Arras - Battle of Arras 1917 Plans

British Troops
Arras 1917

The Battle of Arras was part of an Anglo-French Offensive formulated by General Robert Nivelle. Nivelle had replaced Joffre as the French Commander in Chief in December 1916 following the failures of 1915, the losses in Verdun and the lack of success on the Somme.

Nivelles plan was to conduct an offensive on the Chemin-des-Dames in the Asine Sector with the intent to defeat German forces. To support the offensive a British Army Group would launch an attack in the Arras sector to draw German reserves away from the Aisne.

The British intent was to capture the vital ground of Vimy Ridge which dominates the Douai Plain and attack SE from Arras 35km to Cambrai.

 

The Canadian Crops (First Army) were tasked with seizing Vimy Ridge. The Third Army would attack with an axis along the River Scarpe. XVII Corps were north of the river, VI Corps south of the river, with VII Corps on an axis along the River Sensee. Fifth Army would protect the left flank attacking around Bullecourt.

Once a breakthrough had been achieved, the Cavalry Corps would exploit towards Cambrai.

Arras Battle Plan

The Black Line was to be reached by XVII  and VI Corps within 36 minutes and halt. VII Corps on the right would stand fast. All three Corps would then attack the Blue Line between  Zero plus 2 hours and Zero plus 3 hours securing it for the next phase. The Assault on the Brown Line would be launched at Zero plus 6 hours 40 minutes and captured  by  by Zero plus 8 hours. Once the Brown line had been consolidated, a Division from each Corps would leapfrog forward to secure the Green Line. The Cavalry Corps would exploit any success where the German Defences were breached.



British Cavalry passing through Arras
Source: IWM

Order of Battle - Arras 9th April 1917

 The Royal Flying Corps would launch an air offensive in order to gain air superiority.  The aim was to provide freedom of airspace to allow photo reconnaissance, artillery observation and air bombardment of German airfields be undertaken.



Royal Flying Corps

The artillery available to the Third Army was 1,720 guns of all calibres ( 1,134 field guns and 586 heavy artillery guns) , representing one gun every 12 yards (11 metres) of front.

British Artillery Arras

Wire Cutting would commence in the week prior to the bombardment so as not to be obtrusive.  Prior to Z Day, there would be 4 days of bombardment. During the day the 18 pounders would be engaged in wire cutting, the remainder of the guns were allocated to defences and targets in depth. The bombardment was to be conducted during the day with breaks to allow photo reconnaissance to take place. At night, harassing fire would interfere with movements and prevent repairs to wire / defences. Gas shells would be fired 10 hours prior to Zero Hour.

The plan for Z Day was to support the advancing  infantry with a creeping barrage supported by a machine gun barrage.

Arras Bombardment

 
The Third Army was allocated 40 tanks of the 1st Brigade Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps - the forerunner of the Tank Corps (formed 28th July 1917). 

The tanks would not be employed till the Black Line was secured. On the assault of the Blue Line 8 tanks would support XVII Corps, with 16 allocated to each of the two other Corps. For the attack on the Brown Line 4 tanks would transfer from XVII  to VI Corps. This would give the allocation as XVII Corps 4 tanks, VI Corps 20 corps, and 16 VII Corps.

Arras Plan of Tank Attack 1917
9th April 1917

Zero Hour would be 8th April 1917, the bombardment commencing 06:30 on 4th April. Zero Hour was later moved to 9th April - Easter Monday.