Operation Overlord - Gold Beach Landings

DATE: 07/04/2024

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Gold Beach

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 62 / 86

---

RATING: (15)

---

Operation Overlord was the name of the Allied landings in France on the Normandy region in June of 1944. Out of the 5 beach areas, Gold Beach would be the centre most area comprising of a force of British strength only. The main force assigned to Gold Beach consisted of the 69th Infantry Brigade, 151st Infantry Brigade and 231st Infantry Brigade supported by a vast array of tanks and specialist equipment; some notable examples being the Sherman DD Tank and Churchill AVRE.

Preliminary bombardment of Gold Beach began in the early hours of the 6th of June (05:30) by Royal Navy light cruiser Ajax and frigate Argonaut, alongside wide scale aerial bombardment by heavy bombers and fighter bombers. At Gold Beach, the bombardment saw generally good results with several heavy gun emplacements silenced or completely destroyed by naval gunfire; however, several guns, such as an 88mm cannon at La Rivière, remained in action throughout the landings until destroyed by tank fire. By 08:00, elements of the 69th Infantry Brigade began landing on Gold Beach and, despite having to land its tanks directly onto the beach due to choppy seas, had gained a foothold quickly.

Both Jig and King sector would link up following the successful landing of troops on Gold Beach and by the afternoon, forward elements had broken out of the beachhead. Le Hamel and Asnelles were both captured with support from Churchill AVRE tanks; in several cases 230mm petard mortars were fired by the AVREs directly into German defensive positions, annihilating the position and the defenders within. Forward elements of the 69th Infantry Brigade and 151st Infantry Brigade would capture the town of Ryes by 16:30. By the end of the day, the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and its supporting elements had completed its Day One objectives at a loss of around 1,000 men (350 dead, around 700 wounded), with a large amount of German soldiers killed or captured during the landings.

08:00 Hours, 6th June, 1944 - On the passing of H-Hour, the 6th Green Howards begin their departure towards the beaches overlooked by Asnelles; with the objective of capturing the strategically important town of Ryes.