3rd Kings Own Hussars - Operation Supercharge
Charging the Gun Line
- Escala:
- 1:35
- Status:
- Idéias
At the onset of Operation Supercharge 2nd November 1942, General Montgomery had informed Brigadier John Currie, commander of the 9th armoured brigade, that he was prepared to accept 100% losses in his formation in order to achieve success. His brigade was to assault the German artillery and anti-tank gun screen and thus create a breach, which the regiments of 1st Armoured Division could then exploit. Literally in minutes Currie's brigade was eliminated, and by the end of the day he had lost 102 out of 128 tanks.
In an account of the battle published to mark its 25th anniversary, Montgomery wrote:
I must mention the magnificent fight put up by 9th Armoured Brigade - 3rd Hussars, Wiltshire Yeomanry, Warwickshire Yeomanry. If the British armour owed any debt to the infantry of 8th army, the debt was paid on 2 November by 9th Armoured Brigade in heroism and blood.