Pointe du Hoc

2nd Ranger Battalion

Second Ranger is the name of two different units belonging to US Army Rangers. The famous one was the first part of 2nd Rangers that was formed in Second World War. (Mir, 2006, 48-49)

Pointe du Hoc:

Located six miles from west of Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc is a rocky outcrop overlooking thirty-five meters of the sea on this point, the nearly vertical cliffs, have been installed six 155 mm guns of French origin. These guns were arranged in circular tanks in the open. This allowed them to shoot in all directions. After the inspection in January 1944 by Rommel, it was decided to build concrete shelters to protect the cannon bombardment. In spring 1944, two bunkers were built, but the guns had not been immune. (Mir, 2006, 48-49) The battery is supplemented by numerous bunkers for ammunition depots and protected personnel. One hundred and fifty men were engaged in the implementation of the guns. An observation and direction of fire is located on the edge of the cliff. The bunker is currently inaccessible due to landslide risk of the cliff. The different bunkers are connected by underground tunnels. The location of this battery gives exceptional views of the ocean and the surrounding beaches. The battery also had comments from a radar station located near the edge of breakthrough. (Antony, 2009, 106)

Objective:

1. Rangers receive a mission to storm the cliff and neutralize its guns.

2. To resist attacks against Germans until reinforcements arrived from Americans from Omaha Beach.

3. They must also make progress as quickly as possible in the land to cut the road from St-Pierre-du-Mont in Grandcamp. (Antony, 2009, 106)

Strategy:

Before the landing of the 2nd Ranger Battalion provided on June 6 at 6:30 am, the Allied air force and navy will bombard the prior art in order to neutralize the garrison in place, namely 125 infantry and 80 German gunners. (Mark, 1999, 25-95)

At 4:30, 10 LCA (Landing Craft Assault) and 4 DUKW will be launched. DUKW will take two of each scale fire 33 meters above borrowed from fire-fighters in London. While the LCA will be equipped with rocket launchers that send ropes and rope ladders to the top of the cliff, and extensible ladders to be assembled on site. At 6:30, the 225 men from James Earl Rudder will land on the beach and then climb the cliff to destroy German artillery. Companies E and F will arrive at the eastern edge, while D Company will land in the West.

Once the area was under control, they'll shoot a flare to accommodate 500 Rangers reinforcement, waiting to be joined by the 116th Infantry Regiment U.S. landing at Omaha Beach. If at 7am no rockets are fired, the reinforcements will be diverted to Omaha Beach Charlie Sector. (Mark, 1999, 25-95)

Target:

With Pointe Du Hoc located between Omaha Beach towards east side and Utah Beach towards west side, the guns endangered Allied landings on both sides, which would cause high sufferings to the landing forces. Even though, there have been number ...