Operation TONGA Force-Outline:Era: Late WW2.
Forcetype: Dismounted.
Situation-Outline:Operation Start: 06:00.
current weather: Overcast.
Future Weather: Overcast.
Map: Included in WW2 Repository.
Conflict Overview:Operation TONGA was the codename given to the airborne operation undertaken by the British 6th Airborne Division between 5 June and 7 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord and the D-Day landings.
The division was allotted three specific tasks to achieve as a part of TONGA, apart from protecting the eastern flank of the Allied seaborne landings and taking control of the areas of strategic importance to the east of Caen. First, it was to capture intact the two bridges over the Caen Canal and the Orne River at Bénouville and Ranville. Second, the division was to destroy the heavily fortified Merville coastal artillery battery located at Franceville Plage to ensure that it could not shell the British forces landing in the area codenamed Sword. The third mission was to destroy several bridges which spanned the River Dives, located near the towns of Varaville, Robehomme, Bures and Troarn.
We have drifted astray in the parachutes, scattered and confused. but as time went by more and more paratroopers found each other, and a mixed platoon of British airborne troops was made.
We heard distant shots from heavy artillery, AA and MG's, the platoon commander decided to seek and destroy the artillery.
Recent Events:The division suffered from a combination of bad weather and poor pilot navigation, which caused many of the airborne troops to be dropped inaccurately throughout the divisional operational area causing a number of casualties and making conducting operations much more difficult. In particular, the 9th Parachute Battalion, which was assigned the task of destroying the Merville artillery battery, was only able to gather up a fraction of its strength before it had to attack the battery.
Objectives:Seek and destroy the artillery to our north.
Situation Civilians:Population: None.
Allegiance: None.
