BTW, another consideration for Sledgehammer in '42 is amphibious doctrine & equipment. We didn't have the landing ships that were used on D-Day, because they were developed in the Pacific in '43 & '44. We'd have landed pretty much the same way we did at Guadalcanal in Aug. of '42.
Arrive in a cargo ship. Throw a cargo net over the side. Climb down in full combat kit, time it carefully, & then jump into a whaleboat that's heaving up & down on the waves. With the ship & the whaleboat heaving in different directions, if you time this wrong it can make the difference between a 2-foot jump & a 6-foot jump.
Meanwhile, the guys above you are piling up & stepping on your hands. And when they jump, half of 'em land on you.
Once everyone's aboard, the Navy coxswain drives your boat towards the beach. Under fire. When the boat grounds, then you've gotta heave a wet cargo net over the bows, which takes 4 or 5 tries, then climb out & climb down-- all while people are shooting at you. Once you get down you can hit the sand, unsling your rifle, & try shooting back-- assuming you're still alive.
At Guadalcanal we had the luck to land unopposed. In Europe this probably wouldn't happen, & heavy casualties are very likely. Heavier than D-Day.
--Thegn.
Arrive in a cargo ship. Throw a cargo net over the side. Climb down in full combat kit, time it carefully, & then jump into a whaleboat that's heaving up & down on the waves. With the ship & the whaleboat heaving in different directions, if you time this wrong it can make the difference between a 2-foot jump & a 6-foot jump.
Meanwhile, the guys above you are piling up & stepping on your hands. And when they jump, half of 'em land on you.
Once everyone's aboard, the Navy coxswain drives your boat towards the beach. Under fire. When the boat grounds, then you've gotta heave a wet cargo net over the bows, which takes 4 or 5 tries, then climb out & climb down-- all while people are shooting at you. Once you get down you can hit the sand, unsling your rifle, & try shooting back-- assuming you're still alive.
At Guadalcanal we had the luck to land unopposed. In Europe this probably wouldn't happen, & heavy casualties are very likely. Heavier than D-Day.
--Thegn.