13th Armored Division (United States)
13th Armored Division | |
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Armor | |
Role | Armored warfare |
Size | Division |
Nickname(s) | "The Black Cats" |
Engagements | World War II
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | MG John B. Wogan (1942–45) MG John Millikin (1945) |
U.S. Armored Divisions | ||||
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The 13th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army in World War II.
History and combat chronicle
The division was activated on 15 October 1942 at
The 13th Armored, known as the Black Cats, landed at
by 18 April.Shifting south to
Preparations were made for further advances when the war in Europe ended. The 13th remained in Germany until 25 June and left Le Havre, France, for home, 14 July 1945.
The division moved to Camp Cook, California after returning to the United States. It was training in amphibious operations at the time of the Japanese surrender. The men were aware that it was an open secret that they were likely to participate in the
The division was reactivated in 1947, reflagged from the 19th Armored Division, which had been "placed on rolls", but not actually activated, during
Composition
The division was composed of the following units:[3]
- Headquarters Company
- Combat Command A
- Combat Command B
- Reserve Command
- 24th Tank Battalion
- 45th Tank Battalion
- 46th Tank Battalion
- 16th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 59th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 67th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 93rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)
- 124th Armored Engineer Battalion
- 153rd Armored Signal Company
- 13th Armored Division Artillery
- 496th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 497th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 498th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 13th Armored Division Trains
- 135th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
- 83rd Armored Medical Battalion
- Military Police Platoon
- Band
Statistics
Casualties
- Total battle casualties: 1,176[4]
- Killed in action: 214[5]
- Wounded in action: 912[6]
- Missing in action: 16[7]
- Prisoner of war: 34[8]
Awards
Campaigns
- Rhineland
- Central Europe
Individual Awards
- Distinguished Service Cross: 2
- Silver Star: 6
- Bronze Star: 102
References
- ^ Wilson, John B. (1997). Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades. Washington, DC: Center of Military History.[1] Archived 1 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ McKenny, Janice E. (1997). "Appendix A: Divisions Reflagged". Reflagging in the Army. United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ "Order of Battle of the US Army - WWII - ETO - 13th Armored Division". US Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistics and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)
- ^ Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistics and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)
- ^ Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistics and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)
- ^ Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistics and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)
- ^ Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistics and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)
- ^ U.S. Army Center of Military History, Office of the Theater Historian (December 1945). Order of Battle of the United States Army – World War II European Theater of Operations. Part I – Order of Battle of Divisions. 13th Armored Division. Paris, France. p. 532. Archived from the original on 13 May 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
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External links
- 13th Armored Division Association Archived 17 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- US Army Historical Site Archived 13 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- 13th Armored Division Association Facebook Page