Operation Martlet – 0400 to 1200 25 June 1944
Introduction
With our increasing familiarity with the rules, it was time for Kevin and I to dive into one of the pint-sized campaigns available. We chose Operation Martlet as the starting point. After watching a number of videos of others playing the campaign we were ready and eager as were our troops.
Situation
MARTLET was designed to secure the eastern flank of Operation EPSOM. Army Group HQ were concerned about the high ground around RAURAY and planned for Operation MARTLET to secure this ground and thus protect the flank of Operation EPSOM. 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division were the lead formation for the Operation, they would be supported by the 8th Armoured Brigade.
The Divisional Commander committed two brigades to the attack with 146 Bde on the left. The Brigade Plan called for three battalions up. The 11th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers (11 RSF) were to advance on the left of the brigade line, with B Company left and D Company right. The attack would be preceded by very heavy artillery support.
Enemy Forces
The 12th SS Panzer Grenadier (12PZG) were holding a 12 mile line from the south-west outskirts of Caen to FONTENAY, which was the brigade objective. The village itself was likely to be protected by Panzer Grenadiers and heavy weapons. Despite the losses already inflicted on the 12 PSG they remained a very capable and well led fighting force.
Friendly Forces
The OC B Coy 11RSF gave orders that 2Lt Archie Sutherland's 5 Platoon would lead the company advance. He would be supported by the Battalion mortars, and his troops were well stocked with grenades including WP and Hawkins.
Archie had been in command for nine months he was a thoughtful 21 year old young man. He had quit Edinburgh university and with his Officer Training at university he had been sent to Mons for commissioning. His Platoon Sergeant was an old hand who had served in the last war. Although Sgt Wilson was a 51 year old Glaswegian, and a little on the large size, he was fitter than any man in the Battalion. The wags in the Battalion joked that it was his pre-war occupation of door-to-door salesman and the trail of broken hearts he had left behind that encouraged him to enlist in 1939. Whatever the reason he was a competent and capable SNCO who had taken a shine to the young officer who now commanded him.
Mission
11 RSF is to secure FONTENAY within boundaries.
Post Mission Report – 11th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers
The No 1 Section emerged from the mist at dawn to be confronted with vicious MG fire from dug in Panzer Grenadiers.
Additional MG fire was delivered by a Panzer IV on the edge of FONTENAY.
More Panzer Grenadiers emerged from their defences to engage 1 Section.
1 section took casualties rapidly. All the time the rest of the Platoon was lost in the mist and unable to support 1 Section. They were able to call in Mortar smoke which did allow the section to withdraw and regroup with the rest of the platoon.
This time the artillery fire seriously impeded the German response, and the Panzer Grenadiers offered no effective response allowing no 1 and 2 sections to advance. Despite positive encouragement from Sgt Wilson the Sections advance was far too slow.
As they approached the outskirts of FONTENAY the bombardment ended precipitously allowing the enemy to deploy its MGs to again bring devastating fire down which inflicted casualties and caused the troops to go to ground wherever they could.
2 Section deployed WP to cover itself from the worst of the fire directed at it.
No 1 Section reached the forward houses of the village but were ambushed by Panzer Grenadiers and broke from the fire and casualties. On the positive side 3 Section joined the fight along with a Vickers MG team from the Battalion reserve.
Sgt Wilson decided that they weren't advancing any further and ordered a withdrawal. The Mortar Fire Controller (MFC) brought down a fire mission on the crossroads to cover the retreat. This was so effective that it silenced the Panzer IV – it would later be discovered abandoned with its optics damaged and other equipment damaged. Cpl Macleod commanding 1 Section was covering his sections retreat when he was separated from the other members of the Section and never returned to our lines. He was listed as missing and eventually reported as captured.
Outcome
The second attempt to take the initial objective had failed. The battle was a serious blow to Archie Sutherland who became withdrawn. He was also embarrassed to be dressed down by the CO. However, in hindsight he wasn't the only one. The rest of the Battalion had fared poorly. The mist had severely impeded their ability to deploy and move forward. The afternoon was looking much brighter and with support from B Squadron of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (SRY) it was anticipated that FONTENAY would soon be in British hands.
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