the royal canadian armoured corps

367 Pages·2000·22.55 MB·English

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THEQUESTFOROPERATIONALMANEUVERINTHENORMANDYCAMPAIGN
Simonds and MontgomeryAttemptthe Armoured Breakout
ROMANJOHANNJARYMOWYCZ
DepartmentofHistory
McGill University
September 1997
Thesis submitted to theFacultyofGraduate
StudiesandResearch inpartial fulfilment of
the requirements forthedegree ofDoetorof
Philosophy
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0-612-44465-1
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C RomanJohannJarymowycz 1997
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments iv
List ofIllustrations vii
ListofTables ix
Abstract x
Abstrait
Xl
Prologue 1
Chapter 1 CanadianMechanization And Western Armoured Doctrine 12
Chapter2 ManeuverWarfareIn The BeachHead - Two Armoured Battles 58
Chapter 3 Breakout 1: OperationAtlantic Jul 19 III
Chapter4 Breakout 2: Operation Spring JuI25 145
Chapter 5 Breakout 3: Operation Tota/ize Aug 8 184
Chapter6 Breakout4: Operation Tractable Aug 14-21 228
Chapter7 Canadian ArmourInNormandy 264
Chapter 8 The Operational ArtInNorrnandy- SHAEFvsSTAVKA 299
Appendix A Allied ArmourFormations ETO 332
Appendix B Armoured Corps Casualties 333
Appendix C Sampling ofAlliedTankCasualties 334
Appendix D Analysis ofShermanCasualties: 6June- 10 JuIy 335
AppendixE Tank States 2CAB NormandyJune-August 1944 336
AppendixF EffectiveTankStrengili2nd Canadian ArmyJuly 1944 339
Appendix G GermanPanzerStrengthNormandy 1944 340
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Bibliography 341
AIl Maps, Analyses and Charts areoriginal artworkdrawnbythe author.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
r mnotsurel would recommend this to anyone overfifty. The hopethat
experience bringswisdom and practice makes perfectis poorlybuttressed bystubborn
habits, failing vision and selective memory. Inthe end it is the love ofhistoryand the
military that proves irresistible. Soldiers can only hopethat anytactical interpretation
survives close scrutiny- this applies moreto amateurhistorians than theirvictims.
It is necessary to thankahost ofkind supporters. l must beginwith BrianMcKennawho,
by including me in the process ofcreative historical drama, afforded me anopportunity
for research l would have never managed from aclassroom in PointeClaire. The heady
excitement ofhis film projects gave me the impetus to approaehMcGillUniversityand
seekadmittance. This too would have notbeen possible withoutthe help ofmy former
professors, TerryCopp and the lateRobert Vogel, who cordiallystood on my behalt:
Sadly, ProfessorVogeI died beforel could demonstrate anytangible effortfor himta
read.
l have been fortunate enoughto meet and learn from Canada'sgreat military
historians. The encouragementofTerry Copp, JackEnglish and StephenHarris has been
splendid and educating. They have shared important documents, offered sageadvice and
most importantly, have given me the gift offriendship. l doubt very much l would have
had the opportunity to testany historical conclusion ifnot forTerryCopp's ensuring
there were symposiums at whieh to speakandjournals whieh would publishan early
effort. LikeTerry, JackEnglish has been both inspirationand sustenance. 1cannot resista
sophomoric senseofawe thatthesegentlemenso willinglyand cheerfullytakethe time to
supporthistorieal hoplites Iike myself:
Theresearchbehind this thesis has been madepossible bysympatheticacademics
throughoutNorthAmerica. l must particularlythankMr. David A. Keough, Chief,
ManuscriptBranch attheUnited States ArmyMilitaryHistoryInstitute,UptonHall,
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Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Without bisguidance1would nothavediscovered theUnited
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• States Armyinits most aestheticand importantyears.UptonHall's Librarian, Mc. D.
Slonakertookme into dustydungeons and pointedoutarmouredstudiesthatgave
substancetatheory. TheDireetorofthePattonMuseumLibrary, Dr. JohnM. Purdywas
agenerous hast and ensured1leftFortKnoxwith enoughdata and insightfromthe
manuscript collectionta do American Armorjustice. ProfessorReginaldRoy's
generosity in sharingtheMarshal Stearns Papers allowed meta beginwith an early
insightinto Simonds and his peers. The ladies atMcGill'sInterLibraryLoandelivered
vital papers from obscure lands and atone point securedtheentirecollectionofCavalry
Journals - ten shippingboxes worth. Academiethanks mustincludeMr. Earl Clark, my
former principal, who neverforgot his historical roots and kindly permitted meta be
tmant for anextrayearwhen1neededtime most.
Colleagues in theMilitary have offered supportand opportunity. Former
Commanders ofCanadianForces StaffCollegeatFortFrontenac, BrigadierGenerais
CliveMilnerand Bob Alden, ensured1participated, asaMilitia member oftheDireeting
StatI: on StaffCollegeBattlefield tours inFranceand Germany. Leal John A.
• MacDonald kindly shared his notes and manuscriptonthe Canadian seniorgeneralship.
Colonel DavidM. Glantzoffered encouragementand direction in my attempts to
understand the SovietArmy and Deep Battle. Despite my seeming reserve towards the
Artillery, 1am grateful ta two gunnerofficers, LeolsPeterKraemerand DavidPatterson
for access to their libraries and collection ofmilitarypamphlets.
Finally, 1am indebted ta two peoplewithoutwhose support1would nothave
completed this effort: mywife, Sandra, and my mentor, ProfessorDesmond Morton. The
almost miraculous appearanceofDoctorMorton from distantMississauga resurrected a
workthat had been long donnant. With bathstickand carrot, he managed ta drivea
scruffyPhoenixoutofmilitaryashes. His patienceand detennination overcame my most
stubborn inabilityta listenta commonsenseand thevoiceofexperience. His military
determinationensuredl fell into lineand recognized pearls ofwisdomwhentheywere
given. As most staffcollege habitués, 1needed aseniorOS ta cleanup mytactical
approach. Fortunately, hismagistrator'sgiftto balancedisciplinewithkindness and
humourmadethe experienceapleasantone. l canoolyhope1have not let himdown.
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• Mywifeovercame challenges that would havebroken MOSt. She somehow
managed to balance personalreversais, asuccessful professional career, the editorship of
this thesis, and still createasplendid home lire. Heruncomplaining patience, creativity,
and eversupportivewitwerean inspirationand putiota perspectivemy own petty
difficultieswith drowningchapters. Herunerringeye, aperfeetcomprehensionof
auftragstaktik, and apartisanalliancewithDr. Mortonensured the mission reached its
goal. l cannatadequately express mygratitude.
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ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure Page
1. The Royal Canadian Artnoured Corps (1914- 1945)................................. 25
2. '. Western InfantryMainBattleTank............................................................ 28
3. WesternArmoured Divisions 1942 30
4. LessonsFromtheDesert............................................................................ 32
5. Desert Solutions......................................................................................... 35
6. Western Armoured Divisions 1943 39
7. Canadian Armoured Division 1943-44 41
8. The Royal Canadian Arrnoured Corps 1943. 42
• 9. Western Armoured Divisions 1944 49
10. Buron: 7June 1944.................................................................................... 71
Il. NorthNova SeotiaBattlegroup and 25 S8 panzergrenadier: 7 June 1944... 75
12. Buron: 1400 brs, 7June 1944..................................................................... 78
13. Buron 7 June 1944: Phase 1and Phase2.................................................... 81
14. Buron 7 June 1944: Phase 3 and Phase4.................................................... 86
15. LeMesnil-Patry Il June 1944: The Dempsey-Keller-WymanPlan 96
16. LeMesnil-Patry Il June 1944:ManeuverWarfare 106
17. Goodwood's LastPhase20 July 1944:OperationAtlantic 128
18. FicstBattieofVerrières Ridge: Phase2......................................... 135
19. OperationsCobralSpring: NormandyFront 24 July 1944........................... 149
20. OperationSpring: OpposingForces. 158
21. Spring: 2 S5 PzKorpsCounterattaeks 173
22. Spring2S July 1944:Taetieal Analysis 179
23. Operations CobraITotalize: NormandyFront7 August 1944...................... 187
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24. Opposing Forces 1Cdn ArmyFront8August 1944 193
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