United States Army ad-hoc Task Forces

[Andy H]

In principle this is akin to the German Kampfgruppen sticky already running in the Wehrmacht at War & Peace, in that it's purpose is to record the US Army "Task Force". Which were in principle the same as German KG & British "Force" groupings, wherby several disperate units were thrown together to undertake a specific task, and after completion the units returned to there regular command formations.

Again this is a listing thread only. Any queries, discussions or information you wish to add, either contact the poster by PM or start a seperate thread within the section If needs be the poster can then edit his original post to take into account any developments

1)Name: Usually the Task Force commander, but not always the case.
2)Parent unit of Task Force if applicable
3)Date of Formation (If Known)
4)Date of Dispersion (If Known)
5)OoB
6) TOE
7)Details of any action fought
8)Source of information

So for example

1) Task Force (TF) Benson
2) 1st Armoured Division
3) 29/03/1943
4) ?
5) 2nd/1st Armd.Regt, 2/13th Armd.Regt, 81st Recce Btn, 899th TD Btn, 65th & 68th Art.Btn's, 3rd/39th Inf; 2nd/6th Armd.Inf
6) ?
7) Support the attack by 2nd Corps on Gabes in Tunisia
8.) The Med & Middle East Vol IV by Playfair

Andy H

[Andy H]

1) Task Force (TF) Benson
2) 1st Armoured Division
3) 29/03/1943
4) ?
5) 2nd/1st Armd.Regt, 2/13th Armd.Regt, 81st Recce Btn, 899th TD Btn, 65th & 68th Art.Btn's, 3rd/39th Inf; 2nd/6th Armd.Inf
6) ?
7) Support the attack by 2nd Corps on Gabes in Tunisia
8.) The Med & Middle East Vol IV by Playfair

Andy H

[Andy H]

1) Task Force (TF) Lessouda
2) 34th Infantry Division?
3) ?
4) ?
5) 2/168th Inf, G & Recce Coys/1st Armd Regt, B Bty 91st Field Art.Btn and a platoon from 791st TD Btn
6) ?
7) Defence of Dj.Lessouda during the opening attacks during the Kasserine c/a
8.) The Med & Middle East Vol IV by Playfair

Andy H

[Dwight Pruitt]

1. Task Force Baum Commanded by Capt Abraham Baum

2. 4th Armored Division

3. 26 Mar 1945

4. 27 Mar 45

5. Elements of Command Section 10th Armored Inf, Elements of Reconnaisance Platoon 10th Armored Inf., Elements of Assault Gun Platoon 10th Armored Inf, Elements of Service Section, 10 Armored Inf., Company "A" 10th Armored Inf Regt., Company "C" 37th Tank BN., 3rd PLT, Co D 37th Tank BN.

Supported by 22nd Artillery BN, 66th Artillery BN and 191st Arty Bn (155 How)

6. No TOE authorised

7. Organized to slip behind enemy lines and liberate POW in OFLAG XIII-B Destroyed in attempt.

8. United States ARmy in World War II

[James Patrick]

1) Task Force (TF) Huddleson
2) 14th Armored Division
3) 22 December 1944
4) 2 January 1945
5) 94th Cavalry Squadron, 117th Cavalry Squadron, 62d Armored Infantry Battalion, 500th Armoured Field Artillery Battalion, Companies A and B 125th Armored Engineer Battalion
6) No TOE authorised
7) Defended the left flank of US VI Corps against attacks from 256th and 361st Volksgrenadier Divisions during Operation Nordwind.
8.) Seventh Army Report of Operations: The Last German Offensive

[James Patrick]

1) Task Force (TF) Herren
2) 70th Infantry Division
3) 6 November 1944
4) 3 February 1945
5) 274th Infantry Regiment, 275th Infantry Regiment, 276th Infantry Regiment
6) No TOE authorized
7) Task Force Herren took over defensive positions along the west bank of the Rhine, 28 December 1944, in the vicinity of Bischweiler, south of Haguenau Forest. Elements took part in the fight to stop the German winter offensive, and struck at the enemy at Phillipsbourg and at Wingen. In mid-January 1945, the Task Force moved to an area directly south of Saarbrucken, where it carried out reconnaissance and combat patrols, and improved defensive positions.
8.) Division History: 70th Documents: Task Force Herren Summary, The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States

[Andy H]

1. Task Force A (under Lt Col H Hillyard)
2. 2nd Armoured Division
3. 25th December 1944
4. ?
5. CCB 2nd Armoured Division
6. ?
7. Battle for Celle and Foy Notre Dame during the German Ardenne offensive
8. US Centre for Military History: The Battle of the Bulge

1. Task Force B (under Major C B Batchelder)
2. 2nd Armoured Division
3. 25th December 1944
4. ?
5. CCB 2nd Armoured Division
6. ?
7. Battle for Celle and Foy Notre Dame during the German Ardenne offensive
8. US Centre for Military History: The Battle of the Bulge

[James Patrick]

1) 1st Airborne Task Force (1st ATF)
2) Formed from independent Allied units
3) 15 July 1944
4) 23 November 1944
5) 517 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1/551 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 509 Parachute Infantry Battalion, 550 Glider Infantry Battalion, 2 British Independent Parachute Brigade (replaced by American/Canadian 1st Special Serivce Force August 1944), 460 Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 463 Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 602 Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 645 Tank Destoyer Battalion, AT Company/442 Infantry Regiment (Nissei-American), A/2 Chemical Mortar Battalion, A/83 Chemical Mortar Battalion, various combat cupport and combat service support elements
6) No TO&E authorized.
7) The 1st ATF air assaulted into the Argens Valley in the vicinity of Le Muy on 15 August and fought to the Italian Border before being disbanded and elements returned to their organization or attached to XVIII Airborne Corps.
8.) US Army Airborne 1940-90

[Necros]

1. Task Force (TF) 45 (under Brigadier General Paul W. Ruthledge)
2. 45th AAA Brigade
3. 29 July 1944
4. 28 January 1945
5. Units that at varying times were attached to the Task Force

American Antiaircraft Artillery (AAA) Units

• 45th AAA Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery *
• 45th AAA Operations Detachment *
• 91st AAA Group
• 107th AAA Group *
• Battery C, 351th AAA Searchlight Battalion *
• 403rd AAA Gun Battalion (Mobile) *
• 434th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion *
• 435th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion *
• 439th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion
• Battery C, 450th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion
• 536th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion *
• 898th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion *
• 900th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion *

* = component units of the 45th AAA Brigade at the initiation of Task Force 45.

American Field Artillery(FA) Units

• 68th Armored FA Battalion, 1st Armored Division
• 125th FA Battalion (105mm), 34th Infantry Division
• 151st FA Battalion (105mm), 34th Infantry Division
• 175th FA Battalion (105mm), 34th Infantry Division
• 185th FA Battalion (155mm), 34th Infantry Division
• 194th FA Group
• 424th FA Group
• Battery C, 194th FA Battalion
• 338th FA Battalion, 88th Infantry Division
• 598th FA Battalion (Colored), 92nd Infantry Division
• Battery C, 697th FA Battalion
• 910th FA Battalion, 85th Infantry Division

Amerian Infantry Units

• 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division
• 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division
• 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment
• 339th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 85th Infantry Division
• 370th Infantry Regimental Combat Team (Colored), 92nd Infantry Division

American Tank and Anti-Tank Units

• 2nd Armored Group, Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• 2nd Platoon, Company B, 13th Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Division
• 1st and 2nd Platoons, Company D, 13th Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Division
• Troop A, 81st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 1st Armored Division
• 91st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
• 751st Tank Battalion
• 755th Tank Battalion
• 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion
• 894th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Other American Units

• 34th Quartermaster War Dog Platoon
• 62nd Signal Battalion (4 crews)
• 84th Chemical Company (4.2 Mortar)
• 179th Chemical Smoke Generating Company
• 1st Platoon, Company C, 310th Engineer Battalion, 85th Infantry Division
• Company C, 310th Medical Battalion, 85th Infantry Division
• 615th Medical Clearing Station
• 671st Medical Collecting Company
• 672nd Medical Collecting Company
• 673rd Medical Collecting Company
• 1108th Engineer Combat Group elements

British Antiaircraft (AA) Units

• 39th (Br) Light AA Regiment
• 47th (Br) Light AA Regiment
• U Troop, 167 Battery, 56 (Br) Light AA Regiment
• 168 Battery, 56 (Br) Light AA Regiment
• 71st Heavy (Br) AA Regiment
• 73rd Heavy (Br) AA Regiment
• 74th Heavy (Br) AA Regiment
• 80th Heavy (Br) AA Regiment

Brazilian Units

• 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 1st (Braz) Infantry Division
• 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st (Braz) Infantry Division
• 3rd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st (Braz) Infantry Division
• 1st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized), 1st (Braz) Infantry Division

Italian Units

• 5th (Ital) Mule Pack Company
• 23rd (Ital) Artier [Engineer] Regiment

6. ?
7. Relieve 34th 91st Infantry Divisions holding the line of the Arno River, hold forward positions and conduct active patrolling, send reconnaisance patrols to determine enemy strength, maintain contact with Task Force Ramsey, protect left flank of IV Corps, prepare to follow up any enemy withdrawal.
8. milhist.net

/Mikael Sundholm

[Andy H]

1. Task Force (TF) Canham C/O Asst Divisional CO
2. 8th Infantry Division
3. May 1st 1945
4. May 5th 1945?
5. Consisting principally of the 121st Infantry, 644th Tank Destroyer and 740th Tank Battalion. Supported by the 56th Field and 83rd Armored Field Artillery Battalions, a battery of the 445th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, Company C of the 89th Chemical Battalion, Company C of the 12th Engineer Combat Battalion and Company C of the 8th Medical Battalion
6. ?
7. The advance to Lake Schwerin and to meet up with Russian units to the north of the lake.
8. 8th Infantry Division Website

Andy H

[Necros]

1. Task Force Hanson (Commanding Officer Captain Harold D. Hanson)
2. During the Battle of the Bulge attached to U.S. 30th Infantry Division
3. ?
4. ?
5. Units attached to Task Force Hanson
   
   • 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
   • 526 Armoured Infantry Battalion
   • 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion
6. ?
7. Battle of the Bulge, the Task Force was ordered into defensive positions south of Malmedy, Belgium.
8. Norwegian-Americans and the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
   Center of Research and Information on the Battle of the Bulge Website

/Mikael Sundholm

[Andy H]

1) TF Abrams-Lt Col Abrams
2) 4th Armored Division
3) August 28th (?) 1944
4)
5) Elements of 37th Tk Btn & 10th Armored Inf Btn
6)
7) Advance towards St-Germain
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Abrams-Lt Col Abrams
2) 4th Armored Division
3) September ? 1944
4)
5) 37th Tank Btn, 66th Armored Field Artillery Btn plus 1Coy 53rd Armoured Inf Btn
6)
7) Battle for the towns of Ste.Genevieve, Loisy & Benicourt on the east bank of the Moselle
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Abrams-Lt Col Abrams
2) 4th Armored Division
3)
4)
5) 37th Tank Btn, C/704th TD Btn, 94th Armored Field Artillery Btn plus 10th Armoured Inf Btn (-1Coy)
6) Some 30 Shermans
7) Battle for Ley with 11th Panzer Brigade in late Sept’44
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

[Andy H]

1) TF Abrams-Lt Col Abrams
2) 4th Armored Division
3) November 19th 1944
4)
5) 37th Tank Btn(-), B/10th Armored Inf Btn, 1Tp/25th Cavalry, B/74th TD Btn plus 94th Armored Field Art Btn
6)
7) Assault on Francaltroff
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Alanis-Maj D Alanis
2) 4th Armored Division
3) August 3rd 1944
4)
5) Elements of the 51st Armored Inf Btn plus?
6)
7) The encirclement of Rennes
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Alanis-Maj D Alanis
2) 4th Armored Division
3) December 21st 1944
4)
5) 51st Armored Inf Btn, plus elements from 24th Armored Eng Btn, 704th TD Btn and 35th Tank Btn
6)
7) Advance to Martelange
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

[Andy H]

1) TF Bailey-Lt Col B Bailey
2) 4th Armored Division
3)
4)
5) Elements of 35th Tank Btn plus elements from 704th TD Btn,10th Armored Infantry and 66th Armored Field Artillery Btn
6)
7) Advance to and in to th city of Orlean, France
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Bautz-Maj E Bautz
2) 4th Armored Division
3) August 15th 1944
4) August 15th 1944
5) B/37th Tank Btn, 1Coy of Engineers plus some Armored Artillery
6) 6 M7 Howitzers plus ? Shermans
7) Advance to the Loire River, France
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Booth-
2) 4th Armored Division
3) December 17th 1944
4)
5) Elements of CCR/9
6)
7) Defending the approaches to Bastogne
8)”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

[Andy H]

1) TF Rose-
2) 4th Armored Division
3) December 17th 1944
4)
5) Elements of CCR/9
6)
7) Defending the approaches to Bastogne
8 )”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Harper-
2) 4th Armored Division
3) December 17th 1944
4)
5) Elements of CCR/9
6)
7) Defending the approaches to Bastogne
8 )”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Cherry-
2) 4th Armored Division
3) December 17th 1944
4)
5) Elements of CCB/10
6)
7) Defending the approaches to Bastogne
8 )”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827

1) TF Desorby-
2) 4th Armored Division
3) December 17th 1944
4)
5) Elements of CCB/10
6)
7) Defending the approaches to Bastogne
8 )”Patton’s Vanguard-The United States Army Fourth Armored Division” by D M Fox ISBN:0786415827