Page "Omaha Beach" Paragraph 10

Coastal troop deployments, comprising five companies of infantry, were concentrated mostly at 15 strongpoints called Widerstandsnester (" resistance nests "), numbered WN-60 in the east to WN-74 near Vierville in the west, located primarily around the entrances to the draws and protected by minefields and wire.

Positions within each strongpoint were interconnected by trenches and tunnels.

As well as the basic weaponry of rifles and machine guns, a total of over 60 light artillery pieces were deployed at these strongpoints.

The heaviest pieces were located in eight gun casemates and four open positions while the lighter guns were housed in 35 pillboxes.

A further 18 anti-tank guns completed the disposition of artillery targeting the beach.

Areas between the strongpoints were lightly manned with occasional trenches, rifle pits, and a further 85 machine gun emplacements.

No area of the beach was left uncovered, and the disposition of weapons meant that flanking fire could be brought to bear anywhere along the beach.