Panzer units at Salerno Sept 1943

[timothydaiss]

-I am researching the Allied invasion of Salerno in Sept 43. On the 9th the fighting began. In support of US troops, the American cruiser USS Savannah silenced a railway battery that had been firing on troops. She then began neutralizing Panzer tanks at a distance of 17,450 yards. After forcing a tank retreat, Savannah turned her guns on German infantry, artillery batteries and observation posts. She also shelled the German occupied town of Capaccio. The tanks that did not get hit, managed to withdraw. Does anybody have any idea what Panzer unit-division it was?

[RichTO90]

I am researching the Allied invasion of Salerno in Sept 43. On the 9th the fighting began. Four US Army divisions, including troops under General George S. Patton, hit the beaches. In support, the American cruiser USS Savannah silenced a railway battery that had been firing on US ground troops. She then began neutralizing Panzer tanks at a distance of 17,450 yards. After forcing a tank retreat, Savannah turned her guns on German infantry, artillery batteries and observation posts. She also shelled the German occupied town of Capaccio. The tanks that did not get hit, managed to withdraw. Does anybody have any idea what Panzer unit-division it was?

Sorry Timothy, but you need to start doing some more research.

The US forces that landed on 9 Septmeber were from a single Army division, the 36th. Later, elements of the 45th Division landed, initially with a single regimental combat team on 10 September, and then elements of the second, and finally the rest of the division by the end of the month. The 3rd Division arrived later in the month after the "Salerno" battle had ended. The other divisions landed on 9 September were British, the 46th and 56th, the 7th Armoured Division began landing at the very end of the battle, about 17 September.

George Patton had nothing to do with the Salerno operation, at the time he was still commander of Seventh Army, which remained on Sicily. The operations at Salerno were under the command of Major General Mark Clark and Fifth Army.

The three 13.2cm railway guns at Salerno, like the other coastal artillery in the area, was originally Italian, German troops had taken over literally on the night before, so it is unsurprising that they were unable to make an effective response.

Finally, the effectiveness of the Savannah as an antitank gun is probably overrated, although the combined effect of it and the other seven British and American cruisers, 26 destroyers, and 167 smaller warships was certainly not insignificant. However, the support they renedered was probably most felt during the peak of the German counterattack 13-15 September.

And the German units engaged at Salerno initially consisted of 16. Panzer-Division, reinforced later by elements of Hermann Goering Division, 29. Panzergrenadier Division, 3. Panzergrenadier-Division (two battalions only), and 1. Fallschirmjaeger-Division (elements).

Hope that helps.

[Patrice]

Hello.
He has to involve the 16°Panzer division, its 1°et 2 ° Abteilung of the Panzer Regiment 79 was distributed in several support points on the beach, with small Kampfgruppe situated more behind.
Patrice