A great invasion force stood off the Normandy coast of France as dawn broke on 6 June, 1944. 9 battleships, 23 cruisers, 104 destroyers, and 71 large landing craft of various descriptions, as well as troop transports, mine sweepers, and merchant men; in all, nearly 5,000 ships of every type. It was the largest armada ever assembled. The naval bombardment that began at 0550 that morning detonated large mine-fields along the shoreline, and destroyed a number of the enemy's defensive positions. To one …showed first 75 words of 673 total…

…showed last 75 words of 673 total…get them past these armoured formations." Over all, Allied planners intended to gain a lodgement between the Seine and Loire Rivers. Assuming that the Germans, after initial resistance, would choose to withdraw their forces behind the natural barrier provided by the Seine, they estimated that the task would take about ninety days. After a pause to regroup and resupply, the Allies would then begin an advance into the regions beyond the Seine, and toward Germany.