It was redesignated as the 743rd tank battalion medium in october 1942. My grandfather was a t5 of the 736th medium tank bn sp. The article recounts hensons personal history, noting that in 1943 he received orders to the 736th tank battalion. Where heroes trained deals with a secretive and highly unusual army project in world war ii. Just to the south, first army advanced to the mulde river. Arrived uk in the united kingdom on 1 april 1944 and utah beach in august. Veteran of 736th canal defense light battalion turns 92.
Battlefield commission prisoner of war killed in action oak leaf cluster posthumous go record for award not found yet. Us army units book 2 boxes 127489 33rd armored regiment. Sadly, he passed away before he told me much about his time during the war, and i would like to be able to perpetuate his memory with my own son. Jim gerhardt, 736th medium tank battalion, special.
Ww2 us army military tank destroyer shoulder patch 4 wheel fully embroidered. Personal comments page 1 7th medium tank battalion 7th infantry division us army korean war project almost three thousand units pages are available at the korean war project. The battalion was equipped with refurbished ww ii m4 sherman tanks attached to the 25th division and only fifteen days after activation, the 89th saw its first combat defending the pusan perimeter near masan in support of the 27th infantry. The 736th tank battalion crossed the rhine and elbe rivers in march and april, 1945. Company c detached 15 february 1942, sent to iceland. In october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii.
My uncle wilfred minielli was a member of the 749th tank battalion in world war ii. Get the best deals on tank destroyer patch when you shop the largest online selection at. In three days, the 78th division had lost well over 1,000 men, most of them at kesternich. The authorized strength of a rifle battalion, less attachments, was 871. Jim gerhardt, 736th medium tank battalion, special by hometown heroes radio updated about 8 years ago taken in sacramento, california 87yearold jim gerhardt of sacramento, ca appears on the may 5, 2012 edition of hometown heroes on kmj. Make offer original ww2 802nd tank destroyer battalion vetaltered patch off uniform glows. The 736th, 739th and 740th tank bns were all initially experimental units the 736th and 740th w cdls the gizmos, and the 739th as mine exploders. I was just wondering if the patch itself was rare or not. Redesignated 1 may 2004 as headquarters and headquarters company, 36th infantry division support command. The 736th was formed from a group of specially selected men trained initially with a topsecret tank mounted weapon codenamed the canal defense light. Caught up in the project were many unwitting gis who found themselves whisked off to mysterious training bases, introduced to the most powerful tank in the american arsenal, and drilled in. The battalion was awarded five battle stars for its major engagements. I have never seen one on ebay, only collectors copies not saying there has never been one on.
Distinctive unit insignia, 743rd tank bn coat of arms. Jim gerhardt, 736th medium tank battalion, special facebook. Separate tank battalions were military formations used by the united states army during world. For those who know it the 736th had a very interesting history. Long before the superhero black panther made his debut on the silver. History, 2d medium tank battalion, 67th armor the 2d medium tank battalion, 67th armor, tracing its lineage to the first separate battalion, heavy tank service, 65th engineer regiment organized on 17 february 1918 was constituted on 24 march 1923, as company b, 19th tank battalion. After action report, 736th tank battalion, 1 may31 may, 45. Redesignated 70th light tank battalion 7 october 1941. If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be great. The 743rd tank battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the european. I am putting together a documentary honoring the soldiers involved this top secret project. Also on 15 february 1957 company a, 69th armor was redesignated as hhc, 1st medium tank battalion, 69th armor and assigned to the 1st infantry division at fort riley. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank. Sample text for library of congress control number 2003062336.
The 750th, attached to 104th timberwolf infantry division, endured its first real combat on 16 november 1944 near aachen and lost thirtyfive tanks in the first seven days of fighting, an astonishing 61 percent of the battalion s total medium tank losses. By hometown heroes radio updated about 8 years ago taken in sacramento, california. Originally based at camp rucker, alabama, hensons unit started tank training at fort knox. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern europe until ve day. The 746th tank battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the european theater of operations with the united states army in world war ii. Apr 4, 2015 ww2 wwii us army armored 736th tank battalion patch the kid battalion ebay.
Losses in the 2nd battalion, 309th, were just as high. Not a manhattan project, but taken nearly as seriously, this was a most interesting sidelight of armored warfare. On 1 july 1963 the 3rd battalion was inactivated and replaced on that date at schofield barracks by the 1st battalion, 69th armor. Reorganized and redesignated 1 april 1942 as the 111th ordnance medium maintenance company. Im looking for information about the 738th medium tank battalion, particularly where they were stationed in the uk prior to going to europe. The 736th was part of the 83rd infantry division, known as the ragtag circus, when the war ended as they met the russian army at the elbe. The third tank platoon and the other section of tank destroyers acted as a battalion reserve. Ww2 photo 736th tank bn amphibious armor crossed rhine. Each medium tank company had seventeen m4 sherman medium tanks in three platoons of five tanks, with two more in the company headquarters and a single m4 or m4a3 105 mm assault gun. Those with a link will take you to a battalion published history. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank battalion. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
The mission of the 736th aircraft maintenance squadron is to provide saf,e reliable aircraft and dependable maintenance support to team dover in fulfilling its global peacetime and combat taskings. The heroic story of americas independent tank battalions at war in. The 89th medium tank battalion assigned to the eighth army and activated in korea 7 august 1950. Seventyfive men sustained nonbattle injuries, mostly trench foot. Patches for marine corps, patriotic patches, veterans, active duty and retired. In order to assure agreement on the definition and the parameters of the problem, certain types of action have been eliminated. I am putting together a documentary honoring the soldiers involved this topsecret project. The 736th battalion is notable for being one of the units equipped with the canal defense light, a powerful searchlight mounted on an m3 medium tank intended for use in nighttime operations. The 740th tank battalion was activated at fort knox, ky. M4a3105 of the 736th tank battalion neuss 3 march 1945. Bought a bag of 100 or so ww2 patches at a junk shop the other day, mostly all common stuff but this caught my eye. The battalion consisted of three medium tank companies usually a, b and c and one light tank company usually. After action report, 736th tank battalion, 1 may31 may.
The battalion arrived in england on april 1, 1944, and landed on utah beach in august it was reorganized as a standard tank battalion in november 1944, and attached to the 94 th. Veterans home celebrates birthday with resident heroes. The ninth army pounded in the direction of berlin all the way to the elbe river. Erected 1998 by veterans of the 736th tank bn, lost dutchman, billy holcomb and john p squibob chapters e clampus vitus and the bouse chamber of commerce. Also, the 736th is one of those separate tank bns that seems like every gi in it had the bn numbers added in to a blank armor forces patch at some point. Aug 6, 20 ww2 wwii us army armored 736th tank battalion patch the kid battalion ebay. To my understanding the 701st, 736th, 738th, 739th, 740th, 748th tank battalions medium special, the 150th station hospital, the 554th ordnance heavy maintenance company. The battalion consisted of three medium tank companies usually a, b and c and one light tank company usually company d. The squadron carries out its mission through the services of one aircraft maintenance unit and a. Dubbed the gizmo by the soldiers who operated it, the cdl was a million candlepower searchlight mounted on a specialized tank for the purpose of. It was one of five tank battalions all independent which landed in normandy on dday 6 june 1944.
When you look at the tank battalion and compare the early lee tank battalion to a later sherman one, there are some very big differences. For the best deals on army tank battalion patches shop one of the largest selections at. The 736th tank battalion was stationed in the european theater during world war ii. M4 sherman of the 745th tank battalion supports 1st infantry division in aachen, 1944 m4a3105 of the 736th tank battalion neuss 3 march 1945 m4a376w of the 7th armored division, 31st tank battalion, germany. Armed forces by maintaining and promoting americas overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials. Formed from 67th infantry medium tanks at fort meade, maryland, on 15 june 1940 under lt. This time, the attached company of the 736th tank battalion had not even seen combat action yet.
One tank platoon was attached to company e, and one to company f, which also had a section of tank destroyers. This majorityblack military unit was known by the nickname black panthers in reference to the the panther patches they wore on their uniforms. An example of the closer look we can get from unit records is the case of captain. M4a3105 of the 736th tank battalion neuss 3 march 1945 m4 sherman part 4 image 155 of 155 previous photo. Company c of the 736th tank battalion, equipped with dd tanks, was attached to the 743rd. Organized as special battalion equipped with top secret cdl spotlight tanks.
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