The brief duration of COBRA, lasting only four days, does not seem to encourage the generation of a detailed US order of battle. So here I'll make my own attempt and also explore the quirky organization of the US 'heavy' armored divisions. I divide the order of battle for COBRA into the infantry penetration force, 9th, 4th and 30th Infantry Divisions, and the exploitation force, 1st Infantry, 3d and 2d Armored Divisions. The Normandy breakout forces would include elements of First and Third Armies. The COBRA exploitation force is the most interesting and least understood. By extracting the unit attachments for the period 25 to 28 July 1944, it is possible to develop a general order of battle from the US Army ETO Order of Battle. But even this is insufficient to place battalions into the task forces cited by the US Army official history. Where available, additional sources can provide details -- or just clues -- to the composition of the task forces and how they operated. But first... Many sources point out the heavy armored divisions had two armored regiments (two battalions of medium and one battalion of light tanks) and one armored infantry regiment (three battalions of armored infantry). But the 2d and 3d Armored Divisions were further modified before or during the Normandy battle. Each armored regiment configured each of its battalions into one light and two medium tank companies. Thus each division had six identical mixed tank battalions under the two armored regiments. Each tank company retained its orignal letter designation (A, B, C :light tank companies, D through I : medium tank companies) so each battalion had an odd mix of lettered companies of no set pattern.*** The following was gathered from internet sources: 2d AD 66th Armored Regiment 1st Bn: C, F, I 2d Bn: A, D, E 3d Bn: B, G, H 67th Armored Regiment 1st Bn: A, D, H 2d Bn: B, E, F 3d Bn: C, G, I 3d AD 32d Armored Regiment 1st Bn: A, D, G 2d Bn: B, E, F 3d Bn: C, H, I 33d Armored Regiment 1st Bn: A, F, I 2d Bn: B, D, E 3d Bn: C, G, H ---------------------------- Terminology Above the regimental headquarters there were the Combat Commands -- A and B. These were to be the battle headquarters of a mixed force of tanks, infantry, artillery and engineers, tailored for specific missions. The Combat Commands further divided into "task forces" using the headquarters of the regiments and battalions. The task forces could be further divided into "teams" using a battalion headquarters or under the senior company commander. The official history uses the terms task force and team interchangeably as these definitions only solidified over the course of the war. There may have been a reluctance to use "task force" since it seemed to have a defined use in the US Navy. "Team" was usually sufficient for the 'light' armored divisions which lacked the regimental headquarters. At times the teams and task forces bore the name of their commander. Loss of the commander revealed a shortcoming to this system. ---------------------------- *** All other tank battalions had four companies, three medium (A, B, C) and one light (D).
Earthican AAR reports for armoured regiments for the period are quite detailed and give composition of teams. Will post when I have a little more time. Cheers
US 2nd Armoured divn Operation Cobra Combat Command A 66th Armd Regt 22nd RCT (4th Inf Div) 14th AFA Bn Coys A,C, det Coy E 17th Armd Engr bn 702nd TD Bn (Sp) (less C Coy) Coy A, 48th Armd Med Bn Det 2nd Maint Bn Btry D 195th AAA (AW) Bn (SP) Combat Command B HQ CC B 67th Armd Regt (-3rd Bn) 1st and 3rd Bns, 41st Armd Inf Regt 78th AFA Bn Coy B, det Co E, 17th Armd Engr Bn Coy C, 702nd TD Bn Co B, 48th Armd Med Bn Det Maint Bn Btry A, 195th AAA (AW) Bn (SP) 502nd CIC Det (2-0ff, 14 EM) Division Reserve 41st Armd Inf Regt (-lst and 3rd Bns) (-1 Co) 3rd Bn, 67th Armd Regt Division Artillery HQ 2nd Armd Div Arty 62nd AFA Bn (5th AFA Gp Corps Arty) D/S CC'B' 65th AFA Bn (5th AFA Gp, Corps Arty) 92nd AFA Bn Btry C 195th AA(AW) Bn (SP) (-3 Sects) Btrys C and D, 129th AAA Gun Bn (90 mm) Division Control HQ and HQ Co 2nd Armd Div w/ 1 Coy 41st Armd Inf and 3 Sects Btry C, 195th AAA(AW)Bn(SP ) attchd 142nd Armd Sig Coy 82nd Armd Recce Bn w/Coy D,17th Armd Engr Bn attchd 24th Recce Sqdn Mech(- 1 troop) Div Tns w/Btry B, 195th AAA(AW)Bn(SP) attchd 195th AA (AW) Bn(SP ) 17th Armd Engr Bn (- Coys A,B,C,D and E) CCB split further into two columns left and right... When committed, there was only a single road usable so the two CCs followed each other down same road. Cheers
Thanks for the input. I only found the AAR for the 66th Armored Regiment but it starts with August 1944 (Dooh!!!). I have been using the Armor School studies but they are not very displined with OB's -- but niether am I. For my OB I'll leave out the confusing HQ and service elements and include what I think are interesting additions gleened from other sources. ****************************************** I debated how much background to provide about Operation COBRA. The following link provides an overview sketch map of the operation. Note the exploiting armored columns. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Breakout/maps/USA-E-Breakout-V.jpg I'll just emphasize that COBRA was designed to destroy or neutralize the German LXXXIV Corps. It used a small break in the German line created by the bombing to push an armored force behind the LXXXIV Corps. While everything did not go according to plan, the armored columns dislocated the line and torn-up the German forces. This opened a larger break in the German line which the US Third Army exploited relentlessly. I'll further break-down the order of battle into the separate exploiting columns. First I'll look at CCA/2dAD on the east flank. This force appears to be designed to complete the reduction of organized resistance but at a pace set by the tanks. 2d Armored Division Combat Command A ---66th Armored Regiment ---*22d Infantry Regiment (4th Inf Div) ---*702d TD Bn (SP) (minus Co C) ---Cos A & C, 17th Armd Eng Bn ---14th Armored Field Artillery Battalion ---*Btry D, 195th AAA AW Bn (SP) ---*44th Field Artillery Bn (SP) (4th Inf Div) ---*1st Plat Co C, 4th Engr C Bn (4th Inf Div) ---*427th QM Truck Co ---*428th QM Truck Co * - attached units From Breakout and Pursuit, US Army CCA, 2dAD Three task forces, each with a tank battalion and two or three rifle companies riding/following/leading the tanks. left/east/flank TF: 3d/66th AR - 3d/22d Infantry right/west/main TF: 2d/66th AR - 1st/22d Infantry trailing/reserve TF: 1st/66th AR - 2d/22d Infantry The remainder of the 22d Infantry (Heavy Weapons, AT and Cannon Companies) followed CCA assisted by quartermaster truck companies. These task forces trained together for a couple of days prior to the operation. George Wilson of the 2d/22d Infantry describes an exhausting effort to train with the tanks, either leading or following. Use of the "hedgerow cutter" greatly expanded the options for tank maneuver in the bocage. There are a few passages which provide some indication of how these task forces operated. They certainly guided on the main axis road but deployed to either side among the hedgerows. Initially the lead companies of tanks and dismounted infantry approached each hedgerow with caution. After a while, if resistance was found to be light, they moved faster, though, most likely, the infantry remained dismounted. There are accounts of infantry scouting ahead and listening for enemy tanks. Approaching their objective towns or other suspected defensive positions, they probably returned to more cautious methods. When heavy resistance was encountered artillery and aircraft were used to "soften up" the target while elements attempted to maneuver around the flank of the German positions. Trailing companies may have tried to keep the infantry riding on the tanks for as long as possible. However the account of George Wilson of the 2d/22d Infantry leaves the impression of many dismounted actions until the end of the day where they rode on tanks into the night.
CCB, 2dAD became the main force that partially cut-off the escape of the German LXXXIV Corps. Strung-out and far from secure, isolated units fought various German battle groups at towns, crossroads and bridges. Combat Command B ---67th Armd Regt (minus 3d Bn) ---1st & 3d Bn, 41st Armd Infantry Regt ---Co B, 17th Armd Eng Bn ---78th Armd FA Bn ---*Co C, 702d TD Bn (SP) ---*Btry A, 195th AAA AW Bn (SP) From Breakout and Pursuit, US Army CCB/2dAD Two task forces, identified as Left and Right Column, each composed of one tank battalion and one armored infantry battalion. Right(west and north) : 1st/67th AR - 1st/41st AIR Left(east and south) : 2d/67th AR - 3d/41st AIR Division Reserve : 2d/41st AIR - 3d/67th AR Division Artillery Rcn Co 67th AR led CCB to Canisy and probably had this traffic control mission: ...Three hours later, after having ruthlessly barred other units from the roads assigned to him, General White had his leading units through Canisy and headed southwest.... The commitment of the 82d ARB in front of CCB might indicate only light resistance was expected. Though their mission was described as reconnaissance, they took-on whatever resistance they encountered. Advancing with three parallel companies, one company along the main axis road and one company on either side, up to a kilometer distant. I suspect the right column of CCB caught up with them late in the first day and took over clearing the main axis road. Initially restricted to a single main road, the two columns were interwoven. Each column divided into an "advance guard" and "main body" they were followed by CCB combat trains and a rear guard, thus they moved as: Right AG, Left AG, Right MB, Left MB, CCB combat trains, RG, then Division Reserve and Division Artillery Each advance guard was about a company/battery each of tank, infantry and artillery plus support elements of engineer and medical. Ideally the advance guard would over-run road blocks or engage sustained resistance while the main body maneuvered off the main axis road to attack from an unguarded direction. Except for the lead units, the first day march may have seemed more like a traffic jam. Later in the battle the description of unit locations becomes very disjointed. At some point I imagine commanders grabbing whatever company was next on the road and assigning them the most pressing mission at the moment. For example B/41st AIR, of the right column, defended Pont Brocard on the first night, remained there until picked-up by the division reserve and later sent to St Denis le Gast where they again fought a German battle group on the last night of the operation. Only two days apart, Paul Andert earned a Bronze Star and Silver Star in each of those actions.
For the sake of symmetry I will provide the order of battle for the 1st Infantry and 3d Armored Divisions before I look at the details of their operations. Notice CCB of the 3d AD is attached to the 1st ID. 1st Infantry Division 16th Infantry ---*Co A, 745th Tank Bn ---*Co A, 634th TD (SP) 18th Infantry ---*Co B, 745th Tank Bn ---*Co B, 634th TD Bn (SP) 26th Infantry (minus one Bn) ---*Co C, 745th Tank Bn ---7th FA Bn (105mm Howitzer) ---32d FA Bn (105mm Howitzer) ---33d FA Bn (105mm Howitzer) ---5th FA Bn (155mm Howitzer) 1st Engineer Combat Battalion *745th Tk Bn (minus Cos A, B & C) *635th TD Bn (T) *4th Cav Rcn Sq ??? *38th Cav Rcn Sq *Cos B & D, 81st Cml Mort Bn *CCB (3d Armd Div) ---33d Armd Regt ---36th Armd Inf Regt (minus 3d Bn) ---391st Armd FA Bn ---*87th Armd FA Bn ---83d Armd Rcn Bn ??? ---Cos B & D, 23d Armd Engr Bn ---*Co C, 703d TD Bn (SP) ---Btrys A & D, 486th AAA AW Bn (SP) ---Btry B, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 3d Armored Division CCA ---32d Armd Regt ---3d Bn, 36th Armd Inf ---*2d Bn, 26 Inf Regt (1st Inf Div) ---67th Armd FA Bn ---*Cos A & B, 703d TD Bn (SP) ---Cos A & C, 23d Armd Engr Bn ---*Btry A, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) Division Artillery ---54th Armd FA Bn ---*58th Armd FA Bn ---*258th FA Bn (155 Gun) * - attached units
A detailed look at the western most exploiting force. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Breakout/maps/USA-E-Breakout-V.jpg From Breakout and Pursuit 1st Infantry Division with CCB, 3d AD *CCB (3d Armd Div), 1st ID ---33d Armd Regt ---36th Armd Inf Regt (minus 3d Bn) ---391st Armd FA Bn ---*87th Armd FA Bn ---83d Armd Rcn Bn ??? ---Cos B & D, 23d Armd Engr Bn ---*Co C, 703d TD Bn (SP) ---Btrys A & D, 486th AAA AW Bn (SP) ---Btry B, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) * - attached unit From Breakout and Pursuit CCB (3d Armd Div), 1st ID I wonder if that should have read: "three balanced teams or task forces (each a battalion of medium tanks and two companies of armored infantry), the combat command advanced with two teams abreast." The After Action Report for the 83d ARB makes no mention of operations with CCB. I wonder if they meant the Armored Recon Company of the 66th AR. Still I'm a bit mystified by how the recon element advanced, perhaps down the highway between the two lead teams which were advancing on either side of the highway. I would like to know if the infantry advanced dismounted with the tanks or rode in their half-tracks. The rate of progress seems to allow for dismounted infantry operations. 1st ID continued 18th Infantry ---*Co B, 745th Tank Bn ---*Co B, 634th TD Bn (SP) 16th Infantry ---*Co A, 745th Tank Bn ---*Co A, 634th TD (SP) * - attached unit From Breakout and Pursuit 16th and 18th Infantry, 1st ID
3d Armored Division CCA ---32d Armd Regt ---3d Bn, 36th Armd Inf ---*2d Bn, 26 Inf Regt (1st Inf Div) ---67th Armd FA Bn ---*Cos A & B, 703d TD Bn (SP) ---Cos A & C, 23d Armd Engr Bn ---*Btry A, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) Division Artillery ---54th Armd FA Bn ---*58th Armd FA Bn ---*258th FA Bn (155 Gun) * - attached units CCA, 3d AD From Breakout and Pursuit From my accounting it appears CCA, 3d AD, had three tank battalions but only one armored infantry battalion and one attached rifle battalion of the 26th Infantry(1st ID). Not enough to make three equal task forces. Task forces were identified as X, Y and Z.
