Operation Overlord
Source: Naval History
On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces organized on the English Channel to mount an offensive against the Germans who were at the time occupying the French beaches. This offensive codenamed Operation Overlord was the first major and combined attempt to infiltrate the German line. The plans for D-Day were kept under lock and key, leaving generals, soldiers and sailors unaware of what to expect. Although this was a united offensive the United States, Great Britain and Canada were independently responsible for attacking specific
beaches, Omaha and Utah, Sword and Gold, and Juno respectively. Over 5,300
boats, ships and amphibious craft carrying 200,000 men were involved in the
attack (Allen 25). This massive amphibious effort was hard to coordinate but was successfully administered through the formulation of Operation Neptune.
beaches, Omaha and Utah, Sword and Gold, and Juno respectively. Over 5,300
boats, ships and amphibious craft carrying 200,000 men were involved in the
attack (Allen 25). This massive amphibious effort was hard to coordinate but was successfully administered through the formulation of Operation Neptune.
Operation Neptune
The plan went into effect at dawn on June 6 with 300 minesweepers leading the way (Allen 26). In all, 6483 vessels made the voyage, including 4000 landing craft, 7 battleships, 2 monitors, 23 cruisers and 104 destroyers. Their mission was the “engage and destroy the coastal batteries of the Atlantic Wall.” Other ships contained “self-propelled artillery” who would shoot their way in to the beach and allow the “beach parties” to set up traffic control and signal stations, clear obstacles on the beach and allow for the injured to be evacuated back to England (Keegan 378).
A fleet of destroyers followed providing a shield of protection for incoming shipments of troops prepared to storm the beaches. Although there was an outline for timed landings and staggered attacks, choppy seas, bad weather and unpredictable malfunctions
(such as failing smoke screens) led to a chaotic war atmosphere. This naval invasions main purpose was to get as many men on the beach as possible while weakening the German line from a distance (Allen 26).
While the amphibious invasion was the largest and most famed aspect of D-Day, the success of the whole operation was due to the combined efforts of the air, ground and naval forces. Due to the strength of the combined forces, its use of deception and the relentlessness of the forces, the Germans relinquished the French beaches and the success of D-Day put the Allies that much closer to complete victory in World War Two.
A fleet of destroyers followed providing a shield of protection for incoming shipments of troops prepared to storm the beaches. Although there was an outline for timed landings and staggered attacks, choppy seas, bad weather and unpredictable malfunctions
(such as failing smoke screens) led to a chaotic war atmosphere. This naval invasions main purpose was to get as many men on the beach as possible while weakening the German line from a distance (Allen 26).
While the amphibious invasion was the largest and most famed aspect of D-Day, the success of the whole operation was due to the combined efforts of the air, ground and naval forces. Due to the strength of the combined forces, its use of deception and the relentlessness of the forces, the Germans relinquished the French beaches and the success of D-Day put the Allies that much closer to complete victory in World War Two.