Editing Juno Beach (section)

==D-Day landings==
===Early bombardment===
[[File:The cruiser HMS Belfast bombarding German positions in Normandy.jpg|thumb|The cruiser {{HMS|Belfast|C35|6}} bombarding Juno on D-Day]]

Air attacks on Normandy's coastal defences began in earnest on 5 June at 23:30, with [[RAF Bomber Command]] units targeting the primary coastal defences. The attack continued until 05:15, with {{convert|5268|LT|t|abbr=on}} of bombs dropped by 1,136 sorties; this marked the largest attack by Bomber Command in terms of tonnage up to that point in the war. Initial attacks on the Atlantic Wall proved ineffective, with poor weather and visibility making it difficult to accurately hit the bunkers and turrets.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=93}}{{efn|For example, the battery at Merville was not hit, the bombing of the Longues battery was accurate yet ineffective and the [[Houlgate battery]] was damaged but not destroyed.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=93}}}} The bombing left the defences on [[Omaha beach|Omaha]], Gold and Juno virtually intact, yet did not damage Allied landing craft in the Channel (as many planners had feared it would).{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=94}} The [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF) sent 230 bombers to bomb targets on Juno during this raid, yet damage was limited.{{sfn|Vat|2003|p=117}}

As the Americans began their own bombing runs against Omaha and [[Utah beach|Utah]] to the west, the Anglo-Canadian naval forces began their [[counter-battery fire]], seeking to knock out German shore batteries and bunkers. The British had attached the cruisers {{HMS|Belfast|C35|6}} and {{HMS|Diadem|84|2}} to Force J to serve as heavy support. ''Belfast'' commenced bombardment of the Atlantic Wall at 05:30 and ''Diadem'' at 05:52 on 6 June. The naval gunfire proved more effective than the aerial bombardment; [[Longues-sur-Mer battery|the battery at Longues]] was the only one to return fire, and was quickly destroyed by the light cruiser {{HMS|Ajax|22|6}}. Indeed, most of the gun batteries at Juno were incomplete on D-Day, and did not possess sufficient protection or communication measures to accurately return fire on Force J.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|pp=94–95}} The Bény-sur-Mer battery was neutralized by ''Diadem'' shortly after she opened fire.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=56}}

At 06:10, the 11 [[List of ships in Juno Bombardment Group|destroyers of Force J]] moved shoreward to begin bombardment, hoping to damage light gun emplacements and prevent the German 716th from mobilizing and moving across the beach.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=97}} They were supplemented by additional raids by medium bombers and fighter-bombers of the [[RAF]] and [[USAAF]], which dropped an additional 2,796 tons of ordnance on the five landing zones.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=155}} While the medium bombers proved inaccurate, the [[Hawker Typhoon]] fighter-bombers proved more effective at attacking coastal defences. As the bombing runs continued to hit Juno, the destroyers and landing craft moved towards the beach and began close-range saturation bombardment.{{ sfn|Saunders|2004|pp=57, 56}}  In addition to the destroyers of Force J—two Canadian, eight British, one French—bombardment was also provided by converted LCTs fitted with {{convert|4.7|in|mm|abbr=on}} guns. Smaller, light-gunned landing craft were able to get closer to the beach and use their 6-pounder guns against German defensive positions. Additional firepower was provided by eight landing craft fitted with over 1,000 high-explosive rockets and 24 LCTs, each carrying four [[M7 Priest]] self-propelled guns. These field regiments, while still seaborne, were to fire heavy concentrations of high explosive and smoke shells against the four main "resistance nests" in "Mike" and "Nan" sectors, beginning half an hour before H Hour. Forward observation and fire control officers in the leading assault waves were to make the necessary adjustments to this neutralizing fire during the assault.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|pp=97–98, 80}}

The bombardment was scheduled to cease immediately before the assault companies deployed on Juno, but due to heavy seas, the landing was delayed by ten minutes, to 07:45 in Mike sector and 07:55 in Nan Sector. This was at a slightly higher tide, closer to the beach obstacles and mines.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=158}} The LCTs carrying the field artillery were forced to adjust course to avoid landing too early; the LCTs carrying [[DD tank]]s were forced to break off their advance.{{efn|The DD tanks were [[M4 Sherman]] medium tanks fitted with screens and a propeller, which allowed them to float and propel themselves through the water. On D-Day, they were scheduled to deploy seven thousand yards offshore, and land before the LCAs to provide infantry cover.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|pp=161–163}}}} The seas proved too rough to launch the DD tanks, so they were ordered to deploy from the LCTs several hundred yards out from the beach.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=170}}

===Landing: 7th Brigade (Mike, Nan Green)===
[[File:Canadian landings at Juno Beach.jpg|thumb|left|The Royal Winnipeg Rifles heading towards Juno aboard [[Landing Craft Assault|LCAs]]]]

Though the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade was scheduled to land on Mike Sector at 07:35, rough seas and poor craft co-ordination pushed this time back by ten minutes. Two assault companies of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, one assault company of the Canadian Scottish Regiment, and one squadron of the 1st Hussars were to land on "Mike Red" and also on "Mike Green", while the Regina Rifle Regiment, supported by a second squadron of the 1st Hussars, landed on "Nan Green" sector.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=102}} The first Winnipegs touched down at 07:49, with the remaining assault companies deploying within seven minutes.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=104}} The LCAs carrying "B" Company craft were engaged while about 700 yards from shore. Disembarkation had to be done under direct fire and, in consequence, heavy casualties were sustained by this company while landing. The strongpoint in this area consisted of three casemates and twelve machine-gun emplacements. This left the infantry the grim prospect of clearing it by direct assault.{{sfn|Roy|1952|p=114}} "B" company was unable to advance further without armoured support. The Hussars' "A" Squadron launched {{convert|1500|yd|m|abbr=on}} from the beach, but would not be fully deployed until a full six minutes after the Winnipegs were ashore. To their west, "D" Company faced less defensive fire, as it was clear of the strongpoint. The company easily cleared the beach, and went through the barbed wire with light casualties.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|pp=103–104}} "A" platoon of the 6th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers was redirected to clear the minefields facing "D" Company, given that the flail tanks had yet to land. On the far right, "C" Company of the Canadian Scottish Regiment landed with little opposition, and discovered that their objective—a 75&nbsp;mm gun emplacement—had been destroyed by naval gunfire.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=98}}

To the east of Mike Sector, the Regina Rifles came ashore on "Nan Green" with the objective of subduing German forces in Courseulles. "A" Company reported touchdown at 08:09, and met heavy resistance almost immediately; "B" Company reported touchdown at 08:15.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=105}} The Hussars' tanks first reported deploying twenty minutes before the infantry, with "B" Squadron HQ reporting their landing at 07:58. They faced the task of destroying a heavy gun emplacement equipped with 88&nbsp;mm and 75&nbsp;mm guns and {{convert|4|ft|m|abbr=on}} thick concrete walls.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=190}} The bombardment had failed to destroy the emplacement and heavy machine guns inflicted many casualties on the company; one LCA reported six men killed within seconds of lowering the ramps.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=191}} A platoon was able to breach the barbed wire lining the beach and take cover in Courseulles and then eliminate the machine-guns engaging "A" Company of the Regina Rifles.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=193}} The DD tanks arrived in the Regina Rifles sector with greater numbers and punctuality than in the Winnipegs' sector.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|pp=104–105}} The 75&nbsp;mm gun emplacement in the Courseulles strongpoint was destroyed by fire from "B" Squadron of the 1st Hussars; the 88&nbsp;mm was similarly silenced.{{sfn|Granatstein|Morton|1994|p=59}} To their east, "B" Company encountered limited resistance, pushed into Courseulles and soon "had cleared a succession of the assigned blocks in the village".{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=105}}

With the initial assault companies ashore and fighting for their objectives, the reserve companies and battalion (Canadian Scottish Regiment) began their deployment on Juno. "A" and "C" Companies of the Winnipeg Rifles landed at 08:05 and began to push towards the villages of Banville and [[Sainte-Croix-sur-Mer]]. "A" Company encountered heavy machine-gun fire and had to request support from the 1st Hussars to clear the position.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=104}} On Nan Green, "C" and "D" Companies of the Regina Rifles prepared to storm Courseulles. "C" Company touched down at 08:35 and moved into the village without difficulty. "D" Company was further delayed, after several LCAs struck antitank mines attached to beach obstacles; only 49 "D" Company soldiers reached the beach.{{sfn|Roy|1984|p=13}}{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=105}} The Canadian Scottish Regiment arrived on the beach at 08:30, with the leading companies coming under heavy mortar fire; it took the regiment a full hour to get off the beaches and push further inland.{{sfn|Roy|1984|p=15}}{{sfn|Granatstein|Morton|1994|p=60}}

===Landing: 8th Brigade (Nan White, Red)===
[[File:Canadian troops on their way to Juno Beach.jpg|thumb|left|Canadian troops moving towards Juno]]

Originally scheduled to land at 07:45 to the east of the 7th, the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade's two assault battalions were postponed by 10 minutes as a result of heavy seas. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (QOR) landed at 08:12 at Nan White and faced the most tenacious defences of any unit in Nan Sector: an 88&nbsp;mm gun emplacement with multiple machine-gun nests outside of Bernières. The first LCA to touch down saw 10 of its first 11 soldiers either killed or wounded.{{sfn|Vat|2003|p=120}} "B" Company came ashore directly in front of the main resistance nests, 200 yards east of their intended landing zone, subjecting them to heavy mortar and machine-gun fire.{{sfn|Barris|2004|p=145}} The QOR had been scheduled to advance with DD fire support, but the heavy seas meant that "instead of swimming in, they [DD tanks] left their craft close inshore and landed behind the infantry assault companies".{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=107}} Several soldiers from "B" Company succeeded in outflanking the main pillbox and killing its gunners with grenades and small arms.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|pp=107–108}} One LCA's rudder from "B" Company had jammed and that platoon landed far to the left of the rest of "B" Company, enabling them to outflank and destroy the gun emplacements.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=213}} With the defences silenced, the QOR was able to advance into Bernières, having suffered 65 casualties on the beaches.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=65}} To their west, "A" Company encountered less resistance but was limited by poorly coordinated run-ins by the LCAs to the beach.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=214}} "A" Company was able to quickly reach the seawall and breach the barbed wire but encountered much mortar and sniper fire in Bernières. This was the only sector of Juno where armoured support proved ineffective, as "B" Squadron of the Fort Garry Horse was too far out from the beach to provide heavy support.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=108}}

The first units of the North Shore Regiment's "A" and "B" companies touched down on Nan Red at 08:10 in chest-deep water.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=198}} They were tasked with securing Saint-Aubin and clearing defences in the village.{{sfn|Copp|2004|p=47}} "B" Company landed to find that the Saint-Aubin strong point "appeared not to have been touched" by preliminary naval bombardment.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=108}} The two assault companies faced a {{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on}} sprint across open beach in the face of fire from Saint-Aubin. "A" Company suffered the most casualties, incurring many fatalities from beach mines.{{sfn|Milner|2007|p=49}}  "B" Company faced stronger opposition at the strong point, yet managed to breach the seawall and barbed wire.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=72}} The 50&nbsp;mm antitank gun was still firing and the thick concrete [[casemate]]s protected it from infantry fire. By 08:10, Sherman tanks of the Fort Garry Horse and AVRE of the 80th Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers, had landed at Nan Red and begun to assist "B" Company in clearing the gun emplacement.{{sfn|Roy|1984|p=17}} The 50&nbsp;mm gun knocked out four of the squadron's tanks, while the North Shore's machine-gun platoon was flanking the position.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=205}} The right section of the strong point was eliminated by anti-tank guns and engineers, while the central anti-tank gun was silenced by {{nowrap|230 mm}} [[Petard]] demolition bombs fired from the AVRE.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=206}} When the North Shore captured the strong point, approximately half the defenders were killed; 48 German soldiers surrendered.{{sfn|Granatstein|Morton|1994|p=61}}

The 8th Brigade reserve battalion, [[Le Régiment de la Chaudière]], began deploying to the beaches at 08:30 along with the reserve companies of the North Shore and QOR. More than half of the LCAs were crippled by mines buried along the beach; QOR "C" Company was forced to touch down further offshore when their LCAs were damaged by mines. "C" Company linked up with "B" Squadron of the Fort Garry Horse, and moved to assist the pinned-down and exhausted "A" Company.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=217}}  The North Shore C and D Companies landed outside of Saint-Aubin, with "C" Company taking over for "A" Company in the advance further into Saint-Aubin, while "D" Company occupied the village.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=209}} All but one of the LCAs carrying Chaudière "A" Company foundered before they could touch down on the beach, and they lost most of their equipment while swimming to shore.{{sfn|Granatstein|Morton|1994|p=68}} The Chaudières quickly formed up outside Bernières and Saint-Aubin, linking up with both the QOR and the North Shores. The reserve also included the [[4th Special Service Brigade|No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando]], which was scheduled to land 45 minutes after the first arrivals.{{ sfn|Copp|2004|pp=46–47}} The Commandos were to pass Saint-Aubin's eastern edge and occupy Langrune-sur-Mer on the eastern end of Juno. The strong point facing them had not been cleared and 120 of the 400-man unit became casualties within seconds of landing.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=114}}{{ sfn|Zuehlke|2004|p=208}}

===Deploying reinforcements===
[[File:'Nan White' Beach, JUNO Area at Bernieres-sur-Mer.jpg|thumb|Soldiers of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade deploying in Nan White Sector]]

With Juno largely secured, Keller prepared to deploy the reserves of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade and tanks of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers. The reports coming in from the battalions already on Juno were mixed; Canadian military historian Terry Copp says that the North Shore was "proceeding according to plan", while the Chaudières were "making progress slowly".{{sfn|Copp|2004|p=52}} The two self-propelled artillery regiments—the 14th Field and [[19th Canadian Army Field Regiment RCA|19th Army Field Regiments]], Royal Canadian Artillery—had deployed at 09:25 and 09:10, and had several dozen guns in action before 11:00.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=109}} Opposition and continued problems with mine obstacles on Nan Red meant that the entire 9th Brigade would have to land in Bernières and Nan White sector.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=110}} When the 9th Brigade's LCIs touched down at 11:40, the congestion on the beach in Nan White was so heavy that most infantry companies could not disembark from their landing craft.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=111}} The 9th Brigade's reserves consisted of the [[Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa]], the [[North Nova Scotia Highlanders]], the [[Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders]], and the [[Highland Light Infantry of Canada]].{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=111}} The Glengarry Highlanders reported coming under mortar fire from German positions further inland, as "with little room to manoeuvre on dry land, the entire 9th Brigade became easy targets for German artillery".{{sfn|Barris|2004|p=166}} The 9th Brigade quickly made it across the beach, and joined the Chaudières, Queen's Own Rifles and Fort Garry Horse in Bernières to await further advance inland.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=112}}

Having subdued German defences on the beach, the next task of the landed forces was to clear Juno of obstacles, debris and undetonated mines then establish the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division's headquarters in Bernières. Movement Control Units came ashore just before noon, with military policemen beginning to marshal vehicles through to Bernières and Courseulles. Sappers of 619 Independent Field Company also moved in to begin clearing the minefields surrounding the beach, so as to free up the advance south towards Carpiquet.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|pp=112–114}} Keller himself established divisional headquarters in Bernières shortly after noon.{{sfn|Stacey|1966|p=111}}