Thursday, June 13, 2024

Tuesday, June 13, 1944. D+7. Heavy fighting in Normandy.

The first V-1 rockets were launched on London.


V-1s are, basically, a pulse jet drone, and therefore heralded an advance in weaponry which we're only now seeing the full application of in combat.  One of a variety of late war German "Wunderwaffe", they were primitive in their category and while they affected terror, they stood no chance of being war altering.  The same can not be said of the V-2, which was a ballistic missile and truly revolutionary.

Armed drones would be revolutionary, but it would not really be until the advent of cruise missiles that they'd become effective.  With advances in targeting, they're now a massive dangerous weapon which has been one of the things which has allowed Ukraine to disproportionately take on Russia in the ongoing Russo Ukrainian War.

Gen. Montgomery strengthened his positions and basically regrouped in a fashion, which was typical for the careful planner, Montgomery.  The 7th British Armoured Division reached Villers-Bocage, where they were attacked by German armor, including Tigers.  The British were forced to retreat.

The tank battle is a famous one.

Ambush at Villers-Bocage

Apparently, however, the "lone Tiger" commanded by Michael Wittmann of the SS, who gave a German radio interview that very night, destroying 25 British tanks is a bit of a myth.

Wittmann, who had just turned 30 years old, died the way you'd expect.  The Waffen SS Hauptsturmführer (Captain) and "panzer ace" died that August at the hands of British armor.

The Germans followed up with an attack on Tilly-sur-Selles and Lingèvres which was successfully resisted, scattering the Panzer Lehr Division.

Montgomery, who was facing fierce and effective resistance, cannot really be faulted for his careful approach, something that was the hallmark of his combat strategy.  Having fought the war with thin resources carefully, his economy of planning tended to be effective, and was frankly here, in spite of constant American criticism, then and now.

The Battle of Bloody Gulch took place around the Manoir de Donville Hill southwest of Carentan involving the German 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division and 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment, and the American 501st, 502nd and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments (PIR) of the 101st Airborne Division, reinforced by elements of the 2nd Armored Division and the 29th Infantry Division.  The Airborne prevailed and released the whole of Carentan.

Grateful French civilians lay flowers on the body of a dead American soldier at Manoir de Donville.

The US 90th Division took Pont-l’Abbé. The 1st Infantry Division took Caumont, fighting the 2nd SS Panzer Division in the process.

Last prior edition:

Monday, June 12, 1944. D+6. Linking at Carentan.

No comments: