On D-Day, the 29th Division landed on Omaha Beach (next to the 1st Division) and the 743rd Tank Battalion was supposed to support its landing. The 741st Tank Battalion was supposed to support the landing of the 1st Division. The tanks of the 741st Tank Battalion were launched into the water as "DD-tanks", tanks that were supposed to "float" to the beach using special equipment. Most of these tanks sank to the bottom of the sea since the waves were too high and too rough. By 2315 hours the 741st Tank Battalion could report only three tanks operational, with two in repair, and a staggering 48 tanks lost.
In contrast the 743rd Tank Battalion had been delivered directly on the beach where it provided much better support for the 29th Infantry Division's assault. There, the LCT flotilla commander and 743rd Tank Battalion command had decided the seas were too rough to launch the DD tanks and instead the LCT's would take them right in to the beach. This still meant they had to face the German beach defenses.
The first tank off LCT 591 was promptly brewed up by a German anti-tank gun while the landing craft was already reversing. All of which meant the three remaining tanks debarked unprepared into deep water and sank. However, in contrast to the disaster at sea that virtually wiped out the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Company - the corresponding DD company's of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose "only" nine tanks knocked out and one damaged during the day. Meanwhile, A Company of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose eight tanks and six dozers as well.
By the end of D-Day the 743rd Tank Battalion could report 38 operational tanks (with one in repair). Nevertheless, the much larger numbers of tanks that made it to the beach from the 743rd Tank Battalion by all accounts proved critical in suppressing and destroying German positions. This helped the 29th Infantry Division's men to get off the beach at the D-1 Vierville draw. In addition, the 743rd Tank Battalion even took over for the missing 741st Tank Battalion's armor in helping to open the E-1 St Laurent draw off the beach.
In retrospect the decision to launch the DD tanks in the rough seas proved costly. Though the tanks delivered directly to shore by LCT also suffered losses, as shown by the 743rd Tank Battalion's experience these were not nearly as high as the near total wipeout of the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Companies at sea. This should not take away however from the bravery of both tank battalion's crews, who contributed in no small part to D-Day's ultimate success.
~
Entered the service from Wisconsin.
Army Service Number 36206131
In contrast the 743rd Tank Battalion had been delivered directly on the beach where it provided much better support for the 29th Infantry Division's assault. There, the LCT flotilla commander and 743rd Tank Battalion command had decided the seas were too rough to launch the DD tanks and instead the LCT's would take them right in to the beach. This still meant they had to face the German beach defenses.
The first tank off LCT 591 was promptly brewed up by a German anti-tank gun while the landing craft was already reversing. All of which meant the three remaining tanks debarked unprepared into deep water and sank. However, in contrast to the disaster at sea that virtually wiped out the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Company - the corresponding DD company's of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose "only" nine tanks knocked out and one damaged during the day. Meanwhile, A Company of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose eight tanks and six dozers as well.
By the end of D-Day the 743rd Tank Battalion could report 38 operational tanks (with one in repair). Nevertheless, the much larger numbers of tanks that made it to the beach from the 743rd Tank Battalion by all accounts proved critical in suppressing and destroying German positions. This helped the 29th Infantry Division's men to get off the beach at the D-1 Vierville draw. In addition, the 743rd Tank Battalion even took over for the missing 741st Tank Battalion's armor in helping to open the E-1 St Laurent draw off the beach.
In retrospect the decision to launch the DD tanks in the rough seas proved costly. Though the tanks delivered directly to shore by LCT also suffered losses, as shown by the 743rd Tank Battalion's experience these were not nearly as high as the near total wipeout of the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Companies at sea. This should not take away however from the bravery of both tank battalion's crews, who contributed in no small part to D-Day's ultimate success.
~
Entered the service from Wisconsin.
Army Service Number 36206131
On D-Day, the 29th Division landed on Omaha Beach (next to the 1st Division) and the 743rd Tank Battalion was supposed to support its landing. The 741st Tank Battalion was supposed to support the landing of the 1st Division. The tanks of the 741st Tank Battalion were launched into the water as "DD-tanks", tanks that were supposed to "float" to the beach using special equipment. Most of these tanks sank to the bottom of the sea since the waves were too high and too rough. By 2315 hours the 741st Tank Battalion could report only three tanks operational, with two in repair, and a staggering 48 tanks lost.
In contrast the 743rd Tank Battalion had been delivered directly on the beach where it provided much better support for the 29th Infantry Division's assault. There, the LCT flotilla commander and 743rd Tank Battalion command had decided the seas were too rough to launch the DD tanks and instead the LCT's would take them right in to the beach. This still meant they had to face the German beach defenses.
The first tank off LCT 591 was promptly brewed up by a German anti-tank gun while the landing craft was already reversing. All of which meant the three remaining tanks debarked unprepared into deep water and sank. However, in contrast to the disaster at sea that virtually wiped out the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Company - the corresponding DD company's of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose "only" nine tanks knocked out and one damaged during the day. Meanwhile, A Company of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose eight tanks and six dozers as well.
By the end of D-Day the 743rd Tank Battalion could report 38 operational tanks (with one in repair). Nevertheless, the much larger numbers of tanks that made it to the beach from the 743rd Tank Battalion by all accounts proved critical in suppressing and destroying German positions. This helped the 29th Infantry Division's men to get off the beach at the D-1 Vierville draw. In addition, the 743rd Tank Battalion even took over for the missing 741st Tank Battalion's armor in helping to open the E-1 St Laurent draw off the beach.
In retrospect the decision to launch the DD tanks in the rough seas proved costly. Though the tanks delivered directly to shore by LCT also suffered losses, as shown by the 743rd Tank Battalion's experience these were not nearly as high as the near total wipeout of the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Companies at sea. This should not take away however from the bravery of both tank battalion's crews, who contributed in no small part to D-Day's ultimate success.
~
Entered the service from Wisconsin.
Army Service Number 36206131
In contrast the 743rd Tank Battalion had been delivered directly on the beach where it provided much better support for the 29th Infantry Division's assault. There, the LCT flotilla commander and 743rd Tank Battalion command had decided the seas were too rough to launch the DD tanks and instead the LCT's would take them right in to the beach. This still meant they had to face the German beach defenses.
The first tank off LCT 591 was promptly brewed up by a German anti-tank gun while the landing craft was already reversing. All of which meant the three remaining tanks debarked unprepared into deep water and sank. However, in contrast to the disaster at sea that virtually wiped out the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Company - the corresponding DD company's of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose "only" nine tanks knocked out and one damaged during the day. Meanwhile, A Company of the 743rd Tank Battalion would lose eight tanks and six dozers as well.
By the end of D-Day the 743rd Tank Battalion could report 38 operational tanks (with one in repair). Nevertheless, the much larger numbers of tanks that made it to the beach from the 743rd Tank Battalion by all accounts proved critical in suppressing and destroying German positions. This helped the 29th Infantry Division's men to get off the beach at the D-1 Vierville draw. In addition, the 743rd Tank Battalion even took over for the missing 741st Tank Battalion's armor in helping to open the E-1 St Laurent draw off the beach.
In retrospect the decision to launch the DD tanks in the rough seas proved costly. Though the tanks delivered directly to shore by LCT also suffered losses, as shown by the 743rd Tank Battalion's experience these were not nearly as high as the near total wipeout of the 741st Tank Battalion's B and C Companies at sea. This should not take away however from the bravery of both tank battalion's crews, who contributed in no small part to D-Day's ultimate success.
~
Entered the service from Wisconsin.
Army Service Number 36206131
Inscription
Technical Sergeant
116th Infantry, 29th Division
US Army
World War II
Wisconsin Aug 8 1944
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