| 70th Tank Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Active | 15 July 1940–1963 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Tank Battalion |
| Nickname | Thunderbolts |
| Motto | Strike Swiftly |
| Colors | Green and Gold |
| Engagements | World War II Korean War |
The 70th Tank Battalion was a tank battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War and the Korean War
It was formed as an independent medium tank battalion in June 1940, equipped with M2A2 light tanks, and began training for amphibious operations. It received M3 light tanks in 1941, and was redesignated the 70th Light Tank Battalion.
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The battalion sailed with the 1st Infantry Division on 9 January 1942 for the French island of Martinique in the West Indies because it "was probably the only tank battalion combat ready for this amphibious operation".[1] In February 1942 Company C was detached and sent for garrison duty in Iceland, with a new Company C being formed in May. Company A was detached later in the year, and landed in North Africa as part of Operation Torch, attached to the 39th Regimental Combat Team.
The battalion landed in Sicily as part of Operation Husky in July 1943, and was withdrawn to England in November, where it re-equipped as a standard battalion with M4 Shermans. The former Company C (now designated as Company D) rejoined the battalion, giving it four tank companies.
The battalion suffered some casualties when during Exercise Tiger on an early morning of 28 April 1944, German E-boats that had left Cherbourg on patrol spotted a convoy of 8 LSTs carrying vehicles and combat engineers of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade in Lyme Bay and attacked.[2]
On D-Day it landed on Utah Beach as part of the 4th Infantry Division, supporting the 8th Infantry Regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.[3]; companies A and B used amphibious DD Sherman tanks. It fought in the northward drive to Cherbourg, and in the breakout from St.-Lo, through France and into Belgium, entering Germany on 13 September. It fought in the Hurtgen Forest in November, and moved to the Ardennes in December, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. On 29 March 1945 it crossed the Rhine, and moved quickly through Germany, crossing the Danube on 25 April and ending the war near the Austrian border.
The battalion performed occupation duties until mid-1946, when it was deactivated; shortly thereafter, it was reactivated as a training unit at Fort Knox. In 1949, it was redesignated the 70th Heavy Tank Battalion and reduced to a three-company establishment. Because of budget restrictions imposed by then-Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson, the 70th was under-strength, equipped with 44 Sherman and 22 M26 Pershing tanks. These were all well-worn vehicles, having survived both the war and extensive training usage.
The battalion's lineage is perpetuated by the 70th Armor Regiment, which was formed from the 70th Battalion in 1963 under the Combat Arms Regimental System.
From 1960s to 1980s the 1st Battalion, 70th Armor served in Germany, based in Wiesbaden.
It currently has one active element, the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, which is part of the 1st Armored Division.
The 4TH Battalion of the 70TH Armored Regiment was activated on 15JUN2009 at Baumholder, Germany. The 4-70TH is currently deployed to Afghanistan with forces in Uruzghan, Shah Wali-kot, Kandahar, and Takta Pol – all under RC-S Control.