The Arras tank attack

Discussion in '1940' started by MarkN, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. MarkN

    MarkN Banned

    Posting this as it may be of interest to somebody....

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  2. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Good stuff, mate!
     
  3. JohnS

    JohnS Senior Member

    Interesting. Thanks for posting.
     
  4. Over Here

    Over Here Junior Member

  5. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

  6. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    *
    Not sure why this thread is titled as a 'Tank Attack', because the Arras counter-attack (as it is known) was actually an all arms attack with tanks in support (or that was the original intention anyway).

    The two attacking columns included infantry, recce, field artillery, anti-tank artillery, tanks...
     
  7. phylo_roadking

    phylo_roadking Very Senior Member

    Very possibly the latter. 7thRTR's MkIIs (and MkIs) had just completed a 125-mile "dash" back from Belgium to the Start Line for the operation, with little or no laager time except for what could be crammed in on brief stops...when the manual mandated quite a list of mechanical checks and servicing starting at every ten miles. David Fletcher wrote up an article on this "dash" a few years ago now for CMV.
     
  8. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    Mark

    Thank you for the original posting which I read with considerable personal interest

    My late father, a Regular soldier, and Squadron Fitter Sergeant with 7 RTR was badly burnt when the tank he was ordered to disable during the dash to Arras referred to in the above posting suddenly caught fire with him inside. He survived and then joined 47 RTR who took part in the Western Desert Campaigns up to and including Alamein.

    My late Father in Law saw service with 8 DLI of 151 Brigade throughout their entire existence. He never talked in detail about his wartime experiences but did mention on one occasion that during the final advance to Arras morale was not improved when the Battalion marched passed the site of a WW1 Cemetery which contained the graves of many DLI soldiers.
     
    Steve Mac likes this.
  9. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Superb, thank you so much for sharing that.
     
  10. LondonNik

    LondonNik Senior Member

    Deleted
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2017
  11. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    *
    Nick, it's a long time since I looked at this 'event' and I may be guilty of oversimplifying or misrepresenting, but if I remember correctly it was originally intended that the British would attack southwards with two divisions and the French would contribute five divisions, some attacking southwards and some northwards. The idea being to reverse the separation of the Allied armies in the field so joining them up (and of course severe the German line of communications and trap its advanced Panzers to the north).

    The reality was that the French contributed 'zero' divisions, but some valiant tank assistance was forthcoming (albeit previously unplanned). The British contributed the two divisions, but the 5th Infantry Division was made responsible for the defence of Arras (which was am important location/hub for the security of the BEF), whilst the 50th (Northumbrian) Division - which as a motorised division only had two brigades - had to provide the 150th Infantry Brigade to the aforementioned defensive duties. The attached 25th Infantry Brigade was originally tasked with undertaking the Arras counter-attack, but lacked transport and had not disengaged from its former/current battle/task. So, instead the 151st Infantry Brigade, with two battalions up (and one in reserve) undertook the attack with the previously mentioned resources.

    I believe that what these attacking columns achieved given their resources was immense.

    Like you I do wonder what the outcome would have been if the resources committed had been greater. The columns couldn't have done more, but could have been more coordinated; that doesn't take account of the obstacles/issues they were encountering before and during the attack. The 50 Div was a motorised division whose transport had been purloined for other units, was not entirely disengaged from previous battles and had marched and still had to march a very long distance to arrive at the start line fresh for battle. You couldn't have made it up...

    My dad's oldest brother was involved in this 'event', albeit as 50 Div Field Artillery based in Arras (not in the columns). He never made it home.
     
  12. Vintage Wargaming

    Vintage Wargaming Well-Known Member

    Coming new I think to this and another Arras thread, there is a big chunk (and possibly the only interesting bit) of John Masters’ novel Man of War which is loosely based on Arras.
     

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