The attack by Rudder's Rangers on Pointe du Hoc, as one of the opening
acts of D Day, is without doubt an epic of military history. As a result
of Montgomery's upscaling of the invasion General Bradley's First US
Army had to deal with a dangerous coastal gun battery that would
dominate the approaches to both Omaha and Utah Beaches. When the plan to
climb the defended cliff and put the guns out of action was first
discussed, an astounded staff officer said 'Two old ladies with brooms
cold sweep them off those cliffs!'
Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder, commander of the Provisional Ranger
Group consisting of 2nd and 5th US Rangers, set about training his men
and developing techniques to get up the hundred-foot-high cliff. Rocket
fired grapples, ladders of various types and even free climbing of a
similar lose cliff on England's south coast were practiced.
On D-Day everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Lesser men would
have given up, with the force having navigated towards the wrong
headland, been continuously under fire as they motored back towards
Pointe du Hoc, shipping water in the rough seas, craft sinking and few
of the saturated grapples reaching the cliff top. None the less
determined Rangers with German infantry hurling grenades down on them
struggled up the cliff but the guns were not there.
With the Rangers fanning out across the wrecked battery and into the
fields beyond the guns were found in an orchard and destroyed with
thermite grenades. Mission accomplished but at 1300 hours there was no
sign of the relieving force from Omaha. Colonel Rudder with his radios
barely working appealed for help but with a near disaster at Omaha,
neither help or relief was forthcoming. Consequently, the 200 Rangers
fought on against mounting pressure in an equally epic battle until
finally relieved two days later.
