Hey, everybody. Back with the chapter on Juno Beach.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 9- Juno Beach

(0745, Juno Beach)

In the waves just off Juno Beach, Lieutenant Travis Doyle of the 1st Canadian Division watches as the sands of Juno Beach approaches. Doyle is assigned to a Lynx armored reconnaissance vehicle as its commander. Although it's more meant for recon than a battle like this, it is armed with machine guns and able to help assist the landings.

Juno had been heavily pounded during the bombardments, from the bombings at night and the morning. The bunkers at Juno and the pillboxes are all but destroyed, but the Germans have plenty of machine gun nests and some artillery left.

However, the Canadians also have plenty of air support. F/A-18 Hornets from the Kitty Hawk and several A-10s from the 10th Tactical Fighter Wing are circling over the beach, ready to start their attack at a pre-arranged signal. Their firepower should be enough to hand the Canadians an easy victory at Juno

The first landing craft, which are LCAC's loaned from the US to overcome the beach obstacles, reach the beach. Across the whole stretch of Juno, 6 LCAC's reach the beach, and their ramps lower. Within seconds, half a dozen Leopard 1 tanks roll out onto the beach. The Canadians feel a bit of justice to think they are using German made tanks against German troops.

The Germans start firing at the Leopards as the tanks move onto the beach. The Leopards immediately return fire with their main guns, and at the same time, six Hornets dive to the attack. Flying in one by one, the Hornets rain 1,000 pound bombs down on the German lines, killing dozens of German soldiers and destroying most of their artillery.

More landing craft hit the beach, bringing not only a few more Leopards, but also Lynxs and several hundred Canadian infantry. Yelling fierce war cries, the Canadians charge up the beach. In his Lynx, Lieutenant Doyle watches the rest of the troops on the beach rushing towards the back of the beach as his vehicle advances across the beach towards the German defensive lines.

The Germans pour machine gun and rifle fire down onto the Canadians charging up the beach. A number of Canadian troops fall victim to the fire. However, the relentless German fire helps the circling A-10s determine where the Germans are. One by one, the A-10s swoop down and fire their cannons. The rounds tear into the Germans manning the defensive line. Dozens of German soldiers are torn apart, with more dying from shrapnel.

As the A-10s pull out of their runs, the Canadians seize the chance. SHouting their war cries, the Canadians resume their charge up the beach. Canadian troops scramble up the slight ridges at the back of the beach, going over and under barbed wire as they scramble up the sandy ridge and the rocks that help make up the ridge.

The Germans soldiers receive a real shock as Canadian troops suddenly burst onto the top of the ridges and start firing their assault rifles. Realizing that the troops they're facing are Canadians only adds to the fear some of the Germans feel. Many Germans fall as the Canadian troops fire relentlessly. Many Germans, realizing that they are under assault by just Canadian infantry, and that the Canadians' armored vehicles have yet to even come off the beach, begin to surrender.

In about 20 minutes, the Canadians have seized the back of the beach. More and more troops are coming ashore, along with the rest of the Canadians' tanks.

At about 0830, the commanding general of the division, Major General Tony Foster, comes ashore in a landing craft. By this point, over half of the division's 15,000 troops are ashore, along with almost all of the division's Leopards and two thirds of its Lynxs.

Foster reviews his orders. The 1st Canadian Division had been assigned to capture an airfield at Carpiquet and the Caen-Bayeux railway line. However, with the success he's having, Foster makes a decision. Although he still intends to carry out his orders, Foster makes a decision.

Foster gathers his brigade commanders together. When they have all gathered, Foster issues his order, "I'm making a slight change in plan. I want the 5th Mechanized Brigade to head more east." He points to a map, resting his finger against the label for the town of Douvres, a small town slightly inland and between Juno and Sword Beaches.

"The 5th Brigade will move on Douvres and secure it, then move north towards Caen to support the troops coming off Sword. Although the Air Force claimed that the 21st Panzer Division has lost their tanks in the air strikes during the night, I don't want to chance it. I want to gain ground and prevent the 21st Panzer from getting the upper hand."

"Very well, General," the 5th Brigade's commander responds. Foster then disperses the meeting.

The 5th Mechanized Brigade is already fully ashore. As the orders are sent out, the armored vehicles of the brigade begin to assemble along the infantry. The 5th has no tanks assigned, just Cougars, Grizzlys, and Lynxs. They do however have some heavy artillery, including M109 self propelled howitzers.

Finally, at a command from the brigade commander, the 5th Brigade begins its advance off the beachhead. The 5th turns south-east, assuming their course for Douvre, while the rest of the division prepares to begin advancing due south out of the beach.

The division's tanks are assembled to lead the way, including the tanks assigned to the division at large and the tanks assigned to the 4th Brigade. As the orders come through from Foster, the rest of the division finally begins their main advance out of Juno.

Within an hour, the Canadian forces advancing out of Juno have wiped out the remaining forces of the 716th Division in place behind Juno, as well as a few survivors from the 21st Panzer Division that attempted to come up to reinforce the beach. The sole surviving tank from the 21st, which had survived the A-10 attack the previous night by hiding out under some heavy trees, had made its way towards the beach to try and reinforce it. The tank however was caught just a few miles from the beach for a platoon of Canadian tanks and demolished by a pair of HEAT rounds from two Leopards.

By the end of the day, the Canadians had advanced further than any of the other Allied divisions, distinguishing themselves as one of the most accomplished divisions of D-Day.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

Next chapter will cover the landings at Sword Beach, and should be a bit longer than this one. It should be up soon. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!