List of ships and craft of Task Force O facts for kids

Task Force O was a special group of naval ships that played a huge part in the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day. Their main job was to land soldiers safely onto Omaha Beach. Another important part of Task Force O was Bombarding Force C. This group provided powerful gunfire support to help the troops as they landed. Most of the ships in Task Force O belonged to the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard, unless noted otherwise.

Getting Ready for Omaha Beach

Task Force O was organized into different groups. Each group had specific tasks for the landing. They carried thousands of soldiers and all their equipment. These groups included various types of landing ships and support vessels.

Assault Groups: Bringing Troops Ashore

The main job of the Assault Groups was to get soldiers from the larger transport ships onto the beaches. They used many different kinds of landing craft for this.

Assault Group O1: First Wave Ships

This group included ships like the USS Samuel Chase and USS Henrico. These were called APA ships, which stands for Attack Transports. They carried many soldiers and smaller landing craft. The British ship SS Empire Anvil was also part of this group. It was a large Landing Ship Infantry (LSI(L)). This group also had many Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs), like LST 309 and LST 357. These ships could carry tanks and vehicles directly onto the beach. Smaller landing craft, such as Landing Craft Infantry (LCI(L)s), Landing Craft Mechanized (LCMs), and Landing Craft Tanks (LCTs), were also vital. Control ships (LCCs) like LCC 10 helped guide the landing craft.

Assault Group O2: More Landing Power

Similar to Group O1, this group also had Attack Transports like the USS Charles Carroll and USS Thomas Jefferson. The British LSI(L) SS Empire Javelin was also here. Many LSTs, including LST 310 and LST 316, were part of this group. They also had a large number of LCI(L)s, LCMs, and LCTs. Control ships like LCC 30 and LCC 40 were present to manage the busy landing area.

Assault Group O3: Additional Transports

This group featured more Attack Transports (APs) such as the USS Dorothea L. Dix and USS Thurston. They also carried many LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) boats. A large number of LSTs, including LST 6 and LST 285, were part of this group. They also had LCI(L)s and LCTs. A special ship, HMS Oceanway, a British dock landing ship, was also in this group.

Assault Group O4: British Contribution

This group was mainly made up of Royal Navy ships. It included Landing Ship Infantry (Small) (LSI(S)) ships like SS Prince Baudoin and SS Prince Charles. These ships carried smaller Landing Craft Assault (LCA) boats. Other ships were Landing Ship Infantry (Hand-Hoist) (LSI(H)) vessels such as SS Amsterdam and SS Ben My Cree. These also carried LCA boats to get soldiers to the beach.

Support Group: Helping the Landings

The Support Group provided important help during the landings. They had specialized landing craft:

• LCF (Landing Craft Flak): These were landing craft fitted with anti-aircraft guns to protect against enemy planes.
• LCG (Large) (Landing Craft Gun): These had large guns to fire at targets on shore.
• LCP(L) Smoke: These craft created smoke screens to hide the landing ships from enemy view.
• LCT (Armored) and LCT (High Explosive): These were Landing Craft Tanks modified with extra armor or carrying powerful self-propelled guns.
• LCT (Rocket): These ships could fire many rockets at enemy positions on the beach.

Patrol Craft: Keeping Watch

Patrol Craft (PCs) were smaller ships that helped protect the area around the landing zone. They looked for enemy submarines or small attack boats. Examples include PC 552 and PC 553.

Anti-Submarine Trawlers: Hunting U-boats

These were Royal Navy ships, like HMS Bressay and HMS Coll. Their job was to find and attack enemy submarines (U-boats) that might try to sink the landing ships.

Minesweeper Group: Clearing the Way

Before the landing ships could get close to the beach, the waters had to be cleared of enemy mines. This was a very dangerous but crucial job. The Minesweeper Group included several units:

• Sweep Unit 1 (Royal Navy): Ships like HMS Albury and HMS Elgin cleared mines.
• Sweep Unit 2 (Royal Canadian Navy): Ships such as HMCS Blairmore and HMCS Cowichan also helped clear mines.
• Sweep Unit 3 (Royal Navy BYMS-class minesweepers): These were British Yard Mine Sweepers, like BYMS 2050.
• Sweep Unit 4 (Royal Navy MMS-class minesweepers): These were Motor Minesweepers, like MMS 31.
• Attached Motor Launches (Royal Navy): Smaller boats like ML 118 and HDML 1387 assisted the minesweepers.

What Do All Those Ship Names Mean?

Military ships often have short names or abbreviations. Here are some of the ones you saw:

• AP/APA – Attack Transport: A ship designed to carry troops and their landing craft to a landing zone.
• BYMS – British Yard Mine Sweeper: A type of minesweeper built for the British.
• HDML – Harbour Defence Motor Launch: A small, fast boat used for protecting harbors.
• LCA – Landing Craft Assault: A small landing craft used by the British to carry soldiers.
• LCC – Landing Craft Control: A small boat used to guide other landing craft to the correct spot on the beach.
• LCI(L) – Landing Craft Infantry (Large): A larger landing craft that could carry many infantry soldiers.
• LCG – Landing Craft Gun: A landing craft fitted with guns to support troops on shore.
• LCF – Landing Craft Flak: A landing craft equipped with anti-aircraft guns.
• LCM – Landing Craft Mechanized: A landing craft designed to carry vehicles and equipment.
• LCT – Landing Craft Tank: A large landing craft that could carry tanks and other heavy vehicles directly onto the beach.
• LCT (Armored) – Landing Craft Tank (Armored): An LCT with extra armor for protection.
• LCT (High Explosive) – Landing Craft Tank (High Explosive): An LCT carrying self-propelled guns for powerful attacks.
• LCT (Rocket) – Landing Craft Tank (Rocket): An LCT equipped to fire many rockets.
• LCVP – Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel: A common landing craft used by the US to carry vehicles and troops.
• LSD – Landing Ship Dock: A ship that can carry smaller landing craft inside and launch them.
• LSI(H) – Landing Ship Infantry (Hand-Hoist): A ship that carried infantry and used cranes to lower landing craft.
• LSI(L) – Landing Ship Infantry (Large): A large ship that carried infantry and many landing craft.
• LSI(S) – Landing Ship Infantry (Small): A smaller version of the LSI.
• LST – Landing Ship Tank: A large ship designed to carry tanks and vehicles directly onto the beach.
• MMS – Motor Minesweeper: A type of motor-powered minesweeper.