operation neptune gold, juno, and sword beaches
DESCRIPTION
This was a presentation I was required to make for my U.S. Military History class. Students in my class were given different topics on WWII and were required to "teach" the topic. The topic given to me that I presented was Operation Neptune: Gold, Sword, and Juno Beach(es).TRANSCRIPT
Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches
Operation Neptune
• Operation Neptune → assault phase of Operation Overlord
• Land troops on beaches
• Began on D-Day (6 June 1944)
• Ended on 30 June 1944
• Initial assault:
• Five-division front between Orne River & Cotentin Peninsula
• Region divided into 5 landing beaches:
• Utah• Omaha• Gold• Juno• Sword
Overview
Gold, Juno, & Sword Beach Responsibility of the British-
dominated Eastern Task Force British 50th Infantry Division &
Canadian 3rd Infantry Division Sword & Juno Beach landing
went smoothly Landings began at 0730 &
0735 British & Canadian divisions
inland by afternoon Gold Beach landing faced
more obstacles Landing at 0725 Loss of landing craft
Delayed force buildup Secured by nightfall
Jun
o
Beach
Gold
B
each
Gold Beach50th (Northumbrian)
Infantry DivisionCommanded by Major
General Douglas GrahamMajor General Wilhelm
Richter's German 716th Infantry Division
Weak German response to attack
Beach secured by end of morning
413 casualties
Juno Beach3rd Canadian Infantry
Division15,000 Canadian9,000 British
Major General Rodney Keller
First landing → 0745 961 casualties
Sword Beach3rd Infantry DivisionMajor General Tom
RennieInvasion launched on 5
Jun 1944 at 2256 (10:56PM)
Germans suffer light casualties from pre-invasion bombardment
Secured by end of 7 Jun630 casualties Key to Normandy
landings success
British & Canadian ForcesForces landing and areas of departure:
• "Gold" Beach - British 30th Corps from Southampton area
• "Juno" Beach - Canadian forces of British 1st Corps from Portsmouth area
• "Sword" Beach - British 1st Corps from Newhaven area
• Follow-up - British armored division from Thames area
Naval Task Forces and Commanders:
Rear-Adm. Sir P Vian
SummaryAssault Phase Warships
Battleships 3 RNCruisers 13 (12 RN, 1 Allied) Destroyers & escorts
84 (74 RN, 3 French, 7 Allied)
Other warships, incl. minesweepers & coastal forces
248 (217 RN, 30 US, 1 Allied)
Total Warships 348 (306 RN, 30 US, 3 French,
9 Allied) Major
Amphibious Forces
Landing & Ferry Vessels
LSIs, landing ships & craft
955 (893 RN, 62 US)
Ferry service vessels & landing craft
316 (RN & US)
Totals incl. Warships 1,619
Minor landing craft 1,155