In addition to kickstarting the liberation of Western Europe, the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II, now best known as D-Day, is famous for the many specialist vehicles that were developed to ensure it went to plan. Alongside the various ‘Funny’ Tanks that played an important role in the amphibious landings, there was a truly bizarre version of the DUKW (or ‘Duck’) amphibious truck, outfitted with an extension ladder to scale cliffs in northern France and then rain down suppressive fire on the German defenders.
Before looking at the little-known modification of the DUKW, it’s worth recalling the huge efforts that went into developing a range of specialized vehicles to support the D-Day landings, which posed some enormous challenges. As well as getting from the landing craft to the beach, these vehicles would have to battle with extensive German coastal defenses, while also negotiating soft sand and shingle and a range of beach obstacles.
Among the more celebrated of the D-Day ‘Funnies’ were the Duplex Drive (DD) ‘swimming’ amphibious tanks, mine-clearing flail tanks, armored engineer vehicles to smash through beach defenses, including bunkers and gun emplacements, and carpet-layer tanks that could place reinforced matting across soft beaches to allow other heavy armor to follow.
The cliff-assault version of the DUKW was tailored for the very specific role of scaling the Pointe du Hoc, a 110-foot cliff that was roughly midway between Utah and Omaha Beaches, on the northwestern coast of Normandy. This formed part of the Germans’ Atlantic Wall fortifications. At the top of the cliff, the Germans had assembled six 155mm coastal artillery guns, defended from ground assault by infantry and from air attack by 20mm anti-aircraft cannons. There was also an assortment of bunkers and machine gun posts.
By D-Day, on June 6, 1944, the 155mm guns had been moved inland but it was determined that the cliff top would still need to be taken by ground forces, to prevent the Germans from using this strategic position against the Allied invasion force. After all, the Germans had begun to install four new casemates on the cliff top and it would have been possible to move the 155mm guns, or alternative weapons back there.
As for the DUKW, this vehicle was already well-established for amphibious operations. Based on the 2½-ton CCKW truck from the General Motors Corporation (GMC), it was a six-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle. Its main amphibious assault role was to take supplies from ships anchored offshore and bring them directly to the beachhead. Before D-Day, DUKWs had been used at Guadalcanal in the Pacific and in the invasion of Sicily.
Among the best accounts of the DUKW’s role in the assault on Pointe du Hoc is provided by the website Mike’s Research, with the article on this topic worth reading in full.
The assault was to be made by the U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder. The force was to be divided into three separate elements that would land below the cliff, to the east, and to the west, respectively. These elements would arrive aboard 10 Landing Craft, Assault (LCA), with additional supplies carried in two more LCAs. The force would also be provided with four special DUKWs, each of which had a 100-foot extension ladder.
Befitting the innovative and somewhat ad-hoc approach to the D-Day ‘Funnies,’ these ladders were obtained from the London Fire Brigade, apparently taken from that service’s Dennis Merryweather Turntable Ladder trucks.
The plan for the assault on Pointe du Hoc called for the Rangers to assemble at the beach below, and then scale the cliffs using ropes, ladders, and grapples. This would have to be done while under fire, before neutralizing the German positions and defending them until reinforcements arrived.
As well as their ladders, the modified DUKWs also had armament, to provide suppressive fire. Nevertheless, it was a huge ask for the soldier at the top of the ladder to operate these weapons as they teetered toward the top of the cliff, while on the receiving end of German defensive fire.
While accounts differ, it seems almost certain the weapons on the top of the adapted DUKW’s ladder were British-made Vickers K machine guns, also known as the Vickers Gas Operated. Originally developed to arm aircraft, the weapon, in 0.303in caliber, was likely chosen due to its high rate of fire — 950-1,200 rounds per minute. It also offered a large magazine compared to the more commonly used Bren gun of the same caliber.
A poor-quality but nonetheless interesting video showing training for the Pointe du Hoc operation, including the ladder-equipped DUKWs:
While the initial installation featured three guns at the top of the ladder and can be seen in pre-assault training videos, this was apparently reduced to a pair of guns for the actual operation.
According to the account provided by Mike’s Research, the assault on Pointe du Hoc began at 5:30 a.m., when naval bombardment targeted the invasion beach, including the German positions atop the cliff.
Despite covering fire from a pair of U.S. Navy destroyers, and from Allied aircraft, the Rangers’ passage to the beach was far from straightforward. As well as German defensive fire, they had to deal with high waves, and one of the LCAs was sunk, while another took on water and was swamped. Of the LCAs carrying supplies, one was also sunk and the other became so full of water that most of its cargo had to be thrown overboard.
Of the four DUKWs, one was targeted by German 20mm fire and sank, around 300 yards from the shore, at which distance the Rangers’ invasion force started to face mortar and machine gun fire. Nevertheless, the surviving LCAs and DUKWs made it to the beach, at 7:10 a.m.
Mortars were used to launch grappling hooks at the top of the cliff and the Rangers started their rope climb to the summit.
Unfortunately, the three remaining DUKWs were now stalled along the shoreline, either stranded in the sand or unable to move across the cratered beach. Some accounts suggest that the ladders were not long enough anyway, which would seem plausible considering their 100-foot length and the tops of the cliffs being around 110 feet.
Thinking quickly, Lt. Col. Rudder ordered the ladders be raised anyway, to provide elevated positions from where the German defenses could be engaged with the mounted guns.
As Mike’s Research recounts:
“While perched on the top rungs, brave Rangers sprayed the top of the cliff with automatic rifle fire. While providing fire support from the top of one of the DUKW ladders, Private Malcolm Arnold observed waves of Rangers climbing up the cliff under fire from above and with grenades exploding around them. A number of Rangers fell when the Germans cut their ropes. After the successful cliff assault, the Rangers neutralized the position and later repelled several counterattacks…”
While the special DUKWs may not have been used as they were intended, it seems clear they helped bring about a successful conclusion to the operation.
Fighting continued into the night of June 6, with the Rangers pinned back on the top of the cliff, some being captured by the Germans. But they held their ground until the 8th when they were relieved by more Rangers as well as U.S. infantry and elements of a tank battalion, which had meanwhile arrived from Omaha beach.
Although the heavier 155mm guns had already been moved from the top of the cliff, Rangers managed to locate five German guns and destroy them with thermite grenades.
By the time reinforcements arrived, of the original force of 225 soldiers that had landed at the Pointe, 77 had been killed, with another 152 wounded.
With only four of the ladder-equipped DUKWs known to have been sent into combat, it’s perhaps not surprising that the story of these highly unusual vehicles is now barely known.
However, the ingenuity of the underlying concept, as well as the bravery of the soldiers that operated them, and those that fought alongside them was reflected across the Allied invasion of Normandy and ensured that it would be a fundamental turning point in the war in Western Europe.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com