(4/12)Battlefield I The Battle of Normandy Episode 7 (GDH)

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The Normandy beaches were chosen by planners because they lay within range of air cover, and were less heavily defended than the obvious objective of the Pas de Calais, the shortest distance between Great Britain and the Continent. Airborne drops at both ends of the beachheads were to protect the flanks, as well as open up roadways to the interior. Six divisions were to land on the first day; three U.S., two British and one Canadian. Two more British and one U.S. division were to follow up after the assault division had cleared the way through the beach defenses.
Disorganization, confusion, incomplete or faulty implementation of plans characterized the initial phases of the landings. This was especially true of the airborne landings which were badly scattered, as well as the first wave units landing on the assault beaches. To their great credit, most of the troops were able to adapt to the disorganization. In the end, the Allies achieved their objective.
The AIRBORNE ASSAULT into Normandy as part of the D-Day Allied invasion of Europe was the largest use of airborne troops up to that time. Paratroopers of the U.S. 82d and 101st Airborne divisions, the British 6th Airborne Division, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and other attached Allied units took part in the assault. Numbering more than 13,000 men, the paratroopers were flown from bases in southern England to the Cotentin Peninsula in approximately 925 C-47 airplanes. An additional 4,000 men, consisting of glider infantry with supporting weapons and medical and signal units, were to arrive in 500 gliders later on D-Day to reinforce the paratroopers. The parachute troops were assigned what was probably the most difficult task of the initial operation -- a night jump behind enemy lines five hours before the coastal landings.
To protect the invasion zone's western extremity and to facilitate the "Utah" landing force's movement into the Cotentin Peninsula, the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions descended on the peninsula by parachute and glider in the early hours of D-Day. The paratroopers were badly scattered. Many were injured and killed during the attack, and much of their equipment was lost. But the brave paratroopers fought fiercely, causing confusion among the German commanders and keeping the Germans troops occupied. Their efforts, hampered by harsh weather, darkness and disorganization, and initiative of resourceful soldiers and leaders, ensured that the UTAH BEACH assault objectives were eventually accomplished. The British and Canadian attacks also accomplished their primary goal of securing the left flank of the invasion force. (Excerpt from U.S. Army History)

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[rms46a]

I have just watch on the Discovery channel:

1) Admiral Doenitz indeed sent 34 U-Boats to the channel; unfortunately most were not equipped with snorkels (sp ?). Nonetheless, the channel defense were very tight in multiple layers.

2) At the end WW2 (May 1945), there were still more than 100 active U Boats in the Atlantic.

[boywhoisazn]

The Japanese used their torpedo technology in the Pacific for sure...

And if your asking why the German did not use torpedo bombers in the defense of Normandy, i think i read somewhere that they did not have many planes on station for the Normandy defense.

[rms46a]

Yes indeed, but also the Japanese were aware about how powerful torpedo bomber technology was. So why did they not make advancement in torpedo bombers technology? Why didn't they use that in the Pacific, Anzio, and Normandy?

[defenderbwe]

Watch The Battle of Atlantic :) In short they lost most of the U-boats and by the time of d-day anti-submarine technology was able to counter any German subs.

[rms46a]

So it was known the power of 16 inches battleship guns, but why there were no U-boats and torpedoes?