Rouen August 1944.

[Owen]

Looking around for info on the battle between captuered Panthers and German Tigers that supposedly happened around Rouen.
Couldn't find that yet but some excellent post-battle pictures of Rouen here.
http://virtedit.free.fr/page_01.htm

[von Poop]

Blimey!
What a mess.

[Paul Reed]

Not heard of that one, Owen. What's your source for it? Would be most interested to know more!

[Owen]

Paul here is where I read of it.
From http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz4.htm

Quote:
Small number of captured Panthers was also pressed into service by British (e.g. Ausf G "Cuckoo" from 4th Battalion of 6th Coldstream Guards Tank Brigade, North-West Europe, 1944/45), Canadian, French and American units and three were used by the Polish Home Army during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, against its former owners. Also small number was captured and operated by the French resistance in mid 1944. They took part in fighting in the Rouen area, where two of them were destroyed on August 30th of 1944 by Tigers from sSSPzAbt 102. This was probably the most interesting combat situation involving Panthers.

[Paul Reed]

Thanks for that Owen; I will have a look at the unit histories I have and might look into this at TNA sometime.

[Paul Reed]

Owen - just found this, which puts the event at Overloon:

http://www.twenot.nl/cuckoo.htm

“Cuckoo”, a Panther G in British service

By T.J.M. Schers, The Netherlands

In the aftermath of the failed Arnhem offensive the British 6th Guards Tank Brigade was engaged in heavy fighting to gain control of the small Dutch village called Overloon. It was during these fierce battles that tankers of the 4th Armoured Battalion - Coldstream Guards, one of the 2 tank battalions in the brigade, entered a large barn, only to find a Panther tank of the PanzerAbteiling 2, Panzer Brigade 107.

After some adjustments were made to the appearance of the vehicle (more about that later) this Panther was used to help the artillery barrage on the Geijsteren castle, just north of Venlo, on the Meuse River. The tank was christened “Cuckoo”, which seems to be an appropriate name for such a strange “bird”

In the artillery bombardment on the castle, Cuckoo proved to be a worthy newcomer. After an infantry attack at the castle failed, the decision was made to bombard the castle with artillery. “ The 95mms were a great success, but “Cuckoo”, [………], did best of all, hurling its shells through selected windows with unfailing precision.”

Later, during operation “Blackcock” (In an area to the south of Venlo) Cuckoo was deployed again, now to join in on an attack on the German town called Waldenrath. Cuckoo preformed very well again, it’s mobility was especially noticeable.

The historian wrote; “The road conditions were abominable all day, but whereas the Churchill’s and the Crocodiles, with no ice bars, slid into ditches at every possible opportunity, “Cuckoo” the Panther, eight tons heavier, trundled merrily along with no difficulty at all.”


The next theatre of operations for the 6th Guards Tank Brigade,and the Panther was during operation "Veritable", better known as the battles for the Reichswald. Here Cuckoo's career ended in a sorry way. When heading towards the east of Kleve in Germany the fuel pump broke down, and due to lack of a spare pump the tank had to be abandoned.

http://www.twenot.nl/cuckoo.htm

[Paul Reed]

Somewhat different story, as well!

[von Poop]

Regarding Operation Blackcock, It seems Pathe have some stock footage of 'Cuckoo' actually in action during blackcock, I can only find stills though, having trouble finding the actual film on Pathe's excellent site.

Stills near the bottom of this page on a czech forum: http://forum.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/40205, lots of other great Panther shots too.

Pathe site:
http://www.britishpathe.com/product_...&advanced.y=19

[Owen]

destroyed on August 30th of 1944 by Tigers from sSSPzAbt 102.

Anyone know if that unit were at Rouen?
Cuckoo would not have been anywhere near Rouen.
I still think it was the French using the Panthers.
Googled "french.resistance panther"........get loads of link to Clouseau and "Pink Panther".
Did find one site about Battle for Paris, which I now can't find that says the Resistance used captured Panthers there too.
Wish we had some French members!

August 23 during various operations the French resistance captures several Opel Blitz,Panthers, B1 bis,and a Anti Aircaft gun.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...ighlight=paris

[lancesergeant]

Originally Posted by Owen D

Anyone know if that unit were at Rouen?
Cuckoo would not have been anywhere near Rouen.
I still think it was the French using the Panthers.
Googled "french.resistance panther"........get loads of link to Clouseau and "Pink Panther".
Did find one site about Battle for Paris, which I now can't find that says the Resistance used captured Panthers there too.
Wish we had some French members!

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...ighlight=paris

Have you tried the Achtung Panzer website, there was a mention of Panthers and the resistance there. You might already be aware of it.