New file at the Repository: Wittmann's Swords at Villers Bocage (2013-11-21)

[George MC]

I think Lotzsch & Hantusch 's tigers should stay with wittmann's 2nd company to the south of N175, and Lotzsch's tiger should be immobilsed.Instead ,there should be another tiger(No.231)appear at Hantusch's original position on the map(to the north of N175).No231 and Wittmann's 212 are the tigers which destroyed the A squadron (London Yemonry)

Interesting view - what's your sources to back up that assertion though?

The British accounts and evidence point to at least two Tigers on the other side of the road. The German versions are even sketchier though as no account actually states exactly where the Tigers were all placed. Interestingly (and the set-up I went with) Marie has two Tigers on the other side in about the positions I set them up in and which coincides with the British account. As to the names of the Tigers there. I went with who I knew for sure was where. That left Hantusch and Lotzsch's Tigers with no verifiable location hence they went where they were.

No Tiger was immovable although all had mechanical issues. Unfortunately CM does not model this aspect so it's they move or they don't move.

[Frankster65]

Looks very interesting...I'll have to give it a go.

[xellos]

In Henri Marie's book ,it says on the night of 6/12,some French locals(Henrie Robin) had seen two tigers stay near the Hauts-Vents.

The British accounts said there were at least 5 tigers attaked them,two on the left (it means Hauts-Vents),three on the right(Montbrocq-Cidrerie) ,and then another tiger came from the north side of N175.On the forum of missing-lynx and TIIF,there are many evidences point out the tiger coming from the north is No231, whitch had come later to the battleground ,and fight with Wittmann near La Cavaire ,even followed him into the town,wounded by the firefly of Sgt.Moore,retreat to La Cavaire,got immobilised by the 6 pounder gun.

In Brandt's account,he said he had destroyed three shermans ,but there weren't any shermans on N175 at that time ,the tanks may be the Stuarts belong to Lt.Ingram's Recon Troop of 4LYR.,so we can sugget that he must stayed near Hauts-Vents.

After Wittmann dashed towards the town ,Sowa & Stief had attacked Point 213,so the one stayed with Brandt's tiger must be Hatusch's tank.

On 6/14,when tiger 222 and tiger 231 move to the point 213,Hantusch appeared on 222,we can suggest that he must stay with the immobilised 231 near La Cavaire on 6/13,and his tank's original position must be near the Hauts-Vents(according to the panzer IV crew member's memory,there were two tigers stayed near La Cavaire ,one of them seemed to be knocked out,the driver was dead.This tiger must be No.231)

If you could look at CMAK's Scenario Hill 213 - Villers Bocage made by theDesertFox,he also move Lotzsch and Brandt 's tigers to the Hauts-Vents.

[DesertFox]

If you could look at CMAK's Scenario Hill 213 - Villers Bocage made by theDesertFox,he also move Lotzsch and Brandt 's tigers to the Hauts-Vents.

Hey nice to see that this scen has now been recreated for CM:N. 10 years ago I spent quite a while researching stuff for it and creating the map, which was quite an effort back then.

Maybe this little excerpt from my old CM:BO / CM:AK scen can help to localize the individual tanks, which were parked alongside the old roman road on the south of Point 213.

I download the scen as I find time an have a look. Thanks to GeorgeMC for his efforts.

cheers

Quote from CMAK scen created in 2004:

[Design decisions and a word of warning:]

Lenght of the scenarios and introduction of reserves represent "real-time" as far as this is possible within the game´s limitations. All historical persons have been marked with "name****" as far as it was possible to establish from the sources cited.

Limitations: Due to the absence of Cromwell IVs and VIs from CMAK, these are represented as Sherman Is(early) and Sherman Ibs.

These scens have not been tested for balance but are meant to be a representation of the historical events as far as my little research allows.

Nevertheless I hope you enjoy this recreation within the limitations of the game-engine.

Operation Perch I -

The Morning battle - Villers-Bocage - Hill 213 - 08:55-10:55, 13th June 1944

[background:]

"Operation PERCH" was planned by the British 21st Army Group and the British Second Army. A direct assault on Caen was ruled out as being too costly and difficult and thus "Operation PERCH" was born to inject some movement into the frontline by trying to outflank the stubborn german resistance around CAEN to the west.

Phase One began when the 22nd Armoured Brigade (Brig. Hinde), with 4th County of London Yeomanry "The Sharpshooters" (4thCLY-Lt.-Col.Cranley) supported by "A" Company 1st Rifle Brigade (1RB-Maj.Wright) in the lead, were ordered to capture the important road junction of Villers-Bocage and the high ground beyond (Point 213) on the morning of June 13th.

Lt.-Col.Cranley, had requested time to carry out a proper reconnaissance of the area as German armoured cars had been spotted observing the advance south from Tilly-sur-Seulles. Orders were, however, to push on regardless.

The Brigade orders were as follows [11]:

- 4thCLY capture and secure Point 213 northeast of Villers-Bocage

- 1/7th Queens capture and secure the exits from Villers-Bocage, except those west of the church

- 1stRB (without 2 Companies) capture and secure the remaining three exits from town

- 5thRTR capture and hold the high terrain around Maisoncelles-Pelvy (3 km southwest of Villers-Bocage

- 260th Anti-Tank Battery will close gap between 4thCLY and 5thRTR

Leaving the regimental HQ tanks at the top of the main street in Villers-Bocage, ‘A’ Squadron 4thCLY, was ordered forward to secure Point 213 about two km north-east up N175. On reaching Point 213, ‘A’ Squadron 4CLY (Maj. Scott) halted and Cranley ordered an "O-group" on top of Point 213.

Unknown to the British, the 2nd Company of heavy SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101 had just arrived in Normandy in the night 12th/13th June after a long road march from Paris which left only a few tanks servicable. The Company took up position south of the highway N175 along a sunken lane, the ancient route de Caen near Montbrocq, La Ciderie and Les Hauts Vents. Parked in sunken lanes or orchards at the slopes of Hill 213, hidden from aerial view and view from RN 175 the crews were resting and/or completing maintenance in the morning of June 13th.

Around 08:30 hours (british time - 07:30 for the germans), the British started to enter Villers-Bocage without resistance and received a warm welcome from the remaining inhabitants. After reaching Villers-Bocage, it took almost another half-hour for `A´Squadron to reach Point 213. Just as they began to arrive at the high ground, Lt. Bill Garnett came across a german staff car coming the other way [2]. This scenario begins at the moment when the Tiger of Michael Wittmann, the CO of 2nd Co. heavy-SS-PzAbt-101, after being alarmed by a guard, clears the slope of Hill 213 and spots the first British tank.

[Acknowledgements:]

Thanks to my fellow members of "Der Kessel" for their help and assistance.

Special thanks to "Pyewacket" for his wonderful tool "Map Converter". Without him this conversion of my CM:BO scenario most likely would never have happened.

Many thanks also to all those out there who wrote those fine words of encouragement to me. You keep the tanks rumbling!

[sources:]

The events simulated here are described more or less heroic and accurate in many sources. The most recent, relevant and reliable sources about what happened back then are [1],[2] and [3], however, as always, it doesn´t hurt to read a little bit more to piece together information and e.g. to seperate more reliable [1,1a,2,3,4,5] from not so reliable sources [16,17,18].

[1] Patrick Agte "Michael Wittmann und die Tiger der Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Rosenheim, ISBN: 3-920722-18-3, 2.Auflage 1995

[1a] Patrick Agte "Michael Wittmann and the Tigers of LSSAH" Fedorowicz Publishing

[2] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999

[3] Henri Marie "Villers-Bocage Normandy 1944" Edition Heimdal

[4] Georges Bernage "Les Panzers dans la bataille de Normandie" Edition Heimdal

[5] Wolfgang Schneider "Tigers in Combat II" Fedorowicz Publishing

[6] Patrick Delaforce "Churchill´s Desert Rats" Chancellor Press

[7] C.L.Verney "The Desert Rats" Greenhill Books

[8] Helmut Ritgen "Westfront 1944" Motorbuch Verlag

[9] WO 171/856. War Diary 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office, Kew

[10] Michael Reynolds "Steel Inferno" Sarpedon Publishing

[11] Hubert Mayer "War diary of 12th SS Panzerdivision" Fedorowicz Publishing

[12] Eric Lefevre "Panzers in Normandy - Then and Now" After the Battle Books

[13] Jean Restain "Tiger I on the western front" Histoire & Collection

[14] Will Fey "Panzerkampf im Bild" VBG-Verlagsgesellschaft Berg mbH

[15] 1/25000 map 1513-O Series Bleue "Aunay-sur-Odon, Villers-Bocage" IGN

[16] Gary Simpson "Tiger Ace" Schiffer Military History

[17] Franz Kurowski "Die Panzer-Lehr-Division" Podzun Verlag

[18] Franz Kurowski "Panzer Aces" Ballantine Books

[DesertFox]

Hi folks,

As an addendum it occured to me that it might be sensible to share the estimated timeline I created back then when I created my interpretation of the events. Please bear in mind that we most likely will never know for sure what happened at which point at which time exactly.

However, this is as close as I was able to figure out back then. Read and enjoy and maybe store it for reference purposes:

Lengty quote following:

Deduced Timeline of Operation Perch and the Villers-Bocage events 13th June 1944

(British double summer time 08:30 hrs = 08:30 hrs continental summer time = 07:30 hrs continental time)[68][69]

08:30 hrs Lead elements of 22nd Armoured Brigade [AB] column reached the western outskirts of Villers-Bocage [1]

08:40 hrs Lieutenant Bill Garnett engaged a german staff car at Point 213 [2]

08:45 hrs Colonel Cranley drove on up to “A” Squadron 4th County of London Yeomanry [4CLY] at Point 213 [3]

08:45 hrs Wittmann climbed into the nearest Tiger of Unterscharfuehrer Stief [30]

08:46 hrs Wittmann ordered Unterscharfuehrer Stief to tell the rest of his Kompanie to hold their ground [32], [60], [61]

08:50 hrs “A” Company 1st Rifle Brigade [RB] platoon leaders and Major Wright drove on up to Point 213 [4]

08:51 hrs After realising that the Tiger of Unterscharfuehrer Stief had engine problems, Wittmann switched to Unterscharfuehrer Sowa´s Tiger [31]

08:55 hrs German attack started [7]

08:56 hrs Column split at 823578 by two Tigers [25]

08:57 hrs Wittmann engaged the rearmost Cromwell of “A” Squadron 4th CLY [33], [60], [61]

08:58 hrs Wittmann engaged the Firefly 30 metres further up on the hill [34], [60], [61]

08:59 hrs Wittmann engaged a further Cromwell of the rearmost platoon of “A” Squadron 4th CLY [35], [60], [61] and then turns west on RN175 to engage “A” Company 1st RB [36], [60], [61]

09:00 hrs A third Tiger opens fire from the south nearer Villers-Bocage [37]

09:00 hrs “A” Squadron 4CLY has reached Point 213 [5]

09:00 hrs “B” Squadron 4CLY lead tanks (No.2 troop and No. 1 troop) are beginning to reach Place Jeanne d´Arc [6]

09:02 hrs Lieutenant Alfie de Passe on his way to the “O” group at Point 213 and ahead of the “A” Company column sees Wittmann´s Tiger, jumps out of his half-track and runs back to the column to find a PIAT. [38]

09:03 hrs Sowa mounts Stief´s tank, engages and destroys 2 Cromwells at Point 213 and decides to pull back from the road to let the engine of Stief´s Tiger cool [62]

09:05 hrs Wittmann starts to engage “A” Company 1st RB and continues to approach Villers-Bocage, while destroying the half-tracks and carriers with MG and HE fire. [39], [60], [61]

09:10 hrs Wittmann engages and destroys the Stuarts of Recce troop [40]

09:11 hrs Regimental HQ troop 4th CLY becomes aware of the situation [41]

09:13 hrs Wittmann engages the tank of Lieutenant John Cloudsley-Thompson but misses to hit the tank [42]

09:14 hrs Wittmann´s Tiger is hit by two 75mm shots of Major Carr´s tank, but both shots bounce off the Tiger´s armor. Wittmann engages Major Carr´s tank, knocking it out. [43]

09:15 hrs Wittmann´s Tiger is knocking out Cloudsley-Thompson´s tank [44]

09:15 hrs “B” Squadron 8th Hussars advancing on Craham towards Tracy-Bocage [64]

09:16 hrs Wittmann fails to spot the tank of Captain Pat Dyas hiding in a garden off the road and passes him [45]

09:17 hrs Wittmann´s Tiger is knocking out the Regimental Sergeant Major Gerald Holloway´s tank. [46]

09:18 hrs Wittmann rounded the bend into the high street and is knocking out the OP Sherman of Major Wells. [47]

09:19 hrs Wittmann propably is knocking out the half-track of Captain McLean. [48],[11]

09:20 hrs Wittmann propably is knocking out the scout car of the intelligence officer. [48],[11]

09:20 hrs 1/7th Queens debussed at Amaye-sur-Seulles [12]

09:22 hrs Wittmann spotted the OP Cromwell of Captain Victory in the side street near Hotel du Bras d´Or and knocked it out. [49]

09:25 hrs Wittmann drove further into the town and propably reached the Mairie in the middle of the town [60], [61]

09:25 hrs 1/7th Queens ordered to release carrier and anti-tank platoons [13]

09:26 hrs Sergeant Lockwood´s Firefly engaged Wittmann´s Tiger with two shots, one of them hitting the Tiger without effect. [50]

09:26 hrs Wittmann engaged Lockwood and hits the building next to the Firefly. [51]

09:26 hrs Lockwood´s Firefly got off two further shots at the Tiger without obvious effect.[52]

09:26 hrs Wittmann engaged Lockwood´s Firefly a last time and again hits a building.[53]

09:27 hrs Wittmann backed up and performed a neutral turn, most likely with his gun still facing in the direction of Lockwood´s Firefly.[54]

09:28 hrs Dyas, while trying to stalk the Tiger, fired two shots on Wittmann´s Tiger, but both bounced. In contrast Wittmann knocked out Dyas Cromwell by putting a round through the left side of its turret. [55]

09:28 hrs Regimental HQ 4th CLY brewed up completely.[29]

09:29 hrs Captain Dyas reported to Colonel Cranley per wireless of Holloway`s tank [56] then he came across a French girl who guided him back to “B” squadron, where he reported to Major Aird [64]

09:29 hrs “A” Squadron 4th CLY continue and take up battle positions. “B” Squadron 4th CLY hold town but unable to get through to “A” Squadron 4th CLY [26]

09:30 hrs 1/7th Queens stretched out on the Livry road, lead elements of carrier and anti-tank platoons reach the town [10]

09:30 hrs Wittmann´s Tiger is immobilised. [57], [60], [61]. According to Daniel Taylor this may have taken place at the Tilly junction at the east-end of Villers-Bocage by a 6-pounder of “A” Company 1st RB anti-tank detachment. The 6-pounder version of this story can be seen in accordance with a radio report logged at XXX Corps at 0945 hrs [8] and the Rifle Brigade´s regimental history. [9]

However this seems to be contradicted by Wittmann´s own account of the battle, stating that he was immobilised approximately at the center of the town by a hit of an anti-tank gun [60], [61]. It would seem that the “Tilly junction possibility” is also contradicted by photographic evidence, which shows a Tiger of 2. Kompanie facing east, that has been immobilised near the center of the town in front of the shop Huet-Godefroy.[58]. According to the pictorical evidence this Tiger of 2. Kompanie wasn´t recovered after the battle.[59]. Due to the location of this tank, which seems to be in accordance with Wittmann´s own account [60], [61], due to the fact that this is the only documented Tiger of 2. Kompanie which has been disabled in Villers-Bocage and due to the fact that this is the only documented Tiger in Villers-Bocage which is facing east, as it should have after duelling with Dyas Cromwell [55], it seems to be reasonable to conclude that this tank indeed was Wittmann´s mount in the morning battle of Villers-Bocage.

09:35 hrs Wittmann abandoned his Tiger in front of the shop Huet-Godefroy [58], [59] and started his march on foot to Panzer Lehr HQ at Orbois 6 km to the north of Villers-Bocage [60], [61]

09:36 hrs Elements from 4. Kompanie heavy Panzerabteilung-SS-101 start to arrive in the area [63]

09:39 hrs Estimated (very optimistic estimate) arrival of Captain Dyas at Major Aird´s HQ [64]

09:40 hrs “D” Company 1/7th Queens engage German staff car and motorcycles somewhere between St Germain and Villers-Bocage [14]

09:45 hrs Radio report logged at XXX Corps: Tiger knocked out [8], [9]

09:55 hrs 1/7th Queens companies start to arrive in Villers-Bocage on foot [16]

10:00 hrs “A” Squadron 4th CLY surrounded and attacked by Tigers and infantry. Call for immediate assistance, but none could get through. [22]

10:00 hrs Villers-Bocage reported clear of enemy (german) troops [15]

10:02 hrs HQ “A” Squadron at Point 213 is told, that the Queens had reached Villers-Bocage [19]

10:05 hrs Reserve elements of Panzer-Lehr and advance parties of 2. Panzer Division had begun infiltrating the town [17]

10:30 hrs Colonel Cranley, who was with “A” Squadron 4th CLY, reports position untenable, withdrawal impossible [23]

10:35 hrs All stations of “A” Squadron and RHQ go off the air [24]

10:40 hrs After having to dodge enemy tanks several times and marching approximately 15 kilometers [60], [61], Wittmann may have reached Panzer Lehr HQ at Orbois after 60 minutes (optimistic estimate) of march on foot or even later and according to himself he reported immediately to divisional chief of staff Oberstleutnant i.G. Kauffmann and to I.SS-Panzerkorps. [60], [61]

10:50 hrs Hauptmann Ritgen receives order (he recalls that it was before 11:00 hrs continental time) to immediately set off to Villers-Bocage with all tanks available to him (15 pieces) [65]

11:00 hrs Hauptmann Lux who commanded the workshop of II./PzAbt 130 at Panfouru-sur-Odon hurriedly patched up some 10 Panzer IV which were in reasonable conditions and went off to Point 213 to help with the counterattack. Most likely his tanks were involved in the destruction of “A” Squadron on Point 213 [xx]

11:35 hrs Oberstleutnant Kauffmann patched together an infantry battlegroup from staff company Panzer-Lehr and set off to Villers-Bocage. [xx]

12:30 hrs Hauptmann Ritgen with his ad hoc battlegroup nears Villy-Bocage and meets General Fritz Bayerlein, the commander of Panzer-Lehr , who briefed Ritgen [66]

12:35 hrs Colonel Cranley asked for smoke to be put down on Point 213 [20]

12:40 hrs Colonel Cranley asked permission to brew up his remaining vehicles (later amended to say scout-car. Reasons for this amendment in the unit diary are unclear) and try to break out on foot [21]

12:40 hrs As the Panzer-Lehr battlegroup approached St.Louet, the tank of Stabsfeldwebel Bobrowski was hit and caught fire [67]

12:50 hrs 1. Kompanie sPzAbt-SS-101 “Moebius” arrives near Point 213 with 10 Tigers [18]

13:00 hrs Obersturmfuehrer Michael Wittmann met Hauptsturmfuehrer Moebius somewhere east of Point 213 at the RN 175 and briefed him on the situation in Villers-Bocage [xx]. After handing over to Moebius Wittmann sets off to 1st SS Panzercorps HQ at Baron-sur-Odon to report to Sturmbannfuehrer von Westernhagen and Obergruppenfuehrer Dietrich. Dietrich gives order to write the citation for the “swords of the oakleaf of the knightscross” on the same day.[agte] Photographic evidence [agte] shows Wittmann, Dietrich, von Westernhagen and Weiser meeting at Baron-sur-Odon. In the late afternoon Wittmann is also giving an interview, which was recorded on tape, to Hauptscharfuehrer Dieter Menninger of SS-PK-Standarte “Kurt Eggers”.[agte] Also, in the evening Wittmann spoke to the SS-Warjournalist Herbert Reinecker about the events that occurred in the morning of 13th June [agte]

13:05 hrs After having helped to force the surrender at Point 213, the Panzer IVs of the Parfouru-sur-Odon workshop start to edge into Villers-Bocage, but due to insufficient infantry support are having a hard time of it [xx]

13:15 hrs 4 Panzer IV from 6th Kompanie of Panzer-Lehr-Regiment tried to push into the south of the town but at a crossroad came across two of their tanks already disabled. After crossing another road the two lead tanks of this group get disabled as well [xx]

13:30 hrs At least two, possibly 3 Tigers overtook the Panzer IVs and took out the anti-tank gun. One Tiger was hit in this process [xx]

13:40 hrs Lieutenant Cotton and his platoon, supported by a 6 pounder of 1/7th Queens ambushed the attacking germans at the Mairie and knocked out at least 1 Tiger and 1 Panzer IV [xx]

14:00 hrs Knowing the location of the ambush, the germans try to outflank it by three Tigers approaching from the south. Before the Tigers started their attack they first meet on the Place du Marche. [xx]

14:20 hrs One of the three Tigers was knocked out at the junction of Rue…and Rue….by a 6 pounder. The second was knocked out by a PIAT on Rue Emile Samson. The third was travelling along Rue St. Germain towards the WW-I-memorial and immobilised by a shot of a PIAT. This tank was most likely recovered later. [xx]

14:20 hrs Lieutenant Cotton and Sergeant Brammall set fire to the ko´ed tanks in the Rue Pasteur [xx]

14:30 hrs “A” Company 1/7th Queens is fighting a mixed infantry force near the railway station. Major Hodgeson wounded. The rest of the battalion is trying to stem the german infantry attempts to infiltrate the town [xx]

15:30 hrs “A” Company 1/7th Queens is pushed back from the railway station and is forced to centralise its defences. The situation in the town is starting to deteriorate further. The whole battalion of 1/7th Queens gets committed during the afternoon. [xx]

16:00 hrs 4th Troop “B” Squadron, with infantry and A/Tk guns under Lt L Cotton MM, after a 6 hour street battle, destroy 4 Tigers and 3 Mark IV [28]

16:00 hrs “B” Squadron 4th CLY reports village still held by us, but infantry in area 820575 [27]

18:00 hrs German infantry is getting in close proximity to the Sharpshooters´ tanks and the Queens battalion HQ. The road leading into Villers-Bocage became subject of heavy artillery fire [xx]

19:00 hrs Withdrawal from Villers-Bocage is ordered to commence at 19:00 hrs [xx]

20:00 hrs Artillery barrage ordered to fall on Villers-Bocage to cover the withdrawal [xx]

References:

[1] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 16: “When the head of the column reached the western end of the town just before 0830 hrs ....”

[2] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 16: “Just as they began to arrive at the high ground, Lieutenant Bill Garnett came across a German staff car coming the other way. He opened fire with the tank´s machine gun…”

[3] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 16: “Cranley drove on up to “A” Squadron in his scout-car…”

[4] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “In addition, Cranley briefly discussed the position with Major Wright as he waited for the Rifle Brigade platoon commanders” and page 19: “Lieutenant Campbell, with Lieutenant Coop and Seargent Gale, was nearing Point 213…”

[5] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 16: “After reaching Villers, it took almost another half-hour for “A” Squadron to reach Point 213.”

[6] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 17: “At the bottom of the road, the leading elements of “B” Squadron were beginning to arrive in the town. In the lead was Firefly No. 2 Troop commanded by Sergeant Stan Lockwood…”

[7] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “…, Sergeant O´Connor of No. 1 Platoon came over the air shouting: “For Christ sake get a move on! There is a Tiger running alongside us 50 yards away.” O´Connor was in another half-track on its way to Point 213 behind Lieutenant Campbell”

[8] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 34: “Besides Wittmann´s account, a radio report logged at XXX Corps at 0945 hrs claimed that a Tiger had been knocked out by an anti-tank to the east of Villers”

[9] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 34: “Further evidence comes from the Rifle Brigade´s regimental history in which Sergeant Bray is credited with knocking out a Tiger during the morning´s fighting…”

[10] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “By 0930 hrs, 1/7th Queens was stretched out on the Livry road behind the Sharpshooters. Most of the unit was near St Germain-d´Ectot, just over three miles from Villers, whilst a few of the lead elements had reached the town.”

[11] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 27: “Some accounts speak of the tanks of the Sharpshooters´ Medical Officer and Intelligence Officer being knocked out at the very top of the high street, but no photographic evidence to corroborate this could be found.”

[12] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “After passing Tac Brigade at Amaye, the battalion had debussed waiting to progress on to the objective.”

[13] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “Then came the order from 22nd Armoured Brigade for the carrier and anti-tank platoons to move off.”

[14] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “Almost immediately “D” Company, which was leading, came across a German staff car and two motor cycle combinations coming out of a lane….so they had to be dealt with before the battalion could move on. … As it transpired, the group was an advance party from 2. Panzer Division, arriving from the south.”

[15] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “Although the town had been reported clear of enemy troops by 1000 hrs, there had not been time for a thorough search, and there were still snipers about, making movement hazardous.”

[16] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “When the infantry companies began to arrive, they were allocated particular areas to cover and one of the companies was detailed to move up the RN175 with the Sharpshooters “B” squadron to attempt to extricate “A” squadron.”

[17] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “On top of that, reserve elements of Panzer-Lehr and advance parties from 2. Panzer had begun infiltrating the town.”

[18] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 56: “Moreover, the deciding factor for them was the arrival of Moebius´ 1. Kompanie of ten further Tigers at around 1300 hrs.”

[19] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 45: “Soon after 1000 hrs, they were told that the Queens had reached the outskirts and were now on their way to relieve them.”

[20] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 51: “At 1235 hrs, increased tank activity was detected coming from the german positions. Colonel Cranley, …, … asked for smoke to be put down in order to cover an attempt at a withdrawal.”

[21] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 51: “…five minutes later, …, Cranley asked permission to brew up his scout car and try to break out on foot.”

[22] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “1000 - A Sqn surrounded and attacked by Tigers and infantry. Call for immediate assistance, but none could get through.”

[23] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “1030 - CO, who was with A Sqn, reports position untenable, withdrawal impossible.”

[24] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “1035 - All stations go off the air.”

[25] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “Column split at 823578 by two Tigers”

[26] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “A Sqn continue and take up battle positions. B Sqn hold town but unable to get through to A Sqn.”

[27] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “1600 - B Sqn reports village still held by us, but infantry in area 820575.”

[28] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “4Tp B Sqn, with infantry and A/Tk guns under Lt L Cotton MM, after a 6 hour street battle, destroy 4 Tigers and 3 Mark IV.”

[29] WO 171/856. War Diary, 4th County of London Yeomanry, Public Record Office Kew. “RHQ brewed up completely.”

[30] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Wittmann, having appraised the situation, climbed into the nearest Tiger and ordered it to advance towards the enemy.”

[31] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Wittmann jumped down and instead climbed into the Tiger of Unterscharfuehrer Kurt Sowa which had come out of the defile after Wittmann´s”

[32] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Ordering Unterscharfuehrer Stief to tell the rest of the unit to hold their ground, he set off toward the British column leaving Sowa watching.”

[33] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “As Captain Milner´s half-track passed “A” Squadrons rearmost Cromwell, the tank was hit and burst into flames…”

[34] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “The next tank, a Sherman Firefly nearly a hundred yards further up the hill, had swung its long barrel round and was engaging the Germans, but as Milner passed it, it too was hit.”

[35] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Campbell, ahead of Milner, saw the Firefly hit when it was 40 yards behind him. Another shell passed over his head hitting the tank behind on the bank at the side of the road.”

[36] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Wittmann set off towards the RN175, approximately half-way between 213 and the eastern end of Villers.”

[37] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “A third Tiger opened up from the same flank but nearer the town.”

[38] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Lieutenant Alfie de Passe, the commander of No.4 Platoon, jumped out of the half-track in which he had been riding and ran back to his platoon, which had been leading the company, to find a PIAT…”

[39] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Wittmann continued down the column destroying the vehicles of the company with his “88” and machine guns.”

[40] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “Nearing the junction with the Tilly road, Wittmann reached the end of the motorised infantry column and then came across three light tanks.”

[41] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 19: “It was at about this moment that the RHQ troop became aware that something was amiss.”

[42] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 23: “The Tiger fired again, the shot passing between Cloudsley-Thompson and his wireless operator, both of whom had their heads out of the turret, leaving them both partially deaf for the next 24 hours.”

[43] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 23: “As the Tiger came into view he managed to fire twice, the 75mm shot bouncing off the Tiger´s thick turret armour. Lieutenant Pearce saw the Tiger stop, swing its long gun towards Major Carr´s tank and fire, almost instantly knocking it out.”

[44] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 23: “The next moment his Cromwell was hit and he and his crew baled out.”

[45] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 23: “In the confusion, Wittmann had failed to spot Dyas´ tank in the garden off the road.”

[46] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 24: “He almost reached the bend into the high street proper which might have offered cover but did not quite make it and the Cromwell was hit just 25 yards above the corner.”

[47] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 24: “The OP tank lived up to its reputation, spewing out thick smoke to add to the already poor visibility.”

[48] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 24: “The half-track and the scout car, being susceptible to damage even from the machine guns on the Tiger, were the next targets and both were hit.”

[49] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 28: “If the shell had struck the engine it would almost certainly have burned the tank out, but instead it hit the Cromwell just below the turret.”

[50] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 30: “The concussion also stove in the wall of the building next to which the British tank was parked and its upper storey began to topple towards the Firefly. […] Trooper Bob Robson, Lockwood´s gunner, fired again and smoke and flame were seen on the Tiger´s hull.”

[51] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 30: “The Tiger returned fire, hitting the building next to the Firefly and bringing more of the building down on it.”

[52] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 30: “Robson fired a further two shots but by now the repeated high-velocity shots up and down the street made observation almost impossible.”

[53] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 30: “With a last parting shot the Tiger reversed into the gloom, this shell hitting the building adjacent to Lockwood bringing down more masonry.”

[54] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 30: “Once safely obscured, it performed a neutral turn to take advantage of the greater speed of the forward gear to drive back up the hill to the bend.”

[55] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 30: “The British crew managed to fire two shots, one of which may have damaged the running gear, although they failed to stop the Tiger before it put a round through the left side of the turret of their Cromwell.”

[56] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 32: “From there he managed to contact Colonel Cranley to advise him of the situation, although the latter could offer no help as his own position at Point 213 was under fire from a number of Tigers at the same time.”

[57] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 32: “[…] and Bray fired, hitting the Tiger´s running gear and immobilising it.”

[58] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, photographs page 66,67,70,75 (lower right), 27 (in the background) and 28 (left picture in the background)

[59] Patrick Agte "Michael Wittmann und die Tiger der Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Rosenheim, ISBN: 3-920722-18-3, 2.Auflage 1995, photographs page 240: “Links und Mitte links: Wittmanns ausgeschalteter Tiger in der Rue Pasteur in Villers-Bocage vor dem Geschaeft Huet Godefroy. Alle Lukendeckel stehen noch offen. Waehrend die untere Aufnahme am 13. Juni 1944 entstand, wurde das obere Bild spaeter aufgenommen, da die Zerstoehrungen durch englische Bombenangriffe spaeter erfolgten. Die Kette von Wittmanns Tiger ist zerstoert.”

[60] Michael Wittmann´s own account of the Villers-Bocage events. Recorded 13th June 1944 on tape for radio broadcast by Dieter Menninger and in excerpts quoted in Patrick Agte "Michael Wittmann und die Tiger der Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Rosenheim, ISBN: 3-920722-18-3, 2.Auflage 1995, pages 195, 197 and 199: “Ich war auf meinem Gefechtsstand und habe gar nicht damit gerechnet, dass ploetzlich der Gegner auftauchen koennte. Hatte einen Fuehrer zur Verbindungsaufnahme zu einer vorne eingesetzten Einheit geschickt und wartete nun, bis dieser mit neuen Meldungen zurueckkam. Da kam ploetzlich ein Mann in meinen Gefechtsstand und meldete mir: “Obersturmfuehrer, da draussen fahren Panzer vorbei. Die sehen so komisch rund aus und ich glaube nicht, dass das Deutsche sind.“ Daraufhin ging ich sofort raus und sah Panzer in etwa 150 bis 200 Meter Entfernung vorbeirollen. Es handelte sich dabei um englische und amerikanische Typen. Gleichzeitig wurden diese Panzer von Schuetzenpanzerwagen begleitet. […] Das war ein ganzes Panzerregiment. Dieses Panzerregiment hat mich ueberrascht. […] Ja ich muss schon sagen, dass mir der Entschluss sehr, sehr schwer gefallen ist. Und noch niemals frueher war ich dermassen beeindruckt von der Staerke der vorbeirollenden Panzer. Ich wusste aber, dass es unbedingt sein musste, und entschloss mich, in den Gegner hineinzustossen. […] Ich kam ueberhaupt nicht mehr dazu meine Kompanie zusammenzufassen, sondern musste sehr schnell handeln, da ich annehmen musste, dass mich der Gegner bereits erkannt hatte, um mich in meiner Bereitstellung auszuschalten. Bin auf einem Kampfwagen losgefahren, habe anderen Kampfwagen noch den Befehl gegeben, auf jeden Fall keinen Schritt zu weichen, sondern das Gelaende hier zu halten. Fuhr heran an die Kolonne, habe die Englaender genauso ueberrascht, wie sie mich. Habe erst rechts aus der Kolonne zwei Panzer herausgeschossen, dann links einen, habe links um gemacht und mich in die Mitte des Panzerregimentes mit dem SPW-Bataillon gesetzt. Ich bin der letzten Haelfte entgegengefahren auf derselben Strasse und habe dabei im Fahren saemtliche Panzer, die mir entgegenkamen abgeschossen. Beim Gegner entstand ein unerhoertes Wirrwar. Ich sties dann rein in die Ortschaft Villers, kam ungefaehr bis zur Mitte, dort erhielt ich einen schweren Paktreffer. Mein Panzer wurde bewegungsunfähig. Ich schoss dann alles, was noch in der Umgebung erreichbar war, kurzerhand zusammen; Funkverbindung hatte ich auch keine mehr, konnte also meine Kompanie nicht mehr fuehren. Meine Panzer waren ausser Sichtweite. Ich habe mich dann entschlossen, auszubooten. Habe unsere Waffen mitgenommen, soweit wir sie tragen konnten, hab den Panzer nicht gesprengt, da ich glaubte, wieder in den Besitz des Panzers zu kommen. Habe mich durchgeschlagen zu einer Division, etwa fuenfzehn Kilometer. Musste mehrmals feindliche Panzer umgehen und haette Gelegenheit gehabt, sie im Nahkampf zu vernichten, hatte aber keine Nahkampfmittel und so musste ich schweren Herzens darauf verzichten. Ich kam dann zur Division und habe sofort der Division und dem Korps Meldung erstattet. Daraufhin wurde mit einem Gegenangriff der Gegner vernichtet. Somit war das Panzerregiment mit einem Schuetzenbataillon mit Masse vernichtet. […] Ich bin einfach die Kolonne entlang gefahren […] Das waren einundzwanzig Kampfwagen, die ich dabei erledigen konnte und die Schuetzenpanzerwagen dazu. Ich weiss nicht mehr, wieviele das waren, das muss erst festgestellt werden. […] Die kamen ueberhaupt nicht mehr weg von der Strasse. Die waren dermassen ueberrascht, die haben die Flucht ergriffen, aber nicht mit dem Wagen, die sind ausgebootet, und ich habe waehrend des Vorbeifahrens die Fahrzeuge des Bataillons zusammengeschossen. “

[61] Michael Wittmann´s own account of the Villers-Bocage events also has in part been translated to english. The translation is basing on the same account that has been recorded 13th June 1944 on tape for radio broadcast by Dieter Menninger and one excerpt is quoted in Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 38: “I had no time to assemble my company; instead I had to act quickly, as I had to assume that the enemy had already spotted me and would destroy me where I stood. I set off with one tank and passed the order to the others not to retreat a single step but to hold their ground. Drove up to the column, surprised the English as much as they had me. I first knocked out two tanks from the right of the column, then one from the left and attacked the armoured troop carrier battalion in the middle of the armoured regiment. I drove toward the rear half of the column on the same road, knocking out every tank that came toward me as I went. The enemy was thrown into total confusion. I then drove straight into the town of villers, got to approximately the centre of town where I was hit by an anti-tank gun. My tank was disabled. Without further ado I fired at and destroyed everything around me that I could reach; I had lost radio contact and was unable to summon my company. My tanks were out of sight. I then decided to abandon my tank. We took all the weapons we could carry, but didn´t destroy the tank as I believed that we could regain possession of it. Made my way to a division about 15 kilometres away. Had to dodge enemy tanks several times; could have taken them out but had no close range anti-tank weapons, so with a heavy heart had to leave them be. I reached the division and immediately reported to it and to corps. Subsequent counter-attack destroyed the enemy. The bulk of the armoured regiment and a rifle battalion were destroyed.”

[62] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 42: “But not fast enough; both were quickly knocked out whereupon Sowa decided that little more could be achieved in their current position so they pulled back from the road to get a better view past the burning vehicles and shut down the engine to let it cool.”

[63] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 42: “Elements from 4. Kompanie, the support and reconnaissance section of schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, then arrived in the area and started to take the shattered remnants of the Rifle Brigade company prisoner.”

[63] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 39: “It was at that moment when he had his first stroke of luck when a French girl who was able to guide him back to “B” Squadron through the back streets of the town.”

[64] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 43: “By 0915 hrs, “B” Squadron of 8th Hussars was advancing on Craham towards Tracy-Bocage. They had managed to get through Cahagnes without sustaining any casualties despite the warning from the 11th Hussars´ patrol about Germans occupying the town. At Tracy they were ordered to take up a defensive line north of the village to protect the southern flank of Tac Brigade, which was established at Amaye.”

[65] Helmut Ritgen "Westfront 1944", Motorbuch Verlag, ISBN: 3-613-01868-3, 1. Auflage 1998, page 74: “Der Verfasser erhielt vor 11.00 Uhr Befehl, mit allen im Kampf um Tilly entbehrlichen Panzern, etwa 15 Stück, unverzueglich den Raum noerdlich Villers zu erreichen, um den befuehrchteten Stoss in den Ruecken der Division zu verhindern.“

[66] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 45: “The ad hoc battlegroup of Panzer-Lehr´s Panzer IVs under Hauptmann Ritgen were, by then, nearing Villy-Bocage (just under two kilometres north of Villers-Bocage) when they were met by General Fritz Bayerlein, the commander of Panzer-Lehr.”

[67] Daniel Taylor "Villers-Bocage through the lens", After the Battle Books, ISBN: 187006707X, 2nd Edition September 1999, page 45: “Bayerlein briefed Ritgen and from there he drove west accompanied by the general. As they approached St. Louet, the lead tank, commanded by Stabsfeldwebel Bobrowski, was hit and caught fire.”

[68] S.R.&O. 1941 No. 476 (Emergency Powers (Defence)—Summer Time)

Long title: Order in Council amending the Defence (Summer Time) Regulations, 1939. Date: 4th April 1941.

This order, under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940, amended the Defence (Summer Time) Regulations, 1939 to provide for double summer time, during which period the time was two hours in advance of Greenwich mean time, starting on the day after the first Saturday in May and ending on the day after the second Saturday in August, both at 1am Greenwich mean time (rather than the previously used 2am). The time for the rest of the year remained one hour in advance of GMT. The order provided savings for certain contracts with agricultural workers and concerning the production of milk: for those purposes, the time was to be taken to be one hour in advance of GMT throughout the year, unless the parties to the contract agreed otherwise.

S.R.&O. 1942 No. 506 (Emergency Powers (Defence)—Summer Time)

Long title: Order in Council amending the Defence (Summer Time) Regulations, 1939. Date: 19th March 1942.

This order, under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940, amended the Defence (Summer Time) Regulations, 1939 to change the start date of double summer time to the day after the first Saturday in April.

S.R.&O. 1944 No. 932 (Emergency Powers (Defence)—Summer Time)

Long title: Order in Council amending the Defence (Summer Time) Regulations, 1939. Date: 10th August 1944.

This order, under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940, amended the Defence (Summer Time) Regulations, 1939 to change the end date of double summer time, for 1944 only, to the day after the third Saturday in September.

[69] Michael Reynolds “Eagles & Bulldogs in Normandy 1944”, Spellmount Ltd., ISBN: 1-86227-201-8, 2003, page XIV “In 1944 Continental Europe was using Central European Time; the Allies, however, were on Double British Summer Time, which was one hour ahead.”

[DesertFox]

And if you have even more interest in the matter at hand, don´t miss to visit this excellent site:

http://chindits.wordpress.com/author/chindits/page/6/

where you can also download an interpretation of the events as a pdf:

http://chindits.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/battle-for-villers-bocage.pdf

and find a lovely graphical interpretation of the most likely tank and unit locations:

http://chindits.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/map-wittmans-attack.jpg

cheers

[George MC]

Hi All

Thanks for the comments. I'm afraid at the moment work and other commitments have my full attention hence my tardy response. Such is life...

I've not a great deal of time to go double checking my sources at the mo but here is a very quick, dashed of response. Again my apologies for the slightly off-hand nature of the post. I do appreciate the interest and comments though so please keep em coming.

To the debate. Thanks for the links etc. I ended up going with the OOB and set-up as that tied in with the info I thought most useful. However I did give players the option of different set-ups so I guess if you think a particular set-up is more historical you can go for it. Also if disagree with the number of Tigers in action then again, you can set-up em as a 'LOB' i.e. don't use em (stick em somewhere and don't move them).

On balance there has been a great deal of debate and what have you about this action. I hope the map I've created will allow those interested to experiment with different set-ups. I think it gives a good feel for what were the most likely set-ups (Just as Wittmann's Demise illustrates the possible likely shooters for his 'demise').

At the end of the day though, regardless of the historical debate I hope it proves to be a challenging and engaging battle.

Cheery!

[umlaut]

Hi George

Thanks for the scenario. I had lots of fun playing it - here´s a very short AAR:

**************************

SPOILERS

**************************

I don´t know whether your scenarios suit my playing style really well or whether I´ve simply been plain lucky when playing them: No matter what, I always seem to win relatively large margin (Maybe it is just because I always play against the AI)

This time was no exception: I won a total victory, when the british surrendered with 54 minutes left. I had lost 1 Tiger and 17 men.

This time the relatively easy victory could be because I didn´t try to play out the historical engagement:

I set up all my Tigers except Wittmanns around the northern end of the road where the britsh tanks were spotted.

Wittmann was placed in an ambush position in an orchard halfway towards Villers-Bocage, in order to deal with enemy tanks approaching by the road from the south.

The Tigers supported by the infantry moved slowly in on the british tanks and knocked them all out with only a few infantry losses.

When I was certain there were no more enemy tanks left in the north, I sent my Tigers south along the road towards Villers Bocage. Here the Tigers killed all armor pretty quickly. The only mishap was a british infantry squad that managed to immobilize Wittmanns Tiger with a hand grenade.

Just after this I noticed a group of tanks and carriers (reinforcements?) in an orchard in the southeastern end of the map - just east of the railway. These were probably the hardest oppostion to deal with, due to the poor visibility in the orchards. Especially one carrier proved very hard to catch and I was glad I had just received Aufklärungs reinforcements.

I then began moving my Tigers and infantry into defensive positions along the sourthern edge of the map - in anticipation of more allied reinforcements arriving from the south. Unfortunately for me, the reinforcements arrived just then - and this is when I lost a Tiger to a Firefly.

Meanwhile, in the southwestern edge of the map one Tiger and a couple of handfuls of infantry managed to keep the Queen´s Rifles busy until more infantry and the Pz IV´s could arrive to deal with them. I had planned to get an infantry HQ to order a mortar strike on the orchard norhtwest of Villers-Bocage where the Rifles were pinned down. But it turned out that this area was out of range for the off map mortars. I guess this must be because the map is so long and the norhern edge of the map is the friendly edge for the axis?

Anyway, just before my infantry arrived to fight it out with the Queen´s Rifles, the AI decided to call it a day and surrendered.

Conclusion:

Very enjoyable little battle that was perhaps a bit too easy. But as I said, this might be because I didn´t try to play out Wittmann´s historical battle, but used all of my forces from the onset. And it would certainly have been a lot harder I had played it against a human opponent.

Thanks a lot, GMC. Looking forward to your future wee battles - a 30 sq km version of Prokhorovka, perhaps?

[George MC]

Hi Umlaut

Apologies for the delay in replying. Was a bit busy over the festive period with work and family. Anyways Guid New Year tae ye!

Many thanks for taking the time to play through this and write up your AAR. Given the nature of this action, at least the fist bit of it anyways, I suspect it could be a bit easy for human playing Allied AI. Although in saying that I'm glad that it's still enjoyable (it's a rather iconic action for a variety of reasons not least many of the myths that surround it).

I had hoped that recreating this action would hep give some in-sight into the challenges facing the Allies and perhaps just what a risk Wittmann took. It also highlights that concentrating your force means you can inflict heavier casualties on the Allies for less losses on your own side. It's worth noting that this action also involved the first Tiger KO'd by Allied forces in Europe - Wittmann's own vehicle.

Anyways glad you enjoyed it and thanks for posting your AAR and comments.

I'll be working on some largish Ost Front scenarios. If you fancy large you tried my 'Ost Frontish' scenarios "Fire Brigade" or "Schmiedestahl!" Both armour heavy/combined arms?

[George MC]

The comments below were posted on the entry for the scenario in the repository. Due to limits on how often I can post in reply on there - here is the reply:

 

 

one could try to make the half tracks and tanks dismount as many were when it happened I got the result you predicted -- disabled-- will try again with the dismounts--still it was fun

 

Yeah - unfortunately the game engine will not allow this. However if it did the AI would be screwed as it cannot remount vehicles. You could do this if playing H2H.

 

Thanks for playing it and pleased you enjoyed the experience  

Edited May 1, 2015 by George MC