| TOP SECRET 1–6 Main HQ 4 Cdn Armd Div 13 Aug 44 Copy number 4 |
OUTLINE OF INSTRS ISSUED BY
GOC 4 Cdn Armd Div 131239B Aug 44
OP TRACTABLE
Ref Maps: FRANCE 1/50,000 sheets 7F/3 7F/4 7F/5 7F/6
INFM
1. Enemy
The enemy on the div front appears to have formed a A tk screen pivoted on the area QUESNAY 1047 – Potigny 1044. The screen to the EAST follows the line of the R LAISON. The pivot is held by part of 85 Inf Div and 12 SS Pz Div. The line of the R LAISON down stream to the area CONDE SUR IFS 2052 is held by 12 SS Pz Div.
2. Own Tps
2 Cdn Corps with RIGHT 3 Cdn Div and LEFT 4 Cdn Armd Div is attacking SOUTH with the object of gaining comd of the enemy’s comm through FALAISE. The Op will be carried out in three phases.
(a) Phase I
The crossing of the RLAISON and seizure of the high ground area pt 118 1546 – woods pt 103 1645.
(b) Phase II
To adv SOUTH and SW to capture the high ground NE of FALAISE area pt 170 1442 –pt 175 1441 by 3 Cdn Div and area ring contour 160 1438 by 4 Cdn Armd Div.
(c) Phase III
Exploitation to capture the brs at ERAINES 1737 and DAMBLAINVILLE 2038 preparatory to advancing on TRUN 3029 to meet 15 US Corps by 4 Cdn Armd Div.
3. 51 (H) Brit Div is to capture LA BU SUR ROUVRES 1651 op commencing at 2 Cdn Corps H hr.
4. Additional tps under comd 4 Cdn Armd Div
a. 8 Cdn Inf Bde (Phase I only)
b. 1 LOTHIANS (Flail Regt)
c. A Sqn 141 RAC (Crocodiles)
d. 19 Cdn Fd Regt (SP)
e. One sqn AVRE 5 Aslt Regt
5. The RAF is supporting 2 Cdn Corps during Op TRACTABLE as follows
a. Bombing of the valley of the R LAISON from incl PLAYE 1345 to incl ERAINES 1949 from H hr minus 20 min to H hr minus 5 mins with med bombers
b. Bombing of the following areas by med bomber [missing from text]
c. Hy bombers on the POTIGNY pivot area from H hour plus 2 hrs to H plus 4 hrs. It is considered that this prolonged bombing will either destroy the enemy in the POTIGNY area or prevent them from counter-attacking the 2 Cdn Corps thrust.
6. Corps bdys, SL and inter div bdy as shown on TRACE ‘X’ att.
TASKS 4 Cdn Armd Div
7. (a) To seize the high ground NE of FALAISE
(b) To capture the brs at ERAINES 1737 and DAMBLAINVILLE 2038
(c) To be prepared to exploit SOUTH and SE to meet 15 US Corps in the area of TRUN 3029.
METHOD
8. The div will adv one up as follows
(a) 4 Cdn Armd Bde
I. with under comd
Two sqns 1 LOTHIANS
96 Cdn A Tk Bty (sp)
II. with in sp
19 Cdn Fd Regt (SP)
23 Cdn Fd Regt (SP)
One sqn AVRE 5 Aslt Regt
Twp Tps 8 Cdn Fd Sqn
(b) 8 Cdn Inf Bde with att tps incl A Sqn 141RAC
(c) 10 Cdn Inf Bde
(i) With under comd
One sqn 1 LOTHIANS
3 Cdn A Tk Bty
(ii) With in sp
15 Cdn Fd Regt
One tp 8 Cdn Fd Sqn
9. Tasks 4 Cdn Armd Bde
a) To lead the div adv
b) To cross the R LAISON and by-passing all opposition capture the objective ring contour 160 area 1438.
c) To capture and hold PIERRIERES with elements of the mot bn until relieved by one bn 10 Cdn Inf Bde
d) To be prepared to send recce elements to the brsat ERAINES and DAMBLAINVILLE
10. Tasks 8 Cdn Inf Bde
a) Phase I
i) Two Bns embossed in PRIETS, Half-tracks and carriers will clear the valley of the R LAISON between excl br at 156475 and incl MAIZIERES 1749 and seize the high ground pt 103 area 1646
ii) Remaining bn marching will mop up area between Corps SL and valley of R LAISON
b) On completion of above tasks will revert to comd 3 Cdn Div and move to capture SASSY 1845
11. Tasks 10 Cdn Inf Bde
a) Phase II
i) To capture OLENDON 1644, if necessary
ii) To relieve the mot bn 4 Cdn Armd Bde in PIERRIERES 1843 and cst a firm base there
iii) To capture EPANCY 1641, if necessary and push fwd to link upwith 4 Cdn Armd Bde on final objective
iv) Depending on opposition encountered the bde may be required to leave elements in OLENDON and EPANCY
12. Tasks 18 Cdn Armd C Regt
a) When 4 Cdn Armd Bde crosses the Corps SL to make a recce in force to protect the left flank of the div between ST SYLVAIN 1354 and MAIZIERES 1749. (In view of para 3 direct liaison with 51 (H) div will be necessary)
b) To follow 8 Cdn Inf Bde across the R Laison and protect the LEFT flank of the div between MAIZIERES and SASSY
c) To be prepared to carry out a recce in force of the wooded areas 1839 – 1940 – 2041 and exploit to ERAINES and DAMBLAINVILLE
d) Hold in res one sqn for exploitation SOUTH and EAST from ERAINES and DAMBLAINVILLE on orders GOC 4 Cdn Armd Div
13. Arty
a) Phase I
i) A smoke screen is to be laid on both flanks of the adv on the RIGHT in the area QUESNAY and on the LEFT EAST of the gen line MAIZIERES – SASSY
ii) A smoke barrage preceding the armour from the Corps SL to the first objective pt 103 from H minus 5 to H plus 35. Timings are so arranged that the armour will have 15 min smoke in the area from incl the valley of the R LAISON fwd to the first objective pt 103 to complete the river crossing.
iii) Med arty concs on known and suspected 88mm gun posns.
a) Phase II
i) Pre-arranged concs by med arty on call on known and suspected 88mm gun posns and enemy localities
ii) Comds will ensure that no hy smoke programs involving more than one fd regt will be laid down from H plus 1 hr until after H plus 4 hrs as hy smoke may obscure target indicators for RAF hy bombers
14. Engrs
Under CREs control
a) One sqn AVRE 5 Aslt Regt and one tp 8 Cdn Fd Sqn will be in sp 4 Cdn Armd Bde to assist in the crossing of the R LAISON
b) One tp 8 Cdn Fd Sqn with necessary explosives will move with 4 Cdn Armd Bde to prepare pits for tks to be dug in on the final objective
c) Two tps 8 Cdn Fd sqn will assist 10 Cdn Inf Bde in the crossing of the R LAISON
15. SL, Bdys, Report Lines
As detailed on Trace ‘X’ att.
16. Timings
a) For the adv
i) 4 Cdn Armd Bde will adv from the FUP deployed and cross SL on H hr
ii) 8 Cdn Inf Bde adv deployed from FUP and cross the Corps SL at H hr plus 10 min
iii) 10 CdnInf Bde will cross SL at H hr plus 60 min
Adm
17. Detailed instrs issued separately
18. TC
a) One sec 8 Cdn Pro Coy will assist 10 Cdn Inf Bde to marshal in the FUP
b) One half sec 8 Cdn Pro Coy will assist 4 Cdn Armd Div Engrs at the crossings of the R LAISON
INTERCOM
19. GREEN CL as shown on Trace ‘X’ att.
HQ locations
a) Main HQ 4 Cdn Armd Div remains present location
b) Comd Post 4 Cdn Armd Div opens RENEMESNIL 1152 141130B
20. Code words are att as Appx ‘A’
21. Wireless silence is lifted at H minus 3 hrs
ACK
| F. E. Wigle Lieutenant Colonel GS 4 Cdn Armd Div |
Time of signature 140330
Method of issue