Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach was one of five Allied beach landing sectors during the amphibious assault component of Operation Overlord on the 6th of June 1944. The Allies invaded German-occupied France with the Normandy landings to secure a continuous lodgement on the Normandy coast of the Baie de Seine. Omaha referred to an section of the coast from west of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to east of Vierville-sur-Mer on the right bank of the Douve river estuary. Landings here were necessary to link the British landings to the east at Gold with the American landing to the west at Utah. Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops, with sea transport and naval bombardment provided predominantly by the United States Navy and Coast Guard. Contributions came from the British, Canadian and Free French navies. The primary objective was to secure a beachhead deep between Port-en-Bessin and the Vire river. This linked with the British landings at Gold to the east and reached Isigny to the west to connect with VII Corps landing at Utah. The untested American 29th Infantry Division assaulted the western half of the beach alongside nine companies of U.S. Army Rangers redirected from Pointe du Hoc. The battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division was given the eastern half. Opposing the landings was the German 352nd Infantry Division. Of its 12,020 men, 6,800 were experienced combat troops detailed to defend a front.
The coastline of Normandy was divided into sixteen sectors assigned code names using a spelling-alphabet from Able to Roger. The area that became Omaha was originally designated X-Ray before changing on the 3rd of March 1944. Four lines of obstacles were constructed in the intertidal zone. The first line consisted of 200 Belgian Gates with mines lashed to the uprights out from the highwater line. Behind these was a continuous line of logs driven into the sand pointing seaward every third one capped with an anti-tank mine. Another shoreward line featured 450 ramps sloping towards the shore designed to force flat-bottomed landing craft to ride up and either flip or detonate the mine. The final line was a continuous line of hedgehogs from the shoreline. The area between the shingle bank and bluffs was wired and mined with mines scattered on bluff slopes. Coastal troop deployments comprised five companies of infantry concentrated at 15 strongpoints called Widerstandsnester numbered WN-60 in the east to WN-74 near Vierville in the west. Positions within each strongpoint were interconnected by trenches and tunnels. More than 60 light artillery pieces were deployed at these strongpoints. The heaviest pieces were located in eight gun casemates and four open positions while lighter guns were housed in 35 pillboxes. Obsolete VK 30.01 (H) tank turrets armed with 75 mm L/24 guns were re-used in permanent fortified bunkers. A further 18 anti-tank guns completed the disposition of artillery targeting the beach.
Ten landing craft were swamped by rough seas before reaching the beach while several others stayed afloat only because passengers bailed water out with helmets. Seasickness was prevalent among troops waiting offshore. Navigation became difficult due to smoke and mist obscuring landmarks while a strong current pushed boats continually eastward. As boats approached within a few hundred meters they came under increasingly intense fire from automatic weapons and artillery. The force discovered ineffectiveness of pre-landing bombardment when facing German resistance. On the 16th RCT front landing boats passed struggling men in life preservers survivors of DD tanks which had sunk in rough sea. Sea conditions forced decision for 116th LCT to carry DD tanks all way to beach after 27 of initial 29 DD tanks of 741st Tank Battalion swamped wading to shore. Company B of 743rd Tank Battalion lost all but one officer and half its DD tanks coming opposite well-defended Vierville draw. Other two companies landed left of B/743 without initial loss. Two DD tanks from 741st that survived swim ashore joined three others landed directly onto beach due to damaged ramp on their LCT. Remaining tank company managed land 14 of 16 tanks though three quickly knocked out.
Colonel George Taylor landed at 08:15 with words Two kinds of people are staying on this beach the dead and those who are going to die now let's get hell out of here. He organized groups regardless of unit putting them under nearest non-commissioned officer sending through area opened by G/16. By 09:30 regimental command post set up below bluff crest sending 1st and 2nd battalions inland as they reached crest. Brigadier General Norman Dutch Cota led charge off Dog White at 07:50 forcing gaps in wire with Bangalore torpedo and wire cutters. Twenty minutes later 5th Rangers joined advance blowing more openings. Command party established top of bluff where elements of G/116 and H/116 joined having moved laterally along beach widening narrow front east. Before 09:00 small parties from F/116 and B/116 reached crests just east of Dog White. Right flank covered by survivors of 2nd Rangers A and B companies fighting independently to top between 08:00 and 08:30 taking WN-70 already heavily damaged by naval shells joining 5th Rangers for move inland. By 09:00 more than 600 American troops groups ranging company sized to few men reached top bluff opposite Dog White advancing inland.
A small force of about 160 Royal Air Force technical personnel together with attached supporting signals scheduled land on Omaha Beach Normandy at high tide D-Day around 11:00 immediately after first waves secured beach. United States lacked own radar available by D-Day so agreed British Mobile Ground Controlled Interception Radar Units GCI 15082 lent to US. GCI 15082 formed as Ground Controlled Interception unit August 1943 at Renscombe Down near Swanage in Dorset equipped latest radar including height-finding apparatus used primarily control night fighters forward fighting areas. Unit mobile heavy equipment mounted Crossley trucks smaller apparatus Bedfords operational status expected two hours following arrival designated site. Plan had been 21 BDS land Easy Red Beach around 11:30 when tide would drive ashore. However appointed hour beach not taken ordered circle offshore until situation improved. Slowly US Forces began penetrate bluffs early afternoon several points advances made. Mid-afternoon first draw taken E-1 quickly followed E-3 chance land 21 BDS ordered 17:00 six hours behind schedule. While should have landed E-1 actually put ashore closer D-3 draw still viciously fought over. Tide low vehicles dropped far out flat sandy beach into low water deep hidden channels whole contents one LCT drove ship straight into deep channel never seen again.
American forces suffered 2,400 casualties at Omaha on June 6 but by end day landed 34,000 troops. German 352nd Division lost 10 percent strength with 1,200 casualties no reserves coming continue fight. Terrain and defenses thumb=1.5|Diagrammatic cross section of beach at Omaha coastline divided sixteen sectors assigned code names using spelling-alphabet from Able west Omaha Roger east flank. Area became Omaha originally designated X-Ray phonetic alphabet day name changed the 3rd of March 1944. Names Omaha Utah probably suggested Omar Bradley two privates fitting London headquarters Gayle Eyler Provo Utah not named corps commanders Virginia Gerow Louisiana Collins. Eight further sectors added invasion extended include Utah Cotentin Peninsula. Sectors divided beaches identified colors Red White Green corresponding colored lights used naval craft designate port left amidships starboard right. Omaha bounded either end large rocky cliffs crescent-shaped beach presented gently sloping tidal area averaging between low high-water marks. Above tide line bank shingle high up to wide places western end shingle bank rested stone further east becoming wood sea wall ranged height remaining third beach after seawall ended shingle lay against low sand embankment.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
What was the date of the Omaha Beach landing during Operation Overlord?
Omaha Beach was one of five Allied beach landing sectors during the amphibious assault component of Operation Overlord on the 6th of June 1944. The Allies invaded German-occupied France with the Normandy landings to secure a continuous lodgement on the Normandy coast of the Baie de Seine.
Which American divisions assaulted Omaha Beach on D-Day?
The untested American 29th Infantry Division assaulted the western half of the beach alongside nine companies of U.S. Army Rangers redirected from Pointe du Hoc. The battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division was given the eastern half.
How many casualties did American forces suffer at Omaha Beach on June 6?
American forces suffered 2,400 casualties at Omaha on June 6 but by end day landed 34,000 troops. German 352nd Division lost 10 percent strength with 1,200 casualties no reserves coming continue fight.
When was the area that became Omaha originally designated X-Ray changed to its final name?
The area that became Omaha was originally designated X-Ray before changing on the 3rd of March 1944. Four lines of obstacles were constructed in the intertidal zone to defend against the Allied invasion.
Who commanded the naval bombardment and air support for the Omaha Beach landing?
Rear Admiral John L. Hall strongly disapproved of what he considered to be the small amount of air and naval bombardment used saying it was a crime to send men on the biggest amphibious attack in history with such inadequate support. At 05:50 the planned naval bombardment began involving battleships destroyers and heavy bombers.