#30
Post
by Michael Kenny » 28 Mar 2020, 17:50
Tank ID is always suspect and this shows how even the 'experts' get it wrong and make 2+2=5.
War Diary 3rd TANK BATTALION SCOTS GUARDS
July 30
Here they encountered an enemy force of unknown strength and equiped with A/tk weapons. This force opened fire on 'S' Sqn from close range and from close country in the left rear which was an open flank owing to the failure of the formation on the left to get fwd. 9 tanks were penetrated and set on fire by 88mm and possibly 150mm shells, one SP gun (believed to be Rhinoceres or Elephant ) and at least one Mk V (Tiger) were observed for a brief moment. Shots were fired and a hit with an HE round was claimed on the Mk V. Simultaneously with this attack the position was mortared. The enemy withdrew apparently in haste after this single encounter.
Appendix 3: Account of 3rd (Tank) Battalion Scots Guards action at Caumont 30 July 1944
'About 1800 hours however, the enemy began to shell and mortar the position very heavily with 15 cm guns and 12 cm and 8.2 mortars and the tanks were forced to close down, at least one (Capt Beeson‘s) being hit by shell fire and knocked out. About 10 mins later an armoured counter attack was launched by the Germans from thick cover about 400-600 yard's to the left rear of ―S Sqn. This was concealed from LF, who were in support, by a house in a small orchard which had a thick hedge leading from it towards ―S Squadron. The strength of the force is unknown, but it certainly included one or more Tigers and probably an SP gun mounting an 8.8 cm A/tk gun.
The first few shots knocked out all three tanks of Lieut Cunningham‘s troop who were watching that flank. Covered by the fire of the others behind the house, one Tiger advanced under the lee of the hedge through ―S Squadron from the SE knocking out several other tanks on its way. It was almost completely covered by the hedge from LF during this operation though one hit by a 75 mm was claimed on it. Apparently, however, finding the opposition more heavy than it expected it sheered off and disappeared in a northerly direction. At about the same time another SP Gun thought to be a Hornet, in from the north but was engaged and driven off. The remaining armour behind the farm then drew off and the counter attack ended.
The above is the initial reaction. Later versions have had the benefit of hindsight and errors are corrected:
The Scots Guards 1919-1955, David Erskine
The first three shots knocked out the whole of Lieutenant CUNNINGHAM’s troop, the guardians of that flank, thus clearing a path for the enemy attack. The force consisted of three enormous SP guns - Germany’s latest and most formidable, the JAGD PANTHER, until then never seen by the British in action. Two of these monsters, covered by a third, charged through the gap into the center of ‘S’ Squadron and then slipped out of sight over the ridge to the left front, leaving eight more flaming hulks in their wake. Their approach had been masterly, covered from the supporting squadron (Left Flank) by a cottage and some thick hedge; but they were engaged going over the hill and not without effect: for some time later, two of them were found, a few hundred yards away, their tracks leading back to the scene of the action. The hit on one, which was burnt out, approximated closely to a claim by Lieutenant BANKES’ tank.
Initial errors are corrected but others are introduced because it is assumed the two Jagdpanther wrecks seen on August 28 were knocked out by the Churchills.
I also make errors. Previous posts give the date for the Churchill ambush as July 31 instead of the correct July 30.