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Title
First Crack
Description
On June 27th 1944, the 2/Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders of the 227th Brigade seized the small bridge over the Odon River at the town of Tourmauville. The bridgehead was reinforced into the night and in the morning after a short …
Subject
Publisher
Date
1944-06-27
Scenario#
HOD1
Scenario Description
On June 27th 1944, the 2/Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders of the 227th Brigade seized the small bridge over the Odon River at the town of Tourmauville. The bridgehead was reinforced into the night and in the morning after a short exchange with 2 Mark lVs of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, the 23rd Hussars attempted to seize the vital high ground of Hill 112. C and B companies of the 23rd Hussars, supported by the 8th Rifle Brigade, swung around to the north and attacked down the north—south road. The British force encountered elements of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, supported by Flak guns of the l/53 Flak battery. The Hussars seized the orchard at the top of the hill. The Germans quickly planned a counter attack with Mark lVs and Panthers. Finally, after 12 bloody hours of fighting, the British secured the only significant features on the hill. Through highly secret Ultra decrypts, Lieutenant General O'Connor and Field Marshal Montgomery learned of the release of the Il SS Panzer corps to this area, and decided to withdrew the exposed elements of the 11th Armoured Division, withdrawing their forces from the heights of Hill 112 back to the Bridgehead at Tourmauville. Thus began weeks of bloody fighting around the Hill of Death.
Location
Tourmauville, France
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a British offensive in the Second World War between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen, an important Allied objective, in the early stages of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of north-west Europe. Preceded by Operation Martlet to secure the right flank of the advance, Operation Epsom began early on 26 June, with units of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division advancing behind a rolling artillery barrage. Air cover was sporadic for much of the operation, because poor weather in England forced the last-minute cancellation of bomber support. Accompanied by the 3ist Tank Brigade, the 15th (Scottish) Division made steady progress and by the end of the first day had overrun much of the German outpost line, although some difficulties remained in securing the flanks. In mutually-costly fighting over the following two days, a foothold was secured across the River Odon and efforts were made to expand this, by capturing tactically valuable points around the salient and moving up the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. By 30 June, after German counter-attacks, some of the British forces across the river were withdrawn and the captured ground consolidated, bringing the operation to a close.
Narrative Source
Wikipedia: Operation Epsom
Combatants
German
British

Geolocation