"To Make or Break an Invasion..."

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Let's see....He's a British Para. with a Piat anti tank weapon, so I would guess he's just leathered the tank. Where?

We've established it's not Pegasus Bridge so it has to be another Drop Zone and perhaps the tank has accidentally blocked an important bridge or flooded causeway. Any thoughts chaps?

Ron

[tr1ckey66]

This is (I think) I dio depicting the first tank to reach the bridge at Benouville (Pegasus Bridge). I believe there is some confusion over the actual type of tank with some reports saying it was a Panzer IV, others the French Sumoa tank, some even state that it was a half track. You are right though if it hadn't been for the Paras at Benouville the whole of Overlord could have been jeopardised.

Good luck with the tank explosion this will be really interesting.

Cheers Paul

[Guest]

Ding ding ding, we have a winner

Yes, the scene I'm trying to depict is that of the first contact between the Paras and Von Luck's 21st Panzer division. I'll no doubt write a bit more on this when the diorama is finished, but the gist of the event was that shortly after the bridges at Benouville were taken, the 21st Panzer had its sights set on dislodging the Paras and retaking the crossings. Using the only servicable PIAT, a pair of paratroopers destroyed one of two tanks sent to gauge enemy resistance, causing the other to retreat. For fear of loosing more vehicles, the division held off its counterattack on the bridge, intending to return in the morning, when the bridges could be effectively reconned. This attack never came, and by the time the sun rose, the paratroopers had been reinforced.

If the PIAT gunner had missed his target, the two tanks would have had little trouble advancing on the bridges, and retaking them from the paras. With the road under German control, not only would Sword beach, and thousands of paratroopers, be cut off from the rest of the invasion force, but the 21st Panzer Division, consisting of around 150 tanks, would have been able to join the counterattacks against the rest of the beaches. Even if the invasion itself still succeeded, casualties for the Allies would have been significantly higher, and the 6th Airborne east of the Orne would have found themselves in a similar situation to the 1st Airborne at Arnhem; cut off without supplies or heavy weaponry, fighting hopelessly against German armor.

So there we are. I guess the para was a bit of a giveaway. Bonus points go to whoever can tell me the trooper's name.

Anyway, here's a small update. I've started on the base (got rid of the wall), and made a tree. I should note now that it's underscale; to protray the realistic distance at which the PIAT was fired, the base would need to be around a meter long. Consider it artistic licence, it's not supposed to be 100% accurate

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[Guest]

Bonus points go to whoever can tell me the trooper's name.

Better late than never but was trawling these threads ...

I believe the soldier in question was Sgt. Wagger Thornton, 17 Pln, B Coy 2nd Ox and Bucks. He was awarded the Military Medal for taking out the tank. Sadly, he passed away in 1997.

Thanks to http://www.gotoitgunners.co.uk/accounts-2nd-oxfordbucks.html

For the info.

[Guest]

Another winner Sgt Thornton was the man I had in mind when making this one. I believe he was wounded in the leg during the war. Even after destroying the tank that had such an impact on the battle, he still was said to describe the PIAT as a 'load of rubbish'.

Just realised I never really wrapped this diorama up. The base I used was made of cardboard, and unfortunately began to sag under the weight of the stones on the road. I tried to fix it, but it generally looked quite awful, so I put it aside. Needless to say, it never got finished. I'll notch it up to experience. Besides, the explosion didn't work out as I intended anyway