File No.
A16-3/N31
Serial: 00872
Copy No. 00312

ACTION REPORT
WESTERN NAVAL TASK FORCE

THE SICILIAN CAMPAIGN

OPERATION "HUSKY"
JULY-AUGUST, 1943

 
Vice Admiral H.K. HEWITT, U.S. NAVY,
Naval Commander, Western Task Force.
[Formerly] SECRET [subsequently declassified]
Equals British MOST SECRET


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Part I INTRODUCTION 1
Part II NARRATIVE OF EVENTS 2-15
Part III THE PLAN 16-30
  Section I PLANNING 16
  Section II THE PLAN 19
Part IV EXECUTION OF THE PLAN 31-94
  Section I REHEARSAL 31
  Section II CONVOYS and ROUTING 31
  Section III APPROACH 35
  Section IV BEACON SUBMARINES 37
  Section V THE LANDING 38
  Section VI D-DAY: H-HOUR: SURPRISE 42
  Section VII CONTROL VESSELS 45
  Section VIII TRANSPORTS 47
  Section IX LANDING CRAFT 50
  Section X SHORE PARTY 54
  Section XI BEACH PARTY 58
  Section XII SMOKE 62
  Section XIII BARRAGE BALLOONS 62
  Section XIV OPENING OF PORTS 65
  Section XV PORT SECURITY and COMBAT INTELLIGENCE 66
  Section XVI MAINTENANCE and BUILD UP 66
  Section XVII REDUCTION OF THE ISLAND 72
  Section XVIII DIVERSIONS and DEMONSTRATIONS 79
  Section XIX OPERATIONS OF PT BOATS 80
  Section XX ENEMY NAVAL LOSSES 81
  Section XXI BEACH INTELLIGENCE 81
  Section XXII AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS 81
  Section XXIII CHART-MAPS 81
  Section XXIV SCOUT BOATS 82
  Section XXV SCOUTS and THE LOCATING OF BEACHES 82
  Section XXVI UNDERWATER and BEACH OBSTACLES 82
  Section XXVII HYDROGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE OF BEACHES 83
  Section XXVIII AEROLOGY 83
  Section XXIX PRISONERS OF WAR 84
  Section XXX MINE SWEEPING 85
  Section XXXI MINE LAYING 85
  Section XXXII NAVAL GUNFIRE 86
  Section XXXIII AA DEFENSE and AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION 88
  Section XXXIV ENEMY AIR ACTIVITIES 89
  Section XXXV JOINT AIR PLAN 89
  Section XXXVI FIGHTER COVER and AIR SUPPORT 91
  Section XXXVII FIGHTER DIRECTOR CONTROL 92
  Section XXXVIII SPOTTING PLANES 93
  Section XXXIX NAVAL AIR LIAISON OFFICERS 93
  Section XL STAFF ORGANIZATION and OPERATION 93
  Section XLI PRESS RELATIONS 94
Part V MATERIAL AND LOGISTICS 95-100
  Section I PLANNING, PREPARATION and TRAINING PERIOD 95
  Section II REPAIR FACILITIES, DRY-DOCKS and PETROLEUM INSTALLATIONS IN SICILY 96
  Section III EXPERIMENTAL and DEVELOPMENT WORK UNDERTAKEN TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS and CONDITIONS ARISING DURING THE PLANNING PERIOD 96
  Section IV LOSSES, DAMAGE INCURRED, RELIABILITY OF SHIPS and CRAFT, and RECOMMENDED ALTERATIONS 97
  Section V SALVAGE and FIRE FIGHTING 100
  Section VI UNLOADING OF SHIPS and CRAFT 101
Part VI MEDICAL 102-104
  Section I GENERAL 102
  Section II BEACH BATTALIONS 102
  Section III EVACUATION SHIPS 103
  Section IV HOSPITAL FACILITIES 104
  Section V U.S. NAVY CASUALTIES 104
Part VII COMMUNICATIONS 105-116
  Section I GENERAL 105
  Section II PLANNING 105
  Section III COVER PLAN 106
  Section IV "HEADQUARTERS" SHIPS 106
  Section V DEFICIENCIES 107
  Section VI CALL SIGNS 109
  Section VII AUTHENTICATION 110
  Section VIII CRYPTOGRAPHIC AIDS 110
  Section IX VOICE CODES 111
  Section X SPECIAL CODES 111
  Section XI RADIO CHANNELS 112
  Section XII VISUAL 112
  Section XIII NAN EQUIPMENT 113
  Section XIV RADAR and IFF 113
  Section XV COUNTER MEASURES 114
  Section XVI RADIO EQUIPMENT 114
  Section XVII CONCLUSION 115
Part VIII CONCLUSIONS 117-127
  ENCLOSURE (A) SICILY -- BEACH DATA
  ENCLOSURE (B) ASSAULT TRANSPORT ROUTES
  ENCLOSURE (C) ASSAULT TRANSPORT ROUTES
  ENCLOSURE (D) ASSAULT ROUTES
  ENCLOSURE (E) ATTACK FORCES
  ENCLOSURE (F) ARMY ATTACK PLAN (Diagrammatic)
  ENCLOSURE (G) GUNFIRE SUPPORT AREAS
  ENCLOSURE (H) MINEFIELDS AND ANCHORAGE
  ENCLOSURE (I) RETURN ROUTES
  ENCLOSURE (J) NORTH COAST OPERATIONS


Transcribed and formatted by Ken Jacobs for the HyperWar Foundation