Reckless Task Force

In April 1944 General Mac Arthur launched a new offensive along the northern coast of New Guinea in a series of operations which, in collaboration with Admiral Nimitz drive through the Central Pacific, would place American forces in a position to retake the Philippine Islands. On 22 April Mac Arthur s initial objectives, Hollandia and Aitape, were attacked by I Corps operating as Reckless Task Force. ... 

The elements of Reckless Task Force had chemical mortar support for the Hollandia operation, but this support came from a rather odd source. Because of a shortage of mortar units in the zone of interior the War Department in February 1944 authorized the SWPA to convert a tank destroyer battalion to a chemical mortar battalion at the earliest practicable date. Almost immediately the theater reorganized the 641st Tank Destroyer Battalion which, after a brief period of training, participated in the Hollandia operation, under command of Lt. Col. Alexander Batlin. But redesignation waited until Jime 1944, producing the anomalous situation of a so-called tank destroyer unit firing 4.2-inch chemical mortars. ... 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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