King Tiger
Active Member
13. Pointe-du-Hoc
With Pointe Du Hoc situated between Utah Beach to the west and Omaha Beach to the east, these guns threatened Allied landings on both beaches,
risking heavy casualties on the Allies landing forces.
At Pointe du Hoc, the Germans had built six casemates to house a battery of 155mm guns.
Intelligence reports assumed that the fortifications were strong and a full assault by ground forces would require.
British landing crafst carrying the US 2nd Rangers Battalion reached the base of the cliffs, immediately, rocket launchers were fire grapels and ropes up the cliffs.
As the Rangers scaled the cliffs, Allied warships provided fire support to ensure that the German defenders above could not fire down on the assaulting troops.
Upon reaching the fortifications, the Rangers learned for the first time that the main objective of the assault, the artillery battery, had been moved out of position,
as a result of air attacks during the buildup to the invasion.
The Rangers regrouped at the top of the cliffs, form up small patrols to search of the guns.
The patrols found five of the six guns nearby and destroyed them with thermite grenades.
The costliest part of the battle for the Rangers came after the cliff assault.
Determined to hold the vital ground, yet isolated from other Allied forces and outnumbered by the German garrison on the point,
the Rangers fended off several counterattacks from the German 916th Grenadier-Regiment.
They were finally relieved after reinforcement arrive from Omaha Beach on June 7.
At the end of the 2-day action, the initial Ranger landing force of 225+ was reduced to about 90 men who could still fight.
A-20 bombers make a return visit to the Pointe Du Hoc coastal battery on 22 May 1944.
With Pointe Du Hoc situated between Utah Beach to the west and Omaha Beach to the east, these guns threatened Allied landings on both beaches,
risking heavy casualties on the Allies landing forces.
At Pointe du Hoc, the Germans had built six casemates to house a battery of 155mm guns.
Intelligence reports assumed that the fortifications were strong and a full assault by ground forces would require.
British landing crafst carrying the US 2nd Rangers Battalion reached the base of the cliffs, immediately, rocket launchers were fire grapels and ropes up the cliffs.
As the Rangers scaled the cliffs, Allied warships provided fire support to ensure that the German defenders above could not fire down on the assaulting troops.
Upon reaching the fortifications, the Rangers learned for the first time that the main objective of the assault, the artillery battery, had been moved out of position,
as a result of air attacks during the buildup to the invasion.
The Rangers regrouped at the top of the cliffs, form up small patrols to search of the guns.
The patrols found five of the six guns nearby and destroyed them with thermite grenades.
The costliest part of the battle for the Rangers came after the cliff assault.
Determined to hold the vital ground, yet isolated from other Allied forces and outnumbered by the German garrison on the point,
the Rangers fended off several counterattacks from the German 916th Grenadier-Regiment.
They were finally relieved after reinforcement arrive from Omaha Beach on June 7.
At the end of the 2-day action, the initial Ranger landing force of 225+ was reduced to about 90 men who could still fight.
A-20 bombers make a return visit to the Pointe Du Hoc coastal battery on 22 May 1944.
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