![]() Meanwhile, navy destroyers steamed in and, scraping their bottoms in the shallow water, blasted the German fortifications at point-blank range. Slowly, and in small groups, they scaled the cliffs. The troops on the beach were left on their own and realized that the exits were not the way off. Destroyed craft and vehicles littered the water’s edge and beach, and at 0830 hours all landing ceased at Omaha. Men sought refuge behind beach obstacles, pondering the deadly sprint across the beach to the seawall, which offered some safety at the base of the cliff. ![]() Bodies lay on the beach or floated in the water. Throughout the landing, German gunners poured deadly fire into the ranks of the invading Americans. The 16th Regiment on the east half of the beach did not fare much better, landing in a state of confusion with units badly intermingled. Strong winds and tidal currents carried the landing craft from right to left. With the exception of Company A, no unit of the 116th landed where it was planned. Only 2 of the 29 launched made it to the beach. Special “DD” tanks (amphibious Sherman tanks fitted with flotation screens) that were supposed to support the 116th Regiment sank in the choppy waters of the Channel. Normandy Invasion: Omaha Beach assault routesįrom the beginning everything went wrong at Omaha.
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