Which was the most important single shot of World War 2? There are few if any contenders that stand up against the shot with a PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) by Sergeant Thornton of D Company, Air Landing Brigade.
Having taken Benouville Bridge (known later as Pegasus Bridge) over the Caen Canal, D Company were dug in to protect the approaches - including the T junction at Benouville. The German counter attack was generally confused and uncoordinated but the Germans had 6 tanks, 24 platoons (vs. 6 British) and artillery support from an 88mm battery. The only anti-tank capability the British had was one PIAT (all the rest had been lost or broken in the landings). This was provided to Sergeant Thornton who was stationed at the T junction as this was where the tanks were most likely to come from.
The tanks should have been preceded by an infantry patrol - had it been, the situation on D Day could have been very different. As it was, the German infantry followed two tanks onto the T junction. The tanks were both Mark IV's.
The British held their fire - notably Thornton wasn't tempted to fire as soon as the tank was in range as the PIAT was a notoriously poor weapon and effective range was 50 yards or less. As the first tank got within 30 yards of Thornton, just as it turned onto the T junction, he fired.
Hitting it in the flank, the PIAT projectile penetrated the tank's armour and set off the MG ammunition inside. These in turn set off the shells and the tank continued to 'cook off' bullets and shells for some time. Indeed, this acted as a beacon for the relieving paratroopers (who were scattered all over the area) who then used the sound and tracer lights to orient themselves to the bridge.
It went on for an hour - and convinced the Germans to retire. The commander in the second tank reported that the British were on the bridge in great strength and armed with a 6 pounder anti-tank gun! The Germans therefore waited until dawn before launching a counter-attack. This gave the defenders precious time to regroup and be reinforced by the paratroopers and thereafter repulse all future attempts.
The tank wreck itself not only blocked the road to the bridge but also between Caen and the coast. The road the Germans' needed for swift counter-attack and to support communications and supply.
Had the tanks and infantry got through, it is likely that Howard's men would soon have been overwhelmed and the bridges retaken. This in turn would have meant that 21st Panzer could have swept on to the invasion beaches on D Day and (combined with the fire from batteries and MG's along the stretch of coast) could have forced the British back onto their ships. This in turn would have left the American flank open - and they too would have been forced to withdraw.
A withdrawl by the invasion forces would probably mean a postponement of the invasion until 1945 - by which time the Russian forces would in all probability reached the same point in their attack on Germany - but with the Allies not even in France! Who knows what shape Europe would have been in given that scenario.
So one PIAT projectile shot by Sergeant Thornton - the most important shot in WW2?
Having taken Benouville Bridge (known later as Pegasus Bridge) over the Caen Canal, D Company were dug in to protect the approaches - including the T junction at Benouville. The German counter attack was generally confused and uncoordinated but the Germans had 6 tanks, 24 platoons (vs. 6 British) and artillery support from an 88mm battery. The only anti-tank capability the British had was one PIAT (all the rest had been lost or broken in the landings). This was provided to Sergeant Thornton who was stationed at the T junction as this was where the tanks were most likely to come from.
The tanks should have been preceded by an infantry patrol - had it been, the situation on D Day could have been very different. As it was, the German infantry followed two tanks onto the T junction. The tanks were both Mark IV's.
The British held their fire - notably Thornton wasn't tempted to fire as soon as the tank was in range as the PIAT was a notoriously poor weapon and effective range was 50 yards or less. As the first tank got within 30 yards of Thornton, just as it turned onto the T junction, he fired.
Hitting it in the flank, the PIAT projectile penetrated the tank's armour and set off the MG ammunition inside. These in turn set off the shells and the tank continued to 'cook off' bullets and shells for some time. Indeed, this acted as a beacon for the relieving paratroopers (who were scattered all over the area) who then used the sound and tracer lights to orient themselves to the bridge.
It went on for an hour - and convinced the Germans to retire. The commander in the second tank reported that the British were on the bridge in great strength and armed with a 6 pounder anti-tank gun! The Germans therefore waited until dawn before launching a counter-attack. This gave the defenders precious time to regroup and be reinforced by the paratroopers and thereafter repulse all future attempts.
The tank wreck itself not only blocked the road to the bridge but also between Caen and the coast. The road the Germans' needed for swift counter-attack and to support communications and supply.
Had the tanks and infantry got through, it is likely that Howard's men would soon have been overwhelmed and the bridges retaken. This in turn would have meant that 21st Panzer could have swept on to the invasion beaches on D Day and (combined with the fire from batteries and MG's along the stretch of coast) could have forced the British back onto their ships. This in turn would have left the American flank open - and they too would have been forced to withdraw.
A withdrawl by the invasion forces would probably mean a postponement of the invasion until 1945 - by which time the Russian forces would in all probability reached the same point in their attack on Germany - but with the Allies not even in France! Who knows what shape Europe would have been in given that scenario.
So one PIAT projectile shot by Sergeant Thornton - the most important shot in WW2?