Mulberry harbour the armoured vehicles would be able to operate on the beach or become bogged down. The final survey, Operation Bellpush Charlie, occurred on the night of 30-31 January but limited information was gathered due to fog and because German lookouts heard the craft. Further sorties were abandoned. On the afternoon of 6 June 1944 (D-Day) over 400 towed component parts (weighing approximately 1.5 million tons) set sail to create the two Mulberry harbours. It included all the blockships (codenamed Corncobs) to create the outer breakwater (Gooseberries) and 146 concrete caissons (Phoenixes). At Arromanches, the first Phoenix was sunk at dawn
Order of battle for the American airborne landings in Normandy Order of battle for the American airborne landings in Normandy The Order of battle for the American airborne landings in Normandy is a list of the units immediately available for combat on the Cotentin Peninsula between June 6, 1944, and June 15, 1944, during the American airborne landings in Normandy during World War II. Allied chain of command Supreme Allied Commander: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower 21st Army Group: Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery U.S. First Army: Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley U.S. VII Corps: Maj. Gen. J. Lawton Collins Maj. Gen. Paul L. Williams (Grantham, Lincs) Brig. Gen. Julian M. Chappell at