D-Day, Jun. 6, 1944

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Today marks the 63rd anniversary of D-Day.



Operation Overlord was the codename (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codename) for the Allied invasion of northwest Europe, which began on June 6, 1944, and ended on August 19, 1944, when the Allies crossed the River Seine. Over sixty years later, the Normandy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy) invasion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion) still remains the largest seaborne invasion in history, involving almost three million troops crossing the English Channel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel) from England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England) to Normandy. Operation Neptune (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Neptune) was the codename given to the initial assault phase of Operation Overlord; its mission, to gain a foothold on the continent, started on June 6, 1944 (most commonly known by the name D-Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day)) and ended on June 30, 1944.
The primary Allied formations that saw combat in Normandy came from the United States of America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America), United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) and Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada). Substantial Free French (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_French_Forces) and Polish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland) forces also participated in the battle after the assault phase, and there were also contingents from Belgium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium), Czechoslovakia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia), Greece (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece), the Netherlands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Netherlands), and Norway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway).[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy#_note-3)
The Normandy invasion began with overnight parachute (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratrooper) and glider (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glider) landings, massive air attacks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_warfare), naval bombardments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Gunfire), and an early morning amphibious (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibious_warfare) phase began on June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6). The “D-Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day)” forces deployed from bases along the south coast of England, the most important of these being Portsmouth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth). The battle for Normandy continued for more than two months, with campaigns to establish, expand, and eventually break out of the Allied beachheads, and concluded with the liberation of Paris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_of_Paris) and the fall of the Falaise pocket (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falaise_pocket) in late August 1944.
The Battle of Normandy was described thus by Adolf Hitler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler): “In the East, the vastness of space will... permit a loss of territory... without suffering a mortal blow to Germany’s chance for survival. Not so in the West! If the enemy here succeeds… consequences of staggering proportions will follow within a short time.”

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The combatants



The Allied invasion plan
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg/300px-Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg)
D-day assault routes into Normandy.


The order of battle was approximately as follows, east to west:

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=6)] British sector (Second Army)


6th Airborne Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_6th_Airborne_Division) was delivered by parachute (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute) and glider (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glider) to the east of the River Orne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Orne) to protect the left flank.
1st Special Service Brigade (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1st_Special_Service_Brigade&action=edit) comprising No.3, No.4, No.6 and No.45(RM) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_No._45_Commando) Commandos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commandos) landed at Ouistreham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouistreham) in Queen Red sector (leftmost). No.4 Commando were augmented by 1 and 8 Troop (both French) of No.10 (Inter Allied) Commando.
I Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_I_Corps), 3rd Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_3rd_Infantry_Division) and the 27th Armoured Brigade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_27th_Armoured_Brigade) on Sword Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_Beach), from Ouistreham to Lion-sur-Mer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion-sur-Mer).
No.41(RM) Commando (part of 4th Special Service Brigade (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=4th_Special_Service_Brigade&action=edit)) landed on the far right of Sword Beach.
Canadian 3rd Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_3rd_Infantry_Division), Canadian 2nd Armoured Brigade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_2nd_Armoured_Brigade) and No.48 (RM) Commando (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=No.48_%28RM%29_Commando&action=edit) on Juno Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach), from Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer%2C_Calvados) to La Rivière-Saint-Sauveur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Rivi%C3%A8re-Saint-Sauveur).
No.46(RM) Commando (part of 4th Special Service Brigade) at Juno to scale the cliffs on the left side of the Orne River estuary and destroy a battery. (Battery fire proved negligible so No.46 were kept off-shore as a floating reserve and landed on D+1).
XXX Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_XXX_Corps), 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_50th_Infantry_Division) and 8th Armoured Brigade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_8th_Armoured_Brigade) on Gold Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Beach), from La Rivière to Arromanches (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arromanches).
No.47(RM) Commando (part of 4th Special Service Brigade) on the West flank of Gold beach.
79th Armoured Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/79th_Armoured_Division) operated specialist armour ("Hobart's Funnies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobart%27s_Funnies)") for mine-clearing, recovery and assault tasks. These were distributed around the Anglo-Canadian beaches.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=7)] U.S. Sector (First Army)


V Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._V_Corps), 1st Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._1st_Infantry_Division) and 29th Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._29th_Infantry_Division) on Omaha Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach), from Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes) to Vierville-sur-Mer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vierville-sur-Mer).
2nd and 5th Ranger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Army_Rangers) Battalions at Pointe du Hoc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc) (The 5th diverted to Omaha).
VII Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._VII_Corps), 4th Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._4th_Infantry_Division) and the 359th RCT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regimental_Combat_Team) of the 90th Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._90th_Infantry_Division) on Utah Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Beach), around Pouppeville and La Madeleine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Madeleine).
101st Airborne Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division) by parachute around Vierville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vierville) to support Utah Beach landings.
82nd Airborne Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._82nd_Airborne_Division) by parachute around Sainte-Mère-Église (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise), protecting the right flank. They had originally been tasked with dropping further west, in the middle part of the Cotentin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotentin_Peninsula), allowing the sea-landing forces to their east easier access across the peninsula, and preventing the Germans from reinforcing the north part of the peninsula. The plans were later changed to move them much closer to the beachhead, as at the last minute the 91st Air Landing Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_91st_Infantry_Division) was found to be in the area.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=8)] Naval participants

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4b/Lci-convoy.jpg/300px-Lci-convoy.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lci-convoy.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lci-convoy.jpg)
Large landing craft convoy crosses the English Channel on June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6), 1944 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944).


The Invasion Fleet was drawn from 8 different navies, comprising 6,938 vessels: 1,213 warships, 4,125 transport vessels (landing ships and landing craft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_craft)) and 1,600 support vessels which included a number of merchant vessels.
The overall commander of the Allied Naval Expeditionary Force, providing close protection and bombardment at the beaches, was Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Ramsay). The Allied Naval Expeditionary Force was divided into two Naval Task Forces: Western (Rear-Admiral Alan G Kirk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_G_Kirk)) and Eastern (Rear-Admiral Sir Philip Vian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Vian)).
The warships provided cover for the transports against the enemy whether in the form of surface warships, submarines or as an aerial attack and give support to the landings through shore bombardment. These ships included the Allied Task Force "O".
Full details of the naval participants in the landings are given at Operation Neptune (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Neptune).
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=9)] Codenames

The Allies assigned codenames to the various operations involved in the invasion. Overlord was the name assigned to the establishment of a large-scale lodgement on the Continent. The first phase, the establishment of a secure foothold, was codenamed Neptune, according to the D-day museum[3] (http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm#overlord):
"The armed forces use codenames to refer to the planning and execution of specific military operations. Operation Overlord was the codename for the Allied invasion of northwest Europe. The assault phase of Operation Overlord was known as Operation Neptune. (...) Operation Neptune began on D-Day (6 June (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6) 1944 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944)) and ended on 30 June (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30) 1944 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944). By this time, the Allies had established a firm foothold in Normandy. Operation Overlord also began on D-Day, and continued until Allied forces crossed the River Seine on 19 August (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_19) 1944 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944)."
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=10)] The Defenders


[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=11)] German preparations

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/da/Atlantic-Wall.gif/250px-Atlantic-Wall.gif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Atlantic-Wall.gif) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Atlantic-Wall.gif)
A map of the Atlantic Wall.


Through most of 1942 and 1943, the Germans had rightly regarded the possibility of a successful Allied invasion in the West as remote. Preparations to counter an invasion were limited to the construction by the Organisation Todt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_Todt), of impressive fortifications covering the major ports.
In late 1943, the obvious Allied buildup in Britain prompted the German Commander-in-Chief in the West, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerd_von_Rundstedt), to request reinforcements. In addition to fresh units, von Rundstedt also received a new subordinate, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Rommel). Rommel originally intended only to make a tour of inspection of the Atlantic Wall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Wall). After reporting to Hitler, Rommel requested command of the defenders of northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands. These were organised as Army Group B (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Group_B) in February 1944. (The German forces in southern France were designated as Army Group G, under General Johannes Blaskowitz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Blaskowitz)).
Rommel had recognised that for all their propaganda value, the Atlantic Wall fortifications covered only the ports themselves. The beaches between were barely defended, and the Allies could land there and capture the ports from inland. He revitalised the defenders, who laboured to improve the defences of the entire coastline. Steel obstacles were laid at the high-water mark on the beaches, concrete bunkers and pillboxes constructed, low-lying areas flooded and ****y-trapped stakes known as Rommelspargel (Rommel's asparagus) set up on likely landing grounds to deter airborne landings.
These works were not fully completed, especially in the vital Normandy sector, partly because Allied bombing of the French railway system interfered with the movement of the necessary materials, and also because the Germans were convinced by the Allied deception measures and their own preconceptions that the landings would take place in the Pas de Calais, and concentrated their efforts there. Hitler was especially intransigent in his conviction that an Allied attack would come through Pas de Calais and overruled Rommel - who strongly believed all along that, if he were in Eisenhower's shoes, he would invade through Normandy.[citation needed] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)
Rommel's defensive measures were also frustrated by a dispute over armoured doctrine. In addition to his two army groups, von Rundstedt also commanded the headquarters of Panzer Group West under General Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Geyr_von_Schweppenburg) (usually referred to as von Geyr). This formation was nominally an administrative HQ for von Rundstedt's armoured and mobile formations, but it was to be renamed Fifth Panzer Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Panzer_Army) and brought into the line in Normandy. Von Geyr and Rommel disagreed over the deployment and use of the vital Panzer divisions.
Rommel recognised that the Allies would possess air superiority, and would be able to harass his movements from the air. He therefore proposed that the armoured formations be deployed close to the invasion beaches. In his words, it was better to have one Panzer division facing the invaders on the first day, than three Panzer divisions three days later when the allies would already have established a firm beachhead. Von Geyr argued for the standard doctrine that the Panzer formations should be concentrated in a central position around Paris and Rouen, and deployed en masse against the main Allied beachhead when this had been identified.
The argument went all the way up to Hitler, who characteristically imposed an unworkable compromise solution. Three Panzer divisions were given to Rommel, too few to cover all the threatened sectors, and three to von Geyr, not enough for a decisive intervention. (Four others were dispersed in Southern France and the Netherlands, under the tactical control of neither commander). Also, Hitler reserved to himself the authority to move most of these divisions, or commit them to action. On June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6), many Panzer division commanders were unable to move, as Hitler had not given the necessary authorisation, and his staff refused to wake him upon news of the invasion.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=12)] German defenses

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/German_coast_artillery_in_the_Pas-de-Calais_area_02.jpg/300px-German_coast_artillery_in_the_Pas-de-Calais_area_02.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:German_coast_artillery_in_the_Pas-de-Calais_area_02.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:German_coast_artillery_in_the_Pas-de-Calais_area_02.jpg)
German coastal artillery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_artillery) in the Pas-de-Calais (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pas-de-Calais) area, with laborers at work on casemate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casemate).


The Germans had extensively fortified the foreshore area as part of their Atlantic Wall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Wall) defenses (including tank top turrets and extensive barbed wire), believing that the forthcoming landings would be timed for high tide (this caused the landings to be timed for low tide). The sector which was attacked was guarded by four divisions, of which only one (352nd) was of high quality. The other defending troops included Germans (who were not considered fit for active duty on the Eastern Front, usually for medical reasons) and various other nationalities such as conscripted Poles and former Soviet prisoners-of-war who had agreed to fight for the Germans rather than endure the harsh conditions of German POW camps. These "Ost" units were provided with German leadership to stiffen them.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=13)] Divisional Areas


716th Infantry Division (Static) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_716th_Static_Infantry_Division) defended the Eastern end of the landing zones, including most of the British and Canadian beaches.
352nd Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_352nd_Infantry_Division) defended the area between approximately Bayeux and Carentan, including Omaha beach. Unlike the other divisions this one was well-trained and contained many combat veterans. The division had been formed in November 1943 with the help of cadres from the disbanded 321st Division, which had been destroyed in the Soviet Union that same year). The 352nd had many troops who had seen action on the eastern front and on the 6th, had been carrying out anti-invasion exercises.
6th Parachute Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_6th_Parachute_Regiment&action=edit) (Oberstleutnant Dr. Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte) defended Carentan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carentan).
91st Air Landing Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_91st_Infantry_Division) (Luftlande – air transported) (Generalmajor Wilhelm Falley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Falley)), comprising the 1057th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_1057th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit) and 1058th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_1058th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit). This was a regular infantry division, trained, and equipped to be transported by air (i.e. transportable artillery, few heavy support weapons) located in the interior of the Cotentin Peninsula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotentin_Peninsula), including the landing zone of the American airdrops (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airdrop).
709th Infantry Division (Static) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_709th_Static_Infantry_Division) (Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karl-Wilhelm_von_Schlieben&action=edit)), comprising the 729th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_729th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit), 739th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_739th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit) (both with four battalions, but the 729th 4th and the 739th 1st and 4th being Ost, these two regiments had no regimental support companies either), and 919th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_919th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit). This coastal defense division protected the eastern, and northern (including Cherbourg) coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, including the Utah beach landing zone.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=14)] Adjacent Divisional Areas

Other divisions occupied the areas around the landing zones, including:

243rd Infantry Division (Static) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_243rd_Static_Infantry_Division) (Generalleutnant Heinz Hellmich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_Hellmich)), comprising the 920th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_920th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit) (two battalions), 921st Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_921st_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit), and 922nd Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_922nd_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit). This coastal defense division protected the western coast of the Cotentin Peninsula.
711th Infantry Division (Static) (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_711th_Static_Infantry_Division&action=edit), comprising the 731th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_731th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit), and 744th Infantry Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_744th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit). This division defended the western part of the Pays de Caux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pays_de_Caux).
30th Mobile Brigade (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_30th_Mobile_Brigade&action=edit) (Oberstleutnant Freiherr von und zu Aufsess), comprising three bicycle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_infantry) battalions.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=15)] Mobile Reserves

The 21st Panzer Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_21st_Panzer_Division) (Generalmajor Edgar Feuchtinger) was deployed near Caen as a mobile striking force. It was so close to the coastal defenses that, understanding orders in case of invasion, several of its infantry and anti-aircraft units would come under the orders of the fortress divisions on the coast, reducing the effective strength of the division.
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Division_Hitlerjugend) (Brigadeführer Fritz de Witt) was stationed to the southeast. Its officers and NCOs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCOs) were long-serving veterans, but the junior soldiers had all been recruited directly from the Hitler Youth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_Youth) movement at the age of seventeen in 1943. It was to acquire a reputation for ferocity and war crimes in the coming battle.
Further to the southwest was the Panzerlehrdivision (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzerlehrdivision) (General major Fritz Bayerlein (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Bayerlein)), an elite unit originally formed by amalgamating the instructing staff at various training establishments. Not only were its personnel of high quality, but the division also had unusually high numbers of the latest and most capable armored vehicles.

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The landings



Airborne landings
The success of the amphibious landings depended on the establishment of a secure lodgment from which to expand the beachhead to allow the build up of a well-supplied force capable of breaking out. The amphibious forces were especially vulnerable to strong enemy counter-attacks before the build up of sufficient forces in the beachhead could be accomplished. To slow or eliminate the enemy's ability to organise and launch counter-attacks during this critical period, airborne landings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_forces) were utilised to seize key objectives, such as bridges, road crossings, and terrain features, particularly on the eastern and western flanks of the landing areas. The airborne landings some distance behind the beaches were also intended to ease the egress of the amphibious forces off the beaches and in some cases to neutralise German coastal defence batteries, and more quickly expand the area of the beachhead. The U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were assigned to objectives west of Utah Beach. The British 6th Airborne Division was assigned to similar objectives on the eastern flank.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=20)] British Airborne landings

Main article: Operation Tonga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tonga)
East of the landing area, the open, flat, floodplain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floodplain) between the Orne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orne_River) and Dives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dives_River) Rivers was ideal for counter-attacks by German armour. However, the landing area and floodplain were separated by the Orne River, which flowed northeast from Caen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caen) into the Bay of the Seine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seine_River). The only crossing of the Orne River north of Caen was 7 km from the coast, near Bénouville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9nouville) and Ranville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranville). For the Germans, the crossing provided the only route for a flanking attack on the beaches from the east. For the Allies, the crossing also was vital for any attack on Caen from the east.
The tactical objectives of the British 6th Airborne Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_6th_Airborne_Division) were (a) to capture intact the bridges of the Bénouville-Ranville crossing, (b) to defend the crossing against the inevitable armoured counter-attacks, (c)to destroy German artillery at the Merville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merville) battery, which threatened Sword Beach, and (d) to destroy five bridges over the Dives River to further restrict movement of ground forces from the east.
Airborne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_forces) troops, mostly paratroopers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratrooper) of the 3rd (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_3rd_Parachute_Brigade) and 5th Parachute Brigades (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_5th_Parachute_Brigade), began landing after midnight, June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6) and immediately encountered elements of the German 716th Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_716th_Static_Infantry_Division). At dawn, the Battle Group von Luck (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_von_Luck) of the 21st Panzer Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_21st_Panzer_Division) counter-attacked from the south on both sides of the Orne River. By this time the paratroopers had established a defensive perimeter surrounding the bridgehead (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgehead). Casualties were heavy on both sides but the airborne troops held. Shortly after noon, they were reinforced by commandos of the 1st Special Service Brigade (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1st_Special_Service_Brigade&action=edit). By the end of D-Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day), 6th Airborne had accomplished each of its objectives. For several days, both British and German forces took heavy casualties as they struggled for positions around the Orne bridgehead. For example, the German 346th Infantry Division broke through the eastern edge of the defensive line on June 10 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_10). Finally, British paratroopers overwhelmed entrenched panzergrenadiers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzergrenadier) in the Battle of Bréville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%A9ville) on June 12 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_12). The Germans did not seriously threaten the bridgehead again. 6th Airborne remained in the line until it was evacuated in early September.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=21)] American Airborne landings

The U.S. 82nd (Operation Detroit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Detroit)) and 101st Airborne Divisions (Operation Chicago (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Chicago)) were less fortunate in quickly completing their main objectives. Partly owing to unmarked landing zones, radio silence, poor weather and difficult terrain, many units were widely scattered and unable to rally. Efforts of the early wave of pathfinder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinders_%28military%29) teams to mark the landing zones were largely ineffective. Some paratroopers drowned when they landed in the sea or in areas deliberately flooded by the Germans.
After 24 hours, only 2,500 of the 6,000 men in 101st had assembled. The dispersal of the American airborne troops, however, had the effect of confusing the Germans and fragmenting their response. In addition, the Germans' defensive flooding, in the early stages, also helped to protect the Americans' southern flank.
Many continued to roam and fight behind enemy lines for days. Most[citation needed] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources) consolidated into small groups, rallied with NCOs or junior officers, and usually were a hodgepodge of men from different companies, battalions, regiments, or even divisions. The 82nd occupied the town of Sainte-Mère-Église (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise) early in the morning of June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6), giving it the claim of the first town liberated in the invasion. While some objectives were met (often with far fewer men than the mission planners intended), many paratroopers were too busy fighting for survival to take offensive action.[citation needed] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=22)] Sword Beach

Main article: Sword Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_Beach)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg/300px-Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg)
British troops take cover after landing on Sword Beach.


The assault on Sword Beach began at about 0300 hrs with an aerial bombardment of the German coastal defences and artillery sites. The naval bombardment began a few hours later. At 0730 hrs, the first units reached the beach. These were the DD tanks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD_tank) of 13th/18th Hussars followed closely by the infantry of 8th Brigade.
On Sword Beach, the regular British infantry got ashore with light casualties. They had advanced about five miles (8 km) by the end of the day but failed to make some of the deliberately ambitious targets set by Montgomery. In particular, Caen, a major objective, was still in German hands by the end of D-Day.
1st Special Service Brigade, under the command of Brigadier The Lord Lovat DSO and MC, went ashore in the second wave led by No.4 Commando with the two French Troops first, as agreed amongst themselves. The 1st Special Service Brigade's landing is famous for having been led by Piper Bill Millin. The British and French of No.4 Commando had separate targets in Ouistreham: the French a blockhouse and the Casino, and the British two batteries which overlooked the beach. The blockhouse proved too strong for the Commandos' PIAT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAT) (Projector Infantry Anti Tank) weapons, but the Casino was taken with the aid of a Centaur tank (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_tank). The British Commandos achieved both battery objectives only to find the gun mounts empty and the guns removed. Leaving the mopping-up procedure to the infantry, the Commandos withdrew from Ouistreham to join the other units of their brigade (Nos.3, 6 and 45 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_No._45_Commando)), moving inland to join-up with the 6th Airborne Division.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=23)] Juno Beach

Main article: Juno Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach)
The Canadian forces that landed on Juno Beach faced 11 heavy batteries of 155 mm guns and 9 medium batteries of 75 mm guns, as well as machine-gun nests, pillboxes, other concrete fortifications, and a seawall twice the height of the one at Omaha Beach. The first wave suffered 50% casualties, the second highest of the five D-Day beachheads. The use of armour was successful at Juno, in some instances actually landing ahead of the infantry as intended and helping clear a path inland.[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy#_note-8)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/65/Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg/150px-Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg)
Personnel of Royal Canadian Navy Beach Commando "W" landing on Mike Beach, Juno sector of the Normandy beachhead. June 6, 1944.


Despite the obstacles, within hours the Canadians were off the beach and beginning their advance inland. The 6th Canadian Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Hussars)) and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen%27s_Own_Rifles_of_Canada) achieved their June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6) objectives, when they crossed the Caen–Bayeux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux) highway over nine miles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile) (15 km) inland.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy#_note-9) The Canadians were the only units to reach their D-Day objectives, although most units fell back a few kilometres to stronger defensive positions. In particular, the Douvres Radar Station was still in German hands, and no link had been established with Sword Beach.
By the end of D-Day, 15,000 Canadians had been successfully landed, and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Canadian_Infantry_Division) had penetrated further into France than any other Allied force, despite having faced strong resistance at the water's edge and later counter-attacks on the beachhead by elements of the German 21st and 12th SS Hitlerjugend Panzer divisions on June 7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_7) and 8.



[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=24)] Gold Beach

Main article: Gold Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Beach)
At Gold Beach, the casualties were also quite heavy, partly because the swimming Sherman DD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_DD) tanks were delayed, and the Germans had strongly fortified a village on the beach. However, the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division overcame these difficulties and advanced almost to the outskirts of Bayeux by the end of the day. With the exception of the Canadians at Juno Beach, no division came closer to its objectives than the 50th.
No.47 (RM) Commando was the last British Commando unit to land and came ashore on Gold east of Le Hamel. Their task was to proceed inland then turn right (west) and make a ten-mile (16 km) march through enemy territory to attack the coastal harbour of Port en Bessin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_en_Bessin) from the rear. This small port, on the British extreme right, was well sheltered in the chalk cliffs and significant in that it was to be a prime early harbour for supplies to be brought in including fuel by underwater pipe from tankers moored offshore.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=25)] Omaha Beach

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7d/Approaching-omaha.jpg/280px-Approaching-omaha.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Approaching-omaha.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Approaching-omaha.jpg)
American troops in an LCVP landing craft approach Omaha Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach) June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6), 1944 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944).


Main article: Omaha Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Normandy_landing_SrOfficials_g252940.jpg/200px-Normandy_landing_SrOfficials_g252940.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Normandy_landing_SrOfficials_g252940.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Normandy_landing_SrOfficials_g252940.jpg)
Senior military officials aboard the USS Augusta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Augusta) during the Normandy Invasion. General Omar Bradley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Bradley) is the second man from the left.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Normandy5.jpg/280px-Normandy5.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Normandy5.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Normandy5.jpg)
Survivors of a sunken troop transport wade ashore on Omaha Beach.


Omaha Beach was the bloodiest landing beach on D-Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day). Elements of the 1st Infantry Division and 29th Infantry Division faced the German 352nd Infantry Division, one of the best trained on the beaches. Allied intelligence failed to realize that the relatively low-quality 716th Infantry Division (static) had been replaced by the 352nd a few days before the invasion. Omaha was also the most heavily fortified beach, and the pre-landing aerial and naval bombardment of the bunkers proved to be ineffective. On the Eastern sector, 27 of the 32 Sherman DD tanks deployed never reached the beach. On the Western sector the Sherman DDs were landed directly on the beach, but suffered heavy losses due to German artillery defending the beach. The official record stated that "within 10 minutes of the ramps being lowered, [the leading] company had become inert, leaderless and almost incapable of action. Every officer and sergeant had been killed or wounded [...] It had become a struggle for survival and rescue". There were about 2,400 casualties on Omaha on D-day, most in the first few hours. Commanders considered abandoning the beachhead, but small units, often forming ad hoc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hoc) groups, eventually took the beach and pressed inland.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=26)] Pointe du Hoc

Main article: Pointe du Hoc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc)
The massive, concrete cliff-top gun emplacement at Pointe du Hoc was the target of the 2nd Ranger battalion, commanded by James Earl Rudder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Rudder). The task was to scale the 100 foot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_%28unit_of_length%29) (30 m) cliffs under enemy fire with ropes and ladders, and then attack and destroy the guns, which were thought to command the Omaha and Utah landing areas. The Ranger commanders did not know that the guns had been moved prior to the attack, and they had to press farther inland to find them but eventually destroyed them. But the beach fortifications themselves were still vital targets since a single artillery forward observer based there could have called down accurate fire on the US beaches. The Rangers captured the fortifications.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Normandy&action=edit&section=27)] Utah Beach

Main article: Utah Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Beach)
Casualties on Utah Beach, the westernmost landing zone, were the lightest of any beach with 197 out of roughly 23,000 troops landed. The 4th Infantry Division troops landing at Utah Beach found themselves in the wrong positions due to a current that pushed their landing craft to the southeast. Instead of landing at Tare Green and Uncle Red sectors, they came ashore at Victor sector, which was lightly defended. Relatively little German opposition was encountered. The 4th Infantry Division was able to press inland relatively easily over beach exits that had been seized from the inland side by the 502nd and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments of the 101st Airborne Division. This was partially by accident, as their planned landing was further down the beach (Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Jr), the Asst. Commander of 4th Division, was famous for stating "We'll start the war from right here.") . By early afternoon the 4th Infantry Division had succeeded in linking up with elements of the 101st. American casualties were light, and the troops were able to press inward much faster than expected, making it a near complete success.

[demotivater]

Good stuff, man. The Greatest Generation indeed.

[MetroN]

Okay, could someone just clarify this for me, once and for all.

I've been at Point du-Hoc, been at the Ranger museeum there and all that. There it say's that the Rangers destroyed the guns, which was moved inlands prior to the attack.

Now, in some other books, movies, and webpages it's claimed that the Rangers didn't destroy guns, because they weren't there.

I choose to belive that the Rangers did destroy the guns, espescially since the survivors have said so.

Once and for all, what happened there?

[foxtrot023]

Okay, could someone just clarify this for me, once and for all.

I've been at Point du-Hoc, been at the Ranger museeum there and all that. There it say's that the Rangers destroyed the guns, which was moved inlands prior to the attack.

Now, in some other books, movies, and webpages it's claimed that the Rangers didn't destroy guns, because they weren't there.

I choose to belive that the Rangers did destroy the guns, espescially since the survivors have said so.

Once and for all, what happened there?

I will search in a couple of books I got, but if I recall correctly the guns had been moved.

[MetroN]

I will search in a couple of books I got, but if I recall correctly the guns had been moved.

The Museeums and Rangers say that the guns had been moved further inland, and the Rangers first found no guns, but the procceded to destroy them.

Some other sources say that it wasn't any guns there at all when the Rangers scaled the cliffs.

That's what I want to clarify.

Btw: Great post about D-day.

[foxtrot023]

The Museeums and Rangers say that the guns had been moved further inland, and the Rangers first found no guns, but the procceded to destroy them.

Some other sources say that it wasn't any guns there at all when the Rangers scaled the cliffs.

That's what I want to clarify.

Btw: Great post about D-day.


I got the book that will clear it, I think the 29th div helped out the rangers in clearing Du Hoc. The only thing is that you will have to wait till I get to my house in the evening.

[MetroN]

No problem buddy :D

Luckily my life doesnt depend on it.

[adam_1green]

Im pretty sure they found them days later at another location and then destroyed them. I read it in Stephen Ambrosse's book on d-day years ago, but i cant find any of the details or the book itself!

[foxtrot023]

Im pretty sure they found them days later at another location and then destroyed them. I read it in Stephen Ambrosse's book on d-day years ago, but i cant find any of the details or the book itself!


that is correct. The were moved the 4th of June (or 5th). So at Point du Hoc there were no guns. However a patrol of rangers found them and destroyed them in their new location (from which they covered Utah beach).

The reason why the allied still tought the guns were at PdH was that on both the 4th and the 5th there was heavy cloud cover.

Regards

[adam_1green]

There were also telegraph poles at Point Du Hoc. Aerial recon misinterpreted these for the gun barrels and thus thought the guns were still there.

[MetroN]

that is correct. The were moved the 4th of June (or 5th). So at Point du Hoc there were no guns. However a patrol of rangers found them and destroyed them in their new location (from which they covered Utah beach).

The reason why the allied still tought the guns were at PdH was that on both the 4th and the 5th there was heavy cloud cover.

Regards

The new location, was that a bit further inland at Point du Hoc, or was it a completly new place?

[foxtrot023]

The new location, was that a bit further inland at Point du Hoc, or was it a completly new place?


it was not specified, but this is what I found on internet (not sure on the part that the rangers CO knew about it, as what I read was that air recon did not see them due to clouds)-

Prior to the attack, the guns were moved approximately 1 mile away. However, the concrete fortification was intact and would still present a major threat to the landings if they were occupied by artillery forward observers. The Ranger Battalion commanders and executive officers knew the guns had moved, but the rest of the Rangers were not informed prior to the attack. The myth that the guns were 'missing' on D-Day may be attributed to this decision not to inform the troops prior to the attack.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pointe_du_Hoc&action=edit&section=2)] The attack

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Pointeduhoc1.jpg/200px-Pointeduhoc1.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pointeduhoc1.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pointeduhoc1.jpg)
Detailed Pointe du Hoc battle plan


The Ranger battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Rudder). The plan called for the three companies of Rangers to be landed by sea at the foot of the cliffs, scale them using ropes, ladders, and grapples under enemy fire, and engage the enemy at the top of the cliff. This was to be carried out before the main landings. The Rangers trained for the cliff assault on the Isle of Wight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Wight), under the direction of British Commandos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commandos).
Despite initial setbacks due to weather and navigational problems, resulting in a 40-minute delay and loss of surprise, the cliffs were scaled and the strongpoint was assaulted successfully, with relatively light casualties. Fire support was provided during the attack by several nearby Allied destroyers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyers). Upon reaching the fortifications, most of the Rangers learned for the first time that the main objective of the assault, the artillery battery, had been moved out of position, possibly as a result of air attacks during the buildup to the invasion. It is said that German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Rommel) himself gave the order to move the battery as he had recently been placed in charge of the coastal defenses of Normandy. Removal of the guns had actually been completed on June 4, 1944, and poor weather conditions prior to the invasion limited a final reconnaissance effort which would have revealed the guns' removal, and certain sources (including the historical notices for visitors which are now on the site itself) claim that the cannons in their initial placements were replaced with wooden beams and camouflage nets to fool reconnaissance[citation needed] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources). The Rangers regrouped at the top of the cliffs, and a small patrol went off in search of the guns. This patrol found the guns nearby and destroyed them with thermite grenades. The new battery location inland was sighted solely for Utah beach.
The costliest part of the battle for the Rangers came after the cliff assault. Determined to hold the vital ground, yet isolated from other assault forces, they fended off several German counterattacks over the next two days, until reinforced from Omaha Beach. The original plans called for an additional, larger Ranger force of eight companies to follow the first attack, if successful. Flares from the clifftops were to signal this second wave to join the attack, but because of the delayed landing, the signal came too late, and the other Rangers, mostly of the US 5th Ranger Battalion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Ranger_Battalion), landed on Omaha instead of Pointe du Hoc.
At the end of the 2-day action, the landing force of 225+ was reduced to about 90 men who could still fight.

[MetroN]

Finally it's clarified. Thanks :D

[Kaplanr]

They found the guns in the new position, with ready ammo all set, but it wasn't manned, or the Germans had just skipped out.

[foxtrot023]

They found the guns in the new position, with ready ammo all set, but it wasn't manned, or the Germans had just skipped out.




There was a dirt road leading south (inland). It had heavy tracks. Sgts. Leonard Lomell and Jack Kuhn thought the missing guns might have made the tracks. They set out to investigate. At about 250 meters (one kilometer inland), Lomell abruptly stopped. He held his hand out to stop Kuhn, turned, and half whispered, "Jack, here they are. We've found 'em. Here are the goddamned guns."
Unbelievably, the well-camouflaged guns were set up in battery, ready to fire in the direction of Utah Beach, with piles of ammunition around them, but no Germans. Lomell spotted about a hundred Germans a hundred meters or so across an open field, apparently forming up. Evidently they had pulled back during the bombardment, for fear of a stray shell setting off the amunition dump, and were now preparing to man their guns, but they were in no hurry, for until their infantry drove off the rangers and reoccupied the observation post they could not fire with any accuracy.
Lomell never hesitated. "Give me your grenades, Jack," he said to Kuhn. "Cover me. I'm gonna fix 'em." He ran to the guns and set off thermite grenades in the recoil and traversing mechanisms of two of the guns, disabling them. He bashed in the sights of the third gun. "Jack, we gotta get some more thermite grenades." He and Kuhn ran back to the highway, collected all of the thermite grenades from the rangers in the immediate area, returned to the battery, and disabled the other three guns.


from http://www.worldwar2history.info/D-Day/cannons.html