I have made an attempt to record the landings on and operation of Omaha Beach. Rather than offer it as a finished and polished work I offer it as a work in progress. I am sure that others will have additions and corrections. For today only the first five minutes will be posted. Mike.
OMAHA. THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES. THE ASSAULT COMPANIES LAND. The Tank Battalions land. 743 Tank Battalion on Omaha West. 741 Tank Battalion on Omaha East. The Assault Infantry Companies land. 116 Infantry Regiment on Omaha West. 16 Infantry Regiment on Omaha East. The Gapping Teams land. Teams 1 to 8 on Omaha West. Teams 9 to 16 on Omaha East. The plan was for amphibious DD tanks to be in position in the surf to give covering fire to the infantry as they landed. Eight infantry companies were to land at the same time, spread evenly across the frontage. Behind the assault infantry Gapping Teams were to land and begin to clear beach obstacles. H Hour at Sea. As the first wave of assault troops reach the beach at H Hour there is an orderly procession of waves of craft forming and following. It was planned that the DD tanks, the assault companies of infantry and the wading tanks in their LCT(A)s and LCT(HE)s should be at the water’s edge around H Hour. At that time the LCG(L)s will be 600 yards from the shore in the empty lanes on either side of the boat lanes. They will be ready to give supporting fire. 800 yards from shore will be the LCT(R)s which will have fired their rockets and be about to retire. The LCVPs, LCAs and LCMs of waves 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be following the first wave. Wave 2 will be 2,400 yards from shore and will have formed line abreast for the final approach when they reached the line of departure at 4,000 yards from shore. Wave 3 will be 4,800 yards from shore and still in echelon or line astern. Wave 4 will be 7,200 yards from shore and be in echelon or line astern. Wave 5 will be 9,600 yards from shore. The LCTs carrying self propelled artillery will be 10,000 yards from shore and having finished their initial shoot on the run in will now be about to turn to the sides and move back out to sea along the return lanes. Mike
OMAHA WEST. H-5 Minutes. The Sherman DD tanks of 743 Tank Battalion land. The DD tanks should have been launched from LCT(6)s an hour earlier, 6,000 yards out to sea, and then swum in. In the event the LCT squadron commander and the tank battalion commander decided that the weather was too bad for safe launching and the LCTs landed the DD tanks in shallow water from where they could wade in. Ideally the DD tanks should have reached the water’s edge and lowered the front of the flotation screens. They were then to remain at the water’s edge to provide fire support for the infantry who were timed to land immediately afterwards. The tanks kept the rear part of the flotation screen erected to prevent the engines being swamped. The reason for remaining in the surf at the water’s edge was to give some protection from enemy fire. Ideally the tank should move forward up the beach as the tide came in. This was difficult to remember with everything else that was happening and some were swamped by the rising tide. The LCT(6) was used to carry the DD tanks because of the shape of its hold. it was designed to allow vehicles to load at the stern and pass down the craft to land through the bows. In order that the DD tanks could manoeuvre through the narrow bow section and reach the ramp, whether for launching out at sea or on the beach, without damaging the flotation skirts they were stowed in line astern down the centre of the LCT(6). The layout of the LCT(6) allowed this but the LCT(5) was not suitable since it did not have a long enough hold. A number of minor modifications were made to the LCT(6) carrying DD tanks. To ensure that the bow ramp was at the correct height and angle for launching the tanks a pair of beams were welded to the bows. These had strong chains which held the ramp in position when it had been lowered at sea. To prevent the tanks rudders and propellers catching on the edge of the ramp, and to further improve the angle at which tanks entered the water, a pair of extensions were fitted to the ramp. These were just wide enough to accommodate the tanks tracks, leaving a space between. To assist the driver, and the crew guiding him, white lines were painted down the centre of the LCT tank deck to assist with lining up, white lines were painted where the tanks tracks should go to line up with the ramp extensions and metal guides were welded to the end of the tank deck. For the assault the LCT(6) were still a part of Assault Group O2 and after launching or landing the DD tanks they were to move to the side, clear the approach lanes and return to the APAs in the transport area. Here they collected more personnel. Each of the LCT(6) was loaded in the UK with Jeeps. These were stowed along the sides of the hold and each had an army driver also on board. They were planned to return to the beach at H+215 minutes. After completing this task the LCT(6) were to report to the Ferry Service and would remain in the area to discharge shipping of the Follow Up and Shuttle Services. These craft were not intended to beach and so had no landing serial number. The numbers given are the individual craft pennant numbers. The plan was that the LCT(6) carrying DD tanks would report to the Transport Area and then be guided to the Launching Point by a Control PC. At the launching point some 6000 yards from shore the LCT(6) were to heave to and launch their DD tanks. They were accompanied by LCP(L) equipped with smoke apparatus. These would screen the area with smoke if the LCTs came under fire. When launched the DD tanks were to form line abreast in platoons and then be guided to shore by LCS(S). When it was decided not to launch the DD tanks the above plan was carried out except of course the LCTs continued to shore guided and supported by the LCS(S). Dog Green. Serial 1212 was LCT(6) 589 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘B’, 743 Tank Battalion. 4 Jeeps and 4 trailers with 10 men from Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Land later. 4 men from 320 Barrage Balloon Battalion. Land later. Serial 1209 was LCT(6) 587 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘B’, 743 Tank Battalion. 4 Jeeps and 4 trailers with 6 men from Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Land later 4 men from 320 Barrage Balloon Battalion. Land later. Serial 1211 was LCT(6) 586 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘B’, 743 Tank Battalion. 4 Jeep with 4 men from 29 MP Company. Land later. 2 Jeep with 4 men from 112 Engineer Combat Battalion. Land later. Serial 1208 was LCT(6) 535 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘B’, 743 Tank Battalion. 3 Jeeps and 2 trailers with 5 men from 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Land later. 2 Jeeps with 3 men from 126 Engineer Combat Battalion. Land later. The above four LCT(6) were to return to APA28 Charles Carrol to collect vehicles and personnel in addition to those already loaded in the UK. Strictly speaking the LTIN Serial numbers given here refer to the second load but are used here to make it easier to identify the craft. Dog White. Serial 1206 was LCT(6) 590 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘C’, 743 Tank Battalion. 3 Jeeps with 3 crew from Medical Detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. Land later. 2 Jeeps with 2 crew from 112 Engineer Combat Battalion. Land later. This craft was to return to LSI(L) Empire Javelin to collect vehicles and personnel in addition to those already loaded in the UK. This was a last minute replacement craft. Serial 1204 was LCT(6) 591 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘C’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 Jeeps and 1 trailer with 3 men from 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Land later. 2 Jeeps with 2 men from 29 MP Platoon. Land later. 2 Jeeps with 3 men from 121 Engineer Combat Battalion. Land later. Serial 1214 was LCT(6) 713 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘C’, 743 Tank Battalion. 4 Jeeps and 4 trailers with 6 men from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Land later. Serial 1213 was LCT(6) 588 carrying 4 X Sherman M4A1 DD tanks with 20 crew from Company ‘C’, 743 Tank Battalion. 4 Jeeps and 4 trailers with 6 men from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Land later. The above three LCT(6) were to return to APA 30 Thomas Jefferson to collect vehicles and personnel in addition to those loaded in the UK. In order that the DD tanks could manoeuvre through the narrow bow section and reach the ramp, whether for launching out at sea or on the beach, without damaging the flotation skirts they were stowed in line astern down the centre of the craft. This left room for Jeeps to be stowed on either side. Each of these vehicles had a driver with them on the craft. After discharging the DD tanks the LCTs returned to the Transport Area and collected personnel from the transports and returned later to the beach to land them and the vehicles H Hour. Wading tanks land. The wading tanks were carried on LCT(A) or LCT(HE) and were to fire on the approach and then land to give close support to the infantry. The LCTs also each carried a Sherman dozer plus other priority vehicles. The LCTs carried men from the Engineer Special Task Force for the crossing. They transferred to LCMs towed by the LCTs for the landing. Dog Green. Serial 1013 was LCT(A) 2227 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 1 X Caterpillar D8 Tractor with 2 crew from Engineer Special Task Force. 38 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Serial 1014 was LCT(A) 2273 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 39 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Dog White. Serial 1017 was LCT(HE) 2124 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 39 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Serial 1015 was LCT(A) 2250 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 39 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Dog Red. Serial 1016 was LCT(A) 2275 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 40 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Serial 1019 was LCT(HE) 2307 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 40 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Easy Green. Serial 1018 was LCT(HE) 2229 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 39 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Serial 1020 was LCT(5) 2075 carrying 2 X Sherman with 10 crew from Company ‘A’, 743 Tank Battalion. 2 X M8 ammunition trailers towed by the Sherman tanks. 1 X Sherman dozer with 5 crew from Tank Dozer Detachment, 743 Tank Battalion. 40 men from Engineer Special Task Force. Transferred to LCM for landing. Sources differ as to whether this or 1016 was an LCT(5) or LCT(CB) There were several small changes in the craft used. By D Day there seem to have been four LCT(A) and four LCT(HE) available plus two LCT(CB) which had been assigned to Force ‘O’ but were not used in the concrete buster role. Mike
743 Tank Battalion. This was an independent tank battalion, not part of a larger regiment or part of an armoured division. On US beaches the organisation of the armour was much as for the British beaches but there were some differences. The battalion had three companies of Sherman medium tanks, two of which were equipped with amphibious DD tanks. The third company was equipped with wading tanks but unlike the equivalent British units these were to be carried in LCT(A) and LCT(HE) and give fire support on the approach on from the shoreline. They were scheduled to land at much the same time as the DD tanks. Company ‘B’ and Company ‘C’ were equipped with sixteen DD tanks each. US DD tanks were Sherman M4A1 (British Sherman II) fitted with flotation equipment manufactured in the US to British designs. They were to be carried on LCT(6), four tanks per craft, and launched 5000 yards from shore at 0530. In the event the naval officer commanding the LCTs considered that the sea was far too rough for launching DD tanks. The officer commanding the DD tanks agreed and the tanks were carried right to the shore and landed direct onto the beach. Company ‘A’ was equipped with sixteen normal wading Sherman M4 medium tanks. They were carried on LCT(A) and LCT(HE) which had platforms at the bows to carry two Sherman tanks so that they could fire from the craft. Each craft also carried a Sherman tankdozer and other vehicles as space allowed. LCT(A) were armoured while LCT(HE) were not. When deployed in line abreast for approaching the beach the LCT(A) were on the outside of each group with the LCT(HE) in the centre. According to some documents two of the LCT(HE) were originally LCT(CB). There do not seem to be any differences. The LCT(CB) was intended to carry Sherman Fireflies as Concrete Busters (CB). The normal company organisation was three troops each of five M4 medium tanks plus a company headquarters which had two M4 medium tanks and one M4 105mm howitzer. For the initial assault each company landed three troops plus a headquarters tank. All medium tanks except the howitzer were 75mm, including the tank dozers. The experiences of the companies differed considerably. Company ‘C’. Company ‘C’ landed at 0624 hours from beached LCT6, two craft with eight Sherman DD on Dog White and two craft with eight Sherman DD on Easy Green. There was considerable anti tank fire but no tanks were hit. It was thought that smoke from grass fires started by the naval bombardment obscured observation from the guns in WN 68. One tank was disabled when it lost a track in the shingle at the top of the beach. (This was a common problem when shingle got between track and wheels and forced the track off in a turn). On Dog White the tanks found no infantry to support since they had been carried to the east by the current and landed on Easy Green. The tide was rapidly rising so the tanks moved along the beach in search of infantry to support. All fifteen operational tanks of the company concentrated near exit D1 and fired on the defences of WN68, 70 and 71. One tank caught fire when its liferaft was hit and ignited. At the end of the day Company ‘C’ had fourteen tanks operational and had lost only one officer and four men wounded. Company ‘B’. Company ‘B’ had a more difficult landing. It should have landed sixteen Sherman M4 from beached LCT(6)s on Dog Green. It came under heavy fire from an 88mm anti tank gun and a 75mm anti tank gun in WN72 and two 75mm anti tank guns in WN70. The LCT carrying the officer commanding was sunk by gunfire when immediately off shore and four tanks were disabled before they reached shore. The remaining tanks joined with Company ‘C’. By the end of the day seven tanks had been lost. Company ‘A’. Landed on Dog Red in front of Les Moulins. Two of the LCT(A) were hit before beaching and only one Sherman got ashore. Three Sherman and two Sherman tankdozers were lost. Thirteen Sherman and six Sherman tankdozers landed and attempted to advance through Exit D3 but failed. The company shifted to Exit D1 and joined the remainder of the battalion. According to the plan Company ‘A’ should have landed two LCT on each of the four beaches. This would have given each beach two tank dozers. Headquarters. The commanding officer landed at H+90 minutes with six reserve and headquarters tanks. The CO was mortally wounded while attempting to direct fire against the 88mm gun at WN72 from outside the tank. By the end of the day another five tanks and all but one tankdozer had been lost. Mike.
OMAHA EAST. H-10 Minutes. The DD tanks from 741 Tank Battalion land. Easy Red. The plan was that the LCT(6) carrying DD tanks would report to the Transport Area and then be guided to the Launching Point by PC 552. At the launching point some 6000 yards from shore the LCT(6) were to heave to and launch their DD tanks. They were accompanied by LCP(L) equipped with smoke apparatus. These would screen the area with smoke if the LCTs came under fire. In the event the smoke was not needed and in the windy conditions would probably not have been effective. When launched the DD tanks were to form line abreast in platoons and then be guided to shore by LCS(S). There were seven LCS(S), three from LST 6, three from LST 376 and one from AP 26 Samuel Chase. After launching the DD tanks the LCT(6) were to report to APA 45 Henrico and then carry small vehicle to the beach. When the LCS(S) had escorted the DD tanks to shore they were to report to PC 552 for duty as Traffic Control and Despatch Boats. Four LCT(6) launch DD tanks. Serial 2182 is LCT(6) 603 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘B’, 741 Tank Battalion. 2 Jeeps and 2 men from 32 Field Artillery Battalion. Land later. 4 Jeeps and 4 men from 18 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Serial 2183 is LCT(6) 537 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘B’, 741 Tank Battalion. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company 'A', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company 'B', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep and 1 man from Prisoner of War Interrogation Team. Land later. Jeep and 1 man from Company 'B', 741 Tank Battalion. Land later. Serial 2184 is LCT(6) 600 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘B’, 741 Tank Battalion. Jeep, trailer and 1 man from Company 'C', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. 2 Jeeps, 1 trailer and 3 men from Company 'D' (Weapons), 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. 2 Jeeps and 7 men from Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment, 1 Division. Land later. Jeep and 1 man from Language Interpretation Team. Land later. Serial 2185 is LCT(6) 599 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘B’, 741 Tank Battalion. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company 'E', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company 'F', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company 'G', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep and 2 men from Headquarters and Service Company, 1 Engineer Combat Battalion, 1 Division. Land later. Jeep and 2 men from 210 MP Company, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Land later. After launching DD tanks these four LCT(6) return to APA 45 Henrico in the Transport Area. Fox Green. The plan was that the LCT(6) carrying DD tanks would report to the Transport Area and then be guided to the Launching Point by PC 553. At the launching point some 6000 yards from shore the LCT(6) were to heave to and launch their DD tanks. They were accompanied by LCP(L) equipped with smoke apparatus. These would screen the area with smoke if the LCTs came under fire. In the event the smoke was not needed and in the windy conditions would probably not have been effective. When launched the DD tanks were to form line abreast in platoons and then be guided to shore by LCS(S). There were five LCS(S), four from LST 324 and one from APA 45 Henrico. After launching the DD tanks the LCT(6) were to report to AP 26 Samuel Chase and then carry small vehicles to the beach. When the LCS(S) had escorted the DD tanks to shore they were to report to PC 553 for duty as Traffic Control and Despatch Boats. Four LCT(6) launch DD tanks. Serial 2186 is LCT(6) 601 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘C’, 741 Tank Battalion. 2 Jeeps, 1 trailer and 4 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company ‘I’, 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 1 man from Company ‘A’, 1 Medical Battalion. Land later. Serial 2187 is LCT(6) 598 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘C’, 741 Tank Battalion. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company 'K', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 2 men from Company 'L', 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. 2 Jeeps and 4 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Serial 2188 is LCT(6) 602 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘C’, 741 Tank Battalion. 2 Jeeps, 1 trailer and 2 men from Company 'M' (Weapons), 16 Infantry Regiment. Land later. Jeep and 1 man from Company 'C', 741 Tank Battalion. Land later. Jeep and 1 man from Headquarters Company, 741 Tank Battalion. Land later. Jeep and 1 man from Service Battery, 7 Field Artillery Battalion. Land later. Serial 2189 is LCT(6) 549 carrying 4 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks and 20 men from Company ‘C’, 741 Tank Battalion. Jeep, trailer and 1 man from Battery 'A', 7 Field Artillery Battalion. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 1 man from Battery 'B', 7 Field Artillery Battalion. Land later. Jeep, trailer and 1 man from Battery 'C', 7 Field Artillery Battalion. Land later. Jeep and 1 man from Company 'A', 741 Tank Battalion. Land later. After launching DD tanks these four LCT(6) return to APA 26 Samuel Chase in the Transport Area. The jeeps and trailers were loaded in the UK and were landed later in the day along with other vehicles collected from the APAs. H Hour. Wading tanks from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion land. Easy Red. Serial 2001 is an LCT(HE) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks and 10 men from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer and 5 men from 741 Tank Battalion. After landing tanks this LCT(HE) returns to AP 67 Dorothea L Dix in the Transport Area. Serial 2002 is an LCT(HE) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks and 10 men from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer and 5 men from 741 Tank Battalion. After landing tanks this LCT(HE) returns to AP 67 Dorothea L Dix in the Transport Area. Serial 2003 is an LCT(HE) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks and 10 men from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer and 5 men from 741 Tank Battalion. After landing tanks this LCT(HE) returns to AP 67 Dorothea L Dix in the Transport Area. Serial 2004 is an LCT(5) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks and 10 men from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer and 5 men from 741 Tank Battalion. After landing tanks this LCT(5) returns to AP 77 Thurston in the Transport Area. Fox Green. Serial 2005 is an LCT(A) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer. After landing tanks this LCT(A) returns to AP 77 Thurston in the Transport Area. Serial 2006 is an LCT(A) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer. After landing tanks this LCT(A) returns to AP 76 Anne Arundel in the Transport Area. Serial 2007 is an LCT(A) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer. After landing tanks this LCT(A) returns to AP 76 Anne Arundel in the Transport Area. Serial 2008 is an LCT(A) carrying 2 Sherman M4A1 tanks from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion. Sherman M4A1 tank dozer. After landing tanks this LCT(A) returns to AP 76 Anne Arundel in the Transport Area. Mike
741 Tank Battalion. 741 Tank Battalion was to land two companies of sixteen amphibious DD Sherman M4A1 tanks at H-10 minutes. They would be followed by the third company at H Hour. Company ‘B’ with DD tanks was to support 2 Battalion Landing Team on Easy Red while Company ‘C’ also with DD tanks was to support 3 Battalion Landing Team on Fox Green. Company ‘A’ with wading tanks was to land on the boundary between Easy Red and Fox Green and initially support 3 Battalion Landing Team Company ‘B’ and Company ‘C’ were equipped with 16 Sherman M4A1 DD tanks each. They were to be carried to a point some 5,000 yards from shore by LCT(6). They were then to be launched at 0540 hours and led to shore. It was recognised that the weather might be unsuitable for launching in which case the LCT(6) could take them all the way to shore, or close to, as seemed best in the circumstances. The decision was to be taken by the senior officer present, army or navy. In this case the senior officers were army captains and although the senior naval officer present had a greater knowledge of sea conditions he was over ruled. At H-60 minutes Companies ‘B’ and ‘C’ were in position at the Launching Point. The Captain commanding Company ‘B’ contacted the Captain commanding Company ‘C’ by radio and they discussed the advisability of launching. The sea conditions were much more severe than had been encountered in trials and exercises but it was decided that the balance of advantage was in favour of launching. The order to launch was given at H-50 minutes. There was some difficulty in controlling the DD tanks once launched since the LCTs had become scattered and when the tanks were launched there was no visual contact between company commanders and platoon commanders. According to the after action report of 741 Tank Battalion Company ‘B’ launched twelve DD tanks from three LCTs but the ramp of the fourth LCT was damaged by the first tank to attempt to exit. The tank sank and the commander decided to beach the craft. The DD tanks were soon in difficulty as the rough seas damaged struts, tore canvas screens and flooded engines. Two DD tanks from Company ‘B’ made it to the shore, and three were landed from the LCT which beached. Company ‘C’ lost all of its sixteen DD tanks. Thus from two companies only five tanks out of thirty two made it to shore. 33 men were lost and the rest of the crews were rescued by accompanying craft. The rescued personnel were returned to the UK on transports and LCTs. Company ‘A’ fared better. It was to be landed on the beach by LCT(A)s. Each craft carried two Sherman M4A1 fitted with deep wading trunks and one Sherman tank dozer similarly fitted. One of the LCT(6) hit a mine and sank together with its tanks. One other LCT(A) arrived much later. The remaining twelve tanks and six tankdozers made it as far as the shore. By the end of the day hardly any of the tanks remained in action. Company ‘A’ landed with twelve tanks of which: One was swamped on the beach as the tide came in. Five threw tracks on the shingle. They could fire but not move. Three were knocked out by anti tank guns. Two were disabled by mines. One was lost to causes unknown. None of the tanks that landed remained in action at the end of the day. Company ‘B’ landed five tanks, two swimming and three landed from a beached LCT(6). Two were lost on the beach. Two were knocked out in an assault on WN62 around 1100 hours. One remained in action at the end of the day. Company ‘C’ lost all of its tanks at sea. Of the six tank dozers that landed four were lost and two remained in action at the end of the day. The tank dozers which landed on Easy Red found plenty of work to do in clearing beach obstacles, opening roads and helping to unload landing craft. At 0820 the Commanding Officer, 741 Tank Battalion landed with his S3 officer, operations serjeant, intelligence serjeant and a radio operator with a SCR 503 radio. Attempts to contact the tanks on the beach failed because the radio was damaged by sea water. Members of the command group contacted tanks individually and positioned them, controlled fire and established control. Both serjeants and the radio operator became casualties. At 1100 the combat team commander ordered all tanks capable of operating to go into battle positions near the E3 exit. The three operational tanks of Company ‘B’ were placed to fire on enemy emplacements. Two of the three tanks were destroyed Between 1200 and 1500 no action was possible as no specific targets could be identified. One reserve tank landed at 1300 and joined in obstacle removal on the beach. This tank joined 745 Tank Battalion and rejoined 741 Tank Battalion in the afternoon of D+1. At 1500 a command halftrack landed on Easy Red and was able to establish radio communications. A T2 Tank Recovery Vehicle also landed and started to salvage and repair tanks on the beach. At 1530 four reserve tanks and a TRV landed on Easy Red. Two tanks were for Headquarters Company and one for each of ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies. The TRV was from Service Company. All were sent to the Assembly Area. At 1700 the combat team commander ordered all units of the battalion to move to exit E1 and assemble 500 yards east of St Laurent. Surviving personnel from tanks also reported here and helped form a defensive position. At 1900 two Jeeps arrived, landing from LCTs. During the evening assistance was given to 16 and 18 RCTs in clearing machine gun nests which were causing concern to the infantry. One tank was requested and supplied to 16 RCT at 2000 and three tanks supported 18 RCT at 2015. Three 2½ ton trucks arrived during the night with loads of petrol. During the afternoon four reserve tanks landed and remained in action. The tanks that made it to shore took part in the assaults on strongpoints in support of infantry. Two tanks together with AA guns mounted on halftracks and fire from USS Frankford, supported the attack by 2 Battalion, 18th Infantry on WN 65. One tank knocked out the 88mm anti tank gun at WN 61 about 0720. One tank knocked out the casemate at WN 62 about 0745. In the afternoon of D Day Company ‘B’, 745 Tank Battalion landed and moved inland. (See below) An enquiry found that the senior army captain was at fault in making the decision to launch the DD tanks but also found that the senior naval officer present should, with his superior knowledge of sea conditions, should have objected. The British did things differently. Since good communication existed between the LCT flotilla and the Assault Group commander, and between the tank company and the regimental headquarters afloat, the decision making was shared between all four. US forces believed in decision making, and responsibility, at lower levels. Mike
The tanks. Sherman M4A1 DD. These were the cast hull version of the Sherman M4. Otherwise it was the same as the basic M4 with the Wright Cyclone aero engine. These were late model with revised turrets having separate hatches for commander and gunner. 350 M4A1 DD were ordered and were produced from February 1944. All seem to have been delivered in time for D Day. 80 were transferred to the British and 48 surplus tanks were sent to the Mediterranean The wading Sherman tanks were standard M4A1 75mm models but some had been modified to mount rocket launchers. It was originally intended that the tanks carried by LCT(A) and LCT(HE) would have turret mounted T40 Demolition Rocket Launchers which would give them a similar capability as the AVRE Petard. They were rejected for use on D Day when it was thought that the extra weight high up would further affect the stability of the LCT, which was already affected by armour and the position of tanks on raised platforms. Anyway crews did not like them. They made exit from the turret hatches difficult and high explosive close overhead was a worry. The M8 ammunition trailer was a Limited Standard armoured trailer which could be towed by tanks or other armoured vehicles. It could be used to carry petrol in Jerricans or ammunition. In this case the trailers carried 93 rounds of 75mm ammunition. Trailers had tow hooks at the rear so that they could be hitched together. This was usually done when collecting empty or jettisoned trailers. Tank crews in general disliked towing trailers but here the purpose was to get a reserve of ammunition ashore. Mike
A Tank Company. Headquarters. Sherman M4 75mm. SCR 300 and SCR 508. Captain, corporal radio operator/loader, gunner, driver, bow gunner. Sherman M4 75mm. SCR 528. Serjeant, corporal radio operator/loader, gunner, driver, bow gunner. Sherman M4 105mm. SCR 528. Serjeant, corporal radio operator/loader, gunner, driver, bow gunner. Jeep. SCR 510. Communications Serjeant, corporal. Serjeant may change places with Captain. Maintenance. Halftrack M3. SCR 510. Tank Recovery Vehicle M32. SCR 528. Jeep and Trailer. 1st Lieutenant. Technical Serjeant. Armourer Mechanic, artillery 3 X mechanic tank Radio repair Administration, Mess and Supply. 2½ ton truck and 1 ton trailer. 1st serjeant. Mess serjeant Supply serjeant Corporal Clerk 2 X cook Cooks helper Driver 6 X general duty. 3 X Platoon each: Tank 1. Sherman M4. SCR 300 and SCR 508. Lieutenant, corporal, gunner, driver T4, bow gunner. Tank 2. Sherman M4. SCR 528. serjeant, corporal, gunner, driver T5, bow gunner. Tank 3. Sherman M4. SCR 528. serjeant, corporal, gunner, driver T5, bow gunner. Tank 4. Sherman M4. SCR 300 and SCR 528. Staff serjant, corporal, gunner, driver T4, bow gunner. Tank 5. Sherman M4. SCR 528. serjeant, corporal, gunner, driver T5, bow gunner. 1 Platoon has 1st Lieutenant. 2 and 3 Platoon have 2nd Lieutenant. Note. The platoon is larger than a British one but it can be divided into two with Tank 4 and 5 operating separately. Mike
OMAHA WEST. 116 Regimental Combat Team. THE ASSAULT INFANTRY COMPANIES LAND. H+1 Minute. This wave boarded the LCVP and LCA and departed from the Transport Area at H-115 minutes. This would allow them to travel at six knots and be ready to leave the line of departure at H-20 minutes. 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Company ‘A’ should land on Dog Green. 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Company ‘G’ should land on Dog White. Company ‘F’ should land on Dog Red. Company ‘E’ should land on Easy Green. Dog Green. 6 X LCA of 551 LCA Flotilla from LSI(L) Empire Javelin land ‘A’ Company, 116 Infantry Regiment. On a British LSI(L) the LCA flotilla has a separate identity. Craft have initials painted on sides and stern to identify them. In this cast ‘E J’. Serial 1021 is an LCA of 551 LCA Flotilla from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 32 men from Company ‘A’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1022 is an LCA of 551 LCA Flotilla from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 32 men from Company ‘A’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1023 is an LCA of 551 LCA Flotilla from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 32 men from Company ‘A’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1024 is an LCA of 551 LCA Flotilla from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 32 men from Company ‘A’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1025 is an LCA of 551 LCA Flotilla from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 32 men from Company ‘A’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1026 is an LCA of 551 LCA Flotilla from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 32 men from Company ‘A’, 116 Infantry Regiment. The remainder of the assault companies were landed from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson. Companies ‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ are all from 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Company ‘H’ (Weapons) will follow at H+30 minutes. LCVP from US APAs are an organic part of the ship and carry its number as identification. In this case 30 followed by the crafts individual number. Dog White. 6 X LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson land Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1027 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1028 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1029 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1030 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1031 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1032 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Dog Red. 6 X LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson land Company ‘F’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1033 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘F’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1034 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘F’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1035 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘F’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1036 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘F’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1037 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘F’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1038 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘F’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Easy Green. 6 X LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson land Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1039 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1040 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1041 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1042 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1043 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1044 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 32 men from Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. The assault companies each formed six identical boatloads. On D Day the landing craft carried 31 men plus an officer which, given the amount of weaponry, equipment and ammunition that they carried, made the craft very over crowded. Each boatload was a careful balance of riflemen, support weapon teams and pioneers. Some have described the teams as augmented half platoons but perhaps it is easier to visualise them as ad hoc teams with personnel taken from several sub units. Each team consisted of: Team leader. Lieutenant. A nine man rifle team. Each carried a Garand M1 rifle with 98 rounds of ammunition. Four carried wire cutters. Two two man BAR Teams. Each team with a BAR and 900 rounds of ammunition. A four man 60mm mortar team. Carry a 60mm mortar and 15 to 20 rounds of ammunition. Two two man bazooka teams. A two man flame thrower team. A five man demolition team. Carry Bangalore torpedoes and explosives. Medic. Assistant leader. Serjeant. Total 31 men. The landing tables for 116 Regimental Combat Team give 32 men. Almost certainly the extra man is from the Battalion Medical Section. The tables for 16 Regimental Combat Team give craft loads of 31 plus a man from the Battalion Medical Section. The teams had trained together for many months and had practiced in particular the assault of strongpoints and bunkers. Photographs show that as well as the weapons and ammunition the team carried Bangalores to blow gaps in wire, pole charges for use against bunkers and explosives, all often tied to inflatable life preservers. Men of the assault waves wore assault jackets and life preservers. All personnel carried gas masks and a percentage of each group wore a gas detecting brassard. Weapons were protected by a waterproof cover to keep out water and sand. However many troops unwrapped their weapons before beaching and thus found them to be waterlogged and clogged with sand when they came to use them. It is not easy to give an account of the assault companies. The landing was far from straightforward or according to plan. Most craft arrived more or less on time but many were in the wrong place. Company ‘E’ landed so far from its planned location that it fought with 16 RCT instead of 116 RCT. Company ‘A’ landed on Dog Green, in the correct place and at the correct time but met such heavy fire from in front and from each flank that they suffered very heavy casualties. The first LCA grounded on a sandbank some 1,000 yards from shore. The remaining craft grounded on shoals some 300 yards from shore. Between the craft and the beach was a band of deep water in which many drowned and most of the rest became casualties. One craft was hit by mortar fire and disintegrated. The enemy machine gun crews held their fire until craft beaches and the ramp was lowered and then fired directly into the craft before any of the troops could get out. Almost immediately the company was reduced a about a third of its strength and those survivors were sheltering behind beach obstacles. Most of the officers and NCOs were casualties since they exited the craft first. The remnants of Company ‘A’ would remain sheltering behind beach obstacles or behind the sea wall and shingle bank at the top of the beach until more troops arrived. They were isolated because Company ‘G’ on their left had landed well to the east leaving Dog White with no troops. The company of 2 Rangers which landed to the on Charlie were to the right and beyond the defences around Exit D1. The tanks of Company ‘B’, 743 Tank Battalion should have been with Company ‘A’, 116 Infantry but were further to the east. Company ‘G’ drifted to the east and actually landed on Easy Green instead of on Dog White. They did however benefit from being partly hidden by smoke from fires started by the bombardment. Dog White had no troops at all at this time. Company ‘F’ landed slightly to the east of their planned position. Landing near the D3 draw they were partly covered by the smoke but three boats landing to the east were more exposed and suffered fifty per cent casualties before making the shelter of the shingle. Company ‘G’ and Company ‘F’ both landed in much the same place and became intermingled. From east to west (or left to right) there were two boats from ‘G’, then two boats from ‘F’, four boats from ‘G’ and finally four boats from ‘F’. No boats were lost Company ‘E’ drifted a long way to the east. Part of it landed some thousand yards from its intended position while the rest landed another thousand yards to the east and landed on Fox Green. Although these troops joined in the fighting they did so with 16 RCT. H+3 minutes. Company ‘C’, 2 Ranger Battalion land on the extreme west of the landing area, on Charlie. 2 and 5 Ranger Battalions are described separately below. Charlie. 2 X LCA from LSI(S) Prince Charles carrying Company ‘C’, 2 Ranger Battalion. Serial 1045 is an LCA of 501 Flotilla from LSI(S) Prince Charles carrying 34 men from Company ‘C’, 2 Ranger Battalion. Serial 1046 is an LCA of 501 Flotilla from LSI(S) Prince Charles carrying 34 men from Company ‘C’, 2 Ranger Battalion. ‘C’ Company would land on Charlie to cover the western flank of 116 Infantry Regiment. It would then move westwards to make contact with the Pointe du Hoc force. The company found itself pinned down but in the company of a boatload of Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. These two groups started to make their way up the bluffs around 0900 hours. They found paths out of the line of fire from the strongpoints and by 1100 (H+270 minutes) had cleared WN73 and forced the enemy to withdraw from WN72. Mike
OMAHA EAST. 16 REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM. H+1 minute. Four Companies of 16 Infantry Regiment land. Company ‘E’ and Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Land on Easy Red. Company ‘L’ and Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Land on Fox Green. Easy Red. Serials 2009 to 2020 are 12 LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying Company ‘E’ and Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2009 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘E’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2010 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘E’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2011 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘E’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2012 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying Company 'E' Headquarters. 28 men from Company ‘E’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Wireless Party, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Intelligence Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2013 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘E’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2014 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘E’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2015 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2016 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2017 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2018 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying Company 'F' Headquarters. 28 men from Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Wireless Party, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Intelligence Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2019 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2020 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘F’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serials 2009 to 2020 return to APA 45 Henrico after landing troops. Fox Green. Serials 2021 to 2032 are 12 LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying Company ‘L’ and Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2021 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘L’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2022 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘L’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2023 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘L’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2024 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying Company 'L' Headquarters. 28 men from Company ‘L’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Wireless Party, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Intelligence Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2025 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘L’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2026 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘L’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2027 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2028 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2029 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying Company 'I' Headquarters. 28 men from Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Wireless Party, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Intelligence Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2030 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2031 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2032 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘I’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Medical Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serials 2021 to 2032 return to Empire Anvil after landing troops. 16 RCT. The Reality. On the eastern half of Omaha 16 Infantry Regiment met with many of the same problems that 116 Infantry Regiment encountered on the western half. The strong current and problems with control craft caused many craft to drift eastwards and in many cases units landed far from their objectives. Easy Red between Exit E1 and Exit E3 was the most weakly defended stretch of beach and two sections of Company ‘E’ made it to the shingle with relatively few casualties. However much of the equipment was lost when the men waded ashore. The rest of Company ‘E’ were swept along the coast and landed on Fox Green. Before reaching the comparative safety of the shingle bank they lost a third of their men and the company commander. Company ‘F’ was similarly spread with one section landing on the eastern part of Easy Red under heavy fire and only 14 men reached the shore. Some craft had grounded well out on a sand bank and the troops had to wade through water neck deep and so lost much of their equipment. Most of Company ‘F’ however beached opposite the heavily defended Exit E3. One craft section had only seven survivors and overall the company lost half of its troops and six officers. Most casualties occurred as the landing craft ramps were lowered and machine guns raked the troops disembarking or still in the craft. Companies ‘I’ and ‘L’ were scheduled to land on Fox Green but they also drifted to the east and were late in landing. Company ‘L’ was carried too far east and eventually landed on the eastern end of Fox Green and thirty minutes late. It lost a third of its troops in the landing but did manage to land as a coherent unit, with all its sections together and its command structure intact. Company ‘I’ drifted far to the east before the error was corrected. They eventually landed in front of the cliffs at the eastern edge of Fox Green. They were also ninety minutes late. For some time Fox Green was almost devoid of troops and the first small advances were made on Easy Red. Company ‘E’ of 116 Infantry Regiment was also carried to the east and landed on Easy Red instead of Easy Green, and at least on section landed on Fox Green in which case it must have been the only infantry unit there for some time. Since it was not possible to rejoin their own regiment they fought with 16 Infantry Regiment. Mike
THE GAP ASSAULT TEAMS LAND. OMAHA WEST. H+3 Minutes. Gap Assault Teams from 146 Engineer Combat Team land. The LCMs of the Gapping Teams had been towed across the Channel by LCT(A)s and LCT(HE)s. The teams travelled on the towing vessels and transferred to the LCMs in the Transport Area. This proved difficult in the rough seas and some craft were delayed. The Gapping Support Teams were carried across the Channel on LSI(S) Princess Maude. The LCMs were towed across the Channel by craft of the Gunfire Support Group and collected the teams in the Transport area. Again this proved difficult in the rough seas and all were delayed. A Command Team also landed. This group travelled on a LCT(R) which towed the command LCM. The following is from the landing tables dated April. By May 31 extra LCMs had been allocated. This did not affect the Gapping Teams but provided extra reserve craft. Details are given below. Dog Green. Serial 1047 is an LCM carrying 40 men from Gapping Team 1. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. Serial 1049 is an LCM carrying 39 men from Gapping Team 2. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. Arriving some minutes later Serial 1048 is an LCM carrying 39 men from Gapping Support Team A. This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing. Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing. Dog White. 3 X LCM. Serial 1050 is an LCM carrying 39 men from Gapping Team 3. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. Serial 1052 is an LCM carrying 40 men from Gapping Team 4. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. Arriving some minutes later Serial 1051 is an LCM carrying 39 men from Gapping Support Team B. This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing. Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing. Dog Red. Landing some minutes later. Serial 1053 is an LCM carrying 26 men. Demolition Control Boat. Serial 1054 is an LCM carrying 39 men from Gapping Team 5. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing. Serial 1056 is an LCM carrying 40 men from Gapping Team 6. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing. Serial 1055 is an LCM carrying 37 men from Gapping Support Team C. This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing. Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing Easy Green. Serial 1057 is an LCM carrying 39 men from Gapping Team 7. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing. Serial 1059 is an LCM carrying 40 men from Gapping Team 8. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing. Serial 1058 is an LCM carrying 40 men from Gapping Support Team D. This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing. Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing. Serial 1059a is an LCM carrying 26 men. V Corps Control Boat. This LCM towed by LCT(R) for the crossing. This craft was free to land at the commanders discretion. By May 31st thirty six LCM had been allocated to the Special Engineer Task Force. These were assigned numbers within the force. Craft 1 to 8 were to carry the eight Gapping Teams. Craft 17 to 20 carried the Gapping Support Teams. Craft 25 was the Command Craft. Craft 28 to 31 were Reserve Craft. The Gapping Team LCMs. All towed by LCT(A) or LCT(HE). Craft 1 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 1, including NCDU 11. Dog Green. Craft 2 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 2, including NCDU 24. Dog Green. Craft 3 towed by LCT(?) carried Gapping Team 3, including NCDU 27. Dog White. Craft 4 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 4, including NCDU 41. Dog White. Craft 5 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 5, including NCDU 42. Dog Red. Craft 6 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 6, including NCDU 43. Dog Red. Craft 7 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 7, including NCDU 140. Easy Green. Craft 8 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 8, including NCDU 137. Easy Green. Craft 17 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team A, including NCDU 133. Dog Green. Craft 18 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team B, including NCDU 130. Dog White. Craft 19 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team C. Dog Red. Craft 20 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team D, including NCDU 133. Easy Green. Craft 25 towed by LCT(R) carried Command Group 1. Craft 28 towed by LCT(R) was a Reserve Craft. Craft 29 towed by LCT(R) was a Reserve Craft. Craft 30 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft. Craft 31 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft. On May 31st craft personnel loads are listed as: All craft carrying Gapping Teams – 40 men. All craft carrying Gapping Support Teams – 40 men, except Team C with 35 men. Command Craft - 27 men. Reserve Craft no personnel. The spare craft were listed as ‘reserve craft’ in naval orders. On arrival at the transport area they were cast off and joined the assembled LCMs of the Gapping Group. If any of the assault craft were missing the reserve craft was to replace it and collect its team from the towing craft or LSI(S) Princess Maude as appropriate. Reserve craft were already loaded with all the necessary equipment. Remaining reserve craft were to approach the beach and aim to be 1000 yards off their assigned beach by H+20 minutes. They were then to lie to until called in. Gapping Teams. As on all the D Day beaches it was a priority to clear gaps through the beach obstacles. The assault wave was carried in LCAs and LCVPs which were planned to beach on the seaward side of the obstacles. Later waves would arrive when the seaward rows of obstacles were under water and invisible to the crafts crews. Soon larger craft, LCTs and LCIs, would be landing. It was planned that 50 yard wide gaps would be cleared and marked so that craft could beach safely and vehicles make their way from the craft to the top of the beach. Gapping teams for Omaha were provided by the Special Engineer Task Force. There were eight Gapping Teams landing with the assault waves of 116 RCT, numbered logically 1 to 8. Each team consisted of 13 men from Naval Combat Demolition Units, which were trained in underwater demolition, and 28 army engineers from the engineer combat battalions. These were assisted by one Sherman tankdozer per team, landing by LCTs which carried the wading Shermans of 743 Tank Battalion. Gapping Support Teams would land by LCM carrying additional equipment and personnel. One such team was to support each pair of Gapping Teams and were lettered A, B, C and D. The LCMs were towed across the Channel by the LCTs carrying wading Shermans, the personnel being carried on the LCT and transferring off shore before running in to beach. Army personnel for the Gapping Teams and Gapping Support Teams came from 146 Engineer Combat Battalion. Gap Assault Team 1 from ‘A’ Company. Gap Assault Team 2 from ‘A’ Company. Gap Assault Team 3 from ‘A’ Company. Gap Assault Team 4 from ‘A’ Company. Gap Assault Team 5 from ‘B’ Company. Gap Assault Team 6 from ‘C’ Company. Gap Assault Team 7 from ‘B’ Company. Gap Assault Team 8 from ‘B’ Company. Gap Support Team A from ‘C’ Company. Gap Support Team B from ‘C’ Company. Gap Support Team C from ‘C’ Company. Gap Support Team D from ‘B’ Company. Naval personnel for the Gapping Teams came from Naval Combat Demolition Units 11, 22, 23, 24, 27, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 127, 128, 130, 131, 133, 140, 141 and 142. Each team consisted of and officer or petty officer, five ratings trained in underwater demolition, two seamen for the rubber assault boats which carried explosives and five army engineers to assist with placing explosives. Army personnel for the Naval Combat Demolition Units came from 150 men from 2 Division engineers who had been trained in underwater demolition. Naval Combat Demolition Units were to clear the most seaward line of obstacles. It was planned that initially a fifty yard wide gap would be made. The unit would then progressively widen the gap until the entire beach frontage was cleared. Units would then assist the army engineer teams to clear the remaining lines of obstacles and removing the obstacles from the beach area. When it appeared that the outer line of obstacles would be Element ‘C’ In addition to his personal equipment each man in a Gapping Team carried a 40 pound bag of explosives and a pair of wire cutters. Each man also carries one of the following pieces of equipment, Bangalore torpedoes, mine detectors, reels of primacord. Each of the LCMs carried a further 500 pounds of explosives, extra Bangalore torpedoes, mine detectors, gap markers and buoys. They also carried between 75 and a hundred jerry cans of petrol. This was perhaps unwise as explosives and petrol were normally a big no no. The Reality. Details of the work of the Gapping Teams are difficult to find and collate because of the high casualty rate. It is clear that for a variety of reasons they were not successful in clearing gaps before the rising tide prevented further work. Of the eight Gapping Teams landed in support of 116 RCT only two can be considered successful. Team 1 landed almost on time at 0635 but in the wrong place. It should have landed on the extreme right of the assault near the boundary between Dog Green and Charlie. In fact it was carried by the current and landed on Dog White, well to the east. However they set to work and laid all their charges in some 15 minutes and blew an initial 50 yard gap through the defences. In the afternoon they worked to widen the gap to 150 yards. Almost a text book exercise but unfortunately no craft landed here on D Day and the gap was not used. Team 2 landed in more or less the correct place but were an hour late and by that time the rising tide prevented any demolition or clearance work. Team 3 landed in the correct place on Dog White, and on time. As it lowered the ramp of the LCM it was hit by enemy artillery fire which detonated the explosives killing all but one man. No work was possible. Team 4 landed on time and in the correct place but suffered so many casualties that it was unable to lay sufficient charges to clear a complete gap. Thus this was only partially successful and the gap was not cleared until the tide went out. Team 5 landed on Dog Red at the correct time and in the correct place and set all its charges by 0655. However they could not set the charges off because of the numbers of infantry which were landing and taking cover behind them. By the time the area was cleared of infantry the tide had risen and only a partial detonation was achieved. The gap was not sufficiently cleared to be used. Team 6 landed on Easy Green and found that there were relatively few obstacles, only two rows of ramps and one row of hedgehogs, all sparsely distributed. They laid their charges, cleared infantrymen and successfully cleared a 50 yard gap. Later as the tide rose two LCTs heading for the gap missed the markers and struck a mined obstacle thus obstructing much of the gap. Team 7 landed on time and laid its charges but as it was about to detonate them an LCM crashed into the stakes. This detonated several Teller mines which wrecked the LCM, killed many of the personnel on board and cut the demolition cords. Thus the gap was not cleared. Team 8 was on time and in the correct place on Easy Green. It suffered heavy casualties but succeeded in clearing a 50 yard gap. The four Gapping Support Teams had no greater success. All were delayed by the difficulty of transferring to their LCMs, which were themselves late in arriving having had a difficult crossing. Rough seas made this difficult on other beaches also. The craft did not set off until 0600. Gapping Support Team ‘A’ landed at 0710 on Charlie. Here it found ‘C’ Company, 2 Rangers and some of ‘A’ Company 116 Infantry. They prepared charges but they failed to detonate. The other teams arrived late, in the wrong place because of the strong current and suffered heavy casualties. They were unable to carry out clearance work until the tide receded. The command craft for this sector with Command Team 1 on board was late landing, at 0700, and could then only collect the remnants of the various teams to work further up the beaches until the tide receded sufficiently for work to resume. The tank dozers intended to support the work of the gapping teams suffered casualties also. It is not clear how many actually landed on Omaha West but it is reported that only six managed to land on the whole of Omaha. Thus only one operational gap was made, and that was inadequately marked. OMAHA EAST. H+3 Minutes. Gap Assault Teams from 146 and 299 Engineer Combat Battalions land. The LCMs of the Gapping Teams had been towed across the Channel by LCT(A)s and LCT(HE)s. The teams travelled on the towing vessels and transferred to the LCMs in the Transport Area. This proved difficult in the rough seas and some craft were delayed. The Gapping Support Teams LCMs were towed across the Channel by craft of the Gunfire Support Group and collected the teams in the Transport area. The following is from the landing tables dated 31 May. The Gapping Team LCMs. All towed by LCT(A) or LCT(HE). Craft 9 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 9, including NCDU 44. Easy Red. Craft 10 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 10, including NCDU 45. Easy Red. Craft 11towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 11, including NCDU 46. Easy Red. Craft 12 towed by LCT(5) carried Gapping Team 12, including NCDU 22. Easy Red. Craft 13 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 13, including NCDU 23. Easy Red. Craft 14 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 14, including NCDU 141. Easy Red. Craft 15 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 15, including NCDU 138. Fox Green. Craft 16 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 16, including NCDU 142. Fox Green. Craft 21 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team E. Easy Red. Craft 22 towed by LCG(R) carried Gapping Support Team F, including NCDU 131. Easy Red. Craft 23 towed by LCG(R) carried Gapping Support Team G. Easy Red. Craft 24 towed by LCG(R) carried Gapping Support Team H, including NCDU 129. Fox Green. Craft 26 towed by LCT(R) carried Command Group 2. Craft 32 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft. Craft 33 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft. Craft 34 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft. Craft 35 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft. Craft 36 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft. LCMs carrying Engineer Special Task Force land in three waves. H+3 minutes. Easy Red. 6 LCM carry Gapping Assault Teams from Engineer Special Task Force. Serial 2033 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 9. Company ‘C’ 146 Engineer Combat Battalion and 44 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing. Serial 2035 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 10. Company ‘C’ 146 Engineer Combat Battalion and 45 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing. Serial 2036 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 11. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 46 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing. Serial 2038 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 12. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 22 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(5) for the crossing. Serial 2040 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 13. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 23 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. Serial 2042 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 14. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 141 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. Fox Green. 2 LCM carry Gapping Teams from Engineer Special Task Force. Serial 2043 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 15. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 138 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. Serial 2045 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Assault Team 16. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 142 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing. H+8 minutes. Easy Red. 3 LCM carry Gapping Support Teams from Engineer Special Task Force. Serial 2034 is an LCM(3) carrying 37 men from Gapping Support Team E. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCG(L) for the crossing. Serial 2037 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Support Team F. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 131 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(R) for the crossing. Serial 2041 is an LCM(3) carrying 37 men from Gapping Support Team G. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(R) for the crossing. Fox Green. LCM carries Support Team from Engineer Special Task Force. Serial 2044 is an LCM(3) carrying 40 men from Gapping Support Team H. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 129 Naval Combat Demolition Unit. H+25 minutes. Easy Red. 3 LCM carry Reserve Equipment from Engineer Special Task Force. These are listed as reserve craft and have no serial number. Towed across the Channel by LCF. Fox Green. 2 LCM carry Reserve Equipment from Engineer Special Task Force. These are listed as reserve craft and have no serial number. Towed across the Channel by LCF. Command Craft 2 should also land. Serial 2045 is an LCM(3) carrying 27 men from O1 Section Command. This craft also carries reserve explosives. This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(R) for the crossing. Team 9 landed in the centre of Easy Red. One man was killed and three injured when the LCM was hit as the ramp was lowered. The team set their charges and after two attempts set them off. A partial gap was cleared. Team 10 landed on Easy Red and cleared a gap almost 100 yards wide before work was slowed by casualties and the arrival of more landing craft and troops. Team 11 had problems before arriving off the beach. The towing LCT(HE) began to take in more water than the pumps could cope with and was abandoned. The team transferred to the LCM but lost most of their Tetrytol explosive packs and all of their Bangalores. They landed on the eastern end of Easy Red on time but alone. They were pinned down by enemy fire and failed to clear a gap. Team 12 landed on Easy Red slightly early. The team could not move the rubber boat loaded with C2 explosive off the LCM. They wired a sector and placed Tetratol charges but found they could not set it off because of the infantry sheltering behind the obstacles. As they retired up the shore a shell set off the charges killing ten men and wounding nine, as well as many infantrymen. A gap was made however. Team 13 landed on time on Easy Red but suffered heavy casualties while unloading the craft. They managed to set some charges but could not detonate them because of infantry using obstacles as cover. Team 14 landed on Easy Red before time. The LCM coxswain of the LCM thought H Hour was 0620 and they arrived before the tanks and infantry. The army team disembarked but a shell hit the craft destroying it and the rubber boat of explosives, plus the navy team. They were unable to set charges. Team 15 landed on Fox Green ten minutes late. A mortar round hit the explosive laden rubber boat and only four men remained combat effective when they reached shore. No clearance was possible. Team 16 landed on Fox Green on time. A shell struck the craft destroying the rubber boat loaded with explosive and causing casualties. The remaining men set charges but the primacord was cut by mortar fire and the rising tide did not allow another attempt to be made. Support Team E landed at 0640. Support Team F landed at 0700 but was hit by several shells and was unable to carry out any clearance. Support Team G landed at 0650. Support Team H landed at 0710 on Fox Green but was unable to carry out any gapping work until the infantry had begun working inland some time later. The Command Team landed at 0714. It was intended that they would coordinate the work of the various teams and the supporting tankdozers in the enlarging of gaps. At this time there was little that could be done. The heavy casualties made it difficult to obtain accurate reports but it was clear that no gaps were made on Fox Green until after 0900. Some success was reported on Dog Red and this was built upon later. Reports and secondary accounts differ as to when and to what extent gaps were made. There does seem to be agreement on the fact that a wide gap was cleared on Dog Red but that the boundaries were not adequately marked. Some areas of obstacles remained and these were not marked either. It seems that the rubber boats loaded with explosives were a failure. They proved more difficult to unload from the craft than had been thought. Certainly the team assigned to the job could not manage unaided. A high proportion of the explosive laden rubber boats were hit by shell or by mortar rounds and exploded, killing many of the team members. Mike
At this time there should be the following troops ashore. Omaha West. There should be four companies, A, E, F and G, of 116 Infantry Regiment ashore together with embedded engineers and additional specialists from battalion and regimental headquarters. They should be supported by three tank companies from 743 Tank Battalion with a total of 48 Sherman tanks. There should also be eight Sherman dozers and clearance teams from 146 Engineer Combat Team to make a start on clearing the beaches for follow up troops. Omaha East. There should be four companies, E, F, L and I, of 16 Infantry Regiment ashore together with embedded engineers and additional specialists from battalion and regimental headquarters. They should be supported by three tank companies from 741 Tank Battalion with a total of 48 Sherman tanks. There should also be eight Sherman dozers and clearance teams from 146 and 299 Engineer Combat Teams to make a start on clearing the beaches for follow up troops. Of course this was not entirely the case. There should now be a pause while the assault troops move off the beach and secure a beach head, obstacle clearance begins and assault craft withdraw out to sea. There is also a pause while I rest my brain. Any additional information or corrections will be welcome. Mike
I have a correction and an apology. In Post No3 I said that the numbers given for the LCT(6) carrying DD tanks were not the LTIN numbers which is correct. They are in fact the individual crafts Pennant Numbers as carried on the bows of the craft. In part my sentence was misleading since I intended it to refer only to the LCT(6) carrying DD tanks and not the entire thread. Mainly though the error came about because I have spent several years dealing with the British system and failed to appreciate that the US used a slightly different one. I have corrected the post and will later post an explanation of the system of various numbers used to identify craft, craft loads etc. For the moment it is sufficient to say that the LTIN (or serial number as I say) refers to the craft load rather than the craft. Thanks to Michel for pointing out the error, and for doing so by email so as not to cause embarrassment. Mike
Trux, A great piece of work.I noticed you did very similar posts on all the other beaches (several years ago) My personal interest, was GOLD beach, where my father landed on D-Day. I managed to find out so much information from your post. Well done mate. best............Graham.
THE LANDING TABLES. For the initial stages of the landings loading and landing tables were prepared in considerable detail. Planning had to start early in order to have everything in place for what was to be the largest ever amphibious landing. Tables were to be completed by mid April. These tables showed which personnel and vehicles, from which units, were to be embarked on which craft. Since it was not known for certain which craft would be available planning was done on the basis of notional craft and craft loads. Each craft load was given a Landing Table Identification Number (LTIN) which I have replaced by the word serial in the lists. At this stage it could not be known which individual craft would be available so that the crafts pennant numbers or equivalent were not used. Craft to be used to carry personnel and vehicles under the orders of 16 Regimental Combat Team had four figure LTIN serials starting with 2***. Craft to be used to carry personnel and vehicles under the orders of 116 Regimental Combat Team had four figure LTIN serials starting with 1***. Craft to be used to carry personnel and vehicles under the orders of 18 Regimental Combat Team had four figure LTIN serials starting with 3***. Craft to be used to carry personnel and vehicles under the orders of 115 Regimental Combat Team had three figure LTIN serials starting with 2**. Craft to be used to carry personnel and vehicles under the orders of 1 Division had four figure LTIN serials starting with 4***. Planning was carried out by assigning an agreed number of each type of craft to each of the Combat Teams. The Regimental staff then assigned personnel to craftloads according to agreed tables and scales. Any surplus places were then assigned to beach units etc. Blocks of LTIN were received by regimental combat teams which allocated them to craft loads in the order of landing. These numbers should run consecutively through the landing table so that the craft, or groups of craft, are listed in the order in which it was planned that they should land. Changes to the table were kept to minimum but some changes were essential and inevitable. In some cases extra craft were found. In some cases extra personnel were considered essential. When the tables were made it was not known how many of the LCTs available would be LCT(5) and how many LCT(6). When this was known some adjustments had to be made to craft loads. It was only after the tables were made that it was realised that the enemy beach obstacles were being greatly strengthened and that more engineers would be needed to clear them. At the last minute changes were made because the assigned craft was not available through damage, breakdown or in two cases, mines. Many of the LCTs and most of the LCVPs/LCAs made more than one trip to the beach. In this case the craft will have a different LTIN for each craft load. The tables were written in a standard form across all Allied beaches. The first craft listed for each wave is normally the right hand one. Other craft form line abreast in order from right to left (or west to east). The senior officer will be in the centre craft. On each craft the first listed personnel or vehicle are to land first, therefor are at the front of the craft and load last. Only the timings for the first assault waves are fixed. Later waves timings will depend on circumstances. The timings and the order of landing can be altered by the beach masters and control craft. At H+120 minutes there is provision for the entire sequence to be paused and resumed when it is considered to be wise. CAUTION. The Landing Tables show what was planned. What actually happened was very different. More details of how the tables worked in practice when loading craft will be given in a section on 'Loading'. Mike Oh Dear! I have made it sound even more complicated and obscure.
THE FOLLOW UP COMPANIES LAND. Omaha West. Company ‘B’, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. H+30 minutes. Company ‘C’, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. H+40 minutes. Company ‘D’ (Weapons), 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. H+50 minutes. Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Anti Aircraft teams from 397 AA AW Battalion. Omaha East. Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Anti Aircraft teams from 397 AA AW Battalion. OMAHA WEST. H+30 Minutes The follow up companies of 116 Infantry Regiment land. Anti Aircraft teams from 397 AA AW Battalion land. Company ‘B’, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment was to land to reinforce Company ‘A’ which had already landed at H+1 minute. On Dog Green only ‘B’ Company lands at H+30. To avoid congestion it was planned that ‘C’ Company would land ten minutes later at H+40 and Company ‘D’ (Weapons) and 1 Battalion Headquarters land at H+50 minutes. Dog Green 8 LCA from Empire Javelin carry Company ‘B’, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1061 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1062 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1063 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1064 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 10 men from Headquarters, Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. 7 men from Naval Fire Support Control Party. 9 men from 58 Field Artillery Battalion. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1065 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 10 men from Headquarters, Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 29 Reconnaissance. 2 men from 743 Tank Battalion. Liaison Officer. Serial 1066 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1067 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1068 was an LCA from Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘B’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1069 was an LCVP from LST 408 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Companies ‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ of 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment are already ashore. Now Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion lands together with 2 Battalion Headquarters. Dog White Serial 1073 was an LCVP from LST 408 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. 3 LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson. Serial 1070 was an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 29 men from Company ‘H’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Weapons Company. Serial 1071 was an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 13 men from Headquarters, Company ‘G’, 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men medical detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 29 Reconnaissance. 5 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observation Officer’s team. 2 men from Company ‘H’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1072 was an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 24 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observation Officer’s team. Serial 1074 was an LCVP from LST 408 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Dog Red 7 LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson. Serial 1075 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 12 men from Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from Naval Fire Support Control Party. 5 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. 3 men from Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon. 2 men from 743 Tank Battalion. Liaison Officer. Serial 1076 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 14 men from Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 10 men from Medical Detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 29 Reconnaissance. 1 man from 104 Medical Battalion. Serial 1077 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 23 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observer’s Party. Serial 1078 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 13 men from Headquarters ‘F’ Company, 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from medical detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 29 Reconnaissance. 5 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observer’s party. 1 man from Company ‘H’ (Weapons). Serial 1079 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 23 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observer’s party. 2 men from 115 Infantry Regiment. Reconnaissance party. Serial 1080 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 18 men Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 10 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observer’s parties. Serial 1081 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 7 men from Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 13 men from medical detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Special Engineer Task Force. Medical Officer. 7 men from Naval Fire Support Control Party. Serial 1082 is an LCVP from LST 408 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Easy Green 4 LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson Serial 1083 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 27 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from medical detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1084 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 13 men from Headquarters Company ‘E’, 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from medical detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 29 Reconnaissance. 5 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observer’s party. 2 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry. Serial 1085 is an LCVP from APA 30 Thomas Jefferson carrying 28 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1086 is an LCVP from LST 408 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. The follow up companies of the second wave should have landed behind the first wave companies. They fared little better than those of the first wave although they were not so widely scattered. The survivors of the first wave were mostly now sheltering behind the shingle bank at the top of the beach and suffering steady losses from mortar fire. This fire was landing behind the troops and showering them with shingle as well as shrapnel. Company ‘B’, Company ‘C’, Company ‘D’ (Weapons) and 1 Battalion Headquarters were to land behind Company ‘A’ on Dog Green at ten minute intervals. In fact three boats carrying Company ‘B’, one boat carrying Headquarters Company ‘A’ and three boats carrying 1 Battalion Headquarters landed on Dog Green behind Company ‘A’ and suffered as badly as had Company ‘A’. The boat carrying the Officer Commanding Company ‘B’ had only one survivor. The rest of the wave were scattered across the sector. Three LCA carrying troops of Company ‘C’ landed on Dog White enjoyed some protection from the smoke of grass fires but was on the beach alone until other troops landed here, mostly by mistake. One LCA from Company ‘B’ landed to the west, on Charlie, near Company ‘C’, 2 Ranger Battalion. They joined up with the Rangers and fought with them until they could rejoin their own unit Company ‘D’ with the battalion’s support weapons landed well to the west on Dog Red, lost several LCVP and landed in a disorganised state with many casualties. Company ‘H’ (Weapons) of 2 Battalion landed on either side of the D3 draw on Dog Red and Easy Green. Now although Company and Battalion Headquarters were landing they were unable to exercise control and the troops ashore could do little except shelter behind the shingle or the sea wall and continue to suffer casualties from mortar fire. The infantry of the second wave were organised differently to those in the assault wave. Each company had six craft loads, two of which were identical to those of the assault wave. The remaining four sections were formed into Support Boat Teams consisting of: Officer. Lieutenant. Five man rifle squad. Each man with a Garand M1 rifle and 96 rounds of ammunition. Four man pioneer squad. With Bangalore torpedoes. Six man machine gun team. Leader Two gunners with .3 machine gun. Three ammunition numbers each with two boxes of ammunition. Eight man mortar team. Observer Gunner with 81mm mortar. Assistant gunner with base plate. Signaller with phone set and 350 metres of wire. Three ammunition numbers each with 7 rounds. Five man demolition team. NCO Total 30 men. Mike
OMAHA EAST. H+30 minutes. Support Companies from 16 Infantry Regiment land Easy Red. 13 LCVP from APA 45 Henrico land Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment and 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battery. Serial 2046 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from Battery ‘B’, 7 Field Artillery Battalion. Serial 2047 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2048 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 28 men from Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Wireless Party, 2 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2049 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Battery ‘C’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2050 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2051 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 31 men from Company ‘G’, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from Naval Shore Fire Control Party. Serial 2052 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 15 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 2 men from Company ‘B’, 741 Tank Battalion. 3 men from Company ‘A’, 1 Engineer Combat Battalion. 6 men from Naval Shore Fire Control Party, 3 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Six LCVP from the davits of LST 357 land AA machine guns from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Serial 2053 is an LCVP from LST 357 carrying 15 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2054 is an LCVP from LST 357 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2055 is an LCVP from LST 357 carrying 15 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2056 is an LCVP from LST 357 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2057 is an LCVP from LST 357 carrying 15 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2058 is an LCVP from LST 357 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. All the above LCVP from APA 45 Henrico and LST report to AP76 Anne Arundel after landing troops. Fox Green. 6 LCVP from the davits of LST 314 land AA machine guns from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Serial 2059 is an LCVP from LST 314 carrying 15 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2060 is an LCVP from LST 314 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2061 is an LCVP from LST 314 carrying 15 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2062 is an LCVP from LST 314 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2063 is an LCVP from LST 314 carrying 15 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. Serial 2064 is an LCVP from LST 314 carrying 14 men from Provisional Machine Gun Battery, 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. Water cooled .5” AA machine gun. The above LCVPs from LST 314 report to AP 67 Dorothea L Dix after landing troops. Serial 2065 is an LCVP carrying 15 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 2 men from Company ‘C’, 741 Tank Battalion. 6 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 62 Field Artillery Battalion (Self Propelled). 7 men from Naval Shore Fire Control Party. It is not clear where this LCVP comes from but it collects headquarters personnel from Empire Anvil. This craft is free to use discretion as to time and place of landing. Six LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil land Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2066 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 62 Field Artillery Battalion (Self Propelled). Serial 2067 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 62 Field Artillery Battalion (Self Propelled). Serial 2068 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 28 men from Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Wireless Party, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Intelligence Section, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry regiment. Serial 2069 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2070 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from Naval Shore Fire Control Party. Serial 2071 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 31 men from Company ‘K’, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. The above LCAs return to Empire Anvil after landing troops and remain on call. 397 Anti Aircraft Automatic Weapons Provisional Battalion. This was formed for the D Day landings to provide early anti aircraft defence for the beaches. The weapon employed by the battery was the tried and tested .5” water cooled machine gun on a high angle tripod mounting. The gun itself was capable of sustained fire. There was no reason why it should not fire continuously for long periods as long as ammunition and cooling water was available. A disadvantage was the weight of the components. The gun weighed some 100 pounds and the tripod some 150 pounds. While this could be managed over short distances in normal conditions it was difficult when wading through deep and rough water under fire. Losses were heavy and much of the equipment was lost on landing. One secondary source says it suffered 60% casualties in the first 15 minutes. In common with other troops landing at this time the gun teams could do little except shelter behind the shingle or sea wall and assist the infantry and medical personnel where possible. Fortunately there was little demand for their services on D Day. Although listed as a battalion it seems to have been much smaller than most. It was commanded by a Captain and seems to have had two batteries each with eighteen guns. Presumably each of the detachments in the landing table had two guns. Mike
OMAHA WEST. 116 Regimental Combat Group. H+40 Minutes. Dog Green. 6 LCVP carry Company ‘D’, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1087 is an LCVP carrying 23 men from Company ‘D’ (Weapons), 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from medical detachment, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1088 is an LCVP carrying 23 men from Company ‘D’ (Weapons), 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 58 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observers party. Serial 1089 is an LCVP carrying 23 men from Company ‘D’ (Weapons), 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 58 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observers party. Serial 1090 is an LCVP carrying 23 men from Company ‘D’ (Weapons), 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 4 men from 58 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observers party. Serial 1091 is an LCVP carrying 24 men from Company ‘D’ (Weapons), 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1092 is an LCVP carrying 24 men from Company ‘D’ (Weapons), 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1093 is an LCM carrying 54 men from 121 Engineer Combat Battalion. Serial 1094 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 32 men from 149 Engineer Combat Battalion. Beach Group. Serial 1095 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 16 men from Headquarters 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from 58 Field Artillery Battalion. 1 man from Company ‘B,’ 104 Medical Battalion. 2 men from Service Company, 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 116 Infantry Regiment. 2 men from Company ‘B’, Chemical Weapons Battalion. Serial 1096 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 19 men from Headquarters Company, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 11 men from Medical Detachment 116 Infantry Battalion. Serial 1097 is an LCA from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 19 men from Headquarters Company, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. 12 men from Medical Detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. 1 man Casualty Reporter, 116 Infantry Regiment. Dog White. Serial 1098 is an LCM carrying 42 men from 121 Engineer Combat Battalion 4 men from 147 Engineer Combat Battalion. Beach Group. Serial 1099 is an LCVP carrying 30 men from 149 Engineer Combat Battalion. Beach Group. Dog Red Serial 1100 is an LCM carrying 68 men from 112 Engineer Combat Battalion. 30 men from 149 Engineer Combat Battalion. Beach Group. Serial 1101 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carrol carrying 23 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Serial 1102 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carrol carrying 23 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Serial 1103 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carrol carrying 23 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Serial 1104 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carrol carrying 22 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Handcarts are M6. Easy Green Serial 1105 is an LCM carrying 97 men from 112 Engineer Combat Battalion. H+50 Minutes. The Reserve Battalion Lands. 3 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment is the Reserve Battalion and should land on Dog White, Dog Red and Easy Green with Companies ‘I’, ‘K’ and ‘L’. This wave was timed to depart the Transport Area at H-67 minutes and the line of departure at H+28 minutes. Company ‘C’, 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment should land on Dog Green behind Companies ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘D’ (Weapons). All of 1 Battalion should then be ashore. Dog Green Landing on Dog Green are 7 LCVP carrying Company ‘C’, from 1 Battalion from LSI(L) Empire Javelin. Note that the LCVP are not from Empire Javelin but carry troops from her. Serial 1106 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘C’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1107 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘C’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1108 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘C’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1109 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 12 men from Headquarters Company ‘C’, 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from medical detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. 5 men from Naval Fire Support Control Party. Serial 1110 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘C’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1111 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘C’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1112 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 30 men from Company ‘C’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1113 is an LCM from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 87 men from 121 Engineer Combat Battalion. Dog White 6 LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carry Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1114 is an LCVP carrying 31 men from Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1115 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 31 men from Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1116 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 33 men from Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1117 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 33 men from Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1118 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 33 men from Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1119 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 29 men from Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment 3 men from medical detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. Dog Red 7 LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll landing Company ‘I’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1120 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘I’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1121 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘I’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1122 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘I’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1123 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 12 men from Headquarters Company ‘K’, 116 Infantry Regiment 9 men from medical detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. 7 men from 111 Field Artillery Company. Forward Observation party Serial 1124 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘I’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1125 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘I’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1126 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘I’, 116 Infantry Regiment Easy Green 7 LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll landing Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1127 is an LCVP carrying 30 men from Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1128 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1129 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1130 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 12 men from Headquarters Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment 3 men from Medical Detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. 8 men from 111 Field Artillery Company. Forward Observation party Serial 1131 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1132 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1133 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘L’, 116 Infantry Regiment H+57 minutes Support Weapons Land. Dog Green 4 LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin landing Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 81mm Mortars. Note that the LCVP are not from Empire Javelin but collect troops from her. Serial 1134 is an LCVP from LSI(S) Prince Charles carrying 22 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Serial 1135 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 23 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Serial 1136 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 22 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Serial 1137 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Javelin carrying 23 men and 4 handcarts from Company ‘B’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 4.2” mortars. Handcarts are M6. Dog Red. 9 LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll land Headquarters 3 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment and Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1138 is an LCVP carrying 30 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1139 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1140 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1141 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 31 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1142 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 31 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment Serial 1143 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 30 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 116 Infantry Regiment 3 men from medical detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. Serial 1144 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 15 men from Headquarters Company, 3 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment 3 men from 111 Field Artillery Battalion. Forward Observers party. 1 man from 104 Medical Battalion. 12 men from Naval Fire Support Control Party. Serial 1145 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 20 men from Headquarters Company, 3 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment 2 men from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Liaison Officer. 10 men from Medical Detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. 2 men from 743 Tank Battalion. Liaison Officer. Serial 1146 is an LCVP from APA 28 Charles Carroll carrying 16 men from Headquarters Company, 3 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment 7 men from Medical Detachment 116 Infantry Regiment. 1 man Casualty Reporter 116 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon. 116 Infantry Regiment. 2 men from Company ‘D’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. Mike
OMAHA EAST. H+40 minutes. Weapons companies from 16 Infantry Regiment land. Easy Red. 6 LCVP from APA 45 Henrico land Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2072 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 32 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2073 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 32 men Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2074 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 32 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2075 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 32 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2076 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 12 men from Company ‘H’ (Weapons), 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 6 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7 Field Artillery Battalion. 8 men from Anti Tank Company, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2077 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 22 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 10 men from Company ‘B’, 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2078 is an LCM(3) from APA 45 Henrico carrying 29 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 18 men from Medical Section, 2 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 7 men from Canon Company, 16 Infantry Regiment. 10 men from Battery ‘B’, 7 Field Artillery Battalion. 10 men from Battery ‘C’, 7 Field Artillery Battalion. 2 men from Headquarters Engineer Special Brigade. Advanced detachment. 30 men from Company ‘A’, 1 Engineer Combat Battalion. All the above craft return to APA 45 Henrico. Fox Green. Serial 2079 is an LCM(3) from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 27 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 9 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 62 Field Artillery Battalion (Self propelled). 18 men from Medical Detachment, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 8 men from Anti Tank Company, 16 Infantry Regiment. 1 man from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16 Infantry Regiment. 33 men from Company ‘A’, 20 Engineer Combat Battalion. 6 LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil land Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2080 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 22 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 9 men from Company ‘A’, 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2081 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 12 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Medical Detachment, 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. 3 men from Company ‘A’, 741 Tank Battalion (DD). Serial 2082 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 32 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2083 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 32 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2084 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 32 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2085 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 32 men from Company ‘M’ (Weapons), 3 Battalion, 16 Infantry Regiment. H+50 minutes. Easy Red. 8 LCVP from APA 45 Henrico land Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion Serial 2086 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 12 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2087 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 11 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 12 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2088 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 12 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2089 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 11 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2090 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 11 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 12 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2091 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 11 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2092 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 11 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 12 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2093 is an LCVP from APA 45 Henrico carrying 11 men from Company ‘A’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2094 is an LCM from APA 45 Henrico carrying Advanced Command Post, 16 Infantry Regiment. 57 men from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16 Infantry Regiment. Includes MPs for Traffic Control and Prisoners of War. 12 men from headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7 Field Artillery Battalion. 4 men from Service Battery, 7 Field Artillery Battalion. 2 men from Headquarters 1 Division. Liaison Party. 3 men from Headquarters 16 Infantry Regiment. Liaison Party. 3 men from 1 Signal Company. CT Detachment. 1 man from Detachment 6, 165 Signal Photographic Company. Attached to Headquarters 16 Infantry Regiment. Fox Green. 8 LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil land Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion Serial 2095 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 12 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2096 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 11 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 12 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2097 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 12 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2098 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 11 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 12 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2099 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 12 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. 1 man from Detachment ‘L’, 165 Signal Company. Attached to Headquarters 16 Infantry Regiment. Serial 2100 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 11 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 12 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2101 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 12 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion 10 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special Brigade. Serial 2102 is an LCVP from LSI(L) Empire Anvil carrying 12 men from Company ‘C’, 81 Chemical Weapons Battalion. 12 men from 37 Engineer Combat Battalion, 5 Engineer Special brigade. At the end of the first hour all of the infantry companies from 116 Infantry Regiment have landed on Omaha West. On Omaha East 1 Battalion of 16 Infantry Regiment is still at sea. It is scheduled to land over the next 30 minutes. In the meantime vehicles are landing although there are no exits open from the beach. Up until H+60 craft should land on the beach assigned to them without regard to channels cleared through the obstacle belts. By H+60 the 50 yard wide channels through the obstacles should have been cleared and marked and the incoming craft should beach in front of them. In fact not all the channels had been cleared and those that were clear had not been marked. Mike.
81st Chemical Weapons Battalion. Chemical Weapons Battalions operated the 4.2” mortars. These were originally developed to deliver chemical rounds including gas and smoke but became a very useful support weapon firing High Explosive. Company ‘D’ landed on Dog Red at H+40 minutes. Company ‘B’ landed on Dog Green at H+57 minutes. Company ‘A’ landed on Easy Red at H+50 minutes. Company ‘C’ landed on Fox Green at H+50 minutes. Each company consisted of two platoons each with eight mortars. Four squads made a platoon and each squad manned one mortar. Squad personnel included: Serjeant as squad leader Corporal gunner Assistant gunner Three ammunition numbers. Two drivers. Drivers were for the ¾ ton weapons carriers which would land later. These normally carried the mortar, crew and ammunition. For the landing from LCVPs the mortars and ammunition were carried on M6 handcarts. On Omaha West each company had four LCVP which each carried 22 or 23 men and four handcarts. On Omaha East they had eight LCVP per company each carrying 11 or 12 men plus a party of engineers. Omaha West. Company ‘B’ was to have landed on Dog Green at H+40 minutes to give direct support to 1 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. As the craft approached the beach it was clear that the beach obstacles had not been cleared and that the beach was under heavy fire from mortars, machine guns, small arms and artillery. The control boat ordered the craft to land instead on Easy Green. This entailed a coastwise journey some thousand yards from shore. This exposed them to enemy fire which sank two craft. The personnel and weapons were able to transfer to an empty LCT. By about 0930 hours the wave was ashore. The company reorganised and moved 100 yards inland. It had to remain there until late afternoon when it finally managed to leave the beach and set up the weapons on top of the bluffs. The first fire mission came at 1500 hours against a machine gun nest in woods near St Laurent sur Mer. Company ‘D’ beached at H+50 minutes on Easy Green in support of 3 Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment. The beaches were under heavy fire and the craft grounded in deep water and the personnel had to wade ashore in water waist deep. They had taken the precaution of attaching inflatable life jackets to the carts but machine gun fire punctured them and caused several carts to sink. All were recovered under fire. While the mortars were still on the beach an enemy machine gun nest was engaged but the range was too short. Later in the day the assault vehicles of both companies were landed with the loss of one jeep each. Omaha East. Company ‘A’ landed on Easy Red on time. It had only two casualties on landing, the company commander who was fatally wounded and an enlisted man killed. The company was pinned down on the beach along with the infantry they were to support. When the infantry eventually broke through the beach defences the mortar platoons moved to take up positions in a field 500 yards from the beach. Company ‘C’ approached the beach on schedule but was ordered back to sea by the control boat. At 1000 hours it made another attempt to land but again put back to sea. At 1200 hours a further attempt was made and on this occasion the LCVPs moved along the beach until they found a place to land. The platoons then made their way back along the beach to join their assigned infantry battalion. They moved inland and set up mortars some 200 yards from the beach. Mike. One is now resting. We may have only covered the first hour but it is hard work. Uploading from Office alters the layout and I have to correct it.
