The 2015 D-Day Challenge Coin - “The Armored Spearhead” As one looks back towards the D-Day landings, we often think of what courage it must have taken for the men who stormed the beaches, sailed through mined waters or flew through or jumped from the air. What we do not think about is the innovation, the engineering and the forethought that went into the D-Day landing itself.
Invasion planners knew if the infantry was to stand alone without armored support against the German army, equipped with arguably the best battle tanks in the war, the allied invasion and many of those that took part in it might be as short lived as the 1942 landings at Dieppe. The German tanks included the Panzerkampfwagen VI, aka the Tiger, and the Mark V Panther, and the experienced crews that manned them. To honor and remember those who took part in the initial landings and to their foes who patiently waited for orders from high command, D-Day Conneaut is pleased to present our 7th D-Day series commemorative challenge coin; “The Armored Spearhead”.
The costly lessons learned at Dieppe challenged Allied leadership to resolve the issue of landing armor support to those infantry coming ashore. They assigned Percy Hobart, a British armored warfare expert, and a handful of others the task of developing a series of ingenious gadgets mounted to allied tanks, notably the Sherman, Churchill and Cromwell. There were flame throwing tanks called “Crocodiles”, carpet laying tanks called “Bobbins”, tanks that blew up mines called “Crabs”, tanks that bridged gaps over ditches called a “Fascine”, bulldozing tanks to clear away obstacles on the beach and several other variants. But the most innovative of all was the DD tank, or “Duplex-Drive” the official name for a M4 Sherman fitted with a water tight collapsible canvas skirt and duel propellers to enable the tank to “swim”. The men came up with a novel concept; attempt to float a 35 ton tank from a landing craft at sea a mile or more out from shore. In training and in the right conditions the skirts held but in combat on D-Day itself? Let’s find out.
In what some would consider a relatively safe position, inside of a tank for example, the baptism in combat for the DD tanks at Omaha Beach in particular began as soon as the first tank cleared the ramp of their landing crafts. The seas were particularly rough at Omaha and the landing craft were lined off askew to the waves. Some tanks within seconds of leaving their LCT’s were hit by high breakers that came over the top of the skirts and quickly filled the evacuated space inside the skirt. The tanks took on too much water and sank; some with their crews still inside.
As disaster mounted, the other tanks in the flotilla were brought in directly to the beach by the Navy. Of the 112 tanks assigned to land on Omaha Beach, 58 made it in while only two actually swam ashore as planned. At days end, only 42 of the DD’s were still operational.
Over on Utah Beach, quite the opposite was happening as 27 of the 32 DD’s made it ashore by swimming some 1500 yards. The tanks arrived onshore 15 minutes after the first infantry landed. Four tanks that did not make it in did not even have a chance to get off their landing craft as it hit a mine or were stuck by German artillery fire before they were able to release their compliment.
On the British beaches, Sword in particular, the landings were fairly successful. The DD’s swam ashore from about 2 miles out. Only 1 tank was knocked out, colliding with an LCT and sank.
On Gold Beach, choppy seas had a marginal at best showing of successful landings. 23 of the 40 DD’s deployed there made it to shore. At Juno, the Canadian sector, more favorable conditions at the western end of the beach enabled 21 of 29 of their DD tanks to make it in. In some cases the water level was so shallow that the tanks just waded right in skimming the bottom as they emerged from the channel. Rough seas hampered the landing towards the eastern end of the beach and as a result, infantry causalities were higher thus validating the justification for heavy support. I think it safe to say the arrival of any tank must have been quite a welcome sight for the boys on the beaches regardless of where they were or how they arrived.
The Allied side inset of the 2015 coin features a DD tank of the 13/18th Royal Hussars Tank Squadron making its way through the streets of Ouistreham on D-Day itself. In the background a second DD tank follows up and to the right of the tanks, the light rail tracks along the road edge. Also appearing on the Allied face is the famous Royal Tank Corps Badge often seen on the beret of Field Marshal Montgomery, and to the east, the Naval Amphibious Forces sleeve insignia to the west. Also highlighted are the 5 major tanks used by the allies in the battle, the M4 Sherman, the Mk IV Churchill, the Mk IV Cromwell, Mk VI Centaur and the M3 Stewart which are remembered on the panel positions. Rounding out the elements of the 2015 Allied side of the coin is the Canadian flag taking top billing this year. To the Canadians east, the British flag, to their west the 48 Star American flag, the French flag at the bottom right, and making their second appearance on a D-Day challenge coin, the Polish flag, bottom left, as their armored regiments fell into a reinforcing role as the battle in Normandy progressed into the summer. As in all the coins in the series, Liberte’, and the longest day itself, D-Day June 6, 1944 complete the scene.
Depicted on the Axis side of the coin is quite a contrast. Featured is Tiger #222, the tank commanded by German SS-Hauptstrumfuhrer Michael Wittmann in the Battle of Villers-Bocage on the 13th of June, 1944. During his service, Wittmann’s record of destruction totaled 138 tanks and 132 anti-tank guns and countless other vehicles. A skilled and aggressive commander of his tank, he was one of the few to earn the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. That honor was presented to Wittmann by Hitler himself. With the battle of Normandy a week old, German defenses were becoming weaker and weaker due to significant casualties. A hole developed in the German lines and Montgomery, looking to seize the advantage, attempted to make a run on the back side of Caen. He ordered the British 7th Armoured Division, to reroute and break through. On the morning of June 13th, the lead British tankers advanced rapidly and approached the town of Villers-Bocage, a small village but never the less a strategic Norman crossroads town. These lead tanks passed through the town without much incident. In support of these lead tanks was the 22nd Armoured Brigade, ordered to take a fateful break for morning tea as they waited for the rest of the Division to catch up. Wittmann was watching. Wittmann on D-Day was in command of the 101st Heavy Tank Battalion of the 1st SS Panzer but miles from the fighting. Held up in Belgium until receiving word from Hitler to advance on Normandy, Wittmann arrived in the area of Villers-Bocage on June 12th along with 6 Tiger tanks at the head of the column that spread as far back as Paris. Realizing the importance of the town, Wittmann ordered these tanks to take up defensive positions hidden on the high ground overlooking the village.
A few hours later, the British column had stopped right below his position, unnoticed by the unsuspecting allies. Wittmann quickly reacted, and ordered 4 of his 6 tanks to engage the British ahead while he and the other tank moved down and into the town itself. Wittmann’s tank broke down while on the way and after taking command of the other tank he and his crew went on alone. In the next 15 minutes, Wittmann was to destroy 13 tanks, 13 armored halftracks, and 2 anti-tank guns firing at will as he travelled through the town. With more British tanks approaching, Wittmann was in the process of withdrawing from the town when a lone surviving British anti-tank gun moved into position for a shot. The anti-tank gun fired and knocked out one of the treads of Wittmann’s Tiger, leaving it disabled but not out of action. For the next 20 minutes, Wittmann used his machineguns and 88mm main gun to blast anything that moved. The British withdrew and Wittmann and his crew left the town on foot hoping that their tank could be recovered at some point.
The battle of Villers-Bocage is the focal point of the Axis side of this year’s coin. Shown is Wittmann’s tank as he was turning around at the end of town; smoke billowing from a destroyed tank in the distance. Encircling the scene is the phrase “Der Sieg Wird Unser Sein!” meaning “The victory will be ours.” The German Tank Assault Badge appears to the west while the Oak Leaves and Swords appear to the east separating the signature element on each D-Day challenge coin, Gott Mit Uns and 6 Juni Normandie. Der Schwarze Baron, Wittmann’s nickname meaning “The Black Baron” looms over the town. Wittmann was later killed in Normandy on the Eight of August, 1944. His grave, located in the La Cambe German Cemetery, is one of the most visited in all of Normandy to this day. The remaining features of the 2015 commemorative coin celebrate the 71thanniversary of D-Day, (LXXI), and our 16th year (XVI) of the event here in Conneaut.
The coin was researched and designed by Eric Montgomery, Staff, D-Day Conneaut.
