tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post1980109766329772661..comments2024-03-29T04:38:28.940-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Operation Goodwood, Afternoon...OldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-65540309223470462182020-07-21T04:41:19.068-07:002020-07-21T04:41:19.068-07:00The British were literally running out of men to r...The British were literally running out of men to replace their infantry. If you keep that in mind, it explains some of their actions. One of the things they remembered from WWI was their losses. There were just not enough people in 1944.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-35122449865440343532020-07-21T04:39:05.918-07:002020-07-21T04:39:05.918-07:00The 17-pounder had big shells, though the turret f...The 17-pounder had big shells, though the turret for the Sherman VC was enlarged to handle the gun, it was still fairly cramped. Long shells, small space, it took a little longer to load. I believe the "easier to maintain" applies to the Sherman platform in general as compared to German vehicles.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-484485595354623882020-07-21T04:36:50.714-07:002020-07-21T04:36:50.714-07:00Not sure I get your point Larry, 13th AF was in th...Not sure I get your point Larry, 13th AF was in the Pacific.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-49929274142301499452020-07-21T04:34:26.411-07:002020-07-21T04:34:26.411-07:00One of the British government's big concerns w...One of the British government's big concerns was that they were literally running out of infantry. They could afford to lose tanks but not men.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-57247497669166999562020-07-20T23:13:58.781-07:002020-07-20T23:13:58.781-07:00From what I've read, the 17-lbr version was an...From what I've read, the 17-lbr version was anything but easier to maintain. It took significantly longer to reload, and it didn't get some of the ammo protection that later American M4s got. The flash gave it away every time it fired (there's a reason it was called 'Firefly', plus the crap kicked up by the excessive muzzle blast caused problems).Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13296988746956477216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89780391200862606542020-07-20T23:08:41.512-07:002020-07-20T23:08:41.512-07:00Hey, Beans, wasn't that the motto of 13th Air ...Hey, Beans, wasn't that the motto of 13th Air Force? I don't think 13 was an accidental choice, but prophetic.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13296988746956477216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-66148806803797305902020-07-20T23:06:46.536-07:002020-07-20T23:06:46.536-07:00"Naked and ashamed?" You ain't neve..."Naked and ashamed?" You ain't never met the right woman... Or... umm, never mind.<br /><br />The British penchant for unsupported armor attacks should've been taken behind the barn and shot since no later than Operation Crusader in North Africa. British WII armor seemed to have been a direct descendant of British cavalry, renowned for having heads made of nothing but bone. Very often a terrible disgrace. And when they did have their heads screwed on straight, their high command let them down -- badly.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13296988746956477216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-15222271145589010902020-07-20T20:51:42.671-07:002020-07-20T20:51:42.671-07:00One doesn't kill over a hundred tanks except t...One doesn't kill over a hundred tanks except through exceptional teamwork, training and skill. Show me a commander who isn't bash, reckless and aggressive and I'll show you a target. Tactically unsound? Wittman crushed an British armored brigade with his platoon and is a legend. Luck is always important but most men make their luck. When you talk about tactically unsound explain to me how the British lost over 400 tanks in Goodwood, more tanks than the Germans had opposing them in that sector by a factor of about 4.<br /><br />The British remembered WW!, and therefor moved with all the speed of a turtly. They saved lives but squandered material at an amazing rate and accomplished little.Obama's boyfriendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14650136668488994734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83939426149582965942020-07-20T07:09:26.224-07:002020-07-20T07:09:26.224-07:00a bear - Bingo!
The Germans placed a great deal o...a bear - Bingo!<br /><br />The Germans placed a great deal of emphasis on "aces." Tank aces, fighter aces, U-Boat aces, etc., Goebbels' propaganda machine played all that to the hilt. Often to the detriment of other members of the armed forces. Did Wittmann drive the tank? No. Did he load the gun? No. Did he lay and fire the gun? No. Did he man the bow machine gun? No. The other members of his crew, whose names are well known among historians, get short shrift, Wittmann gets all the kudos. It's what an English friend of mine would term, "Rubbish!"OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-90790622670096116312020-07-20T06:02:44.557-07:002020-07-20T06:02:44.557-07:00Witmann was rash, impetuous, and tactically-unsoun...Witmann was rash, impetuous, and tactically-unsound -- but he was lucky. Lucky enough to be driving a Tiger I on the Eastern Front, where virtually nothing could kill it, and his idiocy wouldn't be punished. Lucky enough to be the subject of a Nazi propaganda campaign to manufacture a hero (e.g. the Villers-Bocage fight, where all the kills of his unit magically get attributed to him). <br /><br />Until he wasn't lucky, and led his unit into yet another ambush, whereupon he became the only kind of good Nazi.<br /><br />Feh.a bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871505359143633270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-20761280378407181852020-07-20T04:20:36.691-07:002020-07-20T04:20:36.691-07:00I haven't seen that video (I think), I'll ...I haven't seen that video (I think), I'll track it down.<br /><br />The Big Red One is getting ready for Operation Cobra. I'm sure Sgt Brandt is training hard and not drinking too much Calvados.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-9528016188429500882020-07-20T04:19:23.912-07:002020-07-20T04:19:23.912-07:00Ah, but the Jabos are what made life so very diffi...Ah, but the Jabos are what made life so very difficult for the Panzers.<br /><br />But yes, great sight lines in all directions.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-49420612753776383802020-07-19T23:45:44.017-07:002020-07-19T23:45:44.017-07:00It's interesting to see the battlefields today...It's interesting to see the battlefields today as opposed to 1944. Have you seen that YouTube video of the effort to reconstruct (today) the battle that killed "The Black Baron" (Michael Witmann)? <br /><br />I am enjoying the serial - thank for all the effort you have obviously put into this! And tell Sgt Brandt to get off his ass! Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720206407574457665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-85286588762902589972020-07-19T20:40:18.556-07:002020-07-19T20:40:18.556-07:00(Don McCollor)...Aside from the Jabos, it would be...(Don McCollor)...Aside from the Jabos, it would be a lovely place to be dug in hull down with a Tiger...<br />Don McCollorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18028324869570493102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-74569188819195556092020-07-19T18:35:09.479-07:002020-07-19T18:35:09.479-07:00I like the views over the open fields myself. We l...I like the views over the open fields myself. We lived in a farming village in Germany, it was awfully nice.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-5824601025737106402020-07-19T18:01:42.552-07:002020-07-19T18:01:42.552-07:00I love seeing the puddles in the tracks and field ...I love seeing the puddles in the tracks and field edges. Every farmer/rancher feels the same thing regardless of the heathen language they bitch about drought in.<br /><br />None of which speaks to Goodwood, but it does remind us that our awful tantrums pass unnoticed by nature and planet.<br /><br />PrairieAdventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466447251827774900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-66327797922033499442020-07-19T16:07:27.103-07:002020-07-19T16:07:27.103-07:00Thanks MrG!Thanks MrG!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-10990822425295271702020-07-19T15:52:37.389-07:002020-07-19T15:52:37.389-07:00Good Story;
despite the bad rap the Sherman ...Good Story;<br /><br /> despite the bad rap the Sherman got, the British version was a good tank with the 17 pounder gun on it. easier to maintain on the battlefield. But the flat country was made for the 88 of the tiger and the defense. Excellent Story!MrGarabaldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05768774166065615995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-7243611545423971642020-07-19T10:43:18.057-07:002020-07-19T10:43:18.057-07:00I can well imagine!I can well imagine!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-58406856356540938082020-07-19T10:39:29.664-07:002020-07-19T10:39:29.664-07:00Given just enough information to do your job, rely...Given just enough information to do your job, relying on "someone" to do theirs so you don't get flanked and fire-sacked. Man, the pucker factor must've been through the roof...STxARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588850178293194825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-6028697332654972002020-07-19T09:52:09.023-07:002020-07-19T09:52:09.023-07:00Don't read too much into the actions of a sing...Don't read too much into the actions of a single platoon in the midst of a much larger operation.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89605123714506533402020-07-19T09:27:40.979-07:002020-07-19T09:27:40.979-07:00How very wonderful to be the tip of the spear, and...How very wonderful to be the tip of the spear, and to then realize only you are getting the shaft. Being hung out with no support is definitely an unfun thing to happen. <br /><br />Where's the air support? Where's the on-call artillery? Where are the other units that are supposed to be with him? Mounted infantry? A couple of scout vehicles? Someone on a bicycle? Nope, hung out on the far edge of disaster, reliant on massive follow up of supporting forces that never quite show up. Hmmm. Was this one of Monty's brilliant plans? Sure seems like it.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-11057662764560318062020-07-19T09:25:56.970-07:002020-07-19T09:25:56.970-07:00Yup.Yup.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-91683013096408200772020-07-19T09:24:21.768-07:002020-07-19T09:24:21.768-07:00Good tank country, better ambush country. Yikes, ...Good tank country, better ambush country. Yikes, could have been worse, could have been an airfield.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-68511125584761534762020-07-19T07:18:21.906-07:002020-07-19T07:18:21.906-07:00The British and Canadians paid dearly!The British and Canadians paid dearly!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.com