To: All French Commanders
From: Gen. Flavigny
| A) | North/South (starting from the West) |
| Road #1 - Sec. Rd. thru "La Vivier" to "La Grange au Mont." | |
| Road #2 - Tert. Rd. thru woods | |
| Road #3 - Primary Rd thru Hultes d'Ogue | |
| Road #4 - Sec. Rd. thru woods (pt. 235) | |
| Road #5 - Primary Rd thru Baymoy | |
| B) | East/West |
| Rds will be ID'ed with descriptions of towns or physical descriptions. |
| I) | 1-2/205 with 4th BBC (In overall command) move immediately to Ambush pos. "Snake" on hill 400 meters north of "Bois de Grande Cote" Tert. Rd bisecting Rd 2. Avoid Road movement. |
| II) | 3/205 will deploy as far north as possible in Le Vivier and surrounding orchards. NEED someone positioned in orchard south of Bridge to provide info. on troop strength, direction of attack, etc. If attacked defend in good terrain delay south to Frog & Snail while awaiting help from 1-2/205 and 4 BBC. Hopefully enemy will move south on Rd #2 into ambush. 3/205 will avoid contact - let enemy pass and follow in behind & flank trapping him between 3/205 and ambush set-up south on Rd #2. In either situation we break off attack after approx. 40 minutes. We must conserve our infantry. |
| III) | Snake will fake withdrawl to Stonne, meet 3/205 at Worm. 3/205 will fake withdrawl to LaVivier, meet 3/205 at Worm. If fighting takes place around La Vivier both fake towards Stonne, go to Worm. "Worm" is in woods south of LaVivier north of loop in E/W tert. rd. by hill. |
| Phase II | |
| I) | Hopefully both groups will be able to disengage and meet at Worm. There to remain undetected until reinforced. |
| II) | If pursued or discovered will fight and/or delay depending on attackers strength on path south back to "La Grange au Mont" to woods west of Primary Rd. Reinforcements will arrive and relieve pressure. |
| Phase III | |
| I) | Reinforcements move thru woods west of Primary Hwy - "La Grange au Mont" - worm picking up our 205 RI and 4 BBC and destroying any enemy encountered. |
| II) | At Worm we will split into 3 groups. |
| A) Eagle = 1/67, 1-2/205, 45BBC - will clear woods along "Bois de la Grande Cote" thru Huffes d'Ogne if necessary. Once contact is made Eagle will pin enemy to allow Falcon & Vulture time to maneuver to support and crush (commd. 45th BBC). | |
| B) Falcon = 3/205 - 3rd co. 45 BBC, 4 BBC (command 3/205) Support Eagle to North - looping to North and in towards "Huffe d'Ogne" on west side of Rd. #3. | |
| C) Vulture = 6th GRDI, 49 BBC (Commd. 49 BBC). Jump off from Worm earlier (?) move thru La Vivier looping further N thru open terrain crossing Rd. #3. and coming down on Huffe screening left side. | |
| III) | Commanders:can use advice on timing this phase! Also not locked as to troop allocation in Eagle/Falcon/Vulture. Should and who could remain to the North to protect our rear? Art. ideas/priority for each Phase (just commd.involved)? Place spotters? |
| IV) | A) Reinforcements will move along Axis "Hawk" (21.04-15.10 / 10.10 - 5.06 / 5.19-10.19) prepared to save, support or pick-up any retreating units of the 205/4th BBC south of Worm. Attack & destroy any enemy encountered on way to Worm. Overall Commander: Ghesquieres. Failure instructions: Move to woods at Eastern end of South entry area. Await and join noon reinforcements. |
| PS Note Raffin will be OC for Phase II, mark that on your 9/25 communication. | |
| B) 0400 - 6 GRDI Initially suggest inf. & majority of H.T. in woods on West side of South entry, balance in woods on East side of South entry. Observe & report all sightings. New orders when implemented will send 6 GRDI to Worm by way of Hawk with same directives. If our ambush goes badly they may need help, although 205/4th BBC certainly shouldn't count on 6 GRDI. Once at Worm will operate under Raffin's command. Otherwise wait for the 0800 reinforcements and Phase IV. If you miss the 0800 group, move to Vulture, by way of Hawk once implemented. Failure Instructions: Move back to jump-off area and await & join 0800 reinforcement going to Worm. |
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| Phase IV | |
| A) | At Worm we will split into 3 groups: 1) Eagle = 1/67, 1-2/205, 1-2/45 BBC - OC = Bertin-Bossu 2) Falcon = 4th BBC, 3/45 BBC, 3/205 - OC = Raffin 3) Vulture = 6 GRDI, 3/49 BBC - OC = Ghesquieres We'll leave Worm to engage, damage or destroy enemy forces in Huffes d'Ognue area and locate & damage or destroy expected reserves North of Huffes. |
| B) | Vulture will jump off 1st and move along axis "Vulture". (5.27-10.26 / 13.35-21.29 / 37.35-36.29) If we have been unsuccessful in locating or drawing out Boche reserves during Phase I or II, I would suggest taking up positions in woods (12.31/20.29 stay out of sight) and waiting an hour or so to see if you can catch reserves in open on the way to attack Eagle/Falcon. If not, clear woods all the way to Rd. #5, use H.T.'s to scout, be careful but aggressive. After clearing area, set-up ambushes in woods covering Easter half of North entry area. Try to overlap fire lanes and be in sight of each other, if reinforcements show (spies say recon & anti-tank to our north), go after them in force, specially the trucks/AT guns. Suggest being in ambush position by 1200. 6 GRDI may look good in Rd. #5 area (35.34 / 32.32). Watch your rear. Failure Instructions: Return to LaVivier area. |
| C) | Falcon will leave 20 min. after Vulture. Move along "Falcon" (10.25-12.21 / 21.28 / 27.27 / 31.26-18.22 / 29.20-25.23) searching for enemy and supporting Eagle to your South. If you get to Huffes unopposed and Eagle isn't there, go west to link up with Eagle. If no Germans, return & search woods (19.20 / 32.22 / 34.20 / 32.18) east of Huffes. Suggest 4th BBC on N. Flank and screen E.side of Rd. #3. Failure instruction: Return to La Vivier |
| D) | Eagle will clear woods (12.20-12.15 / 18.21-17.16 / 25.22-27.18) 20 min. after Falcon leaves, along axis Eagle towards/through Huffe if necessary. If stiff resistance is encountered don't be afraid to allow time for Falcon to maneuver to your support & crush together. If Huffes is reached easily, search woods (see above) further east. Failure instructions: Move to LaVivier. |
| E) | 1100 - 42nd BBC Will move along axis "Owl" (8.01-10.10 / 5.12/7.13 / 1.16-3.17 / 12.33-21.29) to take up position to ambush German reinforcements on West side of North entry area. Should be in Fire mode position by 1200 to 1220. Suggest woods (12.31 for 1 co. / 19.30 2nd co. / 20.34 3rd co.) Do not move on open roads. Failure instructions: Return to La Vivier. |
| Phase V | |
| 1000 | 2nd/67 RI & 49 BBC Will move along axis Green ((42.10-42.00 / 49.07-50.05) to clear woods (42.13) east of Stonne. If resistance is stiff, back off the 16th BCP is coming in an hour. If successfully cleared we'll move to an ambush point covering the NE & E. entry areas. |