U.S. 16th Armored Division
Encyclopedia
The 16th Armored Division was an armored division
of the United States Army
in World War II
.
at Orangeburg
, New York on 28 January 1945, until got their port call. They sailed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 5 February 1945.
The 16th Armored Division arrived in France in stages between 11 and 17 February 1945, and processed into the Theater. They had been assigned to the Fifteenth United States Army on 29 January 1945, but were waiting for an assignment to a unit actually involved in fighting.
The division was assigned to Third United States Army on 17 April 1945, and entered Germany on 19 April 1945 and relieved the 71st Infantry Division at Nürnberg on 28 April 1945. The 23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron participated in combat from the Isar River to Wasserburg
with the 86th Infantry Division. While under the control of that organization, it crossed the Isar River at Granek, 30 April 1945, advanced to Indorf, seizing several small villages, and was driving toward Wasserburg against slight resistance when ordered to return to Nürnberg. The division was given a security and training mission at Nürnberg, Germany, until 5 May. When the 23rd Cavalry Squadron arrived at Nürnberg, 4 May, it reverted to the control of the 16th Armored. The division assembled and proceeded to Waidhaus
, Germany, 5 May. The division was then assigned to V Corps, and attacked through the lines of the 97th Infantry Division on 6 May 1945, with Combat Command B (CCB) making the main effort. They advanced along the Bor
– Pilsen Road and launched an attack on Pilsen designed to capture the Skoda
Munitions Plant, Czechoslovakia
, on the same day. CCR advanced through Pilsen to assigned high ground east of the city. The 7 and 8 May were spent in mopping up activities and patrolling. The capture of the famous beer and munitions city marked the deepest point of American penetration into Czechoslovakia.
The division was located at Stříbro
, Czechoslovakia
on VJ Day.
The division returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on 13 October 1945, was inactivated at Camp Kilmer
in New Jersey on 15 October 1945.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Table of Organization
HHC- HHC/Combat CommandCombat commandA Combat Command was a combined-arms military organization of comparable size to a brigade or regiment employed by armored forces of the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1963...
A - HHC/Combat Command B
- HHC/Combat Command R
- 5th Tank Battalion
- 16th Tank Battalion
- 26th Tank Battalion
- 18th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 64th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 69th Armored Infantry Battalion
- HHB/16th AD Artillery
- 393th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 396th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 397th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
- 516th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment
- 633rd Tank Destroyer Battalion633rd Tank Destroyer BattalionThe 633rd Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War.The battalion was activated on 15 December 1941 as part of the general reorganisation of the anti-tank force. It deployed into France in April 1945, equipped with M18...
(Attached 1 May – 14 June 1945) - 571st Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion Attached 20 April, – 19 May 1945
- HHC/16th AD Trains.
- 216th Armored Medical Battalion
- 137th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
- 16th Armored Military Police Battalion
- 216th Armored Engineer Battalion
- 156th Armored Signal Company
History
The division was activated on 15 July 1943 at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas. They performed all of their training at Camp Chaffee until they received their staging orders. They staged at Camp ShanksCamp Shanks
Camp Shanks, named after Major General David Carey Shanks was a United States Army installation in and around Orangeburg in the Town of Orangetown, New York. Situated near the juncture of the Erie Railroad and the Hudson River, it served as a point of embarkation for troops departing overseas...
at Orangeburg
Orangeburg, New York
Orangeburg hamlet , in the Town of Orangetown Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Tappan; south of Blauvelt; east of Pearl River and west of Piermont...
, New York on 28 January 1945, until got their port call. They sailed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 5 February 1945.
The 16th Armored Division arrived in France in stages between 11 and 17 February 1945, and processed into the Theater. They had been assigned to the Fifteenth United States Army on 29 January 1945, but were waiting for an assignment to a unit actually involved in fighting.
The division was assigned to Third United States Army on 17 April 1945, and entered Germany on 19 April 1945 and relieved the 71st Infantry Division at Nürnberg on 28 April 1945. The 23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron participated in combat from the Isar River to Wasserburg
Wasserburg
-Locations:* Krausnick-Groß Wasserburg, a municipality in the district of Dahme-Spreewald in Brandenburg* Wasserburg am Inn, Bavaria* Wasserburg am Inn , former district in Oberbayern* Wasserburg am Bodensee, Bavaria-Other:...
with the 86th Infantry Division. While under the control of that organization, it crossed the Isar River at Granek, 30 April 1945, advanced to Indorf, seizing several small villages, and was driving toward Wasserburg against slight resistance when ordered to return to Nürnberg. The division was given a security and training mission at Nürnberg, Germany, until 5 May. When the 23rd Cavalry Squadron arrived at Nürnberg, 4 May, it reverted to the control of the 16th Armored. The division assembled and proceeded to Waidhaus
Waidhaus
Waidhaus is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany. It lies near the border with Czech Republic, and near the major border crossing between Bavaria and Czech Republic, where Bavaria A6 meets the Czech D5 motorway...
, Germany, 5 May. The division was then assigned to V Corps, and attacked through the lines of the 97th Infantry Division on 6 May 1945, with Combat Command B (CCB) making the main effort. They advanced along the Bor
Bor
Bor may refer to:* Matej Bor, the pen name of the Slovene poet Vladimir Pavšič *Bor , a location in Afghanistan*Bor , a town in Plzeň Region , Czech Republic...
– Pilsen Road and launched an attack on Pilsen designed to capture the Skoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
Munitions Plant, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, on the same day. CCR advanced through Pilsen to assigned high ground east of the city. The 7 and 8 May were spent in mopping up activities and patrolling. The capture of the famous beer and munitions city marked the deepest point of American penetration into Czechoslovakia.
The division was located at Stříbro
Stríbro
Stříbro is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic, some to the west from the region capital of Pilsen.Stříbro is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence....
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
on VJ Day.
The division returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on 13 October 1945, was inactivated at Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service Forces Transportation Corps. Troops were quartered at Camp Kilmer in...
in New Jersey on 15 October 1945.
Individual Awards
- Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
1 - Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
2 - Soldiers Medal 1
- Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
85 - Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
1
Commanders
- MG Douglass T. Greene – 15 July 1943 – September, 1944
- BG John L. Pierce – September, 1944 – 15 October 1945
Association
- 16th Armored Division Association
- 2517 Connecticut Avenue
- Washington, D. C.
- (Mr. McArthur H. Manchester, secretary).
- Publication: Pictorial Review;
- by unit members;
- Albert Love Enterprises,
- Atlanta 2, Ga.;
- 1944.