Operation Tractable

DATE: 09/04/2022

TIME (GMT): 19:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Ardennes

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Un-official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 19 / 26

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RATING: (4)

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Operation Tractable was the final attack conducted by Canadian and Polish troops, supported by a British tank brigade, during the Battle of Normandy during World War II. This operation was undertaken by the First Canadian Army with the 1st Polish Armoured Division and a British armoured brigade against Army Group B of the Westheer in what became the largest encirclement on the Western Front during the Second World War. Despite a slow start and limited gains north of Falaise, novel tactics by the 1st Polish Armoured Division during the drive for Chambois enabled the Falaise Gap to be partially closed by 19 August 1944, trapping about 150,000 German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket.

Although the Falaise Gap was narrowed to a distance of several hundred metres/yards, as a result of attacks and counter-attacks between battle groups of the 1st Polish Armoured Division and the II SS Panzer Corps on Hill 262 (Mont Ormel) the gap was not closed quickly and thousands of German troops escaped on foot. During two days of nearly continuous fighting, the Polish forces assisted by artillery-fire, managed to hold off counter-attacks by seven German divisions in hand-to-hand fighting. On 21 August, elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish survivors and sealed the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the Third US Army. This led to the surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army in the pocket.

The date is the 16th of August, Operation Tractable had begun the night before with hundreds of bombers hitting strategic objectives within Falaise. The 1st Polish Armoured Division is tasked with performing an advancement deep into German lines to destroy key infrastructure.