Juno Shipping.

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Trux, Nov 24, 2013.

  1. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    This topic started partly to answer, in part, a query on 'LCP(L) Survey' and partly in hope of finding more information on Juno Shipping. To start with:

    Nan Green and Regina Rifles.

    Regina Rifles
    ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies land together with assault demolition parties and mine clearance parties from 6 Canadian Field Company. Two Forward Observation parties from 13 Field Regiment RCA, one per company, and two Forward Observation Officers Bombardment teams also land after directing fire of the SP guns on the run in.

    Serials 1044 to 1048 were 5 LCAs of 505 Assault Flotilla from LSI J14 Isle of Thanet carrying
    127 men from ‘A’ Company
    18 men from 6 Canadian Field Company RCE. Demolition and mine clearing teams.
    3 men from 13 Canadian Field Regiment SP. Forward Observation Officer.

    Serial 1049 was an LCS(M) of 505 Assault Flotilla from LSI J14 Isle of Thanet carrying
    4 men from 13 Canadian Field Regiment SP. Bombardment Forward Observation Officer No1. To land as required. To observe the effects of the bombardment by field artillery during the run in and to control the fire of Royal Marine Centaurs in support of the infantry companies.


    Serials 1050 to 1054 were 5 LCAs of 510 Assault Flotilla from LSI J15 Invicta carrying
    127 men from ‘B’ Company Regina Rifles
    7 men from Regina Rifles Pioneer Section. To clear wire with Bangalores.
    12 men from 6 Canadian Field Company RCE. Demolition and mine clearing teams.
    3 men from 13 Canadian Field Regiment SP. Forward Observation Officer

    Serial 1055 was an LCS(M) of 510 Assault Flotilla from LSI J15 Invicta carrying
    4 men from 13 Canadian Field regiment SP. Bombardment Forward Observation Officer No2. To land as required. To observe the effects of the bombardment by field artillery during the run in and to control the fire of Royal Marine Centaurs in support of the infantry companies.


    The two assault companies of the Regina Rifles came under only desultory fire on the run in but met with heavy machine gun fire as soon as the LCAs ramps were lowered.

    ‘A’ Company on the right touched down at 0809 on Nan Green. One objective was a strongpoint to the east of the mouth of the River Seulles. This was behind a 10 foot thick concrete sea wall and contained six machine guns, a 50 mm gun, a 75 mm gun and an 88mm gun. All of these were intact despite the air and sea bombardment.

    ‘B’ Company landed further to the left against light opposition and cleared portions of Courseulles. No supporting armour had landed at this time.

    ‘C’ Company landed at 0830, ‘D’ Company at 0855 and Battalion Headquarters at 0900. ‘C’ Company joined in the clearance of Courseulles where there were now DD tanks and Centaurs.

    ‘D’ Company suffered heavy losses due to mines and obstacles which sank two LCA. Only 49 men from the company landed. After re organising it advanced towards Reviere at 0930.

    The Regina Rifles were the only unit whose task immediately on landing was to clear a built up area. The town of Courseulles was divided into twelve blocks, each to be cleared by specific companies. The battalion had trained in street fighting and house clearing and had studied photographs and maps of the town. The strongpoint in Block 1 occupied ‘A’ Company for some time while ‘B’ Company cleared Blocks 2, 3 and 4. ‘C’ Company on landing moved to clear Blocks 8, 9, 10 and 11. ‘A’ Company reported that Block 1 was in their hands and they were ordered to Block 5, 6 and 7. ‘B’ company reported Block 4 clear and was ordered to Block 12.

    ‘A’ Company next reported that it was being fired on from Block 1, which it had just cleared. It seems that enemy troops had returned to the strongpoint via tunnels and trenches. ‘A’ Company had not foreseen this and had not left a force behind to prevent it. They returned and cleared it again with the assistance of two troops of tanks before moving to Blocks 5, 6 and 7. The tanks were probably one troop from ‘B’ Squadron, 6 Canadian Armoured Regiment and ‘S’ Troop 2 RMASR.

    Eventually the entire battalion concentrated at Reviers. The remnants of ‘D’ Company had arrived at about 1100 hours. ‘C’ Company followed on completion of their tasks. Battalion Headquarters arrived around 1500 hours. ‘B’ and ‘A’ arrived later.






    H+20 minutes.
    Nan Green
    Regina Rifles
    Serials 1068 to 1073 were 6 LCAs of 577 Assault Flotilla from LSI J16 Llangibby Castle carrying
    127 men from ‘C’ Company Regina Rifles
    15 men from Battalion Headquarters Regina Rifles
    8 men from Regina Rifles Pioneer Platoon
    6 men from Regina Rifles Mortar Platoon
    6 men from Regina Rifles AT Platoon
    3 men from Regina Rifles. Unit Landing Officers party.

    3 men from 13 Canadian Field Regiment SP RCA. Forward Observation Officer.
    1 man from Headquarters 7 Canadian Brigade. Padre for Regina Rifles.
    5 men from ‘A’ Company, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG)
    1 man from 7 Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment. Troop Commander.

    2 men from RN Beach Party.
    3 men from RN 13 Beach Signals.
    4 men from 14 Beach Signals.


    Serials 1074 to 1079 were 6 LCAs of 511 Assault Flotilla from LSI J17 Mecklenburg carrying
    127 men from ‘D’ Company, Regina Rifles.
    15 men from Battalion Headquarters Regina Rifles.
    7 men from Regina Rifles Mortar Platoon.
    6 men from Regina Rifles AT Platoon.
    3 men from 13 Canadian Field Regiment SP RCA. Forward Observation Officer.
    2 men with a handcart from J Section (7 Brigade), 3 Canadian Division Signals.

    19 men from 14 Canadian Field Ambulance. Assault Section.
    1 man from 7 Reconnaissance Regiment. Troop Commander.
    1 man from 6 Canadian Field Company RCE. Platoon Headquarters.


    The following will be ferried ashore from a LCH by LCA as required.
    Serial 1081 is a LCH.
    7 men from Regina Rifles. Command Group.
    3 men from 3 Canadian Division. Contact Detachment.
    1 man from ‘J’ Section (7 Brigade), 3 Canadian Division Signals
    2 men from ‘F’ Section (13 Field Regiment), 3 Canadian Division Signals
    3 men from 13 Canadian Field SP Regiment RCA. Commanding Officer.
    3 men from RN Forward Observation Bombardment Unit F 65

    15 men from RN Beach Parties. For Mike Red.
    8 men from RN 13 Beach Signals. For Mike Red.
    7 men with 3 handcarts from 14 Beach Signals. For Mike Red.
    Presumably the above were landed directly onto Mike Red and not on Nan Green. At this time there was no way of crossing the River Seulles which divided the two beaches.

    Forward Observation Bombardment Party 65. Support Regina Rifles on Nan Green. It was allocated HMS Fury with which it communicated on FOB frequency Jig 2. A Jeep with heavier wireless sets lands H+60 to H+75.
     
    CL1, 4jonboy, Swiper and 1 other person like this.
  2. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Juno has by far the most interesting set of LSI. Mostly ferries in peacetime.

    Force J LSI.

    Assault Group J1.
    7 Canadian Brigade.

    J11. HMS Ulster Monarch. LSI(H). 521 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J12. Canterbury. LSI(H). 509 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J13. Lairds Isle. LSI(H). 516 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J14. Isle of Thanet. LSI(H). 505 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J15. HMS Invicta. LSI(H). 510 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J16. Llangibby Castle. LSI(L). 577 Assault Flotilla. 14 X LCA.
    J17. Mecklenburg. LSI(H). 511 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J18. HMS Queen Emma. LSI(M). 526 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA.
    J19 Duke of Argyle. LSI(H). 517 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J20. HMCS Prince Henry. LSI(M). 528 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA.


    Assault Group J2.
    8 Canadian Brigade.

    J30. Monowai. LSI(L). Assault Flotilla 554, 10 LCA and 556, 9 LCA.
    J31. Clan Lamont. LSI(L). 558 Assault Flotilla. 17 X LCA.
    J32. HMS Duke of Wellington. LSI(H). 506 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J33. Isle of Guernsey. LSI(H). 518 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J34. Brigadier. LSI(H). 513 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J35. HMS St Helier. LSI(H). 515 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.
    J36. HMCS Prince David. LSI(M). 529 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA.
    J37. Lady of Mann. LSI(H). 512 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA.

    Mike
     
    CL1 likes this.
  3. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks MIke,

    Ulster Monarch and St Helier were not HMS, Brigadier was.

    Roy
     
  4. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Roy,

    The official Neptune lists give both Ulster Monarch and St Helier as being HMS and commanded by Lieutenant Commanders. On D Day at least they seem to have been HMS.

    Mike
     
  5. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Simply fantastic material.
     
  6. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    'ULSTER MONARCH' would have been HMS - Requisitioned by the Admiralty in October 1940 and converted to an LSI(H) and returned to owner in 1945.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  7. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Sorry, my mistake!
     
  8. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    For completeness and interest I add the following:

    Assault Group J4.
    Carries Commandos and Rangers.

    LCI(H).
    Amsterdam. 522 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA. For Force O.
    Ben My Chree. 520 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA. For Force O.
    Maid of Orleans. 514 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA. For Force S.
    Princess Margaret. 523 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA. For Force J.
    Princess Maud. 519 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA. For Force O.
    Victoria. 508 Assault Flotilla. 6 X LCA. For Force G

    LSI(S).
    HMS Prins Albert. 503 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA. For Force J.
    HMS Princes Astrid. 500 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA. For Force S.
    HMS Prince Baudoin. 507 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA. For Force O.
    HMS Prince Charles. 501 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA. For Force O.
    HMS Princess Charlotte. 502 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA. For Force G.
    HMS Prince Leopold. 504 Assault Flotilla. 8 X LCA. For Force O.

    Mike
     

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