Firefly Use in British and Canadian Troops

[Michael Dorosh]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Germanboy:

Yeah, but what does that prove, since you are Canuckian, and also believe that the Beaver is indeed a true and noble animal...<hr></blockquote>

Don't you have some bangers and mash you should be tucking into, old chap? I think you got lost on the way to the Antithicess...

[Slapdragon]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Germanboy:

Yeah, but what does that prove, since you are Canuckian, and also believe that the Beaver is indeed a true and noble animal...<hr></blockquote>

Hey, Andreas. Is it true that the Saueruben is the German state plant?

[Durruti]

Here are some relevant notes I made from a couple of useful books in my collection;

'Monty's Marauders: Black Rat and Red Fox (4th and 8th Armoured Brigades)' - Patrick Delaforce and 'Gold Beach' by Chris Dunphie and Garry Johnson. Eyewitness accounts that give a good impression of tactics and field organisation. First of all, British tank squadrons in 1944 could be either 4 troops of 4 tanks or 5 troops of 3 tanks. The units of the 4th and 8th (Independent) Armoured Brigades seem to have favoured the 5 troops of 3 setup. Also, whilst most distributed the Fireflies one per troop, they could sometimes be grouped into totally Firefly or 75mm troops:

24th Lancers (8th AB):

'There was much debate as to how best to use these new weapons (Fireflies), one per troop with two 75mm tanks or group three 17-pdrs together in one troop. We adopted the latter option.'

4/7th Dragoon Guards (8th AB):

'For the invasion all five Fireflies were with 'A' Sqn, and 'B' and 'C' were equipped with DD tanks.'

B and C Sqns 4/7th DGs:

'The attack on Cristot turned out to be a flop. Our first set piece attack with infantry planned just as in the text books, to have tanks 'B' Sqn leading, followed by infantry (Green Howards) followed by more tanks, 'C' Sqn. This arrangement proved to be a dismal failure. The Jerries (12th SS Panz Div) lay low until the tanks had passed, then opened up on the infantry with Spandaus. Then they set on the cut-off tanks. 'B' Sqn only had nine tanks at the beginning of the attack and seven were knocked out by hidden guns...'

'One lesson learned was that in the close 'bocage' country instead of alternate waves of armour/infantry, the tanks could best give support from a position slightly in the rear, and to a flank. It was of course extremely difficult for a tank commander to watch his 'own' infantry even when moving with them'

Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (8th AB):

'Major Semken, OC 'A' Sqn summoned 'B' and 'C' to join him to repel the enemy attack which never came. Stuart Hills, the troop leader didn't hang around - he just lined us up line abreast and we went for it. The tactic succeeded.'

'C' Sqn, SRY:

'Our troop of three tanks were ordered to escort a Churchill petard tank to a German HQ in a chateau. We moved off. The Churchill commander took us to the target unerringly, stopped his vehicle, the lap gunner got out, put a small 'dust-bin' into the petard and retired back into the tank. The gun fired and we could see the small canister on the way to the target. It hit, there was a tremendous explosion and the chateau was no more...'

'C' Sqn, 4/7th DGs:

'Major 'Knocker' Bell had five of his Shermans knocked out and also two Fireflies 'borrowed' from 'A' Sqn in reserve behind...'

'A' Sqn, SRY:

'"A" Sqn's five troops each of three tanks were deployed by Major Semken with his Fireflies in the centre...'

24th Lancers:

'The common type of message picked up on the net was "Press on, There's nothing in front of you...Intelligence says there's nothing there' followed by '**** "intelligence", who the hell's shooting at me if there's nothing there?'...'

4/7 DGs:

'The leading troop leader (3rd tp) lined up his tanks, over the air gave them 'one two, three, GO!' and they charged. As they reached the crest two went straight up in flames...'

'A' Sqn, 4/7 DGs:

'In 4/7 DG the five Fireflies were given to A Sqn...Lt. Morrison's troop had three tanks. His own and Corporal Johnson's had the 75mm gun. The anti-tank punch for 4th Troop was provided by Sgt Harris' Firefly. But with its longer gun barrel and different turret, the 'Firefly' would be an obvious target for the German gunners. For the most part, therefore, Morrison and Johnson led in the 75mm tanks, with Harris' tank tucked in behind to cover them forward and move in quickly to engage enemy tanks, when a particular threat developed.'

(-note, this sounds to me like 'inverted wedge' formation)

Not sure of that ammo-loadout page but the following is good for British tank units in particular - even gives numbers of particular mark of Sherman in each unit in June 1944:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/8418/

Cheers,

Durruti