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Work on the
battery at the Pointe du Hoc began in 1942. It was equipped with six
155-mm guns of French origin, which were placed in concrete pits. In
addition to the range-finding post, built at the tip of the rocky spur,
the position also featured numerous underground ammunition stores and
shelters for the 200 men garrisoned there.
Because of its
position, this battery represented a real threat to both the
Utah Beach
and the Omaha Beach sectors, where the American troops were due to land.
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Pointe du Hoc |
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One of the 155-mm guns from Pointe du
Hoc |
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At the beginning of 1944, work started on casemates to protect the guns.
However, the latter were still in their pits when the aerial bombardment
of April 15th took place, destroying one of them. For
safety’s sake, the five other guns were secretly moved inland. |
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