The US entered the war on April 6, 1917 - when did the US troops fire their first shots in the war? Annie
From what I know Annie,and i have not double checked this just running on memory alone. I am pretty sure it was in 1918. During the great German offensive of March/April 1918 a USA Divsion/s was placed in the line a quite sector, they replaced a French force that was moved into the busy front to confront the Germans, After that it was small parts of one or two Btn's split up into small numbers that joined Australian Corps Ptns and were used in a battle that only took one hour or something like that. (i must be getting old i cannot remember that battles name.) Monash (Aussie Gen) had wanted the USA forces to fight as independent forces in this battle, but Perishing refused and did not want any USA forces to take part, Monash countered with "the battle will not take place with out some Americans. the local USA General took matters into his own hands and allowed these small parts of Btns to take part, saying to Perishing after battle finished that it was too late too remove tham, Perishing was furious that his troops had been used in his eyes to reinforce Australian Ptns.The USA did use this experience to change certain things, such as the size of their field bandages and other things people don't usually think off. As for the USA Army Perishing refused to allow US forces to do anything more untill they had enough trained men to be used as a independent army with their own front which happened later in 1918
Cobber I think you're referring to the Battle of Le Hamel on 4 July 1918, when US troops from the 132nd Infantry Regiment operated with the 4th Australian Division. However, US forces had fought earlier. 'C' Battery of the US 6th Field Artillery fired the first American artillery round on the Western Front from 75mm field piece No 13579 at 06:05 on 23 October 1917. The gun went on to fire about 10000 rounds in combat before being sent to the US for preservation in May 1918. The first infantry to see action was the 16th Infantry Regiment which occupied positions on the French sector of the Front on 2 November 1917. Men from the US Army's 11th Railway Engineers were attached to the British 29th Division during the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. Some of the Americans were taken prisoner of war during the German counterattack at Gouzeaucourt on 30 November. See The Doughboys by Gary Mead. Gareth
