| Special Forces Operations in June 1944 |
| June 6th, 1944 |
| Operation Overlord |
| No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos |
| 177 men of No. 1 (French) Troop and No. 8 (French) Troop, No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando or the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos, commanded by Capitaine de Corvette (Lieutenant Commander) Philippe Kieffer. The troops disembark from their Landing Craft Infantry at 07:31 hours on Sword beach, on the east of the Allied landing near Colleville-Montgomery. They are the first to be unloaded in this sector. Their primary objective is to achieve a breach five hundred metres to the west of Riva Bella in support of the 3rd Infantry Division. Although suffering significant losses, the commandos seize the 50 mm anti-tank gun hidden in a small bunker. This position disabled LCI 523 (No. 1 Troop). They then take the former Casino de Riva-Bella before advancing between Colleville and Saint-Aubin-d’Arquenay to meet the British paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville), arriving around 16:30 hours. There, the French commandos occupy the perimeter of the lime pit towards 20:00 hours. By the evening of June 6th, 1944, they have lost almost 25% of their personnel with twenty-seven killed in combat, and many wounded including their commander Kieffer, who is wounded twice during the day. |
| June 17th, 1944 – June 19th, 1944 |
| Operation Sunbeam |
| Royal Marine Boom Party Detachment |
| Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment’s ‘Earthworm’ Detachment. Six men in three Canoes. Their missing is to attack German Destroyers in the Harbour of of the Island of Leros, Aegean Sea. The destoyers could interfere in a later planned Raid on the Island of Simi, known as Operation Tenement. Three pairs of Royal Marine canoeists infiltrate the harbor and successfully plant limpets on the destroyers and several smaller escort vessels. The subsequent detonation of the charges results in significant damage to the German ships, effectively neutralizing the naval threat in the area. This allows the Allies to proceed with Operation Tenement on Simi, with reduced risk of interference from German naval forces. |