Allies Bombard Cherbourg: Naval Guns Support Port Assault
American and British warships bombarded German coastal fortifications at Cherbourg, France, on June 25, 1944, in support of the US VII Corps' assault on the heavily defended port. The naval force, including the battleship USS Texas, cruisers, and destroyers, exchanged fire with German shore batteries at ranges as close as 3,000 yards. USS Texas was hit by a shell from a 240mm battery that destroyed the bridge. The bombardment helped suppress the fortifications, allowing the infantry to capture the port on June 27. However, German forces had systematically demolished the harbor facilities, including sinking ships in the entrance channel, mining the basin, and destroying all cranes. It took three weeks of round-the-clock clearing before the first Liberty ship could dock, and the port did not reach full capacity until September.
June 25, 1944
82 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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