1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 102 ] [ 31 MARCH–4 APRIL 1943 ]
31 March
NEW GUINEA—MacKechnie Force of U.S. 41st
Div moves by water to Waria R mouth and Dona
airstrip.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps
area, 1st Div’s RCT’s 16 and 26 attempt unsuccessfully
to clear SE tip of Djebel el Mcheltat. 9th
Div makes little progress against bypassed Hill
772 (on Djebel Berda) and Hill 369 (on Djebel el
Kreroua). TF Benson, 1st Armd Div, attacks about
noon, passing through lane cleared in mine field, and
secures most of region from road to foothills at N,
but loses 9 tanks. 4 more tanks are salvaged. CCA
begins diversionary attack against Djebel Djebs, hill
mass N of Maknassy, and evokes sharp enemy reaction.
As a diversion for 34th Div’s attack on Fondouk
Gap, CO C of 751st Tank Bn, Co A of 813th
Tank Bn, and motorized co of 109th Combat Engrs
attack on NW slopes of Djebel Touila, about 5 miles
S of infantry. During nights of 31 March–1 April
and 1–2 April, 34th Div assault force pulls back out
of range of enemy fire and establishes defensive
positions, concluding the Fondouk Gap battle.
In Br Eighth Army area, Montgomery decides to
await reinforcements and regroup upon learning
from to Corps CG that an immediate assault across
Wadi Akarit would be costly. 30 Corps, which is
reinf by NZ 2d Div, is to be responsible for securing
bridgehead.
In Br First Army area, 5 Corps’ 46th Div gains
all its objectives on N flank of corps, recovering El
Aouana; enemy withdraws from Cap Serrat. Preparations
are begun for next phase of attack: clearing
Bédja–Medjez road and relieving pressure on Medjez.
Fr 19th Corps makes contact with U.S. 34th Div
at El Ala, W of Fondouk.
1 April
ALEUTIAN IS.—CINCPAC and WDC CG issue
joint directive for invasion of Attu on 7 May. Adm
Kinkaid as commander of North Pacific Force (TF
16, formerly TF 8) will head the operation. Under
him, Adm Rockwell, Commander Amphibious
Force North Pacific, is to conduct landing operations.
Maj Gen Albert E. Brown’s 7th Div, although
trained for mechanized warfare in the desert,
is to make the assault.
SOLOMON Is.—Japanese aircraft, whose attention
during the preceding month has been devoted
largely to Allied bases in New Guinea, attack Russell
Is.
CHINA—Infantry and Arty Training Centers
for Chinese Y-Force officers open.
IRAN—U.S. AAF takes responsibility for assembling
aircraft for USSR at Abadan Air Base.
Douglas Aircraft Company, under contract to AAF,
had previously been responsible for Abadan.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps
area, plan of attack is changed after another fruitless
attempt by TF Benson of 1st Armd Div to
break through enemy positions barring Gabès road.
Second phase (to secure pass between Djebel
Chemsi and Djebel Ben Khëir for passage of armor)
is to begin at once, although enemy still retains
Hill 772 on Djebel Berda and Hill 369 and
pass N of it on Djebel el Kreroua. TF Benson goes
on the defensive. 1st Div continues efforts to clear
SE tip of Djebel el Mcheltat. 9th Div is concentrating
on Hill 772, which must be cleared before
operations can be continued against Hill 369. In
Maknassy area, CCA of 1st Armd Div continues diversionary
attack on Djebel Djebs. SE Algerian Command’s
camel troops are maintaining liaison with
Br Eighth Army in Kebili area.
2 April
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps
area, virtual stalemate exists as enemy checks
dogged efforts of infantry of 1st and 9th Divs to clear
Gumtree and Gabès roads. 1st Div clears rest of
Djebel el Mcheltat, but 9th is unable to take Hill
772 on Djebel Berda. Gap exists between the two
divs. Diversionary action of CCA, 1st Armd Div, in
Maknassy area is suspended.
3 April
NEW GUINEA—Elements of MacKechnie Force
land on shore of Morobe harbor to establish defensive
position.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: Gen Alexander
alerts Gen Patton to be prepared to move U.S. II
Corps to N flank of Br First Army upon collapse
of enemy’s Wadi Akarit position; 9th Div is to
move first. Hard fighting continues in U.S. II
Corps area for positions dominating Gumtree and
Gabès roads. 1st Div takes village of Sakket, but
9th is still checked by enemy on Hill 772.
In Br First Army’s 5 Corps area, Fr naval party
(detachment of goumiers and elements of Corps
Franc d’Afrique) occupies Cap Serrat. Fr 19th
Corps repels limited enemy thrusts W from Pichon.
4 April
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: 9 Corps, 18 Army
Group reserve, prepares for offensive to recover
Fondouk Gap. U.S. 34th Div, which is to participate,
is transferred to 9 Corps. In U.S. II Corps
area, 1st and 9th Divs continue futile efforts to
clear Gumtree and Gabès roads.