Page Fifty-eight

Narrative of the Operation of North Irish Horse,
51st Royal Tanks and 142nd. Regiment Royal Armoured
Corps during the period. 7 November to 2 December 1944.

1. On 7 November 25th Tank Brigade was under command of 4th British Division, being supported by the 142nd Army Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Royal Devonshire Yeomanry), and Tactical Brigade Headquarters was located at 550090, approximately half way between Cesena and Forlimpopoli, with Main Headquarters at Cesena. For the 4th Division’s attack on the night 7/8 November, the Brigade was allocated to the infantry as follows:-

10th Infantry Brigade 1st/6th Bn. East Surrey Regiment 2nd Bn. Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry Under command: Assault Troop 4th Reconnaissance Regiment 28th Infantry Brigade 2nd Bn. Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) 2nd Bn. King's Regiment (Liverpool) 2nd/4th Hampshire Regiment (Reserve Bn) 12th Infantry Brigade (Div Reserve) 6th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

51st Bn. Royal Tank Regiment 'B' Squadron (less No. 6 Troop) 'C' Squadron No. 6 Troop 142nd Regt. Royal Armoured Corps 'A' Squadron 'B' Squadron 'C' Squadron North Irish Horse 'A' Composite Squadron

Seizing of Forli Airfield - 7/8 November

2. The plan was for the 1st/6th Surreys to make the attack on the right supported. by ‘B’ Squadron 51st Royal Tanks, with ‘C’ Company right and. ‘B’ Company left. The attack was timed for 2315 hours on 7 November without the aid of artificial moonlight, which had also been disoontmued the previous night, in order to lull the enemy of any suspicion he may have had regarding the impending attack. The tanks were not to cross the start line, which was on the southern edge of the airfield, before first light on 8 November which was about 0500 hours. The 1st/6th Surreys attacked as planned, and. moving quietly across the airfield secured their first objectives. The infantry had agreed to find positions for the tanks among the airfield buildings, in order that the tanks could give immediate support to the infantry upon arrival. At 0500 hours the infantry commander reported cover for two Troops only, and consequently, although the three Troops of the squadron moved up to the start line, only No.8 and No.9 Troops crossed over leaving No.7 Troop in the vicinity of a farm near the start line ready to be called for if required. An elaborate system of light signals had been evolved to guide the tanks across the airfield six electric torches were mounted. on a pole at each rendezvous and in addition the infantry fired white Verey lights at five minute intervals. At 0500 hours No. 8 and. No. 9 Troops, towing two Littlejohn anti-tank guns, crossed the start line and charged across the wide opened expanse of the airfield and, avoiding the innumberable bomb craters, successfully reached the airfield buildings to marry up with the 1st/6th Surreys. No. 8 Troop contacted. ‘C’ Company in the building at 459138 by 0505 hours, and by 0508 hours No.9 Troop had reached the east end of the buildings and was guided into pre-selected positions by ‘B’ Company. Both infantry Company Commanders thus had tank support and were able to plan their future moves accordingly, (1)

3. The infantry commanders knew that the buildings Nos.1 and 2 were firmly held, but the situation elsewhere was obscure, as any movement into the open was impossible on account of heavy enemy fire from building No.3. At 0515 hours in accordance with orders from the infantry commanders, the tanks commenced reducing building No.3 by high explosive fire from their main guns. This was carried out at almost point blank range and proved very effective in silencing the enemy and No.13 Platoon and Company headquarters were able to occupy it, while No.11 Platoon changed its hangars for the security of No.2 Building, and the immediate task of 'C' Company was completed. ‘B’ Company now commenced to deal with building No.6, attacking it with two platoons supported by No.9 Troop tanks. The tanks fired into the building and silenced the enemy fire which had been holding up the infantry, and then under cover of machine gun fire from the tanks the infantry entered the buildings and mopped up, completing the occupation about 0530 hours.

4. At about 0600 hours the ‘B’ Company Commander visited building No.5 where the supporting tanks were in position, on the south side, and found that the Germans still held buildings Nos.7 and 8. The tanks, therefore, once more proceeded to engage the enemy in these positions, and after the usual programme of high explosive and Besa fire, a section of the infantry worked round both buildings which were occupied with the capture of a dozen Germans. At 0800 hours, the enemy, who hitherto had brought down less than twenty rounds of defensive fire, began to bring down heavy artillery and mortar fire on the area of the airfield, and for the rest of the day, any movement, however slight, produced heavy and disconcerting “stonks.” The tanks, however, still in support of the infantry, were able to bring down accurate high explosive and machine gun fire upon the many parties of Germans moving in the vicinity of the airfield inflicting considerable casualties.

(1) Sketch Map of Forli Airfield

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