Operation Neptune: Take a look at the Allies' five invasion beaches on D-Day
On 6 June 1944, nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed on a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coastline, where against the odds they managed to punch a hole in the Nazis' formidable Atlantic Wall and help change the course of the Second World War.
The targets were five beaches - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
Utah and Omaha would be attacked by mainly US forces, Sword and Gold would be assaulted by mainly British forces, while Juno beach would be taken by mainly Canadian forces.
Utah Beach
Utah was the westernmost of the five landing beaches in Normandy.
The landings at Utah were carried out by soldiers from the US Army's 4th Infantry Division, 90th Infantry Division and 4th Cavalry Regiment.
Transportation, minesweeping and naval bombardment duties were carried out by the US Navy and US Coast Guard, but Utah also involved elements from the Royal Navy as well as other Allied navies.
The objective was to seize control of the coastal roads, link up with troops from 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, who had landed five hours earlier, and then prepare to advance on Cherbourg.
Omaha Beach
Omaha was a five-mile section of coast from east of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to west of Vierville-sur-Mer.
The aim of the landings at Omaha was to link the American landing to the west at Utah with the British landings to the east at Gold Beach.
Omaha was assaulted by the US Army's V Corps, but British Commandos were also involved, and the seaborne element included British, Canadian and Free French navies, as well as the US Navy and Coast Guard.
US forces were tasked with advancing inland and gaining control of the main road running east to west.
US Rangers landed further west at Pointe du Hoc where they scaled the steep cliffs in order to disable German guns situated on top of the cliffs. The guns had actually been moved further inland, but were nevertheless located and destroyed.
Gold Beach
Gold was the central of the five beaches and was located between Port-en-Bessin to the west and Ver-sur-Mer to the east.
Taking Gold Beach was the responsibility of the British Army, with the seaborne element provided by the Royal Navy as well as elements of the Dutch, Polish and other Allied navies.
Having secured a beachhead, the objectives were to advance west to capture Arromanches and establish contact with the US forces at Omaha, capture the city of Bayeux and link up with the Canadian forces at Juno Beach to the east.
No.47 (Royal Marine) Commando was also tasked with advancing through German-held territory to capture the small port of Port-en-Bessin to the west.
Juno Beach
Juno ran from the village of Courseulles, just east of Gold Beach, to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, just west of Sword Beach.
Taking Juno was down to the First Canadian Army, with the sea element coming from the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Navy, plus elements from the Free French, Norwegian and other Allied navies.
The assault force was made up of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division and 2nd Armoured Brigade, plus No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando.
Third Infantry Division had three objectives on D-Day. These were to cut the road between Caen and Bayeux, capture the airport at Carpiquet west of Caen and form a link between Gold and Sword.
Sword Beach
Sword Beach stretched five miles between Ouistreham and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, and was the most easterly landing site of the invasion.
The capture of Sword Beach was down to the British Army, with support from the Royal Navy as well as elements from the Polish, Norwegian and other Allied navies.
British troops landing on Sword Beach aimed to reach the city of Caen about 11 miles inland.
But while Sword was taken with relatively few casualties, traffic congestion and the number of German defences behind the beach slowed down the advance from the beachhead.
Join Our Newsletter
