US Marine Corps 1941-45 by Gordon Rottman

Author:Gordon Rottman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: US Marine Corps1941–45
ISBN: 9781782004554
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

A 2nd MarDiv 75 mm M3 anti-tank gun halftrack fires on an enemy strong point on Saipan, 1944. The crew’s gear is slung on the outside hull. Common Marine vehicle base colours were forest green shade 23 and the darker OD shade 9.

The 1st–18th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalions (no 6th) were formed between April and September 1944, by converting defence battalions. The battalions were assigned to FMF artillery and placed in support of corps, in general support of divisions, or employed to defend forward naval operating bases on various Pacific islands. Only the 2nd, 5th, 7th 8th, 12th and 16th were committed to major combat operations. All but the 1st were deactivated after the war.

The 1st–6th 155 mm Howitzer Artillery Battalions and 7th–12th 155 mm Gun Artillery Battalions were formed during 1944. They were assigned to corps artillery and placed in general support of divisions. Only the 10th and 12th did not see combat. All were deactivated after the war.

The 1st–11th Amphibian Tractor Battalions proved to be among the most valuable of units employed in the Pacific. All but the 7th and 8th were committed to combat. The 1st–5th Battalions had originally been assigned to the 1st–5th MarDivs, but were transferred to FMF troops in May 1944. The 1st–3rd Armored Amphibian Tractor Battalions provided amphibious fire support during the final approach to the beach, and all saw combat. The Marines also employed similarly equipped Army amphibian tractor and amphibian tank battalions.

The 1st and 2nd Aviation Engineer Battalions were formed in 1943 as FMF troops. Lightly equipped, they were intended to be air-lifted onto islands to repair captured airfields. They were provided with heavier equipment and redesignated separate engineer battalions (to differentiate them from the 1st and 2nd (divisional) Engineer Battalions) on 1 June 1944. They remained FMF troops to serve with IIIAC and VAC respectively. Both were deactivated in 1946.

A wide variety of additional separate units were assigned to FMFPac. These were normally reassigned to amphibious corps and Marine divisions as operations required. They included: replacement battalions and drafts (over 100 were formed); provisional Marine companies and detachments (FMF base security units); 1st–3rd Military Police Battalions1; 1st–6th Joint Assault Signal Companies2; 1st–6th Amphibian Truck Companies2; 1st and 2nd Bomb Disposal Companies1; 1st–5th Separate Medical Companies; 1st and 2nd Separate Topographical Companies1; 1st–5th Provisional Rocket Detachments2; 1st–7th War Dog Platoons2; 1st–6th Separate Wire Platoons, 1st–5th Separate Radio Intelligence Platoons; and 1st and 2nd Laundry Companies (reorganised into 1st–8th Separate Laundry Platoons in 1944).

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