648th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Encyclopedia
The 648th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion
of the United States Army
active during the Second World War.
The battalion was activated at Camp Bowie
on 6 March 1943, formed around a cadre drawn from the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion
. After early training on self-propelled tank destroyers, it was converted to a towed battalion equipped with towed 3" anti-tank guns in March 1944. It sailed for the United Kingdom later that year, and was deployed into the European theater in February 1945.
On 20 February, the 648th was attached to the 70th Infantry Division, fighting in the Moselle region on the French-German border. During the next month, the 70th Division captured Saarbrucken
and closed off the defending forces in the Saar region in a large pocket.
The battalion was relieved from attachment to the 70th Division on 31 March, and withdrew into reserve to re-equip with self-propelled M18 Hellcat
tank destroyers. However, this process was delayed, and was not completed before the end of the war. Elements of the reconnaissance company were attached to the 36th Infantry Division from 11 to 14 April, and the entire battalion returned to combat duties under the command of the 86th Infantry Division on 15 April, operating in Bavaria
.
Tank destroyer battalion (United States)
The tank destroyer battalion was a type of unit used by the United States Army during World War II. The unit was organized in one of two different forms—a towed battalion equipped with anti-tank guns, or a self-propelled battalion equipped with armored tank destroyers. U.S. Army doctrine held that...
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...
active during the Second World War.
The battalion was activated at Camp Bowie
Camp Bowie
Camp Bowie is a United States National Guard training center located in west central Texas near the cities of Brownwood and Early.-History:Camp Bowie, in honor of the Texas patriot James Bowie, was a military training facility during World War II, and was the third camp in Texas to be so named...
on 6 March 1943, formed around a cadre drawn from the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion
628th Tank Destroyer Battalion
The 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. It was redesignated the 628th Tank Battalion after the end of the war, and today exists as the 103rd Armor Regiment.-Early service:...
. After early training on self-propelled tank destroyers, it was converted to a towed battalion equipped with towed 3" anti-tank guns in March 1944. It sailed for the United Kingdom later that year, and was deployed into the European theater in February 1945.
On 20 February, the 648th was attached to the 70th Infantry Division, fighting in the Moselle region on the French-German border. During the next month, the 70th Division captured Saarbrucken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
and closed off the defending forces in the Saar region in a large pocket.
The battalion was relieved from attachment to the 70th Division on 31 March, and withdrew into reserve to re-equip with self-propelled M18 Hellcat
M18 Hellcat
The 76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 was an American tank destroyer of World War II. The manufacturer, Buick, gave it the nickname "Hellcat" and it was the fastest tracked armored fighting vehicle during the war with a top speed up to 60 mph. Hellcat crews took advantage of the vehicle's...
tank destroyers. However, this process was delayed, and was not completed before the end of the war. Elements of the reconnaissance company were attached to the 36th Infantry Division from 11 to 14 April, and the entire battalion returned to combat duties under the command of the 86th Infantry Division on 15 April, operating in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.