PLANNING AND DISTRIBUTION OF FORCES
After routing out the Afrika Korps, the only logic would mean striking into south Europe from north Africa to open up the Mediterranean Sea for shipping. The natural choice would be Sicily. The plan was to have two armies, one at the south-eastern tip of the island, and other at the southern coast. These armies were to receive support from naval gunfire, as well as close air support. The Eastern Task Force (Force 545) consisted of the British 8th Army was led by Gen. Montgomery, whereas the Western Task Force (343) was commanded by Lt. Gen. Patton, consisting of the US 7th Army. Both reported to General Harold Alexander, commander of the 15th Army Group.
Monty group consisted of 4 Infantry Divisions and one independent brigade, organized into the XIII Corps, commanded by Gen. Miles Dempsey. The 231st Infantry was assigned the port of Suez as a launch-pad, whereas the UK 51st Division sailed from Tunisia and Malta. The 1st Canadian division, a new addition to the Corps, sailed in directly from the UK.
In addition to the Amphibious landings, airborne divisions as well as some British commandos were to be flown in to secure key bridges and high ground. This mission was undertaken by the British 1st Airborne, whereas the US 82nd Airborne was held as a reserve, under command of Maj. Gen. Matthew Ridgeway.
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The Allied navies had also been grouped into two forces for the invasion. The Eastern Naval Task Force had been formed from the British Mediterranean fleet, and commanded by Adm. Bertram Ramsey.
The air forces in North Africa were re-organized into the Mediterranean Air Corps, commanded by Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder.
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PRELIMINARY OFFENSIVES
The Allied Strategic bomber force began attacking major airfields in Sardinia, Sicily, and generally South Italy, Industrial targets in Italy and the major ports like Messina, Naples, and ports of Sardinia were also targeted. The idea was to maintain uncertainty as to where the invading forces would land. By the 10th of July, only two airfields remained intact in Sicily. Most Axis aircraft had been moved onto the mainland. Airmen flew almost 42,000 sorties over the region in the days leading up to the landing.
I have written about Opn. Mincemeat ((Refer: http://varunpendse.blogspot.in/2013/07/last-night-i-dreamed-deadly-dream.html ))
earlier in the blog, which was a deception plan attached to Opn. Husky. A corpse with documents chained to his body was let into the Spanish coast, which portrayed Greece as the target of the landings. These letters were written by the top brass themselves, and hence signatures were found to be authentic documents.
After routing out the Afrika Korps, the only logic would mean striking into south Europe from north Africa to open up the Mediterranean Sea for shipping. The natural choice would be Sicily. The plan was to have two armies, one at the south-eastern tip of the island, and other at the southern coast. These armies were to receive support from naval gunfire, as well as close air support. The Eastern Task Force (Force 545) consisted of the British 8th Army was led by Gen. Montgomery, whereas the Western Task Force (343) was commanded by Lt. Gen. Patton, consisting of the US 7th Army. Both reported to General Harold Alexander, commander of the 15th Army Group.
General George Patton
General Harold Alexander, C-in-C, 15th Army Grp.
Patton group consisted of 3 Infantry Divisions, the U.S. 1st and 3rd, to be launched from Tunisia, and the U.S. 45th Div., to be launched form Algeria. Additionally, the US 2nd Armored div. was to be held as a mobile reserve, and would be induced into combat as required.Monty group consisted of 4 Infantry Divisions and one independent brigade, organized into the XIII Corps, commanded by Gen. Miles Dempsey. The 231st Infantry was assigned the port of Suez as a launch-pad, whereas the UK 51st Division sailed from Tunisia and Malta. The 1st Canadian division, a new addition to the Corps, sailed in directly from the UK.
Gen. Miles Dempsey, C-in-C, XIII Corps
In addition to the Amphibious landings, airborne divisions as well as some British commandos were to be flown in to secure key bridges and high ground. This mission was undertaken by the British 1st Airborne, whereas the US 82nd Airborne was held as a reserve, under command of Maj. Gen. Matthew Ridgeway.
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The Allied navies had also been grouped into two forces for the invasion. The Eastern Naval Task Force had been formed from the British Mediterranean fleet, and commanded by Adm. Bertram Ramsey.
Adm. Bertram Ramsey
The Western Naval Task Force was formed from the US 8th Fleet, commanded by Adm. H. Kent Hewitt.
Adm. Kent Hewitt
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The air forces in North Africa were re-organized into the Mediterranean Air Corps, commanded by Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder.
Air Cheif Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder
This Corps consisted of the US 9th Air Force, 12th Air Force, and RAF squadrons which provided major air support. Even the Malta Air Corps HQ provided valuable support.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRELIMINARY OFFENSIVES
The Allied Strategic bomber force began attacking major airfields in Sardinia, Sicily, and generally South Italy, Industrial targets in Italy and the major ports like Messina, Naples, and ports of Sardinia were also targeted. The idea was to maintain uncertainty as to where the invading forces would land. By the 10th of July, only two airfields remained intact in Sicily. Most Axis aircraft had been moved onto the mainland. Airmen flew almost 42,000 sorties over the region in the days leading up to the landing.
I have written about Opn. Mincemeat ((Refer: http://varunpendse.blogspot.in/2013/07/last-night-i-dreamed-deadly-dream.html ))
earlier in the blog, which was a deception plan attached to Opn. Husky. A corpse with documents chained to his body was let into the Spanish coast, which portrayed Greece as the target of the landings. These letters were written by the top brass themselves, and hence signatures were found to be authentic documents.
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