The Villers-Bocade Battles

[TRDG]

Many have read or at least heard of these battles, and I have always wanted to start one off here at The Zone for our very own, so here it is.
I only have a couple pics so I will hold off until I can find some more, but feel free to add the ones you have if you want.

There are 3 specific engagements in and around the town of Villers-Bocade and they are.

1. The famous Wittmann and his single Tiger from the 101st Heavy Tank Battalion taking on the British 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats), specifically A Company, 1st BN, Rifle brigade ("Motorized" Platoons and an AT Platoon as well). 4th Troop, A Squadron, 4th County of London Yeomanry (Cromwell IV and Firefly VC tanks) and Recce Troop, 4th County of London Yeomanry again (Stuart V tanks).

2. The Battle of Point 213 where the remaining 4 Tigers from Wittmann's Heavy Tiger Company (as ordered to do by Wittmann just before his single handed attack with his tank began). Facing further advancing British units, specifically the 4th County Yeomanry of A Squadron 4CLY (Cromwell IV, CS IV Cromwell and Firefly tanks) and O group, A Company, 1st Battalion of The Rifle Brigade (Infrantry in M5 half-tracks).


3. And finally the actual battle in the town itself after the other two battles were finished. A mixed force for the Germans, we are looking at elements of the 1. Company, 101. s SS-PZABT with Oberstrmführer Möbius Commanding 8 Tiger tanks. And the commander, Major Helmut Ritgen, getting together a scratch built Infrantry force to tag along Elements of the Panzer Lehr Division consisting of 15 Panzer IV H tanks to build a nice "little" LOL Kampfgruppe of their own to seal off exits from Villers-Bocade from the hopefully soon to be fleeing Deset Rats.... Who consist of B Company,1/7th Queen's ( Rifle Platoons and a 6 Pound AT gun Platoon), Battery B, 5th Royal Horse Artillery Regiment. Then B Squadron, 4th CLY (Cromwell IV, VI CS and Firefly VC tanks) that will be ready and waiting for the German attack on the town.

[TRDG]

Now the point of this thread is to get at all the details as best as we can find them, NOT arguing the "numbers", a small debate might be interesting, but please keep it VERY reasonable for everyone here.

I ahve looked through some sites and books and there do seem to be some questions that are still in play today, thus the friendly reminder to "play nice" here.

I know the basics of these battles but I am interested in knowing more about them. This was sort of spawned from a game related project of mine and some of the info I can't really get a grip on, for example......

Battle 1. Wittmanns' Single Tiger atack

Were the British actually brewing up tea and having breakfast/lunch when Wittmann and his single Tiger attacked olong the road to Villers? It does seem that the Desert Rats were taken by complete surprise, some even out of their vehicles it seems. Recon was not out and about, but in the halted column I beleave, the Stuart V tanks.

Battle 2. Point 213

Here again I do wonder how this battle was fought, were the British on hill 213 or on its way there on the road?
Then did the 4 Tigers attack the British from a dirt road near the paved highway. While the commanders and crews were also out of their tanks and having an orders briefing at the time with/by Ltn Col. Lord Cranley by his Daimler Dingo Scout car?
Were the 4 Tigers ever joined by other German forces before they defeated the British, or after the 4 Tigers did it themselves?

Battle 3. The town battle (2) without Wittmann

The British drove back the German attack, but was it a lack of reserves that made them The Commanders in town or maybe the Generals behind the front line) pull out in "fear" of even heavier German armoured attacks? Maybe something the airforce could deal with in the future, as they did pound it to bits later on in the month before it fell??

I'm not to sure how accurate this all is (I'm no scholor as you know!!!), but it should be fun and fairly educational to see what other members think of these battles, and hopefully
a few of my many questions.
No worries if you don't have a specific reply, but lets go battle by battle if possible, just say for battle 1, I think/know/wonder post info, battle 2 and 3 along the same lines as well if you are so inclined. Links are OK here to post but please clarify what is in them as to being true or something to take a closer look at, books as well I think to.

Cheers guys, lets do this one justice for the benefit of our many members here besides me.

Tom

[LAH 1 SS]

As you have pointed out TRDG this battle has been exmained and argued over alot on many forums hopefully this forum will be able to clarify and tie all the arguments together and be the definitive source for this battle. Lets post away and as stated "play nice". If it is ok with you TRDG and the moderators can assosciated photos be posted in the thread?

[cyberia]

LAH, I think any photos that can illustrate points would be fine. If fact if there are any photos already posted in the armor threads that might help here feel free to pull them and re-post.

[PanzerBob]

I always find the biggest problem in discussing this battle, is whose stories are to believed. And lastly how much it there we will never know?

However, I do have an idea, if we could drum up enough information and had someone who could plot it out, on a map or model, maybe it could show things that verbal fencing can't. Just a thought.


Bob out

[LAH 1 SS]

Ok the lets get the photos under way then shall we they are a little over the place sorry

one of the roads leading into VB


destroyed british armour



tiger 112 in VB burnt out



Tiger 222 towing 231 after the battle for VB form hill 213



A burnt out tiger one

[LAH 1 SS]

Here is some maps of VB and the surounding area's




aknowledgement to appropriate resources

[LAH 1 SS]

Here is a photo of the panzer 4 634 of Panzer lehr

[LAH 1 SS]

Here are some wrecked british vehicles from the battle for VB



a 4th CLY Honey


a Cromwell of OP tank CP 5RHA


A Destroyed Cromwell

[TRDG]

Thank you kindly LAH

here is Villers after the Allies bombed it out, a "bit" it looks like, don't ya think? LOL



Cheers, anyone else here with some pics on these battles, or info related to it? You can almost make out some of the destroyed tanks right near the upper middle center of the town still to.

Tom