I, OIEi~IUTIU ,\N3 GCMMITTXMG OF TF 45.

1, Cn 24 July 19&k, the 45th AAA Brfga48 ww P'olpfbg tb* antiairctit dofmse af IV Corps of Fifth &wy lrfth one operations dstaehmnt (for early warning), two U Gtcoup headquartem, two AA irutomatie weq3afw battaliont (srolf-pzwpoll*d), fiY9 AA Pu~tic1 weawnrr battalions (mabila), two AA gun bottalionil aad om AA sear&light b&my, This smmand aons3,st+d of scam 7000 offiwm and mlirted mm, grouped and a& BS follm~t

MlT’r & 32 Kws) J&l5r1 & 32 KWo) Boforr br 32 Mfil'S Bofora d( 32 Y5l'a Gun6 9Oam and26S, .5O ml) lighta ana15 I& .so ml)

Bofws & 32 u5l's) _

la5 is half-tr~kmaintinglgun 37~~6 2 ME'* .50 ml. Nl6i.s ahalf~traakmmting bM3, .5Oaal. lI51itt atmok4rmmtrailrrmscruntfng4Y3, .50 al.

Bofors ia a truck-drawn 4Omm gun,

3. Genucl Rutlidge at onm bogm the ocmversion of his aon- mand to a protisional infantry unitr

&A (AW) %n Pmviaional Infimtry I3n.

Hq & wq m-y changcrch to Mq t Hq CorappnJr

(two .30 saliber ma&be gm-and ona 30 au-8 gwn wtion), plur th* folloring

Group Hq. Rl Hq. Rifle Go. HWCO.

mihs per Qroug Hp. Jnure p6P m Hq, IPi p6r BIfl6 co. nrilas p8r HW co.

0. onamy &ran&h

d,

*.

f.

Frotaut

I’?pejars

Gn the aanw date, ing troop8 Ik8 followa:

left flank Qf cmpe.

to follow up any %neBy withdrawl.

Tag& Fores 45 iissued Field Qrder No. 1 aS-igrP_

(2) r'rotwt Brigade left flank, Prarentieg ong hoe tilr jmcwtrationp

to detetie

a.

6. 34 i3ivioion M4.ll8ry (Infantry)

(1) JirCgct artillery 2mpport of Brigad8.

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a. (1) 536, 898, 439 and 435 MA Ba~%uon** (a) ~su;uw prmisl;lonal infantry T/O at ~rme. (b) Awmmbl~ eqx&emt not a+odrd for: infantry

rolr at b&taliQa FOAF Whelan &NW only a;tf"fiaieW p8~- mncml will be loft to prorid. semr%ty M& ma3.ntrki mqui~ mmt.

(0) cOntinu0 intensin training in uant,ry tlatiw, atrearing dlfmS8 of rilmr lin8, ssrautA.ng, p0mllin& Md u&S of Infantry WwpQm. ’

(2) (a) wo wtillrry fix% will bs pl&md Qtl sty of PIdA emept on Brlgrda ordw,

5. The 898 AAA Bn went into the line on tha night 2ti7 July 1944, to r&.ieva the 168 Xnfmtry cm the right flank of th8 se&w, Qn the following night, 27.28 July 1944, the 536 MA Eb aant ints the line to reliew the 133 Infantry in the left half of tha rig&t matOF. The 107 &%A Group than resumed rroponsibiUty fQF the w%tira right se&or, The veteran 91 Camlry Reacmnahswr Sqaacimn (-1 troop) was wed to patrol ax&h of tha ArnQ kzirur MIJ to the fbnks aad wa8 availabS0 w group moev*. (During thenf%ht28-29 July1944 tha 91 &w&lry Baeormaiaram Squ~ was dd.wted t0 the aoad t0 aounter P porssfbla emmy mphibioua attempt but rib0 rrtwnod to its fOMuar yOvlitiSnS th8 f@QZ%a Of 29 Jay 194.4). The sb 6hWi& Bipt- t&.iQn, nith itg, 4.2 BOF~WS, was at thr saw tima aurda, avail&U m 107 crux Grmtp aapfJort for a pried of 4 days. 'MS seacad n&g&t the AA tr?QQpS rr@eiVcrd their firat BISU&lt~*I frQm 0mW &&l&W aadmrtw fin and took two prironaraofwar fmmm uS~po~F&

8. The 2 Armred Croup a%swnrd o-d Of the Twk Forw rWerv8, mnslstine, of the 751 Tenk Bn, Co f3 of the 805 TIurk %wtrOy@r w, Battiwira h & B of the 631th &&A Brr ruSa thr Bx%tUh 39 LAA likgtit nhi& had been ottauhacl to the Task Porue on 29 July 1944. Thr, 39 LA re&tent oomistgd of a::h;roxicately 850 officrers auzd enliatrb mm

2. On 31 JU.y 1944, the 34 Infantry 13ltioion &rtiLXtwy and . thr 403 AAh Gun Bn were withdmwn from the Taek Fores sasutw~ how- erer, th8 Tank Oretmyer aompmfua of the 894 Tank &rtroyer Bn Irem attached 31 July 1944 and the gun8 of this unit, plus those of the 751 Tank Bzi aud & B of the 805 Tar& Dea,troyer & were rsited to proride mrbetitute wtillery fire. Ths 3.7 AA guns of elafnents of the British 62 and 66 AA EM&ados alar0 continusei avaikablar.

3. The dqxwture of trio 34 Infantry,E)ivision Artillexy reltwsed for infantry trw the 4% MA &a (-2 0attwiea) which bad km prwidlng the bAl.lsry with hii protection. Esttsry A 8nd 1 plrptoon of Battery B of 434 AAA E3nwm now relieved of the coarW$l. patrol bythaBacomu&wmee Oo, 894 TDBn and the entireb&kU.onbegan infantry tri&iq, plllineil;?any in the upI8 Of mhwf8, ~&in. gUn8

with ixtfultry pDunlal, BAU and rlflrr. Two r-w w-w aat up 8nd .WasmiPo pmctirs conducted. On 3 Aqgastl%& Batter@e A&B ware attached to 91 AAA Group, Battery B bshng Qoramittti to the line to stramgthrn the clroug Tight fljnk and Batterg A befng held in W a-.

4. 2he 13J. Battery of the 39 W was1 attached to the 91 AU Group on 1 August 1944 surd was mmmftted to reU.ev~ r) Battery af the 435 AAA Bn an 4 Au&at 1944. The 240 glhttery of the 39 L&A wbe attached to the 107 -rub Group as gmmp reoerei aleo on 1 iaugur% 1944. The 110 E&ttery of the 39 LAA continued infantry try aa pirt of the Tmk &me rdsem. On 8 Augwt 1944, Batterry C, ,151 AAA ;Sj+% Eln '~ru &h&ad to the 91 A.& Grow and gl~en ths ariaaion of jawWin& oaaehl ar~oFohli@t an4 ra%r deferme.

5. On 11 August 19U, Weadqwters 91 AU Crow, &wing been ordered fro3 the the&x-e, was rslfeved by I-kckparters 2 iumwed Group which ialinq@ished wnuund of the Task Form reaerve to Has& quartera 751 Tmk Bn. On I.3 August 1944, the 898 riti ISn, haa aLso been ordered from the theatn, was relieved by the 434 A&A Bn (-2 EwAmLes). The 91 Gavalry Remnnai~~;mrrr Squrrdron which rpl in

536 Ba

wo Iaf

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4.

tb+ s&3o0$10 enthelaftby bowttded OQ the

right by t&r BW’ - ?&Sk ?QPaa 45 tmmdwy.

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16. The Task Irorce Wne on the Loi% was bqwcive~ 17 lomnkwr 1944 wha the Britirrh H Troop of tha 240 IkLttm~ rtmagpofntrd WTii (3299) and plawd outgorpta On the high ground forward and to

2. ‘phs newly attaahsd units were P&her attaehad to 2 Armored Group, togrthrr with the follow&$ un%ta rfiieh XV Corps ottaehrd on 19 srnd 21 of #ove.mber 19442

Ron Co (-1 Flatoon), 894 Tu& Dorrtroyer Bin 3. FmKmn, 0 co, l3 ?!a& Bn Co A (-1 YUtoo~ 894 Tmk n)estroylrr Bn,

The 2 Armred Group w;ds to make thr priaoipal effort dirsotsd by Corps.

3. &trolling was now intensffied and frquent WN&W* ivld fire Fights msulted. One 2&5an&Wrjiaan and Partisan patrolof the 435 MA J3n @lashed with 8 strong party of the Hun at $UXCZOLA. (5ll6) on 21 Bovambar 1944. 'ihaa our patrolwithdrewnirm enemy dwd and a hwgr nut&u- of wounad had bmn obsexved. Our patrol suffrrad two Ulled and me wounded, Hun shelUng inezvmwd. pjlefneor work on the rjIL;L~LSZZ~Q (5Ei.&5113) road was pushed do

: that supporting BIllltOr could be brought up.

4. Ietreoaary mgrouping md prspacation in the 2 Axmorsd Group ssotor was completed on 23 #ovMmr 1944,

Bn ww on the left, baaed at VI3ICUl'ICG

1 Flatoon 0fmediW tmk8 , Z Platcmtof licfhttmks lI?lrtom of Timk Destl"Oyms &en Co (-1 i'li~toon), 8% Tank f3estroym- Bn.

Its A.ssion W&Y to take ,!IE&CfOU (5116), CcmNa (Tll7) am8 Y,

(b) 2 %I, 370 Infantry ww in MWTANA (55161, and suyjmrted by

1 Flatoon of mediutn tanks 1 Platoon of U&t tanks f)etaohnent of &xllbdJ.

ths mnter, with OFat G&G10

(Q W&S on the right, with

a base at BO 1 Platoon of lmdiunn tanka 1 %&xsl of tank dastlwyers E;nginrer.min+-alearing detaehmmt

Its mission ww to take the- high g.~ound in the tirinity of Y. CASTBLW (56193.

5. At 0600~ on 24 Now-&w 1944, the three battalion5 @qwd off for their objeetiras. The weather WN cslmdy and misty whiah prrrsnted mti&pated rrir support and U&tad artillery obarmtim, By evening, the Left flank had been puabd forword ecxsidtwdly, pmgrrss hsrd b8~ Mde in the odm and stiff rWi&maie ~3 bw mat on tha right8

64 took ipnd OOHOEla (5

JWXXOLA (5ll6) by sely arftmmon Stiff rclristmea had bran set and o;as-

u&t&as hod bean inourred*fma Huniaaohins gum, mrtars and anrpll a-@. The Partisana had fought sp1eudicU.y. Fourteen priaonore wemt&en. lt'rogross on the lil, ~~~~~~~ slops had arlso been m&e. The battail9on line ran roughly from 499159 to 509167 to 317178 to 527171 to 534166,

(b) 2 &A, 370 Xnferntrg. mmehed a lens from 542178 to 550170 to 570185 and began to dig in. YOM wd caoaal& -8 firs ww bcrgSnnin& to be rectcrfved, poffiaul~ly in th@ vzoinsty cd 573183.

(~1) 3 BKL 6 Wantry DtLvloi~n (BJGF) retpehad heavy saacrhine gun mdnasrtar fire. The e-d&r& fita qqmrting &morw8~ disobked by mzLn.e. By noon8 the Bras&l&m hpd bmm foreed to drop break to their l$ne of departure for rrorglrunimt&on,

(d) Over 2uoO roundg of frlendayartill~w~ firrd durbg this first &-hour period of the atkck

6. At midnight the Bohr, lmkahed a ecwhr-attack ragainst

mmwll (5117). So attaak wu in ampmy strmgth and tha Hun sareimad ais he ohargad. L&m rqmrtar imU&ed that theam Boahe, mrrabema of the 13n,lO43 Bfantryof the232 Infantry Dirfsricm wore inbikd to tkmir anthuaimm by the wall-known olrptrin Straubr whose mbitlona for promotion rtiPrulakd hZaa %a urge m Na aa fmm behind with a pirstol and a hand gratwh ‘lb attwk wa@ bnhn up ba rronmntratad fire from mnal3 arm and tiprr)rar. Fourtmn Super- 5en were taken prisonere, YIX wara k.Ulmd and ten womdad.

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Au4 AU8 eocna now, on we artarnonM 26~~1944,eos- cantrated $500 rounds of eorkur. ill the tuwn of CXXBA (5117) in tie &3j5 AAA Brl rreator. Partiarnr alar, reported arcme l nuq8aminq ia3 ROWA CoRNEti (4917) on 27 W~am&ar ivnd P friaxaQ artilla~ 'SoT was placed on the town ehieh tara,lnuUd the aetiritg. XV CoPpr on thie date prwided Tcuk; Fomm 65 with an pddM.onal plateen of em&m tmkr und Y platoon of light tanb C Bbtterjr of the 434 AA.A Bn was alrro dire&ad to proceed a@ remrm Eo the 433 uidi Bn SOU* OR 29 HOV~W 1%.

11. on the night of 28 UoraaGm- 1944, the amawy l~umhed 0 battalion-rtrength countcrr-attrol 5.n th* 435 .Mi 3n l **tWo At the tW the troop of the 435 AU Ik war* r0~ a*pCr;rH aa fc&lorr:-

'phe emmy lightly ahelled CQROlvw imd Y. BELlWXQ3.E during the we Than at l&&k. * TOT of ZOO rounds w41;8 plmad on CCROU. !Bi* Bollqrad f~ fornard strongpoint and wiped out sorar 30 of cur ~anr The army than &W&ad in two-company strength over the ‘flALI%FKI ridge into tiw town of CC%ZOgA. At the wit&u* t&m two *olapmi*,r launched w uttmk on the II, B%VEZDE%B goiSition8 of B BBLtteZ’y. BEI4Lttal-y fou@tlmtil la& of ammnition foreed rrwithdrsrrrol to irnCIaLA & 17ook. C Battery conttiad to awqa the mglot until 29Ol3OA when danger of an aneq autnw infiltration required a wi.&dzwaltcb ,4IERCIU. D Battery acmtinued to l rqqe the en- emy mtF1 2%lA wlwn hemy ov8ultier (70 killed end airring) md the dartruotion of three of thati upportimyi tunk8 required thati ldthdrawalo D B&tory withdrew to VlDICfATICO asA C B&t-, 434 AM Bn was moved to the it?ERCICU frcmtlbe. The ancq am gdopd three Mark XV Tank8 aad ona rel.f-gwopallad gun in the CoROnA attad and shmed rammkrbla skill Ln iniiltratjlab bfantqmmtith fWt~tRW8 (bamekeri) within @lo8a SPaga of OtsT tS@Ik8 WhaN d-0 ecmldba infliot& Dus'i.n& thi8 action there we8 ne eha~X#e in @ia pO8itioM of 2Bnofthe 370 xnfarltly.

l2. It should ba noted that durfag tb8 atAre BELVSNRE qm%t- ticm8, the P4Wti8Wb8 foqht rid+ by dde with Qpzlp troop8 and exhibit- adag;url ~oumqija anddsrtarminatien in (UIIJlnb mxt thclirnki88icm. ‘he operatbm an&$ witb P rtmng, m&al n8peat and ad&ratioa axi8t%n# between theea ~te&imn rChanta8P8 rurd @Wl- Mm hWi.OM kOC@.

3. &lcJtive quiet &I.80 preYidled i.i~ tha BkCNI DI Ltb%di and CUTfCX*I&O - ~;?;-1TaIW$ sectors. our JMbtro1r inereaoed in the depth of their gsnotrationc into Bochr area but few eonteret& wara aada. Ten enany deserterr were pieked up on 7 OecueBer 19wC md others were taken from tfrae to time. It appaarodthat thrnmnttitroopa of 4 Bn of the Meer ;iLpino I%eg%smnt had mw been replacred,by the 10-p quality troops of the 232 FuarfZfetr Bn of the 232 Infantry Oiviaiun. &my wants were also ayprehended fmm tiae to time.

4, The 900 A.&A (Al?) BBS (Mob) wa attached to the TIpsk Force on 6 December 1944. It had had seveml week8 infantry tzxining in the II Corps motor ELnd WBY g fresh and rested unit. It reliavwi the 435 ABA Bn in the VI~ICI.HTICO - LIZZUO ma during the nfght s-9 r)rcre0bor1944. Tho 435 AAA Bn then reverted to Fifth Army eon- trol and left fop a PO& area.

~J?J@&i,A The 900 AU Bn readily adapted itself to the infantry role. VIDXCIATXCC LE'Z;lNO and fU&iCCIC uontimmd to be held

in strength. New outp&s*iere l stahli8hed to provide m&mum crossfire and an &&orate eyatmn of aofmwni~tfon~, petitU.ng in- stant arrll for myporting mortar and artillery fire was esrtabli~hed, WI&U= use was mde of Pirrtisanrr and oonfident reconnais@mce mtrol8 ~lij:.~ed through ensmy .uAnefiePls aad W&W 8I?&&n~~~~t8 to loeah Wuri

outpo%tol, CASAC~ZA (5216) wav alao strongyointed.

6. Active patrolling by 2 'Bn, 370 Safentpy was also continued Aping this wriod. TWO patrols on ll 1)6mmber 1944 engaged the Boohe in the vicinity of 543186 and 532i75 and killad two of them, Thr Hun mintaimd naoderate ertillery sshUJ.ng and intenar ‘to aplod- erato aorta fire, mrticularly irk the vicinity of G~&GIC ANTIC WW.

7. German attempts tc infiltrarte position0 &out WMGLIANC (4~06) on 11 &member 1944, were dirrowrred by one of the F&fsan outpoate at Ch!dOA. Intho emming flm fightthmHtyL eaplOyed grenader andmachine &stole andatO62OA firedtwo fAmea which were followed by an enmy TOT of 70 rounds OLI CUTIGLIANO. The Gms then withdrew.

8. The Brarilians on 12 December 1944 mde a further attempt to capture Y. iSTELL (5619). &a 2 Armored Group lldia inetmcted at this time to otago strong diveraionuty attacks to rupmrt, thie effort iund to confuse the Hun. On th@ left of the 900 AA& Bn se&or a‘rmnor ww moved up and ta@ dertroyera at first light began heavily Prhelling BOCHEeheld ROCCS @X&EBB (k91?) and the road lea&- ing to it fpona the North. At the mme tima a patrol of 1 offi@er

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12. During the puriod the Right sscstor ~oiauined amtiwe with patrol elaeheo and contiming eridurm of’ emmy aotM.ty. Smrp_ shooU.ng, with tank 4rstropem firing fmm a hill saak n&-h of 'I13WICIliTIQ0, llirsl demloprd at thia tim& %th a 2GpowSr Wop@ cmnstmtly trained on kcmm points of enemy ecltivity, the Nun wp forned to keep under @over during ~llght houm for a depth of f%tcr ail08 behind hi.8 lima.

33. AU armor was relieved of dire&, attaohmnt to Tmk Farm 45 on 20 Demmber 1944 but the 7SL Tank Bn (4 Go & 3 Pit, D Co) with 2 Platoon, d Go, Sg4 Tmk LWtmyrr Bn, atta&od, left in dir&s mpport of the TWk Form acxd saintaAnrd all arms in th* rightsaetor, Two armFed @am of Ren co, 8% Ta& ~rtmy~r Bn

wara also attmhmd to 107 A,U Gr*oup at thip time to au&&sin the double rood p&co1 froea CMFQ TIZPOE (4909) to V~~~~A (SW8).

flyer who hrod fallen far behind the Bo8hr Uwr uaa suggled through by Partfoanr.

17. On Christmu mornbg P#ia~iY?~wR$ led by on iucrrfaan sff'fmr, mmsd in the etlrly hours d t&e aorniry to posftionr amid !&o&e-

held PIAIW#ATICO (3f308). After direetirg artfflmy fire em&- rerved snenlJr positions, they entered the town and engaged th8 Hun. In the 3CMinute fti~ fight that followed, t&w killed trrc, af #a enemy, wou&ed zm undetsrai.ned mmbm @f other@ ad cwptured tire*. ‘They then tithdrew with two of their @un mm dead a.4 three wsmtsiab

l8. Brigadier General Lee S. Cbmw (A8oirtunt i.~ividon Car- mnder of the 85 Infantry Diririoe) arrumed -d of Turk ForsA 45 at O4OOA on 27 Dsoe&mr 1944. At the sanm time the 339 RCT of the 85 Infantry .zivislion was attashed, fiaving ularsd on tha ..,iiN i'liRC JJ_,J.,O area (4201) et 27cxx3k.

19. The Hun sst this time u'pia) ottmking dc\rm the rs~;~~CHf~ vJ&u!,,x in the 92 lnfmt~ Ditision se&or on the right. At the 8-e time the threat of the rummod Rocrho holiday effensiva in t&r SE§TAXOifE- CUTZGLUHO aeutor had not arbotod. NW u&8 the sitwtion on tb* right flank in the VIDXCfAT3YXbLIZ%~iNC! area any lrsr deliwt% It mu jrcmrctfngly &~tur&rmd ncrt to Wt tha 339 RCT bu* kp bold them in reserve m their full wei@ right km auployed on alth*r the loft, @enter or ri@? SeOtM, aa the chilnging situation m$@.rod.

21. fn the EJ&BTI UT LUCCA eectmr defenrim poritionr lcIsI (I* veyod on the hi& grmnd sort of the town 6~4 a 8eaonda.x-y posikicm wkba r~omoitsmd at t&o r%rer mrr4w8 in%herioinl~ofCOCCfCLfa (3300). Dbd.bd g&mm for rrpcrw rmintareiaf any of t&m t&w 6uboe&oxw of Task Porrc, 45, in t&e w8at of 6~1 imaineat eutu#’ attMk,

22. Tha 333 RCT al80 dlrpatahed an arcrrqp of kn petrels a dqr ?‘bir not only eonditionodtho troop and utquaintd thearrith~the torrain,butaddoiltoth* rcr+ttrt*.

12 P'ebrumy 1949

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35. All officers and enlirtid I#R of Bwdquortem aad Hood- quartrrs Battmy of 45 AUB~L~& vrithita rcmplmnmUng4j AAA Op0rations Dstachmnt were mmigmd to other ul.%k On 13 IObFuaW 15&S and orgmimtional property WYY~ turned Fn. 'l&m mum of T&c Form 45 aontinued to be used by 10 YounW.n Diridon for 8eeur%v pw--*

36, During ita ot~er~cion, Tmk Form 45 had ot rmyix@ tiaar, 3000 to 8000 men attvohrd from the following unit@: $

194 Field mU.lcary Group

338 Field mtillery En 598, Field ~tillery Bn B&tory C, 697 Yield tirtillery Pn 910 Fitid Artillery Bn

Xnfantry Unit8

100 Infantry Bn 339 Infmtry RCT 37U Xnfrpn"trJtRCT 85 Mountain Iafaatry Ragimnt 86Mouatafa InfantryRmgiawnt

2 *mrm*q co 1 & 2 Platoon. Co D, 13 Tmk Bn 2 Platoon, Co-B, 13-T& Bn 751 Tank Bn 755 Tank Rn 805 Tmk 'Dmtroyar I3n 894 Tank D*str#y*r BR m Car Ran Squadron Troop A, 81 Cur R&n S~adrcm

p$@eel~un6our unita 84 Cimdoarl Bn 179 Chesairial. Co 34 g&r Dog Plutoon 62 Signvl Bn (4 orews} 1 Pl&, co c 3LO snginnr Bn Co C, 310 Y*diocil iln 67lMsdirwl Co3#lreting co 672 Hedioal Colleotiztg Co 673 1cldiW GoZlretiag co 625 mdiclrirl Qoar%ng stotfon

47 LmB R&mat U bac~p, 167/56 71 Baa Begtint 73 HAbA -gimlt 74 WA RrgiPent

UA Rogimnt

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