Operation ASTONIA: 1 CORPS Operational Instructions

TNA Catalogue Reference: WO 205/844

Context: 21 Army Group: Military Headquarters Papers, Second World War, OPERATIONAL REPORTS

Scope and content: Operation Astonia

Covering dates 1944 Aug., Sept.

 

COPY

TOP SECRET
IMMEDIATE

To: A N C X F
From: F O B A A


DIEPPE Proposed bombardment in support of Army

1. Army intention is to attack from inland September 1st is the earliest date.

2. The object of the bombarding ships would be to engage enemy batteries and strong points holding up the advance of the Army.

3. The position of an anchorage to bombard a suitable perimeter could be outside the range of all guns except for about five 170 mm batteries.

4. It would be necessary preliminary for air bombing to destroy or neutralise these long range batteries. They might have to be further neutralised by the bombarding ships.

5. A channel would be swept from NEWHAVEN towards DIEPPE (vide my 261753) stopping outside the range of shore batteries and marked by channel buoys. On the night of the attack, channel to be taken to 12 miles from the shore and a loop swept to provide an anchorage.

6. WARSPITE, MALAYA, EREBUS and ROBERTS with Destroyer escort to arrive at this anchorage at dawn on D Day. Sufficient RCM fitted craft and smokelayers should accompany forces.

7. After the big ships have anchored, the minesweepers would anchor to seaward of them.

8. The big ships would also neutralise by gunfire the lighter batteries commanding the approaches to enable Cruisers to close within range to continue support for the Army as required, particularly on the flanks.

9. When conditions permit, a further channel and anchorage would be swept into about five miles from the shore.

10. It would then be the intention that MAURITIUS, ENTERPRISE, EMERALD and FLORES should proceed to this anchorage and the big ships and escort would be withdrawn to PORTSMOUTH to reammunition for the attack on HARVE.

11. The cruisers would be withdrawn at night. They would return in daylight on subsequent days if further bombardment is required.


HAVRE.

12. Army intention is to attack from the North East by land not less than two days after the attack on DIEPPE.

13. The object of the bombarding forces will be to engage strong points and batteries holding up the advance of the Army as far as 10,00 yards inland (This is the line of static defences).

14. ROBERTS would be anchored in a position already swept to the North East of OUISTREHAM.

15. WARSPITE and MALAYA would be anchored in a position to the South of the SEINE bank.

16. The general plan is being made out by the First Canadian Army.

17. Detailed plans for the attack on DIEPPE will be made by Second Canadian Corps.

18. Detailed plan for attack on HAVRE will be made by First British Corps.

19. It is proposed that the general planning should be carried out with the First Canadian Army by FOBAA and detailed Fire Plans by FOBAA with the appropriate Corps.

20. It is presumed that operation orders for the force would be issued by ANCXF based on information as to Army plan to be supplied by FOBAA. An officer could be sent to the briefing if required.

21. Control arrangements to be exercised by my staff through the Mobile Bombardment Control Unit, which will operate close to and in conduction with the appropriate Corps H.Q.

22. Presumably I shall be responsible for this force when off the French Coast I would prefer to conduct the operation from one of the bombarding ships.

23. The HAVRE operation would be conducted from my H.Q. ashore.


D.T.G. 262236B/August

S M to CAPT M/S X and 1st Canadian Army

 

TOP SECRET.

Copy No. 7

101/G

6 Sep 44.


OPERATION ASTONIA

1 CORPS OPERATION INSTRUCTION No. 14.

Ref Maps; 1/25,000 sheets 123 NW NE SW SE.


INTENTION.
1. 1 CORPS will capture LE HAVRE.


METHOD.
2. ALLOTMENT OF TROOPS.

(a)

49 INFANTRY DIVISION
with under command
- 34 TANK BRIGADE
- 22 DRAGOONS
in support
- 42 Assault Regiment ARE less two squadrons
- 'A' Squadron 141 RAC
- 44 Kangaroos (see para 2(B )

51 (H) DIVISION
with under command
33 ARMOURED BRIGADE
1 LOTHIANS less one squadron
two squadrons 42 Assault Regiment ARE
'C' Squadron 141 RAC


(b ) Of 44 Kangaroos allotted 29 INFANTRY DIVISION for PHASE I, 24 will be moved to a RV to be decided mutually by 49 and 51 (H) DIVISIONS on completion of PHASE I and will then be available to 51 (H) DIVISION.


3. GENERAL.
The assault will be carried out with two divisions up, 51 (H) DIVISION Right, and 49 INFANTRY DIVISION Left, and the operation will be divided into four Phases.


4. TASKS.

PHASE I
49 INFANTRY DIVISION will capture the area 530320 - 540320 - 544302 - 522308 and secure a bridgehead on the feature to the South of this area with a view to passing further troops through during PHASE II to capture this feature.

PHASE II
(a) 51 (H) DIVISION will secure a base in the area 510325 - 510310 - 52?310 with a view to developing further offensive action during PHASE III.
(b ) 49 INFANTRY DIVISION will capture the feature 525297 - 544295 - 545280 - 532280.

PHASE III
51 (H) DIVISION will develop its operation to secure
(i) The battery areas centred round 500315
(ii) The high ground around 4730 and 4829
(iii) The enemy defences about OCTEVILLE 500340 from the South and East.

PHASE IV - EXPLOITATION
Both Divisions will exploit relentlessly into the town and crush any resistance within division boundaries. It is most important that the plan of each division shall provide for immediate, deep and ruthless exploitation directly the opportunity arises. The sooner we can perpetrate deeply and break up enemy cohesion and control, the more easily and cheaply will our task be accomplished.

Therefore plans must be flexible enough to take advantage of any early enemy weakness.


5. TIMINGS

(a) D day - 9 September

(b ) PHASE I - H hour - 1815 hours

(c) PHASE II
Times to be fixed by Comd 51 (H) INFANTRY DIVISION and 49 INFANTRY DIVISION for their respective parts of this Phase. In this connection 49 INFANTRY DIVISION will make the road in para 7 (b ) available to 51 (H) INFANTRY DIVISION by H + 5 hours or earlier if possible.

(d) PHASE III
0800 hours D + 1


6. BOUNDARIES
Inter-divisional boundary
- all incl. 49 INFANTRY DIVISION:-
Track Junction 537348 - Cross Road and Track 535339 - Track Junction 531321 - Track bend 523314
- all incl. 51 (H) INFANTRY DIVISION bridge520310 - bend in Track 505301 - thence Road to Crossroads 504291 - Cross Roads 503286 - thence Road to Cross Roads 493286 - Cross Roads 468283 [this ref has been circled and noted with ?] - Cross Roads 481283 - Cross Roads 477280 - bend in Road 475280.


7. ROUTES

(a) For PHASE I
All routes within divisional boundaries are available to divisions.


(b ) During PHASE I at H + 5 hours or earlier if possible.

Following road becomes available 51 (H) INFANTRY DIVISION:-

Cross Road and Track 535340 - Cross Road and Track 542332 - Cross Road and Track 539329 - Cross Road 535324 - Track and Road Junction 531323.


8. FUP and ASSEMBLY AREAS
To be decided by divisions, and as areas of necessity overlap divisions will arrange details of areas mutually.


9. ROYAL NAVY

(a) are contributing to counter battery programme with
HMS EREBUS
HMS ROBERTS

(b ) Details will be arranged by CRA.


10. AIR SUPPORT

(a) Prior to D Day:- details separately.

(b ) D Day and D + 1 - See Appendix 'A'


11. ARTILLERY
Artillery support of operation will be co-ordinated by CCRA.


12. ROYAL ENGINEERS
Two 80 ft sets Bailey Bridging will be in Corps reserve.
Place will be notified later by these sets will NOT be on wheels.


13. MOV LIGHTS
Two troops SL available for Mov lights and will be sited under arrangements CCRA in conjunction with 49 and 51 (H) DIVISIONS.


14. CIVILIANS

(a) NO civilians will return to LE HAVRE after its capture until orders issued to this effect by H.Q. 1 CORPS.

(b ) SCAO will prepare outline plan to implement above. Details will be be issued later.

(c ) In order to reinforce the plan made by SCAO which will be implemented by the Civil Police, 49 and 51 (H) DIVISIONS will in addition establish posts on all roads leading into LE HAVRE on the general line ST JIN 5343 - LA MARE GOUBERT 5542 - ST MARTIN DU BEC 5738 - EPOUVILLE 5734 - CATILLON 5929 - GAINNEVILLE 5928 - Houses 604265.

These posts should be reinforced by FFI and arrangements to that effect will be made by divisions with their respective FFI.


15. ADMINISTRATION
Arrangements for Prisoners of War, enemy wounded and administration of LE HAVRE are being issued separately by A/Q 1 CORPS.


INTERCOMMUNICATION

16. LOCATION OF H.Q.s

Tac 1 CORPS Area 544356, later moving to Orchard 531336
Main 1 CORPS Present location.

49 and 51 (H) INFANTRY DIVISIONS will report as soon as possible the location from which Division commanders will conduct battle so that a telephone line can be laid if necessary from Tac 1 CORPS to these places.


CODE WORDS
(a) The following allotment of code words is made:-

49 INFANTRY DIVISION
- BOYS NAMES
- GIRLS NAMES
- TREES

51 (H) INFANTRY DIVISION
- DRINKS
- FISHES
- FOODSTUFFS

CCRA
- TOOLS
- GAMES

CORPS H.Q.
- CARS

(b ) Meanings of Code Words will be forwarded to reach this H.Q. as soon as possible and NOT later than 1800 hours 8 September.

(c ) L.O.s
Will be interchanged prior to H - 3 hours as follows:-

Between leading Infantry Brigades of 49 and 51 (H) INFANTRY DIVISIONS.
Between 33 ARMOURED and 34 TANK BRIGADES.
Between Divisional Recce REGIMENTS.



Time of Signature: 1830 hours

Method of Issue: LO



DISTRIBUTION/COPY No.:

49 Inf Div - 1
51 (H) Inf Div - 2
4 SS Bde - 3
30 Armd Bde - 4
First Cdn Army (3) - 5-7
2 Cdn Corps - 8
79 Armd Div - 9
FOB (AA) Ops - 10
Bomber Comd (Gp/Capt du BOULAY) (3) - 11-13
ADC for Comd - 14
G (6) - 15-20
AQ - 21
Q (rear) (2) - 22-23
CCRA - 24
CE - 25
CSO - 26
SCAO - 27
Traffic Office - 28
Phantom (2) - 29-30
War Diary (2) - 31-32
File - 33
Spares - 34-40

 

Agreed times required for Turn Round for Fighter Bombers, Light Bombers, Medium Bombers and Heavy Bombers in various circumstances.

Trace of Task being engaged by Bomber Command, Operation Astonia.