Baattle of Caen Campaign.Operation Charnwood

DATE: 05/07/2026

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Normandy

TYPE: COOP

TEAMSPEAK: ts1.biaarma.com

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Aris and Lord for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 65 / 80

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RATING: (17)

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The Battle for Caen (June to August 1944) was a military engagement between the British Second Army and the German Panzergruppe West in the Second World War for control of the city of Caen and its vicinity during the Battle of Normandy. Caen is about 14 km inland from the Calvados coast astride the Orne River and Caen Canal, at the junction of several roads and railways. The communication links made it an important operational objective for both sides. Caen and the area to its south are flatter and more open when compared to the bocage country of western Normandy, and Allied air force commanders wanted the area captured quickly in order to construct airfields to base more aircraft in France proper.

The British 3rd Infantry Division was to seize Caen on D-Day or alternatively, dig in short of the city. Caen, Bayeux and Carentan were not captured on D-Day, and the Allies concentrated on linking the beachheads. British and Canadian forces captured the area of Caen north of the Orne during Operation Charnwood (8–9 July), while the suburbs south of the river were captured by the II Canadian Corps during Operation Atlantic (18–20 July). The fighting was mutually costly, and greatly deprived the Germans of the means to reinforce the western part of the invasion front.

Three infantry divisions and three armoured brigades of I Corps were to attack southwards through Caen to the Orne river and capture bridgeheads in the districts of Caen south of the river.An armoured column was prepared to advance through the city to rush the bridges to exploit the victory and sweep on through southern Caen toward the Verrières and Bourguébus ridges, opening the way for the Second Army to advance toward Falaise.New tactics were tried, including a preparatory bombardment by Allied strategic bombers to assist the Anglo-Canadian advance and to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the battle or retreating.Suppression of the German defences was a secondary consideration close support aircraft and 656 guns supported the attack.

 

On the evening of 7 July, bombers dropped over 1,800 t of bombs on the city. Cautious planning to avoid attacking their own troops meant the bombs landed more on the city than German defences.The ground attack began at 4.30 a.m. on 8 July supported by a creeping barrage.By evening, the I Corps had reached the outskirts of Caen and the Germans began to withdraw their heavy weapons and the remnants of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division to the southern side of Caen. The remnants of the 12th SS Panzer Division fought a rearguard action and then retired over the Orne.

 

The 12th SS Panzer Division withdrew during the night early on 9 July, British and Canadian patrols entered the city and Canadians occupied Carpiquet airfield.The 3rd Infantry Division made swift progress and by noon had reached the north bank of the Orne, inflicting severe casualties on the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division. Soon afterwards they meet the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division in the town centre.Some bridges were left intact but were blocked by rubble and covered by German troops on the south bank poised for a counter-attack.Following the battle In the houses that were still standing there slowly came life, as the French civilians realized that we had taken the city. They came running out of their houses with glasses and bottles of wine.

During the battle, the I SS Panzer Corps had turned the 27 m high Verrieres Ridge into their primary fortification, defending it with hundreds of guns, tanks, Nebelwerfers, mortars, and infantry from up to three divisions.On 18 July, Operation Atlantic began 45 minutes after Goodwood and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division with tank support, captured Giberville and the Caen industrial suburbs of Colombelles and Vaucelles south the Orne. By mid-afternoon, two companies of the Black Watch had crossed the river and the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade managed to push southward to Saint-André-sur-Orne.

We play as Royal Winnipeg Rifles Regiment Nicknamed the Little Black Devils we belong to the 3^rd Infantry Division.

In World War II the regiment landed in England in September 1940. As part of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, the Rifles were in the first wave of landings on D Day, 6 June 1944. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles fought throughout the Normandy campaign, fighting in famous battles such as Caen and the Falaise Gap. After helping liberate several of the Channel Ports, the regiment fought to clear the Scheldt Estuary to allow the re-opening of the Antwerp harbour. After helping to liberate the Netherlands, the regiment ended the war preparing to assault the northern German town of Aurich.