Why Did They Not Use Smoke on the Normandy Beaches?
Historical records often contain narratives that obscure the truth, particularly when it comes to the complexity of military operations like the D-Day landings. One such narrative, long perpetuated, is the notion that the Allied forces did not use smoke screens during the Normandy landings. This article delves into why this misconception arose and provides evidence proving the use of smoke screens on D-Day and other Allied operations.
Commander's Choices and British Influence
The decision not to fully utilize smoke screens during the D-Day landings was, at least in part, due to poor command decisions. Allied commanders, particularly those from the United States, made critical errors by dismissing the valuable input from their British counterparts. The British had a wealth of experience in using smoke screens, culled from previous operations such as the Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) and subsequent landings. The American commanders' overconfidence in their own strategies led them to overlook this crucial element.
Barrington Road Hospital: A Niche Case Study
Parallel to the D-Day operations, the British were also preparing for the potential influx of casualties. In Worthing, a new hospital was constructed at Barrington Road to accommodate the expected influx of wounded soldiers from the D-Day landings. This hospital, despite being prepared for a large volume of casualties, saw limited use. The actual casualty rate on D-Day was much lower than anticipated by the wartime government, resulting in only a trickle of lightly wounded soldiers being treated at the Barrington Road hospital. The hospital site, which today stands as a historic landmark, is now facing the threat of development after the war ended, as it was repurposed into a tax office for the inland revenue.
The Reality: Smoke Screens Were Used
Contrary to the pervasive myth, smoke screens were indeed employed during the D-Day landings and other Allied operations. Historians and military experts have documented numerous instances of smoke screens being successfully used. For example, during Operation Jubilee, the Royal Navy boats created a smoke screen to aid in masking the landing operations. Likewise, during the Allied landings south of Rome and the southern France landings, Operation Dragoon, destroyers and cruisers were instrumental in laying down smoke screens that helped mask the operations.
Visual Evidence and Mechanisms of Use
Further substantiation of the use of smoke screens can be found in photographic evidence. For instance, during pre-invasion exercises off the Isle of Wight, the LCG 17 (Landing Craft Gun) was observed laying down a smoke screen, while Boston medium bombers were also seen releasing smoke. The images captured at Omaha Beach also clearly show smoke screens being employed during the landings.
Conclusion
The misconception around the lack of smoke screens during the D-Day landings can be attributed to the incorrect command decisions and narrowly focused operational doctrines. However, history clearly shows that smoke screens were utilized during these critical operations to provide tactical advantage. The use of smoke screens in both precedents and contemporaneous operations, such as Dieppe and Operation Dragoon, leaves no doubt that they were an important part of the Allied strategic arsenal.
Further Reading
Smoke Screen Tactics in World War II The Role of Smokescreens in D-Day Historical Accounts of Operation JubileeFor more detailed information, please consult the sources listed below.