Report card for Operation NEPTUNE (D-Day)
Rich Rostrom
success of various elements of the operation.
Herewith, a "report card" on these elements,
as I see them:
Planning:
Strategic: A (The Allies picked the right place and time to attack.)
Operational: A (The Allied plan of attack was spot on.)
Tactical: B (Some of the details were not well thought out.)
Security: A (The Germans were taken completely by surprise.)
Deception: A+ (Even after D-Day, the Germans still expected invasion
elsewhere.)
Organization
Planning: A (Just about every detail was accounted for in advance.)
Execution: A (All troops and materiel were ready, when and where
needed.)
Aerial prep barrage: D (Completely missed the beach defenses)
Airborne operation:
U.S.: C+ (took their objectives; but the drops were _badly_
scattered)
British: ? (Aside from Pegasus Bridge, I know nothing)
SWORD: B (Got ashore and well inland, but did not take Caen as
planned.)
JUNO: B (As SWORD.)
GOLD: B (As SWORD, except Bayeux instead of Caen.)
OMAHA: C- (Got ashore, but just barely.)
UTAH: B (Got ashore and well inland, but left many German pockets.)
cpmac
> ISTM that there was wide variation in the
> success of various elements of the operation.
> Herewith, a "report card" on these elements,
> as I see them:
>
> Planning:
> Strategic: A (The Allies picked the right place and time to attack.)
> Operational: A (The Allied plan of attack was spot on.)
> Tactical: B (Some of the details were not well thought out.)
>
> Security: A (The Germans were taken completely by surprise.)
Some Germans were expecting "something" to happen.
At Utah beach Lt Jancke had some paratroopers captured by a patrol. The
Americans were asking to be taken inland, which got Jancke thinking
something was up. He spent the rest of the night in a dugout lookout
just behind the anti tank wall at about the place where the museum is now.
Just before dawn he saw some bombers crossing the coast to the north of
him. That wasn't too surprising as he often saw bombers crossing the
coast to bomb inland. But the marauders turned as they arrived at the
beach and came straight towards his strong point bombing at low level.
Many of his guns were out of action and many casualties. So expecting
something didn't help him at all.
> Deception: A+ (Even after D-Day, the Germans still expected invasion
> elsewhere.)
>
> Organization
> Planning: A (Just about every detail was accounted for in advance.)
There were even french letters given out to protect the rifle barrels.
The only Victoria cross awarded went to Sgt Hollis. When he was given
the french letters he said "What are we gonna do with the germans fight
'em or..."
> Execution: A (All troops and materiel were ready, when and where
> needed.)
>
> Aerial prep barrage: D (Completely missed the beach defenses)
Except Utah. The bombing of Omaha was carried out by B17s crossing the
beach perpendicularly before carrying on to bomb other target inland. A
longitudinal run would have been more effective.
>
> Airborne operation:
> U.S.: C+ (took their objectives; but the drops were _badly_
> scattered)
> British: ? (Aside from Pegasus Bridge, I know nothing)
If the US merit a C+ , the British (and Canadians) merit a B. The drops
were just as disorganized but they got their objectives and Pegasus
brings up the level. If you mark Pegasus on it's own it must have an A+
>
> SWORD: B (Got ashore and well inland, but did not take Caen as
> planned.)
>
> JUNO: B (As SWORD.)
>
> GOLD: B (As SWORD, except Bayeux instead of Caen.)
Taking Bayeux on the 7th intact should bring the mark up.
Bayeux was the only town of any size (10000 or bigger) not to have been
practically completely destroyed.
> OMAHA: C- (Got ashore, but just barely.)
>
> UTAH: B (Got ashore and well inland, but left many German pockets.)
>
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