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A Day By the Shore

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Title
A Day By the Shore
Description
The heavily defended gun battery at Merville had been attacked by paratroops, but one gun was still firing and, in the confusion, two groups of Number 3 Commando were sent to finish the job. 45 (RM) Commando was reassigned to secure the coastal town of Franceville-Plage. While advancing …
Publisher
Date
1944-06-07
Scenario#
103
G22
Scenario Description
The heavily defended gun battery at Merville had been attacked by paratroops, but one gun was still firing and, in the confusion, two groups of Number 3 Commando were sent to finish the job. 45 (RM) Commando was reassigned to secure the coastal town of Franceville-Plage. While advancing across open ground to their objective, the much-reduced force came under intense mortar and sniper fire. Worse, its HQ was ambushed leaving only three officers unwounded. Following a short naval bombardment, two troops entered the main street of the town.
Location
Franceville-Plage, France
Battle Narrative
The Battle of Merville Gun Battery occurred on 6 June 1944, as part of Operation Tonga, part of the Normandy landings, during the Second World War. Allied intelligence believed the Merville Gun Battery was composed of heavy-calibre guns that could threaten the British landings at Sword Beach, only 8 miles (13 km) away. The 9th Parachute Battalion, part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade attached to 6th Airborne Division, was given the objective of destroying the battery. However, when the battalion arrived over Normandy, their parachute descent was dispersed over a large area, so instead of over 600 men, only 150 with no heavy weapons or equipment arrived at the battalion assembly point. Regardless, they pressed home their attack and succeeded in capturing the battery, only to discover that the guns were of a lower caliber than expected . However, these still had the range (over 8000 metres) to hit targets on Sword and in Ouistreham. Using what explosives they had been able to recover, the surviving 75 men tried to disable the guns. When the British paratroopers had withdrawn, two of the guns were put back into action by the Germans. Another attack the next day by British Commandos failed to recapture the battery, which remained under German control until 17 August, when the German Army started to withdraw from the area.
Combatants
British
German
Additional Information
Scenario Type = Standard
Collection:

Geolocation