Accession Number:

ADA151624

Title:

Salerno: Offensive Airborne Assault, 82nd Airborne Division, September 1943

Descriptive Note:

Student paper

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE FORT LEAVENWORTH KS COMBAT STUDIES INST

Personal Author(s):

• Hufford, K. V.
• Amarger, M. J.
• Beers, R. P.
• Cavanaugh, M. B.
• Christopher, P. P.

Report Date:

1984-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

68.0

Abstract:

For the Salerno operation, the 82nd Airborne Division was placed under the control of the Fifth Army Commander, General Mark Clark. Initial plans called for a near beach drop to provide support for the amphibian forces. This was cancelled due to changes in the amphibious forces landing sites. A second plan, Grant I, called for the division to seize and destroy crossing sites on the Volturno River, hold positions for five days and effect linkup with British forces. This was cancelled due to the inability of support forces to provide logistical support. A third plan, Grant II, involved the seizure of Rome it too was cancelled. As a result, the 82nd did not participate in the initial landing but was alerted for reinforcing drops at Avellino and Paesturn. These operations were conducted but hasty planning and navigational errors, combined to create conditions that scattered the forces over a wide area. Their effect on the battle was minimal.

Descriptors:

• *BATTLES
• *ITALY
• *MILITARY OPERATIONS
• *MILITARY TACTICS
• AIRBORNE
• ARMY OPERATIONS
• CASE STUDIES
• GERMANY(EAST AND WEST)
• HISTORY
• MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN)
• MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• TACTICAL ANALYSIS
• TACTICAL WARFARE

Subject Categories:

• Humanities and History
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE