Embedded Files
D-Day - August 15th 1944 03:00-08:00
Red Beach Bombing Run
At approximately 03:15, while the 1st Airborne Task Force scattered its paratroopers all across the Rugby drop zone, the 36th Infantry were awoken to reveille aboard their ships. Final checks of equipment and vehicles were made before breakfast, while Operation Yokum narrowed their focus to bomb specific strongpoints and guns defending the invasion areas. Under a haze of smoke, naval minesweepers and self-detonating drones fanned out from the convoy to clear a path through underwater explosives in the landing zone areas, but faced a stiff resistance from defending shore batteries. A quick response from the USS Texas, USS Arkansas and another half-dozen Navy Destroyers provided final confirmation to Germany’s 19th Army that they were about to meet the Allied army up close.
As the 36th Infantry Division troops loaded up on landing ships, the supporting naval barrage pounded any and all targets within range, systematically wrecking visible seaside defenses. This extended turkey-shoot abated at approximately 07:30, and the new rocket-converted LSTs (Landing Ship Tank transports) saturated the Camel beach landing areas with thousands of 60-pound rockets, ripping gaps in barbed-wire entanglements, and knocking out blockhouses. While the shores were bathed in early-morning sunlight, a light haze of smoke and dust from the relentless barrage obscured the landing areas to the troops aboard their LST's. While the infantry troops of the 141st who were motoring in to land could make out at least two direct hits placed on blockhouses directly defending Green Beach, there were others to contend with when they struck ground. As the LST's fanned out towards Green Beach and Blue Beach to their East, German guns hit the landing craft with everything they had.
D-Day - August 15th 1944 03:00-12:00
08:05 - Naval craft carrying 2 battalions of the 141st Infantry Regiment lands on Camel Green Beach through a rain of artillery and coastal gunfire. Two boats are lost to enemy fire while motoring towards the shore, and another is taken out by artillery as it reaches the shore. Several enemy fortifications on the ridge overlooking the landing zone has been already been pulverized by naval guns, and there is reasonable defilade provided by the short cliffs to the West for the unloading of infantry troops. Concentrated enemy fire zeros in on the beach line as these rifle companies unload from the transports onto the quarried rocks covering Green Beach. At the same time, a small contingent of German machine-gunners open up on the soldiers disembarking soldiers. Enemy infantry bearing small arms also join the fray, while Anti-Aircraft batteries send clouds of flak at US Air Corps fighter-bombers supporting of the landings.
09:45 - As the 141st works on securing the Green beach landing area, the 1st battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment runs aground on Green Beach. Able, Baker, Charlie, and Dog Companies exit their landing craft and advance through thick minefields towards the pockets of resistance remaining in the Green beach landing zone.
View from Camel Green Beach - île d'Or in background
10:10 - The 2nd Battalion of the 143rd Infantry begins their landing operations on Green Beach. Easy, Fox, George and How Companies unload while a scattering of mortar and artillery rounds impact around them. The bulk of the 2nd Battalion troops begin moving northwest towards pre-designated objectives, while Easy Company moves directly down Highway 98 to assault and clear any remaining road defenses.
10:30 - The 3rd Battalion of the 143rd Infantry arrives on Green beach in their landing craft. Item, King, Love, and Mike Companies unload and organize their forces while scores of US fighter-bombers saturate areas West of Green beach with high explosive gravity bombs.
10:40 - Approximately 10 rounds of enemy artillery strike the main landing zone in Green Beach. Fortuitously, none of these shells finds a mark, and no casualties are inflicted upon the Allied landing force.
10:55 - 133rd Field Artillery Battalion sets up it's howitzers on Green Beach, fully prepared to fire upon enemy targets in support of the infantry advance.
11:00 - With assistance from the 143rd, the 141st Infantry clears the surrounding area of Green beach of enemy defenders. Elements of the 141st Infantry move Northeast to seize the areas surrounding Dramont and Agay, defending the right flank of the Division attack. In tandem, elements of the 1st Battalion 143rd Infantry takes over perimeter security. The remainder of the 1/143rd moves North towards Objectives #1 and #1A. The 3rd Battalion 143rd, acting as Division reserve trails behind the 1st battalion on its move to the North. Concurrently, 2nd Battalion rifle companies Easy, Fox, and George advance through hilly copses towards the small town of Boulouris Sur-Mer, meeting scattered resistance from of hidden snipers and machine-gun nests.
The Grand Boulouris Hotel
11:30 - A temporary Regimental Command Post is established near a coastal resort hotel close to shore, while 2nd Battalion soldiers move to secure Battalion Objectives #1 and #2A. 11:55 - Charlie Company from the 636th Tank Destroyer battalion joins Able Company from the 143rd in their move to seize Objective #1A. The high ground affords an ideal location for an combat outpost to direct artillery and naval gunfire to support the infantry assault.
11:57 - The 2nd Battalion clears Objective #2A, another high-ground objective that offered commanding views of Boulouris Sur-Mer and Saint Raphael. The 143rd Regimental Command, and the 133rd Field Artillery Battalion command posts both relocate to the Grand Boulouris Hotel located atop this same hill shortly thereafter.
D-Day - August 15th 1944 12:01-15:00
12:25 - 143rd Infantry notifies Division command that it has completed landing all units on Green beach. Amphibious tanks and tank destroyer battalions continue to flood the beach along with field artillery units, medics and other associated supplies to support the invasion.
12:30 - Elements of the 2nd Battalion circle back to clear Objective #2A and set up a combat outpost. Forest fires brought about by the artillery and bomb strikes have brought about isolated forest fires, impeding visibility. The outpost must relocate several times throughout the course of the battle to ensure a clear line of sight upon enemy targets.
Operation Dragoon Forces Move on Invasion Objectives
12:47 - Four M-4 Tank destroyers from Charlie Company, 636th Tank Destroyer Battalion leave Camel Green Beach and rumble down highway 98 in direct support of the 2nd Battalion advance through Boulouris.
13:00 - A sustained naval barrage is called down on Target Area "Nebraska", battering the town of Boulouris and areas West of the 2nd battalion advance.
13:05 - 2nd Battalion Rifle Companies, having regrouped at Outpost #1, depart toward Boulouris following the barrage on the town by Navy guns. Resistance stiffens considerably as they make their way through the outlying areas of the town. Enemy infantry lays into the advance from their positions inside residential buildings, while machinegun and sniper fire cuts into exposed targets. Anti-tank guns cleverly concealed within buildings pose a heavy threat to the armor supporting Fox, George, and How Companies.
14:00 - The unexpected enemy defenses in Boulouris, coupled with a failure of Naval craft to effectively sweep for mines in the Red Beach area necessitates a change of plans for the attack. The 142nd Infantry, originally intended to land on Camel Red supported by the 143rd and a coordinated aerial assault, is diverted instead to land at Green Beach by Navy Command. This causes a bit of a controversy with IV Corps Generals, as the decision was made without their input or approval. It is instead decided that the final attack on saint Raphael and Frejus, to seize the Argens river valley will be postponed until the next day to let the 36th Infantry to clear out the stubborn resistance in the area.
14:01 - A half-mile Northeast of the 2nd Battalion command post, Love Company patrols a widening gap between the 1st and 2nd Battalion front lines to prevent enemy infiltration while also moving to assist in securing Objective #1A.
14:09 - George Company checks in with battalion HQ with their current location and situation as they fight their way through booby-traps, enemy snipers and machine-gun fire in Boulouris Sur-Mer.
14:25 - 1st Battalion 143rd Infantry wades through machinegun and artillery fire to neutralize enemy defenders, taking Objectives #1 and #1A. These high ridges are situated in the "Grand Defends" which overlooks the assault objectives to the West. An observation post is set up to guide artillery and naval strikes on any enemy defenses that are still in operation.
14:35 - A bomber strike consisting of ninety-four B-24 "Liberator" bombers hammers a particularly tough series of strongpoints just off Red Beach, dropping a total of 187 tons of ordinance. Despite taking several direct hits, many of the concrete-reinforced strongpoints are completely unscathed.
D-Day - August 15th 1944 15:01-17:00
15:00 - The 142nd Infantry Regiment, having been denied Red beach as a viable landing zone, sets shore on Green Beach to execute their alternate plan of attack. This change results in the 142nd being tasked with sweeping north around Saint Raphael, then attacking Frejus from the northeast.
15:05 - George Company, having brushed aside enemy defenders, moves past the outskirts of Boulouris and towards the the middle of town en route to it's primary objectives. Heavy machine gun, and sniper fire pours from civilian homes during their advance through the town. German observers spot the intrusion into the territory, and enemy artillery is brought to bear on the 2nd Battalion advance.
15:07 -Elements of the 1st Battalion move past the recently established combat outpost, and move to square off against a group of approximately 100 Wehrmacht entrenched atop a hill to their Northeast.
15:15 - Additional elements from the 2nd Battalion filter into Boulouris, also encountering small arms fire from hidden positions, and scattered artillery fire from the hills overlooking the Argens River Valley.
15:15 - The 143rd Infantry Regimental command post packs up shop, and displaces forward to keep pace with the expanding front lines.
German Army Defenses 2nd Battalion 143rd INF Zone of Action - Map dated July 20th 1944
15:20 - The Easy Company advance puts them within visual range of Objective James. This combat objective appears to be a heavily defended bridge that allowed vehicle passage from Highway 98 across the sunken railroad line that runs parallel to it. This intersection appears to be one of only a few pathways from the highway that leads directly into the city of Saint Raphael. As Easy moves down the highway in a tactical column, machine-gun fire erupted from an outpost concealed in the woods on the shoreline.
15:40 - 2nd Battalion units skirt Boulouris to the Northwest, and are ambushed by elements of the 14th Company, 765th Grenadier Regiment from hidden positions. Most of the defenders are either killed or captured in the resulting firefight.
15:40 - German defenders who are not actively engaged stage a fighting withdrawal in the 2nd Battalion sector, falling back to the North and Northwest. Accurate artillery fire slams into 2nd Battalion positions, negating the possibility for pursuit. Interrogation of prisoners indicates that complete and total surprise was achieved with the invasion on Green and Blue beaches, and that the German troops were tactically unprepared to effectively defend the landing zones., much less deny the landings outright.
15:45 - The 143rd Regimental Command Post completes its relocation, and takes up residence in the nearby resort hotel.
A typical poured-concrete roadblock used by the Wehrmacht
16:01 - Easy Company, having taken out the MG ambush team, moves closer to Objective James. A high stone wall has been constructed as a road barrier to deny passage into the town. As they approach, they are cut apart by heavy machine gun fire from a seaside villa. High walls and thick vegetation conceals the defenders, and counter-fire from Easy company is ineffective in suppressing the threat. Mortar fire zeroes in on the advance elements of Easy, and half the company is cut off. 2nd Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Gaulden M. Watkins is cut down when attempting to exhort the rear elements of Easy to advance in support of their comrades and the rescue falters. Pinned by heavy machinegun fire, and being plastered by deadly-accurate mortar fire, a crisis begins to unfold for the leading element of Easy. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Denholm assumes command of 2nd battalion, and prepares a plan to enact a rescue.
16:05 - In the 1st Battalion sector, Able and Baker Companies the advance to within 1000 yards of the enemy position atop the hill, with Charlie Company echeloned behind them and to the right. German observers on the hill call upon their artillery higher up the hills to send down a heavy barrage on their attackers. As the barrage lifts, Able Company requests payback by calling in a counter-barrage from the 133rd Field Artillery Battalion upon the now-visible German artillery positions.
16:10 - The 133rd FA unleashes 80 rounds into the enemy guns, completely obliterating the threat.
16:15 - The timetable for the advance in the 2nd Battalion sector being behind due to unexpected enemy concentrations, mopping up Boulouris was deemed a secondary objective for the 2nd Battalion units, As a consequence, George Company bypasses enemy positions on their route to their objective.
16:35 - George Company has now reached the coastal highway and moves West, being careful to skirt the railroad tracks themselves, which were known to be heavily mined. Palatial seaside homes that offered picturesque views of the Côte d'Azur are carefully probed to root out the enemy. Machinegun fire and sniper fire targets George Company, who responds in kind.
Around this time, Lieutenant Colonel Denholm orders George Company split in two. One half of George Company was to proceed without delay to nearby Objective Henry and to then neutralize all defenders. The other half of George Company was to fight East along the highway to assist the forward elements of Easy Company, who was still stranded from the rest of their comrades. Armor support from the 636th is called forward from Green beach to contribute to the rescue effort.
16:39 - 1st Battalion troops complete the relocation of Outpost #2 to Hill #126 in "The Grand Defends" as the front lines shift West.
Assault Troops Move Inland - Aug 15 1944
16:45 - 2nd Battalion command advises it's men to the disposition of enemy front lines. The German Army is still withdrawing slowly, attempting to utilize rear guard elements to cover their movements.
16:55 - The 1st Battalion is issued alternate orders for attack to reflect the change in landing area for the 142nd Infantry. All companies are to continue towards their next Objective, and to attack Saint Raphael from the Northeast upon orders from Regimental Command.
17:00 - Able and Baker Companies eliminate the 765th Regiment troops defending the nearby hilltop. At the same time, tanks and tank destroyers from the 636th roll up on Easy Company positions.
36th Infantry Division issues orders for the 141st to continue with their original mission of driving east toward Cannes, while the 142nd is instructed to link up with the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance and push across the Argens River at 20:00 to take Frejus. In concert, the 143rd was to attack Frejus from the West, with the 142nd holding the line to it's north. Artillery from the 133rd FA and Naval guns would support the ground troops by laying heavy concentrations of fire ahead of the advance.
D-Day - August 15th 1944 17:01-23:59
17:12 - The main force of George Company closes in on Objective Henry, with a defended roadblock within visual range. Objective Henry was the second bridge that allowed passage across the railway line to the city-center, and it was imperative that both James and Henry be seized to bring armored support into Saint Raphael. As they approach their Objective, at least one pillbox housing a machinegun squad opens up, supported by an unknown amount of enemy riflemen holed-up nearby.
17:16 - Having neutralized or captured the defenders on the hilltop, the 1st Battalion companies move West towards Saint Raphael, and their next objectives.
17:32 - New operational plans are issued to the 143rd Infantry regiment to reflect the diversion of 142nd Infantry troops from Camel Red Beach to Camel Green Beach. 1st and 2nd Battalion are to clear out Frejus and Saint Raphael with the 142nd Infantry as a precursor to eliminating opposition directly on Red Beach.
17:38 - The crisis facing the forward elements of Easy company is somewhat abated by the arrival of the Sherman Tanks, but the fight for Objective James is far from over. Enemy infantry, mortar, and machinegun teams are still in business, and show no signs of giving up. Easy company moves in to overwhelm the enemy positions that are out of the line of sight of the supporting armor.
17:40 - As Fox Company of the 2nd Battalion moves through the outskirts of Saint Raphael, they receive fire from snipers and machinegun teams, slowing their progress but ultimately presenting little challenge to the experienced riflemen.
17:40 - Just north of the roadblock at Objective Henry, Heavy Weapons Company "How" brings overwhelming firepower to the engagement. The defenders are caught directly in a murderous crossfire from George Company rifles, and How company's heavy machinegun and mortar teams. Farther west, tanks with the 636th blows the roadblocks to rubble.
Objective Henry today, looking West: Railway and bridge to the right.
17:55 - The main force of George Company has secured Objective Henry with the aid of How Company. While 2nd Battalion elements remain behind to guard the bridge, while the remainder of George company moves down highway 98, edging through the "Stützpunkt Löwe" (or "Strongpoint Lion"). defenses in the area. To the East, Easy Company struggles with Wehrmacht troops defending near Objective James.
18:17 - Fox company engages enemy positions in Boulouris Sur-Mer with a ferocious display of small arms fire, but the trapped Wehrmacht troops show no signs of surrender. Meanwhile, German artillery continues to wreak havoc in the 2nd Battalion sector.
18:55 - Interrogation of numerous German POWs provides intelligence on the troops garrisoned in Saint Raphael. It is reported that the 5th, 6th, and 7th Companies of the 765th Infantry Regiment remain in the city, a total of about 360 men. Each company has been equipped with five light machineguns, two heavy machineguns, and two heavy mortars. Numerous "Goliath" tank bombs are hidden in the city, operators at the ready to take out any unwitting tanks. The town is also reported to be heavily mined with a mix of anti-tank and anti-personnel ordinance. French Maquis intelligence confirms the locations of several other minefields in the area.
19:15 - Heavy enemy resistance to the Love Company advance results in a critical shortage of ammunition. A request is sent up the chain of command to prioritize the unloading of ammunition from supply ships in favor of landing additional vehicles. At the same time, personnel from the 111th Engineers are requested to move up and clear pathways through the numerous minefields in the area.
VI Corps Troops pour onto Green Beach
19:50 - Four heavy mortars from the 2nd Chemical Battalion land on Camel Green Beach, awaiting attachment to a specific battalion.
20:00 - Love Company secures a nearby hill from it's defenders, and captures numerous POWs. Significant intelligence is gleaned from maps that were captured with the prisoners. At the same time, Outpost #1 packs up and displaces to the west.
20:17 - The 2nd Battalion rear Command Post displaces to keep up with the advancing elements of the battalion.
Objective #3 Promenade - Casino and domed Church can be seen in the foreground.
20:19 - The George Company Combat Platoon reaches Objective James to relieve Easy Company. The surrounding area is cleared out shortly thereafter, and nets only 4 prisoners from the 627th Section Marine Coast Artillery and the 63rd GAF Training Regiment.
Meanwhile, the main body of George Company has moved well into the glitzy resort and casino district after fighting through the "Strongpoint Lion" defenses and is within sighting distance of their next combat objective. Objective #3 appears to be a "Square Bonaparte", a promenade that juts out from the eastern edge of the destroyed Vieux Port, next to the domed Basilique Notre Dame de la Victoire and a casino/hotel complex. This battlefield position offered a point-blank line of sight to Red beach defenses.
This area would be of major tactical advantage to whomever held it, and roads leading into the area were studded with pillboxes, slit trenches, and machinegun posts. Located on the promenade itself were two enormous casemates housing coastal guns. Situated on Red Beach proper were several more identical casemates, along with fortified pillboxes, nests of barbed wire, and countless machinegun nests. Added to these defenses were clusters of mines laid along the roads and numerous booby-traps.
20:25 - Combat Outpost #1 completes it's forward displacement to keep up with the battalion advance.
The wreck of LST-282
21:00 - Two Dornier 217 heavy fighters from the Luftwaffe plow through the Navy's anti-air defenses for a bombing run on Green Beach. A direct hit from a radio-controlled drone bomb strikes the ammo-laden LST-282, with the resulting explosion inflicting 56 casualties. The fighters streak north over Outpost #1, while other fighter-bombers buzz Green Beach dropping anti-personnel bombs. The ship continues to burn and rip itself apart as ammunition explodes for the next two hours.
21:10 - 1st Batallion 142nd Infantry Regiment, having driven just under four miles north from Green Beach, and closes in on the 765th Infantry Headquarters just over a mile away.
22:30 - The 143rd Regimental Command Post relocates its base of operations West to the outlying suburbs of Saint Raphael.
22:50 - Fox Company comes under attack from small arms, machineguns, and mortars as they advance into the edges of Saint Raphael.
23:55 - The 3rd Battalion 142nd Infantry gains ground high in the hills immediately north of Saint Raphael, meeting only scattered resistance. The cities of Saint Raphael and Frejus are at this point encircled on three sides: The 143rd holds ground to the east of the area, while the 142nd is to the north. The 45th Infantry Division on Delta Beaches move to squeeze Frejus from the West: The fighting retreat had turned into a total rout.
Dan Henry and Operation Dragoon
1 - Italy 2 - Operation Dragoon 3 - Invasion Plans 4 - German Defenses 5 - Cote D'Azur D-Day 6 - Aftermath 7 - Sources
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse