Historical Section, COMNAVEU. "Administrative History of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, 1940-1946." vol. 5. (London, 1946) [This manuscript, identified as United States Naval Administrative History of World War II #147-E, is located in the Navy Department Library's Rare Book Room.]
The Navy Department Library
Operation NEPTUNE: The Invasion of Normandy
Table of Contents
Table of Contents Operation NEPTUNE
Naval Aspects of Operation OVERLORD
| Section | Title | Pages | ||
| Chapter I | THE STRATEGIC BACKGROUND OF OVERLORD | 1 | ||
| Part 1 | Introductory: Policy and Strategy in World War II | 1 | ||
| A. | Definition of Operation OVERLORD | 1 | ||
| B. | U.S. Policy and Grand Strategy | 2 | ||
| C. | American-British Combined Strategy (ARCADIA Conference Decisions, Washington, January 1942) | 5 | ||
| D. | The War Situation in 1942: Allocation of U.S. Forces | 6 | ||
| Part 2 | Combined Strategy in the European Theater | 10 | ||
| A. | Combined Planning of Future Operations (January-July 1942) | 10 | ||
| B. | Mediterranean Strategy 1942-1943 (British Strategic Concepts) | 14 | ||
| C. | Planning the Assault On Germany: (OVERLORD and American Strategic Concepts) | 21 | ||
| D. | Planning Offensive Operations: 1943 British Proposals | 25 | ||
| Part 3 | Grand Strategy of the OVERLORD Plan | 29 | ||
| A. | Quebec Conference Decisions: Views of British Chiefs of Staff | 29 | ||
| B. | Strategical Implications of OVERLORD: The American Position | 32 | ||
| C. | The General War Situation November 1943 | 33 | ||
| Part 4 | Tripartite Strategic Agreements: The EUREKA Conference (Teheran) | 41 | ||
| A. | Soviet Strategic Concepts | 41 | ||
| B. | U.S.-British Positions At Teheran | 44 | ||
| C. | Final Approval of OVERLORD At Teheran | 45 | ||
| D. | Allied Program for Victory in Europe: Political Implications | 47 | ||
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| Chapter II | PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS FOR CROSS-CHANNEL (OVERLORD) OPERATIONS | 51 | ||
| Part 1 | Early Plans for Cross-Channel Operations | 51 | ||
| A. | Introduction: British Planning 1940-1941 | 51 | ||
| B. | Combined Planning, January-June 1942 | 58 | ||
| C. | Preliminary Cross-Channel Plan: ROUND-UP 1943 | 65 | ||
| D. | Plan for a Sacrifice Operation: SLEDGEHAMMER 1942 | 70 | ||
| E. | Build-up of U.S. Forces in the United Kingdom (Operation BOLERO) | 72 | ||
| Part 2 | The OVERLORD Plan: COSSAC Appreciation and Outline, 1943 | 79 | ||
| A. | Casablanca Conference Decisions: January 1943 | 79 | ||
| B. | COSSAC: Functions and Organization | 83 | ||
| C. | The COSSAC Appreciation and Outline Plan for OVERLORD, July 1943 | 89 | ||
| Part 3 | OVERLORD and ANVIL: Planning the 1944 Grand Assault | 98 | ||
| A. | Quebec Conference Approval of OVERLORD, August 1943 | 98 | ||
| B. | Plans for Landings On the French Mediterranean Coast (ANVIL Operation) | 102 | ||
| C. | Strategy and Logistics of 1944 Amphibious Operations | 105 | ||
| D. | 1944 Modifications of OVERLORD and ANVIL Plans: December 1943-March 1944 | 110 | ||
| Part 4 | Air Operations in Relation to OVERLORD | 120 | ||
| A. | COSSAC Plan for Air Operations | 120 | ||
| B. | Plans for Combined SICKLE-POINTBLANK Air Operations | 123 | ||
| C. | Coordination of U.K. and Mediterranean Air Operations - 1943 | 126 | ||
| D. | OVERLORD Plan for the Air Offensive in 1944 | 128 | ||
| Part 5 | OVERLORD Cover and Deception Operations | 133 | ||
| A. | COSSAC Cover Plan | 134 | ||
| B. | British and Combined Organization for Cover and Deception Operations | 137 | ||
| C. | OVERLORD Cover Plans: JAEL and BODYGUARD | 139 | ||
| D. | Outline of OVERLORD Deception Operations | 145 | ||
| E. | Operations VENDETTA (and ZEPPELIN) in the Mediterranean (ANVIL) | 149 | ||
| F. | Operation FORTITUDE (and TINDEL) in Relation to OVERLORD in North Europe | 151 | ||
| G. | Operation FORTITUDE SOUTH in Relation to NEPTUNE) Pas de Calais Threat | 156 | ||
| H. | Organization of Radio Deception Operation | 152 | ||
| I. | Results of Cover and Deception Operations | 166 | ||
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| Chapter III | THE STRATEGIC BACKGROUND OF OVERLORD | 170 | ||
| Part 1 | Formation of the OVERLORD System of Command | 171 | ||
| A. | Unity of Command: U.S. and British Systems | 171 | ||
| B. | 1942 Plans for a Supreme Allied Command | 174 | ||
| C. | 1943 Discussions of Combined Command Systems (Casablanca Conference: COSSAC Proposals) | 179 | ||
| D. | Quebec Conference Decisions: Delay in Designation of Supreme Allied Commander | 182 | ||
| E. | Establishment of OVERLORD Command: General Eisenhower Designated S.A.C. | 186 | ||
| Part 2 | Developments of OVERLORD System of Naval Command. | 193 | ||
| A. | Designation of Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief (ANCXF) | 193 | ||
| B. | Relations of Royal Navy and U.S. Navy Organizations With ANCXF | 195 | ||
| C. | Organization of the TWELFTH U.S. Fleet and of Task Force 122 | 202 | ||
| D. | Command Arrangements and Operation Plan, Task Force 122 | 207 | ||
| Part 3 | NEPTUNE Naval Command | 213 | ||
| A. | Pre-NEPTUNE Phase (25 Oct 1943 - 27 May 1944) | 213 | ||
| B. | NEPTUNE Phase (May 27 to July 10, 1944) | 217 | ||
| C. | Post-NEPTUNE Phase (10 July 1944 - 14 July 1944) | 220 | ||
| D. | Chronological Summary of Naval Command Developments -- OVERLORD Operation | 222 | ||
| Part 4 | Integrated Command of Allied Forces OVERLORD Operations | 226 | ||
| A. | Chain of Integrated Command | 226 | ||
| B. | Division of Responsibilities for Planning | 228 | ||
| C. | Division of Responsibility between Army and Navy | 230 | ||
| D. | Division of Responsibility for the Build-up | 232 | ||
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| Chapter IV | NEPTUNE OPERATIONS PLANS | 233 | ||
| Part 1 | The Enemy Situation | 233 | ||
| A. | German Land Forces | 233 | ||
| B. | The German Defense Plans | 234 | ||
| C. | Coastal Defenses, Fortifications and Obstacles | 235 | ||
| D. | German Coastal Batteries and Mobile Artillery | 241 | ||
| E. | Disposition of Garrison Troops and Mobile Forces | 243 | ||
| F. | German Naval Forces | 246 | ||
| G. | German Air Forces | 250 | ||
| Part 2 | The Assault Area: Allied Method for Assault | 253 | ||
| A. | Basis of the NEPTUNE Plan | 253 | ||
| B. | Landing Beaches and Lodgment Areas | 254 | ||
| C. | Anticipated Development of the Land Campaign | 262 | ||
| D. | NEPTUNE Method for Amphibious Assault | 263 | ||
| E. | Timing of the NEPTUNE Assault | 273 | ||
| F. | Plans for Movement of Forces | 276 | ||
| Part 3 | General Plan for the Normandy Landings | 279 | ||
| A. | The Preliminary Phase | 279 | ||
| B. | The Preparatory Phase | 279 | ||
| C. | The Assault Phase | 281 | ||
| D. | The Build-up Phase | 285 | ||
| Part 4 | Composition and Organization of Forces | 287 | ||
| A. | Army Forces, Allied Expeditionary Force | 287 | ||
| B. | Air Forces, Allied Expeditionary Force | 289 | ||
| C. | Naval Forces, Allied Expeditionary Force | 291 | ||
| D. | Chain of Combined High Command | |||
| E. | Chain of Naval Command | |||
| F. | Army Order of Battle | |||
| G. | Integrated Chain of Command | |||
| H. | Organization of Western Task Force | |||
| I. | Organization of Eastern Task Force | |||
| J. | Composition of Naval Forces | |||
| Part 5 | The Naval Plan | 301 | ||
| A. | Outline Review of NEPTUNE Operation | 301 | ||
| B. | Loading and Assembly of Forces | 305 | ||
| C. | Program of Assault and Follow-Up Forces | 308 | ||
| D. | The Build-up for Offensive Land Operations | 311 | ||
| E. | Supporting Naval Operations | 313 | ||
| (1) Minesweeping | 313 | |||
| (2) Bombardment | 316 | |||
| (3) Diversions | 319 | |||
| (4) Covering Forces | 319 | |||
| (5) Defence of the Assault Area | 320 | |||
| (6) Minelaying | 322 | |||
| F. | Supporting Air Operations | 323 | ||
| (1) Command | 323 | |||
| (2) Forces Available | 323 | |||
| (3) Fighter Protection | 324 | |||
| (4) Coastal Air Operations | 324 | |||
| (5) Smoke-laying | 325 | |||
| (6) Mine-laying | 325 | |||
| (7) Air Spotting | 325 | |||
| (8) Air Bombardment | 325 | |||
| (9) Expected Scale of German Air Effort | 325 | |||
| G. | Ancillary Operations | 325 | ||
| (1) Mulberries | 325 | |||
| (2) Gooseberries | 325 | |||
| (3) Pluto, Tombola and Amathea | 328 | |||
| (4) Buoy Laying | 329 | |||
| (5) Surveying | 329 | |||
| (6) Moorings | 330 | |||
| (7) Salvage | 330 | |||
| (8) Rescue Tugs | 330 | |||
| (9) Colliers, Oilers, and Water Tankers | 331 | |||
| (10) Cable Laying | 331 | |||
| (11) Despatch Boat Service | 331 | |||
| (12) Ammunition Barges | 331 | |||
| (13) Sunken Causeway | 331 | |||
| (14) Minor Landing Craft | 331 | |||
| (15) Coast Guard Cutters | 331 | |||
| H. | Chronological Order of Events | 332 | ||
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| Chapter V | NAVAL PREPARATIONS FOR CROSS-CHANNEL OPERATIONS | 338 | ||
| Part 1 | U.S. Naval Preparations | 338 | ||
| A. | ComNavEu Organization and Action | 338 | ||
| B. | Twelfth Fleet and Task Force 122 | 341 | ||
| C. | Establishment of Eleventh Amphibious Forces | 343 | ||
| D. | Landing Craft and Bases (LanCrabEu) | 346 | ||
| Part 2 | Preparations of Bases for Amphibious Forces | 348 | ||
| A. | Naval Bases and Training Areas in Southwest England: Relations with C-in-C Plymouth | 348 | ||
| B. | Repair and Port Facilities | 351 | ||
| C. | Arrival and Organization of Amphibious Forces | 355 | ||
| Part 3 | Organization and Training of U.S. Naval Forces | 358 | ||
| A. | Organization and Activities, Eleventh Amphibious Forces | 358 | ||
| B. | Coordination in Training with U.S. Army Formations | 359 | ||
| C. | Amphibious Training Exercises -- 1944 | 360 | ||
| D. | Organization and Training of U.S. Naval Assault Forces | 362 | ||
| Part 4 | Details of U.S. Naval NEPTUNE Forces | 367 | ||
| A. | Table of Numbmers of Vessels present by Months | |||
| B. | Table and Disposition of U.S. Vessels for OVERLORD | |||
| C. | Case History of U.S. Ships and Major Craft | |||
| D. | Detailed Task Organization, Western Task Force | |||
| Part 5 | Brief Review of Royal Navy Preparations | 371 | ||
| Part 6 | Loading and Assembly: NEPTUNE Forces | 375 | ||
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| Chapter VI | THE OPERATION BEGINS | 381 | ||
| Part 1 | Developments During May 1944 | 381 | ||
| A. | The Naval Assault Forces | 381 | ||
| B. | Enemy Reactions | 382 | ||
| C. | Promulgation of Operation Orders | 384 | ||
| D. | Security Problems and Measures | 386 | ||
| E. | Command Questions | 387 | ||
| F. | Questions of Air-Navy Coordination | 388 | ||
| G. | MULBERRY Problems: Tug Shortage | 389 | ||
| H. | Visits of Important Personages | 390 | ||
| Part 2 | Designation and Postponement of D-Day | 392 | ||
| A. | 5 June Designated as D-Day | 392 | ||
| B. | NEPTUNE Forces in Movement | 393 | ||
| C. | Weather Intervenes: Postponement of Assault | 394 | ||
| D. | The Supreme Commander's Dilemma: 6 June Fixed as D-Day | 396 | ||
| Part 3 | The Assault Movement of NEPTUNE Forces | 400 | ||
| A. | General Outline of the Movement | 400 | ||
| B. | Composition and Timing of Convoys | 401 | ||
| C. | Routing and Navigation | 405 | ||
| D. | The Assault Forces Reach the Beaches | 407 | ||
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| Chapter VII | DEFENSIVE MEASURES -- NEPTUNE OPERATION | 410 | ||
| Part 1 | Enemy Naval Dispositions, 1944 | 410 | ||
| Part 2 | Minelaying (Operation MAPLE) | 412 | ||
| A. | Plan for Minelaying | 412 | ||
| B. | Minelaying Operations | 413 | ||
| Part 3 | Naval Cover for NEPTUNE | 416 | ||
| A. | Countering the German Heavy Fleet | 416 | ||
| B. | Countering U-Boat Movements from the North | 417 | ||
| C. | Sealing the Western Channel | 418 | ||
| D. | Sealing the Straits of Dover | 421 | ||
| E. | Patrols Along the Convoy Flanks | 422 | ||
| Part 4 | Assault Area: Screen and Escorts | 425 | ||
| A. | Allied Naval Dispositions | 425 | ||
| B. | Eastern Task Force | 426 | ||
| C. | Western Task Force | 428 | ||
| D. | Convoy Escort Forces | 432 | ||
| Part 5 | NEPTUNE Minesweeping Operations | 433 | ||
| A. | Plans for Sweeping German Minefields | 433 | ||
| B. | Minesweeping Arrangements in the Assault Area | 435 | ||
| C. | The Passage and False Start | 437 | ||
| D. | The Approach | 438 | ||
| E. | Sweeping Inshore Waters | 442 | ||
| F. | The Enemy's Minelaying Counter-Attack | 443 | ||
| G. | Minesweeping at Cherbourg | 444 | ||
| H. | The Score | 446 | ||
| Part 6 | Air Cover Forces for NEPTUNE | 449 | ||
| A. | Coordination of Coastal Command and Naval Operations | 449 | ||
| B. | Air Defense by Combined Allied Air Forces | 454 | ||
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| Chapter VIII | BOMBARDMENT AND OTHER DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY LAND FORCES | 458 | ||
| Part 1 | General Bombardment Plans | 458 | ||
| A. | Coordination of Naval and Air Bombardment | 458 | ||
| B. | Air Bombardment Program | 462 | ||
| Part 2 | Naval Bombardment Operations | 464 | ||
| A. | Naval Bombarding Forces | 464 | ||
| B. | Pre-Arranged Bombardment Schedule | 468 | ||
| C. | Post H-Hour Aimed Bombardment | 469 | ||
| D. | Ammunition Supplies | 473 | ||
| E. | Results of Naval Bombardment | 474 | ||
| Part 3 | Bombardment of Cherbourg | 477 | ||
| A. | Bombardment of Cherbourg | 477 | ||
| Part 4 | Radar Counter Measures | 479 | ||
| Part 5 | Naval Diversions | 483 | ||
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| Chapter IX | THE NEPTUNE ASSAULTS | 487 | ||
| Part 1 | General Conditions for the Assault | 487 | ||
| A. | Reasons for Success of NEPTUNE Operation | 487 | ||
| B. | The Effect of Surprise | 488 | ||
| C. | The Normandy Landings | 490 | ||
| Part 2 | Western Task Force: Force U | 493 | ||
| A. | General Situation, Western Task Force | 493 | ||
| B. | Assault Force U: Organization and Assembly | 493 | ||
| C. | Assault Force U: The Channel Passage | 500 | ||
| Part 3 | Western Task Force: Force O | 507 | ||
| A. | Organization and Assembly | 507 | ||
| B. | OMAHA Beach: Plan for the Assault | 511 | ||
| C. | Assault Force O: Organization and Assembly | 514 | ||
| D. | Assault Force O: The Channel Passage | 515 | ||
| E. | The Assault on OMAHA Beach | 518 | ||
| F | The Battle on OMAHA Beach | 526 | ||
| Part 4 | Eastern Task Force: Forces G, J, S | 534 | ||
| A. | The Channel Passage | 534 | ||
| B. | The Assaults: General Narrative | 542 | ||
| C. | Force G: GOLD Area | 546 | ||
| D. | Force J: JUNO Area | 548 | ||
| E. | Force S: SWORD Area | 553 | ||
| Part 5 | The Assault Ends: The Situation at H Plus 24 Hours | 559 | ||
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| Chapter X | THE BUILD-UP FOR THE BATTLE OF FRANCE | 563 | ||
| Part 1 | The Post-NEPTUNE Naval Task | 563 | ||
| Part 2 | Far Shore Organization | 565 | ||
| A. | Plans and Preparations for Naval Far Shore Service | 565 | ||
| B. | British Area: Far Shore Naval Organization | 567 | ||
| C. | U.S. Area: American Far Shore Naval Organization | 570 | ||
| D. | Shore Parties, U.S. Area | 571 | ||
| Part 3 | Naval Far Shore Activities After D-Day (Extracts from ANCXF NEPTUNE Report) |
573 | ||
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| Index | 583 | |||
Note: Indexed at the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in connection with the preparation of S.E. Morison's History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 11, by Roger F. Schofield, YN1, USN, 9 December 1954.
Published: Tue Mar 17 06:39:23 EDT 2015
