Victory's Foundation: US Logistical Support of the Allied

540 Pages·2015·6.84 MB·English

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Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public
History - Dissertations
Affairs
2011
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David D. Dworak
Syracuse University
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Dworak, David D., "Victory's Foundation: US Logistical Support of the Allied Mediterranean Campaign,
1942-1945" (2011). History - Dissertations. 95.
https://surface.syr.edu/hst_etd/95
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ABSTRACT
From November 1942 until May 1945, the Allied nations fought a series of campaigns across
the Mediterranean. Ever since, historians have debated the role and impact of the Mediterranean
theater upon the greater war in Europe. Through analysis of official archival documents, unit
histories from the period, and personal memoirs, this dissertation investigates the impact of US
Army service forces on each of the campaigns and operations conducted across the
Mediterranean theater. Additionally, this study examines how the campaigns of the
Mediterranean shaped and informed the 1944 landings in France and the subsequent drive into
Germany. This dissertation argues that the Normandy invasion of 1944 and victory over
Germany did not just happen. The success that the Allied forces enjoyed in France and Germany
had its foundation set in the learning and experiences of the Mediterranean that began in
November 1942. Additionally, the Allies (particularly the US) would not have achieved victory
as quickly as they did if it were not for the development of the administrative and logistical
systems, organizations, equipment, and doctrine that occurred within the Mediterranean. Simply
put, the Mediterranean was an essential Petri dish that allowed US service units to test new
concepts and develop the experience necessary to win the war against Germany. This was the
laboratory in which the US military, particularly the support units, could learn and adapt with
minimal risk. Considering the alternatives, the Allied strategy of conducting operations in the
Mediterranean and then shifting the priority to the European theater proved the approach that
produced the shortest end to the war. This indirect approach provided the time to train a
conscript army and modernize the military. Most importantly, the US Army learned how to
support ground and air forces deployed in an overseas theater.
VICTORY’S FOUNDATION: US LOGISTICAL SUPPORT OF
THE ALLIED MEDITERRANEAN CAMPAIGN, 1942-1945

By
David D. Dworak
B.A. University of Texas at Arlington, 1984
M.S. Florida Institute of Technology, 1993
M.S.S. U.S. Army War College, 2006

DISSERTATION

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History
in the Graduate School of Syracuse University

May 2011
Copyright 2011 David D Dworak
All rights reserved
iv

Table of Contents

List of Illustrative Materials ........................................................................................................................ vii
Chapter I: Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1
Significance of the Military Theater ......................................................................................................... 6
Review of Literature ............................................................................................................................... 10
Chapter II: Lessons not Learned- The First World War and Interwar Years .............................................. 26
Evolving Warfare .................................................................................................................................... 28
Theater Support and the First World War ............................................................................................... 30
Interwar developments: the US Army before Pearl Harbor .................................................................... 39
The German Approach to Support .......................................................................................................... 47
Conditions Leading to Torch .................................................................................................................. 49
Assessment .............................................................................................................................................. 57
Chapter III: The Invasion of North Africa .................................................................................................. 60
Planning the Invasion .............................................................................................................................. 64
Inexperience and Consequences of a Fateful Decision ........................................................................... 73
More Consequences ................................................................................................................................ 88
Chapter IV: Establishing the US Theater in the Mediterranean ................................................................. 95
Cleaning up the Rear ............................................................................................................................... 96
Establishing the Communications Zone ............................................................................................... 103
Building up the Theater ........................................................................................................................ 122
Logistics on the Other Side of the Hill ................................................................................................. 126
Rearming the French ............................................................................................................................. 128
Chapter V: The Fight for Tunisia, 1943 .................................................................................................... 134
Strategic Setting .................................................................................................................................... 135
Positioning the Force ............................................................................................................................ 140
Lessons Learned from North Africa ..................................................................................................... 153
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 163
Chapter VI: Pantelleria and Sicily, Supporting the Island Campaigns ..................................................... 168
Strategic Setting .................................................................................................................................... 170
Pantelleria: Operation Corkscrew ......................................................................................................... 174
The Planning of Husky ......................................................................................................................... 178
Mounting the Force ............................................................................................................................... 189
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Invasion and Initial Support .................................................................................................................. 197
The Other Side of the Hill ..................................................................................................................... 212
Support of Seventh Army and the Drive towards Palermo ................................................................... 216
The Race for Messina ........................................................................................................................... 220
The Fall from Grace .............................................................................................................................. 231
Evolution of the Island Base Section .................................................................................................... 234
Assessment of the Engineer Special Brigade Concept ......................................................................... 237
Changes in North Africa ....................................................................................................................... 241
The Fall of il Duce ................................................................................................................................ 244
Lessons Learned.................................................................................................................................... 247
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 255
Chapter VII: Operation Avalanche and the Invasion of Italy, September 1943 to June 1944 .................. 260
Strategic Setting .................................................................................................................................... 262
Planning Avalanche and the Mounting of Fifth Army.......................................................................... 265
Mounting the Force ............................................................................................................................... 270
Support of the Landings at Salerno ....................................................................................................... 272
Naples and the Establishment of the Support Base ............................................................................... 287
German Logistics .................................................................................................................................. 298
The Mountain Campaign ...................................................................................................................... 301
Other Claimants .................................................................................................................................... 318
Winter ................................................................................................................................................... 321
Anzio ..................................................................................................................................................... 332
Flattening the Communications Zone ................................................................................................... 354
Lessons Learned.................................................................................................................................... 360
Chapter VIII: Operation Dragoon, The Invasion of Southern France ...................................................... 371
Debating the Options ............................................................................................................................ 377
Planning the Invasion ............................................................................................................................ 383
Supporting the Assault .......................................................................................................................... 392
The Drive Inland ................................................................................................................................... 407
Approaching the Rhine: Slowdown, Missed Opportunity, and a Determined Defense ........................ 425
Command and Control: Continuous Reorganization ............................................................................ 433
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Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 444
Chapter IX: Unfinished Business in Italy, Assessment, and Conclusion ................................................. 459
Driving Towards the Po: The End of the Fight in Italy ........................................................................ 461
Learning Organizations ......................................................................................................................... 472
Assessment of Support Across the Mediterranean................................................................................ 478
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 494
Other Subjects Deserving Further Research ......................................................................................... 499
Appendix A: Maps .................................................................................................................................... 502
Appendix B: Common Landing Craft ....................................................................................................... 513
Notes on Sources....................................................................................................................................... 517
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................. 518
Primary Sources: Unit Histories, Historical Booklets, Manuals, Manuscripts, Official Publications, and
Projects .................................................................................................................................................. 518
Secondary Sources Books, Articles, Maps ........................................................................................... 524
VITA ......................................................................................................................................................... 529
vii

List of Illustrative Materials

Figure 1: The Major Approaches to Europe from in the Mediterranean ...................................................... x
Figure 2: The Mediterranean ........................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 3: Operation Torch, November 8, 1942. .......................................................................................... 76
Figure 4: Casablanca Harbor..................................................................................................................... 107
Figure 5: MG Everett Hughes ................................................................................................................... 111
Figure 6: BG Arthur Wilson ..................................................................................................................... 115
Figure 7: MG Thomas Larkin ................................................................................................................... 116
Figure 8: BG Arthur Pence ....................................................................................................................... 116
Figure 9: Ration Dump at Oran................................................................................................................. 120
Figure 10: Local Labor ............................................................................................................................. 121
Figure 11: The Final Push for Tunisia ...................................................................................................... 141
Figure 12: Bombs for the Air Force .......................................................................................................... 175
Figure 13: Landing Ship- Tank (LST) ...................................................................................................... 193
Figure 14: The Invasion of Sicily, July 10, 1943. .................................................................................... 198
Figure 15: Typical Landing Beach for One Combat Team ....................................................................... 202
Figure 16: DUKWs at Scoglitti ................................................................................................................. 203
Figure 17: Transferring Supplies to a DUKW .......................................................................................... 207
Figure 18: The Beach at Scoglitti ............................................................................................................. 210
Figure 19: Motor Freight Support for Husky ............................................................................................ 219
Figure 20: The Allied Advance Across Sicily .......................................................................................... 224
Figure 21: The Invasion of Italy ............................................................................................................... 267
Figure 22: Salerno ..................................................................................................................................... 274
Figure 23: Pier Extended Over Sunken Ship at Naples ............................................................................ 292
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Figure 24: Italian Civilians Seeking Assistance........................................................................................ 294
Figure 25: US Army Pack Train in Italy ................................................................................................... 303
Figure 26: Packboards ............................................................................................................................... 307
Figure 27: Truck Reconfigured as Rail Engine Figure 28: Damaged Ties ........................................ 313
Figure 29: Anzio ....................................................................................................................................... 337
Figure 30: 105mm Shell Casings at Anzio ............................................................................................... 342
Figure 31: Recovering the Dead at Anzio ................................................................................................. 345
Figure 32: COL John Ratay ..................................................................................................................... 352
Figure 33: The Landing Plan .................................................................................................................... 398
Figure 34: LSTs Arriving in France .......................................................................................................... 399
Figure 35: Lines of Advance up the Rhone Valley ................................................................................... 409
Figure 36: Movements up to September 15, 1944 .................................................................................... 413
Figure 37: 6th Army Group Positions as of November 1, 1944................................................................. 426
Figure 38: Western Front, December 16 1944 to 30 January 1945 .......................................................... 431
Figure 39: Italy .......................................................................................................................................... 464
Figure 40: The fight for Northern Italy, April-May 1945 ......................................................................... 468
Figure 41: The Race for North Africa, November 1942-Febriary, 1943 .................................................. 502
Figure 42: Battle of Kasserine February 14-22, 1943 ............................................................................... 503
Figure 43: The Fight for Tunisia, April-May 1943 ................................................................................... 504
Figure 44: Sicily, 1943 .............................................................................................................................. 505
Figure 45: The Invasion of Southern Italy- September 1943 .................................................................... 506
Figure 46: Anzio-Cassino, January 1944 .................................................................................................. 507
Figure 47: The Fight for Northern Italy ................................................................................................... 508
Figure 48: France ...................................................................................................................................... 509
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Figure 49: Operation Dragoon .................................................................................................................. 510
Figure 50: Western Front, November 1944 to January 1945. ................................................................... 511
Figure 51: The Western Front, November 1944 ...................................................................................... 512
Figure 52: Landing Craft- Infantry (LCI). ................................................................................................ 513
Figure 53: Landing Craft- Personnel (LCP). ............................................................................................ 513
Figure 54: Landing Ship- Tank (LST) ...................................................................................................... 514
Figure 55L Landing Craft- Tank (LCT) ................................................................................................... 514
Figure 56: Landing Craft- Vehicle (LCV) ................................................................................................ 515
Figure 57: Landing Craft- Mechanized (LCM) ........................................................................................ 515
Figure 58: Landing Craft- Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP) ...................................................................... 516