Page "Allied invasion of Sicily" Paragraph 15

The outline plan given to Eisenhower by the Chiefs of Staff involved dispersed landings by brigade and division-sized formations in the south-east, south and north-west areas of the island.

The logic behind the plan was it would result in the rapid capture of key Axis airfields which posed a threat to the beachheads and the invasion fleet lying off them.

It would also see the rapid capture of the ports of Catania, Palermo, Syracuse, Licata and Augusta ( being all the main ports on the island, except for Messina ), thus facilitating a rapid Allied build-up as well as denying their use to the Axis.

High level planning for the operation lacked direction because all three main land commanders were fully occupied in operations in Tunisia.

Effort was wasted in presenting plans which Montgomery, in particular, disliked because of the dispersion of forces involved.

He was able finally to articulate his objections and put forward alternative proposals on 24 April.

Tedder and Cunningham opposed Montgomery's plan because it would leave thirteen landing grounds in Axis hands, posing a considerable threat to the Allied invasion fleet.

Finally Eisenhower called a meeting for 2 May with Montgomery, Cunningham and Tedder where Montgomery made new proposals to concentrate the Allied effort on the south east corner of Sicily, discarding the intended landings close to Palermo.

After Alexander joined the meeting on 3 May these proposals were finally accepted, despite Cunningham's and Tedder's remaining misgivings, on the basis that it was better to take an administrative risk ( having to support troops by landing supplies across beaches ) than an operational one ( dispersion of effort ).

Not for the last time, however, Montgomery had argued a sound course of action in a manner which suggested to others ( in particular his U. S. peers ) that he was entirely preoccupied with his own interests.

In the event, maintenance across the beaches proved easier than expected, partly because of the successful introduction of the new amphibious DUKW vehicle which had been introduced in large numbers.

Alexander was later to write " It is not too much to say that the DUKW revolutionised the problem of beach maintenance.