Merville Gun Battery

The Battle of Merville Gun Battery was a series of British assaults beginning 6 June 1944, as part of Operation Tonga, part of the Normandy landings, during the Second World War. Allied intelligence believed the Merville Gun Battery was composed of heavy-calibre 150 mm (5.9 in) guns that could threaten the British landings at Sword Beach, only 8 miles (13 km) away. The 9th Parachute Battalion, part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade attached to 6th Airborne Division, was given the objective of destroying the battery. However, when the battalion arrived over Normandy in the predawn of 6 June, their parachute descent was dispersed over a large area, so instead of over 600 men with heavy weapons or equipment, only 150 with neither arrived at the battalion assembly point. Regardless, they pressed home their attack against an estimated German force of 130 engineers and artillerymen. Reduced to 75 men, the British succeeded in capturing the battery, only to discover that the guns were World War I-era Czech M.14/19 100 mm field howitzers, which only had an effective range of some 8,400 m (9,200 yd), just over 5 miles. Still, using what explosives they had been able to recover, they attempted, with only partial success, to disable the guns. The see-saw action saw the battery change hands several times. When the British paratroopers had withdrawn, two of the guns were put back into action by the Germans. Another assault by British Commandos failed to disable the guns and the battery remained under German control until 17 August, when the German Army started to withdraw from the area.

Merville-Franceville-Plage (French pronunciation: [mɛʁvil fʁɑ̃svil plaʒ] ) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Gonneville-en-Auge (French pronunciation: [ɡɔnvil ɑ̃.n‿oʒ] , literally Gonneville in Auge) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

The Orne (L'French: [ɔʁn] ) is a river in Normandy, within northwestern France. It is 170 km (110 mi) long. It discharges into the English Channel at the port of Ouistreham. Its source is in Aunou-sur-Orne, east of Sées. Its main tributaries are the Odon and the Rouvre.

Sallenelles (French pronunciation: [salnɛl]) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Petiville (French pronunciation: [pətivil] ) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Bavent (French pronunciation: [bavɑ̃] ) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of north-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baventais or Baventaises.

Varaville (French pronunciation: [vaʁavil] ) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. It gives its name to the Battle of Varaville, which was fought in 1057.

Ouistreham (French pronunciation: [wistʁe.am]) is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy region in northwestern France. Ouistreham is a small port with fishing boats, leisure craft and a ferry harbour. It serves as the port of the city of Caen. The town borders the mouth of the Canal de Caen à la Mer.

The canton of Ouistreham is an administrative division of the Calvados department, northwestern France. Its borders were modified at the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015. Its seat is in Ouistreham.

Hérouvillette (French pronunciation: [eʁuvilɛt] ) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Ranville (French pronunciation: [ʁɑ̃vil] ) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. Ranville was the first French village liberated on D-Day. The village was liberated by the British 13th Parachute Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Luard. The château du Heaume in the village was subsequently used by the headquarters of the British 6th Airborne Division. The village features prominently in the book 13 - Lucky For Some which is about the history of the 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion. There are many then and now photographs as well as maps and diagrams of battles that took place in the region.