Point du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc is situated on a promontory with a 100′ tall cliff facing the English Channel. This point was a strategic advantage for the German 914th Grenadier Regiment, the 352nd Infantry Division and the 2nd Battery of Army Coastal Artillery Regiment. From this point the battery could provide fire support from heavy artillery to both Utah and Omaha beaches.

The artillery emplaced here were captured 155mm French WW1 cannons that shot a 6′ diameter projectile up to 12 miles. 6 of these cannon were installed in open mounts supported by 6 casements and a command bunker. One of the casements was incomplete at the time of attack by US Rangers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The invasion plan was to have 3 companies of Rangers assault the cliff using ropes, ladders and  grapples; climb to the top of the cliff while under enemy fire, disable the cannons. Lt. Colonel James E. Rudder led the Rangers in their assault, of which only 225 actually made it to the landing crafts.

The assault team was carried to the beach in 10 landing craft, of which 2 contained supplies, and 4 DUKW’s with 100′ ladders requisitioned from the London Fire Brigade. One of the supply craft sank and one troop carrier sank under fire. All but one man drowned in the troop carrier. One DUKW was also sunk by German fire.

At 7:10am they finally reached the beach, 40 minutes late. This would prove significant due to the fact that an additional 5 companies of Rangers were waiting for the signal to join them, which didn’t come until it was too late. The reinforcement troops diverted to Omaha Beach and supported (some indicate they “led”) the breakthrough.

Once on top of the cliff, the Rangers learned that the cannons had been moved after an April 1944 Allied bombing run. The “cannons” that were at Point du Hoc were actually camouflaged telephone poles! The real cannons had been moved to the rear. The Rangers regrouped, set out to achieve their second objective but came across the real cannons virtually unguarded. All were disabled thus accomplishing the primary objective. Several German counterattacks were fended off and on 8 July 1944, the Rangers were joined by several other Army groups.  The cost of this assault was ~135 men out of 225.

 

 

 

 

Some of our pictures don’t do justice to this site. If you Google Earth Pointe du Hoc you get a much clearer view of the cratered landscape.