How a 1912 battleship silenced Hitler's heavy coastal fortress guns
In short: After the initial Normandy landings, Allied progress stalled. To sustain the invasion, the port of Cherbourg had to be captured—but it was protected by massive naval batteries that could devastate any approaching fleet.
The USS Texas, a veteran battleship launched in 1912, was deployed to neutralize Battery Hamburg on the Cotentin coast. This German fortification featured four 240mm guns capable of striking targets from 24 kilometers away, posing a severe threat to Allied shipping.
By engaging this formidable battery with its own massive firepower—including 128 guns and four 533mm torpedo tubes—the USS Texas silenced the heavy artillery. This action was critical for opening Cherbourg's deep-water harbor, allowing the vital flow of food and equipment to France.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: USS Texas at Cherbourg: The Battleship That Changed the D-Day - Full Documentary
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