Sword Beach.

You guys have done me proud, as this selection of weapons wont be too difficult to replicate if I do a diorama in 1/72.
I wonder what the dimensions of this Widerstandsnest, I will obviously shrink it if it is too large, I think it housed a full company, but you are talking about 100 men + with Widerstandsnest 14 being the Bn HQ (I think).

My interest in this is a wargame Stephen, I selected Sword (even though my Dad landed at Juno) because I can add pegasus bridge to the mix. Not formulated any plans yet but I want the beach landing and then a race to reach pegasus before the Germans can assemble a force to retake it.
My uncle landed on Sword with the commandos, not sure if he was with Lovat or not.

He served in C Troop No 4 Commando [Kings Regiment Liverpool], but that maybe at Dieppe, I am not sure.

Ian

 

Oh BTW: what is a Ringstand Typ U Pz.Drehturm FT MG.311(f), that sounds like a FT17 Turret

 

The organisation on D-Day was a bit more complex. 10 Company, 3 Battalion defended Queen Red and White beaches, with the platoons spread amongst three WN on that stretch of coast – 20, 20A and 21. WN 18 was defended by 4 Company, 1 Battalion. It was 1 Battalion’s HQ at WN14 (3 Battalion’s HQ was at Cresserons). 4 Company also defended WN19 in front of Colleville-Montgomery and on their right 2 Company defended Ouistreham.

COD was a company sized defensive site, but on D-Day had little more than a platoon to defend it. Probably most of the company was split between 20 and 21, with the rest occupying the space in between. The main part of Cod was just over 400m from east to west, increasing to 700m including outlying gun pits and Tobruks.

If I may I’d humbly recommend my book to get an idea of the German defensive layout, and the paths the British took to each strongpoint.

 

If your uncle was with 4 Commando on D-Day he was in Lovat’s brigade (1 Special Service Brigade) but probably never saw him that day. 4 Commando landed at H+30, 45 mins ahead of Lovat. By the time he came ashore they were already advancing into Ouistreham with C troop in front (although behind the French commandos for the first half of the advance). Being humble again I think my own book is the most detailed account I’ve seen of what I term The Battle of Ouistreham.

 

Hi Stephen, funny enough the missus asked me what I wanted for my next birthday yesterday, even though its in July, and I will ask her to get me your book.

I thought WN20 would be larger than that, if it was 400 yards long (700 full), how deep was it?
Looking at photos, it looks like the 75mm was on the eastern corner, the 5cm was in the middle and another weapon (maybe that 3.7cm) was on the western corner. Another 5cm was located at the rear, probably central rear.
The mortars are positioned at the rear.
Looks like the twin villas are right in the middle of the WN, were these fortified?

Ian

 

Hi,
Attached is a map with the defence overprint for COD.

Regards

Danny

 

Great that Danny, thanks.
I am confused at the number and types of mortars in WN20, one map says two Doppel Tobruk BF.69 with 8.14cm(f) Mortars plus one of two mortars in what looks like open positions, are these also 8.14cm mortars, as the position is lacking any 5cm German mortars which were plentyfull along this coast line.

Ian

 

Thanks Danny, where do you get this map from ?

 

Hi Simon, yes it's in one of the house of la Perruque in Sallenelles. I visited the house.

 

Hi,
It is in CAB 44/244, Section D, chapter II: operation "Overlord", "D" day 1944 June 6; book II, 1 corps; 6 airborne division; 3 Canadian division; 51 division; 3 British division, by Lieutenant-Colonel A.E. Warhurst. [1950]

This document only has sections of the map in it.

These three links might be of interest to you.

Sword Beach Normandy - One Man's World

Rare Top-Secret map of Sword Beach, prepared for Operation Overlord

https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/de...-day-sword-beach-pegasus-bridge-st-war-office

Regards

Danny

 

Thanks Danny, I will still need to gather more info to get the model drawn up, if I map out the area and add the bunkers and zig zags then it is thinhs like the types and number of houses and the beach has a sea wall.
Still much to do.
Ian

 

Hi,
Attached are a couple of aerial photos of the area taken in June 1945.

If you want to see the full size photos the links to the archive are
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/195952891
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/195952893

Regards

Danny

 

Thanks Danny, I have those already mate.
They do give you an idea of the houses still standing around the area.

Ian

 

What was your Uncles name? If you want to let me know, I'll see if he's on my Dieppe No4 Commando personnel list.

Regards
Steve

 

Hi Steve, he was mentioned in despaches when he won the MM at Dieppe

Ian

 

His full name was Peter Francis McCarthy

Ian

 

Hi Ian,

Thanks, yes have your Uncle with No1 Group.

L/Sgt Peter F. McCarthy -(Kings)-(C Troop-Sect 1)-(No1 Group)-I/c 3x Bren gun teams. Returned (MM)

Regards

Steve

 

Excellent work Steve, I will copy that info for safe keeping.
Did he return his MM?

Ian

 

Hi Ian,

Ah no, the 'Returned' comment is a reference in my notes to his status after the raid, i.e. he returned to the UK, rather than being lost or wounded.

Regards,

Steve

 

Sorry Steve I understand now.
Ian