What We Can Learn From D-Day

2015-07-24T17:34:53-04:00

We mark the 6th of June each year to remember what has become to be known as D-Day. On this date in 1944, Operation Neptune was launched to reclaim the European Continent from the Germans.

It was a grand endeavor that utilized 6,939 naval vessels of various types; 195,700 Naval personnel; 11,590 Allied aircraft; and over 156,000 troops (initially). By the end of D+5 (June 11), the Allies had 326,547 troops on the beach as well as 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies.

Casualties were high on both sides. The total killed, wounded or missing in the Battle of Normandy (June 6-25) for both sides totaled 425,000.

There are a number of things we can learn from this vast operation. I’d like to touch on a few of them.
1. Operational Security
2. Coordination of Forces
3. Logistics

The first item to look at is operational security. The Allies were able to keep Operation Overlord from the Germans, even though there was a huge build-up of men and materials in Great Britain. How did they do that? In most history books, it has been mentioned that both deception and strict need-to-know access was wrapped around Operation Fortitude. This was to create diversions and feints to the north (Norway) and northern part of France. Only the top commanders knew all of what was to happen. Field commanders were told enough information to train their troops. A tight leash was also kept on all troops who were to take part and this caused some friction with everyone who knew that something big was in the works.

Next, coordination of forces was a very important aspect of the whole operation. The Allies had naval, air, and ground troops from a dozen different countries (although, most were American, British or Canadian). Coordination also had to take place with the Free French Resistance. All elements had to be ready to move at the same time to allow for the most opportunity to succeed. This was done almost flawlessly during the planning stages. When execution of the plan came, all knew what to expect from them and there was little confusion, at least as to the plan. Of course, the fog of war brings other issues to the table.

Lastly, logistics is the lifeblood of any fighting force. It is one thing to get the troops on the beach and into the fight. It is totally another issue to keep them supplied and sustained so that the operation does not falter. One of the greatest portions of Operation Overlord was the ability to build “Mulberry Harbors” off the beach whereby store ships were able to offload their supplies and have them quickly trucked to the beach. Each beachhead had logistics specialists that organized the supplies and got them to the units that needed them. This kept the fight going and proved a major success overall for the operation.

So were the lessons from D-Day learned by today’s military? If we look back to Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990/1991, we can see the coalition forces use many of the same tactics that were used during the Normandy Invasion. Operational security was maintained, deception was used and the coalition supply lines were strong. This brought about a very quick and decisive victory for the coalition and got the Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. General Schwarzkopf and his team took a page from the Operation Overlord book and were able to bring about this victory.

Fast forward to 2001 and through today, my goal here isn’t to dig too deeply into the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, but rather to open the conversation up to the RP members. Did we take the lessons learned from D-Day 1944 and from the 1st Gulf War and utilize them to our advantage? If not, what was done differently? If so, what did we do that worked? How, as leaders, can we learn from our past successes and our past failures and apply that to today’s battlefield? What do we need to watch out for as we move to our next adversary? It should be an interesting discussion!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 24 at 2015 8:18 PM

2015-07-24T20:18:36-04:00

A Panzer division counterattacking made it very ugly against our infantry. Desert Storm ground attack was heavily based on Armor.

Response by LTC Chad Storlie made Jul 27 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-07-27T11:21:26-04:00

Here is an article that I wrote on the business lessons of D-Day:

http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/opinion/columnists/other-voices-apply-lessons-of-d-day-for-business-success/article_5c4b50cf-97a2-5d87-9599-de170cce794f.html

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 28 at 2015 9:27 AM

2015-07-28T09:27:49-04:00

We learned that naval fire and planes were ineffective at destroying key defenses like bunkers. The principle of Unity of Command worked well as Eisenhower had the rank to plan and execute his plan despite narcissistic 3-4 star generals.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jul 28 at 2015 9:45 AM

2015-07-28T09:45:34-04:00

1. It doesn't really matter where you drop Airborne.

2. Overwhelming force is overwhelming.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 28 at 2015 10:57 AM

2015-07-28T10:57:07-04:00

What I learned from studying D-Day is that Patton was right: Fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity. Look at the Germans.They captured France despite the vaunted Maginot Line and we took it back despite the vaunted Atlantic Wall. (It also appears to prove that we learn better from our failures than from our successes) It's likely that Germany could have repelled the D-Day invasion had they relied on well-placed and well-commanded fast response reserves rather than concrete emplacements.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 28 at 2015 12:22 PM

2015-07-28T12:22:33-04:00

There is more than can be listed without bring down the server. I think we need to look at our success and failures. Macro and micro. I think in many ways, we need to consider how lucky the Allies were and what could have happened if the Germans had hit the landing beaches early and hard? Waiting to get a clear picture in warfare is not going to happen and waiting only gives the bad guys more time to better their position.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 10:56 PM

2015-07-28T22:56:37-04:00

No plan is perfect.

No matter what your acceptable "loss rate" be prepared to accept that you may exceed it.

and

No matter how overwhelming the odds nothing can stop a well trained and motivated soldier from completing his mission.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jul 28 at 2015 11:32 PM

2015-07-28T23:32:51-04:00

We had Allied Forces in Europe!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 29 at 2015 8:00 AM

2015-07-29T08:00:10-04:00

The cost of fighting battles such as this require huge sacrifice. Thankfully such men exhausted.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 30 at 2015 4:35 PM

2015-07-30T16:35:49-04:00

The absolute bravery of our infantry can not be denied as they fought German infantry and a Panzer division. One regiment had a few hundred people after rescuing a surrounded Infantry Battalion.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 9:30 PM

2015-08-10T21:30:06-04:00

Aerial bombing and naval bombardments should have last much longer. MUCH longer.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 19 at 2015 3:33 PM

2015-11-19T15:33:09-05:00

Get our tanks in the fight faster. Better intelligence on the movement of German Divisions.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Nov 19 at 2015 5:06 PM

2015-11-19T17:06:30-05:00

PO2 Todd Voge We learned that our recon platforms (C4ISR) and weapons systems would defeat an invasion force before it arrived at the waters edge. An operation this size couldn't be successful given current capabilities and weapons systems.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Nov 20 at 2015 4:20 PM

2015-11-20T16:20:59-05:00

Rolling the Air Corps guys out of the rack at Midnight with a 3AM take off was a reeeeeeeeeeeally bad idea. Had they delayed H-hour to 0800 or 0900 and had the bombers fly down the beach instead of perpendicular to it after daylight, then the Infantry might have had a walk over.

The attack at Omaha was just about a debacle.

1. The naval gunfire didn’t work. All the spotter planes were shot down by friendly fire.
2. The air bombing was a bust, falling mostly beyond the beach.
3. The rocket-firing LCIs were ineffective.
4. And for the cherry on top, the DD tanks foundered or were mostly destroyed by German fire.

A couple of things intervened to save the day at Omaha.

1. US Navy destroyers, which were posted 7-9 miles from the beach as an anti-German boat defense were brought right down to the shore and lit up the German bunkers with their 5 in/38’s.
2. The Germans began to run out of ammo of all types about mid-day.

Walt