Pointe-du-Hoc

Planners felt that the German batteries on Pointe-du-Hoc would be one of the most daunting threats to Allied forces landing on Omaha in the morning of D-Day. Set atop 100 foot cliffs west of the beach, the guns' range were …

1944-06-06

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Planners felt that the German batteries on Pointe-du-Hoc would be one of the most daunting threats to Allied forces landing on Omaha in the morning of D-Day. Set atop 100 foot cliffs west of the beach, the guns' range were such that they'd be able to score direct hits on any troops landing on the beach below. The 2nd Rangers, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, were tasked with silencing them. Following a difficult approach and despite intense firing from the German garrison, the first of about 200 Rangers leading the assault were on top of the cliffs within minutes. They were surprised to find that the guns had been withdrawn off the point three days before. Finding only dummies made from timber in the gun casemates, Ranger patrols infiltrated south looking for the missing guns. Meanwhile two significant concentrations of Germans remained on the point for much of the morning. The anti-aircraft position in the southwest bunker and the observation bunker at the tip of the point were the most dangerous and resisted repeated Ranger attacks. A Ranger patrol finally found the guns unguarded, but ready to fire, in an apple orchard inland. The patrol placed incendiary thermite grenades in the guns and accomplished their mission.

Pointe-du-Hoc, France

La Pointe du Hoc is a promontory with a 100-foot (30 m) cliff overlooking the English Channel on the northwestern coast of Normandy in the Calvados department, France.

Wikipedia: Pointe du Hoc

German

American

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Beach

Website Access: Available