37th Tank Battalion - 70 Years Ago Today.. 7/30/1944 0600 Moved out for a new assembly area. While passing though Coutance we received orders from CCA to continue in route and not to go into assembly area. Route given was South to Legronne, South to Le Gros Vir La Haye, Pesnel, Avrances. The Battalion came under fire (small arms) at location 270458 at 1030. “D” and “C” Company raked the woods at this point with machine guns. Prisoners taken to 2nd Armored Division PW Point. This evening the Battalion pulled into an assembly area at 239318 (Follegny) 1 Sergeant “D” Company WIA 152 Prisoners taken, 6 Enemy Dead, 16 Enemy Wounded. 7/30/1944 0745 1600 Moved out of area at 0745 through La Haye Pesnel, Rochelle, Les Kesnil, and Avranches. Battalion tore through an enemy horse-drawn artillery unit outside of Le Mesnil, destroyed many caissons and guns. Most of the enemy took to the woods from which they were routed by elements of the Battalion Service Company. During the morning and early afternoon the Battalion met resistance and came under fire while stopped on the road between Le Mesnil, and Avranches. All opposition was quelled North of Avranches by 1300. At 1300, the Battalion Commander received orders to move the Battalion to the Selune River and seize the four (4) water crossings there. * The order for this march was as follows: “A” Company to take the main route South and seize bridge at 2810, supported by “B” and “C” Batteries of the 66th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. “B” Company to take the first secondary road to the left at 261158 with objective of Ducey, supported by balance of 66th and A/10. “C” Company supported by 94th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, and A/24, to take the main road left to Les Brousses and then right to Les Donets Durant. “D” Company, C/10 and Assault Gun Platoon to move South of La Gilardiere to Marcilly. These four (4) combat teams, each under command of the senior tank officer, moved out at 1600. Each team met fierce resistance after passing through Avranches. The close cooperation between the tanks, artillery and Air Corps, made the mission successful. Captain Spencer, CO of “A” Company, and Lt. Bohn of “B” Company had their tanks knocked out, but not before they put the finis on they put the finis on their opponents. Lt. Richard E. Donahue of “D” Company walked across the Selune River Dam at Marcilly and captured the commander of the German guard and returned him to our lines without incident. The “C” Company column fought its way to a position of the Selune South Ducey and seized the bridge there intact. This force had to drive German troops from a field in order to assemble during the night, and in leaving through the field the next morning. Colonel Abrams surprised an enemy tank and fired with three (3) quick AP shells.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 17:06:26 +0000
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