Operation Jupiter, the plans for which had been drawn up some days before, had the strategic objective of bringing German armour back to the British front ( instead of the US side ), and the tactical objective of reaching River Orne south of Caen. The spesific objectives were: On the right flank Hill 112, on the left flank Chateau de Fontaine, Eterville,Maltot.

9 July: reports showed that I corps was breaking into Caen from the north and east. By 1800 hrs all Caen north of the river Orne had been captured;Carpiquet aerodrome and the road Verson-Caen were also reported clear. Operation Jupiter was now possible.

10 July

At 0300 hrs the battalion moved to FUP area Fontainen-Etoupefour. The move was covered by artillery, and no difficulties were encountered.

Phase I. At 0500 hrs B squadron advanced with 5th Dorsets and in fifteen minutes Les Daims had been taken and only machine-gun fire had been encountered. It was known that elements of 10th SS panzer divisions threatened the left flank and twelve Panthers were reported roaming in the area of Eterville.A troop of 17-pounder self-propelled AT guns took up positions to guard against this threat while B squadron pushed on to the Chateau. At 0614 the objective was reported secure with the infantry firmly established on the line of the road from Fontaine-Etoupefour to Maltot.

Phase 2: by 0635 hrs C sqaudron were advancing to Eterville with the 4th Dorsets. As 4th Dorsets neared Eterville B squadron moved up and gave added support from the right flank, destroying two anti-tank guns. By 0735 hrs Eterville had been taken and B squadron rallied north of Les Daims.

Phase 3: At 0815 hrs A squadron advanced between B and C squadrons supporting 7th Hampshires in their attack on Maltot.Up to now the whole attack had gone perfectly, but at 0835 hrs A squadron was severely worried by anti-tank fire from four German SP´s in the area of the orchards just north of Maltot.

On the right of 9 RTR, 7 RTR were attacking Hill 112 in support of 129 Brigade. They had made substantial progress, but at 0933 hrs strong enemy counter-attack was made on hill 112. The right flank of 9 RTR´s advance was thus enfiladed, and anti-tank fire was also reported from the high ground dominating Maltot to the west of River Orne. Two Tigers were in Maltot making the advance of the infantry extremely difficult and A squadron´s movement was hampered by a troop of Tigers on the southern slope of Hill112, firing north-east.

At 1156 hrs A squadron were still struggling to support the infantry in Maltot who were now confronted with another Tiger. The German infantry were now counter-attacking, and only nine tanks of A squadron were left.

By 1200 hrs 2 i/c A squadron reported that he had only four tanks capable of fighting. Further reports stated that counter-attacks were being made with tanks and infantry from north-east and south-west of Maltot.

From 1300 to 1600 hrs there was a stalemate, the enemy making no attempts to push their counter-attack any further.A new plan was devised , and the advance began at 1640 hrs. Despite antitank fire from south-west of Maltot C squadron had put the infantry into the village by 1700 hrs. Ten minutes later C squadron were being shot at from the rear, for once again enemy tanks had infiltrated under cover of the spur north-east of Hill112. Eight Tigers were also moving in on the left flank, and the infantry were pulling out of Maltot.

At 1935 hrs C squadron was also forced to withdraw under the cover of supporting fire from B squadron. At 2030 hrs all tanks rallied at the FUP; later they moved to join A Echelon north-east of Mouen to replenish and collect reinforcements.

Druing this day the battalion suffered 65 casualties, of whom 22 were killed, 34 wounded, and nine taken prisoner. Sixteen tanks had been knocked out, of which six were recoverable.

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