AIRCRAFT, ARMOR, FIGURES, SHIPS - D-Day Group Build, 5-8 June 1944

D-day I read that the dUKS had ladders to help; the rangers scale point du hoc, in the FSM.

Hey joe, who do you think you are,, only i can count down the days. Are you trying to take away my position?
just kidding

Here we go The real Count down 3 days

QUOTE: Originally posted by ddayomaha I've also got a question, In the D-day issue the armor portfolio has a Hellcat in it, those werent used on D-day though, were they?

According to the resourses I have, 2 prototypes were tested at Anzio (as the T-70) in May 1944. Series production began in July 1944 and they were not available for the invasion of Normandy but were in place soon after.

Will I am pretty sure the hellcat was a late bloomer in the ETO.

Now I am haveing second thoughts... I can't decide whether to build an M20 armored car or bash a M8 HMC out of Tamiya's kit and the AFV club suspension set.... oh choices.. help me decide. Either one will be set on the beach just after disembarking from a LST Ya'll decide for me.... PLEASE!!!

Okay I just got my D-day issue, scratch the DUKW, I'm broke and cant afford anything!
Literally my modelling portion of my cash is at $8.00 , but reports cards are comin' and I might get a bonus for good grades.

I will be building a Scwimminwagen 82 from Tamiya and when i can afford it a Firefly VC and a US M10.

I've also got a question, In the D-day issue the armor portfolio has a Hellcat in it, those werent used on D-day though, were they?

well folks by my calender the countdown is at three days. i eagerly await the starting gun.

joe

Rangers don't need ladders...

The ladders on the DUKW's were just for the movie. Didn't happen at Pt du Hoc with the Rangers on D-Day.

It is truly a great issue, i was surprised when i got mine so early.

Just looking at the progress, man gotta get that d-day issue soon! Good luck everyone with your GB!

Finally got my issue, tells all the armor used by both sides. Looks to be a good issue.

I havent gotten the FSM issue yet

Hey tread, how far are you on your sherman, if you have just started i might allow it, but other wise your are supposed to wait for the Group build to start. (june 6th). as always
you are welcome to post here on your progress.
by the way

Not sure about the ladders. Are you going to make a cargo net like in the FSM article?

Thanks for the info guys! I'm lucky my parents are movie fanatics! i'll have to watch the Longest Day tonight!

as for the DUKWs, did they all have the ladders? if so how did they attach them?

Howdy Fellas,

Don't mean to be the 'late bloomer' here......but I have been building a D-Day Sherman with wading trunks based on a D-Day photo I fell in love with a while back. I don't suppose I could join in on this little party........could I?

Tread.

Heres a link for info on the Staffordshire Yeomanry
http://www.warchronicle.com/staffsyeo/historiantales_wwii/normandyreg.htm
http://www.warchronicle.com/men_and_weapons/tanks/pictorial.htm
http://www.warchronicle.com/staffsyeo/officialrecords_wwii/staffs_pics.htm

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeeves I was watching last night too after viewing the A&E movie "Ike"....caught it just in time to see Priller bawling out his commander on the phone. Man was that hilarious!

that is one of my fave scenes....
that & the 'wo ist mein hundt ?' guy at the pillbox who
looks out & sees the invasion fleet 4 the first time...
yikes !
i can hardly imagine what that must have felt like !

in fact, the film seems like it has something 2 offer 2 anyone
doing a D-Day project... except no help w/ color schemes,
since it's in b& w...

frosty

UUUUUUUHHHHH I missed it Thats what I get for researching on my E 100 build.

QUOTE: Originally posted by frostygirl QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeeves Heya frosty... I saw it the other day as a hardcover in Borders....it is a special issue of Time-- not the June issue....just ask for te title- 24 Hours that Changed the World.. Jeeves:

Err... make that "24 Hours that Saved the World"...sorry!

QUOTE: i was watching a bit of THE LONGEST DAY last nite, but i missed the Priller part... i still haven't figured out what i'm doing 4 this project, there's just too much 2 choose from ! frosty

I was watching last night too after viewing the A&E movie "Ike"....caught it just in time to see Priller bawling out his commander on the phone. Man was that hilarious!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeeves Heya frosty... I saw it the other day as a hardcover in Borders....it is a special issue of Time-- not the June issue....just ask for te title- 24 Hours that Changed the World..

Jeeves:
thanx 4 the reply... i'll look 4 it again, now that i know what i'm actually looking 4 !
i was watching a bit of THE LONGEST DAY last nite, but i missed the Priller part...
i still haven't figured out what i'm doing 4 this project,
there's just too much 2 choose from !

frosty

QUOTE: Originally posted by ddayomaha I found the hardbound version at Barnes & Noble and I found my grappling hooks. Do you guys know if they were thrown up to the top or launched from something?

i tuned in to the movie THE LONGEST DAY last nite, rite at the part where the Rangers r storming the Pointe Du Hoc...& i immediately thought of ur question!
they were launching ur hooks from what looked like a mortar tube,
only it looked like it was hand held.
there r a couple of shots in the film which show the hook & launcher pretty well,
definitely worth a look-see,
i think they were trying 2 b fairly accurate in general.

HTH,

frosty

a quote from this site http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/dday/pointeduhoc.aspx
"The Rangers headed for the cliffs, but now they found themselves only on the Eastern side of the point when the plan called for landings on both sides. The beach at the base of the cliff was only 30 yards wide and heavily cratered from the bombardment. In order to climb the heights, the Rangers' LCA's were equipped with rocket-fired grappling hooks and the DUKW's were fitted with fireman ladders. But, because of the shelling from the USS Texas and others, earth had piled up at the base of the cliff and the DUKW's couldn't approach close enough to the cliff to effectively use their ladders. On the other hand, the piling at the base gave the men somewhat cover from enemy fire and also made the height to climb less.

After several failed attempts (due to the weight of soaked ropes) and due to the assistance of naval artillery (especially the British destroyer the Talybont), the Rangers finally struggled to the top after incurring only 15 casualties. As men reached the top, they went off in small groups to accomplish their missions."

some moe sites about the Pointe-du-Hoc
http://roselli.org/tour/06_2001/163.html
http://www.150th.com/letters/btl_monu.htm

thers were some grappeling hooks that were fired by a Morter type thing.
but in Italy some of the Rangers (they were Canadian/American special force team) had to climb a fortress and the best climbers went first with ropes on there back, and fixed the ropes at the top.

From what I remember they were launched from what was effectivly a motar. The clifts were in excess of 100 feet so no they didn't throw them. I don't have a picture of the launcher so good luck with that....

Will from what i saw on the History Channel they were launched. From what i cant remember. Seeing sum of those cliffs it would be very hard to throw a hook that high. Hope this helps.

Keep well.

I found the hardbound version at Barnes & Noble and I found my grappling hooks.

Do you guys know if they were thrown up to the top or launched from something?

Heya frosty...

I saw it the other day as a hardcover in Borders....it is a special issue of Time-- not the June issue....just ask for te title- 24 Hours that Changed the World..

You guys rock So I am still in the game yeeeeeeeahaaaaa.

QUOTE: Originally posted by thundergod So they were there just not on the landing. Great thanks CC.

Correct ... not in the first wave, but still on D-Day.

So they were there just not on the landing. Great thanks CC.