VCS-7 ground personnel with one of the Spitfires 4Q flown by the squadron during its support of the invasion of Normandy
By 1944, fire control tactics in support of amphibious operations had evolved significantly. Operation Neptune, the naval component of the D-Day invasion, saw changes in how ships provided naval gunfire support, particularly regarding the use of aircraft for spotting and directing fire.
Aircraft Spotting Adjustments:
In earlier operations, such as the Operation Torch landings in Morocco (1942), ships like the USS Texas used Kingfisher floatplanes for spotting duties. However, by Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, it became clear that ship-based floatplanes were highly vulnerable to enemy anti-aircraft fire and fighters due to their slow speeds. This vulnerability led to a shift in tactics by Operation Neptune, the D-Day invasion in June 1944.
For the Normandy landings, the Royal Navy proposed a new method: using land-based fighters, specifically Spitfires and Seafires stationed at Lee-on-Solent. The US Navy floatplane crews were flown ashore, where they converted to flying Spitfire Mk Vbs as part of VCS-7, a consolidated squadron. These Spitfires operated in pairs – one aircraft acting as the spotter for naval gunfire, while the other served as a ‘weaver’ to provide protection from enemy aircraft. While effective, using single-seat fighters for spotting was inefficient due to their limited range and endurance.
Shore Fire Control Parties (SFCP):
The second major method for directing naval gunfire was through the use of Shore Fire Control Parties (SFCPs), which were the US equivalent of the British Forward Observation Bombardment (FOB) parties. SFCPs had proven valuable in previous amphibious operations, including Operation Torch and subsequent operations in the Mediterranean. These teams were made up of both US Army and Navy personnel and were organized into two main sections:
- Army Forward Observer Section: Led by an Army officer, this section was responsible for identifying targets and coordinating fire.
- Naval Liaison Section: Led by a Naval Gunnery Liaison Officer (NGLO), this section worked closely with the ship providing the gunfire support.
Each ship participating in a bombardment was assigned an Army artillery officer who provided up-to-date information about the location of Allied troops and helped determine whether a target was appropriate for engagement. This was particularly important to prevent friendly fire and ensure that bombardments aided the advancing infantry.
Each US Army division was assigned nine SFCPs, with one SFCP per assault battalion. A navy gunfire officer at divisional headquarters oversaw all SFCPs within that division. Before D-Day, SFCPs trained with their corresponding ships to ensure smooth coordination during the landings.
Bombardment Procedure:
When initiating a bombardment, the SFCP would establish a radio link with its assigned ship and designate a target using a grid system. Once the ship’s Army liaison officer approved the target, the SFCP would observe the fall-of-shot and issue corrections using the clock method (adjusting fire based on the relative position of the target from a clock face perspective). Spotting aircraft typically sought out targets of opportunity, such as German artillery batteries, while SFCPs primarily focused on targets impeding their associated infantry battalion’s advance.