Run-In Shoot by RA in Overlord Assault

[Groundhugger]

I think there is some film footage out there showing 25 pdrs firing from the decks of landing craft . certainly worth a trawl through the newsreel sites

[tmac]

The memorial to the 3rd British Infantry Division artillery on the seafront at La Breche d'Hermanville in Normandy (Sword Beach) commemorates the run-in bombardment. The inscription says the Royal Artillery 'after firing their guns from the sea landed here on June 6, 1944 and continued firing from the beaches'. It then lists those RA units which took part. I'll try to find a picture.

[von Poop]

Art, but may be of Interest:

Operation Overlord by David Rowlands. FREE SHIPPING! - Military Print Company

9th (Irish) Field Battery firing on the Run-in-shoot to Queen Beach. They were the first rounds fired at the Normandy Coast, D-Day 6th June, 1944. Queen Beach, one of the 4 sectors of Sword Beach, where most of the landings of D-Day were carried out.

More on run-in shoots (page 10 onwards), and a very brief explanation of the Coventry Clock:
RA Historical society - 2005

Maj Gen Bailey.
How accurate was the naval gunfire on D-Day, especially the fire from the 25-pounder regiments involved in the Run-in Shoot; were they closing with the shore or were they moored.

Lt Col Townend
. The fire of the guns in the Run-in shoot was controlled by a Coventry Clock, a clockwork device that measured range against speed. It was invented by an IG, Major Coventry; I was told that none of the visitors to the units firing the shoot, not even Generals Eisenhower or Montgomery, was received with greater interest than Major Coventry. The guns were mounted on LCTs and fired at regular intervals as they approached the shore, then peeled off as they reached it and landed after the infantry.

It'd be interesting to see an illustration of this device.

[idler]

No.2 Operational Research Section did a study on the Canadian Fd Regts' run-in shoots as theese were assumed to be representative. They were 12, 13, 14 and 19 Fd Regts SP RCA. Info comes from Copp', Montgomery's Scientists that reprints a selection of their reports.

Regarding accuracy, the conclusion states that:

2. In general, regimental fire fell in an area 400 to 700 yds wide and 400 to 600 yds deep measured from the forward line of enemy defences.

3. Maximum crater density in every case was plus of the target from 100 to 200 yds, and within 200yds of being correct for line.

Although they overshot the target, it does suggest that the fire was reasonably well controlled and concentrated given the nature of the gun position. It is implied that strikes on beachfront buildings were used to correct fire and they are said to have been extensively damaged.

[canuck]

From Juno Beach Centre - D-Day

The four field artillery regiments, in all 96 guns of 105-mm, embarked on 24 LCTs, moved on simultaneously. From its craft the 12th Field Regiment opened fire against a fortified position in Courseulles. At 0655, the 13th Field Regiment attacked another position west of the cliff. At 0744, the 14th Regiment fired on the Bernières fortified position; and at 0739, the 19th Regiment attacked a similar post in Saint-Aubin. For half an hour they fired above the heads of the infantry and above the LCAs that were by the shore.

[tmac]

This is the memorial to the 3rd Division Royal Artillery on the Sword Beach seafront at La Breche d'Hermanville, Normandy, which commemorates the run-in bombardment on D-Day.
The inscription reads:
This stone commemorates the headquarters and the five regiments of the Royal Artillery in the 3rd British Infantry Division which after firing their guns from the sea landed on 6th June 1944 and continued firing from the beaches and the fields around Hermanville.
7th Field Regiment (SP) RA
33rd Field Regiment (SP) RA
76th (Highland) Field Regiment (SP) RA
20th Anti-Tank Regiment RA
92nd LAA Regiment RA

[tmac]

See also:
BBC - WW2 People's War - Recollections of D-Day: June 6, 1944 with the 76th (Highland) Field Regiment on Sword Beach.