Operation Avalanche was the codename for the combined US and British landings on the southwest coast of Italy on 9 September 1943 as part of the Allied effort in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II. The forces landed consisted of the US Fifth Army under Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark. The Fifth Army was made up of the British X Corps, which landed south of the town of Salerno, and the US VI Corps, which landed at the town of Paestum.
The landings were carried out by combined forces of the US Navy and Royal Navy.
Naval losses: 2 destroyers, 1 minesweeper, 1 tug, 1 hospital ship
Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, USN[1]
Embarking US Fifth Army (Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, USA)
1 amphibious force flagship: USS Ancon
2 anti-aircraft/fighter director ships: HMS Ulster Queen, HMS Palomares
Commodore G.N. Oliver, RN
Embarking British X Corps (Lt. Gen. Richard McCreery, BA)
Combat vessels
4 light cruisers: HMS Mauritius, HMS Uganda, HMS Orion, HMS Delhi
18 destroyers: 17 British, 1 Greek
Amphibious assault vessels
2 amphibious force flagships: HMS Hilary, USS Biscayne
90 LSTs: 45 American, 45 British
84 LCTs: 24 American, 60 British (5 sunk)
96 LCI(L)s: 48 American, 48 British
Auxiliaries
7 minesweepers
4 tugs (1 sunk by air attack 13 September)
27 minecraft
32 motor launches
13 trawlers
Rear Adm. John L. Hall, Jr., USN
Embarking US VI Corps (Maj. Gen. Ernest J. Dawley, USA)
Fire Support Group (TG 81.5)
Rear Admiral Lyal A. Davidson
4 light cruisers: USS Philadelphia, USS Savannah, USS Boise, USS Brooklyn
4 destroyers (1 sunk by submarine 12 October)
Screen (TG 81.6)
Capt. Charles Wellborn
12 destroyers (1 sunk by torpedo boat 10 September)
Transport Group (TG 81.2)
Capt. C.D. Edgar
19 transports: 14 American, 5 British
3 LSTs: all British
6 scout boats
Landing Craft Group (TG 81.3)
Capt. F.M. Adams
27 LSTs: 18 American, 9 British
32 LCIs: 26 American, 6 British
6 LCTs: all American
Control Group (TG 81.7)
Cmdr. R.D. Lowther, USNR
8 subchasers (steel hull), 4 LCSs
TG 81.8 – Minesweeper Group
Cmdr. A.H. Richards
9 minesweepers (1 sunk by submarine 25 September)
12 motor minesweepers
TG 81.9 – Salvage Group
Lt. V.C. Kyllberg
2 tugs
TG 80.2 – Picket Group
Lt. Cmdr. S.M. Barnes
16 PTs
TG 80.3 – Diversion Group
Capt. C.L. Andrews
1 destroyer: USS Knight
7 torpedo boats: 7 British MTBs, 1 American PT
4 subchasers (wooden hull)
6 Motor Launches
10 air/sea rescue craft
Rear Admiral Sir Philip L. Vian, RN
4 escort carriers:,,,
3 light cruisers:,,
9 destroyers: 7 British, 2 Polish
Covering forces
2 fleet carriers (Rear Admiral Clement Moody, RN)
28 Grumman Martlet fighters
10 Supermarine Seafire fighters
12 Fairey Barracuda torpedo bombers
28 Grumman Martlet fighters
5 Supermarine Seafire fighters
12 Fairey Albacore torpedo bombers
Force "H" (Vice Admiral Sir Algernon Willis, RN)
4 battleships:,,,
Screen
20 destroyers: 16 British, 1 Polish, 2 Dutch, 1 French
Auxiliaries
3 hospital ships: (sunk by air attack 13 September),,