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27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control)

In October 2006, the 39th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) assumed operational command of the 27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) and took over support responsibility for the entire V Corps region. In May 2007, the 27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) was inactivated, leaving the 39th Transportation Movement Control Battalion as the sole Movement Control Battalion for central Europe.

The mission of the 27th Transportation Battalion was to provide daily movements control and transportation services for V Corps, US Army Europe (USAREUR), and US European Command (EUCOM) units and organizations throughout approximately 50,000 square miles of Germany encompassing the states of Hessen, Bavaria, and almost half of Rheinland-Pfalz; provide centralized movements control and transportation services during the reception, staging and onward movement of US forces; conduct movement control for sustainment operations; and plan, execute, and control redeployment of US forces.

Within V Corps the 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division received movement control and transportation services support primarily from the 27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control). This support arrangement could change however, if the 27th Transportation Battalion deploys to support other forces. For example, during the deployment of the 27th Transportation Battalion to support Operation Joint Guard, the 1st Theater Movement Control Agency assumed support for Central Region units in the 27th Transportation Battalion area of responsibility. 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division coordinated movements and movements requirements with the 27th Transportation Battalion and the various movement teams that provide support on a functional and geographic basis.

The 27th Transportation Battalion Headquarters was broken down into 3 primary parts: Plans, Operations and the Highway Traffic Division. The Plans Section was responsible for developing the movement plan within the V Corps Area and connecting this plan with the theater movement plan. This planning included the Battle Field Circulation Plan, the movement of vehicles in the V Corps rear area, the rail plan for the movement of all equipment and personnel by train, the plan for moving all of the supplies by military truck, and other plans relating to movement in the area of responsibility. The Operations Section was primarily responsible for tracking all movement in the V Corps rear, including military and commercial truck, commercial bus, rail, barge or air. The Highway Traffic Division developed the battlefield circulation plan governing the movement of all wheeled vehicles in the V Corps rear. The plan covered routes used, the capacity and capabilities of the routes and the direction of traffic flow. Additionally, the Highway Traffic Division issued all march credits for convoys in the V Corps rear area.

The 15th Transportation Detachment (Movement Control Team) was located in Hanau and provided support to the first Armored Division. The 30th Transportation Detachment (Movement Control Team) was located in Bamberg and supported the 1st Infantry Division. Both MCTs provided support on a regional basis. The MCTs had subordinate Branch Movement Control Teams (BMCTs) and Rail Movement Management Teams (RMMTs). The MCTs were the primary liaison between units needing transportation and the mode of movement. MCT coordination included committing the military truck companies, ordering trains with the host nation railroad, and implementing commercial contracts with truck, bus, and barge companies. In a deployed environment the MCTs coordinated directly with the customer unit.

Branch Movement Control Teams (BMCTs) were the smallest element providing MC on an area basis. Generally, each military community would have a BMCT. These teams consisted of 2 or 3 civilian transportation specialists who had an excellent working knowledge of transportation in Germany. The BMCT provided movement advice, coordinates all commercial contracts, and committed military truck units.

Rail Movement Management Teams (RMMTs) coordinated rail movement of freight and personnel with the German Railroad (Deutsche Bahn). They received the rail movement requests from the customer units. After working up the cargo manifest for all equipment, containers and personnel, the RMMT submitted a request to the German Railroad for the appropriate number and type of rail cars. On rail loading day, BMCT personnel would exercise command and control over the load, certify all tiedowns, process the paperwork, coordinate for required MHE support, and communicate between local national railroad authorities and the customer unit.

Highway Movement Control Teams (HMCTs) were subordinate elements of the Battalion's Highway Traffic Division, and were responsible for coordinating with the appropriate host nation authority to process movement bids and pass march credits back to the requesting units. The HMCTs in Germany worked directly with and were normally collocated with Wehrberichskommando (WBK). The WBK was the military district that controlled movement by all military forces through its area of responsibility. The 27th Transportation Battalion's HMCTs were located in Katterbach and Mainz.

The Battalion's motto, "Geared to Fit" and the buff colors of the Battalion crest reflect the unit's early heritage as part of the Quartermaster Corps. Originally designated the 27th Quartermaster Regiment (Truck Corps), the unit was activated on 18 April 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia. The unit was immediately attached to the VII Army Corps and transferred to Camp Hann, California for desert training with the VII Corps and 6th Armored Division. On 10 May 1943, the unit departed Hampton Roads, Virginia for Tunisia and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

The 27th quickly earned it's first Battle Streamer supporting the Seventh US Army during the invasion of Sicily. After the Sicilian Campaign, the unit was stationed in Palermo, Italy. Following the landing in Italy in June 1944, the unit earned 2 more Battle Streamers as a result of it's actions in the Rome-Arno and Po Valley Campaigns. The 27th remained in Italy until August 1945, when the unit returned to the United States and proceeded to Camp Hood, Texas. There it was assigned to the Fourth US Army until inactivated. By that time, the unit had been redesignated the 27th Transportation Corps Truck Battalion.

On 20 January 1949, at Wetzlar Military Post in Germany, the unit was reactivated to a play a decisive role during the Berlin Air Lift. The 27th Transportation Battalion transported essential commodities such as coal and food to air terminals throughout Germany so the supplies could be flown into Templehof Air Base, Berlin. After the blockade was lifted, the Battalion began taking supplies by convoy directly into Berlin through the Soviet Zone of Germany. Following the crisis in Berlin, the unit was assigned to the Seventh US Army and participated in nearly every major maneuver conducted in Germany form 1949 to 1951.

As a result of Project Gyroscope, which reorganized the command and control of transportation units throughout Germany, the 27th Transportation Battalion (Truck) was reassigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia on 18 April 1956. The unit was at that time composed of 4 Light Truck Companies and one Heavy Lift Company. Between 1957 to August 1964 the unit participated in numerous exercises and operations including deploying to Florida in October 1962 in support of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In October 1965, the unit deployed from Fort Eustis to Vietnam. Initially stationed in Qui Nhon under the Qui Nhon Sub Command, the Battalion hauled supplies daily from the port over 100 miles through the central Highlands to Pleiku. Over 200 trucks made the trip each day supplying soldiers in the Central Highlands with JP4, ammunition, food and other commodities. A year later the unit moved to Phu Tai under the command of the 8th Transportation Group, where it remained until departing Vietnam. While in Vietnam, the unit was involved in 16 campaigns, earning 16 Campaign Steamers, 4 Meritorious Unit Commendations and Streamers, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star Streamer. Additionally, a soldier assigned to the Battalion's 359th Transportation Company earned the Medal of Honor. Specialist Fourth Class Larry G. Dahl, a machine gunner aboard a gun truck, threw himself upon an enemy grenade during an ambush to save the lives of the other members of the crew. The 27th Transportation Battalion departed Vietnam on 10 May 1972 and was inactivated the next day at Oakland Army Base, California.

On 17 February 1986, at Bremerhaven, West Germany, the unit was reorganized, redesignated, and reactivated as the 27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control). From the period of July 1990 to June 1991, the Battalion was awarded the Army Superior unit Award and Streamer for deploying and redeploying more than 8000 tracked and wheeled vehicles, 230 trains, 400 barges, 4600 containers and 210,000 short tons of cargo in support of military operations including Desert Shield and Desert Storm. On 15 September 1995, the unit moved to Wiesbaden, Germany and was designated as the V Corps Movement Control Center.

From 9 December 1995 to 20 January 1997, the 27th Transportation Battalion supported NATO Implementation Force peacekeeping missions for Operation Joint Endeavor. During this period, the Battalion deployed to 14 locations in Hungary, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina and worked at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. The Battalion maintained positive control and intransit visibility over all rail, barge, air, bus and military and commercial truck movements throughout Hungary, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Battalion, providing combined movement control support to US and NATO Implementation Forces (IFOR), significantly enhanced the overall NATO Implementation Forces mission.

In October 2006, the 39th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) assumed operational control of the 27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control). In May 2007, the 27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) was inactivated.