D-Day Landing Craft by Andrew Whitmarsh

Author:Andrew Whitmarsh
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781803994468
Publisher: The History Press

THE ASSAULT ON KING BEACH, H-HOUR TO H+120

The plan for the assault by 69th Infantry Brigade on King Beach, delivered by craft of Group G2, had many similarities with that on Jig. There were some slight differences in the timings, with the assault infantry due to land here at H+7.5 minutes and the reserve infantry companies at H+25, rather than H+7 and H+20, for example, although such subtleties were likely to be lost in the chaos of battle.

As on Jig, the decision was made that the LCT(DD)s would deliver the DD tanks onto the beach as the sea was too rough for them to swim. Rather than letting the following waves overtake them, the LCT(DD)s joined formation with the LCT(AVRE)s, taking the place of the LCT(A) s, which had been delayed. The result was that, despite the change in plan for delivering the DD tanks, those vehicles, the breaching teams, LCOCU personnel and assault infantry landed in quick succession and were able to support each other. This still did not mean that all aspects of the plan worked smoothly, however. 541 Assault Flotilla carrying assault infantry reported that the LCT(DD)s had blocked their approach to the beach, leading to a ten-minute delay.63

As on Jig, the LCT(AVRE)s reached the beach first, but the two small craft carrying the LCOCU teams – LCA(OC)s 1210 and 1211 – grounded further inshore. This meant that the LCOCUs were the first to land, giving them a few minutes to carry out their obstacle-clearance work without other troops getting in their way. The time was around 07.25, H-Hour. They found the most seaward obstacles were already in about 1ft of water, reinforcing the urgency of their work ahead of the oncoming tide.

Initially, there was no enemy fire. No.4 LCOCU reported that the nine-man team had destroyed five obstacles and prepared six for demolition when ‘heavy opposition was started with mortar and M.G. [machine gun] fire and two men were badly wounded’. No.3 LCOCU had a similar experience.64

The six LCT(AVRE)s of 34 LCT Flotilla (part of Group 6) carrying the breaching teams touched down around 07.25, with three craft each in the west and east of King. As on Jig, as well as tanks – Churchill AVREs of 81 Assault Squadron RE and Sherman flail tanks of C Squadron, Westminster Dragoons – and bulldozers, each LCT carried two sections of 280 Field Company RE, whose task was to clear gaps in the obstacles on land.

The tanks landed in water around 4ft deep. The process of unloading did not go smoothly, with several LCTs swinging nearly parallel to the beach, causing at least one AVRE to drown. The Roly-Poly matting deployed by the first AVRE as the tanks beached did not work well. However, several AVREs were soon helping 280 Field Company RE by dragging obstacles aside to begin creating a gap, while AVREs and Crabs would soon support the assault infantry at WN-35 on the west side of King and at WN-36 at La Rivière in the east.

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