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New World War II Books
We saw them coming and I was the only one who could do anything about it; the 75mms would have to be within 300 yards to do anything to a Tiger. Sergeant Gordon, our tank commander said to us ‘Wait until they are about 800 yards’. So, we waited and then he pulled us forward out of the orchard. You need to get out of the trees to traverse the gun. ‘Target the last Tiger.’
The ‘Black Devils’, as they were known, were involved in Operation Totalize, starting on 8 August, and they were engaged in heavy fighting for Chambois and Mont Ormel. They then fought a fierce battle in their Sherman and Cromwell tanks to stop the Germans escaping from the Falaise Pocket, as part of Operation Tractable.
To begin with I attacked the mortar area by calling down the concentrated fire of a field regiment. The immediate result was to stop the mortar fire and to set ablaze a half tracked vehicle concealed behind a hedge; it was probably carrying ammunition for the mortar positions nearby. The Tiger tank was then given the same treatment but as field guns are not designed to penetrate solid steel of any great thickness at such a range it only made the tank withdraw slightly and sit tight while I continued to observe.
[This was] a trying period, living in slit trenches mostly in the rain in the very close and woody bocage country. The enemy held a series of outposts, frequently altering his positions, and there was constant patrolling by both sides. Regular shelling, mortaring and sniping brought a trickle of casualties ... the trees and tall hedges caused many airbursts against which the slit trenches were ineffective and three inches of head cover had to be provided.
The initial landings went well, with nearly all the tanks making it ashore and the leading elements of 8th Brigade hitting the designated areas.“ Initial German resistance was strong. This should come as no surprise: it is important to remember that the American assaults had begun an hour earlier; thus German troops were, if not certain of an attack, on extremely high alert. However, shortly before 1030hrs the main resistance was subdued and obstacles were being cleared.-
Overlord for iPad
Illustrated history of D-Day and the battle for Normandy,
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