Combat· World War II
Operation AVALANCHE (Salerno Landings)
Operation AVALANCHE was the Allied landing at Salerno on the Italian mainland, launched soon after Sicily fell.
The aim was to push into Italy and tie down German forces. The landing met fierce resistance and heavy air attacks, and the beachhead was held only with strong naval gunfire support that helped break up German counterattacks. Marines took part through the Navy. Ship's detachments aboard the warships off Salerno manned guns during the long days the fleet stayed on station. A group of Marine officers from headquarters went ashore as observers, riding in with the assault force to study the landing. The fighting was costly for the ships supporting the beachhead, and Marines serving aboard one cruiser were killed when a German guided bomb struck their gun position during the battle.
Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 590