Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. We have come to Bloody Omaha. Or, in this version of history, not so bloody.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 6- Omaha Beach
(0626 local time)
At the beach codenamed Omaha Beach, the German defenders watch as Allied landing craft approach the beach. Thousands of German troops are still alive and ready to defend the beach.
Approaching the beach are dozens of landing crafts. Leading the way are 6 LCAC, hovercraft landing craft. The others are a mixture of landing craft from the future or Higgins LCPs of the 40s.
The German defenders watch as the LCACs approach the beach. Then, with absolute shock, as they begin to fire at the LCAC's, they see the LCAC's moving over the remaining beach obstacles in their way with relative ease, their hovercraft cushions allowing them over easily.
At the eastern half of the beach, the hovercraft bearing the first landing forces of the 1st Infantry Division reach their drop off points. The Germans watch as the five LCAC's coming to this side of the beach stop moving, and then their ramps lower.
However, what comes out of the LCAC's is not what the Germans expected. Instead of surges of troops, the Germans watch as 5 M1 Abrams tanks come rolling out of the landing craft.
The Germans are shocked at the sight of the M1s. They have never seen a tank like the Abrams, and instantly fear what capabilities it might have. Their fears are quickly proven when an artillery shell hits an M1, a blow which would've destroyed an M4 Sherman, but all but bounces off the hull of the Abrams.
In the lead Abrams, the tank commander calls out, "Alright. Let's give it to 'em," he says. A second later, the M1's 120mm gun discharges a HEAT round at a bunker on top of the beach. The shell manages to strike right at the opening for guns to fit through, and passes through, exploding in the midst of the bunker and wrecking it completely.
The Germans fire relentlessly down towards the M1s as the tanks roll forward across the beach, but to no avail. The tanks fire a volley of rounds, all exploding at the back of the beach and killing two German troops with flying shrapnel.
As the M1s reload, they stop where they are, so their guns can continue to fire against the Germans for the next couple of minutes. As they do, the next wave of landing craft reach the shore. These landing craft, being a bit smaller than the LCAC's, are not carrying tanks, but instead each one carries a platoon of infantry and either one M2 Bradley fighting vehicle or one M113 APC. The Germans feel a bit nervous as they watch these armored vehicles come off the landing craft, but continue to pour fire down onto the beach. Several American troops are hit, but the troops quickly begin to take cover behind the armored vehicles.
After about two minutes, three of the tanks begin turning and moving across the beach towards the gulleys that are the main ways off the beach. The armored walls in the gulleys are hoped to not be beyond the ability of the M1s to penetrate with their guns.
As the M1s begin moving, the Germans hear something. A roar. Looking up, they feel a sense of trepidation. The sky is beginning to fill with aircraft intended to provide close air support. These aircraft include A-10s from the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron, A-7 Corsairs from the Kitty Hawk, and a handful of SuperCobra attack helicopters from a Marine Corps squadron flying off one of the ships in the Channel.
Now, one of the pairs of A-10s begins a run on the beach, followed closely by a pair of A-7s. In the lead A-10, the pilot lines himself up on the main fortification line where the German soldiers are pouring rifle and machine gun fire down onto the beach. Keeping his gunsight centered, he squeezes the trigger. His powerful 30mm cannon springs to life, hurling rounds towards the Germans. The powerful rounds tear through the ranks of the German soldiers, killing many outright and wounding many more. His wingman also fires his cannon, destroying several artillery pieces.
As the A-10s pull out of their run, the A-7s make their run. The pilots line up their bombsight and then press the pickle buttons. Each Corsair drops a dozen 500 pound bombs on the German lines. A series of explosions tear through the back of the beach, killing dozens of Germans and destroying several artillery pieces and mortars.
As another pair of A-10s prepares for their attack run, more landing craft hit the beach, bringing with them hundreds of infantry from the 1st. On the beach, one of the M2 Bradley drivers gets an idea. Spotting an area that is relatively clear except for barbed wire, and doesn't have much of a wall beyond sandbags at the top, he guns the engine and heads straight for that spot.
A number of Germans spot the Bradley heading up the bach of the beach and pour fire towards it. However, the A-10s come in for their strafing run, and most of the guns firing at the Bradley are quickly silenced.
Getting closer to the top of the hill at the back of the beach, the Bradley struggles a bit, but the driver guns the engine, and soon enough the Bradley manages to get over the hill at the back of the beach. The Bradley's commander quickly swivels the turret around, firing its 25mm cannon at any German in sight. A number of German soldiers are killed, and others are sent scrambling for cover.
A SuperCobra hurries forward to help protect the Bradley. However, with the Bradley now on top of the beach, it can spot a number of defenses, mainly bunkers, that are not immediately visible from the air. The Bradley commander quickly relays this information to a Navy Hawkeye patrolling in the area, which passes the info onto the fighters in the air. Within a minute, four A-10s dive in and drop 1,000 pound bombs on the bunkers the Bradley has spotted, destroying two and damaging a third.
Meanwhile, the three M1s that had gone to clear out the gulleys have reached their targets. Backing up a bit to put necessary distance between them and the walls, the M1s fire their first volley. The HEAT rounds impact the walls, but don't do too much.
However, the M1 crews are not about to give up. One tank commander gets an idea and calls out the order to the other two. About 30 seconds later, the three M1s each fire a sabot round. The high-density depleted uranium round is able to penetrate the metal about halfway through. Then, lining up their main guns very carefully, the M1s reload with a HEAT round each and fire. Each HEAT round impact the hole created by the sabot round, and the resulting explosion of the HEAT round is enough to blow holes in the walls.
One of the tank commanders gets on the radio and calls out, "Walls have been breached!" This news is flashed across the 1st, and hundreds of American troops start racing for the now open gulleys.
The German defenders across Omaha find themselves starting to panic. The Americans are making incredible use of their advanced technology. They are also using their armored vehicles to help shield their troops so that the troops can remove the beach obstacles inhibiting an advance inland. On top of that, the air attacks by the Warthogs and Corsairs, assisted by the SuperCobras, have heavily disrupted the defenders and are preventing them from accurately fighting back.
It turned out that the Bradley making it over the back of the beach had proved a tremendous help. The Bradley was able to relay information to the aircraft that they couldn't get themselves, and was able to help divide attention from the troops on the beach by attacking the germans from the rear. In addition, two more Bradleys and an M113 had followed the initial Bradley's example and were now mounting an assault from behind.
As the Germans desperately pour what fire they can down onto the beach, causing some casualties among the Americans, they suddenly see shapes moving towards them in the air. Within a minute, a formation of US Marine Corps Sea Stallion helicopters fly over the German defensive lines. These Sea Stallions, 16 in number, are each carrying half a platoon (28) of soldiers from the 101st Airborne that had not taken part in the air assaults behind Utah Beach. These troops are a linchpin in the American plan that they hoped would keep casualties down. Accompanying the Sea Stallions are 8 Chinooks, each carrying a Humvee and 12 more troops, as well as fuel and other equipment.
The Sea Stallions set down about a quarter of a mile behind the German defensive lines at Omaha, and the troops of the 101st quickly disembark. The Chinooks set down the Humvees, then descend to let out their own troops and let the equipment be removed from the helicopters.
Now, there are over 500 troops of the 101st on the ground behind the German lines. While some begin preparing defensive positions with the Humvees, the others begin advancing towards the German defenses.
Minutes pass as the American forces build up on the beach. LCAC's have already brought a second wave of tanks to shore and are in the process of bringing a third. In addition, LCU-2000 series landing craft have reached the shore, each one bringing multiple tanks and other armored vehicles. There are now 32 M1s on each half of the beach with each division, with more Bradleys and M113s. Several thousands troops are now ashore. The Germans are still trying to fire back at them, and are causing some casualties, but are not able to stop them from beginning to advance off the beach.
Then, without warning, the troops of the 101st attack the Germans from behind, with SuperCobras assisting them. The Germans are quickly caught off guard and begin to fall in droves. American troops move into the remaining bunkers and quickly take out the German troops in them.
Seeing that the fire coming their way has lessened, several M1s back a charge up the beach and manage to get over the hill at the back of the beach. With the tanks now behind the German lines, the Germans realize how much trouble they are in. Many begin to surrender, while others desperately fight on.
However, at this point, the Americans have shattered their lines, and the Germans can do little. At 0743 local time, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Major General Gordon Sullivan, contacts General Bradley aboard the New Jersey, reporting that the 1st and the 29th have captured Omaha Beach and are moving inland. Casualty reports stand at around 400 dead or wounded. A fraction of the casualties sustained in the real version of history.
Bradley is pleased to hear how well the landings at Omaha have gone. However, he knows it's only a small part of this day, and there is still many things in their path.
And, I'll end there.
I know this chapter isn't terribly long or terribly detailed, but I hope I did give enough details.
Obviously, Omaha Beach didn't go anywhere near where it did in history. This is due in part to the fact that the defenses had been hit far harder by bombing and the naval bombardment, the addition of close air support, and the fact that the Americans were able to get much more advanced and capable armored vehicles ashore straight away.
Alright. Next chapter will be Utah Beach. Until it's up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!