Omaha Beach landing tables

I browsed through the relevant G-3 collection at the First Division Museum archives, containing 1,200-plus pages. This is a slim file compared to the mountain of paper generated by 1st Division sub-commands.

Two notes were traced regarding towed 105mm guns firing from LCTs, both related to practice shoots by 7th FAB. The self-propelled 105mm battalions, the 58th and 62nd, were not able to shoot from LCTs during Operation FABIUS because the vessels were out of position offshore. That was the last reference I've found connected to firing of 105mm guns aboard landing craft.

The S-3 of 32nd FAB—in Sicily and Normandy—was Major Allston Stone Goff (1906-1994). ASN: 0282521. From hundreds of documents and messages that Goff must have produced from July 1943 to July 1944, I found just three reports prepared by him, one dated 10th June 1944, with no reference about D-Day. Another document dated 11th May 1944, has Major Goff assigned to LCT(6) serial 128 and one from 1st September 1944 states that Goff was transferred to 7th FAB due to losses of key officers.

The officer in charge of ‘A’ Battery, 32nd FAB was Captain David Crater Haight (1917-1969). ASN: 0388004. Got a few returns with the search box but no reports signed by him. The only D-Day mention was for a decoration.

The D-Day Action Reports for LCT(6)-652 and LCT(6)-653 are posted on Fold3.

 

From movie footage showing towed 105mm guns firing from LCT:





Self-propelled 105mm shooting from LCT:

 

Yep. And the last three frames are M7A1 SP, not M2A1 towed. I suspect they are from the same series of exercises. Not D-Day.

 

Do you know anything about this tank dozer and why the blade was removed? The second M4 appears to be from 'A' Company of 741st Tank Battalion. The jeep belonged to the 165th Photo Signal Company.

 

Yes, it was shot off. There is an excellent discussion at Missing Lynx that covers it and many of the other wading and DD tanks of the 741st. Missing-Lynx-Revisiting Robert Capa's D-Day Omaha Beach photos

 

That was helpful, thanks. It does raise other questions. Did the maintenance staff record serials of what was repaired or scrapped? Did they try to restore tanks that were submerged by the rising tide?

As an aside, putting tanks on a makeshift raised platform—for overloaded landing craft—is not the most sound of ideas. Maybe not so wild as the howitzer harness; a General Motors-built conversion kit designed to allow shooting of the 105mm wheeled gun while loaded on the DUKW, on land or sea. Have yet to see user feedback about the howitzer harness or if it was ever used in battle.

In that thread there was a sub-discussion about the pennant numbers of British LCTs used to deliver U.S. equipment. For some reason the format of I.D. painted on the hull was not consistent for LCT(A). LCT(A)-2008 with a missing ramp was mentioned, but not LCT(A)-2188 so I’ll add a training photo and few others.



Landing Craft Tank Photo Index
Landing Craft Tank Photo Index

 

Yes, they did. Each tank, indeed AFAIK every Ordnance vehicle produced, had a maintenance "card", which recorded vital information on it. They were all destroyed after the end of the war as being unnecessary records. I have never run across one in any records.

It was. Blame the RN. They were a feature on every invasion beach.

The last photo is of her sans ramp when she was used as part of the Far Shore Service, shuttling troops fro ship to shore.

 

Hello, apologies for stepping into the conversation;
Having never spent extensive time on the seashore,
trying to paint a picture in my head of piloting to the landing zones.

Top photo:

What beaching area would this be?

Assuming low tide; as the poles visible are exposed…

Assuming these poles would typically be submerged(?)

These poles are toward the outer perimeter of obstacles?

What would, typically be the depth of water above these poles?

(i.e. how deep was the water, for landing craft?)



Buildings in the distant background: guesstimate of how far away? (place name?)



Between high tide and low tide, what was the water depth variance?

Where “inner perimeter” obstacles types would be submerged (“Belgian gates’, etc.):

How deep under water “inner perimeter” obstacles?



And, lastly, the notorious sand bar that hung up LCVPs, LCTs, etc…

How far from high tide water line? necessitating traversing nearly a quarter mile, through 6'(?) deep water...before ever reaching the "safety" of shingle shrapnel.
(fwiw, my first experience with tidal flats was Granville, France.)



The general idea is navigating through/around these obstacles, where the pilot can barely see beyond the bow of the craft...regardless of smoke… even on a clear day.

While by no means a comparison, have piloted a wood-hulled 26’ “sea skiff” in Minnesota fresh water lakes… where piers and railroad trestles used to be, leaving telephone pole stumps behind; to date, never bent a prop guard (try straightening a babbitt prop guard...with a blow torch and 18lb. Sledge hammer)

Thank you,
john


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Wrong. LCT 2188 was not an LCT(A), just a standard LCT(5).

 

NavSource:
Landing Craft Tank Photo Index
fwiw

 

Hi,
I am afraid NavSource is incorrect on this occassion.

LCT 2188 was never converted to an LCT(A).

Regards

Danny

 

It looks like some part of the Devon practice area. Have not seen enough pictures to pinpoint the precise spot on the coast, but found a few photos that give a taste of the area and rudimentary barriers.

Search

 

Was this sinking LCT identified? Vehicles aboard appear to be M7 Priests wearing hoodies. Have not so far found a better copy of this picture than a radio telephoto.



Another load of M7s that haven't driven off the flooding boat.




Freeze frame from movie footage showing LCT-653 (lower right)

 

"Radio-telephoto"; forerunner to today's FAX machine... amazing tech!

Photo #4 (bottom) is an ideal example of size difference between 2 1/2 Ton CCKW, LCT and LST...
Thank you!
fwiw, Link/url to the video?

 

That would be the LCT(5)-197, which was sunk off DOG WHITE with elements of the 58th Armored Field Artillery on board. The beached LCT(5)-29 was also part of the same group and carried other elements of the 58th AFA.

 

Some of the landing craft had this placard, reading "CTO" with a number and letters underneath. What is the significance?

 

TRAINEX showing some LCT(6) had raised wood platforms and not always used for tanks.


M4 tanks shooting from the platforms.


Sea transfer of jeeps from LST through stern of LCT(6). The raised platforms are evident.


Vehicles cross-decked from LST over the side of LCT(5). A section of siding was removed from the LCT.

National Archives NextGen Catalog
National Archives NextGen Catalog
National Archives NextGen Catalog

 

Traced the shot cards for movie footage. The photo posted earlier was probably made at the same time.

National Archives NextGen Catalog
National Archives NextGen Catalog

A training film was made for practice loading and unloading of towed 105mm howitzers, using a mock-up LCT made of concrete and other materials. Movement of guns and vehicles on the faux LCT was awkward and tedious. The unhitched howitzers were frequently spun round on the deck to let vehicles on and off, reminiscent of a Viennese waltz.

The movie is viewable here:
National Archives NextGen Catalog

 

It might be of interest to read the Action Report for LCT-2229, which was sunk due to structural failure. The many reporters included Admiral John L. Hall, who expressed disagreement about the type of LCT and vehicles loaded as cargo. He also questioned the seaworthiness of the LCT(5).

The investigation revealed drama amongst the crew with some inconsistency in details furnished by witnesses. One remembered that the LCT was listing at 1900 hours on 5th June 1944 and rolled over at about 0600 the next day. The junior officer in charge of the LCT tried to save his slowly sinking ship and showed much hesitation to leave. Several crew and passengers did not survive the sinking, even though the LCT had a towed LCM and a large patrol boat (PC) offered assistance many hours before the order was given to abandon ship.

The 11-page document can be downloaded here:
National Archives NextGen Catalog