History of United States Naval Operations in World War II

by Morison, Samuel Eliot

• ISBN13: 9780252070396
• ISBN10: 0252070399
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr

Summary

Volume 9: Sicily-Salerno-Anzio, January 1943-June 1944 covers the period of the opening of the second front in the Mediterranean, focusing on three major amphibious operations: the march from North Africa to Sicily (Operation Husky), the campaigns at Salerno and Naples (Operation Avalanche), and the action at Anzio (Operation Shingle).

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Abbreviations	xxvii
PART 1 FORWARD IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
The Mediterranean and World Strategy	3	(9)
Strategic Questions at the Turn of the Year	3	(3)
The Casablanca Conference, 14--23 January 1943	6	(6)
Planning and Training for Sicily, January--June 1943	12	(22)
Evolution of the Plan	12	(15)
Forces and Training	27	(7)
The Axis on the Defensive, January--July 1943	34	(21)
The Royal Italian Navy	34	(10)
Where Will the Allies Strike?	44	(3)
The Defenses of Sicily	47	(8)
PART II THE SICILIAN CAMPAIGN
Preliminary Movements, 13 May-9 July 1943	55	(16)
The Air Offensive	55	(6)
Approach of the Western Naval Task Force	61	(10)
The Licata Landings (Joss Force), 10--12 July	71	(21)
Terrain, Arrival and Plan	71	(8)
The Gaffi and Molla Landings	79	(7)
The Salso and Falconara Landings	86	(6)
The Gela Landings (DIME Force), 10-13 July	92	(34)
The Rangers' Assault on Gela	92	(6)
Attack, Counterattack and Naval Gunfire, 10 July	98	(7)
Troubles of the LSTs, 10-11 July	105	(4)
Navy Stops Tanks, 11 July	109	(10)
Beachhead Secured, 11--13 July	119	(7)
The Scoglitti Landings (CENT Force), 10-14 July	126	(22)
The Beaches and the Assault, to 0630 July 10	126	(12)
Unloading Problems and Complications, 10--12 July	138	(5)
The 45th Division Ashore, 10--14 July	143	(5)
The British Sector, 10-22 July	148	(22)
Commands, Areas and Plans	148	(4)
Pachino Peninsula Landings, 10-11 July	152	(5)
Avola-Cassibile Landings, 10--13 July	157	(2)
Fall of Syracuse and Augusta, 10--14 July	159	(5)
Air Raids and Unloading, 11--14 July	164	(3)
Operations of the Covering Forces	167	(3)
Sicily Overrun, 11 July--7 August	170	(31)
Allied and Axis Objectives	170	(3)
On to Agrigento, 11--18 July	173	(4)
The Battle of the Catania Plain, 14--20 July	177	(4)
The Race to Palermo, 18-22 July	181	(4)
Decline and Fall of Mussolini, 19--26 July	185	(2)
Naval Operations on the North Shore	187	(8)
The Three-Pronged Eastward Thurst, 29 July--7 August	195	(6)
Sicily Conquered--and Evacuated, 3--17 August	201	(26)
On to Messina, 7--16 August	201	(8)
The Enemy Evacuation	209	(9)
Conclusion to Operation HUSKY	218	(9)
PART III SALERNO
Preliminaries to Salerno, May-September 1943	227	(27)
Discussion and Decision, 12 May-26 July	227	(6)
First Mainland Landings, 3--9 September	233	(4)
Italy Joins the Allies	237	(9)
Commands, Plans and Approach, 30 August-8 September	246	(8)
D-day on the Salerno Beaches, 9 September 1943	254	(25)
Paestum, the American Sector	254	(17)
The British Sector	271	(8)
The Battle for the Salerno Beachhead, 10--17 September	279	(23)
Ground Fighting and Naval Gunfire, 10--12 September	279	(7)
The Crisis of 13--14 September	286	(9)
Ground Fighting and Naval Gunfire, 15--17 September	295	(2)
Build-up and Diversion	297	(5)
Avalanche Concluded, 18 September-13 October	302	(15)
Breaking out of the Beachhead	302	(2)
Sardinia and Corsica	304	(6)
Naples Secured; Parthian Shots	310	(7)
PART IV ANZIO
Winter Stalemate, November 1943-January 1944	317	(18)
Alarums and Excursions	317	(6)
Mr. Churchill Adopts Shingle	323	(5)
Anzio Plans and Preparations, 1--21 January	328	(7)
The Assault on Anzio-Nettuno, 22--28 January 1944	335	(19)
The Landings, 22 January	335	(9)
Establishing the Beachhead, 23--28 January	344	(7)
General Lucas's Tactics	351	(3)
Beachhead Struggle, 28 January-30 April 1944	354	(20)
First Advance Halted, 28--31 January	354	(6)
VI Corps on the Defensive, 1--29 February	360	(6)
Stagnation, March--April	366	(8)
Breakout, 11 May--4 June 1944	374	(11)
Gustav Line Broken, 11--25 May	374	(3)
On to Rome, 22 May--4 June	377	(3)
Conclusion	380	(5)
Appendix I United States Naval Forces Engaged in the Assault on Sicily	385	(6)
Appendix II Naval Forces Engaged in the Salerno Operation	391	(4)
Appendix III Naval Forces Engaged in the Assault on Anzio	395	(4)
Index	399