Gardens Of Heaven MTO (id:#66420)

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Sidon, Lebanon 1941-06-14 (0 others)

Overview:

On June 8, 1941, as part of "Operation Exporter", British and Free French troops based in Palestine entered Syria and Lebanon to take control of the territory from Vichy troops. The Allied forces were advancing along three separate and parallel axes; the column to the east was targeting Damascus, the column in the center was targeting Merdjayoun, and the column to the west moved along the coast towards Beirut. Sidon was positioned on the coast, about halfway between the Lebanese border with Palestine and Beirut. After the Allied forces from the Australian 21st Brigade, 7th Division, crossed the Litani River, the 2/14th Infantry Battalion carried the advance north along the coast towards Sidon. On 13 June, the 2/16th Infantry Battalion with artillery support, was assigned the task of capturing the town itself. North and south of the town, the coastal plain was about a mile in width and planted with orange, apricot and banana orchards that were often surrounded by stone walls, and scattered Cyprus tree woods. LCOL MacDonald, commander of the 2/16th Infantry Battalion, decided to attack with two companies forward.

Defender: Australian (2/16th Battalion, 21st Brigade, 7th Australian Division)  

Errata (source)