The Ardennes Offensive US V Corps & XVIII (Airborne) Corps: Northern Sector (Order of Battle) [Paperback]

Bruce Quarrie (Author)

Book Description

Series: Order of Battle | Publication Date: August 1, 1999

This new series provides the most detailed information ever published on the major battles of history and the units which fought them. Includes comprehensive order of battle diagrams, specially commissioned maps, and is supported by contemporary photographs and unit insignia and colors.

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From the Publisher

Definitive guides to the actions and evolution of fighting forces, these comprehensive studies on the organisation, strength, command, deployment and evolution of forces in key military encounters, use a highly detailed 'unit-by-unit' examination.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855328542
• ISBN-13: 978-1855328549
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,333,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Substantial errors of fact raise questions in my mind, December 13, 2000

By 

Thomas E. Carey (Norcross, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ardennes Offensive US V Corps & XVIII (Airborne) Corps: Northern Sector (Order of Battle) (Paperback)

I was very surprised to find that the Table of Organization Quarrie provides for each of the six infantry divisions involved includes radical errors in the battalion makeup. Quarrie correctly shows three infantry battalions in each regiment. But his listing of companies within each battalion is quite wrong, as follows:

1st Bn.: A, B, and C Cos.

2nd Bn.: D, E, and F Cos.

3rd Bn.: G, H, and I Cos.

In fact each of the three infantry battalions was composed of three rifle companies and a heavy weapons company (armed with Browning .30 cal. water-cooled machine guns and 60mm and 81mm mortars), as follows:

1st Bn.: 3 rifle companies, A, B and C, and D Co. (heavy weapons).

2nd Bn.: 3 rifle companies, E, F and G, and H Co. (heavy weapons).

3rd Bn.: 3 rifle companies. I, K and L, and M Co. (heavy weapons).

(To avoid confusion, 'J' was not used as a company designation.)

Quarrie's T/O charts make no mention of the three heavy weapons companies in each regiment, D, H and M, one assigned to each battalion.

This fundamental error raises real questions as to Quarrie's account of the Ardennes offensive, insofar as he references specific infantry units below regimental size.

My knowledge of this is first hand. From May 1944 through December, 1944, I was a member of H Co., 2nd Bn, 393rd Inf. Regt., 99th Infantry Division. This period includes its engagement in the Battle of the Bulge and on Elsenborn Ridge. After a hospital stay in Wales I rejoined H Co. in March, just after it had crossed the Rhine at Remagen.