18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
18th Corps Support Battalion
The mission of the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion is to rapidly and safely deploy worldwide, providing expeditionary logistics; command and control over the full spectrum of sustainment operations as part of a Battalion, or Theater Sustainment Command operation as directed; and, on order support of US Army Europe deployment and redeployment operations. Prior to its reorganization in 2007, the mission of the 18th Corps Support Battalion had been to provide direct combat service support (supply and maintenance) to non-divisional V Corps units or as part of a contingency operation. The battalion would have also provided reinforcing combat service support to divisional units.
The 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion was originally constituted on 16 July 1940 as the 3rd Ordnance Battalion (Maintenance) and activated at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland on 1 July 1941. The unit was redesignated later as the 8th Ordnance Battalion on 11 August 1941. The Battalion arrived in Europe in the spring of 1944 as part of the 51st Ordnance Group and provided support to the First US Army through V-E Day and to the Ninth and Seventh US Armies respectively during the initial occupation. For its distinguished service during World War II, the Battalion was awarded campaign streamers for the Rhineland and Central European campaigns. In Paris, France on 15 December 1946, the unit was inactivated.
The 8th Ordnance Battalion commenced a new life in Germany when it reactivated on 1 August 1951 in Feundhaven following 4 years of inactivation. The Battalion relocated in May 1955 to Pioneer Kaserne in Hanau, Germany. On 21 May 1956 that the Battalion was transferred to Grossauheim, to what was then known as the Hanau Engineer Depot (renamed Grossauheim Kaserne in 1965).
On 16 August 1965, under the COSTAR Concept, the unit was officially known as the 8th Maintenance Battalion. The unit was further redesignated as the 18th Corps Support Battalion on 15 July 1993. The Battalion relocated to Hutier Kaserne in July 1994.
The 18th Corps Support Battalion played an integral role in logistical support within the 3rd Corps Support Command (COSOM) and throughout central region. The 18th Corps Support Battalion deployed soldiers to Hungary in support of Operation Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard, supported NATO operations as part of Operations Allied Force and Shining Hope in Tirana, Albania; and conducted 3 Kosovo Force (KFOR) rotations at Camp Able Sentry in Macedonia. The 18th Corps Support Battalion received the Army Superior Unit Award while supporting Operation Joint Endeavor from October 1995 through November 1996.
By 2000, the 18th Corps Support Battalion consisted of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, the 71st Ordnance Company (Missile Maintenance) and the 77th Maintenance Company. The units were geographically located in Hanau and Babenhausen, Germany. The 71st Ordnance Company provided direct and general support maintenance to non-divisional Avenger and Multiple Launch Rocket System battalions in V Corps. It provides back-up direct and general support and Class IX missile support to divisional units. The 77th Maintenance Company provided direct support maintenance and Class IX repair parts support to non-divisional V Corps units or as part of a contingency operation. The Company also provided reinforcing support to divisional units.
In 2007, as part of the reorganization and redesignation of the 16th Corps Support Group to the 16th Sustainment Brigade, the 18th Corps Support Battalion was similarly reorganized and redesignated as the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. The new unit consisted of its Headquarters and Headquarters Company, along with the 12th Chemical Company, 709th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 1st Inland Cargo Transportation Company, 5th Maintenance Company, 23rd Ordnance Company (Ammunition), 574th Quartermaster Company, and 41st Transportation Company (PLS).
As part of continuing restructuring of US forces in Europe, it was announced on 1 March 2013 that the 12th Chemical Company would be inactivated during 2013.
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