Operation Husky: The
Allied Invasion of Sicily, 1943
by Thomas E. Nutter
Aspects of the Allied Invasion of Sicily, 1943
Footnotes
[1]. The code name adopted for the Allied invasion of Axis-occupied Sicily in
July, 1943.
[2]. U.S. Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States
[hereinafter "F.R.U.S."], Conferences at Washington, 1941-1942 and Casablanca,
1943 , G.P.O. 1968, Memorandum Marshall to Roosevelt, June 23, 1942,
pp. 473-475.
[3]. Ibid., Memorandum Churchill to Roosevelt, June 20, 1942, pp. 461-462.
[4]. Ibid., Memorandum by the United States Chiefs of Staff, December 26, 1942,
pp. 735-738.
[5]. Ibid., Memorandum by the British Chiefs of Staff, January 2, 1943, pp.
738-741; Memorandum by the British Chiefs of Staff, January 3, 1943, pp.
741-752.
[6]. Ibid., Joint Chiefs of Staff Minutes of a Meeting at the White House,
January 7, 1943, pp. 505-514.
[7]. Ibid., Meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, January 16, 1943, pp.
580-594.
[8]. Ibid., Memorandum by the Secretaries of the Combined Chiefs of Staff,
January 18, 1943, pp. 760-761.
[9]. Ibid., Meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, January 22, 1943, pp.
680-686.
[10]. Joseph P. Hobbs, Dear General: Eisenhower's Wartime Letters to Marshall
, Johns Hopkins Press, 1971, p. 97.
[11]. Ibid., Eisenhower Letter to Marshall, February 8, 1943, pp. 99-101.
[12]. Ibid., Eisenhower Letter to Marshall, March 3, 1943, pp. 107-108.
[13]. Ibid., Eisenhower Letter to Marshall, March 29, 1943, pp. 107-108.
[14]. F.R.U.S., Conferences at Washington and Quebec 1943 , G.P.O.
1970, pp. 25-26.
[15]. Ibid., p. 27.
[16]. Ibid.
[17]. Ibid., pp. 30-32.
[18]. Ibid., p. 36.
[19]. Ibid., p. 37; emphasis added.
[20]. Ibid., p. 43.
[21]. Ibid.
[22]. Ibid., p. 44.
[23]. Ibid.
[24]. Ibid., p. 45.
[25]. Ibid.
[26]. Ibid., p. 46.
[27]. Ibid.
[28]. Ibid., pp. 12-13.
[29]. Ibid., p. 13.
[30]. Ibid., pp. 13-14.
[31]. Ibid., pp. 256-257.
[32]. Ibid., pp. 257-261.
[33]. Ibid., pp. 261-272.
[34]. Ibid., p. 265.
[35]. Ibid., p. 272; emphasis added.
[36]. Ibid., pp. 272-281.
[37]. Ibid., p. 273.
[38]. Ibid., pp. 274-274.
[39]. Ibid., p. 281. Four days earlier (May 14, 1943), the United States Chiefs
of Staff circulated among the Combined Chiefs a memorandum prepared by the
United States Joint Staff Planners entitled "Conduct of the War in 1943-1944."
As to the Mediterranean, the memorandum recommended that after the completion
of HUSKY, the Allies conduct only limited operations in that theatre, primarily
by means of air attacks on Italy from Mediterranean bases. The U.S. planners
stated categorically that the level of forces committed in the Mediterranean
must "not...prejudice the success of a cross-Channel operation in 1944." The
U.S. Chiefs of Staff circulated with the memorandum a brief note in which they
said that "[T]he enclosed study was prepared by the United States Joint Staff
Planners and meets with the approval of the United States Chiefs of Staff."
F.R.U.S., I The Third Washington Conference, "Study by the United States Joint
Staff Planners. Conduct of the War in 1943-1944." May 14, 1943, pp. 227-229.
[40]. F.R.U.S., Conferences at Washington and Quebec 1943 . "Meeting
of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, May 18, 1943, 10:30 AM, Board of Governors
Room, Federal Reserve Building", pp. 97-108.
[41]. Ibid., p. 101.
[42]. Ibid., pp. 101-102.
[43]. F.R.U.S., Conferences at Washington and Quebec 1943 . "Meeting
of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, May 19, 1943, 10:30 AM, Board of Governors
Room, Federal Reserve Building", pp. 111-117.
[44]. Ibid., pp. 112-113.
[45]. Ibid., p. 113.
[46]. Ibid.
[47]. Ibid., pp. 114-115.
[48]. Ibid., p. 115.
[49]. Ibid., pp. 115-116.
[50]. Ibid., p. 116.
[51]. Ibid., n. 7.
[52]. F.R.U.S., Conferences at Washington and Quebec 1943 , "Report of
the Combined Chiefs of Staff to President Roosevelt and Prime Minister
Churchill, pp. 364-373.
[53]. Ibid., p. 365.
[54]. Ibid., p. 368.
[55]. Albert N. Garland and Howard M. Smyth, United States Army in World War
II; The Mediterranean Theater of Operations; Sicily and the Surrender of Italy
, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C. 1986, p. 14.
[56]. Ibid.
[57]. Ibid., p. 15.
[58]. Ibid., p. 16.
[59]. Ibid., p. 23.
[60]. Ibid., p. 24.
[61]. Carlo D'Este, Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943 , New
York, N.Y., 1988, p. 600.
[62]. Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of
Battle, World War II , p. 399.
[63]. Bryan Perrett, Knights of the Black Cross: Hitler's Panzerwaffe and its
Leaders, London, 1986, p. 245; W.J.K. Davies, German Army Handbook,
1939-1945, New York, N.Y. 1973, p. 35; George F. Nafziger, The German Order of
Battle: Panzers and Artillery in World War II , Mechanicsburg, Pa.
1999, p. 319.
[64]. D'Este, Bitter Victory, pp. 601-602; Nafziger, Panzers and Artillery in
World War II, p. 269; Thomas L. Jentz, ed., Panzertruppen: The Complete Guide
to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945
, Atglen, Pa., 1996, p. 103; G. Tessin, Verbande und Truppen der deutschen
Wehrmacht und Waffen SS 1939-1945, v. 4, pp. 9-11.
[65]. Tessin, v. 4, pp. 273-274; Nafziger, Panzers and Artillery in World War
II , p. 284; Jentz, p. 103.
[66]. Tessin, v. 4, p. 273.
[67]. Ibid.
[68]. Jentz, Panzertruppen , p. 53.
[69]. Tessin, v. 14, p. 117; Nafziger, Panzers and Artillery in World War II
, pp. 175-177.
[70]. D'Este, Bitter Victory , p. 602; Jentz, Panzertruppen, p. 103.
[71]. D'Este, Bitter Victory , p. 605; Tessin, v.2, pp. 63-64; .
[72]. Mitcham, Hitler's Legions , p. 404;
[73]. Jentz, Panzertruppen , p. 103.
[74]. D'Este, Bitter Victory , pp. 601-602.
[75]. Ibid., pp. 603-604.
[76]. Ibid., pp. 602-603.
[77]. Garland and Smyth, Sicily and the Surrender of Italy , Map 1.
[78]. Ibid., pp. 75-87; D'Este, Bitter Victory , p. 606.
[79]. D'Este, Bitter Victory , pp. 584, 588.
[80]. Ibid., pp. 584-585.
[81]. Ibid., pp. 585-586.
[82]. Ibid., pp. 586-587.
[83]. Ibid., p. 587.
[84]. Ibid., pp. 587-588.
[85]. Ibid., p. 588.
[86]. Ibid., pp. 588-589.
[87]. Ibid., p. 589.
[88]. Ibid., p. 590.
[89]. Ibid., p. 591.
[90]. Craven and Cate, v. II, p. 416.
[91]. Ibid., pp. 417-418.
[92]. Ibid., pp. 419-420.
[93]. Ibid., pp. 422-425.
[94]. Ibid., pp. 425-427.
[95]. Ibid., pp. 427-430.
[96]. Ibid., pp. 434-435.
[97]. Ibid., pp. 437-445.
[98]. Roskill, v. III, p. 118.
[99]. General D.D. Eisenhower, "Dispatch on Sicilian Operations", 1943, p. 20,
(hereinafter "Eisenhower Dispatch"), United States Marine Corps University
Collection of World War II documents (hereinafter "USMC Collection".
[100]. Ibid., p. 21.
[101]. Ibid.
[102]. Ibid.
[103]. Ibid.
[104]. Memorandum from Ensign Robert M. Seibert, D-V(G) USNR to Force Gunnery
Officer; Subject: Operation HUSKY, 21 July 1943, p. 1, USMC Collection, Box
117, File No. 23.
[105]. Ibid.
[106]. Ibid., pp. 1-2;
[107]. Eisenhower Dispatch, p. 22.
[108]. Ibid., p. 23.
[109]. Eisenhower Dispatch, p. 23.
[110]. Ibid.
[111]. Ibid., p.24.
[112]. Ibid., p. 25.
[113]. Ibid.
[114]. Ibid.
[115]. Vice Admiral Bertram H. Ramsay, RN, "Operation 'HUSKY'. Report of Naval
Commander Eastern Task Force", October, 1943, p. 1, (hereinafter "Ramsay
Report") USMC Collection; Ibid, Appendix V, p.1.
[116]. Ramsay Report, p. 1.
[117]. Ibid., Appendix V, p. 2.
[118]. Commander Western Naval Task Force (Vice Admiral H. K. Hewitt), "Action
Report: The Sicilian Campaign, Operation HUSKY, July-August, 1943, p. 37
(hereinafter "Hewitt report"), USMC Collection.
[119]. Ibid.
[120]. Ibid., p. 38.
[121]. Ibid., p. 40.
[122]. Ramsay Report, p. 4.
[123]. Ibid.
[124]. Ibid., p. 5.
[125]. Ibid.
[126]. Ibid.; Appendix V, pp. 9, 11.
[127]. Hewitt Report, p. 41.
[128]. Ibid.
[129]. Ibid., p. 43.
[130]. Ibid.
[131]. Ibid., p. 54.
[132]. Ibid., p. 57.
[133]. Ibid., p. 58.
[134]. Ibid.
[135]. Ibid., p. 59.
[136]. Ibid., p. 61.
[137]. Ibid.
[138]. Ramsay Report, Appendix IV, p. 1; Ramsay Report, p. 15.
[139]. Memorandum from C.C. Hartman, Commander Destroyer Squadron Fifteen to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet; Subject: Action Report-Assault on Scaglotti,
Sicily and adjacent Area, July 9-13, 1943, pp. 1-2, USMC Collection, Box 117,
File No. 27.
[140]. Ibid., p. 3; Enclosure A, p. 1 (Friday, 9 July).
[141]. Ibid., Enclosure A, p. 2 (Saturday, 10 July).
[142]. Memorandum from T.B. Brittain, commanding USS MONROVIA to
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, Subject: Report of Operations in
Connection with Amphibious Phase of HUSKY, July 10-12, 1943, p. 1, USMC
Collection, Box 116, File No. 5.
[143]. Ibid., p. 2.
[144]. Ibid., p. 3.
[145]. Ibid., pp. 3-6.
[146]. Ibid., p. 4.
[147]. Memorandum from Captain C.W. Harwood, U.S.C.G., Commanding Officer, USS
JOSEPH T. DICKMAN to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet dated 13 July
1943, Subject: Report of Operation HUSKY---July 1-12, 1943, p. 1, USMC
Collection, Box 116, File No. 7.
[148]. Ibid.
[149]. Ibid., p. 2.
[150]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[151]. Memorandum from L.T. DuBose, Commander Cruiser Division Thirteen, to
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet dated July 23, 1943, Subject: Action
Report, 10-14 July 1943, p. 1, USMC Collection, Box 117, File No. 29.
[152]. Ibid., pp. 1-2.
[153]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[154]. Ibid., pp. 3-5.
[155]. Memorandum from D.R. Frakes, Commanding Officer, USS MERVINE, to
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated July 15, 1943, Subject: Assault
against Scoglitti, Sicily, on July 10, 1943, p. 1, USMC Collection, Box 117,
File No. 28.
[156]. Ibid., pp. 1-4.
[157]. Ibid., p. 3.
[158]. Memorandum from Frederick C. Stelter, Jr., Commanding Officer, USS
BEATTY, to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated July 15, 1943,
Subject: Report of Action-Operation HUSKY, p. 1, USMC Collection, Box 116, File
No. 15.
[159]. Ibid.
[160]. Ibid., p. 2.
[161]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[162]. Ibid., pp. 3-4.
[163]. Ibid., pp. 4-5.
[164]. Ibid., pp. 5-6.
[165]. Ibid., pp. 6-7.
[166]. Memorandum from J. E. Murphy, Commanding Officer, USS FREDERICK FUNSTON,
to Commanding Officer, United States Fleet, dated July 16, 1943, Subject:
Report of Operation HUSKY, p. 1, USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 6.
[167]. Ibid., p. 3.
[168]. Ibid., p. 5.
[169]. Ibid., pp. 4-5.
[170]. Ibid.; enclosure A to memorandum of J. E. Murphy; memorandum from Ensign
R.R. Groves, Boat Group Commander, to the Commanding Officer, J.E. Murphy, July
15, 1943, p.1.
[171]. Ibid.; enclosure A to memorandum of J.E. Murphy; memorandum from Ensign
O.J. Barr, Boat Officer, to the Commanding Officer, J.E. Murphy, July 15, 1943,
p. 1.
[172]. Ibid., pp. 1-2.
[173]. Ibid; enclosure A to memorandum of J.E. Murphy; memorandum from Ensign
J.W. Auter, Boat Officer, to the Commanding Officer, J.E. Murphy, July 15,
1943, p. 1.
[174]. Ibid., pp. 1-2.
[175]. Ibid.; enclosure A to memorandum of J.E. Murphy; memorandum from Ensign
S.E. Frank, Boat Officer, to the Commanding Officer, J.E. Murphy, July 16,
1943, pp. 1-2.
[176]. Memorandum from L.Y. Mason, Jr., Commanding Officer, USS ANNE ARUNDEL,
to Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, dated July 17, 1943; Subject: Action Report;
Operation HUSKY, pp. 1-9, USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 8.
[177]. Memorandum from W.B. Phillips, Commander Transports, Amphibious Force,
U.S. Atlantic Fleet, dated July 17, 1943; Subject: Operation HUSKY-Report of;
pp. 1-2; USMC Collection, Box 117, file No. 18.
[178]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[179]. Ibid., p. 3.
[180]. Ibid., pp. 4-5.
[181]. Ibid., pp. 5-6.
[182]. Ibid., p. 6.
[183]. Ibid., pp. 7-9.
[184]. Ibid., p. 9.
[185]. Ibid., p. 10.
[186]. Ibid.
[187]. Ibid.
[188]. Ibid., p. 11.
[189]. Ibid., pp. 11-13.
[190]. Ibid., pp. 18-19.
[191]. Ibid; memorandum from A.G. Kirk, Commander Sixth Amphibious Force, to
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, re: Commander Transports, Atlantic
Fleet, Battle Report, HUSKY operation, September 13, 1943, pp. 1-3.
[192]. Memorandum from L.B. Shelton, Commanding Officer, USS DOROTHEA L. DIX,
to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated July 17, 1943, Subject:
Operation HUSKY, report of, p. 1; USMC Collection, Box 117, File No. 19.
[193]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[194]. Ibid., p. 7.
[195]. Memorandum from R.L. Conolly, Commander Task Force 86 to
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated August 5, 1943, Subject: Action
Reports and Comments on HUSKY; USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 12.
[196]. Ibid., p. 9.
[197]. Ibid.
[198]. Ibid., p. 10.
[199]. Ibid., pp. 11-14.
[200]. Ibid., p. 15.
[201]. Ibid., p. 16.
[202]. Ibid.
[203]. Ibid., p. 17.
[204]. Ibid., pp. 17-19.
[205]. Ibid., pp. 20-22.
[206]. Ibid., pp. 22-27.
[207]. Memorandum from R.A. Dierdorff, Commander Task Unit 81.2.3 to
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated July 18, 1943, Subject: Report
of Operations of Commander Task Unit 81.2.3 in landing Combat Team 16, U.S.
Army, near Gela, Sicily, July 9-12, 1943; USMC Collection, Box 117, File No.
32, pp. 1-3.
[208]. Ibid., pp. 8-9.
[209]. Ibid., pp. 10-12.
[210]. Ibid., Annex BAKER to Report of Operations of Commander Task Unit
81.2.3, p. 1.
[211]. Ibid., p. 2.
[212]. Ibid., Annex CHARLIE to Report of Operations of Commander Task Unit
81.2.3---Communications, pp. 1-2.
[213]. Ibid., Annex DOG to Report of Operations of Commander Task Unit
81.2.3---Lessons Learned and Recommendations, pp. 1-2.
[214]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[215]. Ibid., pp. 3, 9.
[216]. Memorandum from W.O. Bailey, Commander Transport Division Five, to
Commander Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, dated July 17, 1943; Subject:
Operation HUSKY, report of; USMC Collection, Box 117, File No. 24, pp. 1-3.
[217]. Ibid., p. 3.
[218]. Ibid., p. 4.
[219]. Ibid., p. 5.
[220]. Ibid.
[221]. Ibid., pp. 5-6.
[222]. Ibid., p. 6.
[223]. Ibid., "Report on Part Played in the Action by Control Vessels, Scout
Boats, and Support Boats", Annex A to Report of Commander Transport Division
Five on Operation HUSKY, pp. A-1, A-2.
[224]. Ibid., p. A-2.
[225]. Ibid., p. A-3.
[226]. Ibid., pp. B-1-B-4.
[227]. Ibid., pp. C-1-C-4.
[228]. Troy H. Middleton, Major General, U.S. Army Commanding, Report of 45th
Division, HUSKY Operation, to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated
September 29, 1943, USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 11, p. 1.
[229]. Ibid.
[230]. Ibid., p. 2.
[231]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[232]. Action Report, Beach 73, From Carl F. Robison, Commanding Officer, USS
LCI(L) No. 1, to Commander Red Attack Group, dated July 15, 1943, USMC
Collection, Box 116, File No. 10.
[233]. Action Report of the Invasion of Sicily, from H.G. Lippitt, Commanding
Officer, USS LCI(L) No. 3, to Commander-in-Chief U.S. Fleet, dated July 16,
1943, USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 10.
[234]. Report of Action, Red Beach, JOSS Operation, July 10, 1943, from Richard
W. Caldwell, Commanding Officer, USS LCI(L) No. 5, to Commander-in-Chief, U.S.
Fleet, dated July 11, 1943, USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 10.
[235]. Action Report of Landing on Punta Di Gaffi (Red) Beach, Sicily, JOSS
Attack Force, July 10, 1943, from Willard W. Ayres, Commanding Officer, USS
LCI(L) No. 9, to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated July 25, 1943,
USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 10.
[236]. Report of Operations, Sicilian Invasion, from W.A. Drisler, Jr.,
Commanding Officer, USS LCI(L) No. 10 to Commander, LCI(L) Flotilla II, dated
July 24, 1943, USMC Collection, Box 116, File No. 10.
[237]. Action Report from Kenneth E. Leake, Commanding Officer, USS LCI(L) No.
209 to Commander, LCI(L) Flotilla Two, dated July 12, 1943, USMC Collection,
Box 116, File No. 10.
[238]. Memorandum to Commander Amphibious Force, United States Atlantic Fleet,
Subject: Report on Operation HUSKY covering the period D-D+7 days, by Colonel
H.E. Smyser, USA, dated August 9, 1943, USMC Collection, Box 117, File No. 22.
[239]. Ibid., p. 2.
[240]. Ibid., pp. 4-5.
[241]. Ibid., p. 5.
[242]. Ibid., pp. 7-8.
[243]. Ibid., p. 8.
[244]. Ibid., p. 10.
[245]. Ibid., pp. 11-12.
[246]. Memorandum by Captain John H. Leppert, U.S.N., Commander Task Group 81.4
to Commander Task Force 81, Subject: Operations----HUSKY; report of, dated July
26, 1943, USMC Collection, Box 117, File No. 17, p. 1.
[247]. Ibid., p. 2.
[248]. Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[249]. Ibid., Enclosure A, Memorandum from H.G. Stender, Commanding Officer,
USS LCI(L) No. 17, to Commander Task Group 81.4, Subject: Action in HUSKY
Operations, Report of, dated July 18, 1943, pp. 1-4.
[250]. Ibid., Enclosure B, Memorandum from Commanding Officer, USS LCI(L) 188
to Commander Flotilla One, Subject Action Report, dated July 18, 1943, pp. 1-2.
[251]. Ibid., Enclosure C, Memorandum from Lt. (jg) Edward S. Dulcan,
Commanding Officer, USS LCI(L) No. 189 to Commander, Flotilla One, Subject:
Action Report, dated July 18, 1943, pp. 1-3.
[252]. Memorandum from J.B. Freese, Commander Task Unit 86.1221 to
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, dated 7 August 1943, Subject: Invasion
of Sicily on 10 July 1943, Action and Operations Report On, USMC Collection,
Box 116, File No. 14.
[253]. Memorandum from Robert L. Coleman, Commanding Officer, USS LST 311, to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, dated 27 July 1943, Subject: Action Report;
Memorandum from James T. Smith, Executive Officer, USS LST 311 to the
Commanding Officer, dated 27 July 1943, Subject: Action Report, USMC
Collection, Box 117, File No. 30.
[254]. Memorandum from E.F. Marcellus, Commanding Officer, USS LST Number 381
to the Commander-in-Chief, dated August 10, 1943, Subject: Action Report for
Period 10-12 July, 1943, USMC Collection, Box 117, File No. 31.
[255 Colonel Eugene M. Caffey, Commanding Officer, 1st Engineer Special
Brigade, "Shore Engineers in Sicily", dated 11 August 1943, USMC Collection,
Box 117, File No. 16, p. 1.
[256]. Ibid.
[257]. Ibid., p. 8.
[258]. Eisenhower Dispatch, p. 26.
[259]. Ibid.
[260]. Ibid.
[261]. Ibid.
[262]. Ibid., p. 27.
[263]. Ibid., p. 28.
[264]. Ibid., p. 29.
[265]. Ibid., p. 30.
[266]. Hewitt Report, p. 73.
[267]. Ibid.
[268]. Ibid.
[269]. Ibid., p. 74.
[270]. Ibid.
[271]. Ibid.
[272]. Ibid., p. 77.
[273]. Ibid., p. 78.
[274]. Eisenhower Dispatch, p. 30.
[275]. Ibid., p. 31.
[276]. Ibid., p. 32.
- - -
Copyright © 2003 Thomas E. Nutter
Written by Thomas E. Nutter. If you have questions or comments on this
article, please contact Mr. Nutter at: tenutter@gmail.com.
About the author: Tom Nutter is in his 25th
year of practicing domestic and international patent, copyright and trademark
law, and is the Managing Partner of an intellectual property law practice in St. Louis, Missouri. He holds
the Masters and Doctorate degrees in diplomatic/military history from the
University of Missouri. His interests include railroad history as well as
European and American military history in the Nineteenth and Twentieth
Centuries. He lives in St. Louis with his wife, three children and two German
Shepherd dogs, Caesar and Cleopatra.
Published online: 03/01/2003.
|
