Normandy - Missing historical sites

[tribal50]

Hi.

Some comments and adjustments needed in Normandy map.

 

1. Pont de la Roque.

This bridge is set on the river Sienne. It is one of the two bridges over this river. Before Overlord operation, Allied forces tried to destroy this bridge.

The bombing starts on April 23, 20 bombing raids are not enough to destroy this bridge. Canadians and Americans lost a lot of bombers during these raids. Finally the bridge is destroyed mid of June, during Cobra operation.

End of July, Allied reached Coutances, pushing German troops toward South , forced to use the only bridge remaining.

 

On the IL2 map, river Sienne is there but the roads going to Cherbourg and Coutances (to the North) and Granville (to the South) are missing. These main axes were strategic and used by allied forces during Cobra operation.

 

2. Granville : It's the only harbour between Cherbourg and Saint-Malo. In 1944 June, Axis forces were numerous at this place because of the strategic location of this port.

During Cobra operation, Allied forces run from the North (Saint-Lô, Cherbourg) to South (Avranches) to join Patton's armored division. Few kilometers before Granville, Allied forces are stopped because of a very powerful artillery fire from Granville. This event allowed German forces to escape from Granville trap and to reach others German division running to East.

 

In IL2 map, this strategic harbour is missing, replaced with trees .  The landscape is very flat; reality is very different, with cliffs. German artillery was operating from this high cape.