Analysis Operation Bluecoat kept German armoured units fixed on the British eastern flank and continued the wearing down of the German armoured formations in the area. The breakthrough in the centre of the Allied front surprised the Germans, when they were distracted by the Allied attacks at both ends of the Normandy bridgehead. By the time of the American break-out at
Avranches, there was little to no reserve strength left for Operation Luttich, the German counter-offensive, which was defeated by 12 August. The 7th Army had no choice but to retire rapidly east of the
Orne river, covered by a rearguard of all the remaining armoured and motorised units, to allow time for the surviving infantry to reach the
Seine. After the first stage of the withdrawal beyond the Orne, the manoeuvre collapsed for a lack of fuel, Allied air attacks and the constant pressure of the Allied armies, culminating in the encirclement of many German forces in the
Falaise pocket.
Casualties During Bluecoat and later operations in Normandy, VIII Corps suffered
Subsequent operations Operation Grouse With news from the American sector by 9 August that (Operation Liège), the German counter-offensive from Mortain, had been defeated, O'Connor planned a new attack, either to pin down the German defenders opposite VIII Corps or to precipitate a collapse. The 3rd Division would advance around Vire and the Guards Armoured Division was to advance down Perrier Ridge, VIII Corps establishing itself on high ground between
Tinchebray and
Condé-sur-Noireau around Mont de Cerisi, about south-east of Vire. A three-phase attack was planned by the Guards Armoured Division and the attached 6th Guards Tank Brigade, to begin on 11 August but the day dawned with a dense mist, which prevented the preliminary bombing and disorganised the tank–infantry attack. German defensive fire restricted the advance on the eastern flank to . In the centre, three
Panther tanks were spotted in a farmyard at Le Haut Perrier and ambushed, two being knocked out and the survivor being set on fire on the southern outskirts of the village by a
PIAT gunner. The British advance continued towards Point 242 north of
Chênedollé, where a German counter-attack knocked out six
Sherman tanks for a loss of two Panthers and a assault gun. To the west, the 2nd Irish Guards–5th Coldstream tank–infantry group made faster progress and reached the west side of Chênedollé. When the village was attacked it was found that the garrison had withdrawn and as the bombers had failed to arrive, the village was consolidated and further attacks were postponed and then cancelled. On the right of the Guards Armoured Division, the attack began at along a road running south through
Viessoix and le Broulay, further on, thence to
Moncy, to the east, protected on the right by the advance of the 3rd Division. From Moncy, the attack was to be continued to Point 260 on Mont de Cerisi further on. German resistance was as determined as that in the east. To the north of La Personnerie, minefields covered by fire from the 3rd Division, held up the advance. In the afternoon an attempt to detour to the east through Le Val was also blocked, the advance having covered only in five hours. With the attack bogged down at Le Val and
Viessoix the troops at Le Val were withdrawn during the evening and new orders were received to hold the Vire–
Vassy road. ==Order of battle==