The special tanks opened a breach in the Atlantic Wall
On 6 June 1944, the North Shore Regiment of the 5th Canadian Brigade landed in Normandy on Juno Beach. They fought against a regiment of the 716th German Infantry Division. The Company A progression was easy west of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer while the Company B hit many obstacles. The support of the Fort Garry Horse amphibious tanks was decisive, the special tanks neutralized anti-tank walls and blockhouses with explosive shells. As soon as the German fortifications were vainquished Lieutenant-Colonel Buell launched his companies inland; at the end of the day the Canadians cleared Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer of the last German snipers. At Langrune-sur-Mer hard hand to hand fighting cost fifty per cent losses to the 48th Royal Marine Commando, but in the evening of 6 June the Germans were pushed back from the town. |