3rd Armored Division Artillery (United States)

The 3rd Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY) was the divisional artillery command for the 3rd Armored Division, last stationed at Hanau before its inactivation in 1991.

3rd Armored Division Artillery
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 3rd Armored Division
Active
  • 1941–1945
  • 1948–1991
CountryUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Army
TypeField artillery
RoleDivisional artillery headquarters
Part of3rd Armored Division
Garrison/HQHutier Kaserne, Hanau, West Germany (1956–1991)
Engagements
DecorationsMeritorious Unit Commendation (Army)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		John William Vessey Jr.

Constituted in 1941, the DIVARTY served with the division during World War II and was inactivated after the end of the war along with the division. It was reactivated with the division in 1948, and sent to West Germany with the division in 1956. The DIVARTY served there for rest of the Cold War, then deployed with the division during the Gulf War. After returning to Germany, it was inactivated there in September 1991.

World War II

The 3rd Armored Division Artillery was first constituted on 13 January 1941 in the Regular Army as the Artillery Section of the division headquarters, and activated on 15 April with the division at Camp Beauregard. On 1 March 1942, it was redesignated as the Divisional Artillery Command. After the end of World War II, it was inactivated in Germany on 10 November 1945.[1]

Cold War
M110A2 203mm self-propelled howitzers of the 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery are deployed along a line of trees during Central Guardian, a phase of Exercise REFORGER '85 near Weitershain (Landkreis Gießen).

While inactive, the Divisional Artillery Command was consolidated with the division Service Company (excluding for the Military Police Platoon), and redesignated as the Division Artillery. The Division Artillery headquarters and headquarters battery (HHB) was reactivated with the division at Fort Knox on 30 July 1948. On 1 July 1955, it was redesignated the 3rd Armored Division Artillery.[1]

A soldier of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery setting up a collimator to sight in a Howitzer during Exercise Reforger '85, with an M109A2 self-propelled howitzer in the background

Gulf War

DIVARTY was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its actions in the war. After returning to Germany, DIVARTY was inactivated there on 16 September 1991.[1]

Honors

Campaign streamers

The HHB of the 3rd Armored Division Artillery is entitled to the following Campaign streamers:[1]

Conflict Streamer Dates of campaign[2]
World War II Normandy 6 June–24 July 1944
World War II Northern France 25 July–14 September 1944
World War II Rhineland 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945
World War II Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945
World War II Central Europe 22 March–11 May 1945
Southwest Asia Defense of Saudi Arabia 2 August 1990–16 January 1991
Southwest Asia Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 17 January–11 April 1991
Southwest Asia Cease-Fire 12 April 1991–30 November 1995

Decorations

The HHB of the 3rd Armored Division Artillery is entitled to the following decorations:[1]

gollark: No, it is intellect 5000.
gollark: I'll just repropose it again later.
gollark: Oh well.
gollark: *Why* does it fail?
gollark: !revote 234

References

Citations
  1. McKenney 2010, pp. 41–42.
  2. "Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army Displayed on the Army Flag". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 16 July 2017.

Bibliography
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