945, Camp Rucker, Alabama | 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M36 | |
| 809th | 14 March 1942, Camp Forrest, Tennessee | 8 September 1945, Camp Bowie, Texas | 26, 34 | M18, M36 | |
| 810th | 18 March 1942, Camp Forrest, Tennessee | 20 December 1943, Camp Forrest, Tennessee | Personnel to other tank destroyer battalions | ||
| 811th | 10 April 1942, Camp Gordon, Georgia | 20 February 1946, Camp Butner, North Carolina | 25, 26, 34 | M18 | |
| 812th | 10 April 1942, Camp Gordon, Georgia | 28 November 1944, Fort Jackson, South Carolina | Redesignated 812th Tank Battalion | ||
| 813th | 15 December 1941, Fort Liberty, North Carolina | 25 November 1945, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34, 35, 38 | M3, M10, M36 | Cadre from 112th Field Artillery Regiment |
| 814th | 1 May 1942, Camp Polk, Louisiana | 20 September 1945, Germany | 25, 26, 32, 34 | M10, M36 | |
| 815th | 11 May 1942, Camp Cooke, California | 27 September 1944, New Guinea | 15 | 3-inch Gun M5 | Personnel to 112th Cavalry Regiment |
| 816th | 11 May 1942, Camp Cooke, California | 20 February 1945, Fort Knox, Kentucky | |||
| 817th | 1 June 1942, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas | 4 April 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 26, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | Cadre from 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
| 818th | 15 December 1941, Fort Sill, Oklahoma | 30 October 1945, Camp Shanks, New York | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M19, M36 | Enlisted cadre from 18th Provisional Antitank Battalion (77th and 142nd Field Artillery Regiments and 71st, 72nd, and 83rd Field Artillery Battalions); officer cadre from 77th, 142nd, and 349th Field Artillery Regiments |
| 819th | 1 June 1942, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas | 2 November 1945, Palau | 21 | M10 | Cadre from 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
| 820th | 25 June 1942, Camp Swift, Texas | 8 September 1945, Camp Swift, Texas | 25, 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | |
| 821st | 25 July 1942, Camp Carson, Colorado | 17 February 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M10 | Cadre from 630th, 803rd, and 818th Tank Destroyer Battalions |
| 822nd | 25 July 1942, Camp Carson, Colorado | 8 September 1945, Camp Gruber, Oklahoma | 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | |
| 823rd | 25 July 1942, Camp Carson, Colorado | 24 October 1945, Camp Shanks, New York | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M10 | Cadre from 638th, 804th, and 846th Tank Destroyer Battalions |
| 824th | 10 August 1942, Camp Gruber, Oklahoma | 11 September 1945, Fort Jackson, South Carolina | 25, 26, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5, M18 | |
| 825th | 10 August 1942, Camp Gruber, Oklahoma | 9 March 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 32, 34 | 3-inch Gun M5 | Cadre from 774th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
| 826th | 21 December 1941, Camp Roberts, California | 18 April 1944, Fort Ord, California | Redesignated 826th Amphibian Tractor Battalion | ||
| 827th (segregated) | 24 April 1942, Camp Forrest, Tennessee | 2 December 1945, Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia | 25, 26, 34 | M18 | Cadre from 4th Cavalry Brigade |
| 828th (segregated) | 30 May 1942, Fort Knox, Kentucky | 7 December 1943, Fort Huachuca, Arizona | Personnel to 150th, 373rd, 390th, 393rd and 394th Quartermaster Truck Companies | ||
| 829th (segregated) | 25 July 1942, Camp Gruber, Oklahoma | 27 March 1944, Camp Hood, Texas | Personnel to Eighth Service Command | ||
| 846th (segregated) | 15 December 1941, Camp Livingston, Louisiana | 13 December 1943, Camp Swift, Texas | M18 | Cadre from 46th Field Artillery Brigade Personnel to VIII Corps, Third Army | |
| 893rd | 15 December 1941, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland | 13 February 1946, New York Port of Embarkation | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34 | M10 | Cadre from 93rd Infantry Antitank Battalion (cadre from 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment) |
| 894th | 15 December 1941, Fort Benning, Georgia | 8 September 1945, Italy | 29, 31, 33, 35, 38 | M3, M10 | Cadre from 94th Infantry Antitank Battalion |
| 899th | 15 December 1941, Fort Lewis, Washington | 27 December 1945, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey | 25, 26, 30, 32, 34, 35, 38 | M10, M36 | Cadre from 99th Infantry Antitank Battalion (cadre from 15th Infantry Regiment) |
Training units[edit]
A number of units responsible for tank destroyer doctrine development and training were also established. They included:[16]
- Tank Destroyer Center (originally formed as the Tank Destroyer Command)
- Tank Destroyer Board
- Tank Destroyer School
- Tank Destroyer Unit Training Center
- Tank Destroyer Training Brigade
- Tank Destroyer Replacement Training Center
- Tank Destroyer Basic Unit Training Center
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Citations
- ^ Gabel 1985, p. 1.
- ^ Gabel 1985, pp. 59–60.
- ^ a b Stanton 1984, p. 326.
- ^ Greenfield, Palmer & Wiley 1987, p. 209.
- ^ Zaloga 2005, p. 45.
- ^ Stanton 1984, p. 327.
- ^ Zaloga 2005, p. 21.
- ^ a b Stanton 1984, p. 328-331.
- ^ Zaloga 2005, pp. 44–45.
- ^ Forty 1998, p. 43.
- ^ Greenfield, Palmer & Wiley 1987, p. 428.
- ^ Stanton 1984, p. 596.
- ^ Stanton 1984, p. 333-336.
- ^ Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II. Novato, California: Presidio Press. p. 336. ISBN 089141195X.
- ^ Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II. Novato, California: Presidio Press. pp. 336–338. ISBN 089141195X.
- ^ Dunham 1946, p. iii.
- Works consulted
- Dunham, Emory A. (1946), A History of the Army Ground Forces; Study Number 29. The Tank Destroyer History (PDF), Historical Section, Army Ground Forces, archived (PDF) from the original on November 29, 2020
- Forty, George (1998). US Army Handbook, 1939-1945. New York City: Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-0848-7.
- Gabel, Christopher R. (1985). Seek, Strike, and Destroy: U.S. Army Tank Destroyer Doctrine in World War (PDF). Leavenworth Papers. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute. OCLC 58392594.
- Greenfield, Kent Roberts; Palmer, Robert R.; Wiley, Bell I. (1987) [1947]. The Army Ground Forces: The Organization of Ground Combat Troops (PDF). United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History.
- Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). Order of Battle U.S. Army, World War II. Novato. California: Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-195-X.
- Zaloga, Steve (2005). US Tank and Tank Destroyer Battalions in the ETO 1944-45. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84176-798-7.