Forgotten Battle 10

Welcome back viewers...

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of the Chinese Farm

Intro

The battle of the Chinese Farm occurred on October 15 to October 17, during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. It was fought between the Israelis and the Egyptians. It was one of the largest tank on tank battles to ever be fought in the Middle East. One that would have far reaching consequences for the two nations involved.

Part I

On October 6, 1973, armies from the countries of Egypt and Syria launched a joint invasion of Israel. The Egyptian Army crossed the Red Sea and invaded the Sinai Peninsula while the Syrians attacked the Golan Heights. Because this short conflict began on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, it would be forever remembered as the Yom Kippur War.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was caught completely off guard. In the Golan Heights, they were able to hold off the Syrians and push them back across the border just days after the latter invaded. But in the Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian Army overran the Bar-Lev Line (a chain of fortifications built by the IDF on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal) after just two hours of fighting. The two-day battle cost the IDF more than 900 KIA, 2,000 wounded, an unknown number captured, and more than 400 tanks destroyed. From there, the Egyptians began advancing further into the Sinai Peninsula, threatening mainland Israel.

With the fate her country in jeopardy, the Israeli Prime Minister (Golda Meir) sent an urgent plea for help. In response, President Richard Nixon launched Operation Nickel Grass. Beginning on October 13, multiple MAC (Military Airlift Command) C-141 and C-5 cargo transport planes took off from the US bound for Israel. For the next 32 days, they delivered more than 22,300 tons of supplies to the Israeli Defence Forces. These supplies included M-60 and M-48 battle tanks, 155 mm howitzers, 175mm cannons, Sikorsky CH-53D helicopters, and fuselages for A-4 Skyhawk aircraft. This resupply operation enabled the IDF to recover from their losses in the Sinai and launch a counter-attack.

Part II

Early on the morning of October 14, the Egyptians launched an armored attack on IDF positions in the Sinai. This attack was repulsed with the Egyptians losing more than 200 tanks. Although the Israelis had also taken casualties, they were quick to follow up on their victory. They prepared launch a counter-attack the very next day. Codenamed, Operation Abirey-Halev, this attack was led by, General (further Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon.

General Sharon's plan was to drive west towards a crossing point on the Suez Canal. With support from Israeli paratroopers and with an armored division in reserve, they would use pontoons and rafts to establish a bridgehead on the canal's western bank. If they succeeded, the IDF would be able to advance north and south to threaten Cairo (the Egyptian capital) and the Egyptian Third Army around the city of Port Suez. They would also be able to destroy Egyptian SAM (surface-to-air missile) sites. This would allow the Israeli Air Force to fly close-support missions for the infantry.

The IDF's first target was the Egyptian defensive line just north of the Great Bitter Lake. Located at the lake was an Egyptian agricultural research station. Due to the lettering on the instruments, the IDF soldiers nicknamed, "Chinese Farm". Although the writing was actually Japanese the name stuck, and the battle that followed would be forever remembered as, the Battle of the Chinese Farm. Leading the attack would be the Israeli 143rd Armored Division.

Part III

Early in the morning of October 15, more than 2,000 IDF paratroopers were dropped behind Egyptian lines. They quickly ran into heavy resistance as they advanced towards the Suez Canal. But by the end of the day, they had secured one of the bridgeheads and awaited the arrival of IDF tanks. The next day, General Sharon launched Operation Abirey-Halev (Knights of the Heart), and thousands of Israeli M-60s, FV-4s, and M-48s surged forward to face Egyptian T-55s and T-62s. And the largest tank battle since World War II began.

On the northern flank, IDF tanks ran into stiff resistance from the Egyptian 21st Armored Division at the Lexicon Road. Although, they managed to pin the latter down, the Israelis were unable to dislodge them from the road. On the southern flank (the Akavish Road), the IDF's tanks also ran into stiff resistance and were unable to converge on the canal. Then the third IDF tank brigade turned north to flank the Egyptians at the Lexicon/Tirtur Crossroads. Unfortunately they too became bogged down in a stalemate. With casualties mounting for the Israelis, some of their commanders suggested calling off the operation. But upon hearing of the successful crossing of their paratroopers, General Sharon ordered the assaults to continue.

Fierce fighting continued on the Akavish Road all through the night of October 16. But by the next day, at least 30 IDF tanks had broken through the Egyptian lines and crossed the Suez Canal. They then began to destroy the Egyptian SAM missile sites. This allowed the Israeli Air Force to conduct airstrikes on the Egyptian tanks. With more Israeli tanks breaking through their defenses, the Egyptians launched a desperate counter-attack from the south. It was annihilated. By the morning of October 18, thousands of Israelis had successfully crossed the Suez Canal and the battle was over.

Epilogue

The three-day battle for the Chinese Farm had been costly for both sides. The exact number of human casualties is not known. But it is believed that both sides lost over 100 tanks. In spite of their heavy losses, the IDF had achieved a major victory against the Egyptians. With their tanks across the canal, they then advanced on Port Suez and encircled the Egyptian Third Army. This in turn left Cairo open to air-attack. On October 24, the superpowers imposed a ceasefire on Israel and Egypt. The war ended the following day (although a peace treaty would not be signed until 1978). The battle of the Chinese Farm was the largest tank battle fought in the Yom Kippur War. Today, the battle has been analyzed by many historians and military leaders. It is often used to train soldiers in the art of tank warfare. 

https://the-past.com/feature/the-battle-of-chinese-farm/

https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/Expeditions-with-MCUP-digital-journal/Crossing-under-Fire/

battle-of-the-chinese-farm-oct-15-17-1973

https://amcmuseum.org/history/operation-nickel-grass/

Forgotten Battle 9

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Adwa 

Intro

The battle of Adwa took place on March 1, 1896. It was fought in the Tigray Province of Ethiopia, between the armies of Italy and Ethiopia. This battle was the bloody climax of the Italian Invasion of the Eastern African country. And it would have results that nobody could have ever comprehended.

Part I

Throughout the 19th century, seven European countries launched multiple invasions on the continent of Africa. These seven included the nations of Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Most of them were successful in conquering the native African tribes that lived in the areas. The only two exceptions were the countries of Ethiopia and Liberia. 

The man who was ruling Ethiopia, was the Emperor Menelik II. Originally the King of the Ethiopian region of Shewa, Sahle Maryam had been crowned emperor on November 3, 1889. A few months prior to Maryam's coronation, the Italians had begun moving their soldiers along the coast of the Red Sea. Sensing that conflict was imminent, the emperor proposed a peace treaty with Italy. On May 2, 1889, King Menelik II of Shewa and Count Pietro Antonelli (representing Italy) signed the Treaty of Wuchale. This treaty was meant to be a peace-agreement that promoted trade and friendship between the two countries. Unfortunately, the treaty had been written in two different languages (Italian and Amharic). This caused a series of miscommunications and violations between Italy and Ethiopia. In 1893, Menelik II publicly denounced the treaty and war was inevitable.

Hoping to expand their influence on the African Continent, the Italian Army launched joint invasions of the Kingdoms of Eritrea and Ethiopia in the year 1895. Their goal was to secure territory along the Horn of Africa in order to gain control of the Red Sea and the critical port of, Massawa. By October, they were in complete control of Eritrea. After this, they set their sights on taking control of Ethiopia. With their superior weapons and resources the Italians were expecting an easy victory. They could not have been more mistaken.

Part II

Leading an army of more than 30,000 soldiers was General (and Governor of Eritrea) Oreste Baratieri. General Baratieri had been serving in the Italian Army for more than three decades. During the Italian Invasion of Eastern Sudan (the Mahdist War), he had successfully annihilated a Sudanese Army at the Battle of Kassala. Because of his performance in Sudan, Baratieri strongly believed that he could duplicate his successes in the country of Ethiopia.

In their invasion of Eritrea, General Baratieri successfully annihilated multiple armies from both Eritrea and Ethiopia. By October of 1895, the Italians were in full control Eritrea and pushed into the Tigray province of Ethiopia. Unknown to Baratieri, Menelik II had been preparing for an invasion. He had successfully obtained modern firearms and secured alliances with other European countries (including France and Great Britain) that were sympathetic to Ethiopian independence. A few years after striking up a friendship with a Swiss-born engineer (Alfred Ilg), Menelik II had begun a process of modernization for Ethiopia. When the Italians finally invaded, Menelik II had to successfully mobilized a force of more than 100,000 soldiers and tribesmen from all over the country.

The two sides first met at the battle of Debra Ailà. This battle ended in an Italian victory, but it was followed by a devastating defeat for the Italians two months later at the battle of Amba Alagi. At this battle, an army of more than 30,000 Ethiopians overran the Italian right flank. The Italians were surrounded and lost 1,539 KIA of their 2,300 soldiers engaged. By contrast, the Ethiopians only lost 276 killed and 349 wounded. This defeat forced the Italians to temporarily withdraw from Ethiopia. After being reinforced they prepared to invade again in February with an army of over 17,000.

Part III

To counter this, Menelik II assembled a massive army of over 70,000 and secretly moved them to the small town of Adwa. Adwa is located in the Tigray Region near Ethiopia's northern border. He then positioned his riflemen and twenty-eight artillery pieces in the hills that overlooked the Adwa Valley. Sensing a large army nearby, General Baratieri initially refused to launch an attack. A month long standoff occurred with both sides waiting to see what the other would do. On February 29, pressure from the Italian government finally forced Baratieri's hand. He divided his army into four brigades, had them cross the Eritrean border, and began his advance on Adwa.

Unfortunately, for the Italians, the three of the four brigades (the fourth was held in reserve at camp) the had crossed the border had all taken different routes. Due to inaccurate maps, the brigades all became separated while marching through the Adwa Valley's high hills and mountains. This left them completely disorganized and with fewer soldiers when they finally encountered the massive Ethiopian/Abyssinian army on the morning of March 1. At 6 AM, the battle of Adwa officially began. 

The Italians began firing at the Ethiopians with their artillery. Although they inflicted casualties on the Ethiopians, the guns were quickly silenced by several devastating shots from the 28 Ethiopian artillery guns hidden in the hills. After this, the Abyssinian Infantry began attacking the Italians in human waves. For the next two hours, the Italians successfully held off the Abyssinians with accurate rifle fire. But eventually, the Abyssinians (armed with spears, swords, and rifles) began breaking through the Italian Left Column. The latter was finally overrun after a massive charge by 25,000 Shewan warriors annihilated the defenders. In their disorganized retreat, the Italians from the Left flank quickly collided with those in the Center column. Tangled masses of confused and panicked soldiers made easy targets for the tribesmen who overwhelmed them in minutes.

On the Italian Right flank, General Vittorio Dabormida (whose force had only encountered light resistance) decided to abandon his defensive position and move to reinforce the crumbling left flank. Unaware that both the Left and the Center had been broken, his whole force of 4,800 marched right into a narrow valley and became surrounded by 11,000 frenzied cavalry from the Oromo tribe (from the Wollo Province of Ethiopia). Led by Ras Mikael, the Oromo cavalry engulfed the entire brigade. The few Italians who escaped remembered hearing the Oromos shouting, "Reap! Reap!", as they literally cut down all in their path. General Dabormida was killed along with nearly all of his brigade. What remained of the Italian Army bade a hasty retreat from Adwa. But for the next nine miles, they were constantly harassed by Ethiopian cavalry who picked off stragglers. The fighting finally ended, when the surviving soldiers crossed the Belessa River. 

Epilogue

The casualties for the Battle of Adwa had been heavy for both sides. The Ethiopian/Abyssinian Army is believed to have suffered more than 7,000 killed and an even larger number wounded. The Italians had lost between 7,000 to 8,000 killed and more than 9,000 wounded. In addition, more than 3,000 Italians had been taken prisoner. Instead of pursuing them into Eritrea, Menelik II decided to pull back to the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa. In exchange for the 3,000 Italian captives (including a general), he demanded the repealing of the Treaty of Wuchale and a recognition of Ethiopian independence. After several months of intense negotiations, the Italian government finally agreed to the abrogation of the Treaty of Wuchale and recognized Ethiopia as a sovereign nation by signing of the Treaty of Addis Ababa in October 23, 1896. In addition, the Italians agreed to pay the Ethiopians more than 10 million liras for the release 3,000 POWs (who later reported being treated humanely while in captivity).

Despite his heavy casualties, Emperor Menelik II had achieved a decisive victory at the battle of Adwa. News of the Ethiopian triumph quickly spread all throughout the nations of Europe and many quickly agreed to recognize Ethiopia as an independent nation. Menelik II would continue to reign until his death on March 10, 1913. Today in Ethiopia, the battle of Adwa is a national holiday commemorated every March 2. Around the world, it is remembered as a brave stand against European colonialism and for African independence.

battle-adwa-ethiopia-africa-colonization

https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Adwa

https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2020/03/emperor-menelik-ii-of-ethiopia-and-the-battle-of-adwa-a-pictorial-history/

https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/remembering-battle-adwa

https://medium.com/@genayeeshetu/the-engineer-and-the-king-the-legacy-of-alfred-ilg-the-star-of-ethiopia-394b25246673

Forgotten Battle 8

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Siege of Fort Erie

Intro

The Siege of Fort Erie was fought from August 4 to September 21, 1814, during the War of 1812. It was fought in present-day Ontario between the American and British/Canadian armies. For just over a month, several battles were fought over possession of the strategic fortification called, Fort Erie. This siege was the longest and bloodiest fight during the War of 1812.

Part I

By August of 1814, the War of 1812 was in its second year. Vicious fighting was being waged on multiple fronts between the United States and Great Britain. The majority of the fighting took place along the border between the United States and what is now, Canada. One of the most hotly contested fronts was the Niagara Frontier.

On July 3, American soldiers under the command of Major General Jacob Brown marched into the Canadian province of Ontario and captured Fort Erie (named for the great lake that it borders). From there, he hoped to advance further into Canada. On July 5, the Americans successfully attacked and scattered a British army at the Battle of Chippawa. However, twenty days later at the Battle of Lundy's Lane (aka: the Battle of Niagara) their advance was stopped by another British army of more than 3,500 soldiers led by General Gordon Drummond. 

Although this battle had ended in a tactical stalemate, the American casualties were higher than those suffered by the British. This caused Brown's army to fall back to Fort Erie and strengthen its defenses. General Drummond (who believed the Americans were retreating back to New York) decided to wait a few days before pursuing (as is own army had suffered heavy losses). 

Part II

Drummond's delay gave the Americans at Fort Erie time to expand the fort to accommodate more soldiers.  In command of the garrison, was General Edmund Gaines. He ordered his soldiers to clear fields and construct redoubts that contained up to eight cannons. In addition, he also ordered the garrison to construct a dry ditch around the fort's walls and lined it with wooden spikes. He also utilized the ditch as a garbage dump (which effectively poisoned the spikes). When General Drummond arrived with his army, he found himself facing a very formidable outpost.

Drummond believed that the best course of action was to attack the American outposts that were sending supplies to the garrison at Fort Erie. He dispatched two raiding parties to attack the Americans stationed at Buffalo and Black Rock. However, these raids were both repulsed and the British were forced to lay siege to Fort Erie. Things got even more dire when American gunboats began arriving to provide extra artillery support for the garrison. After launching more raids and successfully capturing the gunboats, the British starting constructing siege batteries on August 13. 

Part III

The British began a two-day bombardment of Fort Erie that began on August 13 and continued into the night of the 14th.  General Drummond planned to launch a three-pronged attack on the fort on August 15. Their right (and largest) column was to attack Snake Hill at the fort's left flank. The center column was to assault Fort Erie itself. Leading this column was General Drummond's nephew, Lieutenant-Colonel William Drummond. Finally, the left column was assigned to storm Douglass' Battery on the fort's right flank. What the British didn't know was that the bombardment did very little damage to the fort and the Americans were ready for their attack.Three days earlier, they had moved three groups of soldiers to the fort's weakest points who quickly dug in.

Late on the night of August 14, the British and Canadians began advancing under the cover of darkness. Their attack began at 2 AM on the morning of the 15th. Snake Hill (a sand mound) was just over 700 meters from Fort Erie and had been fortified with a series of earthworks up to 20 feet high. When the British regulars attacked, the Americans (under the command of Brigadier General Eleazer Ripley) caught them in a lethal crossfire. To make matters worse, the British had been ordered to remove the flints from their muskets and capture Snake Hill with bayonets only. As a direct result, all assaults on Snake Hill were easily beaten back.

At 3 AM, the other two columns launched their attacks on Fort Erie and Douglass' Battery. At the latter, the British made it as far as the abatis (where the poisoned spikes were) and were shot down in droves. None of them got closer than 50 yards to the battery. They pulled back after their commander (Col. Hercules Scott) was killed. However, Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond's attack managed to reach Fort Erie. 

Although the Americans in Fort Erie repulsed two charges, the British finally scaled the fort's wall on their third attempt. Drummond and a handful of British soldiers initially managed to capture a single bastion and kill the defenders. Unfortunately, William Drummond was shot and killed and a massive explosion beneath the bastion (the powder magazine had caught fire) killed or wounded almost all of the British who had come over the wall in rapid succession. With that, General Drummond ordered the surviving soldiers to pull back and called off further assaults on Fort Erie. The failed night attack had cost his army more than 900 casualties while the Americans only lost 62.

Epilogue

The siege of Fort Erie lasted for another month. During which, both armies suffered heavy casualties. The siege finally ended on September 21, when General Drummond was ordered to pull his army back to Fort George. At its height, the Americans stationed at the fort numbered more than 6,000 soldiers and sailors. But in October, General Jacob Brown received orders to move most of his garrison (and the ships supporting them) back to Sackets Harbor in New York. This left General George Izard in command of Fort Erie. 

Unfortunately, after this shift in troops, the garrison became severely undermanned. With supplies running low and winter approaching, General Izard decided to abandon Fort Erie. On November 5, the Americans blew up the fort and retreated back across the Niagara River to Buffalo. The entire ordeal had cost them 1,075 casualties (213 KIA, 565 wounded, 240 captured, and 57 missing). The British casualties were 1,551 (285 KIA, 508 wounded, 748 captured, and 12 missing).

After the bloody siege was over, negotiations to end the War of 1812 finally began. On December 24, 1814, the US and Great Britain signed a bilateral peace treaty in the Dutch city of Ghent (now in Belgium). Brought about by John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay of the US and Lord James Gambier and Henry Goulburn of the UK, the treaty was approved by the British parliament and signed by the Prince Regent (future King George IV) on December 30. Although bloody battles continued to be fought for the next two months, President James Madison signed the treaty on February 17, 1815. This finally brought the War of 1812 to an end (although fighting on the ocean would continue until June 30)

After the war, the British decided not to rebuild the ruined fort. Although it was somewhat used as a barracks building for the next eight years, they abandoned it for good in 1823. In 1901, the fort's remains were sold to the Niagara Parks Commission. In 1937, the Commission restored Fort Erie to its original 1812 period. Two years later, it was officially opened to the public on July 1, 1939. Monuments to the fallen on both sides were erected and the fort is now registered as a Canadian historic sight and has attracted thousands of visitors every year. It remains a fitting tribute to those who died during the terrible siege that occurred during the War of 1812.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/siege-fort-erie

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/siege-of-fort-erie-war-of-1812

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/old-fort-erie-the-defiant-stand-during-the-war-of-1812/

https://www.warof1812.ca/forterie.htm

Forgotten Battle 7

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Komarów 

Intro

The battle of Komarów occurred on August 31, 1920. It was fought at the Komarów-Osada village in Eastern Poland between the armies of Poland and the Soviet Union. This battle was part of the climax of one of the most dramatic conflicts fought in the aftermath of World War I. It would also be the last major battle to involve traditional cavalrymen.

Part I

The Polish-Soviet War began in the year 1919. It was a theatre of the Russian Civil War that began after the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I. It began with the Soviet Red Army invading the neighboring country of Belarus. From there, they launched further incursions into Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

After successfully overrunning Ukraine and annihilating multiple Polish armies that had attempted to intervene, the Soviets became convinced that they could conquer Poland itself. At the urging Leon Trotsky, the Soviet dictator (Vladimir Lenin) ordered an invasion of Poland. Leading the invasion was, General Mikhail Tukhachevsky. Their main target was the Polish capital of Warsaw.

Part II

At first the Red Army won multiple battles and pushed deep into Poland. In July, they captured the Polish city, Białystok. General Tukhachevsky's army wiped out the Poles that were intervening in Belarus while General Semyon Budyonny's army converged on Warsaw. The climactic battle for Poland's capital began on August 12.

The battle in Warsaw quickly turned into a vicious street-by-street fight that took the lives of thousands on both sides. On August 13, the Soviet 16th Army broke through the first Polish line of defense at the town of Radzymin. The next day, the Polish 5th Army counter-attacked at the Wkra River. Inside Warsaw, the Red Army pushed through to the city's center. For a few days, it seemed like they were going to win. 

But then the Poles got resupplied by airdrops from the Western Allies. Planes from Great Britain and the United States dropped thousands of weapons and ammunition to the Poles that allowed them to successfully stop the Red Army's advance. And when some of the Red Army top generals began quarreling among themselves, the Poles launched a counter-attack and forced the Soviets out of Warsaw.

Part III

On August 25, the Red Army began to retreat eastwards with the Polish Army (under the command of General Józef Piłsudski) in hot pursuit. General Tukhachevsky ordered General Semyon Budyonny to attack the right flank of Piłsudski's army and enable the Soviet Western Army to escape and regroup in Ukraine. He assigned this task to the Soviet 1st Cavalry Army (which had been unable to engage in the battle of Warsaw). Their target was the Polish historical city of, Zamość. 

Facing them, were only a few Polish cavalry regiments under the command of their own officers. Among them were, Major Stanisław Maczek and Captain Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski (both of whom would play major roles in World War II). Their numbers were less than 2,000 horsemen and only a few machine gunners. They gathered near the village of Komarów and awaited the oncoming Bolshevik cavalry. The two forces finally met on August 30.

First, the Polish cavalry rode around the Soviets and attacked their rear. After several hours of fighting, the Poles were forced to fall back when the Soviets threatened to overwhelm them. Early the next morning,  the Polish 2nd Uhlan Cavalry Regiment (with just over 200 men) ambushed and captured a Soviet position at Hill 255 (outside of Komarów). The Soviets attempted retake the hill, but their attacks were all repelled with heavy casualties. At 10 AM, the Polish 8th Uhlan Cavalry Regiment charged the Soviet 4th Cavalry Division occupying the town of, Wolica Śniatycka. After less than 20 minutes of hand-to-hand fighting, the 4th Cavalry was routed and scattered (General Budyonny himself barely managed to escape capture). This coupled with the routing of the Soviet 6th Cavalry Division, forced the Red Army into a disorganized retreat.

Epilogue 

Fierce fighting continued around Komaróv for the next two days. It finally ended on September 2. The casualties for the Poles were at least 500 killed and an unknown number wounded. The casualties for the Soviets are unclear but are believed to have been over 4,000. For the Soviet Union, this battle was a decisive defeat. And it would not be the last. On September 16, the Red Army suffered a final devastating defeat at the battle of the Niemen River. On October 18, 1920, the Soviet Union and Poland signed a ceasefire which brought the war to an end. 

Today, the battle of Komaróv is considered by historians to be the greatest cavalry battle of the 20th Century (due to the number of soldiers involved). It would also be the last to involve traditional sword-fighting cavalrymen in Europe (cavalry would continue to be used as mounted infantry for many years). In Poland, the battle is referred to as the, "Miracle at Zamosć", and is commemorated every year as a brave stand against overwhelming odds.

https://en.topwar.ru/174491-bitva-pri-komarove-porazhenie-1-j-konnoj-armii.html

https://polishhistory.pl/the-polish-bolshevik-war/

https://www.pygmywars.com/rcw/history/czesniki/czesnikiintro.html

https://historicaleye.com/ww1/broken-lances-and-bloody-sabres/index.html

Forgotten Battle 6

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Raid on the Medway

Intro

The Raid on the Medway was fought in the harbor of the English town of Chatham, from June 19 to June 24, 1667. It was the climatic battle of a highly destructive conflict between two European powers. It was also one of the few times in history that a raid would be the deciding factor of a war. 

Part I

By the turn of the 17th century, many European countries had set their sights on conquering the Atlantic Ocean. Two of them, were England and the Dutch Republic. Both nations had built formidable armadas and had established far-flung colonies across the ocean. With their desires for sovereignty over the best trade routes, war was inevitable.

The first Anglo-Dutch War took place from 1652 to 1654. The English (who had superior cannons) destroyed much of the Dutch fleet in battle. Through the use of privateers, they were also able to inflict severe damage on Dutch merchant shipping. At the battle of Portland Isle, the English successfully sank 12 Dutch ships while only losing three of their own. The First war concluded with the 1654 Treaty of Westminster. This treaty gave the English sovereignty over the colony of New Netherland. 

For a decade, there was peace between the English and the Dutch. However, tensions rose again in the year 1664. The prior treaty had failed to address two major issues. They were, Dutch opposition to the Navigation Acts of 1651, and English objections to Dutch trading monopolies. These coupled with competition over markets in the East Indies meant that war was once again on the horizon.

Part II

The Second Anglo-Dutch War began in the Caribbean in April of 1664. In the first year of the conflict, the English fared much better against the Dutch. At the battle of Lowestoft, the English won a decisive victory. But following this battle, things began to take a different turn. At the Four Days' Battle, the Royal Navy suffered a major defeat. They lost 20 warships while the Dutch only lost 4. Among the dead were two of their best vice-admirals, Sir Christopher Myngs and Sir William Berkeley.

Inspired by his victory, the Dutch admiral (Michiel de Ruyter) attempted to capitalize by destroying the English fleet while it was being repaired. Their first attempt on July 25, 1666 (known as: the St. James' Day Battle), ended in failure. This was followed by a devastating attack on the Dutch town of, West-Terschelling. In this attack, Sir Robert Holmes took eight fireships to the town's harbor and ignited five of them. He sent them into the Dutch harbor where the latter's merchant fleet was docked. Within minutes, the entire fleet (over 140 ships) and the town itself went up in flames. The event is now referred to as, Holmes's Bonfire.

However, England was then devastated by the Great Plague of 1665 (bubonic plague) that ravaged their countryside. This was followed by an equally devastating fire that destroyed much of London. These two tragedies left the English unable to capitalize on their victories and allowed the Dutch to recover and prepare for a raid of their own in June of 1667. 

Part III

Admiral de Ruyter was determined to make the English pay for the devastation caused by Holmes's Bonfire. On June 4, he departed from the Netherlands with 62 frigates, 15 lighter ships, and 12 fireships. Their first target was an English fortress (Sheerness Fort) on the Isle of Sheppey. The main target was the town of Chatham, where the English fleet was anchored in the River Medway. At 5 PM on June 10, the Dutch launched their attack.

A small party of Dutch marines and sailors stormed ashore Sheppey Isle and attacked Sheerness Fort. The fort's garrison was caught completely off guard. Outnumbered and outgunned, they surrendered after less than an hour of fighting. A lone English frigate (HMS Unity) fired a single broadside at the Dutch ships. The latter retaliated by setting a fireship ablaze and sending towards the former. The Unity then retreated up the Medway leaving the Dutch to plunder Sheerness Fort and free to advance up the Medway.

A day and a half later (the sailors spent the previous day looting Sheerness Fort) on June 12, the Dutch set sail in pursuit of the English. Their next target was the fortress called, Upnor Castle. Leading the Dutch attack was a ship-of-the-line called, Vrede (peace). In command of the ship, was Captain Jan van Braakel. After catching up the Unity, Captain van Braakel boarded the ship and captured it. While that was happening, the Dutch fireship Pro Patria attacked the HMS Matthias and set the latter on fire. The Matthias was soon a raging inferno and eventually blew up when the fire reached the powder magazine. Another Dutch fireship went for the English flagship (HMS Charles V). After the ship caught fire, its crew quickly surrendered. After this, the Dutch stopped their advance and regrouped for the final attack.

The next day on June 13, the Dutch ships resumed their advance up the Medway. They easily knocked out the English garrison at Upnor Castle and closed in on Chatham's harbor. They then lit six fireships and sent them toward the English vessels that were still at the docks. Within minutes, ten English ships-of-the-line were set ablaze. The fire quickly spread and engulfed other ships nearby including three heavy vessels. The Dutch then captured the HMS Royal Charles (the pride of the Royal Navy). After this, Admiral de Ruyter decided that they had done enough. The next day, he and the Dutch fleet sailed down the Medway and back to the ocean.

Epilogue

The Dutch raid on the Medway River had inflicted devastating losses on the Royal Navy. The English had lost a total of 45 ships; either sunk, captured, or scuttled. In addition, they had also lost more than 500 sailors and soldiers. The Dutch by contrast, lost between 50-150 sailors and only eight fireships. Even today, it is still considered to be one of the worst defeats in the history of the Royal Navy. 

With the destruction of most of his fleet, King Charles II of England decided to sue for peace. On July 31, 1667, England and the Dutch Republic (along with Denmark and France) signed the Treaty of Breda. In accordance with the terms of the treaty, the Dutch willingly ceded their settlement in New Amsterdam (present-day Manhattan) to the English. The English in turn ceded their territory in the Guyanas, Run Island, and Fort Amsterdam (in present-day Ghana) to the Dutch Republic. However, Charles II remained bitter towards the Dutch for the humiliating defeat on the Medway. It was not long before the Third Anglo-Dutch war (1672-1674) ignited and the battle for control of the seas continued.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Raid-On-Medway/

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2019/february/deepest-insult-norman-invasion

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/twisting-the-lions-tail/

https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=1355

Forgotten Battle 5

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Attu

Intro

The battle of Attu was fought in the Aleutian Islands from May 11 to May 30, 1943. It was fought between the American Army and the Japanese Army. It was the largest and bloodiest land battle to be fought on American soil during World War II.

Part I

Six months after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Army sent a couple battalions to occupy two of the Aleutian Islands. On June 3, 86 Japanese aircraft launched an attack on Alaska's, Dutch Harbor. The attack severely damaged the American military base and enabled the Japanese to move ships into the area. Later that month, several thousand Japanese soldiers landed unopposed on the islands of Attu and Kiska and built fortifications on them.

By the year 1943, the tide of the War in the Pacific had turned in favor of the United States. The Japanese Navy had suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Midway. And the Guadalcanal Campaign had ended in a hard-fought victory for the Americans. This victory was the first major success of the Allied island hopping strategy across the Pacific. Further attacks on other strategic islands were immediately planned; among them were the Aleutian Islands, Attu and Kiska.

Part II

Although the Japanese garrison did not present a major threat to mainland America, it was seen as a threat to those living in Alaska. Many generals feared that the Japanese could use the islands as airbases to threaten the Americans stationed there and interfere in ship movements from that territory. Also, they were highly irritated that a piece of American territory was under Japanese occupation. After several months of consideration, they decided to launch Operation Landcrab and retake the Aleutian Islands occupied by Japan. The first target was, Attu. 

Attu is an uninhabited volcanic island with only a few trees. It frequently has 100-mile-an-hour gusts and rain storms. The Japanese garrison on the island numbered 2,650 soldiers from the IJA 2nd District under the command of, Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki. After taking control of Attu, Yamasaki ordered his soldiers dig in on the high ground away from the beaches. Knowing that his army was severely outnumbered and outgunned, Yamasaki was prepared to give the last full measure.

It was decided that the assault of Attu would be carried out by the American 7th Infantry Division. Spearheading the attack would be the 32nd Infantry Regiment (aka: the Buccaneers). Although they had not been trained for winter warfare, this attack was to be their baptism of fire. Very few of them had any idea of what they were about to face.

Part III

The assault began on May 11, just after 7 AM. In just over an hour, the first wave had all landed without encountering any resistance. This was due in part to a heavy fog that covered the beaches and obscured the Americans from the Japanese defenders. Once the Americans began moving off the beaches, the battle began.

The Americans had superior numbers and better equipment. However, their advance was hampered by bad weather and freezing temperatures. As a result, many soldiers suffered trench foot and frostbite. This coupled with highly fortified Japanese positions in the island's tundra, caused them to suffer heavier casualties than they anticipated. As they moved further inland, the fighting only got worse. In the thick of it, was Private Joseph (Joe) Pantillion Martinez.

Originally from Taos, New Mexico, Joe was only 22 years old. He had been assigned to Company K of the 32nd Infantry Regiment. On May 25, Martinez and his regiment were attempting to capture a mountain pass called, Fish Hook Ridge. This position was one of the strongest defenses in the Japanese lines. Behind this pass was Chichagof Harbor, the Japanese last line of defense. With his regiment pinned down by heavy machine-gun fire, Martinez decided to take the initiative. He crawled away from his comrades and began to climb the pass toward the Japanese position. After reaching it, he killed five of the machine-gunners. Unfortunately, Martinez received a lethal wound to his head while charging the last Japanese foxhole on Fish Hook Ridge (he would die the next day). 

After capturing Fish Hook Ridge, the Americans finally began advancing on Chichagof Harbor. On May 28, the Japanese prepared to launch a suicidal counterattack (a banzai charge). Colonel Yamasaki penned a final letter to his wife, Shigeko. It read, "We have been married for more than 30 years and I would like to thank you for all the good time we could spend together. You have been an excellent wife to me and a gentle mother to our children. I will always think back of that time with much pleasure". On May 29, what remained of the Japanese garrison launched its banzai charge. They managed to break through the first American line and vicious hand-to-hand fighting followed. However, the Americans quickly recovered and annihilated the Japanese attack with overwhelming firepower. By the next day, the battle of Attu was finally over.

Epilogue

The Americans had emerged victorious in the battle for Attu. However, the 19-day operation had cost both armies dearly. The American casualties were 548 killed, 1,148 wounded, and more than 1,800 frostbitten and sick. Of the Japanese garrison of 2,600, only 28 survived to be taken prisoner. The rest (including Colonel Yamasaki) all died fighting or committed suicide. As a percentage of the number of soldiers involved, this was the second-deadliest battle fought between the Americans and the Japanese in the Pacific (with only Iwo Jima being worse).

For his valor on Attu, Private Joe Martinez was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He would be the only American servicemen to receive the medal for this battle. Three months later, the Americans prepared to invade the Aleutian island, Kiska. Upon landing on the beaches however, they found the island completely devoid of enemy troops (the Japanese had evacuated the garrison two weeks earlier). This concluded the Aleutian Islands campaign of World War II.

The battle of Attu was the last major combat action of the Aleutian Islands campaign. All further actions against the Japanese would occur in the South Pacific Ocean. The American victory at Attu was largely overshadowed by their campaigns in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. When World War II was over, the Americans abandoned Attu as they had little use for it. Today, the island's only residents are its wildlife. And they only hint of the terrible battle that was fought in May of 1943, are a few small monuments to the fallen of both armies.

https://www.army.mil/article/256615/7id_and_the_invasion_of_attu

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-attu

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/05/24/thousands-of-japanese-soldiers-fought-the-only-wwii-battle-on-u-s-soil-just-28-survived/

https://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=168

https://evergreenpodcasts.com/medal-of-honor/pvt-joe-p-martinez-fighting-an-uphill-battle

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/battle-of-attu-60-years.htm

Forgotten Battle 4

 Welcome back viewers

This month's forgotten battle is...

The Battle of Lone Pine

Intro

The Battle of Lone Pine occurred in August 1915, in present-day Turkey. It was part of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I. It was fought between the Anzacs (Australians and New Zealanders) of the British Empire and Turkish soldiers of the Ottoman Empire. It would be one of the very few Allied victories during one most disastrous campaigns of World War I.

Part I

In 1915, the war on the Western Front had reached a bitter stalemate. Both sides had become bogged down in Northern France. Fierce fighting was waged around the Marne River and the city of Ypres in Southern Belgium. The Allies decided to launch an offensive against the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). At the urging of the First Lord of the Admiralty (Winston Churchill), the Allies sought to weaken the Turks by taking control of the Ottoman straits. These are the two waterways that are considered the dividing lines between Europe and Asia. The two straits are called the Dardanelles (which connects to the Aegean Sea) and the Bosporus (which connects to the Black Sea). 

If the Allies could take control of the Ottoman straits, then the Ottoman capital of Istanbul would be vulnerable to attack. This would also open a supply line between the Western Allies and the Russian Empire. In order to capture the straits, the Allies first needed to capture the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. In April, thousands of British, French, and Anzac soldiers landed at two beaches around Gallipoli (Cape Helles and Anzac Cove). They expected to encounter light resistance. 

Instead, the British and Anzacs were confronted by a highly concentrated array of Turkish defenses. To make matters worse, the Royal Navy found the straits to be heavily mined and rigged with coastal defenses. These defenses turned the Gallipoli campaign into a 10 month stalemate with horrific casualties on both sides. And the Allies had found themselves in a situation very similar to what was happening in Western Europe.

Part II

Undeterred by their heavy casualties and minimal progress, the Allied commanders refused to consider the possibility of withdrawal and ordered multiple attacks to be launched against the Turkish lines. The Anzacs were tasked with launching a diversionary attack on a rise known as, "400 Plateau". Its nickname was, Lone Pine (after a solitary Turkish pine that had withstood the bombardment).

Lone Pine was targeted due to its location directly above the Anzac's landing beach (Anzac Cove). It was also meant to lure Turkish soldiers away from British soldiers landing at Suvla Bay. It was also meant to distract the Turks from an Anzac assault on the Sari Bair ranges. If all went according plan, the Allies could finally break through the Turkish lines and advance through Gallipoli. The offensive began on August 6.

Part III

The assault on Lone Pine began just after 3 PM with a massive barrage of artillery from the Royal Navy. After a 90 minute bombardment, the first wave of Anzac infantry (1,800 men) emerged from their trenches and advanced on Lone Pine. To the surprise of many, they encountered relatively light resistance as they approached the Turkish trench. When they reached it however, the Turks opened fire on them. The Anzacs were quickly pinned down under a withering volley of bullets. They then noticed that Turkish fortifications were roofed with pine logs that impeded access (arial reconnoissance had failed to spot these).

The second and third waves of Anzac infantry then also advanced on Lone Pine. While the first wave tried to clear fortifications with grenades, they began flanking the Turks by attacking the communications and support trenches. By doing this, they were able to gain access to the main trenches. From there, the fighting was hand to hand. After less than an hour of fighting, the Anzacs successfully captured the first set of Turkish trenches. Some of the Anzacs then advanced 20m behind Turkish lines to a position called, "the Cup". At nightfall of August 6, they dug in and prepared for an inevitable counter-attack. They didn't have long to wait.

Just hours into the night, the Turks launched their counter-attack. To the surprise of the Anzacs, it did not come from no-man's-land (land between enemy trenches) but from underground. Prior to the invasion, the Turks had dug a maze of tunnels under their trenches. This had enabled them to evade damage from the Allied bombardment and continually reinforce their garrisons around Gallipoli. 

For the next three days and nights, the Turks launched numerous counter-attacks attempting to retake the Anzac position at Lone Pine. Against all odds, the latter was able to hold on. Their own engineers dug a safe passage across no-man's-land which enabled reinforcements and supplies to enter the captured positions without being exposed to enemy fire. In spite of their best efforts, the Turks were unable to drive the Anzacs out from Lone Pine. They ceased their counter-attacks on August 10.

Epilogue

The battle of Lone Pine had ended in an unexpected victory for the Anzacs. They had successfully penetrated the Turkish lines and held their positions against repeated counter-attacks. The casualties for the battle had been quite heavy. The Anzacs had suffered around 2,200 casualties while the Turks had lost between 5,000 to 7,000. Sadly, the Anzac victory at Lone Pine was short-lived.

Although the diversionary assault on the Turkish lines had succeeded in taking its objective, the Allies failed to exploit it. The main Anzac attack at the Turkish position at Chunuk Bair (the real target) initially captured it. But the British commander (Frederick Stopford) who landed at Suvla Bay (and was supposed to reinforce the Anzacs) failed to move his soldiers off the beach. Without aid from British soldiers, the Anzacs at Chunuk Bair were unable to further advance and were left open to a Turkish counter-attack. 

By August 10, the Turks had realized that the Anzac attack on Lone Pine was a diversion and quickly rushed reinforcements to Chunuk Bair. In a massive counter-attack, they drove the Anzacs off Chunuk Bair and regained all of the lost ground there. The British and Anzac assaults on other positions also failed miserably. For the Allies, the failed August offensive was the final straw. The Gallipoli Campaign was declared a failure and they began withdrawing their soldiers. In December 1915, the Anzacs at Lone Pine were among the last to be withdrawn. After 10 months of horrific fighting, the Gallipoli Campaign was finally over.

After the end of World War I, Anzac and Turkish veterans (with permission from the new Turkish government) returned to Gallipoli and constructed monuments for those who died during the campaign. At the original battle site of Lone Pine is a cemetery that was constructed for the Anzac and British soldiers who died there. During the fighting for Lone Pine, its namesake (the lone Turkish pine tree) had been completely destroyed. In the 1920s however, a stone pine tree was planted at the cemetery. It remains there today as a sad reminder of the terrible cost of the battle for Lone Pine.

https://www.dva.gov.au/media/media-backgrounders/first-world-war-battle-lone-pine-1915

lone-pine

https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/34/article

https://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/lone-pine

https://www.battlefieldtourspecialists.com.au/the-attack-at-lone-pine-gallipoli/

https://web.archive.org/web/20080725093918/http://www.diggerhistory2.info/graveyards/pages/anzac/anzac08-lone-pine-m.htm

Forgotten Battle 3

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Graignes

Intro

The battle of Graignes was fought from June 10 to June 12, 1944. The battle was fought in Northern France during Operation Overlord between American paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division and the German 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division. It was a small yet very important battle during the last great invasion of the last great war.

Part I

When the Invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord) began on June 6, it was spearheaded by thousands of Allied paratroopers. Their mission during Overlord was to seize and hold the bridges and causeways connecting the beaches to mainland France. This would cut off the German garrisons there and enable the Allies to advance further inland.

For the most part, Operation Overlord went surprisingly well. However, during the dropping of the paratroopers, many of them were blown off course and found themselves scattered across the French countryside. Among them, were twelve planeloads of paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. These men mostly ended up in the marshes south of the city of Carentan. This was the worst mis-drop of paratroopers during Operation Overlord. With few options, most of them made their way to the nearest French village. It was a small commune called, Graignes. 

Upon their arrival, the local residents of Graignes welcomed the Americans with open arms. By nightfall of June 6, 182 paratroopers had gathered at the village (12 officers and 170 enlisted men). In command of this small force was, Major Charles Johnston. Instead of trying to get to Carentan (which was 20 miles away) Major Johnston ordered his men to begin setting up a perimeter around Graignes. He had hoped to wait there for American reinforcements from Utah and Omaha Beaches. With aid from the locals, they began digging trenches and foxholes. They positioned five machine-guns and two mortars in and around the town and made the local church (the tallest structure) their command center. 

Part II

For the next four days, the paratroopers waited for signs of the enemy or friendly reinforcements. On June 8, lookouts on the church's steeple noticed a small horse-drawn convoy of German soldiers crossing a wooden bridge towards the town. American scouts successfully ambushed the Germans and forced them to retreat. Major Johnston then had them destroy the bridge and pulled back to the perimeter.

The next day, paratroopers from the American 501st Paratrooper Regiment (who had also arrived at Graignes) ambushed a German side-car and killed the two men in it. After searching them, the paratroopers discovered they from the German 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division, and that the latter was preparing for an attack on the city of Carentan. To get there, the Germans needed to pass through Graignes. On June 10, they began their advance on the village.

At 10 AM on June 11, many of the Americans and locals were attending Sunday Mass at the church. 10 minutes into the mass, they began to hear gunfire. A German recon unit had probed the village's defensive perimeter causing a gunfight. The paratroopers quickly left the church and returned fire. The recon unit was forced to fall back. The Germans responded with a light artillery bombardment on the village. They then launched a direct infantry attack. From that point, the battle was on.

Part III

At 2 PM, the German infantry slammed into the flanks of the American perimeter. Using their mortars and machine-guns (with observers in the church's steeple), the paratroopers successfully began hitting the attackers with deadly accuracy. After suffering heavy casualties, the Germans temporarily withdrew. After bombarding the town a second time, the Germans attacked again. And once again, the paratroopers successfully stopped the attack and inflicted heavy losses. 

Unfortunately, the Americans were also taking casualties. They were also expending ammunition at a rapid rate. To make matters worse, they began hearing the unmistakable sound of tanks rolling towards their positions. The German tanks quickly turned their guns on the church and fired. The shots killed many of the Americans and French inside the building (among them was Major Johnston). The blast also took out the two American mortars.

With Major Johnston dead, command then fell to Captain Leroy Brummitt. He made the decision for the remaining paratroopers to begin pulling out of Graignes. They would retreat through the swamps (where the tanks couldn't follow) back to Carentan and regroup with the rest of the American paratroopers stationed there. When the Germans began entering the town, the Americans began their withdrawal. By 6 PM, nearly all of them (along with some of the villagers) had evacuated. The next morning, they reached the safety of Carentan and the battle of Graignes was over. 

Epilogue

The battle of Graignes had ended in a German victory. However, it had come at a bitter cost. It is believed that between 400 to 500 German soldiers had been killed or wounded while trying to capture the town. By contrast, 150 of the 182 American paratroopers had successfully withdrawn back to Carentan (only 15 had been KIA inside Graignes). Incensed by their heavy casualties, the SS soldiers took their anger out on the 17 American wounded who were unable to retreat. After being discovered in the church, they were all murdered. When the two priests inside the church attempted to intervene, they were also murdered along with 26 other villagers.

However, their victory at Graignes had cost the Germans more than just casualties. More importantly, they had also lost precious time. When they began their assault on Carentan, the American paratroopers were heavily entrenched and reinforced by the 2nd Armored Division. The Germans were defeated and forced to retreat. 

The American stand at the battle of Graignes was credited with playing a major role in defeating the Germans at Carentan. The 507th Regiment went on to see heavy combat during Operation Varsity and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, the village of Graignes was rebuilt and a monument was established for those who were killed in the battle and the ensuing massacre. 

On June 6, 1986, Secretary of the Army John Marsh visited Graignes and presented 11 of the villagers with the Distinguished Civilian Service Award for their aid to American soldiers. Since the end of World War II every year on June 6, the townspeople commemorate the battle and remember the brave Americans and Frenchmen who stood together against overwhelming odds. Although it is not as widely remembered as the beach landings, the battle of Graignes encompassed the great heroism and sacrifice made by American soldiers and the civilians who aided them during World War II. It was a small battle that made a big difference in the eventual victory of Operation Overlord.

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/battle-of-graignes-an-hq-companys-heroic-last-stand-in-normandy/

https://www.military.com/army-birthday/army-history-spotlight-battle-graignes.html

https://www.normandyamericanheroes.com/blog/graignes-bloody-sunday

idUSKCN1ST0KK 

https://www.d-daytoursnormandy.com/the-battle-of-graignes-10th-12th-june-1944/