320th Field Artillery Regiment

320th Field Artillery Regiment

Active 1917
Country  United States
Branch Army
Type Air Assault
Role USARS parent regiment
Size regiment
Motto(s) VOLENS ET POTENS (Willing and Able)
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Regimental background trimming

The 320th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army. A parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, the 320th FAR currently has two active elements in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault): 1st Battalion, 320th FAR (1-320 "Top Guns") in 2nd Brigade Combat Team; and 3rd Battalion, 320th FAR (3-320 "Red Knight Rakkasans") in 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The regiment served with the 82nd Airborne Division during World Wars I and II, and regimental elements have served with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division, the 193rd Infantry Brigade and the Berlin Brigade, and conducted combat operations in the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, and the Global War on Terror.

Current Status of Regimental Elements

[4][5][6][7]

History

World War I

Initially formed at Camp Gordon, Georgia, the 320th was part of the 82nd Division's 157th Field Artillery Brigade. On 5 September 1917, a small cadre of Regular Army non-commissioned officers and privates joined officer cadres that had reported on 29 August 1917 after graduating from the three batteries of the 7th Provisional Training Regiment. Draftees from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee arrived over the next few weeks, but many of these men were transferred in November and replaced by new draftees from Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Minnesota and all the states east of the Mississippi River.
Initially, the 320th's six firing batteries shared a single battery of 3-inch guns for training with the other 12 batteries in the brigade. In addition to approximately 10 hours use of the actual guns, the regiment's gun squads conducted training with replicas "crudely made structures fashioned from the trunks of small trees, tin cans, spools, gas pipes and any available material." A second battery of guns arrived in December, and from December 1917 through May 1918, the regiment conducted firing practice at Blackjack Mountain near Marietta, Georgia.
Beginning 8 May 1918, the regiment moved by train to Camp Mills, New York, and then shipped to Liverpool, England on the ship City of Exeter, arriving on 31 May 1918. After a brief stop, the regiment crossed the English Channel from Southampton to Le Havre, France and then moved by train to La Courtine. There, the 320th was fully equipped with 75mm guns and conducted two months of training, culminating in a brigade live fire.
From 5–10 August, the 320th moved into a reserve position behind Chateau Thierry, but was not employed and moved by train to Toul and then occupied defensive positions in the Marbache sector with the 157th/82nd. On 22 August, Battery F fired the brigade's first 75mm rounds against Norroy. In preparation for the St. Mihiel Offensive, the regiment moved into forward gun positions constructed with the assistance of the division's infantry. Beginning at 0100hrs on 12 September 1918, the 320th participated in a four-hour preparation, consisting of counter-battery fires on 16 German batteries and other positions. After the offensive started, the regiment also fired on "fugitive targets". On 13 September, the 320th and its sister 321st Field Artillery fired 10000 rounds in support of a raid by the 327th Infantry in the Bois Frehaut. The result of the St. Mihiel operation was "the establishment of confidence, born of performance" throughout the 157th Brigade.
After relief on 20 September and assembling near Marbache, the 320th spent the nights of 22–25 September moving to Beauzee, arriving on the morning of 26 September. On 26 September, the regiment moved to bivouac's near Futeau in the Argonne Forest, remaining there until 5 October.
At 1300 hours on 5 October 1918, the 157th received orders for an attack at 0500 hours the next morning. The advanced party established a regimental command post at Chaudron Farm, with the 321st Field Artillery's command post. Poor roads and miscommunications delayed the movement of the regiment's main body, and the first battery began firing at 0540 hours, 40 minutes after H-hour and the regiment missed the first planned phase of its plan.
After the truncated preparation, the regiment fired in support of the infantry throughout the day. At 1800 hours, the 2nd Battalion joined the 321st Field Artillery in repelling a German counterattack against the 164th Infantry Brigade. Defensive and harassing fire continued through the night of 6–7 October.
7 October was spent in establishing observation posts and telephone communications in the new positions. On the morning of 8 October, 2/320th again joined the 321st Field Artillery in firing a rolling barrage for the infantry, while the 1/320th and the French 219th artillery fired a "standing barrage" to protect the right flank of the 327th Infantry. On 9 October, the 320th again joined the 321st in firing a rolling barrage for the 327th and 328th Infantries of the 164th Infantry Brigade.
After receiving new orders on 10 October, the regiment spent the night of 10–11 October occupying new positions in the ravine west of Exermont. Assigned to support the 164th Infantry Brigade, the regiment assigned one battalion to each of the brigade's two regiments as accompanying artillery. The 1/320th occupied near Fleville, but poor visibility inhibited the identification of targets. Little movement occurred through 13 October, although on the afternoon of 13 October, the regiment fired a defensive barrage to repulse a German counterattack. During the afternoon and evening, 2/320th moved forward to positions south of Sommerance, although Battery E was delayed by the counterattack. The regiment continued to fire harassing fire through the night.
On 14 October, the regiment participated in a rolling barrage in support of a general First Army attack on the Kriemhilde Stellung, and at about 1600 hours fired a 30-minute defensive barrage along the Ravin aux Pierres. During this attack, a forward gun under 2nd Lieutenant Edward Gunter destroyed two pilloboxes. And on the afternoon of 14 October, 1/320 moved forward to the ravine between Fleville and Sommerance.
From midnight on 14–15 October, the regiment fired preparation fires for another attack against the Kriemhilde Stellung, and then transitioned to a rolling barrage at 0725 to support the infantry's attack at 0730 hours. On 16 October, the regiment continued to deliver preparation and rolling barrage, and the fired against a German counterattack at 1100 hours. In the afternoon, a German plan was downed by machine gun fire, with credit claimed by Battery C, 320th, as well as the batteries of 2/321st Field Artillery. On 17 October, Lieutenant Durrett was killed by German shell fire. After a lull in the fighting, the 1/320th was withdrawn to rearward positions on the night of 21–22 October, and conditions settled into "stabilized warfare" until 1 November, with light harassing schedules at night, and close liaison maintained with the infantry for on-call missions.
From 26–31 October, the regiment moved a gun from each battery forward to conduct adjustments in preparation for a new offensive, scheduled for 1 November. The rest of the batteries moved forward on the night of 30–31 October. participated in a three-stage preparation from 0330 hours. During the night of 1–2 November, the 320th (and the other battalions of the 157th Brigade) moved forward into a between the 319th and 320th Infantries, and suffered heavy artillery and machine gun fire while covering the gap with their battery anti-aircraft machine guns. On the morning of 2 November, the attack resumed at 0800 hours, and the 321st moved forward and established a regimental command post in the town of Imecourt. Due to poor roads which limited the availability of ammunition resupply, the 320th remained stationary to allow resupply to the 321st. On 3 November, the regiment moved to positions north of Sivry-lez-Buzancy. While moving forward again on 4 November, the Regimental Commander ordered 1st Battalion into action at about 1100 hours against machine gun positions that were delaying the infantry advance. At 1500 hours, the 2nd Battalion also emplaced, and at 1600 hours, the entire regiment delivered a rolling barrage in support of the 318th Infantry, delivering 2600 rounds during 80 minutes of firing. On the morning of 5 November, the 320th relieved the 321st and moved forward with both battalions in close support of the infantry. At 1100 hours, 2/320th occupied southwest of Beaumont and fired at machine gun positions near La Thibaudine Ferme and La Harnot Erie Ferme in support of the 317th Infantry, and later in the afternoon, Battery B occupied south of the Stonne-Beaumont Road and fired on the village of Yoncq. After nightfall, the regiment fired another 500 rounds at Yoncq. This was the last "considerable firing" done by the regiment before moving to Sivry-Imecourt-St. Juvin (8-9 November), Monblainvill-Apremont (10 November) and Les Islettes, where it received news of the armistice on 11 November. The entire 157th Brigade remained near Les Islettes until 18 November, and then moved to Ste. Menehould before regjoining the 82nd Division in the Tenth Training area.[8]

World War II

Reactivated with the 82nd Infantry Division on 25 March 1942 as the 320th Field Artillery Battalion, the 320th was converted to a Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB) when the 82nd converted to an airborne division on 15 August 1942. After training in the United States at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the battalion departed the New York Port of Embarkation in late April 1942. Arriving in Casablanca, French Morocco in early May, the 320th staged with the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR) Combat Team at Marnia, Algieria, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Paul Wright. The 320th remained with the 325th in reserve near Kairouan, Tunisia, during the fighting in Sicily.[9]

Cold War - Present

As part of the implementation of the pentomic organization, the 320th Artillery was reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) on 22 March 1957. The regiment was redesignated as the 320th Field Artillery in 1971, reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System (ARS) in 1986, and redesignated as the 320th Field Artillery Regiment in 2005. Under the CARS and ARS, elements of the regiment have continued to serve with various units.

Battery A, 320th Artillery served briefly as a battery in the 11th Airborne Division from 1957-1958 before inactivating. As 1st Battalion, 320th Artillery (Field Artillery after 1971), it served as a direct support battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery from 1962-1986, and was then reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division. In 2004, the battalion was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.[3]

Battery B, 320th Artillery also served with the 11th Airborne Division from 1957-1958. Redesignated as 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery (Field Artillery after 1971), the battalion served with the 101st Airborne Division Artillery from 1962-2004, when it was reassigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. The battalion inactivated as part of force reductions in 2014.[3]

Battery C, 320th Artillery served with the 11th Airborne Division from 1957-1958, and with the 82nd Airborne Division from 1962-1964. Redesignated as 3rd Battalion, 320th Artillery, it again served briefly with the 82nd Airborne again from 1968-1969. Activated again in 1986, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery returned to the 101st Airborne Division Artillery until 2004, when it was reassigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.[3]

Battery D, 320th Artillery served in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1957-1964. Redesignated as Battery D, 320th Field Artillery, the battery served with the 193rd Infantry Brigade from 1986-1994.[3] Reorganized and redesignated as 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, the battalion served with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division from 2004-2013.

Battery E, 320th Artillery also served in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1957-1964. Redesignated as Battery E, 320th Field Artillery, the battery served with the Berlin Brigade from 1986-1994.[3]

On 1 July 2015 the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery was Re-designated and the Unit Colors were cased. The 2/320th was retired from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The "Balls of the Eagle", as it was called, became the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, "Proud Americans". No other changes took place within the Division Artillery (DivArty).

Lineage

(Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps)

Campaign Participation Credit

Decorations

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in BELGIUM AND GERMANY

Heraldry

Distinctive Unit Insignia

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules, on a palmetto tree eradicated Or a Lorraine cross Azure. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "VOLENS ET POTENS" in Red letters.

The shield is scarlet for Artillery; the palmetto tree, representing South Carolina, alludes to the district to which the unit was allocated. The Lorraine cross represents service in the Lorraine sector, France.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Organized Reserves on 27 July 1925. It was redesignated for the 320th Field Artillery Battalion on 23 April 1942. It was redesignated for the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion on 22 October 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 320th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion on 15 October 1951. It was redesignated for the 320th Artillery Regiment on 24 September 1958. Effective 1 September 1971, the insignia was redesignated for the 320th Field Artillery Regiment. The insignia was amended to update the description on 3 February 2005.

Coat of Arms

See also

References

  1. ↑ Snow, David. 320th FAR reorganized as 32nd FAR. The Eagle Post. 8 July 2015. Web. Accessed 3 November 2015. <http://www.theeaglepost.us/news/article_4c13e9be-2523-11e5-a1e6-3fc8e3361945.html>.
  2. ↑ Moeller, Sgt. Justin A. Currahees prepare to case colors at inactivation ceremony. Fort Campbell Courier. 24 April 2014. Web. Accessed 3 November 2015. <http://www.fortcampbellcourier.com/news/article_f3addab2-cbf2-11e3-a369-0019bb2963f4.html>.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "Battery E, 320th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 2 (PDF). Army Lineage Series. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 1317–1329.
  4. ↑ http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0320fa01bn.htm
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Pennypacker, Captain J. G. “The Artillery of the 82nd Division,” in Official History of 82nd Division American Expeditionary Forces (Indianapolis, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1920), <https://archive.org/details/officialhistoryo19171919unit>, 225-245.
  9. ↑ United States Army. 82nd Airborne Division Historian. "82D AIRBORNE DIVISION IN SICILY AND ITALY." Compiled by Major T.B. Ketterson, Division Historian. Combined Arms Research Library, Jan. 2004. Web. 13 November 2015. <http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/103/rec/11>. p1-3
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