21 April 1944
ANNEX "G" TO OPERATION PLAN NO. 2-44	Serial 00144
APPROACH PLANS

1. INFORMATION

1. Fleet minesweepers will precede each Assault Force and sweep it across the suspected enemy minefield to the transport area. Ten channels, numbered consecutively from west to east will be swept, each marked as follows:

1. at Latitude 50° 05' N., by center line flashing light danbuoy;
2. each mile between Latitudes 50° 04' N. and 50° 01' N. inclusive, by a center line fixed green light danbuoy;
3. at Latitude 50° 00' N. on the starboard hand by an occulating red light danbuoy, on the port hand by a flashing white light danbuoy;
4. at each mile to the southward, on the starboard hand by a fixed red light danbuoy, on the port hand by a fixed white light danbuoy;
5. at the transport areas, on the starboard hand by an occulating red light danbuoy, on the port hand by a flashing white light danbuoy;
6. the southern limit of swept water for the transport areas will be defined by fixed red light danbuoys.

In addition, H.D.M.L., fitted as navigational leaders, will be stationed, one at the approach to each swept channel. H.D.M.L. will each fly a large numeral flag by day; by night each will flash its appropriate channel number at approaching groups.
2. Bombarding battleships, monitors, and cruisers will proceed independently of Assault Forces to their bombarding positions but, as they will use the same swept channels, their movements will be phased with those of the Assault Forces. Bombarding fleet and HUNT class destroyers will escort Assault Forces until they are required to proceed to their bombarding positions. After the initial bombardments fleet destroyers will be at the disposal of Task Force commanders for further bombardment if necessary and for the protection of shipping off the beaches.
3. H hour, which will be the time at which the first wave of landing craft should hit the beach, will be related both to morning civil twilight and to the time of local H.W. Thus, if a postponement is necessary, H hour will alter. H hour will be about 40 minutes after morning civil twilight and approximately 3 hours before H.W. In the event of postponement, the time of H hour on successive days may be extended to about 1 hour and 40 minutes after morning civil twilight. The exact time for the days in question will be stated in the Operation orders of A.N.C.X.F.

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4. After all LCT have discharged, LST will be discharged by Rhino ferries. LST will not beach and dry out except in case of emergency on Beach OMAHA only.
5. The composition of Assault Forces, by groups is shown in Convoy and Escort Plan, Annex F.

2. DIRECTIVES

1.  

1. Assault Force "O" take departure from Area Z, a circle of approximately 5 miles radius about position Z in Latitude 60° 25' N., Longitude 00° 58' W, proceed to and enter approach to north end of swept channels 3 and 4 by groups as designated in Appendix 1, adjusting speed of advance to ensure reaching assigned initial transport area in accordance with detailed Approach Plan of Commander Assault Force "O".
2. Sail OCEANWAY (LSD with 20 LCM(3) carrying tanks) to arrive transport area after daylight.

2.  

1. Assault Force "U" take departure from the searched channel south of PORTLAND BILL; proceed to and enter approach to north end of swept channels 1 and 2, by groups, as designated in Appendix 1, adjusting speed of advance to ensure reaching assigned initial transport area in accordance with detailed Approach Plan of Commander, Assault Force "U".

3. Forces conduct assault as indicated in Appendices 2 and 3 and in accordance with the tactical plan as detailed in Timetables of Assault and Fire Support Plans of Assault Force Commanders.
4. Minesweeping Plan is contained in Appendix 4.

 

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNEX

Spares Force "O" (40)
Spares Force "U" (40)
Spares Force "B" (20)
(For escort vessels and navigational leaders.)

 

A. G. KIRK,
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy,
Naval Commander Western Task Force.

 

/s/
R. T. CRAGG,
Flag Secretary.

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APPENDIX 1

 

TIMETABLE OF APPROACH

 

Group	Planning Speed in Knots	Entry into Swept Channels L 50° 05' N. Time in Hours	Arrival in Transport Areas Time in Hours	Channel Employed
				1	2	3	4
Minesweepers	7½	H minus 10	H minus 5½	X
U-1	12	H minus 7½	H minus 4½	X
Minesweepers	*7½	H minus 12	H minus 6		X
U-2A	5	H minus 10	H minus 3½		X
Minesweepers	7½	H minus 10	H minus 5½			X
O-1	12	H minus 7½	H minus 4½			X
Minesweepers	*7½	H minus 12	H minus 6				X
O-2A	5	H minus 10	H minus 3½				X

NOTE:

1. The above table is intended as a guide and is subject to minor revision based upon Assault Force Commanders detailed tactical plan. It is based upon the following assumptions:

1. Planning speeds:

LSH, APA, XAP, LSI(L), LSI(H), LSI(S), LCI(L) - 12 knots
LST - 8 knots
LCT, LCI(L)(with LCT), LST (with LCT) - 5 knots

2. *Minesweepers of channels 2 and 4 countermarch, starting at H minus 9½ in order to lose 1½ hours advance.

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APPENDIX 2

 

TIMETABLE OF ASSAULT

 

Wave	Composition	Departure from Transport Area Time in Minutes	Leave line of departure after Time in Minutes	Arrival at Beach Time in Minutes
-	Control vessels for LCT (DD)	H minus 167	H minus 45	-
1	DD tanks in LCT	H minus 167	H minus 45	H
-	LCT(R)	H minus 138	H minus 24	-
-	Control vessels	H minus 115	-	-
1	LCVP, LCA	H minus 115	H minus 20	H
-	LCS(S)	H minus 115	H minus 20	-
1	LCT(A)	H minus 138	H minus 24	H
2	LCVP, LCA, LCM(3)	H minus 103	H minus 8	H plus 12
3	LCVP, LCA, LCM(3)	H minus 91	H plus 4	H plus 24
4	LCVP, LCA, LCM(3)	H minus 79	H plus 16	H plus 36
5	LCVP, LCA, LCM(3)	H minus 67	H plus 28	H plus 48
6	LCT	H minus 78	H plus 36	H plus 60

NOTE:

1. The above table is intended as a guide and is subject to minor revision based upon Assault Force Commanders detailed tactical plans. It is based upon the following assumptions:

1. Transport Area is approximately 23,000 yards off assault beach.
2. Planning speeds:

LCT, LST - 5 knots
LCVP, LCA - 6 knots
DD tanks - 4 knots

3. 20 minutes will be required to launch DD tanks.
4. DD tanks are launched 6000 yards off assault beaches.
5. Line of departure is 4000 yards off assault beaches.

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APPENDIX 3

 

APPROACH PLAN
RCT Assault Formation at H Hour

 

NOTE:

The above table is intended as a guide and is subject to minor revision based on Assault Force Commanders' detailed tactical plans.

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APPENDIX 4

 

MINESWEEPING PLAN

 

1. The location of channels and areas for prearranged sweeping are shown on Overlay, Appendix 4a to Annex "G". The code names and subdivisions of the Assault Area are given in Appendix 1 to Annex "C".
2. Instructions and orders for all minesweepers of the Western Naval Task Force during the channel passage and approach through channels 1, 2, 3, and 4 are covered by Naval Operation Orders (Short Title ON 6), INSTRUCTIONS FOR MINESWEEPING, issued by the Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force, Serial Orders N.B. 1, 2, 3, 4, 22, 23, order of sweeping of approach channels and transport areas.
3. Upon completion of orders issued by Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force for sweeping of approach channels and transport areas, minesweeping flotillas and squadrons will execute the orders of Commander Assault Force "O" and Commander Assault Force "U". Operational control will be exercised by Assault Force Commanders as follows:

Force "O"	31st M.S.F. (British Fleet Minesweepers) 167th M.S.F. (BYMS Vessels) 104th M.S.F. (M.M.S. for Influence Mines only)
Force "U"	*16th M.S.F. (British Fleet Minesweepers) "A" Squadron (U.S. AMs) "Y" Squadron (U.S. YMSs) 132nd M.S.F. (M.M.S.s for Influence Mines only)

*The 16th M.S.F. will revert to operational control of Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force at the end of D day.

4. Serial Orders will be issued by Assault Force Commanders for the sweeping of fire support areas, boat lanes and anchorage areas shown on Appendix 4a to this Annex. These serial orders will contain geographical location of minesweeper tracks, courses, distances and buoy light and flag characteristics.

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5. The following table lists Serial Orders which will be issued for the sweeping of approach channels according to a prearranged plan.

TABLE I
SUMMARY OF SERIAL ORDERS FOR PREARRANGED MINESWEEPING OF THE APPROACH CHANNELS, FIRE SUPPORT CHANNELS AND BOAT LANES
(REFER TO OVERLAY - APPENDIX 4a)


MB Ser. No.	Flot. or Squadron	Task	(Approx) Time of Starting	Time of Completion	Order to be issued by
1	16th MSF	Channel No. 1 and Transport Area	H-10	H-4½	ANCXF
2	14th MSF	Channel No. 2 and Transport Area	H-12	H-5	ANCXF
3	31st MSF	Channel No. 3 and Transport Area	H-10	H-4½	ANCXF
4	4th MSF	Channel No. 4 and Transport Area	H-12	H-5	ANCXF
41	A Squadron	Channel and Area for Fire Support Ships	--	H-3	Force U
42	Y Squadron	Boat lane for Assault Craft and Fire Support Channel	H-4½	H-1	Force U
43	16th MSF	Channel for Fire Support Ships	H-3½	H-2½	Force U
44	167th MSF	Channel for Fire Support Ships and Boat Lane	H-5½	H-1½	Force O
45	31st MSF	Channel for Fire Support Ships and Boat Lane	H-3¾	H-1½	Force O

 

6. The following table lists Serial Orders which will be issued by ANCXF and covered in ON 6 Appendix I.

TABLE II
SUMMARY OF SUBSEQUENT SERIAL ORDERS TO BE ISSUED BY ANCXF


MB Ser. No.	Flotilla or Squadron	Task	Approximate time to Complete
22	14th MSF	Channel connecting Transport Areas 12 and 34	1½ Hours
23	*4th and 14th MSF	Area between Channels 3 & 4	12 Hours
31		Channel 12 (Refer to ON 6, par. 93)	12 Hours
32		Area between Channels 2 and 3 (Refer to ON 6, par. 94)	16 Hours

*Rendezvous with Trinity House Trawler (THV) G. de Joli about 1600 on D-day in Latitude 50° 00' N (ON 14, par. 5)

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7. The following table lists Serial Orders which may be issued at the discretion of Assault Force Commanders.

TABLE III
SUMMARY OF SUBSEQUENT SERIAL ORDERS TO BE ISSUED BY NCWTF AND ASSAULT FORCE COMMANDERS (Refer to Overlay - Appendix 4b)


MB Ser. No.	Task	Approximate time to Complete	Order to be issued by
46	Anchorage Area 60	4 Hours	Force U.
47	Anchorage Area 23	5 Hours	Force O.
48	Anchorage Area 80	5 Hours	Force O.
49	Southern side of enemy mine barrier between channels 2 and 3	4 Hours	NCWTF
50	Southern Side of enemy mine barrier between channels 34 and 56	7 Hours	NCWTF
51	Connections and Southern Extension between Transport Areas and Lowering Positions.		NCWTF
52	Remainder of Assault Area ELDER	4-8 Hours	Force O.
53	Remainder of Assault Area OHIO	3-7 Hours	Force O.
54	Remainder of Assault Area OREGON	2-4 Hours	Force O.
55	Remainder of Assault Area KANSAS	3-5 Hours	Force O.
56	Remainder of Assault Area HICKORY	4-8 Hours	Force U.
57	Remainder of Assault Area VERMONT	3-7 Hours	Force U.
58	Remainder of Assault Area PRAIRIE	4-6 Hours	Force U.
59	Remainder of Assault Area MOUNTAIN	14-20 Hours	Force U.

 

8. Serial Orders issued by Assault Force Commanders will conform to the requirements of ON 6 Paragraphs 11-14, 3-46, 51-55, 83, 98-100 and 103.
9. Minesweepers and attached ML's may be utilized by Assault Force Commanders to assist in screening their forces and anchorages and for mine watching duties.
10. The 132nd and 104th M.S.F.'s comprised of M.M.S. vessels will take station at a safe distance astern of the 14th and 4th M.S.F.'s and proceed down their respective channels 2 and 4 at a speed of not less than 5 knots. They will remain in the vicinity of the transport areas and be prepared for magnetic or acoustic sweeping and destruction of floating mines.
11. Shallow water minesweeping for snag line mines employing LCT's and shoal gear will be accomplished by craft assigned to this task by Assault Force Commanders. Similar assignment and sweeping of shallow water anchorages by LCVP's will be made.

Dan Buoys

12. Dan Buoys will be layed in accordance with the British Standard covered by ANCXF ltr. No. X/0780/4/1 of 25/4/44 to Assault Force Commanders.

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APPENDIX 4a

 

MINESWEEPING PLAN - OVERLAY

 

 

The source document was missing Appendix 4a. If this material is located elsewhere, this page will be updated. - HyperWar Editor.

 

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