Section | Title | Pages | ||
Chapter I | THE STRATEGIC BACKGROUND OF OVERLORD | 1 | ||
Part 1 | Introductory: Policy and Strategy in World War II | 1 | ||
A. | Definition of Operation OVERLORD | 1 | ||
B. | U.S. Policy and Grand Strategy | 2 | ||
C. | American-British Combined Strategy (ARCADIA Conference Decisions, Washington, January 1942) | 5 | ||
D. | The War Situation in 1942: Allocation of U.S. Forces | 6 | ||
Part 2 | Combined Strategy in the European Theater | 10 | ||
A. | Combined Planning of Future Operations (January-July 1942) | 10 | ||
B. | Mediterranean Strategy 1942-1943 (British Strategic Concepts) | 14 | ||
C. | Planning the Assault On Germany: (OVERLORD and American Strategic Concepts) | 21 | ||
D. | Planning Offensive Operations: 1943 British Proposals | 25 | ||
Part 3 | Grand Strategy of the OVERLORD Plan | 29 | ||
A. | Quebec Conference Decisions: Views of British Chiefs of Staff | 29 | ||
B. | Strategical Implications of OVERLORD: The American Position | 32 | ||
C. | The General War Situation November 1943 | 33 | ||
Part 4 | Tripartite Strategic Agreements: The EUREKA Conference (Teheran) | 41 | ||
A. | Soviet Strategic Concepts | 41 | ||
B. | U.S.-British Positions At Teheran | 44 | ||
C. | Final Approval of OVERLORD At Teheran | 45 | ||
D. | Allied Program for Victory in Europe: Political Implications | 47 | ||
Chapter II | PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS FOR CROSS-CHANNEL (OVERLORD) OPERATIONS | 51 | ||
Part 1 | Early Plans for Cross-Channel Operations | 51 | ||
A. | Introduction: British Planning 1940-1941 | 51 | ||
B. | Combined Planning, January-June 1942 | 58 | ||
C. | Preliminary Cross-Channel Plan: ROUND-UP 1943 | 65 | ||
D. | Plan for a Sacrifice Operation: SLEDGEHAMMER 1942 | 70 | ||
E. | Build-up of U.S. Forces in the United Kingdom (Operation BOLERO) | 72 | ||
Part 2 | The OVERLORD Plan: COSSAC Appreciation and Outline, 1943 | 79 | ||
A. | Casablanca Conference Decisions: January 1943 | 79 | ||
B. | COSSAC: Functions and Organization | 83 | ||
C. | The COSSAC Appreciation and Outline Plan for OVERLORD, July 1943 | 89 | ||
Part 3 | OVERLORD and ANVIL: Planning the 1944 Grand Assault | 98 | ||
A. | Quebec Conference Approval of OVERLORD, August 1943 | 98 | ||
B. | Plans for Landings On the French Mediterranean Coast (ANVIL Operation) | 102 | ||
C. | Strategy and Logistics of 1944 Amphibious Operations | 105 | ||
D. | 1944 Modifications of OVERLORD and ANVIL Plans: December 1943-March 1944 | 110 | ||
Part 4 | Air Operations in Relation to OVERLORD | 120 | ||
A. | COSSAC Plan for Air Operations | 120 | ||
B. | Plans for Combined SICKLE-POINTBLANK Air Operations | 123 | ||
C. | Coordination of U.K. and Mediterranean Air Operations - 1943 | 126 | ||
D. | OVERLORD Plan for the Air Offensive in 1944 | 128 | ||
Part 5 | OVERLORD Cover and Deception Operations | 133 | ||
A. | COSSAC Cover Plan | 134 | ||
B. | British and Combined Organization for Cover and Deception Operations | 137 | ||
C. | OVERLORD Cover Plans: JAEL and BODYGUARD | 139 | ||
D. | Outline of OVERLORD Deception Operations | 145 | ||
E. | Operations VENDETTA (and ZEPPELIN) in the Mediterranean (ANVIL) | 149 | ||
F. | Operation FORTITUDE (and TINDEL) in Relation to OVERLORD in North Europe | 151 | ||
G. | Operation FORTITUDE SOUTH in Relation to NEPTUNE) Pas de Calais Threat | 156 | ||
H. | Organization of Radio Deception Operation | 152 | ||
I. | Results of Cover and Deception Operations | 166 | ||
Chapter III | THE STRATEGIC BACKGROUND OF OVERLORD | 170 | ||
Part 1 | Formation of the OVERLORD System of Command | 171 | ||
A. | Unity of Command: U.S. and British Systems | 171 | ||
B. | 1942 Plans for a Supreme Allied Command | 174 | ||
C. | 1943 Discussions of Combined Command Systems (Casablanca Conference: COSSAC Proposals) | 179 | ||
D. | Quebec Conference Decisions: Delay in Designation of Supreme Allied Commander | 182 | ||
E. | Establishment of OVERLORD Command: General Eisenhower Designated S.A.C. | 186 | ||
Part 2 | Developments of OVERLORD System of Naval Command. | 193 | ||
A. | Designation of Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief (ANCXF) | 193 | ||
B. | Relations of Royal Navy and U.S. Navy Organizations With ANCXF | 195 | ||
C. | Organization of the TWELFTH U.S. Fleet and of Task Force 122 | 202 | ||
D. | Command Arrangements and Operation Plan, Task Force 122 | 207 | ||
Part 3 | NEPTUNE Naval Command | 213 | ||
A. | Pre-NEPTUNE Phase (25 Oct 1943 - 27 May 1944) | 213 | ||
B. | NEPTUNE Phase (May 27 to July 10, 1944) | 217 | ||
C. | Post-NEPTUNE Phase (10 July 1944 - 14 July 1944) | 220 | ||
D. | Chronological Summary of Naval Command Developments -- OVERLORD Operation | 222 | ||
Part 4 | Integrated Command of Allied Forces OVERLORD Operations | 226 | ||
A. | Chain of Integrated Command | 226 | ||
B. | Division of Responsibilities for Planning | 228 | ||
C. | Division of Responsibility between Army and Navy | 230 | ||
D. | Division of Responsibility for the Build-up | 232 | ||
Chapter IV | NEPTUNE OPERATIONS PLANS | 233 | ||
Part 1 | The Enemy Situation | 233 | ||
A. | German Land Forces | 233 | ||
B. | The German Defense Plans | 234 | ||
C. | Coastal Defenses, Fortifications and Obstacles | 235 | ||
D. | German Coastal Batteries and Mobile Artillery | 241 | ||
E. | Disposition of Garrison Troops and Mobile Forces | 243 | ||
F. | German Naval Forces | 246 | ||
G. | German Air Forces | 250 | ||
Part 2 | The Assault Area: Allied Method for Assault | 253 | ||
A. | Basis of the NEPTUNE Plan | 253 | ||
B. | Landing Beaches and Lodgment Areas | 254 | ||
C. | Anticipated Development of the Land Campaign | 262 | ||
D. | NEPTUNE Method for Amphibious Assault | 263 | ||
E. | Timing of the NEPTUNE Assault | 273 | ||
F. | Plans for Movement of Forces | 276 | ||
Part 3 | General Plan for the Normandy Landings | 279 | ||
A. | The Preliminary Phase | 279 | ||
B. | The Preparatory Phase | 279 | ||
C. | The Assault Phase | 281 | ||
D. | The Build-up Phase | 285 | ||
Part 4 | Composition and Organization of Forces | 287 | ||
A. | Army Forces, Allied Expeditionary Force | 287 | ||
B. | Air Forces, Allied Expeditionary Force | 289 | ||
C. | Naval Forces, Allied Expeditionary Force | 291 | ||
D. | Chain of Combined High Command | |||
E. | Chain of Naval Command | |||
F. | Army Order of Battle | |||
G. | Integrated Chain of Command | |||
H. | Organization of Western Task Force | |||
I. | Organization of Eastern Task Force | |||
J. | Composition of Naval Forces | |||
Part 5 | The Naval Plan | 301 | ||
A. | Outline Review of NEPTUNE Operation | 301 | ||
B. | Loading and Assembly of Forces | 305 | ||
C. | Program of Assault and Follow-Up Forces | 308 | ||
D. | The Build-up for Offensive Land Operations | 311 | ||
E. | Supporting Naval Operations | 313 | ||
(1) Minesweeping | 313 | |||
(2) Bombardment | 316 | |||
(3) Diversions | 319 | |||
(4) Covering Forces | 319 | |||
(5) Defence of the Assault Area | 320 | |||
(6) Minelaying | 322 | |||
F. | Supporting Air Operations | 323 | ||
(1) Command | 323 | |||
(2) Forces Available | 323 | |||
(3) Fighter Protection | 324 | |||
(4) Coastal Air Operations | 324 | |||
(5) Smoke-laying | 325 | |||
(6) Mine-laying | 325 | |||
(7) Air Spotting | 325 | |||
(8) Air Bombardment | 325 | |||
(9) Expected Scale of German Air Effort | 325 | |||
G. | Ancillary Operations | 325 | ||
(1) Mulberries | 325 | |||
(2) Gooseberries | 325 | |||
(3) Pluto, Tombola and Amathea | 328 | |||
(4) Buoy Laying | 329 | |||
(5) Surveying | 329 | |||
(6) Moorings | 330 | |||
(7) Salvage | 330 | |||
(8) Rescue Tugs | 330 | |||
(9) Colliers, Oilers, and Water Tankers | 331 | |||
(10) Cable Laying | 331 | |||
(11) Despatch Boat Service | 331 | |||
(12) Ammunition Barges | 331 | |||
(13) Sunken Causeway | 331 | |||
(14) Minor Landing Craft | 331 | |||
(15) Coast Guard Cutters | 331 | |||
H. | Chronological Order of Events | 332 | ||
Chapter V | NAVAL PREPARATIONS FOR CROSS-CHANNEL OPERATIONS | 338 | ||
Part 1 | U.S. Naval Preparations | 338 | ||
A. | ComNavEu Organization and Action | 338 | ||
B. | Twelfth Fleet and Task Force 122 | 341 | ||
C. | Establishment of Eleventh Amphibious Forces | 343 | ||
D. | Landing Craft and Bases (LanCrabEu) | 346 | ||
Part 2 | Preparations of Bases for Amphibious Forces | 348 | ||
A. | Naval Bases and Training Areas in Southwest England: Relations with C-in-C Plymouth | 348 | ||
B. | Repair and Port Facilities | 351 | ||
C. | Arrival and Organization of Amphibious Forces | 355 | ||
Part 3 | Organization and Training of U.S. Naval Forces | 358 | ||
A. | Organization and Activities, Eleventh Amphibious Forces | 358 | ||
B. | Coordination in Training with U.S. Army Formations | 359 | ||
C. | Amphibious Training Exercises -- 1944 | 360 | ||
D. | Organization and Training of U.S. Naval Assault Forces | 362 | ||
Part 4 | Details of U.S. Naval NEPTUNE Forces | 367 | ||
A. | Table of Numbmers of Vessels present by Months | |||
B. | Table and Disposition of U.S. Vessels for OVERLORD | |||
C. | Case History of U.S. Ships and Major Craft | |||
D. | Detailed Task Organization, Western Task Force | |||
Part 5 | Brief Review of Royal Navy Preparations | 371 | ||
Part 6 | Loading and Assembly: NEPTUNE Forces | 375 | ||
Chapter VI | THE OPERATION BEGINS | 381 | ||
Part 1 | Developments During May 1944 | 381 | ||
A. | The Naval Assault Forces | 381 | ||
B. | Enemy Reactions | 382 | ||
C. | Promulgation of Operation Orders | 384 | ||
D. | Security Problems and Measures | 386 | ||
E. | Command Questions | 387 | ||
F. | Questions of Air-Navy Coordination | 388 | ||
G. | MULBERRY Problems: Tug Shortage | 389 | ||
H. | Visits of Important Personages | 390 | ||
Part 2 | Designation and Postponement of D-Day | 392 | ||
A. | 5 June Designated as D-Day | 392 | ||
B. | NEPTUNE Forces in Movement | 393 | ||
C. | Weather Intervenes: Postponement of Assault | 394 | ||
D. | The Supreme Commander's Dilemma: 6 June Fixed as D-Day | 396 | ||
Part 3 | The Assault Movement of NEPTUNE Forces | 400 | ||
A. | General Outline of the Movement | 400 | ||
B. | Composition and Timing of Convoys | 401 | ||
C. | Routing and Navigation | 405 | ||
D. | The Assault Forces Reach the Beaches | 407 | ||
Chapter VII | DEFENSIVE MEASURES -- NEPTUNE OPERATION | 410 | ||
Part 1 | Enemy Naval Dispositions, 1944 | 410 | ||
Part 2 | Minelaying (Operation MAPLE) | 412 | ||
A. | Plan for Minelaying | 412 | ||
B. | Minelaying Operations | 413 | ||
Part 3 | Naval Cover for NEPTUNE | 416 | ||
A. | Countering the German Heavy Fleet | 416 | ||
B. | Countering U-Boat Movements from the North | 417 | ||
C. | Sealing the Western Channel | 418 | ||
D. | Sealing the Straits of Dover | 421 | ||
E. | Patrols Along the Convoy Flanks | 422 | ||
Part 4 | Assault Area: Screen and Escorts | 425 | ||
A. | Allied Naval Dispositions | 425 | ||
B. | Eastern Task Force | 426 | ||
C. | Western Task Force | 428 | ||
D. | Convoy Escort Forces | 432 | ||
Part 5 | NEPTUNE Minesweeping Operations | 433 | ||
A. | Plans for Sweeping German Minefields | 433 | ||
B. | Minesweeping Arrangements in the Assault Area | 435 | ||
C. | The Passage and False Start | 437 | ||
D. | The Approach | 438 | ||
E. | Sweeping Inshore Waters | 442 | ||
F. | The Enemy's Minelaying Counter-Attack | 443 | ||
G. | Minesweeping at Cherbourg | 444 | ||
H. | The Score | 446 | ||
Part 6 | Air Cover Forces for NEPTUNE | 449 | ||
A. | Coordination of Coastal Command and Naval Operations | 449 | ||
B. | Air Defense by Combined Allied Air Forces | 454 | ||
Chapter VIII | BOMBARDMENT AND OTHER DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY LAND FORCES | 458 | ||
Part 1 | General Bombardment Plans | 458 | ||
A. | Coordination of Naval and Air Bombardment | 458 | ||
B. | Air Bombardment Program | 462 | ||
Part 2 | Naval Bombardment Operations | 464 | ||
A. | Naval Bombarding Forces | 464 | ||
B. | Pre-Arranged Bombardment Schedule | 468 | ||
C. | Post H-Hour Aimed Bombardment | 469 | ||
D. | Ammunition Supplies | 473 | ||
E. | Results of Naval Bombardment | 474 | ||
Part 3 | Bombardment of Cherbourg | 477 | ||
A. | Bombardment of Cherbourg | 477 | ||
Part 4 | Radar Counter Measures | 479 | ||
Part 5 | Naval Diversions | 483 | ||
Chapter IX | THE NEPTUNE ASSAULTS | 487 | ||
Part 1 | General Conditions for the Assault | 487 | ||
A. | Reasons for Success of NEPTUNE Operation | 487 | ||
B. | The Effect of Surprise | 488 | ||
C. | The Normandy Landings | 490 | ||
Part 2 | Western Task Force: Force U | 493 | ||
A. | General Situation, Western Task Force | 493 | ||
B. | Assault Force U: Organization and Assembly | 493 | ||
C. | Assault Force U: The Channel Passage | 500 | ||
Part 3 | Western Task Force: Force O | 507 | ||
A. | Organization and Assembly | 507 | ||
B. | OMAHA Beach: Plan for the Assault | 511 | ||
C. | Assault Force O: Organization and Assembly | 514 | ||
D. | Assault Force O: The Channel Passage | 515 | ||
E. | The Assault on OMAHA Beach | 518 | ||
F | The Battle on OMAHA Beach | 526 | ||
Part 4 | Eastern Task Force: Forces G, J, S | 534 | ||
A. | The Channel Passage | 534 | ||
B. | The Assaults: General Narrative | 542 | ||
C. | Force G: GOLD Area | 546 | ||
D. | Force J: JUNO Area | 548 | ||
E. | Force S: SWORD Area | 553 | ||
Part 5 | The Assault Ends: The Situation at H Plus 24 Hours | 559 | ||
Chapter X | THE BUILD-UP FOR THE BATTLE OF FRANCE | 563 | ||
Part 1 | The Post-NEPTUNE Naval Task | 563 | ||
Part 2 | Far Shore Organization | 565 | ||
A. | Plans and Preparations for Naval Far Shore Service | 565 | ||
B. | British Area: Far Shore Naval Organization | 567 | ||
C. | U.S. Area: American Far Shore Naval Organization | 570 | ||
D. | Shore Parties, U.S. Area | 571 | ||
Part 3 | Naval Far Shore Activities After D-Day (Extracts from ANCXF NEPTUNE Report) |
573 | ||
Index | 583 |
Source: Historical Section, COMNAVEU. "Administrative History of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, 1940-1946." vol. 5. (London, 1946) [This manuscript, identified as United States Naval Administrative History of World War II #147-E, is located in the Navy Department Library's Rare Book Room.]
6 July 2005