The German MERVILLE BATTERY is located 2 miles SE of the port of OUISTREHAM covering the mouth of the RIVER ORNE. Crucially for the planed landings on D Day it was situated 5 miles East of SWORD QUEEN BEACH, and it was assessed that the battery could cause serious problems for the troops landing on the beach.
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| Merville Battery Threat |
The battery consisted of 4 concrete casemates, the type used normally housing 150mm guns, and this was what concerned the D-Day planners, consequently it was deemed necessary that the battery be destroyed prior to the main beach landings.
The battery was heavily bombed by the RAf on 16th May 1944, but little damage was inflicted, though the Battery Commander was killed as he visited his mistress.
A ground assault was therefore planed.
The defences for the battery were formidable:
- 20mm anti-aircraft guns
- 15 machine gun positions
- Wire obstacles in an area 640 by 460 m surrounded by two barbed wire obstacles 15 4.6 m thick by 1.5 m high.
- 100 m deep minefield
- Anti-tank ditch covering any approach from the nearby coast.
- Areas to the East of the battery were flooded as part of a wider defence plan
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| Merville Battery June 1944 |
As part of the overall plan to secure the left flank of the D-Day landings, 9th Battalion Parachute Regiment, supported by Royal Engineers in Horsa Gliders, was tasked with the destruction of the battery. The Pathfinders would drop just after midnight to secure and mark the dropping and air landing zones. Main body would arrive 13:00, and the operation needed to be complete by 05:00 when a naval bombardment from HMS Arethusa would commence. Prior to the ground assault, RAF Lancaster Bombers would bomb the battery.
The Pathfinders drop was successful, however, their radio beacons had been damaged, and the smoke and debris from the RAF bombing, which was off target, obscured th landing lights.
The main drop and air landings were scattered as the DZ / LZ were not marked. Only 150 men out of a battalion of 800 arrived at the assembly point. There were no engineers and no infantry support weapons (anti tank guns) or jeeps.
A reconnaissance party had managed to reach the battery, mark 4 routes through the minefield and cut a route through the barbed wire.
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| Merville Battery Assault |
The reduced battalion managed to penetrate into the Battery and neutralised the gun by throwing fragmentation and phosphorous grenades through the gun apertures.
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| Merville Battery Casemate |
The German garrison resisted and only 75 paratroopers withdrew from the battery shortly before 05:00.
The guns were only neutralised. Two guns were in action later in the day, though it transpired that the guns were only 100mm aged Czech WW1 guns.
The battery would not be captured till 17th August 1944.
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| Merville Battery Plan |
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| Merville Battery Dakota |
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| Merville Battery |
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| On guard |