1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 16 APRIL 1945 ]
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
IV Corps area, 10th Mtn Div takes M. Pigna and
M. Mantino but is unable to advance its exposed left
flank. 1st Armd Div seizes Suzzano and continues
to fight from house to house in Vergato. II Corps
joins in offensive after intensive aerial preparation,
attacking toward Bologna in region E of Highway
64, night 15–16. S African 6th Armd Div and 88th
Div lead off at 2230; 91st and 34th Divs attack at
0300. In support of offensive, Legnano Gp demonstrates
vigorously on right flank of corps. Enemy
offers strong resistance all along line, but S African
6th Armd Div takes M. Sole by 0530.
In Br Eighth Army area, Pol 2 Corps reaches
Sillaro R and begins crossing. 13 Corps drives toward
Budrio, employing NZ 2d Div initially and
committing 10th Ind Div later. In 5 Corps area, 78th
Div turns over positions along the Sillaro on left
flank of corps to Commandos in order to concentrate
against the Argenta Gap. Enemy continues effective
defense of Bastia against attacks of 78th and 56th
Divs.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army area, main body of
RCT 158 continues almost futile attacks on Cituinan
Hill mass from N and S. I and R Platoon drives N
on Route 27. 2d Bn, RCT 158, makes two-pronged
assault on San Francisco and takes the town. In I
Corps area, troops of 148th Inf, 37th Div, after air
strike on Hairpin Hill, clear it; push forward on
Highway 9 beyond Quioeng. Elements of 130th Inf,
33d Div, attack unsuccessfully toward ridge W of
Asin Tunnels. Ground assault on the tunnel positions
is suspended for the next few days while enemy positions
are being softened by bombardment. 1st Bn
of 27th Inf, 25th Div, attacks across ravine from
the Wart toward hill 300 yards ahead. 2d Bn, 35th
Inf, takes hill in its sector. In XI Corps area, protracted
fighting by 38th Div in Mt Pinatubo area
is virtually concluded as 152d Inf column, which
has moved E from W coast, makes contact with
elements of 149th Inf on Mt Pinatubo. In XIV Corps
area, 511th Inf of 11th A/B Div opens eastward
drive on Mt Malepunyo hill mass.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army area,
Americal Div troops on Cebu continue battle to
destroy enemy on heights commanding Cebu City.
On Bohol, 3d Bn of 164th Inf, Americal Div, makes
contact with Japanese force N of Ginopolan. On
Negros, 40th Div remains in place while air and
arty are softening enemy positions in Negritos-
Patog area. 108 aircraft drop 170 tons of bombs.
Gen Sibert alters plan of amphibious operations
against Mindanao since guerrilla forces there are
reported to have taken Malabang. 24th Div, except
for bn of 21st Inf, is to land in Parang area. The
excepted bn will go ashore as planned at Malabang.
[ 497 ]
RYUKYU Is.—Arty lands on Minna I. to support
invasion of Ie Shima. Air and naval bombardment
of Ie Shima continues.
In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib Corps area,
fighting on Motobu Peninsula, Okinawa, is bitter
and costly as 6th Mar Div continues to press in on
Yae-Take hill mass under heavy and effective fire
from dominating terrain. XXIV Corps front remains
static. 27th Div enters corps line.
JAPAN—Carrier planes of TF 58 attack Kyushu
airfields with good effect but are unable to neutralize
them completely.
16 April
WESTERN EUROPE—RAF BC sinks the Luetzow
during daylight attack on Swinemuende.
21 Army Group: In Cdn First Army area, Cdn
2 Corps seizes Leeuwarden and Groningen.
In Br Second Army area, 30 Corps closes in on
Bremen, forward elements of 3d Div reaching Brinkum,
just S of the city. In 12 Corps area, 7th Armd
Div, driving on Soltau, gets advance elements
beyond Walsrode. In 8 Corps area, 15th
Div is still strongly opposed in Uelzen.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIII
Corps area, 84th and 102d Divs, former on left,
relieve 5th Armd Div along the Elbe. 5th Armd
Div is to clear rear area of stragglers, who threaten
supply routes; releases attached elements of 84th
and 102d Divs. Corps zone is extended southward
to include 35th Div sector along the Elbe; 35th
Div ( — RCT 320) is attached to corps. In XIX
Corps area, 35th Div shifts a little southward to
relieve elements of 30th Div. 30th Div regroups as
result of boundary change. 2d Armd Div maintains
defensive positions about Magdeburg and along
the Elbe to right and prepares for assault on Magdeburg
in conjunction with 30th Div. 83d Div
maintains bridgehead E of Barby despite strong
counterattack against CCR of 2d Armd Div; RCT
320 continues to clear region between the Saale and
Elbe. Enemy places arty fire on Elbe bridges and
makes ineffective air attacks against them from
time to time. CCA, 8th Armd Div, is attached
to corps. In XVI Corps area, 79th Div, whose zone
is uncovered by 8th and 86th Divs of XVIII Corps,
relieves 116th Inf of 29th Div, SW of Muenster.
In U.S. First Army’s XVIII Corps (A/B) area,
13th Armd Div columns, preceded by 93d Cav Rcn
Sq, drive N across the Wupper in vicinity of Opladen,
CCA on left advancing through Langenfeld
and Hilden to region E of Duesseldorf and CCB
pushing through Haan and Gruiten to Mettmann
area. Crossing the Wupper to rear of armor, 97th
Div drives rapidly N to general line Hilden–
Solingen, but enemy retains Solingen. 78th Div,