APPX "B"
to
CW REPORT No. 18

REPORT ON FLAME ACTION BY LAKE SUP R (MOT)
4 CDN ARMD BDE - 4 CDN ARMD DIV

13 APR 45

Ref Map: GSGS 4507
1:50,000
Sheet 92

GEN

1. The attack by 'C' Coy of the Lake Sup R (Mot) at 1600 hrs 13 Apr 45 was sp by 3 Badgers and 2 Wasp flame throwers. This report deals with the actions of the flame throwers in their attack on def buildings, hedges and ditches. A diagrammatic sketch of the ground is att at Appx 1.

ENEMY POSNS

2. The enemy, the remainder of a para bn approx 150 strong, commanded by a CSM, with instrs to fight to the last man and thereby deny our approach to the KUSTEN CANAL, were in posns in the cellars of a gp of buildings 094925 and the surrounding ditches and hedges (No. 1 in the sketch att). Their front (approx 200 yards) covered all approaches by rd. They were well sup with automatic weapons and panzerfaust; in addition they were ap by 81 mm mortars.

OWN POSNS

3. 'C' Coy were pinned to the ground approx 800 yds from the enemy posn (No. 2 in the sketch att). Three Badgers and two Wasps were in sp of 'C' Coy, and were in posn immediately behind the inf lines.

METHOD

4. The tks were to open fire with all their weapons from posn at 700 yds, and adv to their final supporting posn at 400 yds (No. 4 in the sketch att). 11 pl of 'C' Coy, sp by 2 Badgers and 1 Wasp, were to attack on the left flank, and 10 pl, sp by 1 Badger and 1 Wasp, were to attack on the right flank, immediately followed by the inf.

COURSE OF OP

5. 
   (a) Badgers and Wasps moved to their posns in readiness behind their respective pls SL, where they were briefed by the flame pl comd and the pl com.

   (b) The lines of advance had previously been recced by the supporting armd fmn, and it was decided to use the same line of adv for the flame throwers up to the 400 yard line; from there on the lines of adv were to be chosen by the flame sec comds.

   (c) The tks opened fire from their 700 yd posn and began their adv, followed by the flame throwers, on the chosen lines of adv as per sketch att (The Badgers ahead, the Wasps behind). At the 400 yd line the tks took up their final posn along a hedge, continuing their hy fire, and the Badgers and Wasps passed through their lines followed by the inf firing from the "hip".

   (d) The Badgers drew enemy MG fire at approx 200 yds from the enemy posn. They immediately replied with their own .30 Browning MGs. The Badgers continued to fire their MGs until they reached an advantageous flaming posn approx 100 yds from the first buildings. The flame throwers then opened up with their flame guns, burning out the buildings to their immediate front, continuing their flaming adv through the burning buildings, closely followed by the inf. In their adv the flame throwers set fire to approx 30 buildings, also burning the hedges and flushing the ditches, driving a by now badly dis-org enemy out of his posns towards the "killing ground" on the rd, where they willingly surrendered to the "waiting" 10 pl.

ENEMY CAS

6. Approx 15 enemy dead were found; very few of them due to burns.

OWN CAS TO FLAME CREWS

7. Nil.

PW

8. 110 badly demoralized PW were taken, who were herded out by the flame throwers. None of the PWs suffered from burns.

COMMENTS

9. Lt B G R MENARD, Flame Pl Comd, Lake Sup R (Mot), feels that the flame throwers were instrumental in the success of the attack and was very pleased with their performance. Strong enemy opposition had been anticipated, but in spite of the fact that they were all well trained enemy para tps, they immediately surrendered upon the appearance of flame.

(Signed) H SORENSEN, Capt
Tech Offr Flame

Appendix 1

Return to BADGER main page

Site Map

© Chris Johnson, 1997