3rd American Beach at Normandy

[Andy H]

Originally Posted by RichardS

I merely point out, again, that the US had two major amphibious assaults planned for early June of 1944. Normandy and then 9 days later on Saipan. So assault boat crews and craft couldn't be in two different places. Also 1/3rd of the invasion forces was US Army at Saipan.

Hi Richard

Another aspect of a 3rd US beach in Normandy, would be the possible effect it would have on the planned Op.Dragoon for southern France in August'44.

Regards

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Andy H

Hi Richard

Another aspect of a 3rd US beach in Normandy, would be the possible effect it would have on the planned Op.Dragoon for southern France in August'44.

Regards

Andy,

I thought the boats and crews where those who survived Normandy? Learn something new everyday..or relearn it with my memory.

Cheers,
Me

[Carl Schwamberg]

Originally Posted by RichardS

Andy,

I thought the boats and crews where those who survived Normandy? Learn something new everyday..or relearn it with my memory.

Cheers,
Me

Part were. However the Joint Chiefs with SHAEFs approval left enough amphib. lift in the Med from April through July to lift a division.
Two of the reasons were to provide a 'opportunity' capability if the Germans left a weak point somewhere important, and for demonstrations as part of the Allied deception operations. ie: the threatened attacks on Genoa & the Dalmatian coast.

When Op Neptune was completed part of the amphib fleet was sent to the Med for Op. Dragoon & other activity there, part was sent to the maintiance yards for refit & then to the Pacific & Indian Ocean. A smaller portion was retained in the UK for later proposed operations along the NW Europe coast.

[BanditWhite3]

Ok I found where I read about the 3rd beach. (*Disclaimer* please forgive my absent mindedness.)
It seems I read about the 3rd beach in some of my old notes from quite some time ago that I came across today while I was doing some cleaning.

There was a scenario in The operation Art of War volume III that had an American beach named "Dakota" in the location I mentioned in my first post. I wrote down some notes to research it as I had never heard of anything like it.

Thanks to all for their information on this though, some good information.

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by RichardS

Andy,

I thought the boats and crews where those who survived Normandy? Learn something new everyday..or relearn it with my memory.

Cheers,
Me

Yes, as I know from that time, some L/C crews were disbanded and in the case of the RM reformed into infantry others held in case needed and others sent out east (Pacific) for the same reason. lcm1

[Nickuru]

Originally Posted by BanditWhite3

Ok I found where I read about the 3rd beach. (*Disclaimer* please forgive my absent mindedness.)
It seems I read about the 3rd beach in some of my old notes from quite some time ago that I came across today while I was doing some cleaning.

There was a scenario in The operation Art of War volume III that had an American beach named "Dakota" in the location I mentioned in my first post. I wrote down some notes to research it as I had never heard of anything like it.

Thanks to all for their information on this though, some good information.

It may have been among the original plans; as others said, but the lack of trained personnel might have caused the top brass to cancel that idea. The D-day operation was closer than one thinks, and what one has been taught. It was certainly better than the experience of Dieppe in 1942.

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by Nickuru

It may have been among the original plans; as others said, but the lack of trained personnel might have caused the top brass to cancel that idea. The D-day operation was closer than one thinks, and what one has been taught. It was certainly better than the experience of Dieppe in 1942.

Hi Nick,I do believe that long before 1943 was out the 'Powers that be' had where and approximately when all weighed up,the where because of the types of beaches that we trained on,fairly flat sand perhaps a slight gradient (no pebbles like Dieppe) and the when was just long enough for the L/C crews that were needed to be trained.Christmas 43 up till the end of may. They gave us a weeks leave towards the end of May, then shut us down with no access to the outside world (including mail) what so ever.We were never told anything except what we needed to know but you did not have to be an Einstein to be able to work things out. As a matter of fact we knew no details until we and our L/Cs were safely tucked away on the carrier ships at Southampton on Sunday the 4th of June. It was that day and date because as everyone knows it should have been on the 5th not the 6th. lcm1

[Carl Schwamberg]

Originally Posted by BanditWhite3

Ok I found where I read about the 3rd beach.

There was a scenario in The operation Art of War volume III that had an American beach named "Dakota" in the location I mentioned in my first post. I wrote down some notes to research it as I had never heard of anything like it.

Originally Posted by BanditWhite3

I believe it was supposed to be on the East side of the Cotentin Peninsula. Possibly around the les Dunes de Varreville.

Glad more bits are turning up. On the game board there are moments I wish I could put some of the green pieces ashore there, even if only Rangers or other commandos.

[Carl Schwamberg]

Pondered this a bit more. This hypothetical beach appears to be the continuation of UTAH Beach. Varreville being adjacent to the Madeliene area. In that context it would have been only a little different from OMAHA Beach with two divisions landing side by side. I guess if one places more weight on capturing Cherbourg then shifting the 29th Div from ONAHA Beach to this hypothetical location is doable without increasing landing craft requirements. Of course that slows the assault on the linking OMAHA Beach, so perhaps its not a good trade off.