In early 1943, the battalion was assigned to Fifth Army and then to the 1st Destroyer Group which operated south of Oran near Sebban. By September 1943, the battalion boarded the USS Korea for movement to Salerno, Italy.
In early 1943, the battalion was assigned to Fifth Army and then joined the 1st Destroyer Group, which was based near Sebban in southern France. By September 1943, the battalion boarded the USS Korea for transport to Salerno, a port city in Italy.