List of ships in Gold Bombardment Group

Below is a list of ships responsible for bombarding targets at Gold Beach as part of the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, the opening day of Operation Overlord. This force, code-named "Bombarding Force K", and commanded by Rear Admiral Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton of the Royal Navy, was a group of eighteen ships responsible for bombarding targets in support of the amphibious landings on Gold Beach on 6 June 1944 ("D-Day"); this was the opening day of Operation Overlord, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II.

Bombarding Force K was part of Royal Navy Force G, commanded by Commodore Cyril Douglas-Pennant.[1] This was in turn part of the Eastern Naval Task Force, under Admiral Philip Vian.[2]


Royal Navy Bombarding Force K
Name Type National service Primary target
HMS Ajax (22) Light cruiser Royal Navy Longues-sur-Mer battery[3]
HMS Argonaut (61) Light cruiser Royal Navy 105mm battery at Vaux (WN-50)[3]
HMS Emerald (D66) Light cruiser Royal Navy 105mm battery (WN-41)[3]
HMS Orion (85) Light cruiser Royal Navy 122mm battery, Mont Fleury[3]
Flores Gunboat Royal Netherlands Navy Gun position WN-39[3]
HMS Cattistock (L35) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]
HMS Cottesmore (L78) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]
HMS Grenville (R97) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, Jig sector[3]
HMS Jervis Destroyer flotilla leader Royal Navy Beach defenses, Jig sector[3]
ORP Krakowiak (L115) Destroyer Polish Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]
HMS Pytchley (L92) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]
HMS Ulster (R83) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]
HMS Ulysses (R69) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, Jig sector[3]
HMS Undaunted (R53) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]
HMS Undine (R42) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, Jig sector[3]
HMS Urania (R05) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, Jig sector[3]
HMS Urchin (R99) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]
HMS Ursa (R22) Destroyer Royal Navy Beach defenses, King sector[3]

Citations

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  1. ^ Trew 2004, p. 42.
  2. ^ Churchill 1951, p. 594.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Trew 2004, p. 49.

Sources

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  • Churchill, Winston (1951) [1948]. Closing the Ring. The Second World War. Vol. V. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 396150.
  • Trew, Simon (2004). Gold Beach. Battle Zone Normandy. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-3011-X.