Normandy (6 June-19 August) AAR

[Indragnir]

Hi folks,

As I said here it is Allied AAR.

6 June
From Utah to Sword Beachs
ABD: Airborne Division
ID: Infantry Division.
ArB: Armoured Brigade
ArD: Armoured Division
AD: Armored Division
PzD: Panzer Division
SSB: Special Service Brigade

Utah:
82th and 101th AB divisions capture St Mere Eglise and the bridge over the Merderet river by 06.00.
St Marie du Mont, Chef du Pont and Martin de Varreville captured by 08.00.
Etienville reached at 10.00, Etienville and Pouppeville taken by 16.00 by 82th ABD
Make contact with 4th ID by 12.00.
St Come du Mont taken by 18.00.
No german attempt to counterattack the paras. 6th Fallmishjaeger regiment spotted entrenching in Carentan, they control the bridges.


Omaha:
Rangers capture St Pierre du Mont.
Initial landings of 1st, 2th, 29th and 30th ID. Omaha slaughter starts.
The bunker between St Lauren and Colleville, taken thanks heavy warship fire.
St Laurent bunker taken by 18.00 due concentrated assaults. Quickly followed by Forest trenches besides Colleville, allied control now 3 contiguous hexes. Allies start off beach movements.

Gold:
Initial landings of 8th ArB, 79th ArD and 50th ID.
Gold beach run very well, few casualties. All Gold is secured by 14.00
Gold and Juno linking hands at Banville at mid day.
Inland advances show Sommervieu-Fontenailles-Creully line taken.
Arromanches isolated.
No sight of 21th PzD.

Juno:
Initial landings of 2nd Canadian ArB, 79th ArD and 3th Canadian ID.
Devastating fire from warships disrupted german defenders of the bunker left of Courseulles sur Mer, quickly captured by elements of 79th Armored Division.
Juno beach run very well, few casualties, although a bit harder than Gold.
Juno is secured by 12.00.
Reached Thaon and crossed the Mue river with elements of 2nd Canadian ArB. Tailleville taken. Pounding the strong point protecting Douvres crossroad.
No sight of 21th PzD.

Sword:
Initial landings of 27th ArB, 79th ArD, 3rd ID and 1st SSB.
First cracks on Sword bunker system (left of Riva Bella) captured by 3th ID early in the morning. Half Riva Bella taken by 12.00. Hermanville sur Mer quickly taken. Riva Bella taken by 1st SSB by 18.00.
Sword left outer bunker line still holds but 3rd ID make a hole at Periers-Bienville, german resistance at Blainville.
Recon elements of 1st Corps linking hands with 2nd Canadian Corps at Augerny, that makes all 3 beach zones Juno, Gold and Sword linked (despite Douvres pocket will take some time to neutralize).
No sight of 21th PzD.

Orne-Canal de Caen area:
6th ABD captures Pegasus Bridge and all minor villages between Toufreville (defended by elements of 21th PzD) and Troarn. Also isolated german forces at Franceville bunker system. Two bridges over Dives river taken.
Main line between St Honorine (taken) –Toufreville (axis control)- Troarn (axis control)

Overall I think it was a fantastic first day, even at Omaha: ABD divisions firmly hold their ground having secured all critical areas, now 4th ID is moving inland. All Commonwealth sectors are linked, 6th ABD hold Pegasus Bridge and make some inland advances.
My main concern is 21st PzD, they don’t show their faces yet.