17th Armored Engineer Battalion

Last updated

17th Engineer Battalion
17th ENG BN COA.png
Coat of Arms
Active1917 – 1995
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
AllegianceRegular Army
Branch US Army Corps of Engineers
Motto(s)"WE PAVE THE WAY"
ColorsRed and Grey
Engagements World War II
Algeria-French Morocco
Italy
Normandy
Alsace
Battle of the Bulge
Defense of Saudi Arabia
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia 17th Armored Engineer" Battalion insignia.jpg

The 17th Armored Engineer Battalion was a part of the 2nd Armored Division "Hell on Wheels". During World War II, they were active in North African Campaign, and Western Europe Campaign. 17th Armored Engineer Battalion was founded on 1 October 1933 as part of the US Army. First called 17th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Ponton), Motorized. It was renamed on 10 July 1940 to 17th Engineer Battalion (Armored) and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division. The unit became active and started training 15 July 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Renamed again on 8 January 1942 as the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion. The Battalion is now based at Fort Cavazos, Texas. The battalion's motto was We pave the way. [1] Tasks of the 17 included construction and demolition under combat conditions, constructing and breaching trenches, tank traps and other fortifications, bunker construction, bridge and road construction, and building destruction bridges and other physical work in the battlefield whenever needed. They also laid and cleared land mines. The 17th facilitated the movement and support of friendly forces while slowing down the enemy's forces. [2]

Contents

World War II training

Training started at Fort Benning, in Columbus, Georgia.

After organizing the new battalion, training in engineering skills started. The battalion average age of the enlisted men was 22 years. Then men had two and a half months of basic training behind. Training included: M1 carbine Rifle marksmanship, mines, minefields, Demining fixed dry gullies bridge construct, floating Pontoon bridge construct, road repair-making, Military engineering vehicles-DUKW use, and other field combat problems. Training include Live fire exercise and live mine exercises, to make the men battle ready. Colonel George S. Patton was in charge of training the new 2nd Armored division. [3] [4]

World War II

Landing ships putting cargo ashore on Omaha Beach, at low tide during the first days of the operation NormandySupply edit.jpg
Landing ships putting cargo ashore on Omaha Beach, at low tide during the first days of the operation

17th Armored Engineer Battalion moved with the 2nd Armored Division to North Africa, Sicily, England, France, Belgium and Germany, under the command of the First Army.

North Africa

Flyer that was distributed by the Allied forces in the streets of Casablanca, calling the citizens to cooperate with the Allied forces Operation Torch - message from the president of United States to the citizens of Casablanca.jpg
Flyer that was distributed by the Allied forces in the streets of Casablanca, calling the citizens to cooperate with the Allied forces

As part of the North African Campaign, and Operation Torch the 17th took part in landing French North Africa's Algeria and Morocco. The major task in North Africa was landing clear and mine removal. 17th landing were early morning on 8 November 1942. In Morocco the landing was in Safi as part of Operation Blackstone. [5] [6]

Sicily

American and British troops landing near Gela, Sicily, 10 July 1943 British and U. S. Troops Landing at Gela Sicily.jpg
American and British troops landing near Gela, Sicily, 10 July 1943

As part of Operation Husky order of battle in the Sicily Campaign, the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion with the 2nd Armor Division landed in Gela, Sicily in south-central Sicily, on 11 July 1943. Before the landing the 17th used M4 Sherman tanks with Scorpion Mine flail exploder to clear the way. [7] The operation captured Butera and participated in the Battle of Mazzarino, then moving on to Palermo. After Sicily the 17th moved to England to train and prepare for D-Day.

Normandy

M4 Sherman tank mounted with M1 bulldozer blade makes its way through a hedge in France, 1944 M4 Sherman Tank Mounted with M1 Bulldozer through hedge.jpg
M4 Sherman tank mounted with M1 bulldozer blade makes its way through a hedge in France, 1944

On 9 June 1944, D-day plus 3, along with other battalions, the 17th battalion landed on Utah Beach in Normandy as a part of the Normandy landings and Operation Overlord. They cleared lanes for landing craft by destroying the mine-bearing steel structures that the Germans had implanted in the intertidal zone. They bulldozed roads up the narrow draws through the cliffs lining the beaches. 17th Armored Engineer Battalion were issued new camouflage uniforms for D-Day. These uniforms are the same one used by US Marine Corps in the Pacific. To clear barricades, mine fields, fill in caters and break through thick hedgerows the 17th used M4 Sherman Tanks mounting with M1 bulldozer. Also used was Caterpillar D7 with armor plates added to the engine and cab. The tank bulldozer broke through the hedgerows in France. Germans learned to wait until the tanks cross with infantry following on foot then fire on both. To counter, forces started with their main guns loaded with canister and pointed to the rear and to the flanks. As the tanks crossed they fired parallel to the hedges, inflicting enemy casualties, this became known as "Roosevelt's Butchers,". [8] From Omaha Beach the battalion pushed through the Cherbourg peninsula and built bridge across the Seine river in France.

Albert Canal bridge

First bridge over the Albert Canal, a failure, Sept 1944 Albert Canal bridge Sept 14, 1944.jpg
First bridge over the Albert Canal, a failure, Sept 1944
Albert Canal bridge with support boat, 15 September 1944 Albert Canal bridge Second try works with boat.jpg
Albert Canal bridge with support boat, 15 September 1944

As part of aftermath of the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael, the 17th and 82nd Armored Engineer Battalion work build a Bailey bridge across the Albert Canal at the village of Kanne. The first try failed as the bridge fell into the canal. On 15 September 1944 with the help of a boat for support the bridge was completed. Albert canal functioned as a defense line for the retreating enemy. [9]

Geleenbeek stream

Bridge across the Geleenbeek stream September 18 1944 built a bridge across the Geleenbeek stream near Kathagermolen.jpg
Bridge across the Geleenbeek stream

On 18 September 1944 the 17th built a bridge across the Geleenbeek stream near Kathagermolen as all the bridges across the stream around Schinnen had been destroyed by the retreating German army. During the construction, the engineers were fired on by enemy machine gun emplacements in the treeline on the far bank. The gunfire missed the engineers and a US tank responded, firing several high-explosive rounds into the trees and silencing the enemy guns. Two 60 feet beam bridges were completed: one at Kathagermolen and one at Schinnen. [10] The 17th saw frequent action fighting in Alsace. On 26 November 1944 at Ciney, Belgium, as part of the Ardennes Offensive, Gen. Collier was ordered by Gen. Harmon to hold Ciney with the combined forces of the 2nd Armored Battalion, the 41st Armored Infantry, the 2nd Bn. 66th Armor, a platoon from "A" Company of the 17th Engineers, and another platoon from "A" Company of the 702d Tank Destroyer Bn. The 17th Armored Engineers was ordered to secure Merzenhausen and Barmen to cut off communication lines to the Roer as part of Operation Queen. In Lonlay-l'Abbaye the 17th blew up a bridge in center of town before moving on to blow up an enemy ammunition dump.

Battle of the Bulge

During the Battle of the Bulge, quick thinking and action of the engineers destroyed key bridges in the path of advancing German forces, slowing and diverting them while Allied forces regrouped. Battle of the Bulge was fought in the bitter cold from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945.

Seine River

Floating bridge over the Seine river, 28 August 1944 Seine River Bridge Aug. 28, 1944.jpg
Floating bridge over the Seine river, 28 August 1944

17th Armored Engineers with 82nd Engineer Combat Regiment built a floating bridge over the Seine River at Meulan France on 30 August 1944. The bridge was started at 8am, opened at 6pm, it was 720 ft. in length. 17th bridge company did not have enough saddles to put on top of the floating pontoons, so a short trestle bridge was built near the far part of the bridge. Approaches to the bridge were made of sommerfeld mat over chespaling mat, with three inches of gravel.

Rhine crossing

Night of 23 March 1945, as part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany and Operation Plunder, Company E and C of the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, constructed two treadway rafts to prepare of the crossing of the Rhine River about five kilometers south of Wesel. Bridge construction started at 9:45 am and by 4:00 pm the first truck crossed the floating bridge. Over 1152 feet of M2 treadway and 93 pneumatic floats were used in just six hours and fifteen minute construction project, record setting for the size of the bridge. It took twenty five 2 half tons GMC CCKW trucks to transport the bridge parts to the construction site, part of the Red Ball Express.

A steel treadway bridge needed floating pontoons. A saddles on top of the pontoon put the weight of the bridge on the pontoon. A 12-foot sections of treadway track was bolted to the saddles. The treadway sections were put together on the spot unloaded for many truck. The sections were taken out to the end of the bridge in construction. The sections were connected together with large steel pins. The 17th was experienced with treadway bridges, but this was the largest one. To cross the Rhine would need 80 or 90 sections to complete the bridge. Moving the sections then pounding in the large pins was hard work. These bridge could carry a heavy load including a 66,800 pound M4 tanks. The floating pontoon was an 18-ton pressurized rubber bag. The saddle was the metal and plywood frame was placed on the float and supported the treadway tracks. To prefabricate the bridge the pontoon had to be inflated; the saddles had to be assembled and lashed to the top of the pontoon. [11] [12] On 30 March 1945 Company "C", constructed a treadway bridge across the canal near Alvert. On 5 April 1945, the 17th Engr. Bn. constructed a 384 treadway across the Weser at Ohr, Germany. On 8 April 1945 division engineers constructed a pontoon bridge across the Weser Elbe Canal, west of, Harsum allowing Company "A" to continue its drive northeast to Braunschweig.

Elbe River

Elbe river bridge, abandoned at Westerhusen after enemy shellings Destroyed bridge at Elbe River near Westerhusen 13 April 1945.jpg
Elbe river bridge, abandoned at Westerhüsen after enemy shellings

The engineers ferried two battalions across the Elbe river before starting the construction of the floating bridge at – Westerhusen. In the night spanning 12 to 13 April 1945 a bridge across the river was made. Starting at 11pm Companies D and E, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion built the bridge. It was a very dark night making it difficult even with the use two search lights. In the dark the bridge quickly came together. As day light came, engineers put smoke pots, for smoke screen, on both sides of the bridge to hide the construction completions from the enemy. But, at 6am enemy shells destroyed five bridge pontoon floats, work was stopped. By 7am work started again to complete and repair the bridge. By 2pm the bridge was also most complete with 25 feet to complete. But so much enemy artillery fire was raining in the engineers were ordered to abandon the bridge and load up their trucks and pull out, to prevent further damage. [13] PFC William Horne with the 82nd Engineer Combat Regiment helping with the bridge was killed during construction. The unit moved to Grunewalde were a ferry would move them across. 17th engineers help in the ferry operations with their DUKWs. [14] [15] On 17 April the 17th Armored Engineered Battalion completed constructed of a bridge across the Elbe River at Magdeburg. The construction team came against enemy fire and once a Luftwaffe attack. 25 April 1945 is known as Elbe Day as the West and East armies connected near the bridge here.

Caterpillar D7 armored bulldozer D-7 Armoured Bulldozer.jpg
Caterpillar D7 armored bulldozer

Back to the US

On 21 January 1946 the battalion was shipped from Calais, France to Ft. Hood, Texas arriving 12 February 1946.

2nd Armored Division patch 2nd US Armored Division SSI.png
2nd Armored Division patch

Cold War

1953 Anderson Barracks, Dexheim, Germany, 1954 Anderson Barracks, Dexheim Germany 1954.jpg
1953 Anderson Barracks, Dexheim, Germany, 1954

After World War II the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion was based in Dexheim, Germany. From 1953 to 1954 Anderson Barracks was home of the 17th Armored Engineers. [16] The Engineer battalion's mission was to assist the mobility of armored units of the Second Armored Division. Their mission was to help delay or defeat any Soviet invasions through the Fulda Gap. An annual training event was installing a floating bridge across the Rhine River, like the Battalion did in World War II (has caused flawed caption in image at right as noted). In 1967 parts of 17th were assigned to the 198th Light Infantry Brigade. In 1978, Delta Company, 17th Engineers was stationed at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne in Garlstedt, Germany as part of 2nd Armored Division (Forward). During the Cold War, D Company's role was to prepare for heavy armored combat against the Warsaw Pact in defense of NATO being ready to move in the event of a Soviet threat to NATO. The 17th and its division practiced during exercises like REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) from 1967 to 1988. Some training took place at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. [17]

Panama

The 17th took part in Operation Just Cause the United States invasion of Panama on 20 December 1989. Helping with landing and dock operation in the short, but very complex operation. [18] [19] [20]

Gulf War

The 17th served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In the fall of 1990 17th deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Storm to support heavy armor divisions in the Defense of Saudi Arabia and later the liberation of Kuwait. 17th took part in Battle of Norfolk, with tank battles and ground infantry fighting, the 17th was in operation much like World War II, with mine removal and other support roles. [21] [22]

The battalion was inactivated in 1995. [23]

Insignia

Decorations and honors

[25]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VII Corps (United States)</span> Military unit

The VII Army Corps of the United States Army was one of the two principal corps of the United States Army Europe during the Cold War. Activated in 1918 for World War I, it was reactivated for World War II and again during the Cold War. During both World War II and the Cold War it was subordinate to the Seventh Army, or USAREUR and was headquartered at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, West Germany, from 1951 until it was redeployed to the US after significant success in the Gulf War in 1991, then inactivated in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontoon bridge</span> Type of bridge

A pontoon bridge, also known as a floating bridge, uses floats or shallow-draft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. The buoyancy of the supports limits the maximum load that they can carry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Armored Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 9th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army during World War II. In honor of their World War II service, the 9th was officially nicknamed the "Phantom Division."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th Armored Division (United States)</span> Formation of the United States Army (1942–1945)

The 12th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army in World War II. It fought in the European Theater of Operations in France, Germany and Austria, between November 1944 and May 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Plunder</span> Part of a coordinated set of Rhine crossings during WWII

Operation Plunder was a military operation to cross the Rhine on the night of 23 March 1945, launched by the 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. The crossing of the river was at Rees, Wesel, and south of the river Lippe by the British Second Army under Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey, and the United States Ninth Army under Lieutenant General William H. Simpson.

The 741st Tank Battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the European Theater of Operations with the United States Army in World War II. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern Europe until V-E Day. It was one of five tank battalions that landed in Normandy on D-Day. It landed on Omaha Beach supporting the 1st Infantry Division, but was attached to 2d Infantry Division on 15 June 1944, which it supported for most of the remainder of the war. The battalion played a key role in blunting the northern flank of the German attack during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. The 741st Tank Battalion advanced as far as Plzeň, Czechoslovakia by the end of the war.

The 9th Engineer Battalion is a unit of the United States Army that deploys to designated contingency areas and conducts combat and/or stability operations in support of a brigade combat team. It is a divisional mechanized combat engineer unit, composed of three line companies and a headquarters company. Its mission is to provide assured mobility, counter-mobility, general engineering, and survivability support, with well trained sappers ready to deploy anywhere at any time. The unit's history spans service in 1917 in the US southwest, World War II in France and Germany, multiple deployments to the Balkans, and multiple deployments in support of the global war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is most famous for the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge across the Rhine River. As of 18 May 2015, the battalion exists as the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Fort Stewart, GA under 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Ukrainian Front</span> Military unit

The 4th Ukrainian Front was the name of two distinct Red Army strategic army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Armoured brigade of the British Army

The 22nd Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army that saw service during and after the Second World War. The brigade was formed on the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939 from Territorial Army (TA) armoured regiments. It saw a considerable amount of action during the war, beginning with the Western Desert Campaign where it was engaged in Operation Crusader and at the Battles of Gazala, Mersa Matruh, First Alamein and Alam el Halfa. It then joined the 7th Armoured Division for the Second Battle of El Alamein. It remained part of 7th Armoured for the rest of the war, including the campaigns in Tunisia, Italy and North West Europe. It continued in the postwar TA until 1956. The brigade's identity was re-established in the Regular Army between 1981 and 1993.

The 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. They arrived in England during April, 1944, and entered combat in mid June, landing at Utah Beach. The unit fought across France and into Germany during the summer and early winter of 1944. In late winter, they were then pulled out and sent to Belgium near the end of the Ardennes Campaign and again fought their way into and across Germany, ending the war near the Czechoslovakian border. The 607th received credit for the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe campaigns.

The 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. It was redesignated the 628th Tank Battalion after the end of the war, and today exists as the 103rd Armor Regiment.

The 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a unit of the United States Army during World War II. It played an instrumental role in defending Hofen during the Battle of the Bulge. The specialized tank destroyer unit was attached to various organizations during the war. In December, 1944, the twelve 3-inch guns of Company A were integrated into the defensive positions of the 395th Infantry Regiment and were key to keeping the attacking Sixth Panzer Army from gaining essential objectives in the first days of the offensive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">743rd Tank Battalion</span> Military unit

The 743rd Tank Battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the European Theater of Operations with the United States Army in World War II. It was one of five tank battalions which landed in Normandy on D-Day. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern Europe until V-E Day. It was inactivated on 27 November 1945.

The 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was a part of the 2nd Armored Division, and was activated July 15, 1940, at Fort Benning, Georgia, for World War II. The organization was made up of trained men, from cavalry and reconnaissance units. The reconnaissance battalion was known as the "eyes and ears", of the 2nd Armored Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">291st Engineer Combat Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

The 291st Engineer Combat Battalion was one of the most decorated engineer combat battalions of the United States Army during World War II, playing notable roles both in the Battle of Bulge and the Rhine river crossing at Remagen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">289th Engineer Combat Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

The 289th Engineer Combat Battalion was a combat engineer battalion of the United States Army during World War II. It served under XXI Corps of the Seventh Army in action mainly in France and Germany in 1944 and 1945. It received campaign credit for participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign , Rhineland campaign, and the Invasion of Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">549th Engineer Light Pontoon Company</span> Military unit

The 549th Engineers Light Pontoon Company was a combat engineer company of the United States Army during World War II. Operationally attached to the 1150th Engineer Combat Group, it served under XXI Corps of the Seventh Army in action in France and Germany in 1944 and 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Bouse</span> US Army training center during World War II

Camp Bouse was a secret camp of the US Army, Desert Training Center in Mohave County, Arizona. Camp Bouse is located 25 miles (40 km) from Bouse, Arizona, just north of Arizona State Route 72 and about 50 miles (80 km) north of Interstate 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1139th Engineer Combat Group</span> Military unit

The 1139th Engineer Combat Group was a technical United States Army Headquarters Unit providing administration and supervision support to Combat Engineers on bridge building and other construction activities during World War II. The 1139th Engineer Combat Group was part of the Third Army and was attached for operations to the XX Corps in direct support of the 7th Armored Division. The 1139th Engineer Combat Group fought from northern France to Austria in World War II, supporting General George Patton's Third Army's rapid movements during the war.

References

  1. ↑ "cgsc.edu American Armored Divisions 1941–1945" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  2. ↑ 2ndarmoredhellonwheels.com 17th Armored Engineers
  3. ↑ "militaryvetshop.com 2nd Armored Division". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Technical Services, the Corps of Engineers, the War Against Germany, page 157, By Alfred M. Beck
  5. ↑ "militaryvetshop.com 2nd Armored". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. ↑ US Armored Units in the North African and Italian Campaigns 1942–45,page 8, By Steven J Zaloga
  7. ↑ Technical Services, the Corps of Engineers, the War Against Germany, page 114, By Alfred M. Beck
  8. ↑ How bulldozers and heroic operators helped demolish Hitler's Atlantic wall in the D-Day invasion
  9. ↑ 82ndengineers, History of engineer combat Archived 26 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Operation Report 17th Armored Engineer Battalion en Operation Report Co A, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, 18 September 1944.
  11. ↑ THEY REMEMBER WAR
  12. ↑ facesbeyondthegraves.com 2nd Armored WW2
  13. ↑ CHAPTER II,WESTERHUSEN CROSSING 12 – 13 April
  14. ↑ 82ndengineers.org Official History of the 82nd – page 3
  15. ↑ "indianamilitary.org, ELBE OPERATION, From U.S. Army Center for Military History". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  16. ↑ usarmygermany.com, .S. ARMY INSTALLATIONS – BAD KREUZNACH
  17. ↑ "militaryvetshop.com "Hell On Wheels"". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "History.army.mil, History Office, XVIII Airborne Corps and Joint Task Force South, OPERATION JUST CAUSE". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  19. ↑ U.S. Army Heraldic Crests: A Complete Illustrated History of Authorized By Barry Jason Stein
  20. ↑ history.army.mil OPERATION JUST CAUSE
  21. ↑ .2ndarmoredhellonwheels.com
  22. ↑ publications.usace.army.mil US Army Engineers in the Gulf War
  23. ↑ The Salute Uniforms. "U.S. ARMY 17TH ENGINEER BATTALION UNIT CREST (DUI)".
  24. ↑ "pentagon.mil 17th Armored Engineer Battalion". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  25. ↑ military.com 17th Engineer Battalion – History
  26. ↑ 2ndarmoredhellonwheels.com History
  27. ↑ PBS, Primary Resources: Entries from President Truman's Diary
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.