Northumbrian Gunner: D-Day

Sunday 22 April 2012

D-Day - SWORD Beach

SWORD Beach

Before daylight a smoke screen was laid by aircraft and naval guns between the invading force and the German batteries at LE HAVRE. The naval bombardment was concentrated on the beach area, a 3 mile stretch, ½ mile in depth.

The landings on the beach began at 07:25. Despite the rough seas, the leading DD tanks of the 13/ 18^th Hussars, and the Engineer Assault Teams with their specialist vehicles deployed onto the beaches ahead of the infantry of the 8^th Brigade Group.

Resistance was weak. By 08:00 leading assault troops had pushed inland. The remaining waves deployed according to plan, though many casualties were sustained by landing craft hitting Teller Mines. Heavy resistance was met at LA BRECHE, and was not cleared till 10:30.

The 185^th Brigade began landing mid-morning, and passed through 8 Brigade. Enemy resistance on the PERIERS RIDGE, between DOUVRES and BENOOVILLE prevented further penetration inland.

The Commandos of 1^st Special Service Brigade linked up with the paratroopers who had captured the bridges on the ORNE WATERWAYS by 13:00. To the west however the division were unable to link up with the Canadians until much later in the day.

The only significant German counter attack on D-Day occurred in the beach area. The 21^st Panzer Division mounted an attack at 16:00 between LION-SUR-MER and LUC-SUR-MER. The force included 50 panzer tanks, 80 light obsolete Czech tanks and panzer grenadiers. Robust defences, including anti-tank guns, and effective air attacks destroyed many vehicles, halting the attack. One company did penetrate the gaps in defences to LION SUR MER, but withdrew on observing glider borne troops flying over their location, fearing they would be cut off.

Whilst the German attacks were repulsed, the action meant that the objective of taking CAEN on D-Day was not achieved; indeed it would not be taken till 43 days later following bitter fighting and near destruction of the city by bombing.