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File Details
Location : Port en Bessin-La Riviere, France
Opponents : English, German
Date : 6 JUN 1944
Scale : 250 Meters pro Hex
Description :
Gold Beach was the code name for the center of the landings on the Normandy coast. The British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division of the 2nd Army was to land at H-Hour + 1 (0730), seize Arromanches and drive inland to capture the road junction at Bayeux. Its additional objectives were to make contact with the US forces to the west at Omaha Beach and the Canadians to their east at Juno Beach. In addition to the 50th, the 47th Royal Marine Commandos were to land on sector Item and to attack south of Arromanches and Longues and take Port-en-Bessin from the rear. Gold Beach was characterized mainly by the 3 sea villages of La Rivière, Le Hamel, and the small port of Arromanches to the west. The Allied sectors were designated from west to east: How, Item, Jig, and King. Of these four sectors, only the easternmost 3 were to actually become assault sectors. Units of the German 716th Division and elements of the veteran 1st Battalion of the 352nd Division defended the coast in the beach houses along the coast with concentrations at Le Hamel and Le Riviere. Fortunately for the Allies, these houses proved to be vulnerable to naval and air bombardment. In addition, an observation post and battery of four 155mm cannon was located at Longues-sur-Mer. Considerable opposition from inland enemy batteries and mortars hampered landings , the Royal Commandos were able to reach within a kilometre of Port-en-Bessin after finding that the Loungue battery had been destroyed in a duel with the HMS Ajax. German defenses had consisted of several OST battalions comprised mainly of Russian conscripts. Kampfgruppe Meyer, the 352nd's division reserve, had been in an ideal position to counterattack the landings at Gold Beach at the beginning of June 6th. By the evening of June 6, the 50th Division had penetrated six miles inland and met up with the Canadians at Juno Beach, but were unable to take Bayeux. The Landings at Gold could be considered a success.
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