380/34 Detachment, Royal Marines Syracuse

The 380/34 Detachment, Royal Marines, was a specialized unit documented during the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky), operating in Syracuse on July 13–14, 1943. They manned and secured captured Italian coastal defense gun emplacements overlooking the harbor while Allied supply ships unloaded

An IWM film showing members of the 380/34 Detachment, Royal Marines;

From 3:36 - Approaching captured Italian coast defence guns, with ships unloading supplies at Syracuse harbour in the background.

Man by a gun observing with binoculars.

The town with the gun in the foreground. Close up of a sergeant shouting orders to men.

Men placing ammunition in the box. Men cleaning the gun. Men elevating the gun. Panning shot over ships at sea.

A man cleaning the gun. Close up of a man writing details on paper. Man making notes.

View of the gun in the emplacement. Shot through a hole in the cliff showing the muzzle of the gun poking through. Close up of man with gun.

See the full IWM film here: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060042947

Related Royal Marines 'Dits':

• 7th Battalion RM - 31st Beach Brick - Operation Husky

• 7th Bn Royal Marines - Operation Husky - River Dittaino

• John Field - RM People "We thought we were immortal.” Operation Husky

• Amphibious Lessons Learned - Operation Husky 10 July 1943