The Operation
The operation began at about 4:00am on 31 July and lasted for a few hours. In "no-go areas" such as Free Derry, sirens were sounded by residents to alert others of the incursion. The British Army used bulldozers and the Engineer Centurions to break through the barricades before flooding the no-go areas with troops in smaller, lighter armoured vehicles. The Provisional IRA and Official IRA were not equipped to openly battle such a large force and did not attempt to hold their ground. Small scale operations were carried out in other places like Lurgan, Armagh, Coalisland and Newry. By the end of the day, Derry and Belfast had been cleared of no-go areas, but the Army remained cautious when operating in staunchly republican districts.
Read more about this topic: Operation Motorman
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