Battle of Villers-Bocage order of battle facts for kids

This page explains the 'order of battle' for the Battle of Villers-Bocage. An 'order of battle' is like a detailed list of all the military units, soldiers, and equipment an army has ready for a specific fight. It shows who is in charge and what groups are involved. This battle took place during World War II on June 13, 1944, in Normandy, France. It was a clash between British and German forces and was part of a larger plan called Operation Perch.

The Battle of Villers-Bocage: Who Fought?

The Battle of Villers-Bocage was a key moment during the D-Day landings in Normandy. It showed how important it was for armies to know exactly what forces they had. Understanding the 'order of battle' helps us see how each side planned to fight.

British Forces: The Desert Rats

The main British group fighting at Villers-Bocage was the 22nd Armoured Brigade group. This group was a mix of different units from the XXX Corps and the famous 7th Armoured Division. This division was also known as the 'Desert Rats' because of their experience fighting in North Africa.

The commander of the 22nd Armoured Brigade group was Brigadier W. R. N. "Looney" Hinde. He led these combined forces into battle.

Key British Units and Leaders

• XXX Corps
  • Led by Lieutenant-General G. C. Bucknall.
• 7th Armoured Division
  • Led by Major-General G. W. E. J. Erskine.
    • 22nd Armoured Brigade Group (Brigadier W. R. N. Hinde)
      • Infantry Units:

* 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade: This unit had A, C, and I Companies, plus a Support Company. * 1/5th Battalion Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey): Included A, B, C, and D Companies. * 1/7th Battalion Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey): Also had A, B, C, and D Companies.

• • • • Tank and Armoured Units:

* 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters): Used Cromwell, Sherman Firefly, and M5 Stuart tanks. It had Headquarters, Reconnaissance, A, B, and C Squadrons. * 5th Royal Tank Regiment: Also used Cromwell, Firefly, and M5 Stuart tanks. It had A, B, and C Squadrons. * 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars: Used Cromwell tanks, with Headquarters, A, and B Squadrons. * 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own): Used Daimler Armoured Cars, with Headquarters and C Squadron.

• • • • Artillery and Anti-Tank Units:

* 5th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery: Used Sexton self-propelled guns, with C, G, and K Batteries. * 65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery: Had the 260th Anti Tank Battery, which used M10 3in SP Guns.

German Forces: Panzer Power

The German forces at Villers-Bocage included powerful Panzer (tank) units. These were some of Germany's strongest armoured divisions.

Important German Units and Leaders

• I SS Panzer Corps
  • Led by SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer (a high-ranking general) Josef Dietrich.
    • Panzer-Lehr-Division
      • Led by Generalleutnant (Major-general) Fritz Bayerlein.

* Panzer Lehr Regiment 130: This unit used Panzer IV tanks.

• • • SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 (Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101)
      • Led by SS-Obersturmbannführer Heinz von Westernhagen.

* 1st Panzerkompanie: This company had powerful Tiger I tanks and was led by Rolf Möbius. * 2nd Panzerkompanie: Also had Tiger I tanks and was famously led by Michael Wittmann. * 4th Escort Company: Provided support for the tanks.

• XLVII Panzer Corps
  • Led by General der Panzertruppen (lieutenant-general) Hans Freiherr von Funck.
    • 2nd Panzer Division (elements)
      • Led by Major-General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz.

See also

• List of orders of battle