Operation Coup de Main - The Battle of Pegasus Bridge

DATE: 13/07/2025

TIME (GMT): 20:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Pegasus Bridge

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 61 / 66

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RATING: (31)

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In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of glider-borne infantry, apart of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Ox and Bucks Light Infantry, would storm the German defences around the Caen Canal Bridge and Orne River Bridge. This daring mission was so crucial that, had it been unsuccessful, the entire Normandy invasion might have failed.

Operation Neptune was set to begin at 06:00 on 6th June 1944. Troops, vehicles and equipment would be landed on the beaches of Normandy and then push inland to secure various day one objectives deemed vital to establishing a secure beachhead. It was of great concern to allied planners that mobile armoured formations, such as the 21st Panzer Division, could counterattack the vulnerable beachhead, and by using airborne units this could be prevented by capturing or destroying river crossing and bridges within the Normandy area.

6 Airspeed Horsa Gliders would ferry the Company to the target area, towed by Halifax Bombers. Just before boarding the gliders, codewords were also issued; ‘Ham’ Indicated the Canal Bridge had been captured intact and ‘Jam’ for the River Bridge. Capture and Destruction of the Canal Bridge would be signalled with ‘Jack’ and ‘Lard’ if a similar fate befell the River Bridge.

The bridges were quickly captured within minutes, however, the Ox and Bucks were quickly counterattacked by elements of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 192. The British attackers turned defenders would now need to hold out until reinforcements from the 1st Commando Brigade arrived from Sword beach. Before being relieved, panzergrenadiers continued to attack and harass the British defenders, and brought them to within breaking point with their tanks, however, the British stubbornly held the well fortified positions around the bridges until the Germans withdrew around midday. The 192nd Panzergrenadier Regiment and the 1st Panzerjaegar Company suffered heavily, with 13 out of the 17 tanks deployed destroyed through various means. 

02:45 Hours, Normandy, France, 6th June, 1944 - With the launch of Operation Tonga, the men of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Ox and Bucks Light Infantry are bound for France in Horsa gliders with the goal of securing vital bridges within the Normandy area.