The Arras Counterattack

DATE: 03/11/2024

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Crossroads Bocage

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 56 / 74

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RATING: (24)

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The Arras Counterattack was a day long action during the Battle of France in May of 1940. The attack was proposed in response to the news that German forces had pierced the Peronne–Cambrai gap and were threatening Boulogne and Calais; which would in turn result in the two allied armies being separated.

The plan, created by French General Maxime Weygand, called for joint attacks in order to break the German advance; British forces would advance southward whilst French forces would advance North towards Cambrai. The British contingent named 'Frankforce', after Major-General Harold Franklyn, commander of 5th Division, called for the use of the 5th and 50th Divisions and the 1st Army Tank Brigade.

In reality, the situation was far different than what Weygand's plan had called for; due to casualties, German advances and many tanks being unserviceable, only the 5th Division and elements of the 1st Army Tank Brigade would make up 'Frankforce', totalling only around 2,000 men and 74 tanks.

On the 21st of May 'Frankforce' commenced its offensive action, of which its two columns performed well initially before coming up against determined resistance from tanks of the 7th Panzer Division and air strikes from Stuka bombers. By the evening of the 21st, 'Frankforce' was forced to retreat due to Arras quickly becoming a salient in the German lines, despite this, the troops of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment and tankers of the 4th and 7th Royal Tank Regiment had distinguished themselves, taking around 400 prisoners, inflicting a similar number of casualties and destroying several tanks.

21st May 1940, Arras, France - Having reached its staging area, the 8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry supported by tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment begins its attack on the villages of Duisans and Warlus.