L'Abbaye Blanche WTO (id:#56742)

ASL News (ASL News # 31 ID: NEWS66)   [next]   [previous]

North of Mortain, France 1944-08-08 (13 others)

Overview:

As dawn of the 7th, Operation Lûttich, the German counteroffensive aimed at cutting off the 3rd Army at Avranches was in full swing. The Panzer troops progressed swiftly, and stated to encircle the small town of Mortain when they finally encountered stiff resistance from a roadblock established by a troop of TD guns along a ridge overlooking the roads near L'Abbaye Blanche, at first only supported by a mere platoon of infantry, the US defensive line had been enhanced by dismounted halftrack crews manning scrounged .50cal MGs. While the Das Reich SS Division columns tried to bypass the opposition, its convoys suffered heavy losses from the stubborn US outpost, for a total of 25 vehicles, including 2 Panthers and 3 Pz IVs destroyed. The American TD guns had been dug-in in such a way that they seemed impervious to any German incoming fire. However, at first light of the 8th, a German patrol was detected in the orchard just to the northwest of LT Springfield's No. 3 and 4 guns. The GIs instantly opened fire with HMGs and Bazookas and managed to kill 5 Grenadiers and forcing the rest to fall back. The main assault followed a few minutes later when the Germans reappeared in the orchard, supported by armor.

Defender: American (F Company, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division and 1st Platoon, A Company, 823rd TD Battalion)  

Errata (source)