D-Day : The assault


 
 

 

Operation Neptune

FORCES TAKING PART:

The Western Naval Task Force under Rear Admiral A. G. Kirk, U.S.N., with elements of the 1st U.S. Army under Lt. General O.N. Bradley, U.S.A., was to attack the western beaches of the Seine Bay as follows:

  1. Assault Force U, with the 4th division of the VIIth Corps, was to assault UTAH beach at Varreville.
  2. Assault Force O, with two R.C.T. of the 1st and two R.C.T of the 29th divisions of the Vth Corps, was to attack OMAHA beach at St. Laurent.
  3. Follow-up Force B, with 1 R.C.T of the 1st and 1 R.C.T of the 29th division and overheads, was to arrive in the OMAHA area on the second tide of D-day.

The Eastern Naval Task Force under Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian, R.N., with elements of the 2nd British Army (under Lt. General Sir Miles Dempsey), was to attack the eastern beaches of the Seine Bay as follows:

  1. Assault Force G, with the 50th division of the XXth Corps, was to assault GOLD beach at Asnelles.
  2. Assault Force J, with the 3rd Canadian Division of 1st Corps, was to assault JUNO beach at Courseulles.
  3. Assault Force S, with the 3rd Division of the 1st Corps, was to assault SWORD beach at Ouistreham.
  4. Follow-up Force L, with the 22nd Armoured Brigade of the 30th Corps, was to arrive in the British area on the second tide of D-day.
  5. In addition, seven Commando battalions of Force J and two Ranger battalions of Force O were also to assault selected points along the beaches.

LOADING AND ASSEMBLY :

- Assault and Follow-up forces :
Force
 
Units
 
Assembly Ports
Assault Beaches

Western Task Force (American)
 
Assault
Force 'U'
3 R.C.T.
Torquay, Brixham,
Dartmouth, Salcombe
Tare Green
Uncle Red
Assault
Force 'O'
4 R.C.T.
Rangers
Weymouth, Portland,
Poole
Dog Green, White, Red
Easy Green, Red
Fox Green
Follow-up
Force 'B'
2 R.C.T.
Plymouth, Falmouth,
Helford river, Fowey
US area
First U.S
Build up
Divisions
Bristol Channel ports
--------

Eastern Task Force (British)
 
Assault
Force 'G'
3 Brigades
Southampton, Solent,
Spithead
Jig Green
King Green, Red
Assault
Force 'J'
3 Brigades
Commandos
Southampton, Solent,
Portsmouth
Mike Green, Red
Nan Green, White, Red
Assault
Force 'S'
3 Brigades
Commandos
Portsmouth, Spithead,
Newhaven, Shoreham
Queen White, Red
Follow-up
Force 'L'
3 Brigades
The Nore and Harwich
British area
First
British
Build up
Divisions
Thames
---------

- Attached Forces :
Force
 
Assembly Ports
 
Naval Covering Forces of Destroyer
Plymouth and Portsmouth
Naval Covering Forces of Coastal For.
Dartmouth; Portland; Newhaven; Dover
Landing Craft of the Ferry Service
Chichester; Langstone; Harbor; Poole
Tugs; Salvage Vessels; Accommodation Ships; Maintenance Vessels.
Ports between Flamouth and Southend
Escorts and Minesweepers
With their convoys
Western Task Force Bombarding Ships
Clyde
Eastern Task Force Bombarding Ships
Belfast
Blockships (CORNCOBS)
Oban

Mulberry Units:-
  PHOENIX
Selsey; Dungeness and a reserve in the Thames
  BOMBARDON
Portland
  WHALE
Solent and Selsey
  Tugs
Portland and Spithead

Assault Timetable :

H-10 hours. The leading minesweepers were to cross the latitude of 50°05' North and precede each Assault Force across the suspected enemy minefield to the transport areas which were 7 - 11 miles from the beaches. Ten channels would be swept and danned, two being allocated to each assault force.

  HOURS :
H-6 to H-4
Minesweepers to pass the transport areas.
H-4½
U.S. Landing and Bombarding Ships to reach transport areas.
H-3½
U.S. L.S.T. to arrive as transport areas.
H-2
First British L.C.T. to arrive at lowering positions (transport area).
H-2
U.S. L.C.A. (Wave 1) to depart from transport area.

  MINUTES :
H-103 to H-78
U.S. Waves 2 to 5 to depart from transport area.
H-100
British Landing Ships to reach lowering positions.
H-45
D.D. Tanks leave departure line (4000 yards from beach).
H-30 to H
Bombardment by warships, and gunfire support craft to begin.
H-5
D.D. Tanks to beach.
H to H plus 50
L.C.V.P. and L.C.A. carrying infantry and obstacle clearing parties to beach. (preceded by L.C.A. (H.R).
H plus 45
First L.C.I. (L) to beach.
H plus 60
First L.C.T. (Vehicles and Self-propelled artillery) land.
H plus 60 to H plus 3½ hours
L.C.T. and L.C.I. (L) beach.

BOMBARDING SHIPS :

Assault Force
 
Bombardment Force
 
Ships
 

Eastern Task Force
S
D
Warspite
Ramillies
Mauritius(C.S.2.)
Arethusa
10 Fleets
Frobisher
Dragon
Danae
Roberts
3 Hunts
J
E
Belfast
7 Fleets
Diadem
4 Hunts
G
K
ORION
AJAX
D.S.FLORES
9 Fleets
ARGONAUT
EMERALD

4 Hunts
E.T.F Reserve
 
Rodney Sirius

Western Task Force
O
C
Texas (R.A.Bryant)
Arkansas
GLASGOW
9 U.S. Destroyers
F.S.Montcalm(Flag)
F.S.Georges Leygues

3 Hunts
U
A
NEVADA
Erebus
Tuscaloosa(R.A.DEYO)
Enterprise
8 U.S. Destroyers
QUINCY
Hawkins
Black Prince
D.S.Soemba
W.T.F Reserve
 
Augusta (NCWTF Flag)
5 U.S. Destroyers
Bellona