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Swede

(39,533 posts)

5. The Normandy beach attacked that day was 40 miles long, for one.

Reply to Hermit-The-Prog (Original post)

Mon May 27, 2024, 01:36 PM

May 2024

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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin yorkster Hermit-The-Prog

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Any military 'geeks': Can someone explain D-day to me? [View all] Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 OP

i believe that nobody wants to admit epic mistakes Tetrachloride May 2024 #1

I remember reading an account of a commander in the Pacific... Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #6

There was plenty of bombardment of the beach defenses... brooklynite May 2024 #24

Yep; Iwo Jima was bombarded for over 70 days & look how that went oldsoftie May 2024 #57

70 days aerial bombardment, 3 days naval bombardment. sl8 May 2024 #104

Not that easy. German machine gun nests in dug-in, hardened concrete pill boxes. brush May 2024 #2

The German positions were also set up at angles to provide crossfires. They weren't easy to fire right into brewens May 2024 #38

Back in 94 there were commemorations for the 50th anniversary of D-day Dave Bowman May 2024 #40

I don't recall that 50th anniversary, but Dan May 2024 #48

He's a Bullshitter. Grins May 2024 #67

He probably meant that he killed that many soldiers during the whole battle of Normandy. Dave Bowman May 2024 #73

Nope Mountainguy May 2024 #91

Yes, I edited my post to add some information about that guy after doing a search about him and Dave Bowman May 2024 #92

Trying to remember from Vietnam... Grins May 2024 #117

Naval Gunfire is not that accurate Abnredleg May 2024 #3

If it took a lot of time that would have defeated the purpose of a surprise attack. Irish_Dem May 2024 #8

The other thing i read DiverDave May 2024 #109

Yes, but there were already some German divisions stationed in the area. Irish_Dem May 2024 #112

It helped the allied forces DiverDave May 2024 #113

Yes the allies took full advantage of the German problems. Irish_Dem May 2024 #114

Naval gunfire back in '44 wasn't all that accurate, but today's naval gunfire MarineCombatEngineer May 2024 #10

Exactly PJMcK May 2024 #75

my father was the gun control officer ( but enlisted ) on the USS Parker ( a destroyer ) lapfog_1 May 2024 #93

I can't picture what you mean. Irish_Dem May 2024 #4

Just carve a canyon for some. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #9

Back in '44, the accuracy and lethality of naval gunfire was very spotty at best MarineCombatEngineer May 2024 #12

Every time I see the stats for D-day, I wish the Navy could have wasted the whole area. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #14

I hear ya, even the fighter and bomber aircraft of the day MarineCombatEngineer May 2024 #19

US troops would still have to scale canyon walls and would be sitting ducks. Irish_Dem May 2024 #16

The Germans also had buried huge heavy metal spikes, aimed toward the sea, to disable tanks coming ashore. Lonestarblue May 2024 #65

Yes I knew about the deadly spikes. Irish_Dem May 2024 #69

Consider that this strategy was tried in WWI, and failed miserably each time. NutmegYankee May 2024 #34

It's not quite a new idea, is it? I didn't think to compare it to those actions. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #43

But the cliffs were the top of the land . they were not free standing with nothing behind. I doubt there was a through. Srkdqltr May 2024 #53

The Normandy beach attacked that day was 40 miles long, for one. Swede May 2024 #5

Just one path. I torture myself every Memorial Day by watching documentaris of D-day. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #13

Bunching up the invaders in one spot was probably dismissed early on. Swede May 2024 #15

Oh, yeah, but clearing a path anywhere surely would have helped. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #18

I believe your plan would have resulted in a massacre of allied troops. Irish_Dem May 2024 #31

Be glad we have more informed people in charge of our military. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #41

I am only an old Air Force brat, but it did not sound good to me. Irish_Dem May 2024 #44

Watched "D-Day: Lost Films" earlier today and I just wish we could rewind and re-do. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #46

The men who died saved lives. Irish_Dem May 2024 #55

There were 200,000 allied troops on D-Day. You cannot put them in one spot. Irish_Dem May 2024 #22

Oh no, not what I meant Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #26

The men still have to get to the other side on that one path. Irish_Dem May 2024 #35

Union Forces in the Civil War were 'fish in a barrel' during Battle of the Crater BoRaGard May 2024 #37

Yep this is the picture of the canyon on the D-Day beach I was seeing. Irish_Dem May 2024 #42

One path for five beachheads? rsdsharp May 2024 #52

You have an extremely optimistic and unrealistic view of the effective of bombardment Prairie Gates May 2024 #7

No doubt. The documentaries running today give me heartache. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #11

It also would have given time for the Wehrmacht to move their forces to block the breakout Prairie Gates May 2024 #17

Yes, it was over a month of brutal fighting before it was clearly a successful invasion. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #20

Not that easy maxrandb May 2024 #21

To honor those sacrifices... Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #23

I have a picture of my Grandmother that was in a CT newspaper maxrandb May 2024 #28

Such images are precious. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #39

I was thinking about part of your comment earlier today coincidentally. Irish_Dem May 2024 #25

I think circumstances would demand it maxrandb May 2024 #84

But Americans are turning on our democracy now. Irish_Dem May 2024 #86

I guess we'll find out in November maxrandb May 2024 #89

The media was not yet totally corrupt like today. Irish_Dem May 2024 #90

Hardened bunkers reisist naval gun fire. We had the same problem in the Pacific. NutmegYankee May 2024 #27

We were stationed near the Okinawa beaches in the 1960's. Irish_Dem May 2024 #47

Depth, probably. Detroyers came in and hitt the German defenses, though. Gore1FL May 2024 #29

You need to land sufficient troops and equipment in a short enough RockRaven May 2024 #30

Uh, there were sailors and soldiers between the ships and the beach Bad Thoughts May 2024 #32

For a few reasons DetroitLegalBeagle May 2024 #33

The Nazis had prepositioned eight divisions along that beach... jmowreader May 2024 #36

If such a thing had been done sarisataka May 2024 #45

There were a number of problems jobendorfer May 2024 #49

Thank you. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #58

Good summary. Irish_Dem May 2024 #87

They real answer is "they did" FBaggins May 2024 #50

The amphibious invasions began at 6:30am. Sunrise was 5:58 am. Irish_Dem May 2024 #61

I've always envisioned it just as depicted in The Longest Day FBaggins May 2024 #68

So many good movies about D-Day. Irish_Dem May 2024 #71

A top military strategist told Eisenhower that the D-Day death rate could be as high as 75%. Irish_Dem May 2024 #63

All true FBaggins May 2024 #70

Yes it was not just about Europe. Irish_Dem May 2024 #74

Because Adm. King wanted to keep most of the Navy capital in the Pacific haele May 2024 #51

Yes moving some of the US naval fleet to Europe doesn't make sense. Irish_Dem May 2024 #76

Destroyers were very effective. kairos12 May 2024 #54

This is such an interesting part of the D-Day story. Irish_Dem May 2024 #79

Question sounds simple but the answer is complex Picaro May 2024 #56

If D Day had failed the war would have ended very differently. Irish_Dem May 2024 #80

Spot on Picaro May 2024 #82

FDR, Churchill, Eisenhower knew full well was what at stake. Irish_Dem May 2024 #85

Eisenhower had prepared a statement in the event the invasion failed Ex Lurker May 2024 #100

That is Ike down to the bone. A true leader. Irish_Dem May 2024 #105

It was a massive operation with a thousand moving parts Shermann May 2024 #59

The Germans were a formidable military force. Irish_Dem May 2024 #81

IIRC, there was another sneak attack on Nazis. GreenWave May 2024 #60

They Did ._. May 2024 #62

Accuracy sucks, rate of fire sucks more, payload per shell is pathetic. Angleae May 2024 #64

I don't have an accuracy percentage sarisataka May 2024 #72

BBs could hit other BBs at ranges over 10 miles Kaleva May 2024 #78

They would fire dozens of rounds to get one or two hits Ex Lurker May 2024 #101

The Rodney hit the Bismarck on it's 3rd salvo Kaleva May 2024 #103

Rodney had a main battery of 9 16 inch guns Ex Lurker May 2024 #115

You make valid points Kaleva May 2024 #116

I never ForgedCrank May 2024 #66

Weather and fierce fighting by the Germans were two factors. Irish_Dem May 2024 #83

Damn, someone get a quick message to General Eisenhower!! marble falls May 2024 #77

This thread is making me laugh and cry. Irish_Dem May 2024 #88

Me, too. Grinding the chaff makes no more flour. But it is fun watching them standing with a bag awaiting the result ... marble falls May 2024 #94

Thankfully, there have been many enlightening comments. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #98

What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub? Xavier Breath May 2024 #95

The USN is under the impression they were at Normandy with the big guns Operation Neptune ... marble falls May 2024 #96

Thanks. My question was less "what was" and more of "what if"... Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #102

EVEN iF? A battleship's guns can put a shell 25 miles aways within 4ft of the target. A broadside from a battleship ... marble falls May 2024 #106

I don't understand your questioning my use of "even if" Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #108

WHAT IF???? There, all better. If only some of those armchair Admirals had been there, Normandy would have ... marble falls May 2024 #110

I hope whatever is making you mad goes away soon. Be happy. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #111

The Navy can't win a ground war. n/t Alpeduez21 May 2024 #97

Hear of the Marines? The world's largest air force is the US Air force, the world's second largest air force? the USN. marble falls May 2024 #99

YouTube Channel: World War Two tazkcmo May 2024 #107